June 2015

As I prepared for this post, it caused me to reflect upon how quickly the time 'flies' away (or appers too anyway).

As a child longing for some special time (especially summer vacation!) it seemed if it would N-E-V-E-R get here!  I'm ashamed to say, I don't have that same craving for heaven.

I don't think daily about going home, is that wrong?  Well, at least when all is 'well'.  I'm not in pain, life is pretty much on an even keel.  Shouldn't being with my Lord be a daily thought and longing, regardless of the outward circumstances?

As I read and study His word, shouldn't it make me long more fervently to see, know, be in His presence?  Why am I so easily ensnared with the things of this world?  The 'pretty baubles' which have no real value?  *sigh*

Lord, help each of us to be more diligent in our lives, to savor first and foremost You, and all that You encompass.  Help us to study to show ourselves approved, workman that need not to be ashamed.

Be diligent brethren, read the Word, be instant in season and out, pray for all your spiritual family and our faithfulness to Him.

This year's reading program is from: Back To The Bible.

Leaving a Legacy

What is a legacy?

From Dictionary.com:

noun, plural leg·a·cies.
1. Law. a gift of property, especially personal property, as money,by will; a bequest.
2. anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor: the legacy of ancient Rome.
3. an applicant to or student at a school that was attended by his or her parent.
4. Obsolete . the office, function, or commission of a legate.

I was actually going for #2 - but was intrigued by the follow up:

Origin: 1325–75; Middle English legacie office of a deputy or legate <Medieval Latin lēgātia. See legate, -acy

Synonyms
1, 2. inheritance.

An inheritance, hmmm.

I've been pondering over 'who am I?' and 'what purpose do I have?' now that my children are grown and gone.  I'm extremely glad they are making their own lives, but, my oh my, what a transition.  I don't know if my my neck issues have fueled my, wow I feel worthless, or just a combination of realizing I am truly alone.  So what now?

It's not that I haven't work, for which I am REALLY grateful, or friends (but most are married or have other responsibilities, which limits what we can do), but learning to discover who I am, again.

I remember going through something similar when my ex-husband left...thinking, so who am I and what do I like to do?  Which, at the time, didn't seem as hard to figure out.  I still had children (4 and 6) in the home, which gave me a routine (security, anchor).  I was much younger.

I'd kept myself pretty busy - square dancing, hiking, paddling, work, church, redoing the house (yeah I'm not done, yet).  Sidelined basically everything but work and church, so whom am I?  Is this 'normal?'

Seems I'm not the only one, whether you're a SAHM or one who had/does work outside the home.  Encouraging too, it's not just women who have to adjust to the new season, men suffer too.  If you can call that encouraging...perhaps not the best wording.  It's difficult for both genders, to transition, learn to grasp the reality that YOU (me, we, us) are no longer the center of our children's universe.

It's a normal transition, leaving.  Just as changes in season.  Some seasons are looked forward with great anticipation, such as a birth, while other seasons bring a 'death'.  I'm thinking of fall and winter, where 'life' seems to dwindle down, shuttering itself away, hibernating, waiting for another spring.  So that's where I am, learning to live with the reality of limitations and aging (yes, I know I'm NOT that old!), but still there are changes as we age and the reality of it sometimes jars us.

So what about a legacy, what have I left for my children to inherit?  Physical wealth means nothing in the long term, have I give them the tools and foundation for living a life sold out to the Lord?  Have I shown them what it means to be responsible, conscientious adults?

I'm taking comfort in this article I recently read, "Missionary Died Thinking He was a Failure; 84 Years Later Thriving Churches Found Hidden In the Jungle."

84 years later - he didn't know when he left the mission field, or until he'd passed onto glory, he'd made a difference.  (I'm assuming somehow he'd know once he was glorified - how I don't know, maybe just hopeful thinking.)

EIGHTY FOUR (84) years later, the result of his work, dedication, sacrifice is made known.  

