The LORD is My Banner Yahweh Nissi

God has taken me on quite an excursion as I continued to consider the ideas of salvation and defense that come from the word yesha from Psalm 27:6. You can take a look at Sure Footed to see what God has been teaching me through his Word while urging me to apply them to my experiences in life. Today, I am looking at addition definition of  the Hebrew word yesha -- victory. I came across the idea of The LORD is My Banner introduced to us by Moses in Exodus 17. The following is an exert from Ann Spangler's book Praying the Names of God.

“Moses built an alter and called it The Lord is my Banner.

He said for hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD.

Exodus 17:15-16

   

Understanding the Name from Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler

“Unlike fabric flags, ancient banners were usually made out of wood or metal and shaped into various figures or emblems that could be fasten to a bare staff or lodge pole. Depicting birds, animals, or gods, they often glistened brightly in the sun so that they could be seen from a far off. A banner carried at the head of an army or planted high on a hill served as a rallying point for troops before battle or as an announcement of a victory already won. Because they embodied the ideals and aspirations of whoever carried them, banners aroused devotion to a nation, a cause or a leader.”

   
When considering this particular name of God-- The LORD is my Banner--I especially like Ann's statement “A banner carried at the head of an army or planted high on a hill served as a rallying point for troops before battle or as an announcement of a victory already won.” A victory already won. Now that is a beautiful thing! It should spur us on to believe that today's 'battles' will also have the same outcome and give us the confidence to march on with the LORD as our inspiration.

     May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary

and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices

and accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you the desire of your heart

and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory

and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the LORD grant all your requests.

Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed.

He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

 but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,

but we rise up and stand firm.
LORD, give victory to the king!

Answer us when we call!

Psalm 20

Sure Footed

"Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.  But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foot hold." Psalm 73:1-2

I lost it yesterday. What's the use anyway? All the encouragement and all the 'good words' about who God is I had lent to others in their times of trouble seemed to fall flat when applied to my own anguish. "Where was God and why was HE letting this situation continue?" and  "Why wasn't he doing what he said he could do?!" were questions rumbling around in my head. And "WHO KNOWS!" seemed to be the only answer. My once firm footing based on God's promises seemed to be crumbling beneath my feet and I could feel myself stumbling.

One verse seemed to scream out in my soul as I prayed was from Psalm 27. "I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."[13] It was more like-- I DEMAND TO SEE THE GOODNESS IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING!!! NOW!!! But this 'goodness' had not made itself visible in this situation. Turmoil and heartache were in its place taking all my attention. It wasn't until this morning when I took time to actually look at the verse in context with rest of the Psalm that my wobbly legs began to find their balance again.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?" are the opening words to this passage. The word 'stronghold' means defense or strength.  Defense itself means to take action against attack or challenge while strength has the idea of endurance and impenetrable structure.  Together we get the picture of a God who as the "stronghold of [our] lives" has what it takes to keep the enemy at bay. My part in all this? Nothing at all.

You see, it says in verse 1, "The LORD is my light and my salvation..."  Not can be.  Not will be if I just ___________. Its says he IS. "When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.  Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident." [3-4] Why such confidence?  Because he IS my light and my salvation. I can trust it.

The rest of the Psalm repeats the idea of the Lord's protection by keeping us safe in his dwelling, hiding us in his sacred tent and setting us high upon a rock out of harm's way until we have dominion over the enemies that surround us.

The Psalm does point out that since the Lord IS our salvation and that we can be confident in that fact when trouble comes our heart can say as the writer's, "Seek your [God's] face."[8] We don't have look at the situation. We can look to God and ask to be taught and to be led as we move through it.

I don't know how the current situation in my life will play out but I do know that however the Lord has decided to work it out "I [will] remain confident of this: I will see the goodness in the land of the living."

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" because "He will not let your foot slip...For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations" 

Psalm 27:14; Psalm 121:3; Psalm 100:5

For Goodness Sake

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverence, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:2-8

goodness — the state of being good-- pure, moral, conscientious, meritorious, worthy, exemplary, upright, beneficial, having admirable, pleasing qualities

 

For Goodness Sake.

