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.