Here's a thought... The Bible says that the gifts & callings of God are "irrevocable"--or "not ever gonna be reversed". So (you might be wondering) what does that have to do with ME? Well, it very well may have more to do with you than you think.... Let me put it into perspective.
Do you ever struggle to hear God's voice? To follow His lead?? To fulfill the purpose He has for you??? If you said, "Yes", then that means that the Devil is fighting against you--with all of his might--to keep you from hearing God's voice, following His lead, and knowing & fulfilling the purpose God has for you. How do I know that? Well, you see, God has designed you with exactly the right equipment (aka gifts & talents) to find and follow and fulfill His purpose--His destiny--for your life. Then why is it such a struggle? Because the Devil seeks out those whom God has chosen (that would be YOU), and seeks to destroy their lives. He wants you to think that the gifts you've been given are to be used for you own purposes and to fulfill your own dreams and desires. Hummmmm...
Have you ever stopped to wonder why the most talented, "gifted" people on earth don't seem to be seeking God or trying to follow His will? That's because the Devil (that old snake) seeks out the most gifted, the most talented for himself.
So, I ask you again, are you struggling? Are you having a hard time hearing God's voice and following His lead?? Well, maybe, just maybe it's because YOU are one of the 'chosen ones'...one of those to whom God has given amazing gifts and talents...one that the devil fears that if you ever begin fulfilling your destiny, he will be sunk. Remember, the devil seeks out those to whom God has given the most gifts & talents. Then he pursues them with all his might, seeking to recruit them into his labor camp.
Are you struggling? Don't give up! The devil has big plans for your life, but so does God! "Choose you this day who you will serve..."
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Housecleaning A.D.D.
I have a love/hate relationship with my house. Most of the time I feel love...lots of warm fuzzy l-u-v for my old 'mansion'. But when cleaning time comes, I feel, well, let's just say...something other than love. The reason for this wide swing of emotions is one thing: hugeness. That may not be a real word, but that's the word that pops into my head when I contemplate the cleaning process of my big old house: "hugeness". I get an overwhelming feeling when I look at the whole thing and imagine the process of getting her all spiffed up in a few hours. :-/
I think I have A.D.D. when it comes to housecleaning. I mean, I start sweeping the kitchen and notice that the window sills need wiping out. I go to the pantry for a cleaning cloth and notice that the garbage is starting to smell, so I take it out of the garbage pale only to realize that I don't have any more trash bags. I walk back into the kitchen to add "garbage bags" to my grocery list, but the pen runs out of ink. I head toward the office to grab another pen when I hear a 'ding' indicating that "I've got mail." I open my pc and check my email only to find an "alert" from the mortgage company reminding me that my payment is now past due! I rush to the laundry room to grab my checkbook from my purse. While I'm there I see that the washing machine is full of wet clothes. After I throw them in the dryer, I head back towards the office when the phone rings. As I stand there talking to a telemarketer I look out the window and notice that my poor, withering plants are in desperate need of water. I hang up the phone, fill my watering can and step out the back door. "Wow! This patio is covered in leaves!" So I set down the watering can and grab the broom.... AHHHHHH!!!!!! How can I ever get it all done???
Can you relate?
I only get overwhelmed when I get the notion stuck in my head that I have to do all of my housecleaning in one day. After all, it's virtually impossible! (Did I mention "hugeness"?) I've definitely found that it's much easier to do when I divide it up into little chunks: floors one day, dusting one day, bathrooms one day.... Sound like a plan?
As I was sweeping the patio this morning, it came to me that cleaning my big old house is a lot like cleaning things up in my life. Daily maintenance is so much easier than trying to do a complete overhaul all at once! That way the "big stuff" never builds up to the point that I feel overwhelmed.
Jesus said it this way, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean." (John 13:10) In my own words: if you regularly take care of the big stuff, then taking care of the small stuff will be a piece of cake.
When my husband and I first married, we bought a tiny little house. It was easy to clean--even if I had to do it on the spur of the moment. Someone could call and say, "I thought I'd drop by today..." No biggy! But now I have an enormous house, and clean it on the fly? Not a chance! It has to be maintained on a regular basis; otherwise I find myself totally overwhelmed with all that has to be done.
Luke 12:48 says, "When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." Looks like I've been entrusted with much, so I'd better keep that broom handy.
