Isn't it amazing how sometimes history repeats itself? Sometimes where it seems identical, but for the names of those involved...
Reading earlier in Genesis, Abraham recognizes that his wife Sarah is very beautiful, and as they are coming to a place where he fears that the men in power will kill him and take Sarah for themselves, he entreats her to tell the people that they are brother and sister. OK, well, they do share one parent in common, so they are half-siblings... but she is also his *wife*. She obeys her husband's words and is taken into the household of another man... his women's wombs are closed and he sees that he has been taken in by this deception and releases Sarah back to Abraham and tells them to leave (summarizing here...)
Fast forward... Isaac and Rebekah... there is a famine and God tells Isaac to sojourn in Gerar. In this place, there are men who ask Isaac about Rebekah, and he tells them that she is his sister. In order to save his own life, he allows her to be taken into another man's household. (!!!!) When confronted with this lie, he admits that he was afraid for his own life, hence the lie... (in his case, however, Rebekah is the daughter of his uncle - his mother's brother's daughter - NOT his sister, but a cousin)
What strikes me about this is that both men were so blessed by God... and yet they have essentially given their wives to other men, as if they were posessions and not a helpmeet given to them by the Lord... This I do not understand. How can a man willingly give his wife to be "taken" by another man in the manner of a husband? Would he not defend his wife? Protect that which is his to own? Should not her affections and physical attentions be reserved totally and completely for her husband? (I think yes...) so why would these two men so willingly give that up to another man? There has been no threat - at least not that is mentioned in my KJV - it's the worry of a threat... I don't understand this reasoning...
My husband pointed something else out in regards to this, after I shared with him my confusion... he said that on top of that, Abraham and Isaac showed a distinct lack of faith or trust. As he said, they did not immediately turn to the Lord in prayer, seeking wisdom, seeking protection - they took their own way and had their wives lie, and they lied, and they compromised the purity of their relationships with their wives.
And then I also wonder, how in the world must Sarah and Rebekah have felt through all of this?
"Well honey, these people who live here can be kind of scary, and I'm afraid for my life, so I want you to lie for me and allow these men the rights of a husband so that they won't hurt me..." OK, I know that's not quite how it was said, but that's the message I'm hearing between the lines... How is that right?
On top of that, how does God bless these men who would do such things?
I'm not questioning God, per se - I'm just looking for reason or understanding... His ways are higher than my ways or my comprehension, and He is GOD (and I most clearly am *not*!) Yet this puzzles me...
Abraham had faith, when God told him to offer Isaac on the altar as a sacrifice to the Lord, and Abraham was prepared - to the point of having bound his child and placed him on the alter (can you imagine how Isaac must have felt at that moment?? I doubt that he laid complacently, waiting to be killed and burned on the altar... but I could be wrong...) - he trusted God to provide a sacrifice, as he told Isaac while they were on their way to to place of sacrifice and worship - and God provided the ram, which became the sacrifice instead of Isaac... If Abraham had that kind of faith, that level of obedience to the Lord, why did he not have that faith when it came to his wife? And what of Isaac when he was a man and married... where did their faith go that they felt it acceptable to put their wives on the figurative altar? Was that before the time when good men sought to protect their wives and children?
I don't really know... but I do know that this issue baffles and troubles me... and I am so thankful to know that I have a husband who would not ask such a thing of me, but would rather seek to defend his wife and children...
Monday, January 23, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Pitter Patter
I love baby feet... These are Hannah's at 13 months.
Looks like, if all goes well, she is going to be a big sister in August or September...
Praying all goes well this time.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Back to the barnyard!
So as promised, here's the bit on pigs...
Now, to start off, a few things I learned:
* Pigs are HAIRY!!! (who knew? I sure didn't!!)
* Pigs *smell*... but if you keep their area fairly clean, it's not too bad... and when you have pigs, you'll be really thankful for high wind days that blows away most of the smell ;) overall, it's not too bad, though! (I thought it might be worse)
* Pigs have unique personalities, just like kids do! Our pigs this past year liked to be rubbed behind their ears! (think of a dog with a snout and short legs... well, maybe not quite...)
* Pigs can be MEAN if you don't make a point of befriending them. I've heard horror stories from people before we got our two pigs this past spring, and honestly, I was kind of afraid of them at first... the guy we bought our little 50 pound piglets could see my fear and was very kind in trying to hide his laughter (he got several good laughs thanks to my ignorance - but I also learned a lot from the few conversations we had, so it's all good - and I can laugh at those things too! If you can't laugh at yourself, you have problems... ;)
So, our start up, two little 50 pound piglets:
And a little bigger...
