walking wobbly...

...walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love...

Ephesians 4:1-2 ESV

Feeling a little wobbly in my walk lately... impatience... doing its work on me...

Impatience is a useful goad, but a very poor guide.

---Dag Hammarskjold

Desiring the One who guides... and not the one who prods...

For you are my rock and my fortress;

and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;

you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,

for you are my refuge.

Into your hands I commit my spirit;

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

Psalm 31:3-5 ESV

May I walk worthy of You... 

steady... patient... not wobbly...

guided by You...

[Note: Yes... I forgot... again... to add the readings on Sunday's post... so here they are on Monday's... but thanks to editing... they are on Sunday now too...]

This week's readings for The Journey...
Monday                   Leviticus 14
Tuesday                   Leviticus 15
Wednesday              Leviticus 16
Thursday                  Leviticus 17-18
Friday                      Leviticus 19

understanding...

From the beginning... we have been looking at things and making decisions based on our own understanding... deciding for ourselves what is good... and what is evil...

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:6 ESV

This is a big mistake... a sin in fact... that leads to death...

Even before we sinned... we were judging... discerning... wrongly...

We were not created to make these decisions on our own... 

We were created to listen... and obey Him... who judges perfectly... and deems all things good... or evil...

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide the nations upon the earth. Selah

Psalm 67:4 ESV

Understanding... that we weren't created to use our own understanding... has sort of astounded me... I always assumed sin broke our ability to discern correctly... but we were never equipped to make such judgments...

And I see even greater futility... after the Fall... of living a life based on our own understanding and reason... rather than on God's Word... Scripture... and direction from the Holy Spirit...

Some define God... by their own reason... and understanding...

There are statements on [the Bible's] pages that I don't believe capture the character and will of God. ...

---Adam Hamilton, Making Sense of the Bible

It's not ours to understand... or decide what we believe about God... it's ours to accept what He reveals in His Word... and walk in it by faith...

Wrestle with the hard parts... Yes... but do not succumb to the temptation of fitting it into your own understanding and judgment of who you believe Him to be...

Just because we don't like what we read... doesn't mean it's not true...

He warns...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 ESV

Faith... is about trusting Him... His Word... His Way... no matter what we think... or how much we understand...

Ours is to trust and obey...

This week's readings for The Journey...
Monday                   Leviticus 14
Tuesday                   Leviticus 15
Wednesday              Leviticus 16
Thursday                  Leviticus 17-18
Friday                      Leviticus 19

peace...

Peace... I have it in many areas of my life... even when things aren't going quite right... but it took a lot of ... (what's the opposite of peace)... disruption... disquieting... distress... of heart... soul... and spirit to get to this place...

Peace... does not come easy... and does not come with wonderful circumstance... or a perfect world...

Peace comes when you are at peace with Him... and His ways...

Great peace have they who love Your law;

and nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

Psalm 119:165 Amp

Peace came with walking through... a lot of anxiety...

Peace came with Him... highlighting dark places in my heart... revealing new nuances of old sins... and me accepting His judgment... confessing... repenting...

Peace... true peace... inner peace... His peace... comes by allowing Him... to stir things up... and finding that He alone calms things down... as you live His way... walking the narrow path...

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,

because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3

Lord Jesus... thank You for all the turmoil...

You used... to bring me to a place of greater peace...

no matter the circumstance...

when it seems like it all won't get done...

When it seems like it all won't get done...
check to see if you are doing what He's called you to...
or what you want to do...

Then if it is His call...
remember it's His to do...
His to manage...
His to provide the strength...

Now may the God of peace... equip you with everything good that you may do his will... through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV

And if it is not His call...
ask for His mercy... and forgiveness...
complete your current commitment...
then stop doing it...
ASAP...

encouragement...

What a joy... to receive the blessing... of offering encouragement...

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,

if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit,

if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy

complete by being like-minded, having the same love,

being one in spirit and purpose.

Philippians 2:1-2

Is there someone He's calling you to encourage today...?

pursuing excellence...

A morning spent pursuing excellence in something new...

Excellence does not come easy... many dimensions to consider... intentionality must be exercised... anticipating every aspect of the outcome with each decision in every dimension... staying focused to the end... intentionally finishing each step...

