Elul 20 :: What is the Enemy of Your Best?

A new twist on the old story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife... anyone who was raised going to Sabbath school or Sunday school as a child is very familiar with the tale of the Hebrew slave in the Egyptian household who was pestered continually by his master's wife until he finally had to flee from her, and subsequently found himself landed in prison for 11-14 years - thank you very much.

We tend not to think of the distractions and temptations in our own lives as being of the same caliber as the attempted seduction of Joseph by Potiphar's wife... but today's Elul devotional has challenged me to do just that. Our own "little white lie" or a self-indulgent temper tantrum when things don't go as planned can seem petty in comparison to a story of adultery or betrayal. But I wonder if maybe that is because we misunderstand the word "petty" to mean "inconsequential" - when, in reality, it just means "little." And even with that, we also forget that YHVH doesn't grade our sins on a bell curve. I kind of imagine He has two boxes: HOLY and PROFANE. And lest we also misunderstand the meaning of the word "holy" because it conjures up the image of feathery angels flying around with harps on clouds, it simply means "set apart."

So, with that in mind, today's challenge is to think of those people or things that are calling and tempting us to anything other than our destiny to become that person YHVH has called us to be as what they really are: distractions, temptations, seductions.  It could be a drug, it could be a habit, it could be more busy work for a religious organization that is taking our focus off of the bigger picture and our higher calling. 

I like the way Oswald Chambers worded it: "The good is always the enemy of the best."

Elul 19 :: Dream On!

I know there are some who claim they never dream. I admit, I am skeptical of those claims. I don't normally remember my dreams much past when I wake up, and if I do, they are so muddled and convoluted, they rarely make much sense when I try to recount them aloud. Usually though, they evaporate as soon as I become fully conscious.

There are others who vividly dream and recall their dreams in great detail. I will admit, I am also often skeptical of those claims as well. Most likely because that is not my own experience, and I find it hard to relate. But having recently finished reading the book of Daniel and some of his fantastic dreams, I have to wonder what that might be like.

Jacob, Joseph, and later Daniel were just a few of the more "famous" dreamers of old. Today's Elul devotional from The Rabbi's Son reflects:

A world without dreamers would subject all signs of spiritual life to repetitive forms of mind-controlling religion.

...to people who have - and aspire to - no personal relationship with [YHVH]... a receiver of dreams is... a threat to their chosen forms of pleasant deception.

For us to accord validity to dreams involves acknowledging the existence of the One behind the dreams and considering ourselves accountable to that One. It also involves admitting that we don't have all the answers and there might just be more to Life that we have imagined or experienced.

After considering those observations, I can only come to one conclusion:  There is already enough of mind-controlling religion out there in the world today as well as way too many people who think they have all the answers but are not accountable to anyone, so, let's have more dreamers!

Elul 18 :: A Rose By Any Other Name

Kids can be mean. We all know that, because we all used to be kids at one point in our lives. Most of us survived that, but not without a few bumps or bruises. One of the things I have had to do throughout my adult years is to re-train my brain to stop believing lies that I heard about myself during those growing up years.

That is probably why the song by D.J. Butler that came out in 1987 went straight to my heart.

I will change your name

You shall no longer be called

Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid

I will change your name

Your new name shall be

Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one

Faithfulness, friend of God

One who seeks My face 

I used to think that being self-deprecating equated to humility. It doesn't. Humility is a good thing, but it does not involve calling yourself names that YHVH does not call you. It does not involve believing you are less than who YHVH created you to be. A good definition of humility can be found on the Christian Bible Reference Site:

In the Bible, humility or humbleness is a quality of being courteously respectful of others. It is the opposite of aggressiveness, arrogance, boastfulness, and vanity. Rather than, "Me first," humility allows us to say, "No, you first, my friend." Humility is the quality that lets us go more than halfway to meet the needs and demands of others.

There is nothing in that definition that requires believing that we are stupid or worthless. Those are just lies of our accuser, and should be rejected in favor of Truth.

My new name shall be Confidence, Joyfulness, Overcoming One, Faithfulness, Friend of God, One Who Seeks His Face.

Elul 17 :: Double Standards

We all have our blind spots. Thankfully, most of us have people in our lives who care enough to call us out on them.

