Blogging Took Up All My Words…Apparently

Well, if you think the last couple day’s post have been a change of wind, they have!

I found that I was using so many of my “words” online that I really didn’t have much to say by the time The Hub got home.  My laughs were used up, and my words were gone, and he’s been so busy this fall, it didn’t matter.  It was helpful.  Now…it matters.  It’s nice to be missed, however, I have some restructuring to attend to.

Having comments turned off has made me appreciate the conversation of my family more.  I have a broad circle of friends here!  It’s great to know you can sustain me in tough seasons, and this summer and fall were hard in a number of ways.  We continue to face challenges even now. 

Tonight, I even watched a movie mid-week with The Fam:  The Santa Claus.  I laughed my head off.  Nope, I’d never seen it before.

We started some Christmas giving tonight…my daughter bought us all presents today at the school store with her character counts money!!!  She came home steathily, wrapped them like a pro, and delivered them tonight, not able to wait!  It was so sweet.  Now, that is holiday spirit…spontaneity and love and sacrifice.  What a sweetie!  I got a Mozart tape.  I will enjoy it.  She asked if I would share it with her.    That’s my girl.  The others got Christmas ornaments, very nice ones, outdated from card store editions.  We LOVED them. 

I bought some a Christmas card stamping kit today at Rite Aid.  The delightful little fun stamps turned out to be a bout 25 cents a piece, so I just couldn’t resist the urge to make a few cards, though I generally like store bought.  We got a card making kit last year, and Golilocks and I made a few during a snow day last winter.  Thought I’d see if I could churn a few more out.  It was fun…a change of pace.   They have 2-3 more if you want to look…the stamps were nice.  $10 for the kit.  I usually don’t like wood block kits, but as they are all Christmas and fit in one tidy box, I can store them away after the season with ease. 

I ordered a few gifts online today.  Lovin’ the online gifting. 

I am staying caught up…read through Ezekiel 25 today.  Man.  Weirdness there.  I don’t guess I’ve ever read all these prophets, much less straight through.  It’s having a bit impact on me.  Mainly, in terms of my sense of what is important to God:  the poor, the needy, the orphan, the widow, and keeping him first at heart.  Those issues are repeated by the prophets like a parents talking to a teenager:  over, and over, and over, and over.  I realize that I have not kept the things most important to the heart of God close enough to my heart.

Also emphasized is the discipline of God.  He said in the last chapter I read, “I had covered your sins, but your rebellion made me remember them all”.  Isn’t that how it works with most of us?  Character breeds trust–lack of character destroys it.

Also, the huge enemy of our souls:  pride.  Pride in beauty.  Pride in wealth.  Comfort.  Plenty.  Coveting other nations, other ways, other loves.  Not caring for our children enough, and their spiritual heritage.  Oh Lord…we have much work to do. 

Well, that’s all for today.

Thanks for your blog-ship!  (Comments are dis-abled intentionally for this post.    Blessings!!!)

Read The Bible In 90 Days: One Page Printable Schedule

A one page .pdf file for those needing a concise reading schedule to read the Bible in 90 Days.  This does not require a “90 Days Thin-Line” Bible.  I prefer my own Study Bible with notes.  90 Day .pdf File

I am on day 54-55.  The intense and fast reading has so many neural synapses firing it’s hard to describe.  To hear a sermon and see other subpoints jump off pages…it’s been incredible.  I’ve set aside this season will all my kids going to school to spend some in-depth time with the Lord through his word, and I’m so glad he’s graced me with a little time.  I had a lot of brushing up to do.  Things I’ve read all my life have new life, words, meanings.  They are expanded.  Every night, I talk to The Hub about wild things I’ve found as I read, usually while he takes some R&R catching up on Sports news.  I’m sure he appreciates the interruptions!  But, he does usually realize it’s going to be cool at this point, he’ll lower the volume or mute for a second.  I love to hear his, “No kidding!”  “Really?”  “Wow.”

He’ll remember it much longer than I will, so it works out well.

