This and That

• This morning I finished reading Potok's book "I am the Clay." I had just started it yesterday. A different kind of reading. Nothing Jewish about it whatsoever. It was about the Korean War ... refugees, survival. An old man and woman and a boy. The woman often would say, "Have Thine Own Way Lord. Ye are the potter, I am the clay." She didn't know what it meant, but she repeated it often, prayed it. And the Lord ... along the way, had His own way.

• Frank E. Graeff penned these words to a hymn I have never heard:

"Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press,
And the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?
O yes, He cares.
I know He cares,
His heart is touched by my grief;
When the days are weary,
The long night dreary,
I know my Savior cares."

• Someone I know is looking for a job. A lot of us are doing that, some any job, some a specific job, some for a well-paying job, some with excellent benefits. This particular person is looking for a fun job. One without stress, not a management position, unless possibly of course it could be fun?! B - that's what I'm going to call him/her ... has no college education. B is heading into a not-so-good depression. It is hard to get out of depression. Is there a way I can help? Lord is there something specific you would have me do to help B? ... a verse or specific book of the Bible to direct B to?

• Faith comes, grows with life experiences. As small as a mustard seed, it grows by leaps and bounds as you give more and more to the Lord, allow Him to form you, mold you. Need to pray, help me, help me be the person you want me to be. Show me the way to act, to speak, keep Satan away from my back door. Guard all sides Lord. Believe the Lord is with you in all you do. Just a little bit of faith is all you need - 'cause like I said, your faith will grow, and then whether you be in lean times or plenty, you will do as the Lord commands, and all will be well.

• The Sunday School lesson for this week is on Caleb: "Faith Endures." Scripture reading is Numbers 13:1 - 14:38 and Joshua 14:1-14

One small negative comment can spread like wildfire and crush out any positiveness that might have been - if we allow Satan to have the upper hand. If we believe any bit of falsehood, what little faith we have gets snuffed out and we become more and more disheartened.

The Promised Land - Israel. So much. Lost. Israel did not become a state until 1948 - after World War II, after the Holocaust. Those who complain, constantly complain against me, your Lord, shall not enter the Promised Land. It seems the Jewish people were constantly nomads, wondering here and there, looking, seeking, but not finding. Looking for something, but unsure what. When it was right there under their noses, they still did not see. Numbers 14:31 says in the Living Bible paraphrased "You said your children would become slaves of the people of the land." Throughout the entire history of the Jewish people, they have been slaves of whoever was the controlling body. All because they failed to see, respond, be faithful to the Lord and ultimately, to his son, Jesus Christ. Descendents of Caleb, tribe of Judah, will inherit Israel. The Jewish people did not listen to the Lord. They did not listen to Moses. They continued to do their own thing. Occasionally there would be one/a few who looked to the Lord for guidance and likewise responded, but for the most part, it was their own will to which they responded.

• Why is the Lord silent? Why do you not hear when He speaks?

The Best Shows on TV say Good-bye

First Seventh Heaven, and now Everwood. Both shows are shown on the WB, but Seventh Heaven ended after 10 years. Everwood has only been on the screen 3 seasons. Next Monday is the series finale. Such a bummer. Such a wonderful show, family based. Why all the good shows go away and we're stuck with trash.

Ponderings

Do you have a crutch, something or someone you lean on? Is it God?
Or is it something else, something maybe you hide behind, a piece of furniture, a prop.

Who do you think worship is for? Yourself, how much you get out of it, whether the preacher is saying what you want to hear. And if he isn't saying what you want, do you make it hard for that man to pursue, to follow the path the Lord has given him? Do you ridicule, put him down for where the Lord leads him? Is it only important how YOU feel, what YOU believe?

Are you ashamed of the Lord? Do you think you are better than Him? Whose business do you want to be about? Your own or the Lord's? If its your own, why are you in church? Church should be about God's business. We can only be effective in reaching others for Christ when we are about our Father's business. If your business is not in reaching others (for Christ), will you do your utmost to keep those who are striving to do the Lord's will in their lives from doing just that? Will you find fault with everyone who does not believe as you believe? Is it your way or no way?