Today's Elul challenge was a call to another session of self-examination. In particular, this one feels a little like my toes are being stepped on:

What aspects of the cultural philosophy, prevalent mode of thinking, prioritizing and valuing things have you accepted for yourself and your household?

Oh, I can think of a few. Actually, quite a few. Prioritizing and valuing things that replace the really important things are a big stumbling block for many of us. So, with that thought in mind, I'm going to cut my introspection short and spend some time doing something really important.

Elul 16 :: What's Your Story?

My favorite line from the 1990 movie Pretty Woman sums up the theme of the movie for me: The homeless/crazy/prophet character at the end of the movie walking across the street, crying out, "What's your dream?" Official plot of the movie aside, what stands out in my memory is the weaving of the stories of two lost people from vastly different backgrounds with similar dreams of connecting and belonging.

Today's Elul devotion rightly observed that we each have our own story to tell about our first encounter with YHVH our Elohim, relating it to the familiar Bible tale of Jacob leaving home and his dramatic, life-changing experience of meeting the God of his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham on a ladder or staircase to heaven.

We each have our own unique story of meeting God for the first time, because our backgrounds are so vastly different. None of us were likely running for our lives from our twin brother, but my guess is that each of us was running from something. In spite of that - or maybe because of that - YHVH wants and is able to meet each one of us where we are and fulfill our dreams for connection and belonging. In fact, I would say that if we are paying attention, we could see that He orchestrates or choreographs multiple opportunities for us to meet with Him.

Sometimes, the stories are dramatic and bring us to tears, sometimes the stories are quiet and intensely personal. Not one story is either more, or less, important to Him. What is important is that we respond to His revelation of Who He is and who we are in Him. No Hollywood endings, no knights in shining armor carrying bouquets of flowers charging in riding a limo. This story is much better and far beyond what we could dream or imagine. That is probably why He has captured so many hearts.

Elul 15 :: Priorities

Have you noticed that any time you try to set priorities for yourself, the world comes barging in with distractions? At least, that's how it is for me. In pondering the challenge of today's Elul devotion:

1. Consider the value of [YHVH's] Instructions for Living...to know what is good and what will have redemptive effect in Creation.
2. Do you believe [YHVH] is calling you to increase or change the amount or quality of time you dedicate to reading and studying His Written Word?

Having set before myself for the next month plus to stay off of social media and spend more time studying God's written word, I was fully aware that it was not going to be an easy transition. It's not like I've never gone on a fast before. However, unlike a fast from food in which one can make a conscious choice about putting food in one's mouth - or not - abstaining from media in this day and age would involve keeping earplugs in and staying in bed. Unless you live in a cave, that's not going to happen.

Setting priorities is one thing. Removing yourself from all distraction and temptation is another. And to what purpose? I realize that Jesus/Yeshua went off into the wilderness for 40 days to fast and pray, but he also wasn't holding down two jobs that required he show up for work and spend 8 hours on the computer 5 days a week. So I don't think the cave or wilderness is the answer here. A better solution than removing yourself from all likelihood of distraction would be to ask for discernment and discipline to recognize and turn from the distractions. Let's face it, they come dressed so innocently, a text message from a friend in crisis, an opportunity to spend time with a loved one.

Hear me: I am NOT saying those opportunities should be refused in order to spend time with my Bible in my lap and my earplugs in. That would surely be a prime example of "being so heavenly-minded that we're no earthly good." Instead of viewing them as distractions, wouldn't it be better to view them as opportunities to put the wisdom I am learning to work to "have redemptive effect in Creation"?

Personally, I think that once I can start recognizing them as such, the adversary isn't going to try nearly as hard to throw so many my way.

...be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2b (NKJV)

Elul 14 :: What We Value

"Think of a wedding anniversary. We remember and commemorate our wedding anniversary because we highly value what happened on that very special day."

Oh... I wish I had heard this comparison before the last time I had a conversation about observing the Sabbath with someone. I was made to understand that I was being legalistic and they were much more enlightened than I, because they "could observe any day as the Sabbath", since their "rest is in Christ." When a conversation goes in that direction, you might as well change the subject because it is no longer an exchange of thoughts and ideas; it has at that point become a defense of their position.

