Grappling with the Relevance of the Old Testament

Day 84: 2 Chronicles 23-26

I have another confession to make. Here it is: I feel in a rut with this whole reading thing. I've read the passages for the day and don't have anything to write about them. Everything I've been reading for the past few weeks has already been told in the books of Samuel and Kings, and so I'm not hearing about new stories or learning different things about the nature of God (at least that's how I feel, which is why I'm in a rut). Now I realize when I write that how arrogant that sounds, and I really don't mean it that way. I know there is much more for me to learn. I guess what I mean is that this stuff is a little boring. I learn about kings and battles and how God was involved in them, but I end up asking, "So what?" What does all this matter anyway? Why is it important that I learn about Joash, Amaziah, and the armies of Israel and Judah? What should Christians today take away from these passages in the Old Testament that seem so outdated and ancient?

I recognize the historical significance of the Bible and how Christians today find our identity by connecting our lives to our ancestors. I also realize that we learn about God and about his nature. This is no small thing either. However, often times God is merely referenced and only in rare occasions (at least from what I've been reading) is he the center of the story. Rather, God is only mentioned when the author is summing up the king's life: King ____ did not follow the Lord's commands as his father King ___ did, or King ____ followed the Lord's commands as his father King ___ did, too. Is there something to be learned from that? I'm sure I could post something about it, but that statement doesn't really tell me much. How did he follow the Lord? What did he do specifically that resulted in the author writing this about him? I'm just a bit more curious about the "so what" of it all.

There's also a connection between success in battles and following of God. If the king follows God and keeps his commandments, then God is with him and allows him to gain power and glory. However, in spite of this connection, I know from living life that today good things do not always happen to good people. While this may be true in the Old Testament (and I'm not sure it was), it's not true today. So I'm not sure how to reconcile these differences between our lives today and theirs from long ago.

What can we learn today from the stories of the Israelites so long ago? 

What is God trying to teach us--teach me--through the Old Testament scripture? 


These are questions I'm pondering right now because I feel in a bit of a rut with the scripture of late.
Have you ever grappled with these same questions? What are your thoughts, dear reader? How do you get out of a scripture rut? How do you find meaning when the text seems more historical than applicable and relevant? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Reading Along #2

Day 83: 2 Chronicles 20-22

Jehoshophat is such a funny name. He was a good man, though, and God was with him.

(I haven't had much time today to write, but I did read a few chapters.)

Reading along

Day 82: 2 Chronicles 16-19

I read today about wars fought by King Asa and his son Jehosophat. These same stories were told in Kings, and I don't really have much to say about it. Good night!

Finding Us

Day 81: 2 Chronicles 10-15

If you seek the Lord, you will be found by him.

I have heard this concept since I was a little kid. Seek the Lord and He will find you. However, in practice, this concept is one that is harder to implement. When I experienced low points in my life, I have found it very difficult to seek him. Not because I don't want to but because, for whatever reason, I have found it so hard to do. Maybe it was because I was depressed and didn't have the energy. Or maybe it was because I was caught in sin and felt ashamed to seek a holy God. Or maybe it was because I didn't want to be so vulnerable.

Whatever the case, it's hard to seek God when you most need him. Isn't that ironic? That when we most need him seeking him isn't the easiest, most natural thing to do? I wish it were easier during these hard times because the reward would surely outweigh the difficulties, but it's not. And maybe that's what makes that concept so amazing. That when you're finally ready to seek the Lord, it doesn't take much looking; He's already found you.

That gives me courage during the low points that inevitably come. Even when I don't know what to do to feel better or get out of the depths of despair, God is ready for me when I decide to seek Him. In fact, he's waiting in anticipation for me.

Reflection 2: Continuing the Journey

Day 80: Reflection 2

It's been 40 days since my last reflection. 40 days already! Wow. I've almost made it to the book of Ezra. That's hard to believe. I think I'm on a quicker pace than it takes to read the Bible in one year, but the fact that I'm ahead will allow me to proceed more slowly through the New Testament and spend more time on the various chapters, which I'm really looking forward to.

I'm still really enjoying my journey. The daily Bible reading and study has become a habit, a part of my daily routine. I honestly never thought I would get to where Bible reading was such a regular part of my life, but I actually have. Elizabeth has even caught on, and often pronounces that she is having her own Bible study. I'm glad she's learning some good things from me!

I'm also able to engage with others in conversations about God in informed and knowledgeable ways. I understand more about his nature--who He is and how he treats his people. I also understand about how He treats for and cares for His people, especially through the covenant relationship he has established with Israel. Reading about God's relationship with Israel as an adult has reminded me about God's nature and how he engages in relationship with us:
--God always keeps his covenant, even when we don't.
--God wants us to obey him above all else.
--God will punish us when we disobey because we are breaking his covenant.

This process has also allowed me to read the passages from various versions of the Bible. Since I am reading the Bible online (through "Biblegateway.com"), I can choose which version I want to read. When I'm unsure about a meaning or something, I can always look at another version and perhaps hear it a bit differently. Since I don't have all these versions of the Bible in print, it's nice to have free access to them online.

I am noticing some changes in myself as well. I think that my time and my life has become a bit less self-centered. Now, I consider more about how this is all God's time and I am just borrowing it for a while. This realization has made me less self-absorbed and more giving towards the needs of others. I hope I continue to grow in this way. 

I have also noticed some disadvantages reading through the Bible this way--quickly and from beginning to end. The main difficulty I have is that I don't get to spend too much time pondering over questions I have about the text or even struggles I'm having with understanding the passages because I have to keep reading and keep writing because tomorrow is another day with a new reading. Another part of this process that hasn't quite played out like I had thought is in terms of the way the Bible would impact my prayer life and my reflections to God. I feel closer to God, yes, but I also thiWhile I don't know if my goal will ever be to read the Bible again in a year, I do know that there are advantages and disadvantages to reading it differently.