Tuesday–Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon

Today, 491 people visited me, and no one said a word.  They were all pretty much speechless.  Dang, I’m good.  I feel sorry for pastors.  That’s a little weird, when no one says anything all day!  But, it’s okay.  I can  handle it.

Boy wonder was home sick today, and I was still recovering.   I’m now only a week behind in reading, and if I can hold to that, I’ll be content.  Right now I’m waiting for my man to get home.  Not that it’s related to reading Song of Solomen.  Okay, maybe it is…give me some credit. 

Moving one…you know what I think the problem is with Ecclesiastes?  (‘Cause you KNOW I’m not about to blog about Song of Solomon.  Well, not right now, anyway).  The problem is, the guy was given wisdom, but he blew it. 

Yes, he was the made the most wise man alive, but he didn’t keep the commands of the Lord.  I mean, I read earlier in scripture that later in his years he took very many wives, disregarding the Lord’s counsel for kings to not take too many wives. 

Not only that, he took them from foreign lands, which complicated his allegiences.  THEN, he accommodated them by building them high places for each of their gods, that they may worship their gods.  Hello?  What about that was “wise”?  Apparently, having wisdom and using it are to totally different things.

No wonder he started sounded so tormented by his wisdom by Ecclesiastes.  He was miserable!  Everything was meaningless to him.  Even the good things in life lost their meaning!  He even doubted the existence of heaven in Chapter 1 or 2.  The first couple chapters are the worst stuff to sift through!  Tormented–probably happens to most of us when we have wisdom and ignore it ourselves.  Talk about making a mess.  Spinning and spinning ideas–elements and moments of wisdom, but misery.  I’ve been there, brother, so don’t take it personally.

In the last verses, he knows what it all boils down to, he had ignored “the fear of the Lord.  He says in one verse that you should work hard that you would have something to leave to your sons, yet he worries constantly what would happen to his inheritance all after he was dead and gone.  He worries over this constantly.  Obsessed with regard for “stuff” and the “kingdom” he’d built for himself.  Yet, he preaches about pride and the folly of “stuff”. 

The sad thing is, history shows that everything he had amassed, including the splendor of the temple, and all the gifts people had brought him when they came to sit and listen to his wisdom, were destroyed or captured because his sons were unfaithful– God’s judgment fell.

I wonder… what might have happened if he had spend a little less time “enjoying everything the world had to offer”, his ladies, and wives, and their gods, and food and drink… and had spent a little time investing in his sons preparing for the future, as his father David, had. 

Sad.  We learn wisdom from his failing, I suppose, so all is not lost.  Wisdom in and of itself is…meaningless.  Wisdom with obedience…that is worth something.

Bringing the “Life” into Worship

The more Psalms I read, the more I notice:  when Psalmists wrote their Psalms, they were either needing to get through something, just got through something, or saw trouble brewing.  They didn’t just pull words out of thin air about God to tell him how great He was.   They pointed to concrete examples that illustrated their words:  history…real events, creation, real deliverances.  They knew God, and they reminded themselves of his faithfulness when times got tough. 

Sometimes, we are encouraged to forget life to enter worship.  I do that sometimes…take a break and just focus on God, rest in him:  ”hide under the shadow of His wing and find rampart”.  But, if the Psalms are a pattern for our worship, and I think that they are, most often, our lives should not be a “distraction“ from worship, but a catalyst for true worship.

Don’t we often go to worship like we go to a movie, wanting happy relief, entertainment to talk about that week, or to “be moved”?  There are good elements to these things.   But, in order to have energized, life-filled worship, to worship like the Psalmists worshipped, we need to each, individually, bring God into the center of where we are.  When we do, He will shift things in our hearts as we praise; HE will move us.  God pulls us out of our despair, frustration, and fatigue.  He inspires us.  He gives us hope to go on.

Change?  Me?  In worship?  How?  We ”tell God like it is”, and then get quiet enough to “let God tell us like it is.”  That changes us.  That’s what we mean when we say “when we see God, we are changed into His likeness”.  Talk about dynamic worship! 