Perhaps I was being overly sensitive, but I really don't think so. I had officially had my opinions dismissed as irrelevant. Now I wonder if I had made the same comparison when it came to celebrating a birthday or anniversary, how different the response might have been.

Because, according to today's Elul devotion, how much value we assign to an event is the key factor in how important that event is to us. Recently, I happened upon a lovely calendar which I downloaded and will be printing for my own use. Understanding the Appointed Times of YHWH is available at Love and Instruction's website and they have put a lot of effort into making it a work of art as well as a great reference for information about God's appointed times. I love what they have to say about the Sabbath:

In our fast paced society, this special day is a true gift; a time when we set aside the worries of our lives and lay our burdens down, as we come together with friends and family for a “Holy Convocation” to relax with our Creator and be renewed and refreshed by His Spirit and His Word.

Today's devotion with The Rabbi's Son describes it this way:

The Creator and man spent time that day doing nothing but enjoying each other’s company and delighting in each other’s presence.

So tell me please, if I were using that same word picture to describe my honeymoon, or a day set apart to spend with a beloved family member celebrating a special day, would I still be "legalistic"? Somehow I'm guessing the answer would be No. 

But by far, the most head-scratching answer - and one I most frequently hear is: But I can worship God any day..." Yes. Of course you can - and should! However, Richard Rives at Too Long in the Sun puts it this way:

The fourth commandment has absolutely nothing to do with religious activity on any certain day.
In fact, it is just the opposite, it is a day of rest, prescribed by God.  We should worship God every day.

The Sabbath was established at the time of the creation of the world.
It is not the Jewish Sabbath or the Christian Sabbath; it is God’s Sabbath.

Thank you. You took the words right out of my mouth.

Elul 13 :: You understand all my thoughts from afar

Let me be perfectly honest. I don't always care much for the direction the Elul devotions take. And when it comes to examining my inmost thoughts, I'm sure I am not the only person who feels more than a little discomfort when it comes to honest self-examination.

So, when today's devotional ended with the challenge:
...surrender to [YHVH] our ‘right to privacy’ [really our ‘right of self-deception’] and expose every last hidden pocket of selfishness, worldliness, and sin – to His Constant Scrutiny and Counsel...

ending with the words of Psalm 139:

O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether...

...Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And  lead me in the way everlasting.

My reaction was, Really? He already knows what I think - is it really necessary for me to dredge it up and examine it? Can't we just move along?

I get that this is a season of self-examination and turning our attention to YHVH. And, because I voluntarily signed up for this course and paid my tuition, I'm going to set aside my discomfort and allow for a little dredging so I can teshuvah - repent and return to YHVH - from my secret thoughts that don't bring Him glory and certainly don't do me any good.

WDSS?

When I embarked on my journey of faith, I had faith that the people who were teaching me knew the answers. I was, after all, only 9 years old. If you can't start out trusting your parents and your teachers, then it's guaranteed to be an uphill slog all the way. It does not escape my notice that I was a "very fortunate one" to have been born into the family I was. Many years later, I realize that is not necessarily the norm for many people. Because of this, relationships with other people can be a challenge, not to mention how it affects one's relationship with our Creator, YHVH.  But, I digress...

Much, much later I have come to be aware of a Biblical truth that, having been raised in a denomination that did not spend a lot of time exploring and figuring out how to apply to principles taught in what the Christian church calls "The Old Testament", we have essentially "inherited lies."

The Scriptures 2009 translates Jeremiah 16:19 like this:

O יהוה, my strength and my stronghold and my refuge, in the day of distress the nations shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, “Our fathers have inherited only falsehood, futility, and there is no value in them.”

While New King James translates it:

O Lord, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction, The Gentiles shall come to You From the ends of the earth and say, “Surely our fathers have inherited lies, Worthlessness and unprofitable things.

The fact that the word things is italicized tells me that the word did not appear in the original language. That may seem like an innocuous thing, but at this point on my faith journey, it frustrates me to realize that translators have, over the centuries, tried to "help us understand" the meaning of scripture and, in some cases, have actually distorted the original intent of a passage. I have come to have a level of distrust of doctrines and practices that have been handed down to us in various churches and denominations over the centuries, and now am trying to apply the adage: WDSS? What Does Scripture Say?