Who are you partners with? Who is your master?

Drift away

Hebrews 2:1 in The Living Bible says: "So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it."

What is your concept of "drift away"? I think of

• be passed by
• opportunity knocks - you have free choice ... to accept or decline, to take action or ignore
• stay in the Word, in the faith you have accepted vs. moving away from, turning your back on what you know is true to something else

Perhaps I am missing something here, but is it not true that once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you become a Christian? Judaism is a religion, Christianity is a religion. If you are a Jew and become saved, are you not then a Christian? Isn't Hebrews 2:1 saying that once we have heard the truth, we must live in that truth and look to Jesus for everything. If we profess to be a Christian yet continue to follow the laws of the Jewish faith, are we not "drifting away?" Isn't it the same as when God said you cannot serve man and God ... one or the other. You follow the Lord's will or you follow your own, your fellow man.

New study

I've decided to do a study of Hebrews. I've only just barely started, read the first chapter. First thing practically out of the gate was a distraction big time - it was a yelping dog. My request for me either to be able to concentrate with that obnoxious noise or to remove the noise was answered. God removed the noise. Thank You.

Focus

Focusing is hard to do. It's so easy to let distractions come in and destroy our concentration. It's important to stay focused, especially on the Lord Jesus. We need to devote time every day to listening to God, to praying, to studying His word, to immersing ourselves in Him.

In our home, we host an Open House in December every year. Our focus is on cleaning the house, preparing goodies, inviting family, friends, neighbors, enjoying time together. Sometimes it has crossed our minds not to have the party, because of a lack of funds. But then I think, it is not for the food we are hosting it. Its for the fellowship. The focus should be on the fellowship, not on what we have to eat or drink.

If Jesus stopped by your home today, would you:

• Ask Him to wait till you have some free time
• Give Him your undivided attention
• Ask Him to visit someone else first and come back later
• Let Him know what a sacrifice you're making to spend time with Him

I would give Him my undivided attention. At least I think I would. I would prefer to anyway. If I waited until I had free tme, it would never come. If I requested He go elsewhere first and come back later, would He really return? If I was bothered with His visit and told Him so, where was my focus - it surely wouldn't be on my Lord Jesus.

How do you "listen" to Jesus? Through Scripture -- prayer -- music and song -- others who bring a message.

What kinds of "noise" sometimes drowns out Jesus when we're trying to listen to Him?

Distractions I thought of were

• our spouse wanting to talk or asking what you're doing
• having on the radio or TV
• events happening outdoors
• how we're feeling
• our mind wandering elsewhere on things we feel we must get done

Sometimes you might think spending a lot of time with Jesus/God takes you away from everything else. But you know it really doesn't. It depends on what your priorities are and how you've ranked them. When I spend time in Bible study, my day is better. Life is better. Nothing can interfere with you. Nothing can mess it up, because the Lord is right there with you. God can see me through anything, because my focus is on Him, not on me.

My husband is considering returning to school to complete his seminary education. He started many years ago but never finished. At that time, he thought it was the Lord's will for him to be a pastor. But now, years later with work/life experience under the belt, he believes it is the Lord's will for him to be a hospice chaplain. Currently he works as a home health aide in hospice. But he cannot share the gospel. Our focus remains on the Lord. We have looked into clinical pastoral education (CPE) and he has applied for Extended CPE at the University of Iowa. It is a class that meets once a week for 9 months. Interviews are done in the summer with classes starting in September. We are also looking into seminaries which are members of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and what master's degree he should obtain. Some have suggested a Master of Divinity while others a Mastor of Arts in Theology or Religion. While Southern Baptist is our specific denomination, we are not necessarily limiting our choices to only Southern Baptist since becoming a chaplain would bring him in association with all kinds of people with varying beliefs.

It is in waiting that sometimes brings distractions to our focus on the Lord.

He is the "meeter" of our needs

He is. He really is. God. He knows if you are hungry. He knows if you are serving in the wrong place and it's time to move on. He knows if you need your hair brushed or your back rubbed. God knows your need, your every need. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your needs. Even though He knows, it is up to us to talk to Him and tell Him our needs and ask Him to meet our needs.

