A new blog is born!

When I began this blog, my plan was twofold: to share cards I made along with some other papercrafts, and to share devotional thoughts from the Bible as I studied it.

Over time, I have shared more crafting than anything else, and I have enjoyed doing that, but lately I have been thinking about my second goal and realized that I needed to change things up a bit and push myself to share more spiritual things as well.

As I thought about this, I came to the conclusion that to do a better job at both goals, I needed a separate blog for them. That is why I have created Thinking My Way Through The Bible, following up from the book I wrote a couple of years ago.

I'd love to have you take a look at it and let me know if you find it helpful in any way. My goal is not to be your resident Biblical scholar! I just feel compelled to share some of my personal insights as I read and study the Word of God.

It is so unfair!

 I had a conversation this week with some friends in which we were lamenting the increased dishonesty in our society, dishonesty that is known and accepted with nothing being done (so it seems) about it.  Honesty no longer seems to be the best policy.  Consequently, in some settings, hones people are a great disadvantage.  This has been the case for a long time, we all know, but it seems like in recent years it has become more "acceptable."  It is frustrating to the one who is trying to live a godly, Christlike life to be thwarted in your effort to be honest, but that is increasingly often the case.

This morning when I read Psalm 141, I immediately thought of that conversation.

Psalm 141:5 yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.

David had a lot of trouble that came from wicked people who for one reason or another wanted to harm him and destroy the good he had done or was trying to do.  He was determined to not become like them.  His prayer often included words such as found earlier in this psalm (verse 4): “Do not let me incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!”  In fact, not only did David pray for his own spiritual protection, he went so far as to pray against the evil deeds going on around him.  I thought of a conversation I had yesterday with some friends about the unfairness we see in our own 2021 society where being honest in one’s dealing so often put you at a great disadvantage.  It is hard to remain honest when you see those who are dishonest gain what looks like the advantage, and nothing is done about it.  How can a Christian manage in such a situation?  I think I see at least a partial answer to that question in this psalm.,  You pray two things regularly: 1) pray that you will not compromise what you know God wants you to be and do as a child of His to be a good example to those around you, and 2) you pray that He will thwart the efforts of those who are dishonest.  We cannot control what others do like we can control our own actions, so we do what we can and leave the rest in God’s hands, just as David did in Psalm 141, we pray against the evil deeds of those around us while we pray for their spiritual renewal.

Capital R Rock vs. Little R Rock

Deuteronomy 32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock; our enemies are by themselves.

What a picturesque way to express the vast difference between the godly and the ungodly!  We who are the family of God have a Rock (capital “r”) that is our refuge; one who fights for His people, who guides them, who protects them, who guards them, who delivers them, who answers their prayers (all these characteristics are found in Psalm 91). 

In comparison, the ungodly have a rock (little “r) upon which to rely.  In this version (the ESV), the verse says that the enemies of God and His children have only themselves upon which to rely.  In other versions that phrase talks about the fact that those enemies are judging for themselves or conceding that yes, indeed, the Rock of the children of God is more reliable, better, and stronger than they are.    

We must always remember in humility that the ungodly who surround us are trying to rely on their own wisdom and power because that is all they have while we, on the other hand, have a Rock (capital “r”) upon which to rely.  In these days of frustration with government at all levels, this is such a powerful reminder to me to be humble in my response to decisions and actions taken by politicians and other leaders when I do not agree with them.  This does not mean that I compromise the way of truth but rather that I recognize that there are many leaders who are "by themselves" because they have only a little-r-rock to rely on.

Moving on

 I have written so much and made so many cards since last August yet somehow I had lost myself in terms of keeping up on this blog.  I regret that in many ways, but at the same time I recognize that we all go through stages and this has been one of those times when I just did not have the heart for it.  That stage in my life seems to be coming to an end so I think I'll just pick up where I left off and move on.

Speaking of moving on, that is exactly what I saw in my devotional reading and study this morning.

Joshua 3:7 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so will I be with you.”