I still have some goals for myself as I continue this journey:
1. I hope to spend more time meditating on what I read each day. While I do spend time contemplating and reflecting on the words, I often don't have the time to meditate and pray about it as much as I'd like. This connection between scripture and meditating or prayer is one that I want to make more.

2. I hope to see changes in my behavior with how I relate with and treat others. I want to see growth as a person who deals with and relates to other people. I want to be a better wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. It is my hope that these words will impact my heart and will lead me to greater awareness of myself as a relational being.

3. I also hope to learn how to be more like Jesus--practical things to do that will lead me closer to the realization of the kingdom of God on earth.

Thanks for journeying with me. I hope that you, too, have learned some things along the way and that you have some goals for yourself as well.

Thanks to God for He is Good

Day 80: 2 Chronicles 6-9

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you are enjoying time with your family and loved ones. Times like this make me especially thankful for the important things: being around loved ones, good health, good jobs, healthy children, and the love of God. It's nice to reflect on all the things for which we have to be thankful.

When Solomon dedicates the temple to the Lord, He does so with a beautiful prayer. First, he praises God for his faithfulness and then he asks God to continue to remain faithful to the generations to come after David. And he also does something very specific: he connects God to the temple by asking God to remember this place and to answer the prayers of those who pray in this place and towards this place. He wants God to hear their prayers and forgive them. And then at the very end of the prayer, Solomon says to God, "Now arise, Lord God, and come to your resting place."

What a beautiful way to dedicate a building that is going to be used for the Lord.

And when Solomon finished praying, fire came down and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And then all the people gave thanks, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever."

Today, let's all pray the same prayer: "The Lord is good; his love endures forever." Happy Thanksgiving.

A Temple Meeting

Day 79: II Chronicles 1-5

Once again, the story of building the temple is re-told. David didn’t like living in a house of cedar while the Ark of the Covenant was in a tent, so he made plans to build a temple to house the Ark and other items for the Lord. When David (through Nathan) asked God if he could build the temple, God told him that David would not be allowed to build the temple because he had been too violent during his lifetime. At the same time, however, God told David that He would build a house for David instead—a house in which the Lord would dwell forever. So Solomon was the one who built the temple.

When Solomon decides to build the temple, this is what he says, “The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him?” (II Chronicles 2:5-6a)

The whole idea about building a temple is interesting. The Israelites wanted to honor God and to give him a holy place, even though they knew that He couldn't be contained in a building. They knew that the earthly building they created would not be near enough for the Lord, yet they wanted a place for their holy items and a place where people could go to feel closer to God. A special place. A holy place. A place that held history inside. A place that cost a lot of money but that was worth it because God was worth it.

Today, we, too, construct temples to the Lord. We have houses of worship where we go to meet God, to be closer to God, to worship God. We have churches where we meet together and commune with others and with Gods. Some of these buildings are elaborate and ornate, while others are simple and bare. Whatever level of the spectrum these churches may fall in terms of decoration, they all are filled with hope that in these places we will meet God. Although we can meet God in many different places, settings, and venues, there's just something special about meeting Him in a church building. God still cannot be contained in a building; He is too big for our roofs, yet we can still meet him there. How wonderful is that.

While we may not always agree about how to build our churches, how they should be used, or even how much money should be spent on them, we can all agree that when we enter there and gather in Jesus' name, we hope to experience the Holy Spirit, the sweet nature of Jesus, and the loving kindness of the Father. May you meet the Lord God as you enter into the doors of your temple.

Building the Temple through Peace

Day 78: I Chronicles 22-29

It's interesting to me that God did not allow David to build the Temple. David was a man of God, a man loved by God and a man patterned after God's own heart. And yet, David did not get to build the Temple. And this passage says that the reason he didn't get to do so is because of all the violence he did while he lived--all the death, all the killing, and all the wars.

We have been in a time of war for over eight years (since 9/11 at least). It's hard to believe it's been that long. I don't like war. I like peace. I think we all like peace, and I think we all want it. We just have different ways of going about it. Here, though, we have the example of David who fought battles and wars and thought he was doing the right thing, yet in the end he didn't get to build the Temple--or even to see it--because of all the violence he had done during his lifetime.

I hope and pray that the wars we are in today will end soon--that there will be peace on earth soon. All this violence is not good for humanity. It's not good for our souls. While we may not be able to stop the wars or end the international violence, we can all make small steps to make our lives less violent. We can turn to Jesus and see the nonviolent way that he lived. We can cut out the fighting we do with our loved ones. We can think twice before we use our fists or our words for revenge. Together, small steps can make a big impact. May we all strive for peace. If we do, one day we, like David, will be able to see the Temple of the Lord.

Be thankful

Day 77: I Chronicles 17-21

Thanksgiving will be here in less than three days. This holiday is a special one to Americans, but it’s also special to Christians. This holiday serves as a reminder about many things, and I will list a few of them here: 

1. Thanksgiving represents a time of sharing with those in need. Jesus came to earth and spoke about giving to the poor and providing for the orphans and widows. Jesus wants us to give, and this time of the year represents a perfect time to remind us of the many gifts we have that we can give away. 

2. We can also be thankful for the blessings that God has bestowed in our lives. These blessings may be financial, or they may be blessings of relationships. We can also be thankful for our families, our jobs, and the good things that come to us. But we can also be thankful for the tragedies, for the times of trial that we go through. Paul says in the New Testament that he has learned to be content in whatever circumstance, and I pray that I feel the same way one day. Mostly, I'm thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus whose death has given us life.