Now, to start off, a few things I learned:
* Pigs are HAIRY!!! (who knew? I sure didn't!!)
* Pigs *smell*... but if you keep their area fairly clean, it's not too bad... and when you have pigs, you'll be really thankful for high wind days that blows away most of the smell ;) overall, it's not too bad, though! (I thought it might be worse)
* Pigs have unique personalities, just like kids do! Our pigs this past year liked to be rubbed behind their ears! (think of a dog with a snout and short legs... well, maybe not quite...)
* Pigs can be MEAN if you don't make a point of befriending them. I've heard horror stories from people before we got our two pigs this past spring, and honestly, I was kind of afraid of them at first... the guy we bought our little 50 pound piglets could see my fear and was very kind in trying to hide his laughter (he got several good laughs thanks to my ignorance - but I also learned a lot from the few conversations we had, so it's all good - and I can laugh at those things too! If you can't laugh at yourself, you have problems... ;)
So, our start up, two little 50 pound piglets:
And a little bigger...
And a little bigger... finally able to maneuver over the step to get outside!
And a whole lot bigger!!
Just after being killed and hosed off...
This is a friend's son, cutting and gutting - it is amazing how similar a pigs insides are similar to human insides! The first pig, I didn't touch the innards - the second time around, I did hold the heart - amazing creation! and the liver (which we gave to the neighbors for their dogs)
I don't have pictures of the butchering process, since my hands were fully in it all, and the kids weren't at all wanting to watch the learning process, haha - to be honest, it wasn't anywhere near the level of disgusting that I thought it would be- which was a huge relief! It was a neat learning experience, though! (and good eating after it was all said and done!)
This is what SUB-zero looks like:
Right now we are at 8 degrees below zero... now, I don't remember if it got this cold where I lived as a kid, though I have lots of great memories of playing in the snow, skiing, and building ice forts... Now, as an adult, after living in the south for 12+ years, it's kind of a shocker! However, we do enjoy it, and love the beauty of REAL WINTER!!!
These first two were taken today, of the waterfall/ dam about 10 minutes from the base here... if you look close, you can see how the water has frozen mid-fall... now *that* is COLD!
Below, you can see the chunked up ice where the water of the river has frozen... don't ask me why it does that, I don't know - but the effect is amazing!!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Becoming the barn yard...
No, the house isn't a barn yard... though sometimes the kids' rooms look like pigstyes! (they have, for the record, just recently given their rooms a very thorough cleaning and organizing... *ahhhh* much better... now we'll see how long it lasts before I need to remind them again!)
So, we started with chickens... I've never had chickens before, but was told they are easy, and in my homesteady desires to try my hand at raising our own food as much as possible, I thought I'd start with these!
We got a brooder tub, the heat lamp, pine straw, baby chick food and nutrient bar, the water and feed containers... and then we set it up in the master bathroom where the chicks would be safe from little overzealous hands... we bought ten little chickies from the local farm supply store, assured that we would have ten layers...
(picture taken March 2010)
One of the chickies got trampled by the others around the nutrient treat :( the other nine have thrived and flourished.
One of the chickies we named Duchess - we later realized Duchess would be more aptly named Duke ;)
Well, the chickens in the bathroom idea proved to protect the chickies from little anxious to hold those fuzzy little babies hands - but it also proved to make more dust in any given week than I think I have ever seen in my home in years and years - oh my!!!
So my wonderful husband took on the task of renovating the shed on our property... the flood had dry-rotted boards and unfinished walls. When we bought this house the shed was already here, as was the barn, the fenced in dog run (which has become my primary garden area), and the garage. We've never had a two car garage before, or a detached shed, so you can imagine that we simply did not have *stuff* to put in them, and even played with the idea of tearing down the shed. Well, my brilliant husband had the awesome idea of turning that otherwise un-needed shed into a chicken shed! Yeah! So, he ripped out all of the floor boards (I helped a little, but he did the large majority of it himself) and replaced them, cut, tongue and groove, nailed in, walls covered (more cutting and placing tongue in groove) and then he created a divider wall of wood and mesh screen doors, covering the lower portion with chicken wire. The finished result was FANTASTIC! (and if you consider that this was his first ever renovating project, it is all the more amazing - I really do not think a professional could have done better!!!)