 Our dear friend Billy passed away last week and all week long it seems like almost every activity has reminded us of something related to him.  Many conversations bring him up as we continue to mourn his death.  The first three chapters of Joshua seem to have that same kind of thing in them.  Almost everything that happens has Moses in the conversation.  We know Moses’ death played heavily on Joshua’s mind in those early days of his new leadership role.  God Himself as well as the Israelite tribal leaders told Joshua that they would support his leadership just as they had supported Moses.  Joshua in turn reminded the leaders about things that Moses had said.  Then, here in this verse, for one final time, God tells Joshua that his leadership is going to replace Moses’ leadership.  It looks like this is the last time Joshua’s leadership is spoken of in terms of Moses’ death.  Joshua has apparently been able to move on from living in Moses’ shadow and is able to be a confident leader on his own and even those under his leadership recognized that fact.  I am certain that Joshua never forgot Moses but he would remember Moses in terms of memories rather than in mourning.  That is how I see God work in my own experiences of mourning.  It is how, with God’s help, we move on even though we have lost a dear fiend or relative.

 

Shrub or tree?

 

Jeremiah 17:6 He is like a shrub in the desert…

This morning I was reading Jeremiah 17 and was captured by the contrasts I found between the person described in verses 5-6 and the one in verses 7-8,

5-6 says, Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength,  whose heart turns away from the Lord.  He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come.  He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

Then notice the contrast in 7-8: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.

Verses 7-8 have long been some of my favorites in their description of the person who trusts in the Lord, likening them to a tree beside a body of water.  I had never before noticed that this description is in contrast to verses 5-6, which describe the opposite – a person who trusts in the strength of their flesh, in themselves.  Notice the contrasts in the two scenarios:

1. One trusts in man, the other in the Lord;

2. One is like a shrub, the other like a tree;

3. One is planted in a desert, the other by water;

4. One experiences no good, the other remains green all the time;

5. One has a parched wilderness for living, the other has refreshing space;

6. One lives in an uninhabited (lonely) place, the other has no anxiety;

7. One lives in salt land, the other reaches water with its roots.

There is no doubt left as to the value of living close to God!

Be Prepared, it will come

    

I Peter 4:1-2, 12-19

Suffering for Christ can deepen our walk with Him.

The first time I read through this passage, I felt discouraged, thinking about suffering.  There is a certain kind of fear that lingers on the edge of my mind when I consider suffering.  So I read the passage again, actually several more times, trying to grapple with that sense of doom that was trying to discourage me. 

I noticed that there are several things the Christian believer is told to do in order to prepare for the time when some kind of suffering will come.  As we prepare ourselves, our walk with God deepens.  Being prepared is what will carry us through those dark times of suffering, no matter what form the suffering may take.  Recognizing that there are things I can do to handle my suffering better gives me a renewed sense of power for facing whatever may come in my future.

How does a Christian prepare herself for that inevitable suffering?  We have all had suffering of one kind or another in our lives, and will no doubt have it again, so we may as well prepare, right?  I found several things I can do to be better prepared for the next time:

     1. Arm myself mentally (v.1).  That is the first step… let God help me see/understand the circumstances I face from His point of view.   

     2. Don’t be taken by surprise (v.12).  Remember that God allows suffering for a good reason, and He will help you through it because He wants you to become stronger in your faith and walk.

     3. Change your way of thinking about suffering (v. 13).  Instead of bemoaning your situation, ask God to help you see His hand at work.  When you do that, you will remember that God will be helping you face the situation.

     4. Think ahead (v.13).  Do what a runner does and think ahead to the goal you have and the reward if you succeed in your quest.  Our goal is the presence of God in our lives now and heaven in our future.  No matter what suffering we may have, the end result will be the same … eternal joy in heaven.

     5.  Do not be ashamed to trust God in your suffering (v.16).  Verses 15-19 remind me that everyone suffers, but I have no suffering compared to someone who does not know the Lord.  How many times have you (as I have) said, “I don’t know how someone could handle this if they couldn’t trust God”?  That is the principle at work in these verses.