3. Thanksgiving represents family time. Together we eat, shop, and watch football. We play kickball and football with friends and neighbors, and we watch the Longhorns-Aggies game. This time is full of fun and memorable traditions that we continue to pass on to our children.

4. This year the holiday also represents a new tradition: a 5K fun run for most of the Poe side of the family (including me!). We are running in the Turkey Trot in Downtown Houston, and I'm very excited about this new tradition we are starting. My goal is to run the entire 3.1 miles. My ankle has been hurting a bit, so I'm a little worried, but I've been training, so I'm hopeful I can do it.

5. Thanksgiving also represents a history for America. The history of the founding of this country (at least by the Pilgrims), and times of joy, thanksgiving, and sharing. This American history has made its way into our hearts and has weaved itself into the way we celebrate the holiday as Christians, too. I don't think there's anything wrong with this necessarily, but I do hope to remember that the focus of this holiday is on the blessing of Jesus more so than the story of the Pilgrims.

May your holiday be one of Thanksgiving and blessing.

David's Words of Praise

Day 76: I Chronicles 14-16

David uses such beautiful words to describe the Lord. Tonight, I leave you with these words in which he tells the Israelites to praise God.

⁸ Give praise to the LORD, call on his name;
       make known among the nations what he has done.
    ⁹ Sing to him, sing praise to him;
       tell of all his wonderful acts.
    ¹⁰ Glory in his holy name;
       let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
    ¹¹ Look to the LORD and his strength;
       seek his face always.
    ¹² Remember the wonders he has done,
       his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
    ¹³ you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
       his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
    ¹⁴ He is the LORD our God;
       his judgments are in all the earth.
    ¹⁵ He remembers ^[c] his covenant forever,
       the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
    ¹⁶ the covenant he made with Abraham,
       the oath he swore to Isaac.
    ¹⁷ He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
       to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
    ¹⁸ "To you I will give the land of Canaan
       as the portion you will inherit."
    ¹⁹ When they were but few in number,
       few indeed, and strangers in it,
    ²⁰ they ^[d] wandered from nation to nation,
       from one kingdom to another.
    ²¹ He allowed no one to oppress them;
       for their sake he rebuked kings:
    ²² "Do not touch my anointed ones;
       do my prophets no harm."
    ²³ Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
       proclaim his salvation day after day.
    ²⁴ Declare his glory among the nations,
       his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
    ²⁵ For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
       he is to be feared above all gods.
    ²⁶ For all the gods of the nations are idols,
       but the LORD made the heavens.
    ²⁷ Splendor and majesty are before him;
       strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
    ²⁸ Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations,
       ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
    ²⁹ Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
       bring an offering and come before him.
       Worship the LORD in the splendor of his ^[e] holiness.
    ³⁰ Tremble before him, all the earth!
       The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
    ³¹ Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
       let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"
    ³² Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
       let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
    ³³ Let the trees of the forest sing,
       let them sing for joy before the LORD,
       for he comes to judge the earth.
    ³⁴ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
       his love endures forever.
    ³⁵ Cry out, "Save us, God our Savior;
       gather us and deliver us from the nations,
       that we may give thanks to your holy name,
       and glory in your praise."
    ³⁶ Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel,
       from everlasting to everlasting.
       Then all the people said "Amen" and "Praise the LORD."

God Save the Ark

Day 75: I Chronicles 5-13

This blog post is a continuation of my last post because these chapters contain lists of descendants of the tribes, Saul, David, and others. It also chronicles who played music in front of the temple, who the gatekeepers were, who guarded the temple, and who the mighty warriors were that led David's army.

Chapter 10 once again recounts events that were told in I and II Samuel, as well as the books of Kings, such as the death of Saul and the time David became king.

One story I don't remember reading about, though, is the story of Uzzah, the man who reached out to steady the Ark and whom God struck down because He was angry at him. This passage has always puzzled me because of how cruel it seems. Here was someone who was trying to save the Ark from collapsing on the floor and God strikes him dead right then and there. This man's motives don't seem to matter to God. Why, I wondered?

It seems to me that this story isn't so much about Uzzah's sin as it is about David and his sins. Instead of carrying the Ark like they were supposed to be doing (by holding on to the poles), they were carrying it on an ox. I don't exactly know why. Maybe it was easier for them to guide an animal rather than to carry the thing for miles and miles. I'm not sure. But either way, it was because they were carrying it wrong in the first place that Uzzah had to reach out to steady it from falling. If they had been obeying God from the outset, Uzzah wouldn't have had to lose his life.

Once again, everything boils down to obedience. This time David's disobedience cost another man his life. God wants us to obey him, to obey his laws and to obey his will for our lives. Obedience seems of the utmost importance and over and over again the theme of obedience appears in the Bible.

God wants me to obey.

God wants me to obey.

And when I don't, my actions may impact others. Others may have to suffer the consequences of my sins, just like David's decisions proved fatal for Uzzah. Next time we are faced with a decision to obey or disobey, I pray that we will think of Uzzah and remember that our choices don't just effect us; they may alter the life of someone else.

Did You Know We're Related?

Day 74: I Chronicles 1-4

Uh oh. Houston, we have a problem.

I've just now read through the first four chapters of I Chronicles and am realizing that maybe the lists of kings in Second Kings wasn't so bad. I should have known from the title of this book that this book would have to do with chronicling something. Hence the name. But I didn't even consider it. All this book has been about is chronicling all the descendants of the various people we've read about up to now. Adam and Eve. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, etc. etc.

Genealogies. Chronicles. Lists.