The inside. Growing baby chicks love the new space!
From the outside of the chicken area, but still inside the shed.
The chicks just grow and grow and grow... we added some more nesting boxes and continue to watch them grow!
Fast forward almost a year! They are full grown and great layers!
(I don't have a picture right now, but will come back and add one!)
Chickens are fun, easy to keep, and contrary to all that I've heard about how they peck you when you gather eggs, and all of that, I haven't experienced anything like that... (just wait until they aren't on a nest to gather the eggs in the nests!)
Interesting notes - it seems with our chicks, there are two or three favorite nesting spots... never mind that there are enough boxes for them to each have their very own - and by putting an energy saver light bulb in one of the brooder lamps/ heat lamps, we can keep light on for them even on the darker days without running up an astronomical electric bill!
Home raised chickens' eggs are darker in color, richer in flavor, and fun to gather ;) it's exciting to see how many eggs we get each day!
This coming spring, when it's chick season again, we're thinking about getting another batch of baby chicks - doubling our little flock! We couldn't possibly use that many eggs, but I learned from a friend of mine that by having the extra eggs to sell, it basically makes the chickens pay for themselves!
Coming up next, our pig adventure!
So, we started with chickens... I've never had chickens before, but was told they are easy, and in my homesteady desires to try my hand at raising our own food as much as possible, I thought I'd start with these!
We got a brooder tub, the heat lamp, pine straw, baby chick food and nutrient bar, the water and feed containers... and then we set it up in the master bathroom where the chicks would be safe from little overzealous hands... we bought ten little chickies from the local farm supply store, assured that we would have ten layers...
One of the chickies got trampled by the others around the nutrient treat :( the other nine have thrived and flourished.
One of the chickies we named Duchess - we later realized Duchess would be more aptly named Duke ;)
Well, the chickens in the bathroom idea proved to protect the chickies from little anxious to hold those fuzzy little babies hands - but it also proved to make more dust in any given week than I think I have ever seen in my home in years and years - oh my!!!
So my wonderful husband took on the task of renovating the shed on our property... the flood had dry-rotted boards and unfinished walls. When we bought this house the shed was already here, as was the barn, the fenced in dog run (which has become my primary garden area), and the garage. We've never had a two car garage before, or a detached shed, so you can imagine that we simply did not have *stuff* to put in them, and even played with the idea of tearing down the shed. Well, my brilliant husband had the awesome idea of turning that otherwise un-needed shed into a chicken shed! Yeah! So, he ripped out all of the floor boards (I helped a little, but he did the large majority of it himself) and replaced them, cut, tongue and groove, nailed in, walls covered (more cutting and placing tongue in groove) and then he created a divider wall of wood and mesh screen doors, covering the lower portion with chicken wire. The finished result was FANTASTIC! (and if you consider that this was his first ever renovating project, it is all the more amazing - I really do not think a professional could have done better!!!)
The chicks just grow and grow and grow... we added some more nesting boxes and continue to watch them grow!
Fast forward almost a year! They are full grown and great layers!
(I don't have a picture right now, but will come back and add one!)
Chickens are fun, easy to keep, and contrary to all that I've heard about how they peck you when you gather eggs, and all of that, I haven't experienced anything like that... (just wait until they aren't on a nest to gather the eggs in the nests!)
Interesting notes - it seems with our chicks, there are two or three favorite nesting spots... never mind that there are enough boxes for them to each have their very own - and by putting an energy saver light bulb in one of the brooder lamps/ heat lamps, we can keep light on for them even on the darker days without running up an astronomical electric bill!
Home raised chickens' eggs are darker in color, richer in flavor, and fun to gather ;) it's exciting to see how many eggs we get each day!
This coming spring, when it's chick season again, we're thinking about getting another batch of baby chicks - doubling our little flock! We couldn't possibly use that many eggs, but I learned from a friend of mine that by having the extra eggs to sell, it basically makes the chickens pay for themselves!
Coming up next, our pig adventure!
Second generation Scouting!
My husband joined the Boy Scouts of America when he was in high school, and worked his way up to Eagle Scout. He has been a member of the Eagle Scout Association for some time now.
And now... that legacy continues! Our oldest son joined scouts this month, and he absolutely loves it! It's so great to have this organization with strong, Christian male leaders for our sons... this father-son activity... this time for a boy to join with other boys for good, clean, old fashioned fun! (especially if he has lots of older sisters!! ha!)