Excellence... requires... diligence...

The Journey through Leviticus has me tuned in to excellence... the pursuit of holiness...

Eyes drawn to all the sins committed unwittingly... and the realization that each of these sins... no matter how unintentional... still creates a debt... a price has to be paid... always with blood...

And the Lord said to Moses, Say to the Israelites, If anyone shall sin through error or unwittingly in any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and shall do any one of them --- If it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin which he has committed a young bull without blemish to the Lord as a sin offering. He shall bring the bull to the door of the Tent of Meeting before the Lord, and shall lay [both] hands on the bull's head and kill it before the Lord.

Leviticus 4:1-4 Amp

(emphasis added)

If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally, and it be hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done what the Lord has commanded not to be done and are guilty, When the sin which they have committed becomes known, then the congregation shall offer a young bull for a sin offering and bring it before the Tent of Meeting. The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bull before the Lord, and the bull shall be killed before the Lord.

Leviticus 4:13-15 Amp

(emphasis added)

When a ruler or leader sins and unwittingly does any one of the things the Lord his God has forbidden, and is guilty, If his sin which he has committed be known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish. He shall lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord; it is a sin offering.

Leviticus 4:22-24 Amp

(emphasis added)

If any one of the common people sins unwittingly... When the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. The offender shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill it at the place of the burnt offering.
Leviticus 4:27-29 Amp
(emphasis added)

Unwitting... unintentional... sin... and understanding... its weight... has me desiring the pursuit of excellence... in every area of my life... and I see the need to be more intentional... in what I say... do... think... whether it's something new... or something I've been doing a long time... like being a wife (for 28 years this Saturday)...

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

Pursuing excellence... in His most excellent name...

O Lord, our Lord,

How excellent is Your name in all the earth...

Psalm 8:1 NKJV

Where in your life do you need to be intentional... about pursuing excellence...?

brokenness...

Brokenness... I've seen more than a little the last day or so...

And I remember...

The Lord is near the brokenhearted 

and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18 ESV

He heals the brokenhearted 

and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3 ESV

Jesus majors in broken... He says...

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of prison to those who are bound...

Isaiah 61:1 ESV

Brokenness longs for good news... and the Good News is good... when we embrace our brokenness...

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. ..."

---Jesus

Matthew 5:3-6 ESV

So is it possible... to receive that which breaks us... as a blessing...?

Can we believe He is the One who works all things for good in the lives of those who love Him...?

Do you love Him enough to trust Him... with the pain He allows...?

Are you willing... to walk with Him... through this world... remembering it is not your home...?

Can you trust Him... to provide the strength... to hold you together...?

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Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

Psalm 84:5

Lord... in brokenness... I choose to trust You... Your plan... 

Your purpose... Your grace... mercy... and love... 

But we have this treasure in jars of clay,

so show that the surpassing power belongs to God

and not to us.

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV 

longing...

My soul breaks with longing

For Your judgments at all times.

Psalm 119:20 NKJV

longing... noun... a strong desire especially for something unattainable: craving

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition)

I've come to a place where I no longer desire... trust... my own judgments or opinions. I don't even want them anymore.

My soul breaks with longing... for His judgments... I long for them... crave them... regarding several issues in my life right now.

Webster's definition of longing includes the air of unattainability...

Are His judgments unattainable?

I don't think so...

In this world... they may feel unattainable... inaccessible... too many other voices... the enemy deceiving... our own hearts... flesh... desiring what we want... willing to be led a stray... wanting to be right... His judgments may seem out of reach...

But He tell us...

"Ask and it will be given to you;

seek, and you will find...

Matthew 7:7 ESV

So today I ask... and wait... with open ear... knowing He is faithful... trusting His Word to be true...

Lord... tell me Your judgments... I want to be in agreement with You... You alone can give trustworthy judgments... You alone know each heart... the heart of individuals and the heart of the law... I long for Your opinion... decision... pronouncement...

[Note: The two weeks away with family were good... a blessing... yet on return... I'm still left with longings... a reminder that this world is not my home... and my journey incomplete...]

This week's readings for The Journey...