I'm guessing that this was written down because it's part of Israel's history, but I'm not sure why it's part of the Bible. We already read about all these people and learned the narrative of their lives, but I'm not sure how all these genealogies are relevant. I'm sure people have found some small parts of these lists to be significant (Who knows? Perhaps Jabez comes up here.), but it seems to be more important for the Israelites than it does for us today. And maybe that's OK. I don't know.

We can learn, though, that we learn a lot about who we are from our past, and maybe these generational lists can be meaningful in that way. Either way, I'm not sure what I can say about these if both I and II Chronicles are like this for the entire book! Let's all hang in there together.

Do You Know THIS Prophet?

Day 73: 2 Kings 21 to 25

I was quite surprised to read today about a female prophet I knew there were female judges and even a deaconness, but I had never heard or read anything about a female prophet before. Also, she's not one of the "major" or "minor" prophets, and she doesn't have a book named after her (I don't think any woman has a book named after her). I had to go back and re-read it to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong.

Anyway, this prophet named Huldah told servants of the king that the Lord has heard their prayers and that the King Josiah would not see all the disaster the Lord was going to bring on Israel because he was faithful and righteous. She delivered a message of God to men in power.

I just think it's interesting because I often think of Bible times as very patriarchal, yet here you have a king--a good and noble king at that--seeking advice from a woman.

I know that people feel differently about women's role in the church, and I'm not going to get into all that here. What I will say, however, is that God used women in the Old and New Testament, and He still uses us today. He allows women to play a role in matters of spirituality and counsel, at least in this case. Whatever your opinion might be, I do hope you recognize that, here, God chose a female prophet to accomplish his work.

More kings

Day 72: 2 Kings 15-20

Just a few notes for today:
*We have another good king in the eyes of the Lord--Hezekiah. I always like reading about good kings who trusted and obeyed God.
*I'm a bit surprised to see that Isaiah appears in 2 Kings. He prophesies to Hezekiah and also heals Hezekiah of a boil from which he was suffering.
*I'm ready for these lists and lists and lists of kings to be over. There's not much narrative going on here, and I like writing about stories that occur. Hopefully we'll get some of these when we begin I Chronicles.

Good night.

Keeping Covenant and the Nature of God

Day 71: 2 Kings 9-14

Second Kings lists king after king after king in both Israel and Judah. Some kings were good and most were bad. Most worshiped Baal, fertility gods, and other gods; few worshiped the one true GOD. In spite of Israel's turn away from the Lord, Second Kings 14: 26-27a says, "God was fully aware of the trouble in Israel, its bitterly hard times. No one was exempt, whether slave or citizen, and no hope of help anywhere was in sight. But God wasn't yet ready to blot out the name of Israel from history..."

God isn't willing to give up on Israel yet. They have broken his covenant over and over and over again, but the Lord has not broken the covenant he made with them. It's the same way today. Daily, we break the covenant we have made with the Lord, yet he remains in covenant with us. Although most of First and Second Kings focus on the kings in Israel and Judah, I think these books say more about the nature of God then it does about the nature of humanity.

Thank God for covenant, and thank God that He keeps it when those with whom He established his covenant do not.

Miracles I Know for Sure

Day 70: 2 Kings 3-8

The story of Elisha surprises me. I remember that he was taunted by some boys for being bald and these boys were then killed by bears, but what I hadn't remembered was how many miracles Elisha did. He raises a young boy back to life, heals a man of leprosy, parts the Jordan, and prophesies...and this is only the beginning! Elijah did numerous miracles, but his protege Elisha did double the miracles that Elijah had done. Wow! (Elisha had asked Elijah for double of his spirit when Elijah was being taken up into heaven, and he received it.)

Miracles.

I've witnessed miracles. The miracle of birth. The miracles of an infant child no longer having organ trouble. The miracle of a changed heart, a new being in Jesus Christ. But I haven't witnessed someone being raised from the dead or a sea of water parting so that people could walk through it.

The difference between the miracles that happened during Old Testament times and those today can be quite striking, but that doesn't mean miracles don't exist (or that God doesn't still use people to perform them). I still believe in miracles. Do you?

Here are a few miracles I know for sure: 
1. Faith is a miracle. The fact that humans look beyond themselves for answers is a miracle. We are invested in ourselves. We are selfish, self-absorbed, and egotistical. And yet, we have faith in God. Faith in the Father, in Jesus and in the Holy Spirit. Faith in Truth. Against our nature, we have faith that God is who He says He is and that He will keep his covenant to us. That is a miracle.

2. Family, friendships, and other relationships, including marriage, are miracles. Anytime that God says "Yes" to a relationship, it is a miracle. Although God made us to live in relationship with one another, it's still a miracle when it happens. Sin often makes it difficult to form relationships with others, and even though God designed us this way, it doesn't often happen. We must work at relationships, at marriage. Surely, good relationships are miracles from God, blessings on us as we seek to live out his will. 

3. Children are miracles. As a mom of two, I have witnessed firsthand the miracle of childbirth. Children come into this world in crazy ways. From conception to pregnancy to birth, the whole thing is pondersome. And it's a miracle that children are born, that they can live and survive and love and forgive. That they are resilient and caring and pure and innocent. Jesus loved children and saw in them the miracle that God created us to be. Remember that we all were children once. We are all miracles.

4. Becoming a Christian is a miracle. Think of it. We are selfish and sinful and yet we are convicted of Truth and seek a different way. We make different choices and we grow in relationship with our Lord. We no longer live for ourselves; instead we live for God and for others. What a miracle. We are going against human nature. What a miracle it is to be in process and to being formed like Christ. 

5. It's a miracle that we can be forgiven and have eternal life. Jesus, the Son of God, coming to earth is a miracle. And that God used him as the ransom for our sins is a miracle. We can now have eternal life and that is another miracle. The whole biblical story is a miracle.