So, my scouting men continue to take the challenge - to be the men that God created them to be, and to do their part to make this world a better place. *happy sigh*
Little Dude is thrilled for the opportunity to go with Big Dude for father-son activities, and this month they are building a Derby race car together for the upcoming race. How fun!
Oh, and when he heard about the upcoming Father-Son camp out coming up, he was absolutely beside himself with excitement! Me thinks the family tent will be put to use long before the *family* goes camping this year - maybe they can scout out some good camping spots that are large family friendly while they are at it! :)
Sooooo proud of my men!! (the big and the littles)
And now... that legacy continues! Our oldest son joined scouts this month, and he absolutely loves it! It's so great to have this organization with strong, Christian male leaders for our sons... this father-son activity... this time for a boy to join with other boys for good, clean, old fashioned fun! (especially if he has lots of older sisters!! ha!)
So, my scouting men continue to take the challenge - to be the men that God created them to be, and to do their part to make this world a better place. *happy sigh*
Little Dude is thrilled for the opportunity to go with Big Dude for father-son activities, and this month they are building a Derby race car together for the upcoming race. How fun!
Oh, and when he heard about the upcoming Father-Son camp out coming up, he was absolutely beside himself with excitement! Me thinks the family tent will be put to use long before the *family* goes camping this year - maybe they can scout out some good camping spots that are large family friendly while they are at it! :)
Sooooo proud of my men!! (the big and the littles)
Friday, January 6, 2012
Signing praises...
No, that's not a typo... I didn't mean Singing Praises, though that is part of it... but Signing, ASL, hymns and praises to the Lord...
When I was in the 8th grade, I had this amazing music teacher... Miss Friesen. She had an awesome gift with music, instruments, singing, you name it! She was also the daughter of two deaf parents. I learned a lot from her, both during class times and during my lunch times that were sometimes spent in her classroom just having conversations... she made me feel important, but she also stressed how very much more GOD is important than any human or any thing...
One of the things that she taught my class was to sing and SIGN the song "Take My Life and Let It Be" - it's been many, many years, and I only remember part of the signs now... but in the last week or so, I have decided that I would really like to teach my children how to sign so many of these hymns that we love to sing... and even learn new ones... what a neat way to worship the Lord, and to really focus our singing on what is being said, instead of being distracted by what is around us during worship times...
So, I looked on amazon, I looked at CBD, I looked other places online... and then (duh!) I looked on Google! There are free resources online that have people signing to hymns and we can watch them for free and learn them that way! Cool!
Well, I thought I'd share one of the links... it's late and I need to browse through more of them later, but this one has my absolute favorite hymn... actually, I think Amazing Grace is a favorite for many, many people! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this :)
Here's the link:
http://www.indyhazmat.com/creative/Video/MainSongs.asp
When I was in the 8th grade, I had this amazing music teacher... Miss Friesen. She had an awesome gift with music, instruments, singing, you name it! She was also the daughter of two deaf parents. I learned a lot from her, both during class times and during my lunch times that were sometimes spent in her classroom just having conversations... she made me feel important, but she also stressed how very much more GOD is important than any human or any thing...
One of the things that she taught my class was to sing and SIGN the song "Take My Life and Let It Be" - it's been many, many years, and I only remember part of the signs now... but in the last week or so, I have decided that I would really like to teach my children how to sign so many of these hymns that we love to sing... and even learn new ones... what a neat way to worship the Lord, and to really focus our singing on what is being said, instead of being distracted by what is around us during worship times...
So, I looked on amazon, I looked at CBD, I looked other places online... and then (duh!) I looked on Google! There are free resources online that have people signing to hymns and we can watch them for free and learn them that way! Cool!
Well, I thought I'd share one of the links... it's late and I need to browse through more of them later, but this one has my absolute favorite hymn... actually, I think Amazing Grace is a favorite for many, many people! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this :)
Here's the link:
http://www.indyhazmat.com/creative/Video/MainSongs.asp
Thursday, January 5, 2012
What would you do if you were given a second chance at something important to you?
What would you do if you heard from a "long lost" relative whom you had parted badly with and they reappeared in your life?
What if that person were one of your parents?
This Christmas, I sent both of my parents Christmas cards... their notes were similar, very brief "You are in my thoughts and prayers. I love you." My father's included my email address in case he ever wanted to get in touch. I admit that it was nerve wracking, and I didn't dare to hope to ever hear from my father again... it's been so many years...