    6. Let yourself continue to grow stronger in your faith (v.19).  Do not allow your suffering or your insecurity about handling your suffering deter you from trusting God. That will speak volumes to those outside the faith, or who are weak in their faith, as they observe how you handle your suffering.

HOPE

I Peter 1:1-9

v.3: Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

 

The Bible handbook I use for background information about each book of the Bible says that the key word for I Peter is the word “hope.”  There are some interesting, challenging, and thought-provoking lessons hidden in this passage from chapter one.

   

My hope is alive.  Did you notice that in verse 3?  It is a living hope because it is hope based on the resurrection of Jesus.  This hope is founded on the grace of God. 

What happens when you have hope that is alive?   When you read the remainder of the verses in this passage, you can find several distinguishing characteristics of that ALIVE HOPE. Here is what I found:

     v.4 = it is heaven-based and therefore does not die or fade away;

     v.5 = it is guarded by God Himself;

     v.6 = troubles and /or suffering do not destroy its power;

     v.7 = it glorifies Jesus in our lives;

     v.8 = it gives us the ability to have joy no matter what our circumstances may be.

    

What does hope do for us?       

     Hope gives us light when life is at its darkest;

     Hope gives us motivation when we become discouraged;

     Hope gives us joy when there is no joy in our circumstances;

     

How is HOPE helping you cope with the challenges in your life?  Is there someone you know who needs to be reminded of the HOPE we have as children of God?  Call them or send them a message to encourage them in that HOPE.

This might of yours

Judges 6:14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”

God told Gideon to go rebel against the enemy and fight in “this might of yours,” "in this thy might."  He did not say, “Gather yourself together, train, get your supplies, and go.”  Instead, He told Gideon to go in his might.  What kind of “might” did Gideon have?  He was hiding his threshing job in a wine press.  He was timid and afraid, almost of his own shadow.  He was discouraged and disheartened by the oppression of the enemy.  He was from an unknown, just normal, household family.  He was afraid of even his neighbors (see 6:27) much less the powerful enemy.  In other words, Gideon’s “might” was almost nil!  God did not want him to go in any strength or power other than God’s power and strength.  If he trusted in that, Gideon could (and did) succeed.  So he DID go in his might and he DID trust God to add the extra “might” he needed and he DID succeed in defeating the oppressing power of the enemy.  All because he went in “his might.”

Year after year after year

I Samuel 1:7 So it went on year by year.

What is it that went on year by year?  There are several things that are either mentioned specifically or implied that happened regularly, yearly, for who knows how many years.  Elkanah, Samuel’s father, went to offer sacrifices year by year.  He cared about his family and was very sensitive to childless Hannah.  Year by year Hannah felt her pain of childlessness.  It was a pain that did not disappear in spite of her faithfulness along with Elkanah, year by year.  She was deeply distressed and weeping (see v. 10) year after year.  There was not an overnight answer to that distress.  It went on for many years, we don’t know how many.  The beauty of the story, however, lies in the fact that Elkanah and Hannah remained faithful to God through the pain of childless years and in God’s time, He answered Hannah’s prayer.  After Samuel was born, we read of another “year by year” when Hannah cam to see the child she gave back into God’s service, year by year.  She remained faithful through it all, year by year.  Sometimes we can see God in the mundane, the things that never seem to change even though we wish they would.  That's what Hannah learned.

My birth certificate

Psalm 87:6 The Lord records as he registers the people, “This one was born there.”

When I read this verse I immediately thought of my birth certificate.  When I was born, the certificate was filled out and signed by the doctor, recording the time and place I was born.  It has been my proof of citizenship for my entire life, even though I cannot personally remember the event.  

So it is with my relationship to God.  At the time of my salvation, the Lord recorded my “birth” and now He can look back, so to speak, and be reminded that on that specific date, at that specific time and in that specific location I gave my life to Him and was born again.  It is recorded and even though I cannot tell you the specifics, He knows, and that is what is important. 

I have my “birth certificate” and it is my proof that I am His child.

