About life in general, and life with God specifically.
The Bible is called God-inspired, and I believe it really is. This makes it all the more amazing that the lives of the men and women in the Bible are not made ‘more holy’ than they were. God meant them to be just as they are with all their strengths and weaknesses. This time I’d like to share about Judah’s daughter in law.
Community is one of the most rewarding and yet challenging parts of Christianity. God calls us into community with other believers in order for us to be challenged, encouraged and exhorted. We all have experienced the joys of community: celebrating a loved one’s milestone, laughing and breaking bread together, or sharing the bittersweet moments of hugs and comforting words during sickness or funerals.
On October 3 rd of 1863, the late president Abraham Lincoln of America declared “Thanksgiving” a holiday in America. It is normally the 4 th Thursday of November. It was modeled after the New England colonist harvest feast. They were accustomed to regularly celebrating “Thanks Giving” days of prayer – thanking God for blessings such as military victory or end of a drought.
BFF’s, do you know where this shortcut stands for? Best Friends Forever. I teach 7 graders and this BFF thing is not something small. It is a big deal in the lives of children, teenagers, and even adults. The knowing of belonging to someone as a friend, a best friend, having friends in your class, at sports, in church. And for girls, it’s a much bigger issue than it is for boys. Women are more sensitive, we often feel more insecure. We are very social beings, we like to interact and do things together. When you go shopping with a friend, you can talk all day long, when you have dinner with your husband it can be quiet after 15 minutes. Women even go to the bathroom together.
The story of Rahab is one of the most amazing biblical examples we have of an individual’s faith and of God’s Mercy. Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute who lived in Jericho before the Israelites destroyed the city, is considered one of the most prominent people of faith found in Hebrews 11. The people of Jericho did not believe in God and did not obey Him… but Rahab did believe and acted according to her faith. She received Gods mercy and His grace by her faith.
Throughout my entire life with God, I continue to learn the same lesson over and over again. It doesn’t matter in how many ministries you are involved or how many good deeds you do in the name of God; none of that surpasses the glorious privilege of spending time with Jesus.
“I just can’t believe it! Look at her, she can sing, dance and looks gorgeous! Some people just have it all! While others…..while I….”
Sounds familiar? Well, it shouldn’t, because no one is your competitor.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
This week I was having tea with two old neighbors, we meet every 3 months or so and we update each other on how we’ve been. And every time I am amazed at how many women struggle with a critical voice within them. We criticize our own thoughts, the things we do or don’t do, our actions, our words, and it seems we are never happy and glad about the way we are.
Just imagine once you’re in heaven and meet all the men and women you read about in the Bible… with whom would you like to chat? Of course, we will spend eternity there, so I assume we can speak to many. I have some favorites, but there is an Old Testament prophet I would like to meet in person especially and that is Habakkuk.