Sarah, Jeremiah and Solomon

A beautiful siren once confessed, "Everything changes / Everything falls apart / Can't stop to feel myself losing control / But deep in my senses I know / How stupid could I be / A simpleton could see / that you're no good for me..."


A suffering prophet once observed, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)


A wise king once commanded, "Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well." (Proverbs 5:15)


The grass is never greener. Our hearts will lie to us, tempting us to find satisfaction in the forbidden ones. Drink deeply from your own well, your own husband or wife. Do not be led astray; you'll only be left to die of thirst. 

So far? Only two weeks.

Since our wedding, seven years ago, the longest time my hubby and I have been apart was two weeks. In a couple of months, that will change.

My hubby has accepted a job overseas that will take him away for a year. He'll have a couple of "leaves," but over all, he'll be working in the sand for a long while. The Toot and I will not be going with him. We will be home in the States, learning how to rely solely on the Lord.

I'm going to be stretched, there's no doubt. I can't begin to think of how much I depend on the Hubby. Changing the AC filters, fixing wifi, taking the car to be serviced, fixing anything that breaks, weed eating (I mow, but I'm terrible at weed eating.), and so many other "Honey Do" chores. I am now thoroughly convinced that God's word for this year is diligence.

These next two months, before he leaves, are going to be so difficult. I want to make the best of our time together, but I'm so nervous and afraid and trying not to burst into tears. None of that makes for a great time.

Here's to trusting the Lord and knowing (if only in my mind) that He's faithful and good and loving and trustworthy and omnipresent.


"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.'”
(Psalm 91:1,2 ESV)

P.S. For any creepers who may stumble across this post: We have two very well-functioning house alarms, and there will be few nights that I won't have someone sleeping over. Just sayin'.

Joseph, Planning and God's Will

I'll propose. She'll say, "yes!" Then, I'll head back to my parents' house to add on some rooms for our own home. She'll prepare whatever she needs to prepare to be my wife. We'll be married. I'll continue my carpentry business here in town. She'll be a great little Homemaker and hopefully SAHM soon. Perfect! I've got it all worked out. 


{Okay, I know Joseph probably didn't think exactly like that, but I'm sure he had some kind of plan in mind. Scripture says he was a just man who "considered" things, so I'm sure he was prudent and thoughtful in his decisions. Getting married is a pretty big decision.}


Joseph has his plan all thought-out, and then: "...before they came together she was found to be with child..." 


{Oh dear. I'm not a historian, but I'm sure that was frowned-upon in his culture, but after a night of divine visitation, he decides to keep Mary and the growing baby.}


All right. So, the girl I'm about to marry is pregnant. Not only is she pregnant, but she's carrying the Messiah, the Savior we've been anticipating for thousands of years, the Son of God! No pressure. I can handle this...I need to go chop something...


{If I had been Joseph, these would have been my thoughts: I can't believe you'd put all this on us! We can't handle something this! Why have you done this? Everything was going fine, and now, what are we suppose to do?! Still, God isn't done. Joseph's plans are crumbling to pieces, and God is still pounding into them.}

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child."


{My first thought when I read this was, "Seriously, Lord?!" Then I wondered if Joseph complained or got frustrated with this new situation. Not only was he about to marry a pregnant girl and be the adoptive parent of God's Son, he's also go to pack up and journey 70 miles on foot with a super-pregnant fiancé sitting on a donkey.}
_______


We don't know for certain what Joseph was thinking and feeling through all of this, but we do know a few things:

• He was a just man. (Matt. 1:19)
• He wasn't hasty in decision-making. (Matt. 1:20)
• He believed Gabriel's message. (Matt. 1:24)
• He obeyed the message. (Matt. 1:24)

May Joseph be an example to God's children. Christians, we must be thoughtful and patient in making decisions, and when God says to do something, we must obey. 

No matter how random and arbitrary or terrifying and humiliating God's will may be, He is a good and loving Father. He only calls us to what is most glorifying to Him. Strangely enough, what glorifies Him is always good for us, whether we believe it or not.

This post was inspired by today's Advent reading, Luke 2:1-7. This and other readings are chronicled here. 

Diversity--Things I Love Thursday

I'm young, married, female, middle class and white; I don't have any culturally interesting labels. I have interesting qualities, I'm sure, but when I fill out paperwork, I check the less-than-exciting boxes.

The little ekklesia to which I belong is a beautiful one. It resembles heaven far more than it used to, and I'd love to see more color and age and SES.

Diversity is pretty to me. That may sound cheesy, but it is. Here's why:

• I like lots of colors.
• I like learning from people older and younger than me.
• Heaven will be really colorful.
• I love to learn different languages.
• Believers in humble economic states have much to teach the rest of us about humility.
• The church is filled with gifts that I don't have but need in others.
• Believers in high economic states have much to teach the rest of us about humility. 
• Older believers are wise.
• Young believers are free.

I love diversity. I really do!

I'm linked up to Diaper Diaries.

I will not blog in anger.

But it will be difficult.

King Solomon once wrote, "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent." (Proverbs 10:19 ESV) In this case, I'll be prudent and restrain my fingers.

I googled that Camping guy to find out how his followers are doing the Sunday after the Non-Rapture. I saw how his organization is $80 million richer. I immediately thought of an Old Testament prophecy from Ezekiel:

"And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice." (Ezekiel 22:28-29 ESV)

My heart filled with (hopefully) righteous indignation. I could feel heat inside my chest and face.

Part of me wants to rejoice that God will have His vengeance. That is sinful and unmerciful and nothing like Jesus. If I were in his shoes, I'd desire mercy and compassion and forgiveness, not justice.

The other part of me want to pray that God kindly shows Camping his sin and lovingly draws him to repentance. That's what I  want from God for myself--loving kindness that leads to repentance.

I'm off to write in my journal a prayer. Well, really two prayers--one for Camping's heart and the other for my own.

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

(Ephesians 4:31-5:2 ESV)

Okay, Pastor Paul. I'll do that. No, God will do that in me.

"You're not Santa. You're Papa."

My daddy and I have a peculiar relationship. I don't want to write anything that may dishonor my daddy, so I post this with a clear conscience.

Christmas morning my daddy gives me a gift. My dad doesn't buy stuff for people. He'll take you to dinner or to the beach or even to Disney World, but he won't buy you things. He always says, "I don't want to junk up your house, I'll let you do that," so this gift was a big, strange deal for me.

My non-gift-giving Daddy filled a multi-opening frame with pictures of Caleb from his first few days of life. It was a sweet and incredibly thoughtful gift. I hugged him, not expecting a long hug. That hasn't happened since I was little. He didn't let go. Then, he started crying. Another thing my dad hasn't done for many years, at least in front of me.

I would love to have these moments with my daddy more often, but there's a lot that would need to be sifted through before that could happen. Just the same, that gift made my Christmas morning.

Also, as an aside, he dressed up like Santa for Caleb, the other babies, and the doggies. Here's a picture to prove it.

Caleb genuinely looks interested in that big hairy man holding him. Also, the little jumpsuit that he has on was my daddy's. It says, "Toot Toot" on the back. Caleb and his Papa both live up to that name.

Oh, I love my daddy! How I pray and pray and pray that he'll love Jesus one day. So much freedom and joy and purpose he could know.