Obstacles, excuses in serving God

"Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge." (New King James) or "Stop listening to teaching that contradicts what you know is right." (The Living Bible paraphrased) says Proverbs 19:27.

There should never be an obstacle to getting involved in service. God does not need to hear our excuses for why we cannot serve. We should not ever let our youth, inexperience, busyness, old age or lack of knowledge stand in the way of our service to God. If we make ourselves willing and available, then God will provide opportunities for us to serve.

Determine what really matters - pray to the Lord, study His word and wait for His response.

All of our acts of true service, whether great or small in the eyes of the world, will bring glory to God.

• Speak/preach as of God; use the strength and energy God gives you to help others. (1 Peter 4:11)
• Work always as if it were for the Lord no matter where you are . (Ephesians 6:7)
• You are free, but not to do wrong or evil; freedom to love and serve each other. (Galatians 5:13)
• Do not be lazy, lagging. Serve the Lord enthusiastically. (Romans 12:11)

Mishmash - Did you know?

Seemed like a good title. A lot of stuff, thoughts, etc. I finished Potok's book "Wanderings: History of the Jews." Interesting. I've always enjoyed history, but it seems its only been since becoming an adult (30+ years) that history is more meaningful.

Did you know?

• Hasidism was founded (by a Jewish mystic and faith healer) as a Jewish pietist movement during the 18th century. Some compared it with pagan worship. Lubavitcher is a variation of Hasidism.

• The Jews had a number of "Messiah's," but the true one they didn't see or understand. Those of the Hasidism belief figured out that the coming of the Messiah was God's job and not themselves. It is God's job and God fulfilled His promise. But there are many, besides the Jewish people, who do not see it. They may read the Old Testament, but what is foretold, is not believed.

• Movements exist within every religion. For 40 years, from the time of Jesus' death until A.D. 70, Christianity was considered a sect of Judaism.

• The years of The Enlightenment, from the mid to late 1700s, was probably when the Jewish people were enlightened, or were beginning to see it. During that time, Voltaire said "All men were worthy of freedom except Jews, because Jews were not of the same species as the rest of mankind. You deserve to be punished, for this is your destiny." When Hitler came into power in Germany in the early 1930s, his view was that the Jew was not a religion, but rather a race, and as such, they should be eliminated.

• It was during the late 1800s that talk began on forming a Jewish state. Theodor Herzl, a journalist, was the inspiration. He wrote several books, here are two = "Der Judenstaat - The Jewish State" (Feb. 14, 1896) and "Altneuland - Old New Land" (visionary novel). He met with the First Zionist Congress, established in 1897, and predicted there would be a Jewish state in 50 years. Jewish leaders weren't interested - they would not support such a far-fetched idea. Israel, Jewish homeland, was established in 1948.

Give me a break!

Chaim Potok says "there is no such notion of the Messiah found in the Bible." What Bible is he reading, what doesn't he see in its midst?! Messianic prophecies are throughout the Old Testament, beginning in Genesis. Right there, under your nose. Except that you are blind, you would see it. The Messiah has come. And one day He will return.

Learnings, sojourner, wandererer

I've been reading Chaim Potok's book "Wanderings: History of the Jews" for weeks. Its quite a hefty book and requires intense reading, study. It leaves me with more questions and when I'm done, I will probably go back to the public library and check out material on the Christian Crusades and other histories.

Jesus, or Joshua, as in Hebrew terminology, was born of Mary and of God. Jesus was the stepson of Joseph. If (since) God can and did create Adam and Eve, why is it not conceivable He can create Jesus? Why is one reasonable and the other not?

The first five books of the Old Testament, Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus and Numbers is known as the Torah in Jewish life. If the Torah is law, why isn't Passover celebrated today as it is stipulated to be by God? Why do the Jews not believe the prophecies foretold in the Old Testament of Jesus being the Messiah?

Jesus always spoke of peace. Not war, not fighting, although much of that was the way of life throughout history. How it is is not saying it is right.