What am I doing now, beyond the field of child rearing, to plant in His vineyard?  I feel so selfish and self centered, so self absorbed with myself.

Lord show me how how to live a life dedicated to You, without selfish pity parties, completely sold out and proclaiming You in all.  Lord help all of Your children as we grapple with changes, adjustments, deprivation...and the positives too!

Help us to focus on the end of the 'row' versus the roots and rocks as we plow Your fields.  Help us to leave a legacy not about us, but about a life lived in complete abandonment to You.

Unique Gifts

Remember the post I did about a diaper 'cake' - I thoroughly enjoyed it...so much so that when the next arrival was due (yep a little over a year apart - Irish Twins) - I made another one.

This time a baby bootie - I actually made 2, one for my new grandson and another for a family at church.  I remember thinking, wow, I wish someone would PAY me to make these, this is fun!

Then came the wedding invitation for a young man in our congregation and after perusing their gift lists (about 3 times!) I decided on the serving utensils she wanted.  But thought...boring.  I'm not going to wrap these...I want some 'pop' to it!

So I made a utensil bouquet!

Then my daughter-in-love's sister and a friend were coming down to visit the beach and I thought I'd get them a welcome gift and ended up making these:

Then I made an actual CAKE...3 layers...out of diapers for another family at our church and the mama said, you should sell these and I went YES, I'd love to!

Now I'm in need of paper towel and toilet paper rolls!!!

Additionally, I've become more diaper savvy!  LOL!  Ask me where to get the least expensive diapers!

Here are a few more of my creations:

And for the young lady...a dress, complete with accessorized purse!

And then we have the boy 3 wheeler!  Vrooom!

And last, but not least...a cake for the girls!

I'm soliciting not only the rolls, but prayers and customers!

Divorce

Browsing my archive articles and came across this one to share.

From Free Bible Study Lessons - Divorce

NOTE:  I am not advocating divorce, but as a divorcee, I've seen and heard the legalistic mind set towards anyone whose had the misfortune to find themselves in a position where they have had to divorce.

Divorce: God's Protection For The Innocent

Divorce is controversial among Christians. Some churches do not allow it except for adultery [and then only reluctantly]. They keep people who have experienced marriage failure out of leadership and often treat them as second class citizens. Many times they refuse to allow a re-marriage forcing the person into a single life. They are hard and legalistic.

Other churches go to the opposite extreme. They allow divorce without a second thought. Influenced by humanism, they lower the standards in trying to seek the benefit of the person without regard to Biblical ethics. They are compromising and liberal.

What does the Bible teach? This is one topic where people tend to look at one verse and build their entire belief on that one verse [We will look at that verse a little further down]. As with anything, we have to view the total teaching of the Bible on any subject. Every verse is important in giving a complete picture of a subject. This subject of is no different.

God's Original Design

What was God's original design?

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Gen. 2:23-24

But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Mark 10:6-9

God's design was for one man and one woman to be together for their entire life. That is the way things are intended to operate. Problems and difficulties are to be worked out and the partners grow closer to God and to each other through the challenges of life. God has a purpose for each family and each couple. Ending the marriage is not to be considered as an option.

Sin

So what happened? Why did divorce come in? Under what situations is it legitimate and when is it selfish and sinful?

And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. Mark 10:4-5

Jesus tells us why divorce came in - sin. It is because sin came in and hardened hearts that marriage partners seek to end their marriages. Essentially, sin kills. All marriage termination happens because of sin which brings death. Actually, the most common form of divorce is physical death [Rom. 7:2-3]. When one partner dies, the surviving partner is divorced from them and free to remarry. We don't often think of that as a divorce, but it is one type.

Death Of A Marriage

However, it is possible for a marriage to be killed while both partners are alive. Marriage is a covenant. Covenants can be broken, i.e. killed. This is one reason why ending a marriage has a tremendous emotional impact on all involved - a death has occurred. So what kills a marriage?