Not having studied Greek or Hebrew in school, and having minimal training in using Strong's Concordance, I am right there with the majority of Bible readers throughout the ages when it comes to being able to understand the original intent of scripture. Or Am I? Granted, there is no shortage of self-proclaimed "'scholars" available on the Internet everywhere you look these days, but I am not referring to some of those dubious teachings. Even with reading scripture in the original language, we are still subject to our denominational bias through which we still subconsciously filter what we read and learn.

So, what can we do in the face of so many obstacles to understanding the Instructions and Principles that YHVH would have us look to as obedient servants? We look to Him.

Down through the ages, Jewish faithful have had the practice of reciting a prayer before and after reading scripture. In my years attending various home and corporate Bible studies, it is often also the norm to offer a prayer asking for wisdom and discernment. This is not a bad habit to have. I would almost venture to say that without His opening our hearts and minds to understanding, we might as well leave The Book to collect dust on the shelf - Except for the fact that Scripture says His word will not return void.

But let's face it. Ancient language scholars aside, in this day and age with instant access online to almost any study guide available, not to mention search engines and Bible translations galore, none of us have any excuse for not searching out the Truth for ourselves. 

Having the courage to walk in it... now, that is another step of faith. 

Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;

And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.

For the Lord is a God of justice;

Blessed are all those who wait for Him.

* * * * * *

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

“This is the way, walk in it,”

Whenever you turn to the right hand

Or whenever you turn to the left. - Isaiah 30:18,21 (NKJV)

Baruch Adonai ham’vorach l’olam va-ed. Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, asher bachar banu mikol haamim, v’natan lanu et Torato. Baruch atah, Adonai, notein haTorah.

Blessed is Adonai who is blessed now and forever.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, 

who has chosen us from among the peoples, and given us the Torah. 

Blessed are You, Adonai, who gives the Torah.¹

¹ https://reformjudaism.org/practice/prayers-blessings/shabbat-morning-worship-services-blessings-reading-torah

Elul 12 :: You May Say I'm a Dreamer

The John Lennon song Imagine is a ballad that imagines a world with "No need for greed or hunger, A brotherhood of man." I can get behind those lyrics, but the rest of the song is a little up in the air as to how one might define heaven or hell or even religion. And certainly if there was "nothing to die for", it makes me wonder if there is anything worth living for. But that is my issue, I suppose. Enough people liked the song the way it was written for it to place #3 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Hits of All Time.

But I'm actually thinking of another dreamer after reading today's Elul devotion from The Rabbi's Son. Silver and gold, herds of animals so vast they could not be contained in one location, the possession of an oil-rich valley in the Middle East. He kept giving it away and kept on wandering, searching for something more important than material wealth.

In a land and culture of nomadic tribes, that he would be constantly wandering should be no surprise. For one thing, there were those herds to feed. But some speculate that he was constantly moving in search of something. Basically, for 100 years, Abram walked with his family and herds from what is now southeastern Iraq, near the Persian Gulf, to approximately northeastern Syria, down through Damascus, Lebanon, through Israel, through Saudi Arabia, into Egypt, and back up to Israel again, dying at age 175 near Hebron, about 30 miles south of what is now Jerusalem.  

Approximation of Abram's travels

It's not certain in my mind what drove Abram on his quest. Maybe it was something as simple as fresh grazing grounds for his flocks. Today's devotional speculates that he was constantly searching for the presence of God, and that seems like a valid reason as well. 

I do wonder if Abram, having experienced what it was like to have intimate fellowship with his creator YHVH and realizing that this world and anything it contains cannot compare, was what we might today call a Dreamer. No rewards, no riches, nothing to be gained in this life compared for him to the Greater Reward of his experience with God.

Elul 11 :: Extreme Makeover

Every time [YHWH] steps off the Throne of Heaven and walks on the earth with the sons and daughters of Adam, [ordinary lives] always undergo an extreme makeover of absolutely historic proportions.

Thinking today about how radically the lives of an ordinary shepherd Abram and his wife Sarai were changed because they listened and had the faith to obey. Not only their lives were changed, but the course of history has felt the impact of their obedience for over 4,000 years.

So it is with my life and the life of anyone else who will sh'ma - the Hebrew word that means listen, or hear and do - YHVH's voice speaking to us. Why is it, then, that we don't listen, or hear and do? Is our faith weak? Are we doubting what we are hearing is not from God? Do we think that He would never speak to us because we're not as important as someone like Abram? Guess again: Abram wasn't called because he was important. He became important because he had faith in the One who called him, and obeyed the call. 