God tests us.  God tests us to see if we will truly still worship and trust him when things get hard.  God wants to know if we will look at our problems and still choose to praise Him.  I think of the Israelites, God’s chosen people of the Old Testament times.  God reveals in scripture that he tested the Israelites to try to teach, and see if they would worship Him.  They failed.  They failed to remember his goodness, failed to enter his rest, failed to “remember” all they’d seen, failed to teach their children.  Today, we have the benefit of knowing God even through their failures!  Praise God!  Many of the Psalmists praise God for what he did for them during that time, though the people at the time forgot!  How wild is that?  Do we go back into the history of our nation, our churches, and praise God for things he has clearly done for us?  How much would that strengthen our faith?  History is important.

Get this:  Job, and even one Psalmists, nearly fell from the path of truth, wondering why the godless did not seem to suffer.  The wicked seemed to prosper and be in good health!  What’s with that?  I’m just guessing here, but perhaps it is BECAUSE we want to be true worshippers that we go through ”stuff” the ungodly don’t?  I don’t know about you, but I’ll chew on this paragraph for a good long while!

If the Psalms are any indication, most of our worship stems from adversity and deliverance.  God always proves faithful in our times of need–we may not get what we want, but He stills proves faithful, near, a comfort, a help, our strength.  And, because of that…we worship.  We’ve heard it said:  we would not know God personally if it were not tests.  If the Psalms are any indication…we need to be tested a lot. 

This thought occured to me last night:  did David worship because he was a worshipper, or did he worship because he was a warrior?  Because he was a leader?  Because he was a protector?  Because he was always positioned to do God-sized things and need God very near to succeed?  It’s a compelling argument.  He lived fully, and worshipped wholly…and I think one could not have happened without the other.  Are you living fully, attempting to do God-sized things He has called you to do?  Then you will learn to worship.

David HAD to worship. 

What has God put in your path or given you to do to remind you to worship? 

Is it possible that our desire to live “blessed/peacful” lives has pushed away from the things that would position us to truly worship?

A good worship leader, good music, good sound, gifted people, and planned services cannot do this work of authentic worship for us.  Those things can help direct us and should not distract.  But, our response of worship in the midst of our work is what God is hungry for from us.      

The Psalmist’s testimonies often sounded like this (my paraphrase): 

“Lord, I have no idea why I’m going through this.  As far as I can see, I’ve done nothing to deserve it.  I’ve done you no wrong.  But, I know one thing…it’s all from You.  Everything that happens is from You.  I know I am wounded as if by You for some reason, for all things come from and through You.  I know I can trust you.  So, tell me, show me, teach me.  I wait on You.  I will keep praising you, just as I’m doing now.  I’m hurting.  I’m confused.  Still, I worship You, because you are good.  I worship you because you are faithful, merciful, and your sweet love endures forever.”

The kind of worship that moves the heart of God.  Authentic.  Real.  Questioning.  Confused.  Angry.  Respectful.  Energized and real worship comes from that place deep within us that communes with God.

These are undeveloped thoughts from reading this week.  They are unfinished and wordy because I’m sifting thoughts.  In any case, the thoughts are convicting to me.   Read the Psalms…not just one, but several, one after the other, like a movie rather than like a short story.  Then, compare your worship.  

Surprised by King Saul

Today is a “to-do” list sort of day.  It’s been good to escape those for a few days!  Daisy didn’t wake until 6:10 today…a fifteen minute “snooze”!  During that precious time, I dreamed I had gotten up late and was rushing out the door or I’d be late for high school!  Good grief!   I woke to COOL temps! Brrrrr!  Back into the house twice for more clothes! 

Cool, fall, crisp weather is finally here!  Sweat shirts, apple cider, and fireplaces in my near future!  Mmmmm.  I may break out an afgan and sit on the porch to read today!