When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. Deut. 24:1

If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money. Ex. 21:10-11

Deut. takes a look at it from the husband's point-of-view, while Exodus looks at it from the woman's point-of-view.

The husband's reason for ending the marriage is given as "uncleanness" in his wife. This is a difficult term to understand. Obviously it is not referring to adultery since that was a capital offense which would have automatically ended the marriage. The Hebrew word refers to nakedness, nudity, indecency and improper behaviour. It seems that if there is rejection of Christian morality and respectful actions, there is a reason for ending the marriage. Paul would seem to confirm this in 1 Cor. 7:12-13. A person is not to end a marriage with an unbelieving spouse if they are willing to live at peace. This implies that if the spouse is not willing to live at peace, but hinders or torments the other spouse in their walk with God, then there is legitimate reason for ending the marriage.

The Exodus portion, while speaking specifically to a person who marries a second wife [which is not part of the original design], shows us what a wife has a legitimate right to expect from her husband. She has a right to food and clothes- i.e the basic necessities of life. She also has the right to the "duty of marriage." In other words, she has a right to a loving, caring, sexual relationship. Any man who can provide these things and does not has forfeited the privilege of having a wife. No woman is forced to bemarried to a lazy man who will not care for her to the best of his ability. [No woman has the right to demand luxuries which they cannot afford either.]

Since physical death ends a marriage, any offense that was a capital offense in the Old Testament is a legitimate cause for ending a marriage in societies which, in rebellion to God, do not enforce the death penalty for those offences. No person is forced to be married to a criminal or abuser.

When Is Divorce An Option?

In order for the terminating of a marriage to be legitimate:

1. A divorceable offence must have been committed. [Note: Loss of the emotion of love is not an acceptable reason. There must be an actual, provable offense.]

2. The offense must be able to be proved with the same type of evidence as required for a criminal case. [Divorce is a type of criminal case - one partner is being charged with murdering a marriage. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty.]

3. The accusing party must be innocent. If both have committed adultery, for example, then neither one can end the marriage on the basis of adultery for there is no innocent party. If after a person is cleansed and forgiven by the Blood of Christ and the other person continues to live in adultery, then there is an innocent party and ending the marriage becomes a possibility.

Ending a marriage is never required. There are people who have had legitimate reasons for ending their marriage but have chosen instead to work at rebuilding the marriage. Some have seen a remarkable resurrection and gone on to a terrific marriage. A divorceable offense makes ending the marriage an option and no guilt is attached to the person who seeks a legitimate divorce. It is to protect an innocent person from a sinful situation. [It may surprise some to learn that God considers Himself to be divorced when He put away sinful Israel - Is. 50:1, Jer. 3:8]

Words Of Jesus

Finally, let's look at the famous words of Jesus on this subject.

But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Matt. 5:32

And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. Matt. 19:9

This is where some jump up and say, "See! Adultery is the only reason for ending a marriage. Jesus said so."

To which I reply, "At least read the verse properly."

Yes, the word of Jesus is the final Word on any topic. Jesus did not give adultery as the reason for divorce. He used the word "fornication." If He had meant adultery, He would have said adultery. Fornication is a broader term. Certainly it emphasizes sexual sin, but it can also encompass a range of sin which separates from God. For example, God considered idolatry [2 Chr. 21:11] and forsaking Him for the world [ Is. 23:17, Ez. 16:29] to be fornication.

Jesus is the Messiah. As such He was a champion of the Law of God[Matt. 5:18-19]. IF Jesus at any time broke the Law, promoted breaking the Law, or set it aside, then He would have been in rebellion to the declared Word of God and could not have been our Sacrifice. Therefore, when Jesus used the word "fornication" as the reason for ending a marriage, He must have meant it to include the entire, balanced Old Testament teaching on divorce. Certainly He meant to speak against the misunderstanding and easy marriage termination of His day [and ours] but, on the other hand, He did not intent to limit the Law of God through Moses to simple adultery.