This morning I received an email from my father - the email itself had less than a handful of words, but there was an attachment... I had to deep breathe and just... pause... before opening it. I didn't know quite what I would find inside... what I did find was a 4 page typed letter to me from my father. It was difficult to read, to be honest. Now I have written him back, my response similar in length, my heart made as vulnerable as I suspect is humanly possible without actually removing my beating heart from my chest and putting it on the table before him. No, that would be disgusting and I am certain that he would reject that offering... Instead, I offered him my completely open, totally transparent self
- and I haven't sent it.
No, I need the wisdom and guidance of my husband, my head - to read my letter in response to my father's letter (and his letter to me). I need his blessing to send it, his suggestions in editing if it needs editing... I need his support. More than anything I need his support.
I feel undone, almost. A long letter, though a painful one, is the last thing I expected... My father has a gruff personality... at least that's how I remember him... but I almost wonder if, in his long letter, he isn't opening a crack in the window... if this might possibly be the start to healing our long damaged relationship... We have both been at fault, and it takes two to reconcile...
What if this is that chance?
Of course there is also the chance that he will reject my heart and I will be left picking up the pieces... I guess that's always a risk, isn't it?
Well, if you think of it, I would sure appreciate your prayers - for both of us - as we begin these communications... perhaps as we begin healing... perhaps it will be closure instead, a book shut for eternity. I hope that is not the case, but it is not my decision, ultimately... it is his.
And, while you're at it, I could use an extra dose of courage, while you are praying.
Thank you.
What if that person were one of your parents?
This Christmas, I sent both of my parents Christmas cards... their notes were similar, very brief "You are in my thoughts and prayers. I love you." My father's included my email address in case he ever wanted to get in touch. I admit that it was nerve wracking, and I didn't dare to hope to ever hear from my father again... it's been so many years...
This morning I received an email from my father - the email itself had less than a handful of words, but there was an attachment... I had to deep breathe and just... pause... before opening it. I didn't know quite what I would find inside... what I did find was a 4 page typed letter to me from my father. It was difficult to read, to be honest. Now I have written him back, my response similar in length, my heart made as vulnerable as I suspect is humanly possible without actually removing my beating heart from my chest and putting it on the table before him. No, that would be disgusting and I am certain that he would reject that offering... Instead, I offered him my completely open, totally transparent self
- and I haven't sent it.
No, I need the wisdom and guidance of my husband, my head - to read my letter in response to my father's letter (and his letter to me). I need his blessing to send it, his suggestions in editing if it needs editing... I need his support. More than anything I need his support.
I feel undone, almost. A long letter, though a painful one, is the last thing I expected... My father has a gruff personality... at least that's how I remember him... but I almost wonder if, in his long letter, he isn't opening a crack in the window... if this might possibly be the start to healing our long damaged relationship... We have both been at fault, and it takes two to reconcile...
What if this is that chance?
Of course there is also the chance that he will reject my heart and I will be left picking up the pieces... I guess that's always a risk, isn't it?
Well, if you think of it, I would sure appreciate your prayers - for both of us - as we begin these communications... perhaps as we begin healing... perhaps it will be closure instead, a book shut for eternity. I hope that is not the case, but it is not my decision, ultimately... it is his.
And, while you're at it, I could use an extra dose of courage, while you are praying.
Thank you.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Reading on...
My husband and I are working through the chronological "read through the Bible in a year" plan... it's extra neat because on the days/ nights when he is home, we sit and read aloud together... He reads from his NIV Study Bible and I follow along in my large print KJV Bible (yeah, I'm getting old - the letters in the other Bibles are just too small for my eyes these days, even with my glasses on!) We have noted several areas of interest thus far, and we're only on Genesis chapter 7! The difference in wording between the two versions is interesting, and has brought up some interesting questions and conversations. I love that I can ask my husband, my spiritual head, when something puzzles me, and learn from his understanding and wisdom! What a tremendous blessing to have a spiritual head who cares that I am in God's word and learning!
(for the record, he has always cared about that, but this is the first time we have purposed to study through God's word TOGETHER)
Some notes of interest...