Do not exaggerate

Deuteronomy 1:28 Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we.  The cities are great and fortified up to heaven …”

The Israelites did the same thing I see myself doing at times, turning a big thing into an even bigger one.  Exaggerating a situation in my mind to the point of it becoming a problem that is bigger than it actually is, particularly discounting what I know from my own experiences that God can help me deal with.  The Israelites did not reflect on how God had helped them in their escape from slavery in Egypt.  In addition, they created problems by exaggerating the report of the spies who had gone into the Promised Land to check it out.  The spies reported “strong inhabitants” (Numbers 13:28) but now the people say the inhabitants are “greater and taller then we.”  The spies reported on cities “fortified and very large” but now the people say those cities are “fortified up to heaven.”  Remembering God’s faithful protection and enabling can be the key to my successful facing of my current situation every time!

The Best of the best

Numbers 18:12 All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the first fruits of what they give to the Lord, I give to you.

The priests, as those whose job was to lead the people in worship, were to receive the best of the best of the offerings the people brought.  It was a sign of how special the calling to ministry was in God's sight.  They were representing the people before God.  It was no small responsibility they carried, and to receive the best of the people’s tithe certainly indicates that.  But even the priests were to give a tithe of what they received back to God – a tithe of the tithe (see 18:26 that says "When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord's offering") – so God still received the best of the best!  God deserves my very best – my best of my best.

Nothing is wasted

As I was looking at my Bible reading journal this morning and noticing how few pages are left to be written on, I realized that I have been very negligent to record my thoughts here on my blog when it comes to my Bible reading.  In January I started over once again on reading through the Bible for the "umpteenth" time, and have felt amazed at how much I am still learning after all these years!  The Bible truly is a living book.  No matter how many times I read through it, I keep learning new things, noticing new lessons to be learned from the examples of people and events in Scripture.

This was true as I read through Exodus and Leviticus in recent weeks.  For example:

Exodus 28:12, 18, 36, 38 … the ephod … for remembrance … the breastpiece of judgment … the robe.  And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers … the turban … that they may be accepted before the Lord.

I had never noticed the specific meanings of the pieces of the high priest’s garments before.  The ephod on his shoulders had stones engraved with the names of the tribes and the passage says that was for remembrance.  It reminded the high priest (helped him remember) that he was Israel's representative before God.  The breastpiece, according to v. 28, was the breastpiece of judgment, reminding him again that he represented the entire nation.  Then there was the robe the high priest wore.  Whenever he ministered in the Holy Place he was to wear it.  It represented his responsibility before God.  He wore a turban also when ministering.  It was the sign of the acceptance of the people by God.  Nothing of these items was accidental or incidental – every piece had meaning to enhance the act of worship.  What a great example for us to follow in our worship.  Don’t waste any act of worship.  Let it all be meaningful and meaning-filled.

Grace in the wilderness

Jeremiah 31:2 The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness…

The paragraph in which this verse is found has a title in the Bible I am using: "The Lord Will Turn Mourning to Joy.”  This chapter in Jeremiah talks about how God will restore His people spiritually when they have repented of their sin.  As I thought about that promise of forgiveness and restoration, this phrase “grace in the wilderness” came alive in a new way.  When I repent and receive forgiveness, there are times when God has to give me grace as I live through the consequences of my sin.  That would be a “wilderness” which does not mean my sin has not been forgiven.  For those times of wilderness, God will give the forgiven person grace to help them through the natural consequences of sin that has been committed.  In the following verse (v.4) this truth is affirmed when God says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore [notice what He says next!] I have continued my faithfulness to you.”  God, out of love, applies His grace and faithfulness to every repentant sinner!

