Day 5--July 5, 2026--"But God.."

 

1 Kings 5:1-6

Hinge Verse --1 Kings 5:3-4

When David was king, he built a cedar house for himself but felt guilty that God's presence still lived in a tent.  (2 Samuel 7) The prophet Nathan at first said to David "Then build a house for God."  But God came to Nathan and told him to go tell David that He has never complained or asked any leaders to build Him a temple.  And furthermore, because David had shed so much blood as a warrior, he would not be allowed to be the one to build God a temple.  Instead, David's son--not yet born--would be the one to build a temple for the Lord.  David, rather than being hurt that he would not be allowed to build a temple for God,  immediately broke into a prayer of gratitude "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me thus far?"  

Years later, King Solomon, king David's son, is preparing to build the temple his father only dreamed of.  Hiram, King of Tyre, was a friend of King David's, and had even furnished materials when David's palace was being built.  (2 Samuel 5:11) Solomon recaps David's desire to build a house for the name of the LORD his God, but could not because he had been a man of war.  And then Solomon sees the pivot-- 

"But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side.  There is neither adversary nor misfortune."

Solomon has  a love and allegiance for God--likely learned from his own father --and made it his own.

When the temple was complete, this was part of the prayer King Solomon prayed:

 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive". 1 Kings 8:27-30

We learned about Rev. Robert Hunt on Day 1.  Upon arriving in America, he erected a cross and led the first prayer service in America.  The settlers had brought the cross from England to keep the glory of God forefront of their mission.  They then moved inland and settled in Jamestown. They met  twice a day for prayer under an old sail in the middle of town until a permanent church could be built.  They finally were able to build a sort of barn which could barely keep out the elements; but according to John Smith:

"We had daily prayer every morning and evening, two sermons every Sunday, and every three months we took Holy Communion..."  

Part of the daily prayer included these words:

"Our desires are now to serve and please Thee, and our purpose is to endeavor it more faithfully, we pray Thee therefore for the Lord Jesus sake seal up in our consciences Thy gracious pardon of all our sins past, and give us to feel the consolation of this grace shed abroad in our hearts for our eternal comfort and salvation." 

But God.. His Name in verse 4, is Elohim, singular yet plural.  One God with many attributes.  Eternal, faithful, good, gracious, holy, just, sovereign, wise....You answered prayer back then,  Lord You will answer now.   You are the same God.  You are the same God.  

Faith of Our Fathers article

A blog I wrote on these verses many years ago

Day 4--July 4, 2026--"But God.."

1 Samuel 23:1-14

Hinge verse: 1 Samuel 23:14

David was secretly anointed king of Israel in 1 Samuel 16 by the prophet Samuel.  However, David waits 15 years to take the throne, as Saul continues to reign.  Saul knew that David was God's anointed king, and he sought to kill him multiple times.  In our verses today, David is on the run from Saul.  King Saul calls for Ahimelek the priest and asks him why he helped David by giving him food and weapons (Goliath's sword!!!) and prayer.  Ahimelek answers "ummm yeah I did, and I'm not sorry." {paraphrase} In retaliation, King Saul ordered the priests killed, along with men, women, children, and livestock.  One son of Ahimelek escapes to David, who takes him in and protects him.  

David is a warrior preparing to be king, so he gets involved in different circumstances as he and his men travel.  David asks the LORD about a certain skirmish, and the LORD says go and help.  David's men said (and I completely relate) "Hey we are scared here in our own country, we won't make it in a foreign land!" David prays and God again says "Go, I'm fighting for you."  

When Saul hears that David has entered into a perceived trap, he assumes God has taken Saul's side in the pursuit.  The LORD warns David that the city he just saved has zero loyalty to him and will turn him over to Saul in a heartbeat, David and his men escape.  

Day after day Saul searched for him, But God did not give David into his hands.  David prayed and trusted, prayed and trusted, over and over again.  What looked like running away was David pursuing God's own heart.  A king in the making.  

On July 9, 1755--during the French/Indian war, George Washington was only 23 years old, and mostly an unknown soldier, a colonel over American troops.  He and his men joined forces with Britain during this war.  The top British commander, a seasoned veteran, went against the recommendations of the younger Washington and led the men into an ambush.  Over half of their soldiers were killed.  There were around 86 English officers on horseback and, during this battle, Washington was the only one not shot off of his horse.  George Washington later shared with his family: 

"by the miraculous care of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation.  For I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me." 

A famous speaker of the time, Rev. Samuel Davies, caught news of the Battle of Monongahela as it was called.  As he related to a crowd of soldiers about Washington's But God moment, he concluded that 

"because God had saved George Washington's life that surely this young man was destined to be a great leader in the rising America." 

 

Davies was correct.  George Washington, because of God's protection, was a president in the making, serving as the very first president and nicknamed "The father of his country". 

But God...His Name in verse 14 is Elohim, singular yet plural.  One God with many attributes.  Eternal, faithful, good, gracious, holy, just, sovereign, wise....You were a Savior then, You are a Savior now.   You are the same God.  You are the same God.  

The Battle of Monongahela

 

Day 3--July 3, 2026--"But God.."