I'm not saying YHVH is calling us to father a nation that will impact and bless all mankind. That job has already been filled. I'm not saying God is calling you to be Billy Graham or Mother Teresa. God calls each one of us because He has a job for US - each one of us. No, I'm saying that Abram took one step of faith and obedience, which led to another, which led to another. It's not that hard of a pattern to follow. 

I know... I know... "How do I hear God's voice?" It's the question we have all asked at one point in time. I have found that the more time you spend reading His Word, the more you will begin to recognize His Voice. (Granted, that was not the pattern for Abram as there was no written Word at that point in history. He was also a few thousand years closer to those who had walked and talked intimately with God, so one might think Abram possibly had an inkling of Who he was hearing.) 

But I would like to suggest that there are plenty of clues written down in the Instruction Manual of Life for us, if we just take to time to dust off the cover:

II Chronicles 25 tells us that "As long as King Uzziah (also called Azariah) sought the Lord, God made him prosper." Conversely, in  II Chronicles 25-26, we learn that Uzziah's father, Amaziah turned from the LORD and did not prosper. 

Lesson learned: Seek the Lord. Kind of a no-brainer, don't you think? Because once we start seeking - and listening for - the voice of YHVH, there is no scarcity of instructions to be found. He has called and continues to call. It's on us to sh'ma - Hear and Obey.

If you enjoy Christine Miller's art, you might also enjoy her Bible studies.

Elul 10 :: A Walk in the Park

"Imagine yourself going for a walk in a park with a close friend.  How would you interact with that friend in the course of [the walk]..."

In considering the Bible character Enoch, and the report in Genesis that he "walked with God", it is tempting to think we can imagine what that might have been like. A stroll through the woods or park on a pleasant afternoon with your best friend is the image that comes to my mind. I am happily in the habit of doing just that with my husband and family during the various seasons of the year. 

But, somehow, I would have to think that having the opportunity to walk with YHVH takes the concept of "a walk in the park" to a whole new level. I sincerely doubt that I would be wasting my time talking about the frustrations of work, or where we might go for vacation, or if we should trade in the car, or stop at the taco truck on the way home to grab a bite. I probably would not even be musing about the abundant and various plant life, wondering how the native tribes from our area knew to prepare such things as tubers and grasshoppers, or speculating as to exactly which glen was used in the filming of scenes from Robin Hood in our local park back in 1922.

Bidwell Park, 2018

Rather, I'd like to hope I would be using the amazing opportunity of a walk in the park with my Creator to focus on deeper subjects, topics with eternal significance. And I certainly want to imagine that I would be more concerned with learning how to see things from His point of view than merely being distracted by the beauty surrounding me. 

The things that I really want to know the answers to would probably fade away in an instant as my perspective shifted and I had the chance to catch a glimpse of something bigger than my little self. 

Bidwell Park, 2018

Elul 9 :: A Look in the Mirror

Today's introspection was sparked by the response of Cain after he killed his brother Abel. If you aren't familiar with the story, God asked Cain one simple question: Where is your brother?

Thinking on this interaction, it had honestly never occurred to me before that Cain wasn't lying when he told God, I don't know. Of course he knew where Abel's body had been buried, but he obviously never would have had any reason to ponder the question of Life After Death.

Cutting to the chase, and thinking on this:  It's very easy for us to forget that, while God does love us, so does He love the other people He has created. And, to further complicate matters, He can - and does - place other people within our sphere of influence and interaction for reasons that are often only apparent to Him. It has been my experience that frequently my rough edges are in need of "sanding off", and what better tool to accomplish that task than a piece of sandpaper in the form of an "irritating" person.

There are a multitude of ways to remove an irritation. A burr in your sock can easily be picked off. A co-worker in the next cubicle - not so much. For that, one option might be to remove yourself from the situation (if you are independently wealthy and don't need that paycheck); you could la-la-la or self-medicate the irritation into the background (not ideal), or you can figure out how to work within the situation and learn to understand the other person (not always possible, but sometimes compromise is the best answer.) Obviously, there are nuances to my hypothetical scenarios, and variations can be applied to most irritations, such as a bad marriage, "unfavorable" election results, traffic jams when you're late, etc. You catch my drift.

