Third day- King of Glory

Doors

This morning as I read Psalms 24 I was reminded of just how much power God has. He is the creator of everything and sometimes I get so caught up in my little pesky problems that I forget that He has my back. In the Psalms it starts out with how amazing God is and how He is the creator of all things, then it asks who is worthy to give Him that praise. Well none of us are, but then I remember that God has called me His own. When I gave my life to Him, He wrapped his love around me and called me His child. Comforting as this sounds this was the real kicker for me:
 ⁷ Open up, ancient gates!
      Open up, ancient doors,
      and let the King of glory enter.
 ⁸ Who is the King of glory?
      The Lord, strong and mighty;

      the Lord, invincible in battle.
 ⁹ Open up, ancient gates!
      Open up, ancient doors,
      and let the King of glory enter.

I know...it sounds weird. At first I thought he was talking about physical gates and doors. Then it hit me that maybe he is just talking about me. Maybe instead of talking about castles gates and ancient doors, David is really talking about walls I build, gates I seem to shut without realizing it. Sometimes I can't help but think that when I take time to listen to God, He has something to say to me. He knows of all the hurts in my life, disappointments, and struggles that make me close the doors and gates to my heart. The sad thing is that beyond those doors and gates lie the King of Glory and there I am with the door shut. He doesn't mention any walls,which is great! Doors and gates can easily be opened if you have the right key or if you just push a little! So today, rather than shutting myself in, I am airing the house out. The gates and doors are open and I am going to bask in this King of Glory!!!!

Jephthah's Daughter

       I just read a story from the Bible about Jephthah. I know...who is this guy? I went to Bible college and somehow managed to let this story slip between my fingers. I sat here after reading it wondering what in the world I might reap from a story like this one. Ok...so you might have to look up Judges 11 and read it but I will give you the quick version:

       So this guy "Jeph" was born to a prostitute and his half brothers dropped him from the family like a bad egg.  He was set out and basically left for dead. Lucky for him he was a tough bird and so he went out and met other outcasts and became their ringleader. He was so impressive that when his previous clan got into a fight with the Ammonites they came back and wanted him to lead the cause.  He was perplexed by the offer but accepted. Off Jeph goes to fight for the same people who kicked him out in the first place. What an idiot.
       Well Jeph must have had a real desire for acceptance because he took the offer and made a promise to God that if God would let him conquer the Ammonites he would sacrifice whatever came out of his front door first when he came home.
("If you give me a clear victory over the Ammonites, then I'll give to God whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in one piece from among the Ammonites—I'll offer it up in a sacrificial burnt offering." )
      Jeph goes to war, wins by a landslide, and returns home. Dun duh duh...the plot thickens! Guess who comes dancing out of his house when he returns? His one and only virgin daughter! Does he know that is what is going to happen? Did he expect it to be his wife, mother-in-law, or the family dog? The Bible doesn't say that part but what I do know is that he freaks out and blames the daughter for being the first one out the door. HE makes a promise to God and then when God not only delivers but helps him conquer 20 more cities he starts blaming her. So basically Jeph was willing to give up a family member so he could look good in the eyes of others.
      Now this is where I get really interested! If it were me and my father made a promise like that to God I would be begging him to renege on his vow. But when the unnamed daughter finds out what is at stake she tells him to follow through with his vow. What???? Did she really just say that? She does do something that I think is really interesting though. She tells her dad that she wants to go to the mountains with her friends and mourn her inability to ever marry and have children. The daughter goes to the mountains with her most trusted friends rather than spending the rest of her days with her own father. She returns and is sacrificed. Or is she...it seems kind of vague whether she was literally sacrificed or whether she went the rest of her life unmarried and childless. This in itself was like a death sentence for Jewish women. They wanted nothing more than to have a child. Either way she paid the price.
     All this to say that sometimes, or most of the time, we do stupid things to impress people we don't even like. I find myself trying to please others all the time. Its happening less and less these days but its still a vicious cycle we get ourselves into. When our motive is more about pleasing people than pleasing God we end up unhappy and unfulfilled. Jeph made a promise to God to impress people who were horrible to him in the first place.  Jeph did great things for God in his time as a judge but sometimes he let his ego get in the way. I do that, too. God help me to do things for you and not to please man.

"I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant." Galatians 1:10

   

Finding Favor

     This morning was different than most for me. I woke up with God on my mind right away. It was as if He whispered in my ear to go and listen for Him. When I went to open my Bible the first verse that came to my mind was the 23rd Psalm.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (or through the darkest valley),
I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

-- Life Application Bible - NIV

It was such a comfort for me and it reminded me of the song Matt Redman sings called "Never Let Go" which is about God holding us during the storms of life. I put the song on while I read the verse over and over. Why was I so intense about these verses? On the way to school I realized that God was preparing me for a battle that I was going to have to overcome today. I had no idea that those verses would come back and soothe the pain that often comes with battle wounds. When I got to work I went straight for the first person I knew who was usually fully suited in her armor and ready for battle. She prayed for me and asked for favor for me today. Not just regular old "favor" that comes with being a child of God, but extra favor everywhere I stepped. As I sit here typing this blog thinking of the painful tears I shed this morning and how now they are tears of joy and peace. God found favor upon me...favor I don't deserve but am thrilled to get. Little things that may not matter on a regular day happened today to show me just how much God cares for me. Even though he has millions of children he still has time for his little redhead down here in Tennessee. Thanks God for showing favor on me today, for wonderful friends praying for me, for everything good.