Genesis 37:17-28; Genesis 45:1-8; Genesis 50:15-21

Hinge Verses: Genesis 45:7 & Genesis 50:20

I think it's a little awkward to say I have a favorite Bible story but, if I had to pick, the story of Joseph would be one of my favorites.  It has key elements of an epic drama--love, jealousy, betrayal, revenge, romance, struggle, forgiveness.  Joseph is the favored child of Jacob and his beloved wife, Rachel, from our story yesterday.  (Day 2)  Jacob had 10 sons before Joseph, yet he couldn't--and didn't even seem to try to--hide his love for this son.  The older brothers realized they didn't measure up, and plotted to kill Joseph.  Instead, they sold him into slavery, telling their father he must've been killed by wild animals.  Joseph ended up in Egypt, where--just like his father in Laban's household--everything he touched turned to success.  He rose to the second in command in all of Egypt, answering only to Pharaoh.  When a famine hit Canaan, where Jacob and his 11 remaining sons lived, the older brothers traveled to Egypt to plead for food.  The narrative is so exciting as Joseph sets up different situations to see if his brothers--who didn't even recognize Joseph--had had a change of heart.  When Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, he says "Don't be angry with yourselves for selling me, because it was God's plan to save lives.  Many will perish by famine, BUT GOD sent me ahead to preserve and save your lives by a great deliverance."  (My emphasis and paraphrase.)  He brings the family to him in Egypt for an even greater reunion, and years later, Jacob their father dies.  The brothers are nervous because surely Joseph has been waiting until this day so he can finally get his revenge. So they send word to Joseph that --Surprise--Jacob left instructions that Joseph was actually supposed to forgive them of all their wrongs.  Joseph cries that they still don't fully see the hand of God in bringing them to safety.  So he doubles down with the famous words--"Don't be afraid.  Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  After years in slavery, Joseph is the one who is able to look back over all of the circumstances and see the hand of God over it all.  Joseph so kindly explains to his brothers that a story filled with jealousy, murderous thoughts, lies, guilt, regret pivoted completely on two words--BUT GOD...

Over the span of 1730-1770, the pre-born United States experienced a great awakening --an evangelical movement--that started in Britain and spread to reach Britain's 13 North American colonies.  I can't begin to summarize a decades-long religious movement that was so foundational in just a short blog, so I will directly quote an article I read and I will link the full article at the bottom.  

"The movement produced positive changes in many areas, including the growth of a more personal faith that was applied every day and not just on the Sabbaths. But more importantly, the First Great Awakening undeniably provided the foundation upon which American Independence was later erected. In fact, every grievance raised in the Declaration of Independence had been preached from the American pulpit prior to 1763. Founding Fathers such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin attest to the national unity produced by the Great Awakening, specifically through the influence of the famous “Father Abraham” sermon of George Whitefield. As a result of the Great Awakening, America was no longer 13 jealously-divided nations, but had started becoming 13 individual states within one nation and faith."

12 brothers--riddled with jealousy--brought together by a pivotal movement of a loving, sovereign Father, and many were saved and a remnant of faith was preserved.  13 colonies--jealously divided as well--brought together by a pivotal movement of a loving, sovereign Father, and many were saved and a remnant of Faith was preserved.  We see evil all around us---and most of it is intentional "You MEANT it for evil".  But like Joseph, we can choose to see what God means for good, for the good of those who love Him.  

But God...His Name in verse 50:20 is Elohim, singular yet plural.  One God with many attributes.  Eternal, faithful, good, gracious, holy, just, sovereign, wise....You moved in power then, God move in power now.   You are the same God.  You are the same God.  

The Great Awakening Wikipedia

A blog I wrote about Joseph a few years ago

Day Two--July 2, 2026--"But God.."

Genesis 31:1-53

Hinge verse: Genesis 31:42

Genesis 25 records the birth of Jacob and Esau, twins born to Isaac and Rebekah, grandsons of Abraham and Sarah.  Jacob is born after Esau, grasping Esau's heel with his hand.   The circumstances of his birth are reflected in his name, which means "the deceiver".  Years later, after greatly deceiving his own father, Jacob is sent to his mother's family to find a wife from among them.  While there, the deceiver is deceived and finds himself with not one but two wives.  Nevertheless, God blesses Jacob and everything he touches turns to success.  Jacob's cousins/brothers-in-law are livid, and they turn their father, Laban, against Jacob.  So Jacob---at God's command--- gathers his wives and his children, all his livestock and possessions, and flees back home to his father.  When Laban realizes they've left, he gathers HIS relatives, chases Jacob down and confronts him.  Rachel, Jacob's second wife, lives up to her married name and deceives her father by stealing and hiding his household gods.  Jacob turns the tables on Laban's accusations and brings up every wrong treatment of the past twenty years.  (I mean, that's kinda my trademark move, too. 😕)  In spite of all the mistreatment, Jacob can look back and see the hand of God taking his affliction and hard work, and using it for good for his future.  When Laban and Jacob build a heap as a witness, Laban calls on the God of Abraham and also the gods of Nahor, but Jacob is single-minded in his worship to God alone.  Along the way home, Jacob meets God and wrestles with Him (!!)  God changes Jacob's name to Israel because he has struggled with God and with men and prevailed.  Jacob/Israel's family struggle is an emotional roller coaster from then and still today, Jacob's picture is hanging in the "Hall of Faith" of Hebrews 11.  Jacob in the Hall of Faith

