Today I am continuing with the theme I began yesterday about humility. Joseph was my first example, and I learned a great deal about trusting God in the middle of difficult situations, because when you are humble, you allow God to bless you.
The second person who really spoke to me of humility is Moses. He was born in Egypt to a Hebrew family about 400 years after Jacob brought his family there from Canaan to escape a famine. The Hebrew population had exploded, and the new pharaoh didn't remember the good that Joseph had done for the Egyptians so instead of viewing the people as welcome guests, they were seen as a threat. So Pharaoh enslaved the Hebrew people, and when the population continued to grow exponentially, he started ordering them to kill any baby boys.
Moses was born into the midst of this adversity. His family hid him for the first three months of his life, and then his mother put him in a basket of bulrushes on the Nile River. Pharaoh's daughter found the baby and decided to raise him as her own. Moses' sister, Miriam, had watched her little brother's discovery and offered to find a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. So Moses was returned to his family where he was cared for until he was weaned at which time he moved to the palace and was raised as a privileged child of nobility. He grew up with Pharaoh's children but must have known about his heritage because he eventually went to check out how the Hebrews were living. The investigation didn't go well, and he ended up fleeing for his life from Pharaoh and living in the mountains.
He lived out there for forty years, marrying a Midianite woman and having two sons with her. Then God appeared to him in a burning bush and ordered him to return to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to "let His people go." I'm not going to repeat the rest of this well known story. Nearly everyone has seen the movie The Ten Commandments, and Moses is one of the popular stories in Sunday School.
It's not during that part of the story that I really noticed Moses' humility. While he does seem humble while asking God not to send him to free the Hebrews, I think his response was more about fear than it is about humility. Moses humility shows up during the instructions for building the Tabernacle. While Moses was up on Mount Sinai getting the ten commandments, he also received all of the other laws for eating, clothing, and living, plus a detailed set of instructions for the Tent of Meeting or Tabernacle. These make for some of the most boring reading in the entire Bible. Reading them in the Message Bible was tolerable, but try getting through them in the King James or Revised Standard versions and you just may give up on reading the Bible altogether!
That said, God had reasons for these rules. He wanted to set the Hebrews apart from other nations, to mark them as holy and belonging to him. Anyway, the orders for creating the Tabernacle include the construction of the building, the creation of the various implements, and the clothing for the priests. It's this last detail that really struck me about Moses.
Here's a summary of the priestly clothing: an Ephod made of gold with purple, blue, and scarlet material and an onyx stone on each shoulder with the name of the tribes inscribed on them; a breastpiece made similarly to the Ephod but covered with twelve different gemstones symbolizing the twelve tribes; a robe made of blue with a hem edged with pomegranates and gold bells; a blue turban with a gold seal marked: Holy to God; and linen underwear.
Those items are all for the priest Aaron, Moses' brother, to wear. Aaron's sons were to wear tunics, sashs, robes, and turbans that matched their fathers, and the clothing was to be passed down to each head priest. The details for this uniform takes up an entire chapter in Exodus.
Now I want you to take close notice of something. God gave these instructions to Moses who then relayed them to the Hebrews. And through all of these chapters, covering three books of the Bible, nowhere, anywhere, does Moses ask for anything for himself.
Moses is called a friend of God by the Lord himself. He speaks with God personally on a daily basis. He led over 1 million people out of Egypt and was their link to God. He could have become arrogant and proud. He easily could have slipped in a few details about creating a beautiful costume for him to wear showing his authority. He could have asked for a couple of beautiful wives or virgins to take care of his needs. He could have said that God ordered the Hebrews to give him a regular paycheck of gold and silver. He didn't do any of that. He stuck to just what God told him and never once used his power and influence to benefit himself.
At two different points during the Exodus, God threatened to wipe out all of the Hebrews and start over fresh with Moses. He offered to make Moses the new Abraham and create His nation from Moses' descendants, and both times Moses turned God down. He didn't want that role for himself; he loved his people and the Lord and wanted what would benefit them both.
Moses set the standard for God's prophets. As I read through the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah and about Elijah and Elisha, I see that none of these men made themselves the center of worship. They didn't dress themselves in beautiful clothing. Isaiah went about naked for three years at God's command. That's a definite recipe for humility! True prophets didn't exalt themselves, only God. They didn't ask for money or wealth. They didn't make the worship of God all about them!
Compare them to the priests. Many of them were corrupt and worshiped however they people demanded. They changed their message to suit the people and to increase their own riches and power. This may not earn me any fans, but I believe that we need to hold anyone who calls himself/herself a prophet of God to this same standard. Nowhere in the Bible are any of the prophets wealthy nor do they ask the people for money in return for prayers. God's prophets were regularly killed for saying things the people didn't want to hear. They did crazy things like go naked for three years, lie on their side for one entire year, and refuse to mourn their dead wife. While I wouldn't want to see a prophet try to imitate those acts, the point is that prophets aren't known for their popularity. They are known for saying things that hurt, that cut to your soul, that convict you so hard that your heart aches and it makes you a little bit angry.
I believe that we should question anyone who says they are a prophet but is wealthy beyond words. Most of the Old Testament were incredibly humble. They didn't feel up to the task and often asked God to pick someone else, but God knew what he was doing. The men and women who gave His word to His people were more concerned about ensuring that God's Word rather than their own word be heard. While things have obviously changed a great deal in the last five thousand years, I don't think that God's expectations of his prophets has. What do you think?
I've learned so much during my book fast. My nightly routine used to be: start reading devotionals at ten pm, usually two or three books until about 10:30 pm, then open up the Bible and read three chapters and one Psalm/Proverb, write in my journal, then read a book, usually fiction, until I am too tired to keep my eyes open, usually around midnight.
During the fast, I started reading the Bible each night at ten pm and read until my eyes crossed from exhaustion, I'd usually be jotting things in my journal all along, and I was still getting to sleep around midnight. I discovered that by allowing the Bible to be the last thing I read before falling asleep, the message stuck with me through the next day far more than previously. Plus, by not just reading a few prescribed chapters, I digested huge chunks of story in one setting giving me a much deeper understanding of it. I feel like my faith and understanding grew more in these six weeks than it had in the six years prior!
One of the common threads I saw running through my reading was the humility of the men who were called by God. The first time I noticed this was in Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Jacob, great-grandson of Abraham with whom God made his covenant. The second youngest of twelve sons, Joseph was given prophetic dreams by the Lord. Unfortunately, as a young man, Joseph had yet to develop his humility, and he told his father and brothers about some dreams that involved them bowing down to him. Even his father, who favored him over all his other sons, was dismayed by Joseph's sharing of these dreams. Eventually, Jacob's favoritism destroyed the brotherly relationship, and Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery and he was brought to Egypt. It's there that Joseph's true character begins to shine.
Joseph was sold to a man named Potiphar who was a manager in Pharaoh's household. Now Joseph was a teenage boy who had been born to a wealthy, powerful man, a bit full of himself from the doting love of his father, and had been brought to a strange country and forced into slavery. He easily could have pouted and sulked or did a poor job of his duties. I don't think anyone would blame him for plotting his escape and doing a slipshod job. Instead:
As it turned out, God was with Joseph and things went very well with him. He ended up living in the home of his Egyptian master. His master recognized that God was with him, saw that God was working for good in everything he did. He became very fond of Joseph and made him his personal aide. He put him in charge of all his personal affairs, turning everything over to him. From that moment on, God blessed the home of the Egyptian—all because of Joseph. The blessing of God spread over everything he owned, at home and in the fields, and all Potiphar had to concern himself with was eating three meals a day. Genesis 39:2-9
Joseph accepted where God had placed him and obviously treated his employer with a great deal of respect and humility. No slave owner would promote a slave who acted like his better or did sloppy work. Joseph's work speaks for itself; Potiphar trusted him so much that he gave him complete control of his household.
However, Potiphar's wife also noticed Joseph's beauty and goodness and wanted him for herself. After several unsuccessful tries to seduce him, she accused him of attempted rape. Potiphar threw Joseph into prison, probably bemoaning the loss of the best servant and manager he'd ever have.
Again Joseph has been put into a terrible situation, and no one would blame him for being angry at God or giving up, but he continues to soldier on.