Easy challenge for today:

Think of the people who most irritate you. Some should be people you know personally; others should be some you know only through media [celebrities, politicians, world rulers, etc.]

Not so easy second challenge:

Now, think of how God can use that person’s action to bring forth good in your life or in the world.

Interestingly, when the challenge was given, I assumed my list would be short. Probably not surprising: The answer was NO. (And I think of myself as a fairly amiable person with only a "few" idiosyncrasies.) But, judging by the vitriol constantly spewing from the headlines, Twitter, Facebook, etc., attacking various politicians, public policies, Supreme Court decisions, entertainers, and the like,  I am obviously not the only one that is irritated.

It's in coming up with an example of how God can use those irritating actions to bring forth good in our lives - that is the real challenge because, let's face it, deep down we are all still 2 years old when it comes to wanting our own way. This is what requires thinking outside the box. It requires daring to imagine that we might not have the whole picture, or we need to adjust our perspective.

Dare I say it? I think this is where Trusting God comes in. Laying down the blueprints we have drawn for our lives and saying, Not my will, but Yours be done. As Christine Miller says on her blog, There may be things you don’t understand, but He is sending His understanding to you to recognize God-appointed key connections and new relationships.

Elul 8 :: Change of Focus

Wow. How often have I been in a situation, not of my own choosing, and the words "It's not fair!" spring to my lips?

So here are some challenging thoughts gleaned from today's Elul devotional, courtesy of Biblical Lifestyle Center:

1. Words like ‘fair’ and ‘right’ are just the nonsensical buzzwords of irreverent, unhappy, little men with grossly exaggerated ideas of their own importance.
2. An angry heart is self-centered, petty, and weak.

Being a person with an over-developed sense of "right and wrong", I have had to consciously learn over the years to give up my "right to be right" and figure out the deeper truth I was supposed to learn from the situation. Not to say that it's easy, it never is. But once you grasp the concept of dying to "Self", you become more attuned to discovering that life is not always fair because we are not the center of anything, except our own little egos. *gulp*  Guilty as charged.

So, what did I learn from today's example of Cain and his anger regarding his unaccepted "sacrifice"? That I cannot maintain an attitude of love, reverence, and devotion to the God I claim to follow while "at the same time entertain strong opinions that something which has happened to [me] was ‘not right’,  ‘not fair’, or ‘not deserved." Does that mean, conversely, that I did deserve those things to happen to me? No, I don't think it means that at all. Stuff happens. All the time. To everyone. That's how it is in this fallen world. To have the mindset that "I didn't deserve this" would seem to imply that, somewhere deep inside, we also secretly harbor the notion that someone else deserved it... 

I'm just going to chew on that for awhile.

Elul :: In the Garden

I am not sure why it is that songs I have heard over the years pop into my mind given any topic whatsoever. I am discovering that as I mull my way through the daily Elul devotionals with Biblical Lifestyle Center.  So it was with Day 7, reading about our relationship with the Sabbath that the song "In the Garden" came to my mind. As I read over the lyrics again, I am torn between thinking how old-fashioned and simplistic the lyrics are - and how appropriate when thinking about the Sabbath rest.

The question regarding Sabbath observance was the very first thing that I wondered about as a child with my first Bible. For many years I accepted the answer that "Christians observe Sunday because that's when Jesus rose from the dead." Never once did I question that most western Christians didn't exactly observe a day of "rest", even on Sunday. Then I hit my 40s and began to learn more about what Sabbath observance actually meant. Just a glance through the Wiki article on Sabbath is probably more information than anyone can digest, so my inclination is to go back to basics. The first mention of resting on the seventh day of course appears, "In the Beginning"... 

And Elohim blessed the seventh day and set it apart, because on it He rested from all His work which Elohim in creating had made. Genesis 2:3.

Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 both go on to elaborate: 

“Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart.  “Six days you labour, and shall do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath There are other Sabbaths, but this is the weekly Sabbath of יהוה your Elohim. You do not do any work – you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

The fact that God makes a "big deal" out of His people observing the Sabbath rest seems to have been largely swept under the proverbial rug by many in the modern day church. It has become a day to watch football or golf, hang out at the mall with friends, catch up on errands or housecleaning, work on the budget, go camping, hiking or other leisure activities - but never about spending time focusing on the Creator and His delight in us. Today's devotional puts it like this:

It comes around every seventh day, calls to us, and challenges our sense of self-importance. [Emphasis mine.]