I think I have A.D.D. when it comes to housecleaning. I mean, I start sweeping the kitchen and notice that the window sills need wiping out. I go to the pantry for a cleaning cloth and notice that the garbage is starting to smell, so I take it out of the garbage pale only to realize that I don't have any more trash bags. I walk back into the kitchen to add "garbage bags" to my grocery list, but the pen runs out of ink. I head toward the office to grab another pen when I hear a 'ding' indicating that "I've got mail." I open my pc and check my email only to find an "alert" from the mortgage company reminding me that my payment is now past due! I rush to the laundry room to grab my checkbook from my purse. While I'm there I see that the washing machine is full of wet clothes. After I throw them in the dryer, I head back towards the office when the phone rings. As I stand there talking to a telemarketer I look out the window and notice that my poor, withering plants are in desperate need of water. I hang up the phone, fill my watering can and step out the back door. "Wow! This patio is covered in leaves!" So I set down the watering can and grab the broom.... AHHHHHH!!!!!! How can I ever get it all done???
Can you relate?
I only get overwhelmed when I get the notion stuck in my head that I have to do all of my housecleaning in one day. After all, it's virtually impossible! (Did I mention "hugeness"?) I've definitely found that it's much easier to do when I divide it up into little chunks: floors one day, dusting one day, bathrooms one day.... Sound like a plan?
As I was sweeping the patio this morning, it came to me that cleaning my big old house is a lot like cleaning things up in my life. Daily maintenance is so much easier than trying to do a complete overhaul all at once! That way the "big stuff" never builds up to the point that I feel overwhelmed.
Jesus said it this way, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean." (John 13:10) In my own words: if you regularly take care of the big stuff, then taking care of the small stuff will be a piece of cake.
When my husband and I first married, we bought a tiny little house. It was easy to clean--even if I had to do it on the spur of the moment. Someone could call and say, "I thought I'd drop by today..." No biggy! But now I have an enormous house, and clean it on the fly? Not a chance! It has to be maintained on a regular basis; otherwise I find myself totally overwhelmed with all that has to be done.
Luke 12:48 says, "When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." Looks like I've been entrusted with much, so I'd better keep that broom handy.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Prayer Changes Things???
Today I felt so convicted that I haven't really been praying for our country like I should. I mean, I complain--a lot--about the state of affairs, and I throw up the occasional, "O God, please do something!" But I don't really get down to the nitty gritty of praying for our country on a daily basis. I should. You should. We all should. The fact is, we all must. After all, the direction of our country lies in our hands... or does it? I mean, do we truly believe that prayer changes things? Or do we just say that as a cliche'?
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people pray...I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Do you think God really meant that? Or was He just trying to pull one over on us--to rope us into thinking that He is actually in control of EVERYthing?!
I can only speak for my own convictions, not yours. But as for me, I feel a gut-piercing 'stick' right about now. God doesn't expect me to fix it all, or even to try and figure out how He should fix it all. But He does expect me to repent for the sins of our nation. WHAT?! Me repent for the whole nation?? I didn't get us into this mess! ... or did I? Maybe the fact that I have sat on the sidelines and watched in silent protest as our 'Christian' nation has become something other than Christian tells me that I am, at least in part, responsible for where "One nation under God" is today.
And so, in response to this stirring sense of urgency, I have decided to make a change. Beginning right now, I am going to do my part to see that this land of the free and home of the brave, this sweet land of liberty, this 'once upon a time' great Christian nation, doesn't destroy itself from the inside out, but returns to God in sincerity and humility, and asks for His forgiveness and direction. I can't do everything, but I can do something. What about you?
2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people pray...I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Do you think God really meant that? Or was He just trying to pull one over on us--to rope us into thinking that He is actually in control of EVERYthing?!
I can only speak for my own convictions, not yours. But as for me, I feel a gut-piercing 'stick' right about now. God doesn't expect me to fix it all, or even to try and figure out how He should fix it all. But He does expect me to repent for the sins of our nation. WHAT?! Me repent for the whole nation?? I didn't get us into this mess! ... or did I? Maybe the fact that I have sat on the sidelines and watched in silent protest as our 'Christian' nation has become something other than Christian tells me that I am, at least in part, responsible for where "One nation under God" is today.
And so, in response to this stirring sense of urgency, I have decided to make a change. Beginning right now, I am going to do my part to see that this land of the free and home of the brave, this sweet land of liberty, this 'once upon a time' great Christian nation, doesn't destroy itself from the inside out, but returns to God in sincerity and humility, and asks for His forgiveness and direction. I can't do everything, but I can do something. What about you?