But there in jail God was still with Joseph: He reached out in kindness to him; he put him on good terms with the head jailer. The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners—he ended up managing the whole operation. The head jailer gave Joseph free rein, never even checked on him, because God was with him; whatever he did God made sure it worked out for the best. Genesis 39:21-23
Joseph continued to give his best effort, even in the middle of terrible adversity. He wasn't planning a break-out or making a shiv to take out the warden. Joseph was humble and so trustworthy, that the jailer allowed him to run the jail. While he was there, two of Pharaoh's servants, his cupbearer and baker, had dreams they couldn't explain. When Joseph heard them talking about them, he asked for details, but made sure that they knew where his knowledge was coming from: Joseph said, "Don't interpretations come from God? Tell me the dreams." Genesis 40:8
Joseph explained the dreams to each man, the cupbearer would return to Pharaoh's service and the baker would be executed, and asked the cupbearer to remember him to Pharaoh and get him out of prison. Everything happened just as Joseph predicted, but cupbearer forgot all about securing his freedom. Joseph could have become bitter from this betrayal, but he continued on in faith and trust in God.
Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream that neither he nor any of his magicians could interpret, and the cupbearer finally remembered Joseph. Pharaoh ordered him brought from the jail, but before Joseph appeared, he cut his hair and put on clean clothes, ensuring a good impression. Pharaoh asked Joseph to tell him the meaning of the dream since he was known for having the ability to do so. Joseph answered, "Not I, but God. God will set Pharaoh's mind at ease." Genesis 41:16 Joseph always gave the credit to God.
Upon hearing the dream, Joseph quickly explained that a time of great harvests was going to come up on the land for seven years, but following that would be seven years of the worst famine anyone had ever seen. He didn't stop there, but offered advice to Pharaoh on how to handle the problem. Joseph's manner must have been humble as well as wise because Pharaoh listened to his advice. That alone is amazing, but what Pharaoh did next is miraculous: he offered Joseph the job of organizing not just the food to get them through the famine, but made him second in the kingdom, answering only to Egypt! Think about that: Joseph comes up from spending seven years in prison and is immediately offered the job of running a country.
After all Joseph had suffered, he easily could have become arrogant, believing that this change in status was what he deserved. When his brothers make an appearance in the middle of the famine, no one would be surprised if he turned them out of the country without a grain of wheat or even threw them all in the same prison where he had toiled, but Joseph was truly a man of God, because he recognized God's hand in this and acted with humility. He did put his brothers through a few tests to see if their character had changed in the twenty or more years since they sold him into slavery, and his tests proved that they had. Judah, who originally orchestrated Joseph's capture and sale, offered himself up rather than allow another brother to be lost. Joseph's brothers' realization of the depth of their sin in selling Joseph had matured them, and when he saw their changed hearts, he couldn't hold back the tears. He welcomed them, embraced them, and forgave them for the sins they had committed against him. I don't think that if he had been holding on to his anger for all those years, he would have been able to do so that easily. Joseph must have forgiven them and surrendered his hurt and anger over to God.
Another indication of Joseph's humility and stellar character is Pharaoh's response to the discovery of the brothers. Pharaoh tells Joseph "'Tell your brothers, 'This is the plan: Load up your pack animals; go to Canaan, get your father and your families and bring them back here. I'll settle you on the best land in Egypt—you'll live off the fat of the land. Also tell them this: 'Here's what I want you to do: Take wagons from Egypt to carry your little ones and your wives and load up your father and come back. Don't worry about having to leave things behind; the best in all of Egypt will be yours.'" Genesis 45:17-20.
If someone is arrogant, rude, or proud, you certainly wouldn't invite their entire family to move in and offer to take long-term care of them. Joseph's family is welcome because he has made himself a pleasure to be around. That point is proved again when several years later Jacob, Joseph's father, died and the entire country of Egypt mourned his loss for seventy days. Jacob had no status in Egypt other than what came from his son. Joseph's humility provided for his entire family.
My heart really began to understand Joseph with this conversation with Pharaoh after Jacob's death: When the period of mourning was completed, Joseph petitioned Pharaoh's court: "If you have reason to think kindly of me, present Pharaoh with my request: My father made me swear, saying, 'I am ready to die. Bury me in the grave plot that I prepared for myself in the land of Canaan.' Please give me leave to go up and bury my father. Then I'll come back." Pharaoh said, "Certainly. Go and bury your father as he made you promise under oath."Genesis 50:4-6
Joseph was second in charge of Egypt. He had served under Pharaoh for over ten years, and yet he addressed him as a servant. He presented his request with a great deal of respect. Another man would have become jaded by the proximity to power, perhaps conspiring to overthrow the Pharaoh and take control of the throne for himself. Another man would have become lazy and drunk with power, ignoring his familial obligations and caring only for his own pleasure. Another man would have exploited his known relationship with God and understanding of dreams to inspire fear in others.
But Joseph was none of those men. He was a man who allowed his life to be led by God, no matter where the journey took him: through slavery, prison, betrayal, or to the heights of power. He was a humble man who never allowed his relationship with God or his power in the kingdom to change who God had made him to be. In reading the story of Joseph's life, you get the impression that Joseph identified himself as a man of God, son of Jacob, brother to Benjamin, and father to Ephraim and Manasseh, rather than as slave, prisoner, or ruler of Egypt. He didn't allow those labels to change who he was as a person, and I believe that there is a powerful lesson in that for each one of us.
I'm starting to count down the days until my surgery. I've made a to-do list for each day leading up to Thursday, and it's kind of crazy all that I want to get done. I'm afraid of the surgery itself. I am however, afraid of getting the IV before surgery; my recent IVs have been disastrous. Fifteen sticks in Sept 08 and five in Dec 09. That has me actually scared to death. I'm also afraid of after the surgery is over and waking up. I've read horror stories online about people who can't swallow more than a teaspoon at a time. My doctor helped alleviate my fears about that, but the worry sits in the back of my mind, along with worry about how my body will feel after the surgery. How much will my stomach hurt? How long will I be weak and achy from it? I'm trying to turn it all over to God and trust him to be there with me, but I definitely appreciate any prayers you send my way this week and especially Thursday.
During the course of my focus on the Bible the last almost six weeks, I've had a couple of my burning questions answered. I've read the Bible through four times, and I grew up attending church regularly, but there are some stories that just never made sense to me. I couldn't figure out why stories played out the way they did, and while I still can't figure out the purpose of the bridegroom of blood story in Exodus 4:24-26 (I've read explanations but they just don't ring true to me), I do have two answered that I want to share with you.
In 2 Samuel, David decides to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem to the capital city he's building. He gets the people singing and dancing to bring the Ark into town full of celebration. The Ark is placed on an ox-cart, but along the way, it starts to slip, and Uzzah, a son of the man in whose home the Ark had been residing, reaches out and catches it before it can hit the ground. God's anger instantly lashes out and strikes Uzzah dead. It must have been a sight to see, because David calls it the explosion of Uzzah. David is angry with God, but for fear of anyone else being killed, he leaves it in another man's home and returns to Jerusalem.
After some time, David returns to the Ark and successfully brings it home. The difference this time is that David took the time to read God's instructions on how the Ark was to be moved. Back in Exodus, God gave lengthy and precise laws on just how the Ark was to be carried. At the time, the Israelites were a nomadic clan without a land to call their own so the Ark traveled with them. When they settled in the Promised Land, they placed the Ark in one place and everyone traveled to it, so it was an important part of their culture. Wherever the Ark was would be the center of worship. God told them that his Spirit was present between the cherubim on the lid of the Ark, so this wasn't just some box. It was a holy, incredibly sacred item.
David and the rest of the people had forgotten what the Ark stood for. They recognized it for its symbolic value, but forgot about what it truly meant, so they didn't treat it with the reverence God required. Yes, there were people singing and dancing, but an ox-cart doesn't exactly imply holiness. The second time David moved it, he did it the right way. The Levites carried it on long poles across their shoulders and David offered up sacrifices all along the way.
To me, God's reaction to Uzzah seemed extreme. The man was only trying to help, and to be struck down dead instantly for good intentions made me fear God, and not in the good way. But if you read through my sentence again, you'll understand why God did it. Uzzah and David both had good intentions, but they weren't following God's laws. There are many people in the world today who do good, but if they aren't following God's laws, they will be struck down. It's a harsh reality, just like the story. It's not easy to read, because we don't want to think that God is really that strict. While it's true that He is a loving and forgiving God, you need to be reading His Word and obeying His laws to receive that love and forgiveness.