This song really helps me remember who I need to call on:

Couldn't Wait to Share

     So, I told you on Friday that I was totally exhausted and needed to hide for a bit. I was soooo looking forward to what God was gonna do. I had big plans for Him! (lol, literally) Dave was off this weekend and I thought it might be nice to go hiking in this beautiful weather and just relax as a family, literally hiding in the mountains where I would be closer to God and nature. Turns out He had a different thing in mind. Dave started running a fever Friday night. He was in bed all day Saturday and continues to be there as I write. So, my big hiking plans were halted. The boys had major cabin fever so we ran some errands and the usual stuff we do on weekends. Ok God where is my hiding??? I am anxiously waiting for you to zap down and cover me with your hand! Last night I had come to the conclusion that I probably wouldn't get that rest I so desperately wanted. I figured I must have missed it while I was busy running errands.
     This morning I woke up knowing I had to go to church and teach 3rd-5th grade kids alone. (Dave is still sick in bed) So I muster up all the "teacher" energy I have and hit the road. When I get to the church there is a sign on the front door that says, "Your kids classes have changed...ask us how." Would you believe the heat went out and all the kids were supposed to stay in the service with the grown ups. So that means that I get to go to church! (Not that I don't love teaching, because I do!) At this point I am at church alone. Nobody in my family is there but little ole me. I don't have to wonder if the boys are getting what they need and if they are listening intently. I am not aware of anything but me and God. Then it happens! I am in my hiding place. Every song that was played was like it was played just for me. Every word that was spoken was just for me. Every scripture that was breathed was for me. For one hour I was transported into a place where Moses had been once. I was up on a hillside waiting for God to pass by and guess what? He did!

God has a way of showing up when he knows I need it most and when I least expect it. It wasn't at all like I planned for it to be. His plans are always so much better than mine. I forget that sometimes, til He reminds me. The above song really hit me hard...enjoy it!

The Cleft of a Rock

     I have to admit it...I am exhausted! I just need to rest. Not just rest by sleeping in or taking a vacation but really resting my soul by hiding in God. Sometimes this big ole world is just too overwhelming for me and I need to take a sabbatical from it all. Being my best at work, being a mom, being a wife, being a homeschool teacher, a friend, an housekeeper, a cook, an accountant, etc. seems to weigh heavy at times and I just want to crawl underneath something big and hide for a while, just until I can get my power restored. I am so lucky that I can do that...yep, just like that I can ask God to hide me and He will protect me from everything being too much. God placed Moses in the cleft of a rock so that he could get just a glimpse of His glory. I think if we ask God will hide us behind a "rock" so we can be recharged in His presence. I am looking forward to recharging this weekend. So if you can't find me you know where I'll be!

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
  That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
  And covers me there with His hand,
    And covers me there with His hand.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/334#ixzz1DgaKlcQV

Prayer Changes Things

     For some odd reason I am always suprised by God's ability to do something wonderful when I least expect it.  Today was a normal day by most standards. Nothing out of the ordinary happened at work. But at the end of the day when I was just ready to leave, an unexpected visitor came to my classroom. Unlike the snake that has visited my room from time to time, this visitor was more than welcome! It was a dear friend from work that has the true gift of encouragement. But today was not for her to encourage me, but rather for me to reach out to her. I asked her if we could pray together and she said, "I am so glad you asked me that!" I prayed for her and then she prayed for me. It was amazing because she has so much knowledge of God's Word hidden in her heart. She prayed scripture like nobody's business. Even though I set out to encourage her, she still ended up encouraging me! Lord, let me hide your Word in my heart so that when times are tough I can bring that back up from the depths and use it to encourage others and myself. Your word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path...Psalms 119:105.

     Every day with God is a new suprise. I am never regretful that I chose to follow Him.

From a Distance?

     As I was cleaning house the other day I got a song stuck in my head. It was the song "From a Distance" by Bette Midler. I don't even know why that song in particular came to me...maybe I heard it earlier and it just stuck with me. Who knows? Anyways, as I was singing it I realized that the song says, "God is watching us, God is watching us, God is watching us...from a distance". Wait! My God isn't a distant God so why am I singing this song? He may seem far away because we can't see him, but in reality He is with us all the time. I feel His presence throughout the day and wonder how people can think of God as a distant being. He is in the sunrise I see as I am driving to work each morning and in the eyes of my kids at school. He is that whisper that tells me to "be still" when I get frantic about life's ups and downs. I can feel His presence when I am cooking dinner, enjoying a good song, and when I am spending time with my family. He is so present that I can almost sense His hand upon my shoulder like a close friend. No, God isn't watching from a distance. He is in your house right now summoning you to spend some time with Him. He notices you...and if we listen closely we might just notice that He is closer than we think.