Miracles abound. We just must open our eyes to witness them.

Thank you, God, for miracles. Even today.

Going Out Like Elijah

Day 69: 2 Kings 1-2

Rich Mullins is one of my all-time favorite artists. He is original, deep, and creative. His words are moving and inspiring. He makes me look at old ideas in fresh ways. One of his songs that I like is called "Elijah." Instead of writing a blog reflecting on how Elijah left this earth to be with God in a whirlwind, I leave you with the lyrics to Rich Mullins' beautiful song. May it inspire and encourage you as it has me. 

"The Jordan is waiting for me to cross through
My heart is aging I can tell
So Lord, I'm begging
For one last favor from You
Here's my heart take it where You will

This life has shown me how we're mended
And how we're torn
How it's okay to be lonely as long as you're free
Sometimes my ground was stoney
And sometimes covered up with thorns
And only You could make it what it had to be
And now that it's done
Well, if they dressed me like a pauper
Or if they dined me like a prince
If they lay me with my fathers
Or if my ashes scatter on the wind
I don't care

CHORUS:
But when I leave I want to go out like Elijah
With a whirlwind to fuel my chariot of fire
And when I look back on the stars
Well, It'll be like a candlelight in Central Park
And it won't break my heart to say goodbye

There's people been friendly
But they'd never be your friends
Sometimes this has bent me to the ground
Now that this is all ending
I want to hear some music once again
'Cause it's the finest thing I have ever found

But the Jordan is waiting
Though I ain't never seen the other side
They say you can't take in
The things you have here
So on the road to salvation
I stick out my thumb and He gives me a ride
And His music is already falling on my ears

There's people been talking
They say they're worried about my soul
Well, I'm here to tell you I'll keep rocking
'Til I'm sure it's my time to roll
And when I do

CHORUS (X2)"

Here is the actual song. 

Where is Your Broom Tree?

Day 68: I Kings 18-22

This weekend was a wonderful time of relaxation and renewal for me and Shane. We were blessed to have two wonderful friends give us the gift of a weekend trip to San Antonio. These dear friends were supporters of The Grove who knew firsthand how important it is for couples to spend time together, especially after such a long, arduous time.

This weekend was wonderful for us. We held hands as we walked along the winding paths of the Riverwalk. We laughed and giggled with delight as we always do when it’s just the two of us together. We relished each other’s company and enjoyed being together. We reflected on our life together. The valleys and the mountains. The bad decisions we’ve made in the past and the best ones we’ve ever made. We shopped, read books, and relaxed. What a wonderful weekend.

We have come far since the days when we felt we were sitting under the broom tree, wondering when God would save us from these days of “excrement” (a word used by my new favorite author Madeleine L’Engle in Two-Part Invention: The Story of a Marriage—a wonderful book and one that I encourage you to read). The broom tree, you see, is where Elijah went when he was being chased by Ahab who was trying to kill him. Elijah found this broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. He tells the Lord that he has had enough and he is now ready to die. Then he falls asleep.

Although we haven’t necessarily said that we wanted to die, we have felt some of these same feelings that Elijah had, wondering what it was all for. Here you had Elijah who was trying to do a good thing by prophesying and leading people to the Lord. But, instead, these people turn to Baal and to other idols, and Elijah feels like his life is not worth anything.

Many of us have sat under a broom tree before, wondering what is happening to life as we knew it, wondering how we got HERE, to this specific point, wondering how our life has turned out this way. And Elijah felt that way, too. He is ready to die.

But then an angel comes and tells Elijah to eat. The angel even provides food and water for Elijah. This food and water sustains him, so much so that he has enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights until he reaches Horeb, the mountain of God. At the mountain of God, Elijah gets to see the Lord pass by from his place in the mouth of the cave. The Lord doesn’t appear in the form of thunder, or a lighting bolt, or even fire. Instead, the Lord passes by in the form of a gentle whisper.

This weekend was a time for a couple to hear the loving, tender whisper of the Lord God speaking to us, telling us that he is proud of us, that he loves us. And forever reminding us that He is there for us, always, but especially in those days of excrement when we feel like crawling up under a broom tree and dying. God will find us there, and he will provide for us. He will meet all of our needs. 

Judgment and Miracles: Introducing Elijah the Prophet

Day 67: I Kings 14 to 17

From now on, the Kingdom of Israel was divided into two: Israel and Judah. There were kings over each and these nations were at war with each other. For the most part, Israel followed God and Judah worshiped Asherah poles and other idols.

And in the midst of all this evil comes Elijah, a prophet. His message is one of the judgment of God. In 17:1, he says that there will be no rain in Israel until he commands it.

Elijah performs several miracles here in chapter 17.
1. He prays to God that it will not rain and it did not rain. He prays to God that God's judgment will fall on Israel. God's nation had disobeyed God, so God was punishing them.

2. During this dry season, God provided for Elijah, and this is where another miracle comes into play. It involves a widow and her family. Elijah asks her for flour and oil, and she was hesitant about giving him any because she barely had any, and they were in a drought. But she did it, and she, her family, and Elijah had enough flour and oil to survive on throughout the drought. The jugs never ran empty.

3. The widow's son dies and she asks Elijah to pray to God to give him back his life. Elijah prays fervently that God will raise the son back to life, and God does it.

Much more is to come from Elijah, but for now we see that he is a man of God who obviously has a close relationship with God.

Wisdom? Really?

Day 66: I Kings 10-13

Solomon accumulated great wealth during his lifetime. No one had more wealth, and no one had more wisdom. However, even with all of Solomon's wisdom, he disobeyed God. He married many foreign women (most likely to gain more wealth) from countries that God specifically forbade the Israelites from marrying (He had over 700 wives and 300 concubines!). Solomon chose to disobey God and turn away from the Lord. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not follow God as his father David had done.