The second mystery for me is actually part of that same story. David is leading his people and the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. He's wearing priestly garments and dancing for pure joy as they enter town. Imagine the moment: music, laughter, cymbals, drums, singing. The king is whirling and dancing in front of the parade, his face lit up from within from the absolute joy in knowing that he is fulfilling God's will for him. His wife, Michal looks out of her window and sees the scene. It's her response that always confused me; upon seeing her husband's dancing, she scorns him in her heart, and when he comes up to her room after the ceremony, she makes fun of him, calling him "a burlesque street dancer." David tells her off, God closes her womb, and Michal isn't mentioned again in the Bible.
I couldn't understand why Michal would be so hateful toward David's dancing until reading through the Bible this time, and then I came to realize that it was out of pure jealousy: she was jealous of David's love for God over her.
You have to know Michal and David's history to understand her feelings. Michal was the younger daughter of King Saul. Saul knew that David was going to be king after him and tried to get him killed by requesting the foreskins of 100 Philistines as the bride price for Michal. David happily paid twice the price (!!), and Michal must have been infatuated with the young handsome man who killed 200 men to wed her. David was a mighty warrior, plus a talented poet and musician, every woman's dream. Shortly after their marriage, Saul sent his soldiers to arrest David. Michal heard about the plan and helped her husband escape, partly by placing idols in their bed and covering them with the blankets to mimic his sleeping form. Obviously despite David's love for God, Michal worshiped in her own way. David didn't return to his bride for a very long time. In fact, Saul married her off to another man, and while David was on the lam from Saul, he married two other women: Abigail and Ahinoam. They gave him several children in his time on the run. Eventually Saul was killed, and David became king. Saul's general set up one of Saul's sons as a puppet king but in time turned against him, and one of David's terms of surrender from the general was the return of his wife Michal. She came back to him, with her new "husband" crying and following her most of the way.
So Michal and David were a young couple in love but became separated by her father's maniacal hatred for him. If David had renounced God, he probably could have remained safely within Israel, and Michal probably looked at it as David chose his God over her. David's love for God kept them apart for much of their adult lives, and while he had several children with his other wives, he hadn't yet produced one with Michal. I'm sure that when she saw David dancing the Ark into town, she wondered why he hadn't greeted her so extravagantly.
Michal's scorn was plain old jealousy. She wanted her husband to love her more than God. But that's a recipe for disaster in any marriage. We may think that we want our spouse to love us more than anything, but in reality our marriage will be far healthier and blessed by God if He comes first in each of our hearts. Michal's scorn cost her David's love and her ability to bear children. That's a terrible price to pay for jealousy.
If we put God first in our hearts and lives, we will receive God's blessings in our marriage and our children. It seems so simple, but when you start factoring in human emotions and desires, it can get pretty messy. Where is God in your marriage? In your heart? Holy Week is a wonderful time to get your priorities straight. I'll be praying for you.
Yesterday I won a basket filled with Avon beauty products in a raffle held where Jesse works.I've been wanting to do something to pretty up my feet in preparation for summer, and I'd been putting off buying the products myself, so I sent $5 with him to work to win for me. I was so excited when he called to tell me the good news, and I immediately gave credit where it was due: to God. Okay, so you might not believe that God cares enough about the little things to grant me this completely pointless and vain wish, but I believe He does.
In Luke 11:10, Jesus says: Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing—you're at least decent to your own children.
God loves to give us our heart's desire, even when the desire isn't necessarily earth-shattering. I love to give gifts to people. My love language is gifts, so that's how I show my love to my family. I am always picking up little things to surprise my kids. Doogie rarely returns to college without something new in his duffle bag, and both my girls know that if they go shopping with me, they're going to come home with a little something. When Christmas time rolls around, I start planning in September, and I spend a great deal of time thinking over every gift. I want every single person to be thrilled with their present and know that I've paid attention to what they love and who they are.
Like the Bible verse says, if I treat my loved ones this way, and I am a selfish and sinful person, how much more does God love to gift us? Sometimes those gifts are a miraculous answered prayer, but more often they are quiet reminders of His love, and if we aren't paying attention, we don't even think of them as being what I call a "God-thing."
A few weeks ago, I was driving to my doctor's appointment to talk about getting ready for my upcoming surgery. I had to have a procedure I wasn't looking forward to, and I had been fasting since midnight. I was hurting and cranky when I got into the van, and my heart sent up a small prayer, "God, show me your love." Heading down the road, I flipped through radio stations trying to find a good song to sing along to and I came to Amie by Pure Prairie League. I've talked in previous blog posts about how much this song means to me, and I never hear it on the radio. I instantly recognized that it was God answering my prayer. I sang at the top of my lungs with a smile on my face warmed from the depth of his love.
At the beginning of my book fast, I was really struggling with not reading, and then realized that I had scheduled an overnight trip, fourteen hours round trip in a car, that I would normally pass by reading, and I couldn't read books! I wasn't sure what to do, but I had to stop at the library, so I prayed for a few Publisher's Weekly magazines that I could bring along. When I walked in the door, the librarian handed me several Library Journal magazines that she had been saving for me, plus there were two PW's on the shelf that I hadn't read. It was another answered prayer, and it made the whole trip more enjoyable.
God answers small and large prayers every day, and I think that we don't even notice even half of them. He wants us to know his love so that we will want to live with him, and one of the clearest ways we can feel his love is through answered prayers.
Think of the story of Ruth and Naomi. Naomi lost her husband and two sons and decided to return to her home country in hopes of finding some comfort there. Ruth, as Naomi's daughter-in-law, had lost her husband, but rather than take the easy road of marrying someone else, she followed Naomi to a strange land where she was viewed as an outsider, a foreigner. They moved into a cave, Naomi's husband had sold their home years before, and lived off of the gleanings Ruth was able to scrape together. Naomi was so angry with God about her circumstances, that she changed her name to Marah, meaning bitter, and told everyone that God had abandoned her. Ruth went from field to field until she found one where the owner welcomed her, fed her along with his workers, and ensured that she would have plenty to eat. The benefactor's name was Boaz, and he just happened to be a cousin to Naomi's husband and the one man who could pull them out of their poverty. When Ruth told Naomi how Boaz had taken care of her, Naomi responded, "Why, God bless that man! God hasn't quite walked out on us after all! He still loves us, in bad times as well as good!" Ruth 2:20
Who knows what prayers Naomi had offered up in her heart? Maybe she had given up on God so far as to stop praying to him entirely, but he placed Ruth in the only man's field in all of Bethlehem who could redeem the women from their poverty. That's not chance or coincidence, that's God actively working! The story ends with everyone happily every after; Ruth marries Boaz, Naomi dotes on their son, Obed. Obed would have a son named Jesse who would later father David, the most famous of Israel's kings. Ruth is also mentioned in the lineage of Jesus. Funny how one small answered prayer ended up impacting the entire world.
God answers so many of our prayers daily, that if we took the time to thank him for every one, we'd never have time for anything else! Especially when you consider all of the things we don't pray for, but he give us anyway.
Back in Numbers, God sends the Israelites to avenge his people against the Midianites. Moses sends a thousand soldiers from each tribe, and they completely annihilate their opponents. The plunder they take is 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, and 61,000 donkeys, not to mention all of the gold and silver! After the battle, the military commanders approach Moses and say, "We have counted the soldiers under our command and not a man is missing. We've brought offerings to God from the gold jewelry we got—armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, ornaments—to make atonement for our lives before God."
They are grateful to God because not a single Israelite life was lost. They are thanking God not for all they acquired or for the victory as much as they are for what they didn't lose. How often do we take the time to thank God for what we take for granted? Not to scare you, but there are 6,420,000 car accidents annually in the US with someone dying every 13 minutes. Have you thanked God this week for every safe car trip your family made?
There is something to be grateful for in every single day. Maybe it's hard to be thankful for what's going on in your life, so then take the time to appreciate what hasn't happened. Like Junior Asparagus says, "A thankful heart is a happy heart!" So open your eyes to the little gifts from God each day; I find that the more I look for them, the more I see. Open your eyes and your heart and let yourself be overwhelmed by the blessings of the Lord.