In the 1600s a baby girl was born to native Americans and named Matoaka, which means "willful child".  She later was given the nickname Pocahontas, which means "little mischief".  Pocahontas was a member of the Powhatan people, who lived in the same settlement as the Reverend Robert Hunt we learned about yesterday.  Pocahontas was considered royalty as the daughter of the chief (by the colonists, not among her own culture).  As a result of hostilities between the colonists and the Powhatan people, Matoaka/Pocahontas was kidnapped in 1613 and held hostage.  While in captivity, she was taught the Christian faith and converted to Christianity.   Upon her conversion to Christianity,  she changed her name to Rebecca.  One year later, her marriage to John Rolfe brought peace, temporarily at least, between her people and the settlers. The oldest known portrait of her hangs in the office of the Secretary of the Senate, where she is identified by her Christian name, Princess Rebecca.  Princess Rebecca

But God...His Name in verse 42 is Elohim, singular yet plural.  One God with many attributes.  Eternal, faithful, good, gracious, holy, just, sovereign, wise....He heard His children then, He hears His children now.  He is the same God.  He is the same God.  

 

Day One--July 1, 2026--"But God.."

 

Genesis 7:11-8:19

Hinge verse: Genesis 8:1

We are starting day one with a famous story to most, if not all, of humanity--The Great Flood.  The main character, Noah, has spent anywhere from 50-120 years building an ark that will rescue him and his family--8 total people--from the coming flood.  They took with them clean and unclean animals (which always intrigued me because we are only 8 chapters into the story of the Bible timeline; the law won't be given by God to Moses for nearly 1,000 years!)  Noah's family were shut into the ark by the LORD Himself and, for 40 days and nights, springs below and floodgates above burst open, flooding the earth in judgment from God against His creation.  Every living thing perished.  All of it.  

But God...He remembered Noah.  He remembered the animals that were with him.  God closed the floodgates and sent a wind over the earth.  Slowly and surely, the flood started to recede.  The flood started on the seventeenth day of the second month, and by the first day of the tenth month, Noah and his family could just start to see the tops of the mountains.  The family celebrated a new year on the ark, and by the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry.  So Noah came out, with his family and the animals, built an altar, and worshiped.  

Noah was a man who was found faithful, but he could not rescue himself.  He trusted God, and he obeyed God.  But Noah found himself floating above the world as he knew it on a boat he built himself on rain unlike he'd ever seen. Since we know our own bent to anxiety, fear, and doubt; and since we know that started with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden; since we know the sin that so easily beset them then besets us now; we can do the math and understand that Noah was not perfect.  He just trusted with all of his heart that--in God's perfect timing--there was a BUT GOD moment in his story.  

Reverend Robert Hunt was a chaplain in the 15-1600s who left some skeletons in his closet in England to come to America.  He was by no means perfect.  Rev. Hunt, along with 105 other men and boys, disembarked from the Susan Constant after an unusually long journey from London to Chesapeake Bay.  "Coming ashore in the New World, Rev. Robert Hunt and the original Jamestown settlers erected a cross and had a prayer ceremony dedicating the new land to the Lord in what is considered the first English Christian worship service in America."  Reverend Robert Hunt

But God...Elohim, singular yet plural.  One God with many attributes.  Eternal, faithful, good, gracious, holy, just, sovereign, wise....He loved His children then, He loves His children now.  He is the same God.  He is the same God.  

Thoughts from a First-Time Potter

 

My kids bought me a pottery wheel for Mother's Day.  

I've tried to add things to my life that would make God's Word come alive to me...I've planted flax so I can imagine it growing in the fields of Egypt during the 10 plagues, and drying to make linen in Rahab's upper room.  I've planted hyssop to imagine the Israelites taking a stalk and applying the blood to their doorposts, and the Roman soldiers offering Jesus a drink of sour wine from a stalk while He hung on a cross.  (I've not been successful with hyssop yet, so I'm still imagining.) I named my dog Achsah to remind me of Caleb's daughter, who boldly asked her loving father for the upper and lower streams--Living Water--as a wedding gift.  I have an olive tree--artificial-- but it's still a reminder that I can only flourish in the presence of God.   So I set my heart on a pottery wheel so I could get a better idea of what Isaiah 64:8 truly means:

"Yet LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our Potter; we all are the work of Your hands." 

So today, I had a few hours to try my hand at pottery.  I've been preparing for this big event by watching YouTube videos on set up, preparing the clay, throwing the clay, how much water to use, educating myself on what tools do what.  I brought out an old table and a borrowed stool, set up close to an outlet, and tied my apron on.  In spite of all of my prep, I promptly forgot all I learned.  God is not a potter like me....

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

He is completely prepared, and completely able to accomplish.  But back to me...😉

I sat at my table, my wet hands firmly around my prepped and thrown clay, put my foot to the pedal, and did the equivalent of driving 100mph into a brick wall.  My clay went spinning, flying off the wheel, off the table, into the grass.  I lost control of my potential masterpiece.  God is not a Potter like me...

"Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from Your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, You are there; If I make my bed in the depths, You are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:7-10

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand."  John 10:28

After some time and practice, I started to get the hang of it.  As I would cup my hands, the clay would get taller; or I could lay my flat hand on top and make it flatter like a plate.  If I stuck my thumbs in the middle, a hole would form, causing me to dream of all the candlesticks, jewelry dishes, and--dare I dream--coffee mugs I would be able to make.  But because I am a novice, I would inevitably put too much water and it would be back to being a gloopy mess; or not enough water and it would dry and break.  It seems like I could only operate in one speed --100mph--because I wanted to hurry to my dreams.  