Monday                  Leviticus 8

Tuesday                  Leviticus 9-10

Wednesday             Leviticus 11

Thursday                 Leviticus 12:1 - 13:27

Friday                     Leviticus 13:28-59

mighty to save... [from October 29, 2013]

Greater is the One in me...
than the one in the world...

He is the Light...
that destroys the darkness...

The Savior who breaks...
the bonds of sin and death...

Stoops down... in mercy and compassion...
to redeem His lost creation...

So great is His love...
Mighty to save...

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:11-14

revival... does not happen... without repentance... [from July 5, 2013]

A spirit... soul... cannot be revived... refreshed... without a recognition of sin... and a turning from it...

We pray for revival... for churches... friends... family... whether it be a renewed relationship with God the Father through Christ by way of the Spirit... or it be an initiating of the relationship that raises the dead... but sometimes I think we forget... what must come first... repentance...

Repentance... can't happen without sin being revealed... acknowledged... and grieved over...

How often do we pray for revival in the life of a loved one... but as pain and strife enter their lives... we pray for healing... removal of the difficulty... release... escape... when this might be the pain... or difficulty... God has allowed... to get their attention... capture their heart...?

Unfortunately... pain... grief... despair... coming to the end of ourselves in it... is often the sole experience that brings us to our knees...

Some wandered in desert wastelands,

finding no way to a city where they could settle.

They were hungry and thirsty,

and their lives ebbed away.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

He led them by a straight way

to a city where they could settle.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men,

for he satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things.

Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom

prisoners suffering in iron chains,

for they had rebelled against the words of God

and despised the counsel of the Most High.

So he subjected them to bitter labor;

they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

He brought them out of darkness and deepest gloom

and broke away their chains.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men,

for he breaks down gates of bronze

and cuts through bars of iron.

Psalm 107:4-16

(emphasis added)

Perhaps our prayer... for those in pain... should be for them to cry out to the Lord in their trouble... for His purpose in the pain to be realized... for His will to be accomplished... in the unseen realm...

And for those of us struggling... like me over the last week or so... be open... to the Spirit... to counsel... reveal... and be willing... to grieve... turn... and... receive...

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:7-10

As hard as it is... to endure... or watch others suffer... we need to seek God... in His Sovereignty... ask Him how to pray... ask Him... to help us focus on the eternal... and not just... the needs of the flesh...

For what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

Do you know someone who's suffering...? are you...?

How might you pray... in a way... that transforms... hearts... for eternity...? and His glory...?

battling [from February 27, 2013]

Sometimes... maybe ALL the time... a time of prayer... becomes a battleground...

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus...

He is always wrestling in prayer for you,

That you may stand firm in all the will of God,

mature and fully assured.

Colossians 4:12

(my emphasis)

Today... I was Epaphras... wrestling in prayer... for one to stand firm...

wrestling... laboring... struggling... all translations of the Greek... which means... to contend with adversaries... fight...

A spiritual battle... an unseen battle... yet real nonetheless...

The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world.

On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:4

Intercession... a battle whose outcome has eternal consequences... an arena we need to enter fully equipped... and fully aware...

cling... a word that catches... [from January 13, 2013]

This morning... in my preparation for the day... I came across a verse... that stuck... a verse that prompted the deeper study... of a single word...

My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:8

cling... a sticky word... 

The Hebrew... dabaq... defined... to cling... cleave to... to stay with... to be joined together... to pursue closely...

What does it look like... for a soul... to cling...?

Merriam-Webster... paints this picture... to hold together... to adhere as if glued firmly... to hold or hold on to tightly or tenaciously... to have a strong emotional attachment or dependence...

But... what does it look like...?

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Love... compels us to cling... with both hands... and all of self... 

We can only cling... to one thing at a time...

A soul that clings to God... 

lets go of everything else... 

including... control... 

the soul who clings to God... 

goes wherever... He goes...

But... our strength... alone... 

is not enough... to cling... 

powers pull... try to tear us away... 

so He... with His right hand... upholds... us... 

His strength... makes it possible... for a soul to cling... 

When we desire... to be near... to pursue... tenaciously... 

He... makes... it... possible...

My soul clings to You...

Your right hand upholds me...

