Exodus 16 ~ Omer

His Mercies Renew Each Day

Exodus 16

16 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”

9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” 10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”

13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. 19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.

22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.”

27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See! The Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

31 Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” 33 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.” 34 As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the testimony to be kept. 35 The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan. 36 (An omer is the tenth part of an ephah.)

Psalm 63
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.


I read the most wonderful article in Norman Vincent Peale's Guidepost Magazine more than thirty years ago. Realistic. About looking for the mercies in each day. In each season of life. This was about waking up earlier in summer - an old man told a young man. The young man laughed, why would anyone want to get up earlier in the lazy days of summer? Because the afternoon is scorching. The mornings are glorious.

Let's be honest January and February drag a little. We are tired of being in the house. The sunset is starting to give us a glow longer in the day. This is the time of year we pay property tax and think about income tax. We think things like how many months we work to pay for Christmas and Tax. Where vacation will be be and how to afford this. This is a practical time of year. Resolutions of not joy.

Winter is like Exodus 16. The earth sleeps and is a wilderness. Renewal is in the sleep. Yet we can become so practical we forget to rely on God who makes and changes plans. We bump up against each other because we are all having some cabin fever. Our gratitude is for warm drinks as we are grateful to have the warmth in our homes.

Think about the Children of God stuck in the Wilderness of Sin for 40 years. Manna. Manna. Manna. And suddenly - the environment changes dramatically and Manna for decades is leaving. Gone.

And we look forward to something new and think of weeks to Spring. And really. Our plans are for the continuation of what was pleasant and the renewal of what we knew. We do not often plan for something radically new.

The summer for those who graduate from High School will be one that my sons recalled this with me - you almost feel as if you are asked to jump off a cliff and told it will be a good adventure in only about 12 weeks. College Graduation feels like a milder echo of this.

Something NEW??? Is "Un-Dis-Comforting." The Children of Israel were in something like winter - blah - meh - the colors are muted dusty and dry. The hope of Glory was in the sunset or sunrise. We become so used to liking beige - the brilliant colors are muted.


We are on a journey. If you are too comfortable. Try something New. Betcha that got a "No" response.



The Omer principle. Gratitude for what God provides. Gratitude for needs met. What will you do weekly, daily or monthly that calls you to do something for someone else?

Omer can can get to be boring. Same ol. Love is not just an emotion. Love is an action.

Something New is Discomforting.

With deliberation and intent - William created changes that move the modern world today. His first steps on English soil was to Bellow, "God had given him England with Both Hands!"

William is a prime example of weaving new and old. The Church has so many columns demonstrating a column as a new entrance or exit. Support the roof and have changes. Old meet variation.

This is the St Paul's Cathedral - William the Conqueror Built to celebrate uniting the Island for the first time. This Church stood for hundreds of years. King William knew he was building something of value in his life. Something solid to show Jesus. One marriage that the widowhood crippled him, permanently - 9 children.

William created a Dynasty lasting more than a thousand years. He might have done something right in life.

William did not come in and do away with all of the old life. His reign in England was marked by the construction of new and enduring buildings. He did not try to integrate his various domains into one empire, but instead continued to administer each part with the understanding this was not one unit but instead each child and each area had unique talents and abilities.

Both Hands. Many Churches. Many Solid Structures we can see today.

The impact on England of William's conquest was profound. Changes in the Church - he brought in new people and kept the old, aristocracy, culture, and language of the country - all have persisted into modern times. William's government blended elements of the English and Norman systems into a new -  putting down the foundations of the later medieval English kingdom. Lasting. Enduring.

Why would we be interested in a History Lesson? God speaks to us of Kings. Why does God do that? We see personalities and generations in our own families.

We are all Eternal beings. All will stand and bow our knees to Jesus as Lord. We are all builders. We just have to take the regular, average day and see with intent and deliberation - Give us this Day.

God was working in the Exodus during the 40 years. Caleb and Joshua were aging. Not much seemed to be happening. Betcha Hope, Faith and Love were the work of belief God calls all of mankind.

If we are a king, if we are a vassel - our Potter is God. These pots are from Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. They have outlasted a Cathedral...

We are Lights of God. We are creating the Eternal Today.

GOD is about Love. Diligence. Loyalty. Give us This Day.

Father God,
Bless my nephew, Johnny. He is building his house today in marriage, surely a New thing. I know that boy right well. Things are going to work out. He has Love. Facing the Unknown. The Eternal begins again.