I appreciate what Christine Miller has to say about it in her blog. The Purpose of the Sabbath:

Human beings...only pursue that which they truly desire to obtain! If a man does not want something very badly, he does not put forth much effort in obtaining it. But if he deeply desires something, then he goes to any lengths to obtain the true desire of his heart.

Those who seek Him, are those who understand among the children of men. Understand what? That without Him, life is meaningless! That He is the point and the purpose of their existence! 

So the challenge for today is the question:

What adjustments do you think [YHVH] would want you to make in order to improve the quality of your... Sabbath experience during this season of [turning and returning]?

Thank you, Christine Miller.

Elul :: What Have You Done?

Today's introspection is going to veer just slightly off course. (After all, these are my reflections and randomizings.) After reading the devotional for today at Biblical Lifestyle Center, it started me thinking about how I spend my time and why I am going through this series in the first place.

Accurately assess what you have done with the time, energy, 

gifts and creativity afforded you, 

and how that compares to what the King called and empowered you to do and build.

The reason I decided to forego social media during this season is that every time I get on just to check out what people are doing, what photos have been uploaded of family or vacations, I end up getting sucked in - sometimes for hours. Yes, it is no one's fault but my own. This one is not on Mark Zuckerberg or his buddies from Harvard. This one is totally on me.

Do I enjoy checking on my friends and finding out what they're up to? Of course I do. In this day and age, it is so much quicker and easier to keep up with my kids and those I care about with a few mouse clicks and a peep into the window of their lives. But when I stop to think about it, where is the personal interaction that makes for a healthy relationship? Have we reduced our human interaction to a mouse-click to satisfy a momentary curiosity - and then move on?

And we wonder outloud why people are so disconnected and display such anger and hostility - not only online, but in public as well. Could it be that with all of our "social" media apps, we have lost touch with humanity?

I know this video has been shared millions of times. (Literally. Millions.) But the message never gets old and continues to make a very timely point that needs to be not just heard - but change our way of doing life.

Can We Auto-Correct Humanity?

But back to the point of the Day 6 devotional for Elul... assessing what we have done with the time and talents given us... and how that compares to what we have been called to do.

First: What have we been called to do? It goes back to that question we have all asked ourselves - What is God's will for my life? Well, if we believe the Word of God (which I can't believe you have bothered to read this far if you don't), then we should know that [We are] Elohim's workmanship, created in Messiah unto good works. Ephesians 2:10 and [We are] a spiritual light to the world. Matthew 5:14.
And that's just a glimpse at what we are supposed to be about.

So then, in light of that, am I accurately assessing what I am doing with my time, energy, gifts, and creativity and comparing my actions to my calling? That is why I am here, and not trolling Facebook memes. I want to do more than get a momentary glimpse into the lives of people, I want to interact and let them impact me (and hopefully I will do the same in return.) Instead of posting memes, I'm writing cards - or at the very least, emails. I am sharing my thoughts and my journey. Hopefully, I am planting seeds.

Elul :: Tiptoe through the Tulips

Day 5:     The Blame Game 

Well, that's not exactly the title of today's Elul devotion, but it might as well be. I once worked for a man who had a very wise motto: Don't fix the blame, fix the problem. It nipped excuses in the bud around the office. Just take care of the mess you find yourself in. I later worked in another office where the motto was "Rule #1: Don't Make Mistakes. Rule #2: Admit it when you do." Let's face it, everyone makes mistakes... It only makes matters worse when you try to cover them up.

Covering up mistakes and blaming others for our mistakes are not quite the same thing, but the results can be similar: Both end up making a mess.  I admit, I struggled walking through my feelings with today's devotional. It ripped off a few band-aids. And as much as I value honestly, I value privacy just as much, so I will bypass any personal details - because everyone has their own wounds, and no one's gore compares to the pain of our own wounds. So, when I say that considering today's admonition...

