When,Where, Who, What,Why,Trust

Deuteronomy 1:6

"It was 40 years ago, at Mount Horeb, that Jehovah our God told us "You have stayed long enough."

"That's me."  The older man positioned me in front of the old photograph.  It was an evening in October of 1974.  It was "meet the family night."  I was newly engaged. My future mother-in-law planned a family dinner to get acquainted.  The most vivid memory of the evening was my husband's paternal grandfather.  I'd heard the stories of his youthful athletics, his job as a candy maker, his love for large dogs and how he led the men of the family into spirited, loud discussions on trivial subjects (that evening the discussion centered on the best clam chowder).

This night I learned about the character of Sipe men.  Grandma and Grandpa had recently changed their living arrangements.  They'd been living apart and hadn't seen each other for a few weeks.  Both were polite and interested in meeting me but they had "eyes for each other." They spent most of the evening on the couch holding hands and talking.

The character of a Sipe man, which I learned that night and saw demonstrated through the men who followed Fred Sipe, is that he thinks his wife is the  most important woman to walk the face of the earth.  Throughout my forty plus years with a Sipe man, I have never doubted that I am loved.  My husband learned it from his father who learned it from his father.

The sixth verse of Deuteronomy should please English teachers. It has the classic format of "When, Where, Who, What, Why."  It's the opening of Moses' speech to the Israelites.  Reflecting on the past is helpful before a time of change or beginning of a journey.  Moses prepares the people for the next season of their journey with a history lesson.  The purpose of the recounting of historical facts was to assure the people of God's deliverance, leading and love.  God was faithful in the past, He would be with them in their next season.

Deuteronomy is one of my favorite books.  It reminds me of the foundation of my relationship with God.  God loves me.  It's amazing to me that God puts up with the Israelites whining, complaining, doubting and disobeying (characteristics I too often display).  For reasons only God knows, He chose the Israelites and "only has eyes for them". 

What response should come from the Israelites?  And from me?  Trust.  God has been with me in my past journey( history and His character have shown me) and He will be with me, and you, in the future. 

As the challenges of my life come, my assurance rests in

When

Where

Who

What

Why

Trust

Counting Builds My Faith in God

Numbers 1:6

"from the tribe of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai;"

"Gather around behind us and look like a large group."  We were in an overseas country dealing with an airline.  Apparently the airline was not going to honor the tickets I held in my hand.  The other co-leader and I hadn't been able to secure our passage so we decided to  show our numbers.  We thought 16 women would be intimidating, a force to be reckoned, or at least convincing.

It didn't work.  After presenting our case to yet another supervisor, I turned to leave the counter and looked at our "force".  I saw 14 women who'd been traveling for 10 days, up since before dawn and one-third of the "force" spending most of their time ill in the facilities.

God did not leave us alone in that faraway land.  Our ragged group  needed two days of relaxation at our travel agent's expense!.  We enjoyed the hospitality of the locale.

When I made up my challenge of "The Sixes"  Numbers 1:6 was my concern.  After all Numbers is notorious for boring reading.  Most Bible readers skip or at least skim through the first half off the book.  It's name says it all.  It's about numbers!

I read the context of the verse.  The Lord had  instructed Moses to take a census of the available men to fight a war and He named the men who were to assist with the counting.  Shelumiel would represent the tribe of Simeon.

God didn't need the count.  He knew exactly how many fighting men were available and the number of the hairs on each of their heads.  The people needed to know God had a plan.  God knows sometimes numbers will help us trust Him more.  Too often we trust in the numbers when we need to remember that it's God in whom we trust.  He will use the numbers to accomplish His plan.

Rather than put my trust in the number of ideas, options, people or dollars I possess, I should trust in the number of times God has delivered in the past, the countless blessings present each day and the eternal promises God will fulfill in the future.

Counting

Builds

My

Faith

in

God

Sacrifice Pride for a Fuller Ministry

Leviticus 1:6

"Then the priests will skin the animal and quarter it."  The New Living Bible

Our friend, the professional painter, was very gracious after he prepped the bathroom wall.  He didn't judge my work.  He did what is his expertise.

I was creating my she-sanctuary bathroom.  I wanted it to be all mine.  After weeks of sanding wallpaper glue, my husband reached out to our friend.  My husband knew I needed help in the form of a professional.  He knew my pride would drastically slow the completion of the makeover.

(In addition, I'm a terrible painter.  My friends put me in charge of procurement on our makeover projects.   I get sent out for food and supplies when I get near a paintbrush! What made  me think I could do this on my own?  The Lord provided a friend, who loves to  paint, the week I scheduled to paint my she-sanctuary bathroom.  Thanks Dawn.)

I thought of my pride in my project when I read the sixth verse of Leviticus.  This verse is part of the  instructions for sacrifice, something our modern brains really can't comprehend.  Today I relate the sacrificial instruction to my ministry. 

The instructions include criteria for choosing the animal, the purpose of the sacrifice, the completion of the sacrifice and distribution of the sacrifice.

Those priests worked with the  animal sacrifices on a daily basis.  They knew what to do.  Why would the individual on an annual visit to the temple try to handle it?

In spiritual matters, there are  plenty of people with more experience and expertise than me.  Do I go to them for advise and/or assistance? 

Some of my ministry is an offering of thanks to God.  Some of what I do is offering to do for God, to be a witness or servant to others.  This verse reminds me my ministry can't be about pride.  I don't own my ministry.  It's an opportunity from God to experience a fuller life.  It's my opportunity to know and depend on  God. My pride will diminish the benefit.

Sacrifice

Pride

For

A

Fuller

Ministry

God's Plan is Greater Than Generations

Exodus 1:6 "In due season Joseph and each of his brothers died, ending that generation."  The New Living Bible.