Danny, the Build Director, teared up as he stood watching his team congratulating the little family on their new home. Handshakes, hugs and comments on the success of the day passed throughout the group and although dinner was waiting back at the ranch, no one wanted to break the moment. It had been a good day.

I am so glad I was there to witness this life changing event for a young mother and her children. But their's were not the only lives that were altered. A team of twenty individuals had answered the call to do something good and this would have a lasting effect on them as well. That is the way of things when you put your faith into action by practicing what is good.

The word goodness in the focus verse in 2 Peter is the Greek word areta and means moral excellence; a virtuous course of thought, feeling or action. This step of  adding goodness to our faith is a strategic one . Now that we have put our faith in God, aligning ourselves with him, Peter says, “Add goodness.” It makes sense that we would follow God in his ways by choosing to act as he does by doing good. It was his own goodness, after all, he has called us out of a life of “corruption...caused by evil desires” and “has given us everything we need for a godly life.”

Romans 12 gives a Goodness Plan for our lives calling us to become “a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God...” by being “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” It gives us a way of seeing things differently by thinking and acting in a way that is good. And in this way, we are “not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That, my friends, points to a major reason to add goodness to our faith-- It overcomes evil. That is something definitely needed when it comes to living a godly life. It also allows us to participate in the divine nature which gives us a deeper knowledge of who God is.

The challenge set before us is to continually choose good in everything we do. We not only will be changed by doing good but it also has a way of affecting others in the most positive way while bringing attention and glory to the Father. So, for His sake choose goodness.

God's definition of doing good--

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me--put into practice. And the peace of God will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

”You are the light of the world...let your light shine among others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify the Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

Hands of Mercy, Ensenada April 2013

Add to Your Faith...

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith...". 2Peter 1:3-5
 

Long night spent sitting up in cramped quarters. What was I thinking? About half way in I began to think my traveling days were over. I had reached my limit of 'discomfort by choice'. And then there was a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. The 'hours to arrival' ticked down and anticipation of reaching my destination began to build.  You see, I got on this plane because I believed it would transport me to the place I wanted to go and even in the midst of exhaustion brought on by a long flight, a sleepless night and thoughts of "Are we there yet?" I never lost faith I would eventually find my way to the Arrival Gate.      

What is your definition of faith? Webster's defines faith as a firm belief in something for which there is no proof, complete trust, something that is believed with a strong conviction. It is something believed but not only that. Webster uses words in this definition such as firm, complete, strong when it comes to that belief.

In air travel you cannot 'sort of' get on the plane. One foot on land with the other in the air is just not going to work. You have to get completely on the aircraft to reach your destination. That is also the way with faith. You have to be 'all in' to get where arrive at the place God is taking you. 

There is however an element of faith that is also a continuous journey. When flying, there are always a few fellow passengers wrought with anxiety. They believe with certainty that this time may just be the time they will crash and burn. They pace the aisles or pop a sleeping pill just to get through. This may not be too far from the truth in how we treat our own lives. We get up each morning and tentatively set our feet in route to see if God's promises still apply to today's set of problems and worries. We struggle with the pain and discomfort as we wonder if this part of this trip through life will ever end. And then, as promised we see the glimmer of hope that God is indeed delivering us safely to our appointed destination.

     

I think that destination just might be a complete faith; one that firmly, completely and with strong conviction puts our confidence in God's word and his ways. I believe God is developing in us a habit in which we trust him on everything. He proves Himself over and over that there is nothing outside his power to bring the best possible outcome. As we go, we develop more and more assurance in Him with a confidence that He will do He says he can do. Each day that we plant our both feet firmly in that confidence will bring us closer to arriving at Complete Faith.

In Romans 4:18-19, Abraham is credited "against all hope...he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthen in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised." It goes on to say, "This is why 'it was credited to him righteousness."  These words 'it was credited to him righteousness' were not written for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him..." [Emphasis added.]  Righteousness. Now, that's a pretty great perk. Let your faith grow. Be 'all in' when it comes to trusting the Lord. You do not want to miss out on what God has for you.
     