Jesus answered and said to them: “This is the service of God, that you trust in him whom he has sent.” 1 Timothy 4:10. Timothy is the one who stayed to the end. We work and strive. To create a life of meaning. The intersection of God and Man - this is the Cross. And this is Victory.

Thank You. God. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 81 ~ Sing aloud to God our Strength

Psalm 81

For the director of music. According to gittith Of Asaph.

1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,
a rule of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph
when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:

6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.

7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.

16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Sometimes when reading the Psalms when it is a time for trouble and worry - it seems David complains and complains, and as the reader you are agreeing with him! That's right, tell us, tell God about it! Suddenly David does an about face .... when one is "hep up" agreeing with David 

.... and he says..... like in Psalm 108:
10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Have you not rejected us, O God?
You do not go out, O God, with our armies.

Some days we feel like David. Like Jesus carrying His cross. Then David throws a curve in a verse latter in the same Psalm 108:

12 Oh grant us help against the foe,
for vain is the salvation of man!
13 With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.

Read Psalm 81 again, or just let a verse jump in your memory....

For me this Psalm hinges on:

I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I delivered you

Some days I say, please Father, help me to carry that burden..... and other days the verse puts a little jolt of "Noooo.... I want that..... more...."

Regardless, I reach the verse:

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it

And I say to Him, "I can think of a whole lot of blessings!!! And I won't bow down to another god!!! Watch me, Father God!!!"



So what about these Davidic turn-around Psalms? David is Not window dressing, thresh David down, shake him around - David trusts God. Even when the Ziphites went to tell Saul where David was, in Psalm 54; David trusts God.

David grew up hearing, then living the mighty works of God. He heard stories about the Heavens long before his descendant Hezekiah would ask God to turn the hands of time back. David knew of Joshua:

Joshua 10:12-14
At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

Genesis 18:14
Is ANYTHING too hard for the LORD?

Jeremiah 32:27
"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

David waited expectantly, like Paul did, to see what God would plan. David trusted God. As we can.

Father God, You are one who heeds our voice in Prayer. Thank You God. In Jesus. Thank You. We look to You. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Colossians 2 ~ how great a struggle

 

Papyrus 46 includes Colossians 2.

First or Second Century depending on the way Nomina Sacra is classified - special abbreviations which appear in New Testament texts. Nomina Sacra occurs in the coveted 1st century papyrus. At the present time, most scholars think this is the second or third generation after Christ died and places these Scriptures in the second century. There is a debate, some of the scholars think this is first century. Amazingly clear and whole.

400 pages of early Scripture!!!

Colossians 2

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities[Probably demonic rulers and authorities] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him [that is, the cross].

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.


This Scripture passage tells us- clearly - in Jesus we are free from the law given rules, especially rules doing away with love. There is a contrast of the elemental spirits of the world. Let's compare and contrast. In Three Parts of this Scripture:

As we look at the perfection of HIS goals for us, let's not forget we are forgiven. We are to bring His will to earth.

You are filled in Jesus, who is the head of all rule and authority. You were also raised with Jesus through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Jesus from the dead.

We are :
to encourage,
knit together in love,
reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding,
proclaim the knowledge of God,
rejoicing Seeing other's good order,
Live the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Abound in finding thanks, to give thanks to God and actions of faith in gratitude.

God made Alive
forgives us all our trespasses,
by canceling the record of debt = stood against us with its legal demands.
This he set aside,
nailing it to the cross.

Completing our Bible Study of this passage; This passage talks about improper behavior.   We are in time period where we are alike in the Roman Empire and different. The Roman Empire was astonished to find people who would live Goodness. The Good News was new.

Today, we are a politically correct nation displaying a word-respect for Christian values, yet giving respect to power, money, rudeness and an elbows out strategy. Is it any surprise so many Roman style buildings are being built?

What are we subjected to in our television shows and music? (We can turn off our televisions not merely castigate them. The incentive to produce the programs would change. That is called being the solution. Not the complainer.) We as a nation have aged just since the 1970 Watergate episodes when the President would resign because it was in the interest for the nation. Say what you would about Mr. Nixon, he did not allow the nation to suffer a trial. We trusted the government.

We are river rocks, being molded by screaming political shows with No Answers, just the joy of screaming about the problems. 

We wonder what marriage is. Surprise. The Romans were establishing the laws of what marriage is - when Jesus Christ was being born. This is not a new question to HIM. Is there anything new under the sun? Solomon asked.