Solomon's choice to turn away from God is puzzling to me. Isn't Solomon the wisest person in the world? Wouldn't a wise person know not to break God's covenant? And at the very least wouldn't a wise person know that he/she should fear God? Maybe there is more than one type of wisdom. Or maybe he was wise as king and not wise when it came to personal matters. I don't know. I can only infer, but it does seem that Solomon has extensive wisdom as a king. He casts fair judgments. He is a knowledgeable and smart businessman. He demonstrates intellectual acumen and intelligence on more than one occasion. BUT he makes very poor personal decisions. He disobeys God and makes treaties (marries) with several different countries. He allows his people to worship many different gods. And he turns away from the Lord. This doesn't seem so wise to me.

So here we have a man to whom God gives wisdom, and Solomon does not use this wisdom when it comes to following God. He uses his wisdom to establish his own reputation, to gain wealth, to gain fame and pride. He doesn't use the wisdom to understand that God is the ultimate king; he doesn't follow God like David does.

What talents and gifts have you been given that you are not using, or that you are using inappropriately? Maybe you are an amazing artist (painter, gardener, cook, musician, writer), and you don't take the time to use these gifts. Or maybe you have the gift of communication. Or personality. Or empathy. Or whatever. Are you using these talents? These gifts? Are you using them to honor God, or are you only using them to bring fame and power to yourself?

God ultimately punishes Solomon's decisions for the sins of their father, and I think that one of these reasons might be because Solomon does not honor God with his gift of wisdom; instead, he becomes selfish and uses this trait to bring glory to himself.

Solomon the builder

Day 65: I Kings 5-9

1. Solomon builds the temple to the Lord.
2. Solomon builds a palace for himself.
3. Solomon brings the Ark of the Covenant to the temple.
4. Solomon prays a beautiful prayer to God in which he dedicates the temple to the Lord.

The end.

Reflections on King Solomon: Wisdom and Drama

Day 64: 1 Kings 1-4

If God came to you and told you that you could ask Him for anything in the world, what would request?

It would cross my mind to ask for financial security. I'd also consider asking for such things as peace, love, and contentment. I might ask for friends or power or recognition or even more time in the day. Who knows? But I think it's an important question to consider.

Solomon had this option. God told Solomon that he would give him whatever he wanted in all the world. Solomon didn't choose wealth or power; he chose wisdom. He wanted to have a discerning heart, to be someone who could assess situations and make wise decisions. He wanted God to give him greater wisdom as the king of Israel, discernment to make wise and fair rulings and to distinguish between right and wrong.

God granted him this wish, but he also gave him wealth and honor as well. God greatly blessed Solomon.
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The Bible is full of drama! It's like a soap opera at times with murder, sex, and jealousy, and it is so surprising at times! First, there is so much drama involving Solomon becoming King of Israel. Adonijah, David's oldest son crowns himself king, but Bathsheba and Nathan want Solomon to become king so they trick David to give Solomon the crown.

Second, Solomon ends up killing his brother Adonijah because of a request to take Abishag as his wife. I don't really get it. Is Solomon jealous?

Third, Solomon kills everyone associated with Adonijah. Murder, murder, murder. I thought one of God's commandments was "Thou shalt not kill." Why does Solomon get away with all this bloodshed? And the bloodshed of innocent people. I don't understand why God blesses Solomon instead of punishes him.

Additional Note: After I posted this, I was talking to Shane (my husband) about this violent section of I Kings and expressing surprise about Solomon's violence, and he told me that the scene in The Godfather was actually patterned after this section of I Kings. If you've ever seen The Godfather, you know how violent that was. It's amazing (strange) that this would be the case. I am very surprised.
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As David is dying here is the advice he offers his son Solomon:
"I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.'"

That's the kind of values I hope to instill in my children.
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Did you know? 
* Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh, King of Egypt. Wow! Times sure have changed since Moses left Egypt!
* When God appeared to Solomon to ask him what request he wanted, Solomon was dreaming.

Praying David's Songs as an Avenue to a Deeper Prayer Life

Day 63: 2 Samuel 19-24

2 Samuel 22 offers a beautiful prayer of David. At this point, God has delivered David and Israel from the hand of Saul and other enemies and so David sings a song of praise to the Lord.

David opens the prayer in this way: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent people you save me." David's prayer continues to praise and honor God for all that God has done.

We can learn many things from David's prayer:
1. David retells all the things that the Lord has done for him. This re-telling of the numerous things God did for David helps David reflect on the goodness of the Lord. When we pray or sing songs to the Lord, we, too, are reflecting on what God has done in our live. We are verbally (and mentally) processing the wonderful things God has done for us.

2. David's successes--and ours too--are because of God's doing, not our own.

3. We can look to God to do what he can do--be our refuge and our strength. What have we to fear with God at the helm of our ship?

4. We can learn a lot about the character of God by the way David describes him.

5. We can pray this prayer/song of David, too. Sometimes it's difficult to know what to pray for or to know how to pray. 2 Samuel 22 offers a beautiful avenue into prayer, and I just prayed it myself. What a beautiful poem. Sometimes our prayers are either dry or cliche, and it helps to be reminded how prayers can be beautifully composed. Just look at many of the Psalms as examples.

May all of us continue to grow in our prayer lives with the Lord. 2 Samuel 22 offers a wonderful example of what to pray.