[email subscribers... click here to view on YouTube... or click post title to view on Jeremiah's Menu...]

Is it your desire... to have a soul... that clings... to Him...?

What do you have to let go of... to cling...?

feeling wrong [from November 6, 2012]

What do you do... when everything you do... feels wrong...?
Find a reason to rejoice...!

Rejoice in the Lord always.

I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

[Note... this is current... 2014's journey...]

This week's readings for The Journey... 

Monday                     Exodus 40

Tuesday                     Leviticus 1-3

Wednesday                Leviticus 4:1 - 5:13

Thursday                    Leviticus 5:14 - 6:30

Friday                        Leviticus 7

hope... the precious pursuit of patience [from October 28, 2012]

Today... watching... and waiting... for various circumstances to unfold... wondering the outcome... feeling impatient... I'm reminded of the importance of waiting...

It was said at a writer's conference... concerning submissions being considered for publication...

If you want a quick answer... I can give you a quick answer: No!

A Yes takes time... you have to wait...

You have to wait for a Yes... but waiting can feel oppressive...  just let me know how it comes out... even if it's bad!

The end of a matter is better than its beginning...

Ecclesiastes 7:8

But shouldn't we be more concerned with the journey... than the outcome...?

We all want a Yes... but the lovely thing about being in Jesus is that it's ALL GOOD... everything a victory in Christ... even the No...

In CS Lewis's book... The Screwtape Letters... the end always throws me... the hero of the book... the main character pursued... dies... blown up by a bomb in battle... this end is portrayed as a WIN for God... and a tragic loss for Satan's side because the man... he died in Christ... his departure from the world depicted... as if a scab had fallen from an old sore... the hero set free from war and doubt through death... opposite from the world's view that inundates us each day...

The world urges us to see good only in life... healing... success... BUT...at one time or another... we all die... we all get sick... and we all fail... and for Believers... it's all part of the journey... not that we are to be cavalier about crisis... heartache... trials... we are to mourn with those who mourn... offer compassion... and mercy... yet we are not to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope...

So since we know it's ALL GOOD... in the end... shouldn't we just enjoy the trek... or at least be patient... trusting God with what there is to learn... and who and what will grow from each unknown circumstance...?

As we painstakingly watch people struggle... with...
sin...
sickness...
circumstances... of all kinds...
remember the patience of the farmer... the hope... the assurance of growth... and see an opportunity to exercise faith... pursue hope...

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

Psalm 84:3

(my emphasis)

An attitude of journey... pilgrimage... with Him as our strength... helps us to wait... hope... know for sure... that the end of the matter IS better than its beginning...

For in Christ... it's all victory... even if in this world it looks dead... and fruitless... for those IN CHRIST... it's a win...

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,

and there are no grapes on the vines;

even though the olive crop fails,

and the fields lie empty and barren;

even though the flocks die in the fields,

and the cattle barns are empty,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord!

I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Habakkuk 3:17-18

NLT

Father God... keep me focused on You... the good that is to come... the hope... and assurance...found in Christ.... I choose to journey... patiently... trusting in You... for strength...

the woe of seeing [from August 24, 2012]

When the Light of Truth shines... into your own heart... revealing... sin... corruption... perversity... then seeing the Word made flesh... in yourself... can be hard...

Such truth... leads to denial... justification... laying blame... or... as God intends... confession...

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."

Isaiah 6:5

...and repentance...

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

2Corinthians 7:10

A woe... a pain... for good... when we choose to stand in the Light... and let it do the work... of transformation...

Father God... provide the faith needed... to stand in Your Light... to receive the truth of my sin... no matter how painful... and allow You to redeem the dark... for Your glory...

fellowship: lessons in humility [February 15,2012]

Called to clean up a mess that's not mine... in a domain that's not mine...

What will people think of me?

It's not my mess... why should I?

Can't You call someone else? ...it's messy...

Knowing there is no other Way... I went...

What I learned... experienced... connection with Christ...

He came to clean up a mess that wasn't His...
In a domain that wasn't His...
He carried a burden not His own...
Paid a price He did not owe...

Humility... His way... no room for pride... only Love...

