Bugs or Bush, Keep God's Focus

T

 “His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://www.bible.com/116/mrk.1.6.nl

'What's for dinner?"  How many parents dread hearing this question from curious children. We spend time, money and effort worrying about our food intake 

"What will I wear?"  A question I personally dread.  Last night I made my clothing decisions so I didn't have to start my day with annoyance.

Today's verse reminds me that I allow the trivial decisions of food and clothing to distract me from God's work for me for the day.

John the Baptist was to prepare hearts and minds for the coming Savior.  He made his God given lifework his full attention.  To keep his focus, perhaps, he kept his meal and clothing choices to bare minimum.

To our world of excess, his choices seem weird but think of the time saved.  He wore simple sackcloth rather than spun cloth.  Same thing every day but I don't think they had"fashion police" in those days.  He didn't have to dress for success or to impress.  He had the most important news  of all time: Salvation  is coming!

He ate locusts instead of three course meals.  I did snoop the internet for the truth on locust eating.  There appears to be two opinions.  Yes, locusts are a bug that is available for food.  The scholars assure that they taste like shrimp.  Opinion two presents the locust bush which produces berries suitable for eating.  Regardless of which opinion sounds most palatable,  John kept it simple.

Today, what if I dressed to share the best news that came into my life:  Jesus loves even me!.What if I just grabbed a protein bar which will take a couple minutes to consume and give me energy for the morning and spent the extra time thanking God for His amazing love!

I'm not concerned about bugs or bush.  I am to keep life simple to share God's work more.  (Hence, I didn't waste time resolving the inability to get a caption under today's photo.  It would have been "My first cajun meal, in Chinatown!")

Keep life simple,share God's love in your life!

Unnamed used to accomplish His plan

"Ah, you're the one with slow feet."  There is a woman's group in the Philippines that gave me that name.  Many years ago, on a  mission trip, I was selected for dance instructions. The local dance involved hopping between long bamboo poles tapped in rhythm on the floor and each other.  The goal was not to have your foot smacked between the poles. The assumption was made that since I was one of the youngest members of the visiting group, agility would be in my skill set.  Alas,  I'd never made a dance troupe or drill team, nor could I teach my compatriots "The Moon Walk."   My teachers were patient but after several attempts I was released from the demonstration.  I was embarrassed but apparently still loved.  My Filipino friends loved me because of our common relationship with Jesus, not my dance performance.



“and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/mat.1.6.niv

At last, my blog journey through the sixth verse of every book of the Bible has arrived in the New Testament. I noticed that Bathsheba, one of just four women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus, is referenced by her relationship to Uriah, one of David's warriors sacrificed to cover the king's sin.  The other three women are named but not Bathsheba.

David and Bathsheba conceived a child while her husband was off to fight war on David's behalf.  Uriah died in battle orchestrated by David.  After a period of mourning David married Bathsheba.  The prophet Nathan confronted King David with his transgressions.Sadly, this unnamed child succumbed to disease.  David and Bathsheba's future child was Solomon, the heir to the throne.

Later in her life, Bathsheba  was instrumental in the "palace intrigue"which preserved the lineage of Jesus.  One of David's many sons asserted himself as King even though David had made clear Solomon, Bathsheba's son, was to be Israel's next king.  The prophet Nathan recruited Bathsheba to approach aged King David to inform David of the chaos in the line of succession.  As a result of Bathsheba and Nathan's audience with David, Solomon's throne was re-established.

As I snooped the internet for information on Bathsheba, it surprised me that most sites spend time recounting David and Bathsheba's affair..  This indiscretion did ultimately lead to the birth of Solomon, God's choice for king.  Yet didn't God use Bathsheba and her relationship to David to confirm the lineage of  Jesus, my King?

Perhaps the world remembers us by  our failures and indiscretions, yet I am reminded  that God still sees potential in the future of a slow footed non-dancer!  In this world, we may gain our names and reputations from failures and ill-chosen relationships.  I rejoice today that God named me His own by His grace and choice, not my inadequacies, faults or embarrassments.

Oct 20, 2019 am-Eph 11-22

What was your nickname in grade school?

Ephesians 2:11-22

How are you different today as compared to a time when you did not have a relationship with God?

What have you learned about God since then?

How many times is peace mentioned in these verses?

What does peace mean?

What is God's purpose for peace building?

What do we need to do to cooperate with God to have peace?

How will Jesus bring peace to the groups we humans create?

How many groups does God see in humanity?

Oct 20, 2019 pm

If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Romans 12:1-2

How has knowing God changed your life?

How has God show you mercy?
How should we respond?

How does the world think we should believe?
How does that differ from what God asks?

What is the benefit of  choosing God's way?

How can we renew our minds? (You might want to read the next verses, Romans 12: 3-21, for suggestions)

Will our individual transformations make a difference in today's world?  How?

October 13, 2019 pm

Describe one of your neighbors from your childhood neighborhood.
How well do you know your current neighbors?  Why?

Read Luke 10:25-37

What jumps off the page for you?

What does it mean to love God with all your heart, mind, strength & soul?

Describe someone who loves a neighbor as well as themself.

How are these two commands related?

What prevents us from loving our neighbor in today's world?

This week, how can you "love your neighbor"?  How can you make it a "beautiful day in the neighborhood"?

Why should we love our neighbors?

Who is your "neighbor"?

October 13, 2019 am

I'm in Seattle this week.  See you next week.

What is the nicest thing someone has done for you?  How did you respond?


Read Ephesians 2: 1-10

To mix it up, you have a choice or you can do both.

Here's a link to my favorite podcast, The Verb by Heather Holleman. Listen and discuss what "jumps out" at you!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-verb-with-heather-holleman/id1463309633?i=1000447606110


and/or

What does Paul mean by "we are God's handiwork?"

What is our purpose?  Do you feel equipped?  Are you equipped?

Put Nov. 21 on your calendars for now.  I'll keep you posted when the date for our meal for Strengthening Families is confirmed.

Thank you after every single item

““A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’”
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/mal.1.6.niv

"Lord, bless our customers  not because we provide for them but because of what they give to us."  I saw his prayer answered with a valuable learning that very day.

I volunteered at the local food pantry that day.  My job was to assist the shoppers by pushing the shopping cart and bagging their selections.  It has been enjoyable to watch the interaction of people.  Our shoppers and volunteers show each other respect and care, demonstrate lack of greed, and exhibit gratitude.  One particular day gave me insight into the verse in Malachi.

The  prophet was delivering bad news.  God was angry.  The people had shown Him disrespect by challenging His love for them.  Of course, the people are arrogant and, defensively, ask how they have shown contempt for God. The following verses detail the examples of ingratitude, of giving less than their best to God, of failure to show their love for God.

I grew up in The Show Me State, Missouri. So I respond when I see love lavished on me.  The first question in our premarital counseling was "How do you know you are in love?"  My response was a list of how my intended had showed me his love.  He did and does well nearly 45 years later.

A soft spoken gentlemen showed me how to demonstrate love and gratitude.  As he handed each one of his carefully selected items he murmured "thank you", not to me but just a quiet thank you in general.  He did it after each and every item that went into his bags. 

Do I say thank you for each and every blessing? 

Is there a blessing so small  that it doesn't merit gratitude?  Apparently not.

We teach little ones to say please and thank you.  This quiet man whispered a valuable lesson to me that day and Malachi loudly reminded me-- show my gratitude.