Some of God's "I Wills"

Jeremiah 33  Top Ten I WILLS of God’s promise of peace to His children

1. I will answer your calls to me, v.3

2. I will heal them, v.6

3. I will restore their good fortune, v.7

4. I will cleanse their guilt, v.8a

5. I will forgive their sin and rebellion, v.8b

6. I will provide good and prosperity, v.8b

7. I will restore the fortunes of the land, v.11b

8. I will fulfill my promises, v.14

9. I will provide a savior, v.15

10. I will have mercy on them, v.26

In the wilderness

Isaiah 40:3 In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Although this verse is usually referred to in terms of John the Baptist’s prophecy about Jesus, this morning as I read it I was really struck by the picture of where the way of the Lord is prepared.  The wilderness is a place of dryness and desolation, or as the dictionary definition says, “a wild and uncultivated region … uninhabited …; a tract of wasteland.”  I was reminded in that picture that God does His “best” work in us when we call to Him out of the middle of our life wildernesses.  When things feel desolate and unbearable is when a person most likely sees that desolation and senses his need for help.  When we recognize our desolation, the way is prepared for the Lord to intervene in our lives and His is able to make His way to us.  Another reminder that I don’t have to have everything in my life “in order” before I can call on God.  It call be a mess, but the way is prepared for God’s intervention.

Determination

II Kings 18:3-8 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord … he removed the high places … he trusted in the Lord … he held fast to the Lord … he rebelled against the king of Assyria and world not serve him … he struck down the Philistines.

King Hezekiah is a good example of what one does when determined to do what is right and honorable in following the Lord.  He did not just decide to do what was right, he acted on his decision.  He got rid of everything that might keep him from following through on his decision.  He removed things that would tempt him to sin (the “high placed” and idols).  He rebelled when he couldn’t do anything else, and refused to let outside influenced control his actions.  He destroyed (“struck down”) things that could cause him present or future distraction and trouble.  And he was proactive in his pursuit of doing what was right.  These verses tell us he not only trusted in the Lord.  He held fast to the Lord.  This tells me he was not naïve about the potential he had to give up and give in to the things that could tempt him away from his determination to follow God.

Not repairing my house?

II Kings 12:7b Why are you not repairing the house?

King Jehoash was a king who wanted to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  He saw that the temple was in disrepair because of the lack of interest on the part of the people and even the priests (too much attention paid to other worship instead of to the worship of God) so he told the priests to be repairing God’s house.  Yet after 23 years the priests still had done no work … just collected money to do the work.  And the king’s response really struck me today as I re-read this account.  There was no good reason to not be doing the repairs.  There was no lack of means, of supplies, or of personnel.  It was procrastination and/or pure laziness.  It made me stop and think again about my own life and what keeps me from reaching my own goals.  Although I never used to procrastinate, I see that tendency creeping into my life in these retirement years.  Why am I not repairing my own bodily house?  I can only say it is procrastination and laziness that keeps me from pursuing better physical and spiritual health.  I have no other valid excuse.

Keeping myself

Joshua 6:18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction.

God’s command to Joshua and the children of Israel was to not leave anything that lived and breathed when they took over the Promised Land because of their vulnerability to being led astray from God and His Word of commandment for a pure and holy life.  From the remaining part of this verse we know that to leave anything would bring trouble to them.  God knew how easily the people could be led astray.  As I read this verse this morning I was reminded that I too must keep myself from anything that is a part of the sinful world that might lead me astray in my walk with God.   In the words of the Apostle John, I must not love the world, neither things of the world because if I do love the world, the love of the Father is not in me.  This was true for Joshua and his time, and it is true for me in my time. 

Before the Lord

Leviticus 1:3b … before the Lord …

As I read the first four chapters of Leviticus this morning I was struck by the repetition of the phrase “before the Lord” in the descriptions of the various sacrifices.  Those who were offering sacrifices did not do the sacrificial acts on their own or privately.  It was done in a public area of the tabernacle.  So the offering and sacrifice were fairly public even though the reason for the sacrifice may have been a private or individual one.  I think the repetition of the phrase “before the Lord” would have been a good reminder to the people that even though the offering was public, they were in reality having a private interaction with the Lord.  The Lord was the One to whom the sacrifice was being made and the public nature of it was secondary to their communication with God.  A good reminder to me today that the most important part of my spiritual life is my "before the Lord” activity, even when that activity is public in nature, such as teaching or corporate worship.  It is all “before the Lord.”