As for me and future travel? I will continue. Living would not be as satisfying if not for the lessons God teaches through the sights and sounds of this great excursion called life.

     

 The Lord will indeed give what is good..." Psalms 85:12

You count on it!

Packing Light and Still Smelling Sweet

It's time. Packing must begin for my long awaited trip. For over a year, I have been anticipating touring through Greece and Italy to learn about the Biblical history of the region. But first, one by one the items required for the next two weeks need to find their way into my suitcase. There has been much debate about how much  is necessary to make this the trip successful.  We have been asked to travel light. For some this has been a daunting task. How much clothing is needed to get by and still smell good has been a huge concern among my traveling companions.

And then there is,  "What size suitcase, how much weight, the right adapters for hair driers and electronics, TSA regulations on liquids, and what the weather will be. Do I need to bring a coat or will a sweater do?

 Lots to consider so I have looked to the experience of an expert traveler to help us navigate the process. Rick Steves, author of Europe Through the Back Door, teaches people how to experience travel to its fullest and he says that a measure of a good traveler is how light he or she travels. He goes on to say, "After you enjoy the sweet mobility and freedom, you'll never go any other way." He breaks down what is necessary for travel as he urges his readers to bring only the essentials. For instance --When considering what to wear, don't pack anything you won't use multiple times on the trip and include only items that coordinate or can build on each other to create your wardrobe. Keep it simple.

Good advice. Travel is supposed to move us to a new level of understanding of the world around us by bringing new insight and perspective on life. By keeping it simple and bringing only the essentials it frees up our attention and energy to engage in the journey.

Life in general has a similar plan. After all, it, too, is a journey so we need to be careful not to restrict our movements by being burdened down by the non essentials. In 2 Peter 1 there is actually a packing list that can be applied to our 'spiritual suitcase' so that we can get the most out of traveling with God-

"His [God's] divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."

This  step-by-step guide  revealed in this portion of Scripture teaches us how to pack for a successful  trek through life. God has kept it simple. Each idea builds on the last as we move through the list. And if these things, the first being faith, make it into the 'suitcase'  ..."they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ... [but] whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind...For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

   
Packing the 'travel' essentials makes us more effective, productive, selfless, and balanced. To top it all off, we " will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Pretty incredible promises indeed.

So when you hit the road of life remember to pack just the essentials.  Leave your head and hands and heart free to embrace the adventure. You will not want to miss a thing God has planned on your itinerary. And don't worry. God's 'packing plan' will leave you smelling sweet as well.
   
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:23

Route 66: InternalChange Ahead

A wife of noble character who can find? 

 Proverbs 31:1

Oh, the dreaded Proverbs 31 woman is in our sights today. Of course we would love to be God's ideal of a woman but in reality her description just makes most of us feel anxious, extremely tired and a bit hopeless.  Where does this woman get all her energy? Up before dawn working all day and well into the night, she completes her check list with a satisfied smile. She sews, she shops, she cooks, she farms, she sells, she spins, she gives, she protects, she interacts with the community, she speaks wisdom, she gives good advice, she keeps an orderly home and she is never idle. How could she be with that list!  And another thing.  Nothing seems too much. She does her job well. So well in fact that others take notice.

What is the secret to this woman's unending pool of motivation and energy? The love for her husband or children? The need to help her friends and neighbors?  The responsibility of being a contributing member of society? These things may play into it but will never sustain the energy it takes to be successful. We find the answer way down in verse 30- "a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Its not the checklist God is after here. It is the heart of the woman that determines her nobility not her ability to stay busy all the time carrying out prescribed tasks. Does she fear the Lord is the real indicator. Once that is in place the motivation and energy to make a difference in this world will follow.

In case you are a little confused how being afraid of God could provide the positive example we see in Proverbs 31 let me give another definition.

fear [verb] to hold in awe [noun] -respectful fear and wonder [verb] -to think or speculate curiously [adjective] -eager to know [adjective] -full of desire or enthusiasm.