God's

Plan

Is

Greater

Than

Generations

"Ah, Pink?"  My wrist snapped and the thimble of water emptied on my friend's face.  I was teaching new friends a family game of "Colors."  My great aunts (the Loves) taught me the game as a small child. 

Exodus 1:6 may seem like an ending but it has promise.  The next verse in many translations starts with a "but" or "meanwhile".  God has lots more to teach the Israelites, after all Exodus is at the beginning of the Bible.

Too often we judge His work and plan through the restriction of our understanding of time. We become discouraged when we think God doesn't deliver when we think it's time.  But God is greater than time.  He invented time.  My favorite word in this verse and in this translation is due.  "Due" tells me to relax.  God has a Plan.  There is a timeline in His Hands.  God is in Control, despite the way it looks to me.

I'm sure of one aspect of God's Plan.  It's Love,  showing His Love to me, and you, and teaching me to love.  (My branch of the Love Family has ended on earth but God's Love will continue through and past all generations.)

The Sixes - Genesis

Genesis 1:6

I'm celebrating today!  Yesterday I accomplished a goal.  I fulfilled a challenge of posting a Lenten thought for 40 days.  I'm not sure I've ever fulfilled a goal for Lent.

I enjoyed it.  Each night I looked up the next word and "slept" on it.  I was eager to arise in the morning and post my little "aha" thought.  So I've been searching for another similar challenge.

A writer website issued a 6 word memoir challenge to become a precise writer.   I believe the Bible to have daily wisdom for me, and you, in each and every verse.  So I've designed a new quest... a 6 word learning from the 6th verse of each of the 66 books of the Bible.  It will be "Sixes gone wild!" or "Sixes go wise!"

Feel free to join me on my quest!  Leave a comment or post your 6 word thought for the day.

Day 1 - Genesis 1:6

"And God said, " Let the vapors separate to form the sky above and the ocean below." The Living Bible

God's 

Creation 

is 

Deep 

and 

Wide.

In a sense on the second day of creation, God created Up and Down, Sky and Ocean.  In my world of Ups and Downs, I need a God whose love for me, and you,  is Deep and Wide.

I am PUNY

"I've come for Jan's help." A tingle of fear went through my mind.  I'm the first wave of computer support at the office.  I have no official training.  But I'm gotten myself in trouble enough and remember a few of the solutions the professionals have used to remedy my calamities. That frisson of fear reminded me, I am merely a puny human.

"A November Iowa Sunset. The road looked puny compared to the sunset."

Psalm 9 reminds me of my place in the world: I am not God.  God is The One who defeats enemies, rescues me, delivers me, rebukes me for my own good, judges the wicked, and me, avenges injustice and vindicates the wrong.

Psalm 9 reminds me of my purpose in the world:  to publicly praise God with all of my heart. It seems so simple.  God is God and is more than able to handle the world.  Yet, I, and we, mere humans, think we can be victors, heroes, judges and avengers. 

We want to be superheroes among the mortals.  The final verse  of this Psalm makes it plain to which group we belong.  I checked several translations.  The final words of the Psalm were "merely human", "only mortal", "only human", "mere mortals", "are men", "only men", and my personal favorite "puny men."

I realize the last verse refers to contentious nations rebelling against God. If I'm honest with myself, I am guilty of being like those prideful nations, thinking I can control my life and destiny.  Too often I dig my own pits and fall in. (see verse 11)  Rarely do I set traps for others but I certainly try to protect, control and defend myself.  I'd like to think "I'd never do that" but  too often I fail at the very thing I'm judging another.

I did fix my coworker's issue with a disclaimer, "I can't do everything." Perhaps we need to embrace our "puniness."  After all, God is able, more able than our mortal minds can comprehend.  Who is better equipped?  Certainly not the mere humans.

Let's redefine puny.  Take away the negative connotation.  Adopt  PUNY as a guide for life.

P rotected and provided by God, not me.

U nder God's Plan, not mine (because I fall into the pits of my own design!)

N ot God, plain and simple (He is The Superhero who can do anything and everything.)

Y et loved, in spite of my refusal to accept my puniness. 

Hallelujah!  I will take the pledge of Puniness knowing that I will occasionally fall into a pit.  Yet God, this One and Only Amazing God is faithful.  He will gather this "puny self" up, dust me off and give me one more chance to discover the incredible life He has planned.

what if?

”give us senior citizens something free and we go crazy!”

I’d posted my Happy New Year message on Facebook with a short video. My friend commented that it sounded like I celebrated with a gaggle of geese. Actually it was a restaurant full of happy adults with free horns! They tooted through the entire 8 minutes of fireworks. (You’re glad I only posted 21 second but I have the whole 7+ minutes if you’re interested,)


My friend’s comment came to mind when I read my first assignment for the 2018 daily bible reading challenge.  Genesis 1-3 tells of  God’s work and provision for you and me. He created the world and everything we need. He also gave us the double edged gift of choice. We can choose good or evil, trouble or peace, God or self.

Adam and Eve listened to the serpent and their selfish desires.  After their choice to disobey they heard God coming. So they hid from the Giver of Life.

What if they’d remembered all the Giver had freely provided? What if they’d listened to their praise?

What if I would use praise in the challenging circumstances to combat temptations and feelings of defeat?

What if I could not be like Adam and Eve and praise God for what He has already done for me, in the past, present and into the future rather than thinking “why me?” Or “why not?”

What if, rather than hiding from God, who gave me all I ever need, I was like the revelers

with free horns and toot for joy for the whole 8 minutes?

What if we make 2018 the year of listening to God, not running and hiding, but praising Him for His Gifts?