Today Mia came home from school bursting with excitement. She barely made it through the front door before she was yelling and waving a piece of paper frantically in her hand. It was her spelling test, and she got a 100% on it (including the word "balloon"!), and she was thrilled. When her grandma came over to pick her up to go shopping, I was trying to get Mia's shoes on her feet and her coat on, but all Mia wanted was to get that test so she should show it off.
I am extremely proud of her, of course, but especially so because I know how she did on last week's spelling test: 67% or a D. Mia didn't even take that one of our her folder to show me. It bothered her, and I was bothered as well, because I knew that it was partly my fault. Every week her teacher sends home a list of spelling words, and last week, we didn't practice them at all. She'd been doing so well on previous tests, that I didn't give much thought to it, and it showed. This week Mia didn't want that result again, so she practiced and her effort was worth it; she aced the test!
This is a very simple case of cause and effect, but one that when it comes to faith, I think we sometimes forget. In reading The Message Bible, I find that Eugene Peterson, the author, often words things so differently that it opens my eyes up to something mind blowing. In Psalm 119, he refers to God's Word (aka, law, revelation, word, etc) as a textbook. Verse 65 says: My troubles turned out all for the best— they forced me to learn from your textbook. Verse 121 adds: ...teach me from your textbook on life. I'm your servant—help me understand what that means, the inner meaning of your instructions.
I love this word choice, because I think it really helps to put the Bible into proper context. In the school of life, the Bible is the textbook on which every exam is based, and if you aren't studying, you probably aren't passing.
There are a ton of references to testing in the Bible:
Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. God has come to test you and instill a deep and reverent awe within you so that you won't sin." Exodus 20:20
God, your God, is testing you to find out if you totally love him with everything you have in you. You are to follow only God, your God, hold him in deep reverence, keep his commandments, listen obediently to what he says, serve him—hold on to him for dear life! Deuteronomy 13:1
I can see now God, that your decisions are right; your testing has taught me what's true and right. Psalm 119:73
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith.Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups.You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you.Test it out.If you fail the test, do something about it. 2 Corinthians 13:5
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2
Jesus' temptation by Satan is referred to as a testing, and each time, Jesus responded from the textbook - he quoted Scripture and defeated Satan's testing.
In school, a test is a teacher's way of evaluating a student's understanding of the material. If the student fails, there are usually two explanations: the student didn't do the work, in which case he/she will have to repeat it until they get it correctly; or the student didn't understand the lesson, so now the teacher needs to spend some time working with the student ensuring their comprehension. The tests given to first graders are not the same given to fifth graders or freshman; each test is tailored specifically to the student's ability.
God's testing of us mimics this model in many ways. If we fail the His tests, it's because we didn't pay attention while He while was trying to teach or we need Him to teach us in a different way. And because He loves us and genuinely wants us to pass, He's going to give us every opportunity to do so. He also doesn't throw the same test at those early in their faith journey to those who are farther along on the path.
One of the biggest differences between school tests and godly tests are that the evaluation is not for God's information, but for ours. He knows that state of our heart, but we need to be tested for our own growth. When I see where my faith is lacking or where I am failing Him, that's where I apply the most effort to make change.
When tests come our way, it's not easy to consider it a gift the way James would have us do, but we should keep in mind, that each test does come from God and that He gave us the ultimate cheatsheet: the Bible, every answer we need is in it! He isn't going to wait until the day of judgment and then give us one huge test. The test is every day, every moment. We are constantly being tested and graded. The blessing is that as long as we're trying, God's not going to fail us, but wouldn't you rather ace the test rather than get by with a D?
I think that the verse above from 2 Corinthians really captures the spirit of what I'm trying to say today. Pay attention to the tests God is throwing at you and grade yourself. Be honest, using Jesus as your crib notes, and if you are coming up short, then it's time to study! Immerse yourself in the Word, make it your textbook for life. And if you find yourself facing the same test day after day, it's because it's one you haven't passed yet, and God's not going to let you move on to the next class until you've passed this one. Take a good, hard look at any tests that seem to be recurring and then look for similar topics in the Bible. Find stories that relate to the place you're in and see what you can gain from them.
I'm proud of Mia for applying this lesson on her own. She didn't study and received a poor grade, so she took the time to study and aced the test, and now she's reaping the rewards. I have tests of my own that I've been failing, and I'm not ashamed to say that in this case, I'm using my seven-year-old daughter as my instructor, and it's time for me to hit the Book!
In my last post I talked about working with a coach. This time, we'll address how to find the right coach for you. I suggest the following:
Referrals. Ask friends and colleagues if they can recommend anyone to you. Listen to conversations. If you hear someone mention that they work with a coach, ask if they'd be willing to share the name and contact information. Referrals are by far the best way to find a coach.
Identify specifically what you need help with. Do you need help increasing your income? Decreasing your expenses? Someone to brainstorm marketing ideas with? Or, do you have plenty of ideas but lack the follow through to do them? In this latter case, you'll want someone who can use a little tough love to hold you accountable for getting things done. The more specific you are regarding where you need help, the more likely you'll be to find a coach that's a good fit for you.
Search online. Do a search for coaches online. You'll find plenty! Pick a few sites to go to, read about each coach and his or her philosophy, and watch the videos. You'll get a sense of who you might feel comfortable working with. Narrow the list to these possibilities.
Request a complimentary introductory session. This is THE most important step. I "met" by phone with several coaches before finding mine. One coach spent the whole conversation talking about herself. Another spent the entire time saying, "If you decide to work with me, then..." And a third was not at all focused during our conversation, which led me to believe our coaching sessions would be the same way--frustrating for me.
Make the decision. Know that your coaching relationship won't last forever. This makes it easier to decide who you will work with. Pick the coach you are most interested in. Then, ask if you can sign up for a limited number of sessions (a minimum of three). You'll have a good sense of how the relationship is working after several sessions.
Be willing to do the work. When you enter a coaching relationship, you're making a commitment to help your coach help you. And you're making a commitment to doing homework between sessions as well as to do the heavy thinking required to help take your business to the next level. Coaches see lots of people who are willing to pay for help, but fewer who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Your work with a coach only pays off if you're invested and willing to sweat along with your coach.
Good luck!
Mary Byers is the author of Making Work at Home Work: Successfully Growing a Business and a Family Under One Roof. You can learn more about making work at home work by subscribing to Mary’s free blog at www.makingworkathomework.com. Interested in more articles like this? Join the blog ring here.
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In 2 Kings 22, King Josiah has been ruling Judah since he was eight years old. He did the best he could to follow God, "He kept straight on the path blazed by his ancestor David, not one step to either left or right." 2 Kings 22:2 When he was twenty-six, he sent his secretary to the Temple to check how much money had been placed in the coffers there for its upkeep. The money must have been out of sight, perhaps back in one of the storerooms, because when the High Priest searched, instead he found the Book of God's Revelation (most likely the books of Moses or just the book of Deuteronomy). The book hadn't been seen for some time, because Josiah was stunned by its appearance.
When the king heard what was written in the book, God's Revelation, he ripped his robes in dismay. And then he called for Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the royal secretary, and Asaiah the king's personal aide. He ordered them all: "Go and pray to God for me and for this people—for all Judah! Find out what we must do in response to what is written in this book that has just been found! God's anger must be burning furiously against us—our ancestors haven't obeyed a thing written in this book, followed none of the instructions directed to us." 2 Kings 22:11-13
Solomon was a good king during the beginning of his reign, but he married several foreign women and built altars to their gods. God had instructed Saul, then David, and again Solomon, that the king should read His Word daily, keep it close to his heart, and if the king kept that promise, the country would have peace and prosperity. Instead Israel quickly split into two countries after the death of Solomon, and both Judah and Israel faced almost constant war, because of the sins of its kings.
In the two hundred years between Solomon and Josiah, there were fourteen kings (counting both of them) over Judah. Each king led the nation not just in military and executive decisions, but religiously as well. When the king went astray and began following idols, so did the people. Each evil king led the people just a little farther down the road to destruction.