It is impossible in this short report to answer all the questions. We look at this subject in Biblical Law and the book below gives an excellent, Scriptural and well-balance look at the subject of divorce and remarriage.

Just some other quick notes:

1. Ending the marriage is not Biblically legitimate when both parties in a remarriage are involved in adultery.

2. Since we live in an ungodly society, once a Biblical reason for ending the marriage has been proven, a person can seek whatever means the society allows for ending the marriage. I.E. No-fault divorce is not Biblical; however, if Biblical reasons are proven, then a no-fault divorce may be the way to present it in a secular court.

3. Since terminating a marriage is a death, the offending party has no right to any rights, privileges, or assets from the marriage. In other words, the innocent party should get custody of the children and all the assets. In our secular courts this is often ignored. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with the innocent party seeking as much as the courts will allow. Important note: This must not be done in a spirit of anger, bitterness, resentment, etc.

4. This report should not be seen as recommending the termination of a marriage. Ending a marriage is never an easy answer and God is the God of Resurrection. That which is dead can live again. The purpose of this report is to show when it becomes a legitimate option to an innocent spouse. If the divorce option is taken - with Biblical reason - then no guilty or penalty is attached to the innocent party. As far as God is concerned the guilty party has died to the marriage and the innocent party is as free as if it had been a physical death. It is a tragedy that our courts to not recognize and support this.

2 Samuel 1-24

2 Samuel 1-3

Why is it 2 Samuel when he passed away last book?

Wouldn't a book names after a person either include and/or be written by them?

Chapter 3:7-8 - Was Abner guilty?

3:35-39 had David seen Abner as an enemy it would have been business as usual? Eat, drink and be merry?

2 Samuel 11-13

And it came to pass... how many times is the phrase used ?

Subtle rebuke by Uriah - 2 Samuel 11:11?

11:15-16 why did Joan comply with the death warrant?

11:27 displeased the Lord. ..this is me.

12:28 Joab's rebuke?

13:15-16 if he'd kept her there would have been a marriage?

13:3, 32 Jonadab some friend. 

2 Samuel 14-15

14:15 anoint not thyself. So anointing oneself was customary. How was it done?

Chapter 15 - betrayed.

Absalom

Ahithophel

Could David have 'headed this off at the pass?'

How oft do we 'let things slide' rather than do the hard work of 'dealing' with problems?

2 Samuel 22-24

23:11 lentiles, the ground full of them, what are those?

Lord wrought a great victory - used how many times?

1 Samuel 4-31

1 Samuel 4-7

Chapter 5 - ruminating on Israel's inability to conquer her enemies, yet the ark of the Lord wrought havoc.

The Philistines couldn't wait to get rid of it.

Chapter 6 - Casting lots, which way will the cows go?

1 Samuel 9-12

10:9 - another heart. Born again? Circumcised heart?

10:26 - hearts God touched. Regenerated?

1 Samuel 18-20

18:26 pleased to be the kings son in law, did it matter who the woman was?

Michal loved David. Hebrew word for love. Divided loyalties between father and husband.

Family conflicts of loyalty...to a parent or to a righteous man.

1 Samuel 21-24

21:7 why was Doeg detained before the Lord?

22:2 discontented and captain mean?

22:8 seeing conspiracies from everyone, trusting none, blaming son for David's being chosen to replace him. Rather than see his sin as the reason for his downfall. Even though Samuel told it to him.

Chapter 24 - forbearance...David tries (unsuccessfully) to demonstrate his desire NOT to raise his hand against Saul.

David is calling for judgment, from the righteous Judge (24:15).

1 Samuel 25-27

The Lord delivered thee into my hand.

Did the Lord? Was David supposed to execute God's judgment? Why did David forbear?

1 Samuel 28-31

Chapter 28

Saul put away all with familiar spirits and wizards...root of these words?

He then asks for a woman with a familiar spirit. Why not a man?