David: A Man after God's Own Heart

Day 62: 2 Samuel 13-18

Sometimes it's hard for me to imagine the Israelite culture--multiple wives, endless warfare, men killing men and men killing women, even the notion of a kingship. And I also find it difficult to understand the story about Absalom and David. I'm going to ponder this story for now and just going to say that through Absalom's sins and betrayal, David still loved Absalom and grieved his death. In spite of a rebellious son, David loved and forgave his son. There's something to be learned here from David's behavior in this situation. David's actions in these chapters show me why David is a man after God's own heart.

Sin, Consequence, and Prayer: David and Bathsheba's Story

Day 61: 2 Samuel 9-12

David is known for many things: a man after God's own heart (I Samuel 13), a king of Israel, the father of Solomon, the best friend of Jonathan, the husband of Michal and Abigail, a harpist, a foe of Saul, a shepherd boy. But he is also known for one terrible sin: having an affair with Bathsheba, getting her pregnant while she is married to someone else, and then killing her husband Uriah the Hittite so that David could take Bathsheba as his wife.

David's sins here are terrible, and God is very displeased with David. As a punishment for these sins, God decides to kill the child born to David and Bathsheba. After the son is born, David prays fervently to God to change his mind and let the child live. He weeps and prays until the day his son dies--at just seven days old.

There is a lot going on here, and this is a very complicated story. But there are two main aspects I'd like to focus on here: sin/consequence and prayer.

1. Paying the consequences for our sins.
When I was growing up, I often hoped that there were things I wouldn't do. Bad things that I knew were sins. However, as time went on, I began to sin. I didn't just make mistakes; I sinned. And I sinned "big." Sins that I said to myself that I would never do. And these sins changed me. In some ways, I still live with the consequences of some of my sins: whether it's from feeling guilty or suffering from anxiety or being affected mentally or emotionally. However, because I have sinned, I know more about the saving grace and redemption of Jesus Christ. I am forgiven. I am healed. I am pure. All because of the blood of Jesus. 

When I hear of someone committing an awful sin, I'm not too surprised anymore. Sure, some of my attitude is probably because I've become desensitized to it. But I think it's more about realizing that we're all human and not feeling so prideful about myself. We all do things that are completely out of our nature--things that we promised ourselves we would never do. And so I try to approach people and life more by viewing us all as sinful beings--no matter how "bad" the sin is--and not be so judgmental about myself or them when we do sin. Sure, we have to pay the consequences for our sins, but no one is better than someone else just because "Well, hey, at least I didn't do that." We are all sinful, yet we are also saved and forgiven because of the blood of Christ.

2. When the answer is NO.
David prays fervently for God to spare the child, but God says, "No." We often wonder why God tells us "No" when we pray to him. Maybe we haven't sinned as David did when God tells us no, or maybe we have. But it's interesting that we have an example of someone begging God to change his mind, but God's answer remains the same--He will kill the baby. This situation--even though God does not allow the baby to live--changes David. David is a different person through this process of dealing with the consequence of his sin. He's also different due to the prayers he prayed to the Lord--even though God's answer was no. David is probably more understanding, more forgiving. He recognizes that he is not invincible, and he is forever a changed man.

While I firmly believe that prayer can change God's mind, I also believe that prayer changes people. Just like when we have a fulfilling and open conversation with a friend, we leave feeling happy, elated, and content, when we have a conversation with God, we are changed, too. I've often wondered what the purpose of prayer is, and David's example here gives us a glimpse into one such purpose.

God's Covenant Can Heal a Grieving Heart

Day 60: 2 Samuel 5-8

David becomes king over Judah and Israel when he was thirty years old, and he reigned for forty years. Chapter 8 says that he did what was just and right for all his people, and the Lord was with him. God is establishing his covenant with David and promises to bless David and all of Israel.

I don't have too much to say about the reading for today, but I do want to remind us about the covenant God established with us, especially in light of the terrible events that happened at Fort Hood yesterday. Once again we are confronted with a horrific, evil act and question how we can make sense of it. Understanding what happened may never occur for us, but we can realize that God has established his covenant with humans, and no matter what happens in this lifetime, he has prepared a better place for us. For those who are left behind, my prayers are with you and your families. I pray that you will feel loved and comforted by remembering God and the covenant he made with you. May this act of remembering help you work through your grief.

King David as a Changed Man

Day 59: II Samuel 1-4

The house of Saul and the house of David are at war after Saul dies. Judah (where David lives) and Israel (where Saul lived) are fighting over who can have control of the nation. Israel is at war with itself. What must God think of this?

Did You Know?
Did you know that there was another king of Israel at the same time as David? His name was Ish-Bosheth, and he was a son of Saul who was made king by Abner, the commander of Saul's army. Ish-Bosheth was only king for four years, though, because he was murdered at the hands of David's men (without David's

David's character has changed. No longer is he willing to kill anyone that gets in his way (although he does steal his former wife Michal back from her husband). But David is growing. He is distraught over the death of Saul and Jonathan, and when his people kill two of his enemies (Abner and Ish-Bosheth), David kills them for thinking they can take vengeance into their own hands by killing innocent people. God is forming David, and the changes in his behavior and actions are evident.

That's how it is when we allow God to work in our lives. We change. We grow. We rely more on the Lord and less on ourselves. We realize who holds the ultimate power in our lives. Through David, I'm learning more about what it means to be in relationship with God. I hope you are, too.

Changing History: The Story of Abigail and the Witch of Endor

Day 58: I Samuel 25-31

The Bible is full of stories about men. From Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Aaron to Samuel, Saul, and David (and these are just the ones I've read so far), stories of men dominate the Bible. This was a patriarchal society, so it's not very surprising that women aren't brought up as much. Because stories of women aren't as prevalent in scripture, when we do read about a woman in the Bible, the story stands out more.

Two women play key roles in the passages for today: Abigail and the medium (or witch) of Endor.