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Juicy Juice
I recently bought a juicer and I'm loving it already. The flavors it produces are sooooo fresh and delicious that I could almost dive right into a glass. I've already found dozens of scrumptious recipes and I'm quickly learning which fruit & veggie combos satisfy my taste buds the most.
While I always knew I'd love the fruity drinks, I never thought I'd actually like one of those "green drinks". After all, they look totally disgusting. But after having sampled quite a few of them, I now must admit it: not only do I like them, I am absolutely cRaZy about them! One of those little green drinks is like a sudden burst of flavor in my mouth and energy in my bod. Wow... now that's some combo!
You may be wondering just why I started juicing in the first place. Well, I'm glad you asked! :-)
While my husband and I are pretty healthy eaters, we definitely wouldn't be labeled as health freaks. We primarily live on fish or chicken, fruits and vegetables. We don't eat a lot red meat, though we love grilling burgers in the summertime. We eat plenty of fiber, drink lots of water, and exercise several times a week. We try not to eat too much junk food, although we don't avoid it altogether. After all, a pizza once in a while is good for the soul. :-)
So, we sound like a fairly average couple with a pretty healthy lifestyle, right? Well, one thing you may or may not know about my husband is that he became a quadriplegic three & a half years ago due to an accident at work, and that is something that radically changed our whole way of life--including how we eat. A second fact that very few people know is that I was recently diagnosed with severe osteoporosis. Amazingly, just four years ago we were the picture of health! And suddenly we were two young people (I'm 46 & he is 51) trapped in old bodies. :-(
My husband, Kenny, is on several medications to help control spasms, etc. I, on the other hand, rarely take any meds. In fact, I cannot even take Boniva for my osteoporosis due to the severity of its side effects. Yet, the two of us are determined to live as healthy as possible and enjoy living. I mean, who wants to get old and decrepit before their time, right? Not me! Enter: juicing. :-)
I recently learned that there are certain foods, such as kale, that actually build bone density. What great news! I wonder why the doc didn't tell me about this before? Well, once I heard that, I began to do some digging about which foods targeted which ailments, and was I ever pleasantly surprised!
Below is a list of "the healthiest foods on earth" and when you see what they can do for us, you'll know why.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pineapple - Promotes joint health; Speeds post-surgery; Reduces asthma inflammation
Blueberries - Prevent urinary tract infection; Restore antioxidant levels; Reverse age-related brain decline
Spinach - Helps maintain mental sharpness; Reduces the risk of cancers of the liver, ovaries, colon and prostate; Top nutrient density
Red Bell Pepper - Reduces risk of lung, prostate, ovarian and cervical cancer; Protects against sunburn; Promotes heart health
Broccoli - Reduces diabetic damage; Lowers risk of prostate, bladder, colon, pancreatic, gastric & breast cancer; Protects the brain in event of injury
Tomato - Reduces inflammation; Lowers risk of developing esophageal, stomach, colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancer; Reduces cardiovascular disease risk
Apple - Supports immunity; Fights lung and prostate cancer; Lowers Alzheimer’s risk
Artichoke - Helps blood clotting; Antioxidant Superfood; Lowers “bad” cholesterol
Arugula - Lowers birth defect risk; Reduces fracture risk; Protects eye health
Asparagus - Nourishes good gut bacteria; Protects against birth defects; Promotes heart health
Avocado - Limits liver damage; Reduces oral cancer risk; Lowers cholesterol levels
Blackberries - Build bone density; Suppress appetite; Enhance fat burning
Butternut Squash - Supports night vision; Combats wrinkles; Promotes heart health
Cantaloupe - Bolsters immunity; Protects skin against sunburn; Reduces inflammation
Carrot - Antioxidants defend DNA; Fights cataracts; Protects against some cancers
Cauliflower - Stimulates detoxification; Suppresses breast cancer cell growth; Defends against prostate cancer
Cherries - Alleviate arthritic pain and gout; Lower “bad” cholesterol; Reduce inflammation
Cranberries - Alleviate prostate pain; Fight lung, colon and leukemia cancer cells; Prevent urinary tract infection