Link to My bowl

But God is not a potter like me...

"The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." Exodus 34:6-7

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

I "made" a few bowls and cups and plates--none of which survived the process.  But that's ok, I'm just a beginner.  It was very relaxing and satisfying to see what I could accomplish with clay, my hands, water, and centrifugal motion.  (Will anyone else admit with me that we only know that term from "This Kiss" by Faith Hill???)

But then the mess...The apron protected my clothes but that's about it.  I forgot to take off my jewelry, so I may be picking clay out of the crevices for a while. There is clay in the grass, on my the table, in the basin, on the dog. 😂  Clay doesn't just wash off, it leaves a residue on everything it touches (including on Landon who was my spectator/videographer 😂) After all of my effort, I was not in the mood to clean up. I was there for the fun, not the work.  

God is not a potter like me....

"I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."  Philippians 1:6

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and  just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

God is not afraid of going the distance with us.  He's not just here for the "fun" (good thing, right??), He's here for the mess, too.  He doesn't grow weary like I do, He doesn't get frustrated like I do.  He is stubbornly loyal, steadfast, faithfully loving us through the whole, COMPLETE process, which includes both the beautiful, satisfying masterpiece and the dirty, sweaty clean up.  Over and over and over again.  He never tires.  God is not a potter like me.  

I will get my pottery wheel out again.  Because my kids bought it for me. Because it was relaxing.  It was satisfying to see the clay form and fail and form again.  It really brought me joy.  I hummed and sang "You are the Potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me, this is what I pray" on repeat.  But most importantly, I learned that God is not a potter like me, and I am so thankful.  

"From ancient times no one has heard, no one has listened to, no eye has seen any God except You who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him.  You welcome the one who joyfully does what is right; they remember You in Your ways.  But we have sinned, and You were angry.  How can we be saved if we remain in our sins?  All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment;  all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.  No one calls on Your name, striving to take hold of You.  For You have hidden Your face from us and made us melt because of our iniquity  Yet LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the Potter;  we all are the work of Your hands."

 

Heaven's Royal Sacrifice--PreShow

 

I love going to the theater.   My girls and I try to attend the annual performances at our local high school.  (We even took the little girls this year, they were so cute!!) We have seen "Beauty and The Beast" and "The Little Mermaid" at the Muny.  We saw "Hamilton", "The Lion King", and "Wicked" at the Fox.  We saw my favorite- "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat-" at both venues.   We loved each one. 

The atmosphere surrounding live theater is bubbling with nervous energy.  The stage crew is bustling to get props arranged for their proper scenes.  The orchestra is softly playing the soon-to-be featured show tunes.  The actors are going over lines one last time.  The audience is seated and ready, pouring over their playbills.  They are only partially aware of the activity around them, because everything is happening behind a closed curtain. 

One such curtain is called a scrim.  A scrim curtain is a "specialized, open-weave gauzy fabric used in theater and film that appears solid/opaque when lit from the front, but becomes transparent when lit from behind.  It is used for stage magic, quick release, dreamlike effects, or as a surface for lighting projections." {AI overview from a simple Google search} One of my favorite scrim curtains (and the internet agrees) is from "Wicked".

This is the Ozian map.  It highlights all the places where the story will unfold.  In the center of the map is the location most important, The Emerald City.   There are likely some purists in the audience--those who insist on reading the book first--who know exactly what the map is portraying. However, the average theater-goer might only have a guess how any of this is connected.  And that's actually the point.  

This kind of curtain is meant to be a foreshadowing.  It's meant to draw the audience in with symbols, characters, and ideas to provoke thoughts and questions, to peak interest.  It's a foretelling of the show to come.  When the curtain opens,  the performance itself will answer the questions, flesh out the thoughts, and (hopefully) bring a satisfying conclusion.  When the crowd looks back to the opening curtain after watching the show, these projected objects will now be obvious, familiar, revealed.  

When I wrote the Heaven's Royal Sacrifice series in April of 2025, I researched a lot about tapestries.  They work very similarly to a scrim curtain.  There are images woven into a tapestry that are meant to tell a story.  (Click the link to read the original series.)  In Exodus 26:31-33, God instructed Moses (who then instructed the crafters) to weave a tapestry or a curtain of "blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen with cherubim worked into it."  The curtain was displayed inside the Tabernacle, separating the holy place from the Holy of Holies.  It would be seen every day by many people, because the Tabernacle was the hub of activity for the Israelites.  

It was a scrim curtain of sorts, meant to draw God's chosen people in with symbols, characters, and ideas.  Because colors in the ancient near east carried a meaning, the Israelites were meant to see the blue as heaven, the purple as royalty, the red as sacrifice.  Observers might have had an inkling (especially those purists who "read the book" 😉), but they only had a shadow of how this would play out.    

The world bubbled with excitement in the meantime.  Prophets foretold the coming Messiah.  Musicians sang of the One who would come to save.  History was written down as a playbill, describing the players and the Star to come.  

Then one day, over a thousand years later, the symbols on the curtain came to life.  Jesus was born.  He lived.  He loved. He obeyed His Father.  He performed miracles.  He was sentenced to die.  At dawn, when the sky is the purest blue, King Jesus took the stage for the reason He was born....to die.   And according to the gospel of Mark, the Temple's scrim curtain opened from top to bottom.  

"Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last.  Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." Mark 15:37-38

No need any longer for a dividing curtain with projected symbols.  No need to wonder what story the tapestry is trying to tell.  Jesus answered all of the questions woven into the Tabernacle's tapestry.  He is heaven's Royal sacrifice.  Obvious now.  Familiar.  Revealed.  

God was so kind to them then, giving them so many clues that the Savior is coming.  Those of us who live on this side of the cross might feel a little jealous, missing the excitement the eyewitnesses must have felt.   Resurrection Sunday is wistful as we remember back to something we didn't experience.   But God is so kind to us now too.  He gives us glimpses of the majesty of the original tapestry.  The beautiful colors of blue, purple, and scarlet displayed as a reminder that It is Finished.  A reminder that this sky will also one day open to reveal the final act, Jesus, King forever--Faithful, True, Just Judge, Word of God--returning.  Praise Him now and forever.  

photo credit: Cheryl Keith❤

Comfort and Joy (From the Cradle to the Grave)

 

Happy weird-week-between-Christmas-and-New-Year, everyone!  The week where you probably should go back to work, but it still feels holidayish.  Is it too early to take down Christmas?  I probably should while I'm off, but the couch is inviting me to sit a while.  Should I throw out all of the Christmas leftovers, or should I rearrange them on a festive tray to serve on New Year's Eve? 😂 Should I shop for all the after Christmas clearance sales, or should I stay home and treasure what I already have?  By the time I make up my mind on any of these dilemmas, it's somehow already past noon (I think, I haven't checked the time in a week....) and so I accomplish nothing.  Can anyone relate???

Our family started our Christmas break at the beach.  We surprised the 5 grandkids, who didn't know they were going to the beach until they left home, or even until they got there.  Pulling off this great surprise started months earlier, with text messaged plans between the adults (which was much easier before these grandbabies learned to read!!) and whispered conversations while the kids were playing away from us.  We laughed about times we each almost accidentally spilled the beans, and teared up anticipating the surprise on their little faces.  They did not disappoint-- there was great joy, days of it!!

I am so many days behind on my trip through the Bible this year.  So many days that it seems deceptive to measure by days; more honestly weeks behind.  Not to rationalize my failure, but I know without a doubt that I am still in the gospels for a reason.  I needed the reminder that it's ok to hold fear and joy at the same time.  I needed to soak in the example we have in the life of Jesus. 

With Christmas only days behind us, you all know I'm going to start with the shepherds and angels.  

"In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flocks.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them 'Do not be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12

I can 100% imagine their fear.  As you might have picked up from past blog posts, my bent is toward being scared of everything, real and imagined.  They were terrified when they saw an angel, I would've been too scared to be out in the field in the first place.  This newborn baby was worthy of the appearance and proclamation from an angel of the Lord.  It was good news, great joy that drives out fear.  And the shepherds ran with it! 

The birth of Jesus is great news worthy of celebrating to this day.  God became flesh and lived among us.  John said it best:

"And there are also many things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books that would be written." John 21:25

His ministry was full of physical healing.  His ministry proclaimed His divine power over the sin that so easily trips us up and weighs us down.  And then...they crucified Him.  33ish years after an angel proclaimed to Mary that Jesus would be born of her through the Holy Spirit, 33 years after a multitude of angels lit up the sky with songs of praise at His birth, Jesus was killed.  Great fear among His followers.  Understandable, honestly.  But 3 days later....

"After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.  There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb.  He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.  The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.  The angel told the women, "Don't be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here. For He has risen, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay.  Then go quickly and tell His disciples, 'He has risen from the dead and indeed He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.' Listen, I have told you." Matthew 28:1-7

"Don't be afraid" seems like a huge ask.  They've spent days in fear and now-- just like that-- they are expected to not be afraid?  The week before our joy-filled trip to the beach, I was filled with great fear.  My daughter, Kayla, had a huge health scare.  Like potentially life and death.  (It's her story to tell and she has and I know she will.)  As her mother, I struggled. I sobbed.  I pleaded with God. I stayed up all night to worry.  I slept to avoid thinking about it.  I looked in the mirror, face swollen and tears streaming, and scolded myself for my fear, saying "I thought you always said Christ will hold you fast?"  I knew He always has and always will, but I didn't want the suffering--for her, for us, for me.  I was sore, sore, sore afraid.  

The birth of Jesus-- Christmas--begins with comfort from fear and great joy. The resurrection of Jesus--Easter--is the other bookend and it looks much the same way--comfort from fear and great joy.  We may find these bookends in our situations too.  God was faithful to comfort us in our fear, AND He brought us great joy when her health scare turned into a benign diagnosis.  (Through His miraculous power, you will never convince me otherwise.) Or we may not see the healing we pray for this side of heaven. But there is still comfort and joy to be found.  Because God is with us.  

I know I'll be afraid of something again.  I know I'll pack my nerve pills in my suitcase again as I travel toward the unknown.  I'll carry the fear because I'm human. I pray I'll carry joy because He is with me.  And I know I'll have the witness of my ancient sisters in Christ behind me...

"So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear AND great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news. Just then Jesus met them and said "Greetings!"  They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him."  Matthew 28:8-9 (emphasis mine)

 

Fear.  Joy.  Worship.  

"The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning.  It's time to sing Your song again.  Whatever may pass, or whatever lies before me.  Let me be singing when the evening comes."

Then I Arose, A Mother....