The Mishnah - a hugh collection of oral law and tradition collected over many centuries. You study the Law/Torah/Old Testament, you review what it says, you add your interpretation.

We all have that, called different things, we all have our opinions. Again, what we say, what we feel, what we think, that's not saying it is right.

Jesus is all about peace. He came to die. To bring unity to all, through His shed blood, He died for ALL of our sins. Every last one of us. Not just a few, not just one group. Jesus is the Messiah. He came, He was among us. He died. And He rose again. That's it in a nutshell. If Jesus had never risen again after death, there would be no Christianity. For Christianity is all about Jesus Christ. It is not about rules and regulations, forced conversions, praying to statutes. It's all about Jesus, the son of God and of man, and the Holy Spirit, who lives within us when we accept and believe that He died for each of us.

There has been much bloodshed for many thousands of years, centuries. Each fighting for what they perceived as the way it is, their truth. But what is truth?

Truth is God created the world. God created everything in the world. God created You. God created Me. God created Adam and Eve. God created Jesus. Jesus was born to bring unity to mankind. There are so so many who have yet to see that.

Many die for the cause of Christ. Many have died for that cause and for other causes. The history of any people still goes back to God, who created us all.

Count it all joy

James 1: 2-6 --
(v 2) "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials." Be joyful always in every circumstance that comes along. Trials (troubles) can produce good qualities.

(v 3-4) "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." Actions, reactions, in the midst of trials proves, tests our faithfulness in the Lord.

(v 5-6) "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." We, with the Lord with us, through our trials, troubles, become stronger, greater; we gain endurance, stamina to continue on. The trials we endure are not always because of a sin; they teach us, help us grow in the faith, to become mature.

It ain't easy

It ain't easy. You know that, I know that. No one ever said Life would be easy. But don't you wish it were? Sometimes? I wish we always had just enough money to pay for all our bills without fretting over what is not getting paid, enough to save something each pay day and put it in our savings account, enough to pay our property taxes.

Nope, it sure ain't easy.

There's always a reason for things. If you allow Him, God is there, in your midst, showing you how to do it, and do it better than you were by yourself. We never do things ... well we might do things well on our own, but that's usually a fluke. We really do things well with Christ, 'cause He knows what He's doing. We're just doing whatever feels well, seems well at the moment.

Have to always look to the Lord. Always look up, never down, never away. Always have faith. Always believe the Lord will take care of things. It'll be His way, His timing.

Ah, so hard to wait for Him. So, so hard.

It really isn't easy. But its possible. With God, all is possible. Without God, its just happenstance.

I'm back!

My husband and I just returned from a week's vacation in western Illinois and northeast Missouri. We had a pretty good time, limited budget and all. Thursday, April 27, was our 15th wedding anniversary, and on Saturday, the 29th, we renewed our vows. The event was held on the campus of Hannibal-LaGrange College in Hannibal, Mo. Jim and I didn't meet there, but that is where he earned his Bachelor of Theology degree and it holds special memories for him. About 10 friends came to be with us. It was a special time. And now we're back to work and reality. Jim had his surgery follow-up today and the neurosurgeon gave him the go-ahead to return to work next Monday as able.

While we were on our trip, we committed everything to the Lord, praying for everything and anything. If Satan reared his ugly head ... and he did a few times ... we just turned to God and got on the right track. He provided us what we needed and when we needed it. We knew God would take care of us; all we had to do was remind ourselves of that.

If we can do that in a week's time, surely we can do that over a longer time. Why does it seem to be harder? Other things get in the way. There's TV and computers and work and co-workers and the public and what we read in the newspaper or hear on the radio and even church. Nothing is so simple. But it really is. We just have to work harder to stay focused on the Lord. But it is possible. Don't let your mind wander to negative things, away from Jesus. Don't let your desires get the worst of you. Always look to Jesus, talk to Him about what's bothering you, what your frustrations are. When you pray, thank Him for all He does and all He is, today, tomorrow and always. Thank Him for providing for your needs. Thank Him for showing you the way.

It IS possible. All things are possible through Christ. He is creator of all.