Green Cabbage - Promotes healthy blood clotting; Reduces risk of prostate, colon, breast and ovarian cancers; Activates natural detox systems
Kale - Counters harmful estrogens that can feed cancer; Protects eyes against sun damage and cataracts; Increases bone density
Kiwi - Combats wrinkles; Lowers blood clot risk and reduces blood lipids; Counters constipation
Mango - Supports immunity; Lowers “bad” cholesterol; Regulates homocysteine to protect arteries
Mushrooms - Promote natural detoxification; Reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancer; Lower blood pressure
Orange - Reduces levels of “bad” cholesterol; Lowers risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, breast & stomach, & childhood leukemia; Pectin suppresses appetite
Papaya - Enzymes aid digestion; Reduces risk of lung cancer; Enhances fat burning
Plums & Prunes - Counter constipation; Antioxidants defend against DNA damage; Protects against post-menopausal bone loss
Pomegranate - Enhances sunscreen protection; Lowers “bad” cholesterol; Fights prostate cancer
Pumpkin - Protects joints against poly-arthritis; Lowers lung and prostate cancer risk; Reduces inflammation
Raspberries - Inhibit growth of oral, breast, colon and prostate cancers; Antioxidant DNA defense; Lowers “bad” cholesterol levels
Strawberries - Protect against Alzheimer’s; Reduce “bad” cholesterol; Suppress growth of colon, prostate and oral cancer
Sweet Potato - Reduces stroke risk; Lowers cancer risk; Protect against blindness
Watermelon - Supports male fertility; Reduces risk of several cancers: prostate, ovarian, cervical, oral and pharyngeal; Protects against sunburn
Banana - Increases Fat Burning; Lowers risk of colorectal and kidney cancer, leukemia; Reduces asthma symptoms in children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What a list, huh? WHO KNEW??? Wow... God has already provided us with all of the things we need for living this life to the fullest. How cool is that?
After studying this list, Kenny and I decided to zero in on the foods that each of us needs to maintain the healthiest bodies possible; hence, the juicer. We can't possibly eat everything on that list everyday. But we can continue to eat healthy and drink a couple of glasses of juice a day to supplement what we're missing--or what we need extra doses of. (And did I mention that the juice is amazingly delicious??) Anyway, I just thought I'd share my good fortune with you. CHEERS!
While I always knew I'd love the fruity drinks, I never thought I'd actually like one of those "green drinks". After all, they look totally disgusting. But after having sampled quite a few of them, I now must admit it: not only do I like them, I am absolutely cRaZy about them! One of those little green drinks is like a sudden burst of flavor in my mouth and energy in my bod. Wow... now that's some combo!
You may be wondering just why I started juicing in the first place. Well, I'm glad you asked! :-)
While my husband and I are pretty healthy eaters, we definitely wouldn't be labeled as health freaks. We primarily live on fish or chicken, fruits and vegetables. We don't eat a lot red meat, though we love grilling burgers in the summertime. We eat plenty of fiber, drink lots of water, and exercise several times a week. We try not to eat too much junk food, although we don't avoid it altogether. After all, a pizza once in a while is good for the soul. :-)
So, we sound like a fairly average couple with a pretty healthy lifestyle, right? Well, one thing you may or may not know about my husband is that he became a quadriplegic three & a half years ago due to an accident at work, and that is something that radically changed our whole way of life--including how we eat. A second fact that very few people know is that I was recently diagnosed with severe osteoporosis. Amazingly, just four years ago we were the picture of health! And suddenly we were two young people (I'm 46 & he is 51) trapped in old bodies. :-(
My husband, Kenny, is on several medications to help control spasms, etc. I, on the other hand, rarely take any meds. In fact, I cannot even take Boniva for my osteoporosis due to the severity of its side effects. Yet, the two of us are determined to live as healthy as possible and enjoy living. I mean, who wants to get old and decrepit before their time, right? Not me! Enter: juicing. :-)
I recently learned that there are certain foods, such as kale, that actually build bone density. What great news! I wonder why the doc didn't tell me about this before? Well, once I heard that, I began to do some digging about which foods targeted which ailments, and was I ever pleasantly surprised!