There you have it. I believe that if we follow our English definitions this woman was full of wonder about the Lord. Her mind was on him. She examined him with a need to know more about him and she did it with eagerness and enthusiasm. Enthusiasm [noun] actually means 'absorbing interest' which means she was extremely interested in the Lord but not only that she was engrossed [adj] with him. Her mind and attention were fully and completely occupied with the God. How then could she not be affected by him in everything she did?

There is a story about two other women in the New Testament you may be familiar with.  Two sisters, Mary and Martha, look forward to a gathering where Jesus was to be the guest of honor. Martha became distracted with the preparations for the event. Oh, the plans she made but in the end she grew weary of doing everything herself while her sister seemed preoccupied with their visitor, I can't blame Martha. I know her pain and frustration of trying to pull everything together for a perfect party. But perhaps I, as well as Martha have missed the point on these occasions. Jesus' answer to Martha brings it back into perspective.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

Jesus was saying, "The important thing here is we are spending time together and nothing can replace that. And when all that is left of the banquet is a sink full of dirty dishes, you will still have the relationship we have built interacting with one another. That lasts for ever."

Jesus was supposed to be the focus of the get together not the preparations Martha was spending so much time and energy doing on her own. I believe our Proverbs 31 woman likely has that all figured out in her life. Her focus is the Lord and his influence is seen in all that she does and accomplishes. The same is true for us. Our lives should have Jesus at their center and everything else we are involved with will reflect his presence.  A shift in perspective can bring that ideal women well within your reach. Jesus first, then... The noble lady of Proverbs-that 'perfect' woman- simply put is one who fears the Lord.

Route 66: Drive-Thru vs Roadside Diner

OMGosh, it's been a long time since I have have had to sit down and write. As many of you know we have had a wedding in our family. Our youngest daughter married in June to a very generous and kind young man whom we feel very happy to welcome to the family. With all of the activity of preparations along with company of friends and family there just hasn't been time to settle my mind to putting 'thoughts to paper'. God finally used a tiny slip of paper found in a fortune cookie last week to remind me it was time to get back to writing. It said, "You are an adventurer traveling on the highway of life" so today I am ready to get back on the road to see what God has for me to see.


OK...we are now in the book of Proverbs with our travels along Route 66. I do love this book and its lists of instructions, knowledge and wisdom Solomon wished to pass along to his son.

"The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:for gaining wisdom and instruction;for understanding words of insight;..." Proverbs 1:1-2

We, too have the opportunity to benefit from the writings of Solomon as well as others from the Bible and since they are directly inspired by God himself we can gain more insight about him every time we read it.

Recently, I was a approached  by a woman from our summer Bible study and was complimented for my knowledge of the Scriptures. She had been encouraged by something I had said which in turn had made her think about God's word all week. (This was a happy dance moment for me because I love to promote God's word in women's lives.) She also admitted feeling a bit intimidated by me and the wisdom I possessed. The last thing I want to be intimidating so I  revealed to her and now, to you that this wisdom/knowledge thing has not always been prevalent in my life.

For most of my adulthood I have lived as a nominal Christian. I guest you can say I just snacked on God from time to time. I attended church services but did not read the Bible outside of filling a few blanks in a study booklet but about ten years ago, something changed. I joined a Bible study and decided to really take on studying the portion of Scripture put in front of me. As I worked through the passages, God revealed himself to me in such a way I never wanted to let go. It created a hunger for something substantial in regards to God. I wanted to know him more and I knew the way to do that was not by hearing what others had to say about him. I needed to discover him, his ways, his thoughts and his desires for myself through his word. Our relationship became personal as I was getting to know him first hand and loving every minute of it.


So, as they say,"The rest is history." I continue to seek his wisdom through his word and I get so filled up I have to share it with others. I am not wise outside of his influence.  I say all this because its attainable in everyone's life. I am no one special. Anyone who wants to have more knowledge about God  needs only to jump in and get started exploring the Scriptures for themselves. I guarentee you will never want to go back to mediocre life of just knowing what others tell you about him. You will want to get to know God for yourself in a way that makes him real and your relationship with him meaningful.