"instead of facing a difficult or unpleasant situation or circumstance head-on, and asking [YHVH] for wisdom, comfort, forgiveness, and any necessary assistance,

[I elect] to assess blame and levy accusation against a fellow human being... [I], in effect, drive a dagger into the heart of God"

...it puts my refusal to accept responsibility for the part I played in any mistakes or cover-ups in a "whole 'nuther light." 

Instead of asking the question, "Who's to blame?", we should be asking the questions, "How will each person involved respond, and How can we make sure that good comes out of this?" Fair assessment. How does that look, you ask? Ahh. Here is the part I don't like walking out. There are too many ugly things in this world that make us default to crying out, "God! Where are You in this? How can You possibly work out this for my good?"

And the thing is, I know better. Yes, my junk is ugly and my band-aids are covering up some nasty welts. But in comparison, I have so little to complain about in the scope of eternity. (Heck, in the scope of now.) I honestly cannot recall any person in my family who has been beheaded or even belittled for their faith. No one has been kidnapped or trafficked. My home has not been bombed or burned out. When you stop and consider many of the world's hurts, mine pale in comparison. But they still hurt me. So, the challenge in today's reading: 

Accurately assess Who – Or What Event or Circumstance – we are Blaming For Us Getting Off-track and Preventing Us From Being All We Were Created to Be

brings up an interesting question: WHO are we created to be? And how is it that we stumble over the problems and the wounds and the darts that are fired in our direction and we allow them to keep us from realizing who we are created to be? 

It should really come as no surprise when we look at our circumstances from that point of view that we discover the culprit and the reason is the same as it has ever been. It is the reason our adversary tempted the first woman in the very beginning. We've lost our focus, we've lost our center, we've lost our understanding of WHO we are created to be... and that same old adversary is still up to his same old tricks, getting us off track by getting us to doubt YHVH and His plan for us. 

Is it any wonder that the writer of Hebrews wrote 2,000 years ago, "let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us..." The apostle Sha'ul in 1 Corinthians uses the same analogy of running a race when he says, "Do you not know that those who run in a race indeed all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to obtain it. And everyone who competes controls himself in every way. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we for an incorruptible crown. Therefore I run accordingly, not with uncertainty. Thus I fight, not as one who beats the air."

As difficult and painful as it is to walk through an exercise of determining what people or events or circumstances we blame for the way our lives have turned out, the reality is that everything has happened or is happening is just a shadow. Sometimes a bitter shadow, I grant you that. But by putting my focus back where it belongs, I can get past that and move to a place of healing and comfort because I do know the end of the story, and I do know Who I am. 

D.J. Butler set it nicely to music:

I will change your name
You shall no longer be called
Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid
I will change your name
Your new name shall be
Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one
Faithfulness, friend of God
One who seeks My face.

Elul :: Asleep in the Light

One of my favorite Keith Green songs from his album No Compromise goes in part like this:

The world is sleeping in the dark,

That the church just can't fight,

'cause it's asleep in the light!

How can you be so dead?!

When you've been so well-fed

Jesus rose from the grave,

And you! You can't even get out of bed!

I always feel convicted every time I hear that song. Admittedly, I don't hear it much these days, as it was released in 1978 and doesn't get much air time anymore, especially since Keith died in 1982. I want my mind to be boggled that this song didn't make it to the list 11 Keith Green Songs That Changed Worship Music, but I get why it didn’t. A song that challenges our lukewarm complacency is not exactly a song that gets our spiritual vibes revved up. But today's Elul devotional brought it to mind as I read Light Shines in the Darkness.

In the darkness... we "are like one-year-old children who attempt to play hide-and-seek by covering their own eyes, assuming that if they cannot see others, then others cannot see them." The problem is that we try to live our lives like that - until someone switches on the light and we see things as they are: "All your soiled places, all your spots, stains, wrinkles, and blemishes become visible."

But stepping into the Light is a good thing. It forces us to face the "inadequacy of [our] coping mechanisms" and causes us to want to change. The more I get into this introspection and start examining the darkness I have let creep into my life, the more I am challenged to seek out the light. One of the "Challenges" for today is to "shine HIS light on what [I] have been prioritizing, ...spending [my] spare time doing, ...spending non-essential money to purchase, ...allowing [my] mind to think about..."

I've got to admit, there's a bit of a glare.

Thank you, Christine Miller.