Jehoram built pagan shrines in the mountains. Ahaziah worshiped Baal, built a temple to it and filled its temple with idols and a priest. Joash initially destroyed that temple, but then took up with a cult of sex goddesses and abandoned the Temple of God, even killing a priest who opposed him in it. Amaziah adopted the gods of Edom. Uzziah arrogantly tried burning the incense himself, putting himself over the priests. Ahaz cast metal figurines for worshiping Baal and passed his sons through the fire (this means he either sacrificed his firstborn son in the fire to the god Molech or passed the infant through the fire as a symbolic sacrifice). He joined in the sex and religion shrines established in the villages.
It's obvious that in the midst of all of this wanton idolatry, the Revelation of God was lost, packed away in the Temple where it wouldn't bother the kings with guilt. There were a few good kings who reconsecrated the Temple and destroyed most of the idols and shrines. They did their best, but without the Word of God, they didn't really know just how deeply the sin was entrenched in Judah.
When Josiah was faced with God's Word, he could clearly see how terribly he and the people had been sinning. Confronted with evidence of their complete and utter ruin, he called the people of Israel together and ordered them to cleanse themselves. He destroyed every shrine in the entire country, even some in Israel. He held the first Passover festival the Jewish people had celebrated since Solomon was King.
Christians who have newly come to Jesus often experience similar guilt. Reading the Bible and listening to sermons, they are forced to acknowledge that while we thought we were good people living good lives, we were doing nothing of the sort. Once exposed the God's Word, we see our lives in a completely different light, one that doesn't exactly allow us to shine. Reading His Word also requires a response from us. We can't just read it and remain unchanged, and it makes us want to share our discovery with everyone we know and love.
Just like the Israelites who first heard God's Word from Moses, at the beginning of our faith walk we cheer for joy and promise that we will follow it eternally. But then something happens, maybe someone comes into our lives. Whatever it is, we compromise what we know is wrong on a small sin (we don't even call it a sin, maybe it's a little white lie, nothing big), and because we've done so, we've created a new threshold for sin in our lives. Sin has to register just a little higher on our heart's scale to qualify as true sin. And so we slide, allowing another little sin in, and the bar raises (or lowers, depending on your perspective) again. Just like the Israelites with their sex and religion shrines, we allow sin into our lives on a regular basis without even acknowledging it as sin.
Paul says in Romans 6:20 This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin. I never quite understood this verse before. Why is it that knowing about the Law suddenly made me guilty of sin? After reading Josiah's reaction to reading the Law it all made sense. We live our lives the way we think best. Most of us do our best not to hurt others and to do good, but when we see the Word for the first time, we see our guilt, because our good is nowhere near God's Good. Those who never look into the Word may live in a way that the rest of the world considers good. They may do many good things, but unless they have read the Word, they don't know Good, and that determines where they will spend eternity.
Spending the last three weeks immersed in the Bible has made me desire to rend my clothing in despair and want to shout to the world what I have learned. I am guilty. I have not lived according to the Word, but now I am placing it in my heart. I will read it daily and meditate on it, even when it shows my guilt, so that I may know His Good and do it where I am able.
When most people consider what frightens them, they think of the unusual: snakes, spiders, public speaking, enclosed spaces, but the most frightening experiences are those that are completely usual, but where the familiar has been removed.
Imagine for a moment being a young child. Your parents have taken you to the mall, a place of delights for all of the senses: the smell of cinnamon buns, the sound of people laughing and walking quickly, bright colors from the stores filled with toys you just can't wait to take home. There's always the hope of coming home with a new Build a Bear or a cookie from Mrs. Field's or maybe time at the playground. Every moment in the mall is one of anticipation. Until your parents disappear. Maybe you lingered at the window of the Disney Store, maybe you lost your hold on a hand, whatever happened, they're gone, and you realize that you are completely alone in a strange place. The same place that just a few moments ago held nothing but joy and thrills now seems dark and threatening.
The mall didn't change, just the child's perception because of the loss of familiar, the one thing that gave them the security to relax and enjoy their surroundings.
Last Wednesday night I experienced one of the most frightening nights of my entire life. Northeastern Wisconsin was foggy all of last week. There was a huge 20+ car pile up Tuesday morning, and everyone was reduced to driving slowly and being careful. But the fog grew even worse Wednesday evening. It was so bad that Jesse and I decided not to take Mia to Bible class for safety's sake. I spent the day at Mom's listing for eBay. She picked Mia up from the bus and brought her back to her house, and we left the house around 7:45 to get Mia home for her 8:00 bedtime.
I live about 4-1/2 miles from my mom's house, and it's an easy drive. Turn right out of her driveway and go straight to the intersection of the highway. Turn left and stay straight until I come to another intersection with a flashing red light. Go straight through the intersection and turn left at the first intersection. That's our road, so I stay on it taking two 90 degree turns and turn in to the driveway at the fourth house on the right.
The fog was terrible; I've never driven in anything like it. I couldn't see what was on the opposite side of the road! When Mia and I came to the first intersection, I realized that there was no way that I could see any traffic coming from either way, and they wouldn't be able to see me either. So I stopped, and we prayed that God would keep us safe. It seemed like an incredibly long time to see that flashing red light, and I was so grateful for its appearance. We stopped and prayed again at the intersection. Now I had to find our road: the first road to the left. I was driving slowly, creeping along at 25 mph and looking carefully around me, but suddenly I realized that I had gone too far. I must have passed our road because I was down to Mia's bus stop.
My heart was pounding, but I knew where I was, so I pulled into a driveway, we prayed, and I turned around. I drove even slower, and when I found a road to the right (remember I was coming from the other direction now), I breathed a sigh of relief and turned down it. Afer just a few minutes I was suddenly I was driving on snow and headed directly for a stand of trees; this was not our road! I did a Y turn and headed back for the road I had come from. As I drove back down the strange road, I could see a house that I hadn't been able to see in my first pass, and I realized I had absolutely no idea where I was.
Jesse and I have lived in our house for over three years. Even before we moved out here, we were in the area often because it's near his parents' home. I know this area well, but with the fog, I couldn't tell where I was, and there were no reference points to get me back on track.
I put the van in park and called Jesse. I had called him before I left Mom's driveway, but he didn't answer. He didn't answer this time either, and that flipped my panic switch. Not only was I completely and utterly lost, but my touchstone was unavailable (I found out later, he had forgotten the phone in his car). I called my mom and talked to my stepdad, Jeff. I knew that they couldn't help me, but I needed to hear a familiar voice. Jeff was sweet enough to offer to try and find me, but how on earth could he do that? I couldn't talk through the tears, so I hung up and tried to breathe.
My crying was starting to upset Mia, so I had to get it under control. We prayed again, and I drove to the intersection where I had turned wrong. I turned right and started driving slowly, praying the entire time for something familiar. After several more minutes, I found myself on the opposite side of the intersection with the flashing red light, so I knew just where I was. I turned right thinking it would be easier to find our way home coming from a different way. This time, on the highway, I could see the lights of several businesses and farms. It seemed like years, but I found my next turn, and made it. Another eternity to our road, but I found it! Mia was practically singing for joy by this time. I think I finally started breathing again when I pulled into the driveway. My whole body was so tense, I practically had to peel my fingers from the steering wheel.
Mia, with her childlike innocence, quickly shook off her fear and ran carefree into the house. She trusted me completely to get her home safely. I was a wreck. I called Jeff to let them know we were home safe. The next day my body was wracked with pain from the tension and stress.
But by Friday, the fog was clearing up, and while I was driving, I didn't give a second thought to my surroundings. I completely reverted to my former habits. The familiar had been returned, and I was so secure that I didn't even consider the former danger.
I think that this is similar to what we feel when something shakes the foundation of our lives: loss of job or home or wealth or love, cancer, death. These things make our familiar world seem strange and frightening because we were happily living our lives, and now something has unexpectedly turned it all upside down. Life is not what we anticipated or wanted. It's terrifying, because now that we now that something awful like this can happen, it feels as though a door has been opened to bad things, and after the first one comes in, others can follow. Our equilibrium is lost.
Like a child who has lost his parents in the mall or me lost in the fog, we feel alone and terrified. In moments like that, remember this: Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. Isaiah 41:10
No matter what the circumstance, no matter how bad it is, that verse stands as a solid foundation for my faith. I could put in so many other verses conveying a similar message, but none of them can make the solidity of the promise in this one. "Don't panic, I'm with you," are exactly the right words I needed to hear in the van that night, and I hope that wherever you are, whatever has stolen away your security, I pray that this verse touches you right where you are. Let the words sink into your soul and trust Him when He says, "I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you."