Slavery - being so in debt will we ever clear it.

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you

Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch

A  mind, not holding fast to God.

We should remember this era, the followers of Jesus Christ traveled with a wife. If we were to see an important change in the Roman Catholic Church, it would be the early Church said Peter and the Lord's brothers traveled with their wife. Marriage is encouraged.



Now the other part of this passage is this:

Not according to Christ -
Ss merely human tradition
Elemental spirits of the world - captivity to philosophy
Empty deceit - delude you with plausible arguments.

Let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink - rules

God says study spirits for truth in Him. Spirits of judgement, look at with fairness, but not roll over acceptance. Growth requires correction from Him.

Substance belongs to Christ.

Let no one disqualify you

Insisting on asceticism - the doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by practicing self-denial, self-mortification, and the like.

God is not about hair shirts, masochism. He is not about failure in trying to communicate. Turn the other cheek does not mean constantly accepting judgement. Humility requires seeing we are limited, still having gifts He gave us. To enjoy seeing gifts in others. He is Holy. Whole. Love yourself and love others. Tussles will happen; to dwell on them is not to forgive.  Give and take in gracious generosity.

Deceit frequently revolves the love of money. Which allows the comfort and glorification of self. Not about HIM. False philosophy proclaims self - going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head - God Himself. Listening is a trait of His.


We always see Jesus proclaiming mercy over sacrifice. Jesus tells us again and again the substance of Father God is righteousness, holiness and forgiveness. Jesus fights for tolerance. Not of the sin, but of social injustice. Jesus corrects people, Jesus is about the Golden Rule.

In Jesus Christ, we are part of the Vine - The LORD God Almighty. Who wants HIS whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

God help me to do that too. In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Mark 5:21-43 ~ implored Him earnestly

Mark 5:21-43

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24 And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

The photo at the top says we look to Jesus, the photo on the bottom says He sees us.

So. Personally. What is your view of this passage of a day in the life of Jesus Christ? We see Jesus has Given a miracle to Jairus' daughter. Most of Capernaum remained concerned and a lot were unwilling to commit. This Synagogue where Jairus came to Jesus for a miracle - is the Synagogue written to be built by the Roman Centurion. Jairus was crossing an important line.

So when you read this - this is nice. Good for Jesus. Jairus' daughter lived. And we learned that when we approach Jesus in Faith - Power comes forth.

This is Scripture for Today. These are not mere words. This is not a history lesson.

What is the Word of God? God's Word created. The Universe. Our being.

This is Living and Active. This is for you Today.

Jesus spoke to us in this generation. Today.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

This is Word for Today. When you read this with belief. Time falls away. Today, this is the Word of God as alive as Jesus spoke this. A day to God is millions of years. This is Today.

Father God, I lift up my twenty something Sons to be Loved by You, directed and guided in Your paths to become the Men You love them as today and to eternity. I lift up all of my family. My blood family and the cross-overs to marriage and Church. I give thanks to Jack Kirten who said we are families that live together in God's Eternity. I lift up Edward to You. For healing, sustaining and thanks for Your mercy. I remember Edward, remember him too. Thank You that I see You do. I thank You for Your Plan. For Mercy and Love. And I ask right here in the Living Word on this page for the Power of God to cover our lives, decisions and needs. And sigh knowing You will. More than we can possibly imagine what You do.

Father God, You are incredibly vast. For Hezekiah, You turned the planet back. By Your Word. What You Will is more than we ever know. Nothing is impossible to You. You are Love. We lift our cares up to You, knowing You Love us. And rest in Your Grace and in Your Love.

Jesus Christ, Our Savior. Alive today. Alleluia. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Exodus 4 ~ the Lord met him

Matthew 22

41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,

44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet”’?

45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

I generally try to get out of the way of the Scripture, but when storms collide - then you have to put your priorities out there and sort like a hurricane is coming.

I tend to collect storms. If someone needs to unburden their marital abortion - well, I'm the one they are going to tell way before I did this volunteer portion. If your child is gay, I'm going to be the one you find at the Superbowl Party to ask huffily about "The Bible". If your child died and your (other Church) Pastor was there for you - why didn't he show up after you got out of Prison? If your sister died, the day you were day 42 in the ICU, did the doves that you saw fly at 1 a.m. have something to do with her soul? Yes. Hospice says death occurs when people don't want to inflict their death upon loved ones. And I'm the one who goes on a walk and the car in front of me suddenly halts and someone gets out to have a photo taken of me and the dog. And then we get into a story about channeling and rocks versus Jesus. Yes, that one left smiling.