Below is a list of "the healthiest foods on earth" and when you see what they can do for us, you'll know why.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pineapple - Promotes joint health; Speeds post-surgery; Reduces asthma inflammation
Blueberries - Prevent urinary tract infection; Restore antioxidant levels; Reverse age-related brain decline
Spinach - Helps maintain mental sharpness; Reduces the risk of cancers of the liver, ovaries, colon and prostate; Top nutrient density
Red Bell Pepper - Reduces risk of lung, prostate, ovarian and cervical cancer; Protects against sunburn; Promotes heart health
Broccoli - Reduces diabetic damage; Lowers risk of prostate, bladder, colon, pancreatic, gastric & breast cancer; Protects the brain in event of injury
Tomato - Reduces inflammation; Lowers risk of developing esophageal, stomach, colorectal, lung and pancreatic cancer; Reduces cardiovascular disease risk
Apple - Supports immunity; Fights lung and prostate cancer; Lowers Alzheimer’s risk
Artichoke - Helps blood clotting; Antioxidant Superfood; Lowers “bad” cholesterol
Arugula - Lowers birth defect risk; Reduces fracture risk; Protects eye health
Asparagus - Nourishes good gut bacteria; Protects against birth defects; Promotes heart health
Avocado - Limits liver damage; Reduces oral cancer risk; Lowers cholesterol levels
Blackberries - Build bone density; Suppress appetite; Enhance fat burning
Butternut Squash - Supports night vision; Combats wrinkles; Promotes heart health
Cantaloupe - Bolsters immunity; Protects skin against sunburn; Reduces inflammation
Carrot - Antioxidants defend DNA; Fights cataracts; Protects against some cancers
Cauliflower - Stimulates detoxification; Suppresses breast cancer cell growth; Defends against prostate cancer
Cherries - Alleviate arthritic pain and gout; Lower “bad” cholesterol; Reduce inflammation
Cranberries - Alleviate prostate pain; Fight lung, colon and leukemia cancer cells; Prevent urinary tract infection
Green Cabbage - Promotes healthy blood clotting; Reduces risk of prostate, colon, breast and ovarian cancers; Activates natural detox systems
Kale - Counters harmful estrogens that can feed cancer; Protects eyes against sun damage and cataracts; Increases bone density
Kiwi - Combats wrinkles; Lowers blood clot risk and reduces blood lipids; Counters constipation
Mango - Supports immunity; Lowers “bad” cholesterol; Regulates homocysteine to protect arteries
Mushrooms - Promote natural detoxification; Reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancer; Lower blood pressure
Orange - Reduces levels of “bad” cholesterol; Lowers risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, breast & stomach, & childhood leukemia; Pectin suppresses appetite
Papaya - Enzymes aid digestion; Reduces risk of lung cancer; Enhances fat burning
Plums & Prunes - Counter constipation; Antioxidants defend against DNA damage; Protects against post-menopausal bone loss
Pomegranate - Enhances sunscreen protection; Lowers “bad” cholesterol; Fights prostate cancer
Pumpkin - Protects joints against poly-arthritis; Lowers lung and prostate cancer risk; Reduces inflammation
Raspberries - Inhibit growth of oral, breast, colon and prostate cancers; Antioxidant DNA defense; Lowers “bad” cholesterol levels
Strawberries - Protect against Alzheimer’s; Reduce “bad” cholesterol; Suppress growth of colon, prostate and oral cancer
Sweet Potato - Reduces stroke risk; Lowers cancer risk; Protect against blindness
Watermelon - Supports male fertility; Reduces risk of several cancers: prostate, ovarian, cervical, oral and pharyngeal; Protects against sunburn
Banana - Increases Fat Burning; Lowers risk of colorectal and kidney cancer, leukemia; Reduces asthma symptoms in children
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What a list, huh? WHO KNEW??? Wow... God has already provided us with all of the things we need for living this life to the fullest. How cool is that?
After studying this list, Kenny and I decided to zero in on the foods that each of us needs to maintain the healthiest bodies possible; hence, the juicer. We can't possibly eat everything on that list everyday. But we can continue to eat healthy and drink a couple of glasses of juice a day to supplement what we're missing--or what we need extra doses of. (And did I mention that the juice is amazingly delicious??) Anyway, I just thought I'd share my good fortune with you. CHEERS!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
War Time
We were in the wilderness for 40 years being prepped for war. Why, then, are we surprised when battles come? We must fight for what is ours, for what has been promised to us. And we must win! The Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force. The promised land--these precious lives we've been given--isn't a bed of roses. The promised land is not synonymous with the "lap of luxury". No! it is a place where we fight and struggle to gain new ground--and we do! We conquer, then we move on to the next conquest. We gain more ground. We constantly fight and win, fight and win, fight and win... We are victorious warriors, fighting for a King in a Kingdom. This Kingdom suffers violence, but we--the violent--take back its stolen territories by force. We've been prepared; now it's time for war!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Today is Your Last Day
While I was upstairs this morning getting ready to begin my day, I saw an undesirable little creature crawling around on the windowsill. I watched it for a couple of seconds before I declared aloud, "Today... is your last day!" I meant it. No more crawling around in the cracks and crevices of my house. No more sneaking into tiny hiding places and showing its ugly little head at an inopportune moment. No more! And then, just like that, I ended its little bug life. No regrets, no shame, no hard feelings. In fact, I smiled as I wiped it into eternity. And it got me to thinking.... What if I was as quick to rid myself of other "undesirable creatures" in my life? How much cleaner would my life be??