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
***Special thanks to Linore Rose Burkard and Dave Bartlett (Harvest House Publishers) for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Linore Rose Burkard is the creator of "Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul." Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the era of Regency England (circa 1811 - 1820). Fans of classic romances such as Pride & Prejudice, Emma, and Sense & Sensibility, will enjoy Linore's feisty heroines, heart-throb heroes and happy endings.
List Price: $13.99 Paperback: 300 pages Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (January 1, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 0736927999 ISBN-13: 978-0736927994
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
London, England, 1818
Mr. Peter O’Brien felt surely he had a devil plaguing him, and the devil’s name was Mr. Phillip Mornay. The paper in his hand should have made him happy. Indeed, it ought to have elicited nothing but joy after two years of holding a curacy that didn’t pay enough to feed a church-mouse. Yet, instead he was staring ahead after reading a letter of recommendation for him as though he’d seen a ghost.
His previous naval commander, Colonel Sotheby, had recommended Mr. O’Brien to a wealthy landowner whose vicarage had gone vacant. It was the sort of letter that a poor Curate should rejoice over. The man who obtained the vicarage in the parish of Glendover, the Colonel said, in addition to having a decent curate’s salary, would have claim to a large glebe, a generous and well built house, and, in short, would see himself by way of having enough to begin a family. (If he found a wife to marry, first, of course. O’Brien could just hear the Colonel’s good-natured laugh ring out at that remark.)
But still his own mouth was set in an unpromising hard line: The landowner’s name was Mr. Phillip Mornay, none other than the Paragon, himself. And Mornay, Mr. O’Brien knew, would never grant him the living. To do so would go against everything he knew to be true of him. After all, no man who had once overstepped his bounds with Mr. Mornay’s betrothed, as Mr. O’Brien unfortunately had, would now be presented to the vicarage on the man’s lands. Of all the rotten, devilish luck! To have such a letter of commendation was like gold in the fiercely competitive world of the church, where there were more poor curates looking for a rise in their situations than there were church parishes who could supply them.
Therefore, instead of the boon from heaven this letter ought to have been, Mr. O’Brien was struck with a gloomy assurance that Mornay would sooner accept a popinjay in cleric’s clothing than himself. Even worse, his mother agreed with his appraisal.
He had taken the letter into the morning room of their house on Blandford Street, joining his mother while she sat at her breakfast.
“You do not wish to renew old grievances,” she said. “Mr. Mornay is not, to my knowledge, a forgiving man; shall you be put to the expense and trouble of travelling all the way to Middlesex, only to be turned down in the end? What can you possibly gain in it?”
Mr. O’Brien nodded; he saw her point. But he said, “I may have to do just that. The Colonel will never recommend me for another parish if he learns that I failed to apply myself to this opportunity.”
“Write to him,” replied his mama. “See if you can politely decline this honour, with the understanding that any other offer should be most welcome and appreciated!”
He doubted that any letter , no matter how ‘politely’ written, would be able to manage his desire to avoid this meeting with Mornay, as well as secure the hope of a future recommendation. But he thought about it, put quill to paper and sent the Colonel a reply. He asked (in the humblest terms he could manage) if the man might commend him for a living to be presented by some other landowner, indeed, any other landowner, any other gentleman in England than Phillip Mornay.
He could not explain the full extent of his past doings with Mr. Mornay without making himself sound like an utter fool; how he had hoped to marry the present Mrs. Mornay himself, some years ago. How presumptuous his hopes seemed to him now! Miss Ariana Forsythe was magnificent as the wife of the Paragon. He’d seen them in town after the marriage, but without ever presenting himself before her. It appalled even him that he had once thought himself worthy or equal to that beautiful lady.
When the Colonel’s reply came, there was little surprise in it. He assured Mr. O’Brien that his apprehensions were ill-placed; that Mr. Mornay’s past reputation of being a harsh, irascible man was no longer to the purpose. Colonel Sotheby himself held Mornay in the greatest respect, and insisted that the Paragon had as good a heart as any Christian. In short, (and he made this terribly clear) Mr. O’Brien had best get himself off to Middlesex or he would put the Colonel in a deuced uncomfortable spot. He had already written to Aspindon House, which meant that Mr. O’Brien was expected. If he failed to appear for an interview, he could not expect that another recommendation of such merit and generosity would ever come his way again.
Mr. O’Brien realized it was inevitable: he would have to go to Middlesex and present himself to Mornay. He knew it was a vain cause, that nothing but humiliation could come of it, but he bowed to what he must consider the will of God. He knelt in prayer, begging to be excused from this doomed interview, but his heart and conscience told him he must to it. If he was to face humiliation, had he not brought it upon himself? Had he not earned Mornay’s disregard, with his former obsession with Miss Forsythe, who was now Mrs. Mornay?
Prepared to face the interview come what may, Mr. O’Brien determined not to allow Mornay to make quick work of him. He was no longer the youthful swain, besotted over a Miss Forsythe. A stint in the Army, if nothing else, had hardened him, brought him face to face with deep issues of life, and left him, or so he thought, a better man.
******
Aspindon House, Glendover, Middlesex
Ariana Mornay looked for the hundredth time at her younger sister Beatrice, sitting across from her in the elegantly cozy morning room of her country estate, Aspindon. Here in the daylight, Beatrice’s transformation from child to warm and attractive young woman was fully evident . When Mrs. Forsythe and Beatrice had arrived the prior evening, Ariana had seen the change in her sister, of course, but the daylight revealed it in a clarity that neither last night’s flambeaux (lit in honour of their arrival) or the interior candlelight and fire of the drawing room had been able to offer.
Beatrice’s previously brown hair was now a lovely luminous russet. Ringlets peeked out from a morning cap with ruffled lace, hanging over her brow and hovering about the sides of her face. The reddish brown of her locks emphasized hazel-green eyes, smallish mischievous lips and a healthy glow in her cheeks. Beatrice noticed her elder sister was studying her, and smiled.
“You still look at me as if you know me not,” she said, not hiding how much it pleased her to find herself an object of admiration.
“I cannot comprehend how greatly you are altered, in just one year!”
“I regret that we did not come for so long,” put in Mrs. Forsythe, the girls’ mother. She was still feasting her eyes upon Ariana and the children (though the nurse, Mrs. Perler, had taken four year old Nigel, the Mornay’s firstborn, from the room, after he had spilled a glass of milk all over himself minutes ago). “We wished to come sooner, as you know, but Lucy took ill, and I dared not carry the sickness here to you with your new little baby.” At this, she stopped and cooed to the infant, who was upon her lap at the moment.”No, no, no,” she said, in the exaggerated tone that people use when addressing babies, “we can’t have little Miranda getting sick, now can we?”
Ariana smiled. “It matters not, mama. You are here, now. I only wish Papa and Lucy could have joined you.” Lucy, the youngest Forsythe sister, and Papa, had been obliged to stay home until the spring planting had been seen to. Mr. Forsythe did not wish to be wholly bereft of his family, so Lucy, who was a great comfort to him, had been enjoined to remain in Chesterton for his sake.
“I could not bear to wait upon your father a day longer,” she answered with a little smile. “They will come by post chaise after papa has done his service through Easter. And then we will all be together--except for the Norledges. Perhaps when Papa comes, he may bring your older sister and her husband?”
“I would want Aunt Pellham too, in that case,” murmured the blond-haired young woman.
“Oh, my! With your Aunt and Uncle Pellham, and the Norledges, even this large house would be filled with guests, I daresay!” said her mother.
Beatrice was still happily ingesting the thought that Ariana had evidently noticed her womanhood. At seventeen, hers was not a striking sort of beauty—one did not stop in instant admiration upon spying Beatrice in a room, for instance, as had often been the case for Ariana; but the younger girl had no lack of wits, a lively eye and countenance, and, not to be understated, an easy friendliness. Among a group of reserved and proper English young ladies, Beatrice would be the beacon of refuge for the timid; she was welcoming where others were aloof; inquisitive and protective where others looked away.