In the creation account, it states that God told Adam not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil... but when Eve is speaking to the serpent, she says that they were instructed to neither each OR touch... I find this interesting - from all appearances, it seems that she is adding to God's word... Hmmm... that makes one think, doesn't it? Is she indeed adding to God's word? That's something to ponder, isn't it? Then she eats and gives to Adam to eat, and then they play the blame game "the woman that you gave me, Lord, she made me do it!" (yeah, I'm paraphrasing a bit) and then "but Lord, I was beguiled by the serpent" (that's an interesting word, isn't it? beguiled...) She knew what the Lord said, and she knew that she should obey the Lord... you can just imagine that she must have been fighting her conscience as she touched that fruit and prepared to take that first sinful taste... I wonder if it left a bitter taste in her mouth? (I mean, after she gave to Adam, and they both realized that they were naked and had knowledge of good and evil)
Another thought - each day, as the Lord creates, at the end of the day he looks at His work and says "it is good" - but after he has created man and man has named all of the animals, God does not say "it is good", He says "it is not good" that man should be alone, and so He created woman. Now, He isn't saying that His creation of man is not good, He is saying that man needs a helper.. meet, or fit, for him... My husband always jokes that God used Adam's rib to form the woman so that she would always be close to man's heart - I don't know if there's any real truth to that, but I love the imagery! As I've been listening to Victoria Botkin's "She Shall Be Called Woman", she addresses this and says that it's like man is not complete without woman - she complements her husband and makes him complete - if that isn't convicting, I'm not sure what is... have you acted as a completion of your husband lately? Have you complemented your husband lately, or have you clashed with him? Hmmm... that gives pause, doesn't it? TJ and I have a very good marriage, and it is quite rare for us to not see eye to eye on things - but there are occasions where I step out of my God-appointed role and take MY way. Oooh, that's not good, and it usually results in conflict. Now, my gracious husband is wise to me, and he knows that it takes two to quarrel... and he doesn't take my bait when I'm fishing for an argument. Because of him and because of God's grace, we have never fought. Ever. Not in our coming up on 14 years of marriage, not in our over 30 years of friendship. Never. Ever. Ever. And that is sooo not because of any credit due to me. How convicting to think of those times when I was bucking my head, my husband and being un-complimentary... uuuugh... that's something I need to work more on.
Our husbands are our spiritual heads, the leaders God has given us to guide and lead us, to love us, to teach us, to take care of us... our job is to lovingly submit. A good husband seeks his wife's thoughts and opinions, but he still takes the lead and makes the decision he believes is right and best. He may not always be right, but it is his place to make those decisions and the wife's place to accept his leadership over her and submit to his decisions. Obviously, the exception to this is if her husband asks her to sin - God is the higher authority (the HIGHEST authority) and we should always, always live according to His word, but unless our husbands ask us to go against God's word, we are to submit to our husbands. Not be doormats, not be punching bags, not be slaves, but be submissive and loving partners.
So, Eve was created to be Adam's helper... not his head, not his leader, his helper. We wives were given to our husbands by the Lord to be their helpers. How helpful have you been lately? Are your priorities in line with your husband's desires and dreams? If not, why? If not, what do you need to do to honor your husband and make him, his desires, his dreams, a central point of your attitude and actions as his wife?
Moving on...
In chapter 4, Cain has killed Abel and God is confronting Cain about it... God meets down punishment and what is Cain's response? Well, first let's back up a bit... their offerings... Cain works the land for food... plants are his livelihood. Abel raises the animals... Cain beings some of what he has grown... there is no mention of being selective, of choosing the best, or even putting any thought into his gift - he picks some plants and takes them to be his offering. I haven't caught the significance of that before... I always wondered why was God displeased with Cain's offering? It's because it wasn't a real offering... it was just doing what was supposed to be done, without any real thought or effort put forth. Abel, on the other hand, takes of the firstborn of his flock... firstborn of his livelihood... what the growth of his flock depends upon, and he chooses the BEST. He selects a healthy, fat, best of the best. His offering has value, meaning, it has been given thought, and it comes of a personal sacrifice. This gift pleased the Lord. It wasn't just part of the abundance the Lord blessed Abel with, it was the best of the best of the best.
Wow... what part of our lives, of our time, of our thought are we giving the Lord? Is it the creme de la creme of what we have to offer or is it scant leftovers, given as an after thought? I have to confess to being guilty of sometimes giving as an afterthought... and sometimes, to my shame, not really at all. There have been days that I have gone without being in His word... without praying beyond "thank you for this food" or "Lord, give me patience... now, please!!!!" - what kind of relationship builder is THAT? How close would we feel to someone who gave us the time and attention that we so often give (or don't give) to God? Ok, that hurts... so what are you going to do about it?