1. Abigail: Abigail is married to Nabal, and they are very wealthy. Nabal makes some mistakes with David, and David is ready to kill him until Abigail pleads to David to forgive her husband and not murder him. David is listens to Abigail and thanks her for reminding him that he shouldn't take revenge into his own hands. David spares Nabal's life, but 10 days later, Nabal is struck dead by the Lord. Abigail really impacts David, and after Nabal dies, she becomes David's wife. 

2. The witch of Endor: After Samuel dies, Saul does not get any response from the Lord, and so he summons a medium to help him get in touch with Samuel.The witch successfully summons Samuel to the room, and they engage in a seance. Samuel prophesies to Saul that Saul and his three sons will die the next day in battle with the Philistines.

These two women are major factors in the unfolding of the biblical story. Abigail's humility in persuading David alters the course of David's life and of her own. David realizes how he must always go to the Lord first, and Abigail becomes the wife of a future king. Likewise. the witch of Endor plays a major role in Saul's life, particularly in his journey towards repentance.

While women may not be mentioned as often as men in the Bible, they, too, serve important roles in the kingdom of God. Even within a patriarchal society in which women were systemically oppressed, the authors of the Bible still give some women a voice, which demonstrates to me that God values the contributions and perspectives of women, too.

David's Actions and King Saul's Reactions

Day 57: I Samuel 21-24

Jesus' idea of turning the other cheek when someone is out to harm you is actually found in the Old Testament. David has a chance to kill King Saul (who has been chasing David all around the countryside trying to kill him), but he doesn't do it. Instead, David cuts off a corner of Saul's robe when Saul isn't looking and presents it to Saul. When Saul realizes that David could have killed him but didn't, Saul weeps. He is deeply saddened about his own actions and begs David not to kill off his family. David swears not to kill them off.

Have you ever done something so bad that after you do it you weep about your actions and/or behavior? I know that I have. Saul here shows a contrite and repentant heart and sometimes it takes someone showing us another way before we realize what we have done. Saul's weeping is significant because it shows us that he does have a conscience and he is sorry for his behavior. But it took a very dramatic event in which he almost died in order to come to this point.

We don't often think of our sins as serious (at least not on a day-to-day basis). Jesus came and died for our sins and he has made us pure again, right? Well, this is true, but when we do spend some time reflecting on the choices we make and the sins in which we are entangled, we are formed in cruciform ways, ways that will affect our perspective, emotions, and actions.

From Saul we can learn the importance of evaluating ourselves and where we are in our life. We can also learn about the importance of making things wrong with people that have wronged us or whom we have wronged.

And from David we can learn about the importance of turning the other cheek when someone wrongs us. He also shows us how to praise God in the midst of pain, worry, and fear.

Motivations Leading to Actions: The Story of David and Goliath

Day 56: I Samuel 17-20

The story of David defeating Goliath has always been a favorite one of mine. Here you have this young kid volunteer to take on Goliath. David is obviously outmatched by this strong man, but he still has the boldness (and audacity!!) to attempt to defeat this Philistine giant. And what's crazy is that he does it. He kills Goliath with a stone and a slingshot. No armor. No sword, shield, or helmet. David wins. End of story.

But have you ever thought about David's motivations for volunteering to fight Goliath? Here are some of the reasons I think David was motivated to fight Goliath.

1. To honor God and bring God recognition. David wanted to demonstrate that even though he appeared weak in the eyes of humans, with God's help, he could defeat those who appeared stronger. The Lord is obviously on David's side, and David wants to show "the whole world" that there is a God in Israel, and that He is on their side.

2. David's ego and pride. This one is totally based on my own inference, but it does appear that David's brothers love to hate him, just as Joseph's brothers loved to hate him as well. So, David wants to show up his brothers. They are jealous of him, and as the youngest, David wants to demonstrate his strength, skills, and abilities, even though he is a "mere shepherd." In addition, the entire Israelite community would know that this one man (David) had killed someone that all the other Israelites were afraid of. David would become a household name.

3. Financial and personal motivations. David asked several times what the reward was for the one who defeated Goliath. The answer was threefold: the man would become very wealthy (the king would give him a lot of money); he would get King Saul's daughter in marriage; and his family would be exempt from taxes. It seems obvious that David is motivated by more than godly reasons; however, I do find it interesting that when Saul offers David his firstborn daughter Merab, David declines. And he only marries Michal, another of Saul's daughters, after Saul offers her to him numerous times (with the aim of trying to trick and kill David).

These are just a few of David's motivations for offering to fight Goliath. I'm sure there are more, but the point I want to make is that motivations are complex. We often can't say that there is only one thing motivating us. While we hope that our motivations are pure and godly, there are usually other motivations at work as well. The challenge is to learn to discern which motivations are from God and for God and which ones are more selfish and worldly. When we can begin to understand why we do things (our motivations), not only will we come to know ourselves better, but we will also see more about the purity and holiness of God.

To obey is better than sacrifice

Day 55: I Samuel 13 to 16

Saul was king over Israel for 42 years until God rejects him. When Saul asks Samuel why, Samuel replies:
    "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
       as much as in obeying the LORD?
       To obey is better than sacrifice,
       and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
     For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
       and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
       Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
       he has rejected you as king."(v 22-23)

God wants us to obey him more than he wants us to give our offerings and sacrifices to him. Obedience is one of his "core values" so to speak. God unveils his will to us in the Bible, which is to love God and to love people (#1 and #2 greatest commands). Obedience, as one such will, is mixed right in there with those first two commands. It's not always easy to obey, especially when we don't know what God is saying to us, but we do know what we read in the Bible, and his will is that we love Him and love people. That about sums it up.