 

My sweet niece, Ellyn, asked for some encouragement on social media last week.  She's a young wife and mom, and I've grown to love her.  (She's married to my nephew, Samuel, who I love so much.  I've met her exactly once at their wedding.  But praise God for social media, where we've been able to connect!)

I've been listening to a series of podcasts by Elizabeth Woodson called "Church Mothers".  I'm not quite through the series, but the idea has intrigued me.  When I tried to come up with a working definition that I could think through, I came across this from AI overview...

"A church mother is a title of respect for a mature woman in the church, typically someone who is age 55 or above.  This role is often based on the biblical principles found in Titus 2:3-5, which encourages older women to teach "good things" and provide instruction to younger women on matters of faith, life, marriage, and family." 

(This must have become top of mind because I recently turned 55. 😊)

I long to be these things, but I'm hesitant.  I tried wading into the waters recently, but I'm not good with follow-up.  Satan sends soldiers of discouragement that march through my thoughts--"Someone else could do a better job."  "If they wanted my input, I've offered."  "I know they're busy, and I hate to bother them."  

So when Ellyn sent out a request to her friends and family on social media, I didn't stop to let those thoughts get ahead of me.  I went right to one of my favorite chapters in the whole Bible--Judges 5.

Deborah's song.  Deborah is the only woman mentioned as a judge in the early history of Israel.  The Israelites were in the downward cycle of doing evil in the sight of the LORD, and found themselves owned by a foreign king.  Deborah, a prophetess beside being a judge, would sit under the palm tree and settle disputes.  She called for Barak and reminded him that the LORD has commanded him to rise up some troops to help rescue Israel from their oppression.  Barak said he will only go if Deborah goes too.  She is glad to go, but warned Barak he will receive no honor from this conquest, because it will be a woman who takes down Sisera, the commander of the enemy's army.  Sisera found himself in the tent of Jael, the wife of someone he considered a friend.  But instead she drove a tent peg through his temple and killed him.  (The Bible can be brutal as it tells the real life story of humanity.  Imagine teaching this in children's church....) That day, God subdued the Canaanite king, and empowered Israel increasingly until he was destroyed.  

On that day, Deborah invited Barak to sing with her. She praised everyone--leaders to volunteers--for blessing the LORD for their service.  She called everyone--kings, princes--to listen and pay attention as she sings.  She gave a line of the faithfulness of God for her listeners to trace, rehearse, and remember.  He has been on their side!!  She reminded the people that there were surely bad times, but that made the good times sweeter.  She warned them (rightly so because they were prone to wander) against choosing new gods and the consequences of doing so.  Deborah's heart was with the leaders and volunteers, and she wanted their country to be in prayer for them.  And as a call back to what she sang about the faithfulness of God, she commissions her audience to tell the righteous acts and deeds of the LORD! 

The people got so used to hearing her encouraging song, they would go down to the city gates and say "Awake! Awake, Deborah! Awake! Awake, sing a song!" They came from all around to draw encouragement from her.  

Deborah wasn't afraid to see the truth of what was happening around her, good and bad.  She praised the faithful tribes and questioned the distracted, unfaithful ones.  Deborah also sang the praises of another woman--Jael-- for what she had contributed. She added a whole verse to her song just to praise Jael for her bravery.  (That's hard for me. I think it's maybe hard for us as women, as if another woman's light takes from ours.  This is a lie from the enemy and I need the reminder.)  

Deborah also had compassion for the mother of Sisera, even though he was evil and an enemy.  She imagined and felt her pain, although she had just praised the one who had unalived Sisera.  Sometimes it's hard to hold both of these emotions in our hands as women.  Knowing something is God's will, yet also being able to see the pain of humanity in that. 

I think the "hinge" verse in the whole song--the verse all other thoughts in this chapter hang and move on--is verse 7.  

"Villages were deserted, they were deserted in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel." 

Deborah was a prophetess and a judge.  She was a woman of great wisdom, talent, influence.  But when it came time to identify herself, to identify the turning point in her leadership, it's when she rose up as a mother.  

I once told one of my girls "You will be lots of things in life. A daughter.  A sister.  A friend.  A girlfriend.  A wife.  A mother. But not one of these things are ALL you are or will ever be."  When I look at all the things I am and have been, I have loved being mother to my kids, nurturing them, singing to them, loving them, even disciplining them.  But as the pink of youth is overlayed with gray that comes with age, I am ready.  To be an encouraging influence to the leadership of our church. To be a loving nurturer to the beautiful girlies God has placed in my circle. To be compassionate and brave.  To sing a trustworthy song.  Please God, let it be for Your glory.  

Lapis Lazuli

 

Every year, Mike buys me a gift for trapping season.  It's basically a "I'm a trapper.  You knew that when you married me, so no griping and see you in March" hush gift.  🤣 He lets me decide what I want and it's usually not more than $20.   

This year, I chose a bracelet made of lapis lazuli.  Lapis lazuli captured me this year.   When I listened through the Bible a few years ago, I loved how the narrator pronounced it.  (According to google, he was pronouncing it wrong 🤷) This year when I encountered it, I decided to take a deeper dive to consider it's significance.    

Lapis lazuli is a rock. Below is a picture of it in rawest form  It's known for its blue, sometimes violet color.  The most high quality lapis lazuli is found in Afghanistan and has been mined for around 6,000 years.  The book of Job, considered to be one of the earliest books in the Bible, mentions it...