Now, back to Cain's reaction to God's correction and punishment... my husband pointed this out in our discussion and I think it is profound... Abel does *not* feel regret for his action, he does not repent or seek forgiveness... he argues - but God, it's too much! I can't deal with that, it's too hard! He's worried that someone might do to him what he did to his brother... there's no "God, you're right. I was so wrong, please forgive me, Lord..." It's all fighting the consequence of his action, arguing his case rather than seeking restitution. That says a lot about his heart, doesn't it? How is your heart when God corrects you? It's hard to be admonished, to be punished or given painful consequences for our sinful choices, isn't it? How do we accept (or fight?) that admonishment? Do we pray "Lord, show me my sins that I might confess them to you and turn from them? or do we try to hide our secret sins from the God who knows all and sees everything? Are we willing to give our sins away, to be washed clean, and to be made new... fresh... by His forgiveness, His grace, and for His glory?
Something to really think on...
I like David's prayer - "Search me oh God... search me and know me." In another he asks God to "create in me a clean heart, O God" I pray the same... and ask Him to show me the sins in my life and for His help to turn from them, to walk away from them, to be washed clean... white as snow... to have a clean heart... and a hunger and love for the Lord that can not be equalled.
There's more, but that's all for the moment, since I am out of time for right now... food for thought - and some people say the Old Testament is boring... irrelevant... but if you're looking for food, you will find it there... if you are hungry for the Lord, get in His word... start at the beginning and seek out the challenges... think about what you are reading... look for questions, and when you find them, seek the answers. There's a lot of food for thought in this Book, God's word... how much can you glean from conversing with and listening to the Lord this year? How can you improve your walk with God this year, this month, this week... this day?
He tells us "seek and ye shall find" - I am seeking, and look forward to what I might find that I haven't really found before... and to being reminded of things I have found before and have forgotten. I have so much to learn, but He is a great Teacher - in fact He is the best!
(for the record, he has always cared about that, but this is the first time we have purposed to study through God's word TOGETHER)
Some notes of interest...
In the creation account, it states that God told Adam not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil... but when Eve is speaking to the serpent, she says that they were instructed to neither each OR touch... I find this interesting - from all appearances, it seems that she is adding to God's word... Hmmm... that makes one think, doesn't it? Is she indeed adding to God's word? That's something to ponder, isn't it? Then she eats and gives to Adam to eat, and then they play the blame game "the woman that you gave me, Lord, she made me do it!" (yeah, I'm paraphrasing a bit) and then "but Lord, I was beguiled by the serpent" (that's an interesting word, isn't it? beguiled...) She knew what the Lord said, and she knew that she should obey the Lord... you can just imagine that she must have been fighting her conscience as she touched that fruit and prepared to take that first sinful taste... I wonder if it left a bitter taste in her mouth? (I mean, after she gave to Adam, and they both realized that they were naked and had knowledge of good and evil)
Another thought - each day, as the Lord creates, at the end of the day he looks at His work and says "it is good" - but after he has created man and man has named all of the animals, God does not say "it is good", He says "it is not good" that man should be alone, and so He created woman. Now, He isn't saying that His creation of man is not good, He is saying that man needs a helper.. meet, or fit, for him... My husband always jokes that God used Adam's rib to form the woman so that she would always be close to man's heart - I don't know if there's any real truth to that, but I love the imagery! As I've been listening to Victoria Botkin's "She Shall Be Called Woman", she addresses this and says that it's like man is not complete without woman - she complements her husband and makes him complete - if that isn't convicting, I'm not sure what is... have you acted as a completion of your husband lately? Have you complemented your husband lately, or have you clashed with him? Hmmm... that gives pause, doesn't it? TJ and I have a very good marriage, and it is quite rare for us to not see eye to eye on things - but there are occasions where I step out of my God-appointed role and take MY way. Oooh, that's not good, and it usually results in conflict. Now, my gracious husband is wise to me, and he knows that it takes two to quarrel... and he doesn't take my bait when I'm fishing for an argument. Because of him and because of God's grace, we have never fought. Ever. Not in our coming up on 14 years of marriage, not in our over 30 years of friendship. Never. Ever. Ever. And that is sooo not because of any credit due to me. How convicting to think of those times when I was bucking my head, my husband and being un-complimentary... uuuugh... that's something I need to work more on.
