Ears & Mouths

    Mark Twain said,   "If you were supposed to talk more than you listen, you'd have 2 mouths and 1 ear."  I quoted this all the time to my students as a teacher.   Part of my beginning of the year procedure training was teaching the difference in listening and hearing.   We would sit silently for 60 seconds, then list the sounds we heard.  Next, I would read poetry, usually  Shel Silverstein for 60 seconds.  Always, the noises of the classroom and hallway would fade away as they focused on my voice reading a humorous poem.  The noises were still there but we were now Listening, not only hearing.
   God knows the difference between our hearing and listening.  The word "listen" is found 231 times in the NIV version of the Bible and "hear"  is found 347 times. (Bible.org)   Not only did God know the difference in the two but He placed great importance on both also.

  Psalm 81:8 is only one of many times God begs His children to listen. "Listen to me, oh my People, while I give you stern warnings.  O Israel, if you would only listen to me." Most translations say "listen" .  The CEV says "pay attention"  some translate "obey" and the Hebrew word means "hear intelligently."   Oh, that we would hear with a little intelligence.   

   It is not enough that we listen,  but we must also follow the "stern warnings".  Verse 9 isn't a new commandment,  it's the first one God gave Moses in the wilderness, " you must not bow down before a false god".  He laments again and again that the people will not listen.   And then, " How quickly I would then subdue their enemies.  How soon my hands would be upon their foes!" v14 .
   I can't help but think God is speaking this to America today.  His desires for us are good,  He wants to help us, but we won't listen.  Worse,  we won't give up our false gods. "But no, my people wouldn't listen.  Israel did not want me around." v11.
   I can't make you listen or do.  But, as for me,  I do want God around and I'm going to practice listening and following his "stern warnings".   

Thinkin'  Psalm 81 is the answer to Rona.

   

Give us Men of Issachar

   As I continue my journey through the chronological Bible, I always groan through Chronicles. Ezra, a scribe and priest, is believed to have written this  “factual written account of important or historical events” .  In his position he would have had access to official records. Still, in this book, he goes on and on with the numbers and “son of” statements.  I’ve tried to find this interesting.   I’ve heard several sermons and read some articles about why these statistics are included in the Bible. I believe they have purpose, I just don’t like it.  So, it surprised me when I got interested in 1Chronicles 12. 

   A little history:  the Israelites descended from Jacob and his twelve sons.  The tribes of Israel are named after these twelve sons.  They settled in Canaan according to their tribes when Moses brought them out of Egypt. 

 Fast forward 400+ years to 1 Chronicles 12. King David is hiding from Saul at Ziklag.  In verse 3, Ezra begins to name the warriors who joined him there.  In most of Chronicles, this is just a list of people, places and numbers but here, Ezra added a comment about each tribe’s warriors.  He gives the numbers with a little side note. 

   Judah’s men were armed with shields and spears and so were Naphtali’s men. Simeon’s men were brave warriors.  Benjamin’s men had remained loyal to Saul until this time.  Ephraim’s men were highly respected.  Zebulun’s men were prepared for battle and completely loyal.  Dan’s men were also prepared for battle as was Asher’s.  The men of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh lived on the other side of the Jordan but joined David with “every kind of weapon”. 

 Yet, with all of these qualities, I found the men of Issachar to be the men I wanted on my side. Issachar was Leah’s fifth son and Jacob’s ninth. He was conceived because of the “mandrake incident”.  (See Genesis 49:14-15) His blessing from his father Jacob was that his descendants would be “forced laborers”.  Thanks, Dad, what a blessing.  

   However, in this record, verse 32, “All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.” NLT   In their commentaries of this verse, Ellicott and Benson point out that the Greek words used here related specifically to political savvy.  The men of Issachar KNEW what to do in this particular time.

   As our country struggles with “re-opening” and the threat of this virus continues, I can only pray, Give us men of Issachar.  Let wisdom and discernment fall on all of us, especially our political and spiritual leaders.  May none of us listen to fabrications, untruths and tall tales.  We need the discernment that the men of Issachar had.  We need leaders who “understand the signs of the time" and know the best course for America to take.