"Food may come from the earth, but below the surface the earth is transformed as by fire.  It's rocks are a source of lapis lazuli, containing flecks of gold." Job 28:5-6

It is easily tumbled and polished, making beautiful jewelry--rings, earrings, pendants, amulets, necklaces, bracelets.  It can also be used for carvings and mosaics; or ground to be used as pigment in paint. 

In ancient times, lapis lazuli was highly prized by pharoahs and other royalty.  King Tutankhamun, ancient pharoah of Egypt, lies in a stone coffin that is inlaid with lapis lazuli. The  funerary mask of King Tut has lapis lazuli in the eyebrows and eyelids.  The ancient world believed that lapis lazuli represented divinity, power, and the heavens.  

Today, lapis lazuli is used for meditation and is thought to bring about clarity and spirituality.  A stone tumbled smoothly can be used as a "worry stone"--something to fidget with to calm sress and anxiety.

It's believed by some to unlock the energy center involving the throat, calming sore throats and enhancing voice when worn as a necklace.  It's also noted to offer protection from negative energy and presence.  When I showed Landon and Easton my new bracelet, they both recognized it as a stone that can be mined on Minecraft!  On this game, its used for decoration, it has enchanting power when used certain places, and can be used as blue dye.  (You can impress the gamers in your life by regaling them with all you know about lapis lazuli!!) 

Modern day Afghanistan--the region where the highest quality of lapis lazuli is mined--was part of the ancient Persian kingdom.  Persia is a key kingdom in several books of the Bible--Ezra, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Haggai.  But most famously in the book named after Esther, Queen of Persia!! Queen Esther likely wore something dyed with lapis lazuli, she might have had mosaics or statues in the palace, she might have even worn the beautiful blue powder as eye makeup.  But there are far more important, weighty mentions of lapis lazuli in the Bible, which is the  inspiration for my choice of bracelet.  

In Exodus 24, Moses has already gone up Mount Sinai to receive the words from God for the people, the Ten Commandments.  Moses returned to tell the congregation all he had heard from God.  The people united around the promise of obedience--"We will do everything that the LORD has commanded." vs 3

Moses built an altar and set up 12 pillars for the twelve tribes.  He sent out young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrifice.  Moses again read the scroll on which the covenant was written, and the congregation doubled down on their first vow: "We will do and obey all that the LORD has commanded." vs 7

Then Moses, Aaron the high priest, and his sons Nadab and Abihu, were joined by seventy of the elders of Israel. (In Exodus 3:16, we learn that the elders of Israel were likely some kind of leadership group, as Moses assembled them to lay out the plan for their rescue from Egypt and slavery.) 

This group of 74 men SAW the God of Israel.  Beneath His feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.  The word here (and in other instances) is sometimes translated sapphire; however, sapphires were unheard of in this time period.  

In Exodus 28 when God gave the pattern for the priestly garments, their breastpiece was covered with 12 gemstones--one for each of the 12 tribes of Israel.   The second stone in the second row is a lapis lazuli, with a turquoise on one side and a diamond on the other.  

All throughout the book of Ezekiel (the one book I dread reading every year), Ezekiel told of the visions God sent him.  There is so much happening in this book that I could not even BEGIN to understand or explain in one post.  There are living creatures with wheels, wings, fire, animal faces, human hands....It's all important because it's in God's Word, but it's hard to read.  The living creatures have an "expanse" over their heads, and from above the expanse comes a voice that stops them in their tracks.  Something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli was above the expanse over their heads.  Ezekiel is seeing in a vision the throne room of God, and the throne itself is made of lapis lazuli!  On it sits the pre-incarnate Christ, eternally victorious, in all His heavenly glory.  

In Revelation, John is seeing very similar visions to Ezekiel.  (If you did the Revelation study last summer, you might remember that Jen Wilkin's catchphrase was "look behind", and we spent some time in Ezekiel to explain the events of Revelation.)  In Revelation 21, John sees 

"a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and the sea was no more." 

John hears and sees so many beautiful words and sights.  (Read Revelation 21 through to understand.)

He also sees the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven, prepared like a bride for her husband.  One of the angels gives John a tour of the new holy city.  The city was arrayed with the glory of God, like a precious jewel.  There is a massive high wall, with twelve gates bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel guarded by twelve angels.  The city was a square with twelve foundations, each one labeled with the name of the twelve apostles.  The foundations were adorned with every king of jewel, and the second foundation--lapis lazuli.  

Do I think lapis lazuli is magical?  Do I think it has healing powers?  Because it's in the throne room of heaven, can I call down a voice from heaven using my bracelet?  The answer is no.  There are no powers within the stone itself.  The worship of gems, jewels, stones, crystals is a sign of Romans 1:25--

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever.  Amen."

Lapis Lazuli cannot grant me intuition and truth.  It cannot give me wisdom and inner peace.  It canot promise me health my whole life through.  It is not divine, but is intended to point to the One who IS!

When I wear my bracelet, I will see the lapis lazuli and think of the One who hid the precious stone to be mined from the earth. I will think of Esther, whose adopted homeland was gifted with this precious stone that's meant to point us to the divine.   I will think of those--past and present--who see the beautiful blue that matches the heavens and miss the One who dwells there.  I will think of Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the 70 elders who met with God on a sea of lapis lazuli.  I will think of Ezekiel, who saw someone who looked like a human sitting on a throne of lapis lazuli. I will think of John and I'll be thankful it was no ordinary human sitting on the throne, but it was and is still Jesus and forever more will be Jesus.  I will meditate on Him, who brings all clarity, calming stress and anxiety.  He is praised forever.  Amen.