————————————————*

Last night’s Bible reading has me so mesmerized I can hardly move forward with reading.  I’m just STUNNED.  I’ve always focused on “the good guys” reading 1 Samuel.  I looked at Saul from a standpoint of “the enemy”, never really seeing his heart.  Reading from Saul’s beginning, I can see why Saul got to where he did, and it’s very sad.  I’m not sure you can comprehend without a straight read-through of the first eight chapters of 1 Samuel, and it’s so worth it.

We’ve got a guy who felt unqualified, scared, insecure,–the way most of us feel as some point.  Unlike other “leaders” God had chosen, God didn’t set him up to succeed, picking someone who would fail in the eyes of the people, just to make a point.  Set up as a failure…can you imagine? 

No matter how hard Saul tried, he could not win the favor of the people as other leaders had.  He could never measure up. 

God’s spirit was on Saul, but his favor never was.  

Saul, so often worked on man’s timetable instead of God’s, doing things that “made sense” from a leaders standpoint…he just wasn’t fully obedient.  BUT SEE WHY:  Saul’s second war, pivotal for his leadership, Samuel didn’t show up when he said he would.  In the meantime, Saul’s troops dwindled from 3000 fighting men, to a disheveled, 600!  Who wouldn’t try to just seek God, offer some sacrifices to get to the war!  I’m not sure most men would have taken time for God at all…at least he did!  REALLY:  what would you have done?  I think I would have err-ed in the same way “set up” like that.

Doing FOR God is not the same as being GOD’S man/woman!  We saw the same in Samson.

Father-son relationship problems:  Let’s just say that the lack of communication between father and son toward similar goals ended up pulling them apart.   If they had BOTH had God’s glory at center, they would have had one awesome relationship, but they never “clicked” at the same time.  It’s sad.   

Saul:  always trying, and always failing.  Things always falling apart when he needed them to rock and roll.  He can’t seem to do anything right!  Even when he wins, he loses. 

After all that “trying: Saul STILL loses Samuel’s blessing.  Probably the only thing that had him held together if I’m reading right.  And, Saul might have been corrected had it not been for his rationalized confession of sin.  Partial obedience.  Rationalized disobedience.   Ever been there?  I live there!

Oh!  I identify with Saul so many times.  Oh!  My heart aches. 

Saul has to watch young David come into his life with everything he never had, and that which he had lost.  Ever been there? 

Man!  No wonder his heart was tormented!  No wonder he was crazy.  

Yes, God made his point.   No blessing, no power. 

It’s a sad story–like watching a movie where you wonder what character you really would have been, the good guy, or the bad guy, or that you could have been either, depending on the role you were cast.  I challenge you to go meet Saul in a new light.  Sit down and have a long talk.  I guarantee you won’t come away the same.   

Video: The More I Seek You by Kari Jobe (Click Title for Content of These Posts)

as sung by Kari Jobe

The more I seek you…the more I find you

The more I find you…the more I love you

I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hand

Lay back against you and breathe, feel your heartbeat

This love is so deep…it’s more than I can stand

I melt in your peace, it’s overwhelming…

As I sat outside on our back bedroom deck this morning, throwing tennis balls to Daisy Dog, , the coolness of the morning falling on my thick houserobe, the word of the Lord from reading the night before so late continued to wash over me like the dew with my first morning thoughts:

“Clothe yourself in Christ”.  “You are a new creation, old things have passed away, behold, all things become new”.  “Rejoice in the Lord always.”  “Put on the full armor of Christ…and you will stand, for he is able to make you to stand.”  “Let the word of Christ dwell richly within you.”  “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, I will hide it’s word in my heart, that I may not sin against you.”  “I will drink of your river of delights” “Clothe yourself…in Christ”.

Oh!  How I want to clothe myself with Christ today.  To “put Him on”.  More than my desire to dress for the day.  More than my desire to eat, or sleep or “do”.  Let me put on Christ.  Let me give his patient grace and understanding.  Take away my judgment and criticism and harshness.  Give me your love.  Give me your eyes of compassion and healing and grace and acceptance and beauty. 