Lord, help me to recognize and seize opportunities to clean up messes for others... without fanfare... without grumbling... Remind me that I bear Your name... O Lord God Almighty... Empty me of pride... fill me with Love...

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection

and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,

becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow,

to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11

A challenge:
Identify with Christ... clean up a mess that is not yours... bear the complete burden... do it in secret... do not demand praise or seek recognition... do it to gain a keener understanding of the One who cleaned up after you...

writing hungry [from January 13,2012]

Writing...
re-writing the essence of writing...

Writing and re-writing words in hopes of making others hunger...
hunger for His Word...

Refining words that others might turn to the perfect Word...
He is found in His Word...

My own hunger increases...
my spirit yearns for more...

More of Him...
more life...
more...

Maybe His purpose in my writing is my hunger...
drawing me ever nearer and deeper into Him...

As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, O God.

Psalm 42:1

Do you hunger for Him...?

for His Word...?

love is hard [from December6, 2011]

Loving others...
being other-centered when our natural position is self-centered...
hard...

Love...
patient... with difficult people and circumstances...
kind... when others are not...
not envious... when others get what you deserve...
not boastful... when your work is overlooked...
not proud... all are equal in God's eyes...
not rude... when others are...
not insistent... when your needs are not met...
not irritable... even on a really bad day...
not resentful... grace-full despite the debt...
does not delight in evil... even if it's what they deserve...
rejoices with the truth... even when it's about you...
always protects... bears the pain of others...
always believes... trusts when you are unsure...
always hopes... when history tells you otherwise...
always endures... remains in the hard place because it's right...

Love...
never fails...
     never ends...
          never wavers...
               never dies...

Loving others...
hard...

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish

but have eternal life.

John 3:16

selective hearing [from November 3, 2011]

All children seem to suffer from selective hearing at times.
Even God's children:

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy one of Israel says:

"In repentance and rest is your salvation,

in quietness and trust is your strength,

but you would have none of it. ..."

Isaiah 30:15

I've noticed in myself that some messages are easier to hear than others...

This is what the Lord says:

"Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is,

and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' ..."

Jeremiah 6:16

...some calls I respond to quickly, some I spiritually place my fingers in my ears and whistle...

While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord,

I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen;

I called you, but you did not answer.

Jeremiah 7:13

As with our own children, selective hearing has its consequences.

Missed opportunities, subsequent discipline, tighter boundaries.

Spiritually, as God's children, we also suffer the consequences of selective hearing... hardened hearts.

"But they refused to pay attention;

stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears.

They made their hearts as hard as flint

and would not listen to the law or to the words

that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit...

Zechariah 7:11, 12

When we refuse to listen... when we choose our own way rather than God's... when we say "I believe" but our actions speak otherwise... we harden our hearts.

So, as the Holy Spirit says:

"Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts..."

Hebrews 3:8

Remembrance [from October 26, 2011]

The bread and wine are to be intertwined with remembrance.
They are to be eaten without forgetting...

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."

1Corinthians 11:23, 24

The broken Bread...
Remember:
        Jesus giving thanks...
           His broken body...
             God's wrath...
                my sin...
                   His faithfulness...

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink,

in remembrance of me."

1Corinthians 11:25

The cup poured out...
Remember:
       His pain...
          His power...
             my need...
                His forgiveness...
                   His love...
                      His holiness...

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

1Corinthians 11:26

Paul, by grace, received the bread and wine and passed it on.
Proclaiming the death of Christ and all that it implied...

Remember who passed it on to you -- be thankful...
Proclaim His death...

What and who do you need to remember today?


[Note... this is current... for the wee of June 8, 2014...]
This week's readings for The Journey... 
Monday                Exodus 34:29 - 35:29
Tuesday                Exodus 35:30 - 36:38
Wednesday           Exodus 37
Thursday               Exodus 38
Friday                   Exodus 39

it's been a journey...

Today... preparing for two weeks away... led me to review... where Jeremiah's Menu began... wondering how to approach the next two weeks.... in anticipation of iffy internet access...

Reading the earliest posts... after being called to blog six days a week... two and a half years ago... it strikes me...

It's been a journey...