His servants knew of one in Endor, was this 'out of the land'?

1 Samuel 1-3

Barrenness - societal stigmatized, taunted, heart broken. Blessed and then releasing a gift given.

I wonder, as mothers, while we may 'know' our children are on loan from the Lord, how oft do we forget they're really not ours?

An arrow borrowed from God to be crafted and shot...we may add the fletching, or individualism, however the 'core' material is crafted by the Lord of Hosts.

Not mitigating our faults, failures and foillibles, or our need to repent to Him and/or our children,; however how oft do we take a wayward or rebellious or non-Christian child's 'outcome' on our shoulders?

Sleepless nights, fervent prayers (not bad)? Do we surrender to Him, not my will but Thine? Take it personally, cringe at family/friends/society 'frowning' on us for our failure?

2:20 - Hannah didn't ask for more children, Eli blessed her.

2:29 putting children above God.

Chapter 3 - hearing. Have you ever been awoken by a sound, dismiss it and go back to sleep? Then hear it again? Not until I've ascertained the source can I relax enough to go back to sleep.

I wonder if Samuel was laying taunt, tense, ready, waiting, waiting, waiting...was I imagining the sound? No...ahhh.

3:15 lay until morning, did he sleep?

Judges 16-18, 19-21

Judges 16-18

Delilah - women needed a man to provide for them. Samson not a good catch because of his history? She's not named as a harlot, but acts like it for accepting money.

Samson's judgment and trust were ill placed, what sin or sins in my life are causing me to not judge well?

17:13 - ...now know I that the Lord will do me good seeing...

I have said, done, etc. How oft do we fall into this same trap, dotting i's or crossing t's, thinking now God will bless me with (fill in the blank).

Whether we think it openly or its just a vague perception, even a distant hope, aren't we treating God, and His gifts, grace, favor as at our command?   

Judges 19-21

Look up counsel + Lord.

20:18 ask who goes first, not whether they should.

20:23 asked if they should.

20:26 asked again

Pondering, obviously when the Lord does something it can have an impact on a variety of people. God's actions, blessings, judgments, silence don't just impact one person, it ripples.

Insert water disturbed by rock.

The other tribes of Israel needed judgment, but while God 'delayed' judging Benjamin, did this cause those who hadn't previously joined in the battle to be 'strengthened' and join in on the 2nd or 3rd day?

Chapter 21 - bemoaning loss of a tribe. Was God? Though they built an altar and made offerings, did God ordain the next killings? Taking of women? He allowed it yes, but was it by His direction?

I may allow my child to 'sneak' something and there appears to be no 'punishment'. However have they truly obeyed? Are there consequences which they're not aware? Or even me by lack of diligence because it's a 'small' thing and I'm too tired or lazy to stand firm? 

Judges 1-5, 6-9, 10-12

Judges 1-5

Deborah - a wife, a prophetess, a judge.

Went with Barak, with or without her husband, Lapidoth?

Jael invited Sisera into tent, alone? 

Judges 6-9

To this day - doesn't mean this current year, but until the time of the writing?

Built altar - phrase used how many times? Righteously or not?

Commanded by God or self motivated?

7 - culling the Warriors. ..20k just by announcement. 7700 by drinking method
Did Gideon have to 'see' each man?

Or did he have helpers?

8:34 - ...remembered not the Lord their God...

How often do I allow my remembrances to be short? Weak? How thoughtless of God and His goodness am I?

Judges 10-12

11:39 Custom in Israel?

Joshua 1-24

Joshua 1-4

1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth...

2:12 token - used elsewhere?

Brethren does that mean only brothers?

Three days to hide...officers announce Jordan crossing...

Joshua 5-8

Circumcise - all who were born after coming out of Egypt. What about male children left on the other side of the Jordan?

7:24-25
Achan and all his family stoned - what happened to son not dying for father's sin?

Joshua 22-24

24:27

How can a stone witness?