Thinkin’ about taking some time to pray for our President, Governors, Pastors, church leadership.   Will you join me?    

 

Sittin' around, doin' nothin'

   I’m thinkin’ this morning about a simple, seemingly uninspiring verse: 
John 6:3 “. . . and Jesus went up on a mountain with his disciples and sat down.”  Thirteen words that we gloss right over, it’s not the main idea of this passage.  This verse proceeds the story of the feeding of the 5000.  Jesus and his friends climb a mountain and sit down. I totally relate to that; I generally sit down way before the top of the mountain.  Anyway, they just sit together.  Jesus isn’t doing any formal teaching; they are just socializing.  Friends shooting the breeze.

   Jesus already knew what he was going to do later in the day and what he wanted them to learn from the miracle.  He knew what good and bad choices they would make that day and the effects of their choices.  Without telling them anything He had planned, He prepared them for their day.  Just because, they were sitting with Him. 

   In Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz talks about sitting with Jesus.  She is amazed that something she read during her morning devotional time is often shared with someone during her day. Even more astonishing, it seems to be exactly what the other person needed. 

   That happens to me.   These blog posts generally come from something that happens in my morning reading, studying and prayer.  I have shared some words with friends or acquaintances that surprised me.  And when asked, “How did you know that?”   I truly didn’t know.  And even now, I remember the circumstance but not the words I used.   I’ve walked away thinking, “what a coincidence that I had read or heard that recently".  

  A Coincidence is “a striking occurrence of two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance”.   Apparently, NOT.    When I sit down with Jesus in the morning, (on the front range, not in the mountains) He knows what I will face that day.  He knows who I will come into contact with. IF I stop, and just sit with him, He shows me things in His Word or in an article. Often it is something I will be called upon to share.  Sittin' with Jesus takes on a whole new meaning when I consider how He might use that time for His glory.  
   Sittin' with Him this morning,  He suggested I share this.

   Thinkin'  I need to take more time just sittin' with Jesus.  How about you?    

   

Twilight Zone

   Fear of the Unknown can bring crippling anxiety into our lives.  We have been living in the unknown for many days now.  No one really knows how this virus is spread. No one has any idea how long it is going to ravage our nation.  If you become infected, you don’t know how severe your illness might be.  We are beginning to go back to a tolerable sense of normalcy and who knows what will happen now? It’s heartbreaking to read the posts and hear the words of friends and family who are truly terrified.  Benjamin Franklin said “ In this word nothing can be siaid to be certain, except death and taxes." It’s never seemed truer.   However, I believe there is one more certainty; we can be certain of where we will spend eternity after death.  

   If you are not certain, please send me a message and we will have a private exchange.. For this post, like Peter, “ I am writing to God's chosen people."  I Peter 5:3-7 NLT.  

     “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.   So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So, when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”

      There is so much hope in those few verses. 

·       We have been born again by the mercy of God

·       We live with great expectation (or we should)

·       Our inheritance, our future is in Heaven (something to look forward to)

      That inheritance is beyond the reach of change (Whew,  I've had all the change I ever wanted in the last few weeks!)

·       We are protected by God

·       Even through this trial, there is great joy ahead!

·       At some point, our endurance of this crisis will bring us praise and glory

   There is so much “unknown” facing us today.  Our very survival depends on our choices. And I don't mean social distancing or masks.  

    Hang on to the truths in the Word of God.  Trust what we know of His character. Believe that He remains in control.  Know that He will turn all of these into good for us, here or in eternity.

Thinkin’ I'll fight off fear and anxiety for another day.  

Celebrate! Or not.