Nor was she the sort of young woman to glide across a floor, dignified and elegant. Instead, Beatrice was ever having to keep her energy in check; When rising from a chair (her mama had made her practice doing so countless times) she could appear as elegant as the next young woman. She ate nicely, even daintily. But left unchecked, her natural enthusiasm might propel her through a room with alarming speed. Her shawls were ever hanging from her arms, never staying in place over her shoulder; and her mother forbade her from wearing hair jewellery, as it tended to lose its place upon her head. Bandeaux were her lot; besides bonnets, of course.
“It is fortunate that I am only seventeen,” she had said to her mama only last week, while the woman was draping a wide bandeau artfully around Beatrice’s head. “Or I believe you would exile every manner of female head attire from this house, saving turbans! Although my hair holds a curl twice as long as Lucy’s!”
“I should adore a full house of guests,” she said, now. “Please do invite the Norledges’ Ariana! Only think of the diversions we could have; play-acting with enough people to fill all the roles, for a change! Or charades; or even a dance!”
Ariana looked at her sister fondly. “Which dances do you like best?”
“The waltz!” she quickly responded, with a smile to show that she knew it was mischievous to prefer the waltz—the single dance which entailed more contact with the opposite sex than any other ballroom fare. Mrs. Forsythe clucked her tongue, but Beatrice blithely ignored this, taking a peek at her brother-in-law to gauge his reaction, instead. The host of the gathering was reading his morning paper, however, and not listening to the small talk between his wife and her relations.
And relations were virtually all around him. In addition to Beatrice and Mrs. Forsythe, there was his aunt, Mrs. Royleforst, staying with them at the present, and her companion, skinny, nervous Miss Bluford. These two ladies had not appeared yet for breakfast, which was probably on account of Mrs. Royleforst. She found mornings difficult and either slept in, or took a tray in her room.
“What do you think, sir?” asked Mrs. Forsythe, of her host. “Shall my daughter invite the Norledges to join Mr. Forsythe and Lucy when they set out for your house? Or is your home already filled enough for your liking?”
Mr. Mornay looked over his paper enough to acknowledge that he had heard her question. “As it is your and my wife’s family, I think the two of you must decide upon it. As long as there are bed-chambers enough,” he added, looking at Ariana, “you may fill them with guests as you please.”
“Thank you, darling,” she said, making Beatrice stifle a titter. Her sister and her husband were still inordinately romantic, to her mind. Good thing no one else was present save her mother! She would have been embarrassed for them in company.
“Shall I take the baby, mama?” said Ariana, for Miranda was beginning to fuss.
“I suppose she wants to be fed,” agreed her mother. Ariana nodded to a maid who was seated against the wall, who went and received the child from her grandmother and brought her gingerly to her mama. Ariana’s eyes sparkled with happiness as she took her little girl. She murmured to the baby, by turns picking her up and kissing her face, and then just holding her in her arms and gazing at her in loving adoration. “I shan’t feed her yet,” she said. “She isn’t insisting upon it.”
Beatrice’s thoughts were still upon the diversions that would be possible with a large group staying at the house. “If they all come, can you and Mr. Mornay hold a ball, Ariana? Or, will you take me to London this year for the Season? Then I may go to as many balls as I like, and you will not have the expense of holding them!”
“If she takes you to London for the Season,” put in her mama, “she will have a great deal more expense than just that of a ball! Besides which, you are too young for such.”
Beatrice looked at her mama, her enthusiasm temporarily dampened. “But my sister sees I am older, now,” she said, looking at Ariana with a silent plea in her gaze. “And I am not too young for a Season, according to the magazines. Many girls my age do have their coming out, mama!”
“Many gels,” she returned, instantly, “have little sense, and their parents, no better; your papa and I did not allow either of your sisters to go about in society at your age. You have been already too pampered, if you ask me. London society is out of the question!”
Beatrice was now thoroughly dampened in her spirits, but she looked about and settled her eyes upon her brother-in-law. “I daresay Mr. Mornay has seen many a girl of my age--and younger—make their debut during the Season. And to no ill effect! Why, I am sure some of them have made the most brilliant matches! Many a man of good standing prefers a younger lady for his wife. You had ought to let me go while I am young enough to enjoy this advantage.”
Mr. Mornay was frowning behind his newspaper. He knew that his young relation wanted his support in the matter, but Mr. Mornay was assuredly not in the habit of coming to the aid of young women, particularly regarding a London Season. So he said nothing, though an ensuing silence in the room told him the ladies waited for his opinion.
Ariana, who knew better, offered, “Let us discuss it another time. There are months, yet, before the Season. And with Miranda so young, I cannot decide at this point, in any case.”
Beatrice, who had no idea she was treading on dangerous ground, said, “Only let Mr. Mornay tell us his thoughts! I know my mother will listen if you tell her, sir,” she said, directly to him.
He put his paper down reluctantly, and then looked at Beatrice. “I think Ariana was young to face society at nineteen. At your age, you need to be sheltered, not put forth among the wolves.”
Her face fell so entirely, that he almost chuckled at it. “Why are you so eager for a Season?”
She smiled a little. This was better; he was inviting her to explain so that her mother could see the good advantage in it. “I have long lived with the memory of my sister’s tales of her experiences in London;” she said. “She met you there! Her coming out is what brought her to marriage, to Aspindon, to a better life! I have had my fill of Chesterton, I assure you! The prospects for marrying well in that region are as dismal as ever, if not worse;” she said. (Ariana closed her eyes at this; she could hardly bear to hear her sister telling all the reasons Phillip would most despise.) “Why does it seem that all the eligible young men in the county are either in a regiment somewhere, or at sea, or in need of a fortune? I must go to London or Bath, where there are more men one can meet!”
She paused, looking at him earnestly. “I have no fortune, sir, as you are well aware. And with your connexions, I am certain to make very advantageous acquaintances! What could be more certain? I shall end up, no doubt, just as my sister has, with a man like you, sir!” Beatrice evidently thought she was giving him a great compliment. She waited, expecting a gracious answer.
Mr. Mornay stood up, after folding his paper to a neat size. He said, “It takes more than wearing a corset to say a young lady is grown up, would you not agree?” He directed his remark to the whole room, and then settled his eyes upon Beatrice for one second too long, before giving a small bow to the women in general, and turning to leave the room. Beatrice considered his words for a moment. He had rested his eyes on her long enough so that she knew exactly what he meant.
Mr. Frederick met his master at the door, holding out a salver with a letter for Mr. Mornay, who took it but then looked curiously at the butler.
“It arrived in that condition, sir! I daresay it was lost in the mail or some such thing.”
“Hmm, very good, Freddie.” He held up a battered and ink-soiled missive for his wife to see, while eyeing it dubiously.
She looked amused. “Who is it from?”
He unfolded the paper, as the sealing wax was almost entirely worn off already, and scanned the signature at the bottom. “Colonel Sotheby. I’ll read it in my office.” She nodded, and Mr. Mornay left the room.
Beatrice was still smarting from his earlier remark, and said, as soon as he’d gone, “How ‘grown up’ can I be, when I am forced to exist in a small country village, with no prospects, and genteel company only upon a Sunday?”
“You overstate your case! That is not true,” answered her mama, disapprovingly.
“And as for wearing a corset,” Beatrice continued, after taking a sip of tea, “I do not pretend that wearing one is what makes me of age for a Season. I have formed my principles upon sound reason. I have sat beneath the tutelage of my father and of Mr. Timmons, and of his curate, and I should say my principles are well-founded.”
“We are glad to hear it,” Ariana said, with great forbearance, “but really, you should not be setting your mind upon seeking a man like my husband; you should be intent upon finding the man that God has chosen for you.”
“And so I am!” she protested, her eyes wide and laughing. “But look at the advantage He gives me in having you for my sister! Am I to ignore that? When it could be the very means of bringing me and my future husband together?”
Ariana played absently with little Miranda’s blanket, tucking it in about her chin more snugly. She met her sister’s eyes. “London is not the only place a young woman may meet a husband. And if you want my husband’s approval of your plan, the last thing in the world you should tell him is that you want to meet a man like him! Or that you wish to marry above you in any way!” “But is it above me? To marry well? When my sister is Mrs. Mornay of Aspindon House?”
“It is above you,” said her mother, “because you are Miss Forsythe of Chesterton.”