Our husbands are our spiritual heads, the leaders God has given us to guide and lead us, to love us, to teach us, to take care of us... our job is to lovingly submit. A good husband seeks his wife's thoughts and opinions, but he still takes the lead and makes the decision he believes is right and best. He may not always be right, but it is his place to make those decisions and the wife's place to accept his leadership over her and submit to his decisions. Obviously, the exception to this is if her husband asks her to sin - God is the higher authority (the HIGHEST authority) and we should always, always live according to His word, but unless our husbands ask us to go against God's word, we are to submit to our husbands. Not be doormats, not be punching bags, not be slaves, but be submissive and loving partners.
So, Eve was created to be Adam's helper... not his head, not his leader, his helper. We wives were given to our husbands by the Lord to be their helpers. How helpful have you been lately? Are your priorities in line with your husband's desires and dreams? If not, why? If not, what do you need to do to honor your husband and make him, his desires, his dreams, a central point of your attitude and actions as his wife?
Moving on...
In chapter 4, Cain has killed Abel and God is confronting Cain about it... God meets down punishment and what is Cain's response? Well, first let's back up a bit... their offerings... Cain works the land for food... plants are his livelihood. Abel raises the animals... Cain beings some of what he has grown... there is no mention of being selective, of choosing the best, or even putting any thought into his gift - he picks some plants and takes them to be his offering. I haven't caught the significance of that before... I always wondered why was God displeased with Cain's offering? It's because it wasn't a real offering... it was just doing what was supposed to be done, without any real thought or effort put forth. Abel, on the other hand, takes of the firstborn of his flock... firstborn of his livelihood... what the growth of his flock depends upon, and he chooses the BEST. He selects a healthy, fat, best of the best. His offering has value, meaning, it has been given thought, and it comes of a personal sacrifice. This gift pleased the Lord. It wasn't just part of the abundance the Lord blessed Abel with, it was the best of the best of the best.
Wow... what part of our lives, of our time, of our thought are we giving the Lord? Is it the creme de la creme of what we have to offer or is it scant leftovers, given as an after thought? I have to confess to being guilty of sometimes giving as an afterthought... and sometimes, to my shame, not really at all. There have been days that I have gone without being in His word... without praying beyond "thank you for this food" or "Lord, give me patience... now, please!!!!" - what kind of relationship builder is THAT? How close would we feel to someone who gave us the time and attention that we so often give (or don't give) to God? Ok, that hurts... so what are you going to do about it?
Now, back to Cain's reaction to God's correction and punishment... my husband pointed this out in our discussion and I think it is profound... Abel does *not* feel regret for his action, he does not repent or seek forgiveness... he argues - but God, it's too much! I can't deal with that, it's too hard! He's worried that someone might do to him what he did to his brother... there's no "God, you're right. I was so wrong, please forgive me, Lord..." It's all fighting the consequence of his action, arguing his case rather than seeking restitution. That says a lot about his heart, doesn't it? How is your heart when God corrects you? It's hard to be admonished, to be punished or given painful consequences for our sinful choices, isn't it? How do we accept (or fight?) that admonishment? Do we pray "Lord, show me my sins that I might confess them to you and turn from them? or do we try to hide our secret sins from the God who knows all and sees everything? Are we willing to give our sins away, to be washed clean, and to be made new... fresh... by His forgiveness, His grace, and for His glory?
Something to really think on...
I like David's prayer - "Search me oh God... search me and know me." In another he asks God to "create in me a clean heart, O God" I pray the same... and ask Him to show me the sins in my life and for His help to turn from them, to walk away from them, to be washed clean... white as snow... to have a clean heart... and a hunger and love for the Lord that can not be equalled.
There's more, but that's all for the moment, since I am out of time for right now... food for thought - and some people say the Old Testament is boring... irrelevant... but if you're looking for food, you will find it there... if you are hungry for the Lord, get in His word... start at the beginning and seek out the challenges... think about what you are reading... look for questions, and when you find them, seek the answers. There's a lot of food for thought in this Book, God's word... how much can you glean from conversing with and listening to the Lord this year? How can you improve your walk with God this year, this month, this week... this day?
He tells us "seek and ye shall find" - I am seeking, and look forward to what I might find that I haven't really found before... and to being reminded of things I have found before and have forgotten. I have so much to learn, but He is a great Teacher - in fact He is the best!
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