   Seven weeks of this pandemic has taken its toll on all of us.  Some are faring better than others.  My family is not ill, I do not know anyone personally with the virus and certainly no one who has died.  My income continues so at this point, nothing has changed for me financially. I actually have more money because I can't go shopping.  However, if you are one of the 5% of people hospitalized and one of 2.5% who have lost a loved one, I dare not minimize your loss.  I do have friends who have lost their jobs, lost their restaurant and cannot work due to the restraints.  Early in this mess, I received a text from a friend telling me she would not survive this pandemic financially or professionally.  Seven weeks later she is looking at the situation more hopefully.  Nevertheless, there are days, weeks, months when it is simply too much to go on.  Rewind to the Tenth Avenue North song I posted several days ago.  “I’m tired, I’m weary, my heart is heavy from the work it takes to keep on breathing”.  Sometimes, it feels just too hard to go on.  Sometimes it seems that this will never end and if it does, we’ll never have a life again.  Hopeless.  No hope breeds fear.  And we’ve already established that is not God’s plan for us.

    Last week I heard a sermon called ‘The Power of Praise’.  The well-known speaker and pastor suggested that, perhaps, it is time for praise.  He cited several Biblical references to praise BEFORE the answer appeared.  Isaiah 49:13 (CEV) says “Tell the heavens and the earth to celebrate and sing; command every mountain to join in the song. The LORD's people have suffered, but he has shown mercy and given them comfort.”   We have suffered.   Even though the present seems full of misery and sadness, we have no reason to question God’s mercy.  We have every reason to believe He will give us comfort.  

   In the 80’s I sang a song about praise.   I would choose to sing it when things weren't going my way.   My friend and accompanist, (shout out in Heaven, Brenda) would always remind me that I shouldn’t praise in hopes of getting out of the tough situation.  My praise must come from a heart that knows Him and is willing to praise regardless of the circumstances.    

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q-IQ3DEVSI

Thinkin’ about getting my praise on!

A Yoke of a Different Color

   Several days ago, I wrote in my journal, “I’m not worried, I’m just weary”.   As I re-read that today, I realize how true it is.  I’m tired of this Rona and all the press she seems to garner.  We’ve all been weary at some point in this marathon. 

      There was a kids musical in the 80's called “Down by the Creekbank” There was a character in the play who sat by the bank, chewing a reed of grass for the entire production.  He had one line, delivered flawlessly every time.  “Makes me tired just thinking about it”.  Yesterday I let out an audible sigh when the newscaster spewed the latest numbers.   

    I certainly hope and pray that we do not have to deal with Coronavirus our entire lives. But, it’s here now and doesn’t show signs of going away.  No matter how tired, weary, fed up we are with Queen Rona, we have to put up with her.

   The Bible has multiple stories of people who were weary in the wait.  The children of Israel making bricks in Egypt for 400 years.  Then wondering through the desert for 40 years.  Noah took over 3 years to build the ark and then lived on it for over a year.  David waited almost 20 years to be King after he was anointed to be King. Israel waited what seemed like forever for their Messiah and then didn’t recognize him.

    The day to day of living this quarantine, the panic and the fear all around me has worn me out.  I was happy today to turn to the book of Matthew and hear Jesus say, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.”  CEV Matthew 11:28-30  

   It’s a familiar scripture, but again, a deeper study reveals the heart of the One who said it.  Ellicott says that the original wording, all who “labor and are heavy laden” are words broad enough to cover every human sin and sorrow.  Imagine!   He explains that the ‘yoke’ Jesus spoke of was the traditions and laws of the Old Testament.  Jesus came to fulfill the law and be the final blood sacrifice.  He explains that if they “learn of Him"  what He requires will be bearable.  The Greek translations say “easy” is really “good, kind, helpful and profitable.”  What He wants us to live through is bearable and profitable for us.  Hard to believe today but He and I do have a history of this happening.  

   As we’ve learned, when Jesus makes an offer, there’s a caveat.  In the middle of these verses, Jesus says, “come to me. . . take the yoke…. learn from me. . .”    Ever the gentleman, He never forces,  even the good things,  on unwilling humans.

Get out of her Queen Rona,  I'm thinkin' about switching yokes today!