Am I perfect when it comes to daily studying the word? Hardly. I am like everyone else. I struggle to find time, I get distracted by life and its drama and sometimes I just can't seem to find the motivation. I have days, sometimes several in a row when I don't open the Word but I can always tell when I have been away too long. I start to get cranky and critical. I begin to feel shaky and weak. Sounds a bit like hunger and low blood sugar don't ya think. When I have these physical symptoms, that's when I know I need to sit down and have something to eat. So too, when these symptoms are spiritual. I need hardy portion of the Scriptures.

 In  the Old Testament there is in an exchange between God and Ezekiel as Ezekiel prepares for his mission. In The Message it reads like this--

 "He told me, "Son of man, eat what you see. Eat this book. Then go and speak to the family of Israel." As I opened my mouth, he gave me the scroll to eat, saying, "Son of man, eat this book that I am giving you. Make a full meal of it!" So I ate it. It tasted so good—just like honey." Ezekiel 3:1-3

Love it! Eat my words. Linger over them for they are pleasant and they keep you coming back for more. These instructions are good advice to us, as well, especially when its been awhile since our last meal on the Word. Just the thing to put us back on track feeling strong and energized. So pull up a chair, settle in and begin to feast on the best thing you will every eat. And you sure can't beat the company.

 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." 

Revelation 3:20

Route 66: Days 77-78; Judges 1-5

As a woman the scenes of war recorded in Joshua was a little hard to take. All the "when everyone of them had been put the sword" regardless of gender or age seems so heartless.  It made me think of the saying, "If mothers ruled, there would be no war" came to mind wishing that a less violent solution could have been instituted. But one thing I do know, if God required it, his will trumps that of any mother and always results in the very best outcome. Still, even if our head knows something, our hearts sometimes need time to catch up.

As it has been so far with the Israelites, it wasn't long before they started making compromises. They did not drive out the enemy as commanded but rather chose to coexist with them with the excuse those people would be under the dominion of the tribes of Israel. Little by little, the Israelites faith became watered down by outside influences and by the time only one generation had passed no one even recognized God. One generation! The fathers and mothers, eye witnesses to God's faithfulness, had not done their job of impressing on their children a foundation of faith in God worthy of their allegiance. Perhaps they lost sight of just who had brought them out of slavery and to possess a wealthy land of "cities they did not build... to eat from vineyards and olive groves that they did not plant." [Joshua 24:13]

Now as we start Judges, chapter three reveals God's plan for these little rebels.  God was going to use the nations they had integrated into against them.  This new generation was going to have to learn how to fight. Something they had no experience with. No more compromise. Their faith would also be tested to see what they were really made of and as we start off on our journey in this book, it was a pretty sad sight. They seemed bent on destruction.

We may see a 'slight' resemblance in our own culture.  I'm not talking about the world at large but of the people who say that they follow Christ. Here in our country of wealth it is sometimes easy to forget who is the Provider of All Good Things. We may be found bowing down to make offerings of our time and money to the pursuit of possessions, youth, recreation and importance.  We compromise on principals when choose the wisdom of the world over God's word. We loose sight of God as we move in a direction we think best. We 'intermarry' with the world's ways and our faith no longer rests in our God but our SELVES. Pretty scary.

In 2 Timothy 3, we find -- But mark this: "There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power." [1-5]

And that pretty much sums up this generation. By the time the next generation comes along, this will be multiplied in them.  "God who?" will be heard on their lips. We cannot afford to compromise with the ways of the world. Our future generations depend on it.  As seen Judges, the Israelites will get into a terrible jam then God come in and save them. He IS faithful to do the same in our generation as well as our children's but he is equally faithful to those who choose to follow him everyday.

That brings to one other thought about this--If God has to constantly call us back to him, it delays his work among the people who do not know him yet. It's like herding cats rather than sheep.  He wants us to follow him and his voice. It is counter productive for him to be forced to continually gather us back up again.  He wants use our hands and feet to make himself and his ways know to a world that is living without him and it works a whole lot better if we are ready and willing to be used.