I discovered in my twenties - people bored me, until I decided to write a novel. My novel, I loved by Susan Howatch, said the young boy asked his father if the piano was in the summer house. And the novelist said what he really meant to his grieving father, was his deceased mother's essence still there in his heart? And I began to have a knack for hearing what people are trying to say leading to some pretty far out conversations that you don't repeat for fear yours will get repeated.

So with storms always arriving, like doing youth ministry work and getting stuck in obscenely drunken parenting and discovering amateur to not so amateur prostitution in suburban parenting. Investigating the workings of CPS. Doing 12 years of family Guardian work working with the Courts and Adult Protective Services. Dementia wards that lock you in. Getting a call to go with a friend to sit in the downtown ER and following an ambulance in the middle of the night holding her child to take that child to be committed to a mental institution in the middle in the night and listening to the 45 minute very honest recital of problems.

Recovering from the traumatic death of my Beloved Daddy. Being told to get over it and discovering Group Therapy. Whoop!

Having given you some of the Tetons, I will say, I know something of the ecstasy of the communion of love and some of the storms life can grind you down like an old used, stained, nasty cigarette.

How to weather all this?
Get up each morning - run to the Word of God and hold that UP. His Mercies Renew Every Morning. Bask, Uplift, Smooth Out.
Imitate God? Let's say I do a very pitiful imitation of the God of the Universe Who's robe is so vast that only a corner of His seamless robe would be there. Knowing Solomon saw the Glory of God fill the millenniums of His Church. Having the awe and wonder of God knowing that the Hubble Telescope - TODAY - understands what Solomon saw.

How do I feel about being a less than perfect imitation of God? People relate. Not everyone. However if you read the Word...like Matthew 22 - God uses conflict. If we listen to His Word we realize - we have to answer the Call God has for you. I got an inspiring PDF this morning I read carefully twice talking about having a child with a grave disability. The best thing I ever heard was a baptism for Down's Syndrome Child saying - we all have limits - the Word of God says to understand not to think of ourselves too highly.

And if you have Storms - you can relate to Matthew 22 - God Chose to arrive in Conflict. Conflict.

The woman getting out of Prison wanted to know why her Pastor didn't save her. Because God is about fire honing us. He promises that He will hone us. Our relationship exists first to God.

Exodus 4

Trial by Fire

Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it.

To Be or Not Be Leprous. Moses picked not.

4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

Not All That

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. 16 He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. 17 And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.”

Taking Care of What God Gives You

18 Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” 19 And the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” 20 So Moses took his wife and his sons and had them ride on a donkey, and went back to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.

OH NO. Really

21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’”

Is That God? What Happened? Why? Oh, He alone is God.

24 At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death. 25 Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin and touched Moses' feet with it and said, “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me!” 26 So he let him alone. It was then that she said, “A bridegroom of blood,” because of the circumcision. 

Narrow Path

27 The Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him at the mountain of God and kissed him. 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which he had sent him to speak, and all the signs that he had commanded him to do. 29 Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. 30 Aaron spoke all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.


What if you didn't have Aaron?

So, Great Spiritual Awakenings have swept the world over the centuries. They have changed lives and the very culture in which we live. An Awakening is a special time when God saturates a place and a people with His presence. There is a Great Awakening coming.

We have an affliction at my house. One of us has a prognosis of death at an early age. We deal daily with the events that involve that. Today more strongly writing this post. That is not News. Anymore than learning there is cuneiform for the Noah's Flood Story in Mesopotamia . The British Museum has known about this for about a century. But now we know what has caused some of the storms. And now we get to make choices.

My 26 year old son said he is too young to know what to do. I feel that way at 51.

Storms cause conflict. And in conflict we see many different opinions which could swamp and overwhelm us.

Prioritize *****

+ We place Authentic Love. First. That is God.

We have to honor what the Holy Spirit has brought in our lives. Framework. For the indwelling of Love.

+ Taking care of our loved ones as tenderly as a good Shepherd. Looking after their needs.

Look at the pictures of the Ark - remember God teaches at many levels. God is going to be as Vast as the Way God put all the Disciples on different journeys.