For I am refreshed, renewed, held together, cleared up, soothed, entertained, awed, enriched, loved by you this morning!  Thank you, Lord, for the intensive reading of your word.  Thank you for the time.  Thank you for drawing me near and filling me. 

You amaze me!  Astound me!  Overjoy me.  I totally adore you.  How mesmerizing you are!  Keep filling me with your word.  It is changing me.

Bible Reading 90 Day Marathon Notes (Days 2-4, Gen. 17-50)

Here’s the link to today’s Maggie commentary for those of you who are reading along with my text or notes. 

I have no doubt it is the most entertaining commentary you’ve every read, but I cannot attest to the accuracy or helpfulness!  90 Day Bible Reading Marathon (Day 2-4)

Read the Bible in 90 Days (day 1B Gen 6-16 )

I’ve been making some notes to keep and share–I hate to forget the “little jewels” I’m finding each day.   I simply don’t remember anything if I don’t write it down…maybe you’ll pick up a few fun facts!  

PS:  I’ve gotten a few questions about reading 90 days.  If this is where you are, and you sense the grace to ”Read the Bible in 90 days”:  it takes about 45 minutes of reading a day.  Most break it up, morning, noon, and night. 

So far, it’s been both challenging, consuming, and refreshing to commit leisure to the simple and basic exercise of loving God’s word.  “Just reading” has been an awesome story to read.  You DON’T want to get behind! 

As for me, the last couple days, I read at lunch time, 11-1, including a nap and short lunch.  I made a few notes that afternoon just for sport.  I am behind on my housework, but only because I’ve not learned to fit it into my new routine very well yet.

———————————-*****

GENESIS JEWELS according to Maggie…

read and rest of this post here

Read the Bible in 90 Days

This morning, I explained why I’m doing 90 Days Reading Through the Bible.

It’s quite the challenge, not for the already “committed”, and only for those who God has called to it at this time for this season.   You can’t carry much else and do it, I fear.  For those prone to overcommitting–don’t. 

There is no reason to set yourself up for guilt reading God’s word, and too many other plans that may suit you better.  Wait for God’s time and I will cheer for you then. 

It took me multiple sittings today to cover the word.  I read Day 1 today.  Let me know where you are, and how God is moving you, and I’ll be praying for where God has you. 

Today, I pray for those of you who have joined in (much to my delight and surprise), for you to just discern if this is truly the time for you.   It’s really okay if you find it’s too much.  It’s all about grace.

I still pray the same prayer myself today, if I’ll know if it’s for me.  But, God spoke to me so much today on it that I feel compelled to continue.  I hope that inspiration still carries me through Numbers and Leviticus.

I’ll post some “findings” soon I recorded today.  For tonight, my soul is tired.  Too tired.  All I know is…God makes one unbelievable “parent” when he deals with his children…both in judgment, and in mercy.  Truly amazing.  Parent.  Helper.  One who hears a child crying (even above a mother’s sobs).  See God who soothed with Cain’s fears, even as he punished him for murder, see God who “helped Eve” birth a son, even after punishing her with pains of childbirth.  See how he blessed Ishmael, the rejected child, with a nation of his own, and encouraged his mother, and heard the prayers of a father, torn at heart.  See how he heard Abraham’s prayers for Lot, and would not destroy Sodom until Lot’s family had a way out.  See!  He hears, He sees.  He knows.  He loves. 

See!  See.  Oh, how wonderful our God is,  and how much I needed to remember, and re-read, and hear that with my heart today!  He.  Is.  Good.  To.  All. His. Children.  Yes!  He is good, and all he does is good.  So often, his words to people are comfort, mixed with judgment.  Good news, and some bad…but, He is always there to walk them through it all.  Right there, with anyone who has a soft enough heart to need Him, and speak to Him.  He is there.  Close.  Closer than breath.  That close. 

I’ll see you tomorrow.

~Maggie 

PS:  I am “Maggie” at http://www.biblein90days.com/ also, for those of you interested in that.