So back to where we started, its not 'If" but rather "When mothers rule- impressing the knowledge of God's ways and words on their children- their children will be equipped to live peacefully with God." No compromising on this one! They must know who God is and how he operates. This will enable them to see him at work for themselves. This will give them a good start on building a faith of their own. Pretty cool legacy to leave them, don't ya think?  Oh, by the way, this goes for dads, too. ;-)

"These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life."

Deuteronomy 6:1-2

Route 66:Day 25; Exodus 22-24

Landmark
While in LA's China Town district today, I noticed that the barricades had been delivered for the annual Dragon Parade and celebration of Chinese New Year that will take place this weekend.  During this time the Chinese community 'spring clean' their homes, pay off their debts, forgive their grudges and gather their friends and family together for a 'reunion dinner'. Another year has passed and a brand new one is about to begin. And it is not going to come quietly. Fire crackers, lots of them will insure that everyone within earshot will know there is a celebration going on.

This made me think of today's passage where we find in God's design on the way that the people of this new nation will live, he has included festivals, national holidays, so to speak, that will allow the Israelites time to stop their normal duties of living and refocus on what is important. It's  interesting how the individual  festivals were designed to draw their attention to how God has protected them in the past, how he is providing for them in the present and how he will continue his promise in the future. I don't know how the Israelites celebrated, but when I think of all the Lord has done, is doing and has promised to do, I cannot be quiet. I want to make some noise! Fire crackers, Anybody?

 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” ~Revelation 5:12

Route 66: Day 24; Exodus 19-21

Landmark
In the last couple of days we have witnessed the birth of a nation. We have seen Jethro, the father-in-law to Moses, coming in and showing Moses how to structure his leadership and then in today's reading, we see the first laws being laid down for the people. These people have been living under another country's rule for four hundred years and now this 'kingdom of priests' [19:6]  would begin to rule themselves under the watchful eye of the Almighty. Command after command was declared by God himself concerning the very basics of life-how to treat God and how to treat others. It guided and instructed the people in their relationships. So interesting don't you think because that is exactly what we were created for. Relationship with God and relationship with others are also the things we struggle with the most but it is important to remember in the end, they will be the measure of a how well we lived our lives.

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. ~Proverbs 3:1-4

Route 66: Day 23; Exodus 16-18

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Camping is not the Israelites idea of getting away from it all.  By now in the reading, we see that they are again ready to go back to their lives of slavery. Who can blame them?  They were after all Urbanites who 'overnite" had found themselves thrust into this undesirable, rustic lifestyle. They went from mass producers of food to hunter gatherers for the masses. What did God expect them to do? It wasn't like these Hebrews could sneak up on some unsuspecting herd of deer.  There were three million of the them! No stealth when they moved about. Contrary to popularity polls among the Israelites, God did not intend for them to perish when he brought them to the wilderness. He was going to use the experiences found there, out of their comfort zone, to convince them to leave their reliance of Egypt behind and learn to trust him.  

"I remember my affliction and my wandering...Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” ~Lamentations 3:19-24

Route 66: Day 22; Exodus 13-15

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Every day's reading has shown me something new and oh, my gosh, those Israelites! Haven't they seen enough to convince them of God's power? How many signs and wonders will it take to make them believe? Weren't they listening to what was going on? At the beginning of this segment, they still aren't quite there with their trust in the Lord. It was going to take something that couldn't be confused with coincidence and, boy, did he deliver. The water of the Red Sea piling up on either side of them allowing them to walk on dry ground to safety. Now that's huge!  Finally, "...when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant." [14:31]  I think they may have suffered from just a bit of that hard heartedness that Pharaoh was infected with. Its major symptom was not listening.
At the very end of chapter 15 after all the singing and dancing subsides and they have drank their fill of fresh water, God gives the Israelites a prescription against Egypt's diseases and it had to do with good listening--
He said, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” [15:25-26]
I wonder if hard-heartedness was included on that list of diseases? Listening then following, paying attention and keeping God's words are just what our hearts, minds and bodies need. God's words "are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body." I am so glad that we are getting a regular dose each day as we travel along this Route 66 challenge, aren't you?

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Proverbs 4:20-22

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."