Combining storms and these passages - We can't expect a miraculous team to arrive and sweep, clean, vacuum our houses - we are responsible. We can't expect one Man of God to fix trauma. We cannot expect like the Exodus, the slaves to cause change. All the friends in the world, all the grumblings of the Children of God in bondage - in their lives - did not bring about Exodus or Awakening. This is just like our lives. We are responsible to build with God. To stand in the faith. + When we see Heaven, to know, we will look at Jesus.

The Ark. God's Law. God's Son to fulfill what human beings cannot do. The New Covenant of Mercy to be Sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Awakenings - seeing God's miracles even in this 2015. What did God say to do with all of this Commotion? Prioritize. Love God. Let the rays of that Love bring us forward in His Plan. Light - mercy - kindness -

We have to allow the journey to be honest to sort it out.

Build what is for God.
Noah probably had his detractors who told him that his ark wouldn't hold water.
Noah was examined to be sound to even do what God had told him to do. And Noah swung the hammer. Doing what God had brought to his life. Today. Finding the diligence, the prayer, the Word.

Noah was surrounded by those who said it was dark. And in those stalls - - - The passengers had a way to feel safe. God's plan was nurturing them in their own type of surroundings. Psalm 139 says dark is Light to God.

We are told we need to update this old story. Ok. Let's. The Great Flood - is probably the Ice Age. Not a fable. Fossils are the evidence! Solutions involve seeing different perspectives.

Good News. God did a marvelous thing in this miracle. We bear a responsibility to learn from the details of the events and to become in deeper relationship to God.

We hear that God is nasty. He kills people and makes judgments so this is to be avoided to be comfortable. People die. One of the people in my family died of cancer. She blessed the cancer to bring her to understand God. To fight through the vanities of life to find the depth and the poignancy of traveling to eternity. Judgements of God. A different thing than human judgments.

Glamor. This is a big thing. God said to imitate Paul who said have a quiet life. Jesus spoke of the narrow path. Remember Noah got off the Ship from all of this - from holding all this up - and became drunk - making terrible family consequences. The Scriptures are real. When we really delve into lives - we find we are all - Flawed. To make a show - leads to falling down. We have to sort and be honest. Noah needed to tell God and explain his troubles to his family - not bottle them up and explode.

Thank God for providing events causing us to speak of truth, mercy, encouragement, diligence. Don't become a show for propriety. That did not work for Noah. Learn from what did not work in the Bible as well as forward advice.

Did they speak of the pain of being alone? Seeing others fall? Usually the people God chooses have a heart for a God of Love.

Dealing with Power. The authorities of social hierarchies of Noah - didn't want him to be different. I bet a few of his neighbors did not want to see the Ark near them. Did his family allow for him to be Noah? Or did they do their best to belittle him too leading to the downfall of Noah somewhat?

What did Noah do with the idea he could not feed his family or the animals? Noah probably had some worries there. Maybe in squabbles Noah's family was not even pleased to be on the Ark. Did Noah want a life raft? Maybe Noah wondered if God was putting the ship in the right direction? Maybe his family felt like Noah had not saved them for something better. Maybe Noah wished he had perished in the storm. You bet in trauma - people think these things.

Works of God cause people to press you to be an idiot. I had someone to wander up to me in a store and ask for telephones that they then tell you they can afford themselves after you smile instead of buy them the phone. Wisdom isn't saying jump in with both feet. Our most effective work is be a friend - win a friend to Christ.

Give us the Day. The Wonders of God surrounded Noah and his family. To see the cooperation of being in Fellowship - FELLOWS IN A SHIP!!!

Our Father. These were impossible things. If we switch back to the Exodus for a second, we see all of this is a process. Joshua and Caleb, Moses and Noah all involved years of slow to little activities. The Prodigal Son is a process. Abraham - a process. The very day to day daunting thing for all of us Fellows in a Ship - to take Today. With God - make choices that later you are able to look at Jesus with all your essence - your soul and say 'You see me.'

Challenge - the day seems so - regular. Each day to do what God would have us do.

Gratitude? Thank You, Jesus. God has adopted me. I'm His. My journey might not be yours, but I am God's. That is Good News. Jesus Christ died for me, a sinner. Paul said we are to imitate him. We find this as we approach God. Isaiah did. Peter did. Jeremiah did. Paul did.


1 Timothy 1:15
14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life

Give Justice

With mercy

Walk Humbly

With God.

Father God, be with us in the processes we have. Help us to know Today matters. Let us do Today in Your Grace and with all of You. In Jesus we pray. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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