  

 

All Scripture is God-Breathed

According to a WSJ article--published October 20, 2025--"Bible sales jumped 36% in September 2025, as compared to a year earlier." *

This was attributed in part to the death of Charlie Kirk, and according to the article, "indicates a religious revival for some."

It's no secret that fellow Christians have found this to be so bittersweet.  Bitter of course because of Charlie Kirk's horrific murder.  But sweet because as followers of Christ, we long for our lives to draw others to Him, whatever the cost.  

Erika Kirk said it best in her speech at her husband's memorial--"There will be so many who come to Jesus Christ because of Charlie's death.  It is our job as Christians to shepherd them." There were 2.4 million bibles sold in September 2025.  This number reflects at least a portion of people who had no idea why they felt compelled to buy a bible, and have no idea what to do with what they just bought.  (Similarly, many felt compelled to go to church for the first time in months, years, or ever.)  They are looking for answers and sense the Bible is a logical place to start.  So, fellow Christian, are you equipped to shepherd them?  

2 Timothy 3:16-17 is a good place to start.  

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

This passage describes the Bible--also called Scriptures--as a texbook for potential learners and followers, inspired by The kind, firm, compassionate, loyal God of the universe.  Kind because through the scriptures He teaches us how to live for our good.  Firm because when we stray from His path, He says "No, not like that." Compassionate because He doesn't leave us where we fall; He doesn't stop with the "No, not like that!" but gently says "Like THIS.  THIS is the way." And loyal because He walks beside us as we train, over and over, developing muscle memory for the race before us.  He doesn't teach us, rebuke us, correct us, and then leave us to our own devices.  He loyally guides us to completeness.  Equipped for every good work.  Not work that elevates us, but lifts HIM high so others can see Him.  For His glory and for our good.  Under the authority of a boss, a teacher, a parent who displays these qualities, we thrive. Kind teachers are the ones who tell us what we are doing wrong, who explain how to do it right, and are always willing to jump into the mess with us again and again and again.  This is our God.  This is who He is.  He loves us.  

Buying and owning a Bible is not a magic key into a secret club.  You have to read it, study it.  It's not the easiest thing in the world to understand.  That's why Jesus often said "He who has ears, let him hear."   After reading it all the way through, you may think "WHAT DID I JUST READ?"  

Jesus Himself said in John 5:39

"You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about Me."  

We read the Bible so we can meet Jesus, know Jesus, and be known by Him.  

"For God loves the world in this way: He gave one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.   For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."  John 3:16-17

2 Timothy 3:16-17 wraps up a dismal chapter.  The chapter warns of hard times in the last days.  It paints humanity as selfish, proud, demeaning, ungrateful, unholy, disobedient, traitors, unloving, brutal, reckless, conceited.  They are wormy, deceptive, corrupt. And before we get all judgy, we all are bent that way. We all have within us to be the worst of the worst.   But the teaching of the Scriptures points to a better life.  Right living.  A pivot from bad to good.  When the world offers selfishness, God says choose loyalty.  When the world offers unloving deception, God says choose compassion.  When the world offers demeaning unholiness, God says stand firm in the opposite.  When the world offers brutality, God says choose kindness.  Why would He care?  Because when we are kind, we reflect the kindness of God.  

"Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?"

All throughout the Bible, we see God use situations, families, people, nations as a screen on which to display His faithful, loyal, stubborn, unwavering love and and compassion.  It's our turn.  Let's learn from the Best and teach Him to others.  💓

*  Wall Street Journal Article (This is behind a pay wall, but I could get the gist of the article from the preview.)

 

Touch Grass

 "You should go outside and touch grass." This has become a common  advice/insult aimed at people who show signs of being online way too much.  They have been so drawn into all of the opinions, conspiracies, truths, lies, and rumors of the Internet that the lines between illusion and reality are blurred, if not erased all together.  "Touching grass" is an idiom meant to advise you to ground yourself in reality.  

Another trending word that's caught my attention is "grounding" or "earthing".  It is possibly the root of the advice to touch grass.  It is the practice of walking barefoot--or sometimes even lying-- in the dirt. There are supposed health benefits to this--reduction in stress, anxiety, and inflammation by absorbing the Earth's natural charge.  I spent a lot of time barefoot as a child, and I'm interested in getting back to that.  

The Bible says that God cursed the ground when humans sinned. (Genesis 3:17) Yet Jesus made mud out of the dirt at his feet and healed a blind man.  (John 9:1-12) God is so steadfast, loyal, unwavering in His love for His creation; and He is faithful to His own Name and promises (because there is no higher name to swear by Hebrews 6:13).  Even in the curse--a ground that requires much work to produce what we need--there is the blessing of minerals, nutrients, medicinal qualities.  The ground suffers because of man's sin-- then and now. But the Gift is greater than the trespass.  God is so, so kind to us, giving us more benefits than we deserve.  

So I sleep on a grounding sheet.   When I go outside (if you know me, you know it's not often) I try to be barefoot when I can.  I am guilty of needing to "touch grass" occasionally for a reality check. But I will find my reality, my grounding, my nourishment in my Creator first, all while thanking Him for His creation.  Praise Him.  ♥️