Proverbs 3:5-8

Route 66: Days 20-21; Exodus 7-12

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And let my people go... Just as soon as we have sparring between the powers that be and a few 'signs and wonders'.  God was going to show Pharaoh who was more powerful but he was not the only audience.  The Egyptian people saw it and were "... favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people." [11:3].  Even more importantly, the Israelites saw it. Back in chapter 6, God says to Moses that he is going to show his people the true meaning of 'God Almighty'. His power had not been fully revealed to their ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The signs and wonders done in Egypt would re-establish his position in their lives. They would "know that [He was] the LORD your God, who brought [them] out from under the yoke of the Egyptians..." [6:7]  He would again be their God.

But there is yet one more audience in addition to Pharaoh, the Egyptians and the Israelites. God tells Pharaoh that He, God, has "raised you, [Pharaoh] up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. [9:16] 'All the earth.' I think that includes, well 'all the earth'. You and me and each of our oikos. Through this whole passage we see that God can take the worst of circumstances and the most uncooperative of people to accomplish his plan of deliverance. AND through that deliverance his power is revealed and the world is changed. God is All Mighty. I think that deserves a WooHoo!!!

No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.
Jeremiah 10:6

Route 66: Day 19, Exodus 4-6

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Would those who wish to accept this mission please step forward. WHAT! God is not looking for volunteers. He has already chosen Moses for the job. Yet here Moses stands thinking he has a choice, making all kinds of reasonable excuses and then finally telling God he should really look elsewhere. "Hello... This is God speaking! You know, the one who made you!" I keep hearing Bill Cosby's voice saying, "I brought you into this world..."God has been grooming Moses for this moment and he promises to continue to teach him as they move along the way. But that's the key- Quit stalling and get moving! Lucky for Moses, he would finally get in gear and begin the mission for which he has been hand picked. His action would result in a lifetime of witnessing the many wondrous things the Lord had planned.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. ~Psalm 40:4-5

Route 66: Day 18; Exodus 1-3

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Among all the turmoil of Egyptians hating the Israelites at the beginning of Exodus comes my favorite scene from the passage when Pharaoh's daughter looks into the eyes a Hebrew baby and has compassion. Who would have thought this simple, loving act would set in motion a series of events that would not only save a child from certain death and restore a mother's grieving heart but also move forward God's plan of salvation for a whole nation.

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Mark 12:31

Route 66: Day 17; Genesis 48-50

"Listen my children and you shall hear..."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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The reading of the will. In honor of the occasion, Jacob has written a poem. Oh, goody. Can you just see his children rolling their eyes thinking,  "Just get to the good stuff, Dad."  Regardless, how they or we feel about poetry, Jacob used this method to recount each son's character and to pass along a view of their future. 

Hebrew poetry translated to English kind of looses its charm but we can still get the message--The birthright passes over the firstborn, Reuben, for his act of defiling his father's 'wife', right past Simeon and Levi who also suffered from poor 'hold back' only theirs had to do with anger and violence  and finally landing on Judah, the fourth in line. His is the family line Jesus will come from-- the whole " scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor"  part. [49:10 NLT]  Very exciting news for Judah. Then, Zed will provide safe harbor for ships, Issie will become a slave, Dan will judge, Gad will have street savvy, Asher will be an re-nown chef, Naphtali would speak words of grace (had to research that one.  Maybe a poet in his own right.), Joe who started out with all those wild dreams actually did turn out to be an excellent leader and was blessed beyond compare. And lastly Ben, well, sadly he gets the leftovers, whatever that means.

Can you imagine teenagers in Hebrew class reciting this as if it were The Last Ride of Paul Revere? Maybe not, but the images found in this poem would get their point across to the Hebrew audience. I wonder what Jacob would have said about me if only we had been acquainted?  Perhaps in our language it would sound something like this--

There once was a girl named Patty,
Who for part of her youth she was bratty.
Then Jesus came in and forgave all her sin,
and now about Him she's quite chatty.

Hope, you enjoyed the poetry lesson. Tomorrow, on to the exodus. One book completed! It has been great fun discovering what God intended to show me along the way.  Hope you are having the same success.