“I am a gentleman’s daughter,” she replied.
“With no dowry to speak of,” said her mama.
Beatrice’s cheeks began to burn. “With a rich and famous brother-in-law!” she said, petulantly.
“That does not signify!” said her mother.
“It does, to me!”
“It should not!” Mrs. Forsythe was quickly growing ashamed of her daughter, and she was relieved that Mr. Mornay had left the room, and was not hearing Beatrice right now. Ariana’s eyebrows were raised and she was doing her best to act as though she had no part in the dialogue.
“But it does, mama!”
“Beatrice! You have already said far too much on this topic, which proves to me your great ignorance of the world.” She held up her hand for silence as Beatrice was about to protest; “Not another word! I shan’t have it, not another word.” Mrs. Forsythe turned her attention to her elder daughter.
“I think I will visit the Nursery to see how Nigel is faring. Do you mind?”
“Of course not! He will enjoy showing you his toys.” She smiled, while her mother rose to leave the room. “I’ll be up myself, shortly, to feed the baby.”
“Very good.” She nodded to her daughter, and then her eye fell upon Beatrice. “I think it would be wise if you said nothing more regarding a Season. In fact, I forbid you to mention it to Mr. Mornay again! Do you understand me?”
“I do, mama.” Beatrice was not happy but she recognized the tone of voice her mother was using. She considered, moreover, that it would be a simple matter to keep from mentioning her hopes to the man, for he evidently would not encourage her in them. But as for herself, she would continue to think of the Season in London. She would continue to hope; and some other day, when Ariana was in a good disposition, she would prevail upon her to sponsor her in London.
Beatrice did not want to seem disrespectful, but she knew that Mr. Mornay was quite in error regarding her. He did not know, for instance, that she was determined to make a good match, and recognized it as her lot in life. Every inch she saw of Aspindon just confirmed her sense that a rich life awaited her. She was born for it. And now all that was necessary was to meet her future husband—the man who could make it all happen. She had long prayed for just such a meeting, and knew that it was bound to occur. All she had to do was be properly outfitted, and in the proper company, for it to do so.
All she had to do was change her sister and brother-in-law’s mind on the matter. How difficult could that be?
This book was originally supposed to be posted back in February, but due to high volume of sales (yay!), it got pushed back until now. I didn't receive it until after my book fast began, so I'll have to wait to post my review until it's over. In the meantime, you can check out the first chapter and fall in love!
Today's post may be a bit long; I hope you'll stick with me!
During the reign of King David, he wanted to build a Temple to host God's presence, but God denied him that privilege because he had shed too much blood in wars. God instead would allow David's son, Solomon, to build the Temple.
I want to give you some details about the Temple so that it's majesty really registers. - 30,000 woodcutters -70,000 carriers -80,000 stonecutters -301 tons of gold -591 tons of silver -679 tons of bronze -3,775 tons of iron -Inner sanctuary was 30' square and completely overlaid with gold -Took 7 years to build -Total amount of bronze used could not be measured -Items made of gold: altar, table, 10 lampstands, basins, wick trimmers, sockets, sprinkling dishes, burners, censers -Three stories -Held the Ark of the Covenant
All of those details are magnificent, and there are building in the world that would far surpass it. But there is something special about the Temple that no other building can lay claim to: it was filled with the glory of the Lord. God actually made this building His home. In Solomon's prayer to God, he made it the home of their faith. It was their touchstone. Every festival was to be celebrated in it. Sacrifices were made on its altar daily, and when the people turned away from God, they were to pray facing the Temple to demonstrate their repentance and receive His salvation.
Many of the rules in Leviticus are specific for worship at is at that time the Tabernacle and will later become the Temple. Rules for different types of sacrifice, for the clothing of the priests, etc. It was obviously incredibly important to God how they would worship in this building because it would be his home.
The Temple was far more than just a church. The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem is all that's left of what was the Second Temple (more on that later), and that is considered a sacred place not just in Judaism, but in other faiths as well. It's a holy place because of its connection to God. The rebuilding of the Temple is said to be one of the signs of the coming Apocalypse.
After the reign of Solomon, the country of Israel quickly disintegrated. His son, Rehoboam, was so abusive that the tribes separated into two countries: Israel and Judah, each with their own king. Israel formed their own places of worship and traveled down a road of idolatry and evil. Judah had good and bad rulers during this time, some better than others, but during that time the respect for the Temple eroded.
1 Kings 14:25 In the fifth year of King Rehoboam's rule, Shishak king of Egypt made war against Jerusalem. He plundered The Temple of God and the royal palace of their treasures, cleaned them out.
1 Kings 15:18 Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of The Temple of God and the royal palace, gave it to his servants, and sent them to Ben-Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus, with this message: "Let's make a treaty like the one between our fathers. I'm showing my good faith with this gift of silver and gold."
2 Kings 12:17 Joash king of Judah countered by gathering up all the sacred memorials—gifts dedicated for holy use by his ancestors, the kings of Judah, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, along with the holy memorials he himself had received, plus all the gold that he could find in the temple and palace storerooms—and sent it to Hazael king of Aram.
2 Kings 16:7 Then Ahaz robbed the treasuries of the palace and The Temple of God of their gold and silver and sent them to the king of Assyria as a bribe.
2 Kings 16:17 Then King Ahaz proceeded to plunder The Temple furniture of all its bronze. He stripped the bronze from The Temple furnishings, even salvaged the four bronze oxen that supported the huge basin, The Sea, and set The Sea unceremoniously on the stone pavement. Finally, he removed any distinctive features from within The Temple that were offensive to the king of Assyria. 2 Kings 18:14 The king of Assyria demanded tribute from Hezekiah king of Judah— eleven tons of silver and a ton of gold. Hezekiah turned over all the silver he could find in The Temple of God and in the palace treasuries. Hezekiah even took down the doors of The Temple of God and the doorposts that he had overlaid with gold and gave them to the king of Assyria.
2 Kings 25:8 In the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, on the seventh day of the fifth month, Nebuzaradan, the king of Babylon's chief deputy, arrived in Jerusalem. He burned The Temple of God to the ground, went on to the royal palace, and then finished off the city—burned the whole place down.
The Temple that had existed for hundreds of years and been the core of Jewish life was no more. And with its destruction, looked like the destruction of its people as well. They were taken captive and moved to Babylon. Their captors moved other nations into Israel. But the Jewish people held tight to their faith and eventually returned to God. When they did, God heard their pleas for rescue and restored them. They were allowed to return to their country and rebuild not just their city but the Temple as well, under order of King Cyrus.
I know I just threw a ton of history at you, but I have a reason for it. Ask a child, "Where does God live?" and they'll give you one of two answers: in Heaven or in my heart!
Just like the Temple was God's dwelling place in ages past, he lives in our hearts today. In Ezekiel 36:24-27, God says, "I'll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I'll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's God-willed, not self-willed. I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You'll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You'll be my people! I'll be your God!"
He's giving us the most generous of gifts, to live in us! 1 Corinthians 6:19 adds: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own!
Now that you are thinking about your heart as being the dwelling place of God, consider again the destruction of the original Temple. We are just as guilty as the Judean kings of wasting its resources and leaving it open to destruction. Like I said in a previous blog, we love silly things. We love wrong things. We give our hearts away and waste the gifts God has given us. We also fill our hearts with idols. Money, sex, clothing, food, our family, we are always cluttering up our hearts.
The Israelites had forgotten God, and the only way for Him to get their attention again was to completely destroy the heart of their worship: the Temple. I think sometimes he has to do the same to us. God breaks our hearts so that He can rebuild them in His image, the way He wants it to be.
So if you are in a time of change when you feel like your heart is being broken again and again, maybe it's time to return to the Lord. Turn your face to Him to show your repentance.
Or maybe you aren't there yet, but you can feel God nudging your heart. Pray for Him to expose any idols you may be harboring or places you are wasting your resources.
God wants to make your heart His home, are you up for it?
I'm blessed to be the mother of three children: Doogie, Molly, and Mia and am happily married to Jesse.
I've always loved to read, and I love talking about the books that move me.
I review books here, on Amazon, Christianbook.com, Barnes & Noble, Lunch.com, Christian Book Video, Shelfari, GoodReads, MySpace, and Facebook.