There is a game I like to play occasionally on my iPhone called Spazzle. The object of the game is to smack the heads of unwanted rodents as they appear in your garden. They come quickly and randomly, sometimes one at a time and sometimes several at once. But they only appear a couple of seconds before they disappear, so you must strike immediately. As the levels increase, so do the vermin. You must be quick and precise to keep your garden clear of all those pests! Hummm... funny how a little game seems a lot like real life.
So today I think I'll take a good hard look at the windowsill of my life and see what might have wandered in uninvited. Yes, I think I'll find out what undesirables are lurking around unnoticed, making plans to take up permanent residency in my 'home' and then take some time to 'clear out the temple', so to speak. Today is the perfect day to go through the "friend list" in the facebook of my soul and "de-friend" the unwanteds, saying to them loud and clear, "Today... is your last day!"
There is a game I like to play occasionally on my iPhone called Spazzle. The object of the game is to smack the heads of unwanted rodents as they appear in your garden. They come quickly and randomly, sometimes one at a time and sometimes several at once. But they only appear a couple of seconds before they disappear, so you must strike immediately. As the levels increase, so do the vermin. You must be quick and precise to keep your garden clear of all those pests! Hummm... funny how a little game seems a lot like real life.
So today I think I'll take a good hard look at the windowsill of my life and see what might have wandered in uninvited. Yes, I think I'll find out what undesirables are lurking around unnoticed, making plans to take up permanent residency in my 'home' and then take some time to 'clear out the temple', so to speak. Today is the perfect day to go through the "friend list" in the facebook of my soul and "de-friend" the unwanteds, saying to them loud and clear, "Today... is your last day!"
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
But, God, I Don't Even Like to Chisel!
This morning as as I was reading in the Book of Exodus, I read a passage that, for some reason, kept nagging at me....
Then the Lord told Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the same words that were on the tablets you smashed.” ... So Moses chiseled out two tablets of stone like the first ones. Early in the morning he climbed Mount Sinai as the Lord had commanded him, and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. (Exodus 34:1 & 4)
I don't know why I couldn't seem to get past those verses. After all, there was nothing really significant about them. They were just ordinary little verses on the way to something really amazing... weren't they?
Since I couldn't seem to move on, I kept going back and re-reading that passage. I finally asked, "God, why did You have Moses chisel out the stone tablets? How long must that have taken? I mean, really, God, why didn't You just create something to write the terms of the covenant on? Surely Moses had enough on his plate managing six million people without having to stop and spend several hours chiseling out stone tablets?!"
In my mind, I envisioned Moses--the great man of God, honored and revered by millions--with a hammer and chisel, sweat dripping off his brow, chipping away at a boulder.... And I thought again, "Why didn't God just have one of the 'common people' do the mundane?"
Probably after the fourth or fifth time I read it, I understood: We are pleased with the results. God is pleased with the process. Then I wondered how many times God has asked me to do things that I felt were mundane or even beneath me. I read those verses one last time, this time very slowly. Wow, God... Moses. Really??
Then the Lord told Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the same words that were on the tablets you smashed.” ... So Moses chiseled out two tablets of stone like the first ones. Early in the morning he climbed Mount Sinai as the Lord had commanded him, and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. (Exodus 34:1 & 4)
I don't know why I couldn't seem to get past those verses. After all, there was nothing really significant about them. They were just ordinary little verses on the way to something really amazing... weren't they?
Since I couldn't seem to move on, I kept going back and re-reading that passage. I finally asked, "God, why did You have Moses chisel out the stone tablets? How long must that have taken? I mean, really, God, why didn't You just create something to write the terms of the covenant on? Surely Moses had enough on his plate managing six million people without having to stop and spend several hours chiseling out stone tablets?!"
In my mind, I envisioned Moses--the great man of God, honored and revered by millions--with a hammer and chisel, sweat dripping off his brow, chipping away at a boulder.... And I thought again, "Why didn't God just have one of the 'common people' do the mundane?"
Probably after the fourth or fifth time I read it, I understood: We are pleased with the results. God is pleased with the process. Then I wondered how many times God has asked me to do things that I felt were mundane or even beneath me. I read those verses one last time, this time very slowly. Wow, God... Moses. Really??
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