Route 66: Day 16; Genesis 46-47

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Another Roll Call and then the wagons would head out for Egypt. Ruben.. here; Hanok...here; Pallu...here. All of Jacob's family were accounted for except the ones they had buried. Sixty-six in all plus women folk and servants. A large group by any standard when you consider it was just a family.  But this family, blessed by God would return home numbering in the millions. God was true to his word. He would prosper them and build them into a great nation even when they found themselves enslaved to their host. Amazing how that happens. God says, "Here's the plan and even though I know you will not be able to keep up with me and things may not always seem to go your way, I am still going to bring blessing through my plan." He's got it all worked out. And that in itself is a blessing.

Route 66: Day 14; Genesis 41-42

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Famine is coming.  Joseph has confirmed it for Pharaoh. It hardly looks like it can be possible in this time of abundance but in seven years time Egypt will find themselves suffering unduly if the don't take action now. Wise words from Joseph. This passage reminds me of the importance of building up a good 'supply' of knowledge from the Word during the good times so that we will have it to fall back on when things go bad. Being familiar with the Word helps us to recognize God's voice when we are thirsting for answers during the hard times in our lives. But there is another good reason to 'store up' Scripture in our hearts. It will allow us to offer it to others in their times of trouble. Look what happened in Joseph's case. His brothers came to him for help when they needed food to live. Just like Joseph, our 'store house' will attract those who are starving and then, we will be able to point them to the true provider of life.

"...it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world...Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

~John 6:33, 35 

Famine is sure to come to each of us from time-to-time whether it be our own trials or from those who are seeking refuge from "hunger and thirst". We must be prepared. Start filling the store house today. Read the Word!

Here is another blog I wrote a few years ago on the same subject based on Solomon's observation of Ants!! Enjoy.  http://return2thegarden.blogspot.com/

Route 66: Day 13; Genesis 38-40

"The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered..." ~Genesis 39:2

My, is that little Joseph?  He has certainly grown up well. Joseph was not only "well-built and handsome" [38:6] he was also very successful in everything he did. This young man had changed from a soft, somewhat-spoiled, immature youth into a man of integrity.  "The LORD was with Joseph" and Joseph was in captivity--two forces that would make him stronger. Hardship and humility can do a mighty work in any one's life. 1. Hardship builds us up rather than tearing us down if we keep in mind that the Lord is with us.  He sees us and quite often this is when we see God at work most clearly. 2. Humility keeps our minds in the most optimum position for growth. Joseph humbled himself to God's ways as seen when he responds to temptation with, "How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” [39:9] Two forces, one external, one internal, working together to bring about the change God desires. Like Joseph, we can also be 'well-built'--stronger in the Lord and his ways-- and 'handsome'-- attracting those around us to the hope we find in God-- if we allow hardship and humility do their work. And God will take care of the successes.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. The LORD works out everything to its proper end..." ~Proverbs 16:4

Route 66: Day 12; Genesis 35-37

Favoritism Strikes Again! should be the title of Genesis 37. Maybe, Jacob thought it was a good 'look' for his family because it worked for him in the past but the other family members did not quite see it his way. Add brothers who suffered from 'low moral integrity' and you have a poisonous mix. These sibs of Joe's were sick and tired of him. All the special attention sent his way by their father and then, to hear his crazy ramblings about they would be bowing to him...well, that just pushed them over the edge with their anger. Favoritism in a family destroys the unity a family should feel. Each person of he household should feel as valued as the next. Put favoritism into any group and the group will be dysfunctional with the potential of imploding. At the very least, the group will become ineffective due to its disunity.

One of favoritism's synonyms is discrimination. Now, that puts a very negative feel to the action of the word. Antonyms of favoritism: fairness, impartially, justice. Those are words that will improve any family dynamic. What a price Jacob paid for his inability act fairly toward all his sons. Not only did he loose Joseph but those other boys sat with their father as he grieved not saying a word. Mmmm...mmm...mmm. Such a sad state of affairs.


Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right. ~Psalms 106:3