Many of the first posts written... seem like they just happened... and I see transformation in me... and the writing... and wonder at the lessons remembered...

So for the next two weeks... I believe I'll re-post... some of the things I've learned along this journey...

A reminder... review... of His faithfulness... to me... along the way...

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

when I remember you upon my bed,

and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings

I will sing for joy.

Psalm 63:5-7 ESV

(my emphasis)

Maybe you'll remember too... or read something you've never read before... any way... I hope you enjoy...

tradition... a sad substitute... for His Word...

tradition... 1 a: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) b: a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable... 2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction 3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions 4: characteristic manner, method, or style...

--- Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) 

Overcome by a heavy heart... sitting in a place filled with tradition... saddened by a substitute... taking the place of His Word... His rhema word... that which He currently speaks through His Spirit... and His Living Word...

So faith comes from hearing,

and hearing through the word (rhema) of Christ.

Romans 10:17 ESV

The early church... established many traditions... all... at one time... inspired by His Spirit... based on the Word... prompted by the faith of  individuals' relationships with Him...

Yet... apart from that Word... and relationship... the tradition is solely an exaltation of the person once inspired... disconnected from any personal revelation for those today...

Apart from Him... tradition leads to worship... centered on the created... rather than the Creator...

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Romans 1:24-25 ESV

Tradition-based worship... leads to exchanging the Truth... for a lie... and impurity in the church...

Focusing on His Living Word... rather than the traditions of early Believers... is far more important... and crucial... to the heart of the church... than honoring those who came before...

I'm not saying that He doesn't use past traditions to speak to us today... He's led me to return to some ancient practices... observing Lent... praying the hours... but I do so at His rhema word to me... what comes from my relationship with Him...

The heaviness of heart felt today... came in preparation to pray for worship... and it didn't feel like my own sadness... but His... His Spirit... speaking to mine...

A call to return... not to tradition... but to His Word... and what He has to say to each of us... today...

Lord Jesus... where in my life do I worship... serve... the created rather than You... the Creator...? Shine Your Light on any lies I believe... root out traditions... keeping me separated from You... purify my heart... and soul... purify Your Church... fill us with a hunger for Your Word... Your rhema word... 

created... in His image...

Praising Him as Creator... Maker of heaven and earth...

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.

Isaiah 41:28 ESV

And I wonder at man... created in His image... the only creatures who create... 

All others... beautiful... and wonder-full... as they are... work on instinct... by the plan He laid down for them at creation...

But mankind... we not only use ingenuity to create ways to improve life... but we alone create art... through word... and song... paper... ink... paints... clay... stone... chisel... for the sake of beauty... an outlet for the heart... feelings and thoughts... inexpressible... any other way...

The rest of creation... glorifies Him... just by being...

But mankind... we began by rebelling... no other creature on earth did such a thing...

We glorify Him... by dying to self... just as His Son... glorified Him...

"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say?
'Father, save me from this hour'?

But for this purpose I have come to this hour.

Father, glorify your name." ---Jesus

John 12:27 ESV

Unique among creation... created in His image... 

How are you living... created in His image? 

Are you living... for His glory...? or yours...?

seeking wisdom...

The wisest of women builds her house,

but folly with her own hands tears it down.

Proverbs 14:1 ESV

Seeking wisdom... for decisions... 

desiring to build... not tear down... 

Perhaps wisdom begins... by understanding... 

your own whims... and heart... can reap destruction...

Listening to Him... 

for direction... and guidance...

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom...

Proverbs 15:33 ESV

confident in His grace...

Resting in His promise of grace...
a day where looking back... I see...
wrong attitudes...
words better left unsaid...
missed opportunities...

Confident... of His grace...
and love...
for me...
even though... I know...
I'm completely undeserving...

For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

Hebrews 4:15-16 Amp

grateful for His grace...

Grateful for His grace...
which He pours out impartially...

For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,

and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 5:45 ESV

Praying... I can do the same...
be as gracious to others...
as He is to me...

The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,

along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

1Timothy 1:14

This week's readings for The Journey...

Monday                   Exodus 29

Tuesday                   Exodus 30

Wednesday              Exodus 31

Thursday                  Exodus 32

Friday                      Exodus 33:1 - 34:28