
Faith and life meet in a story
By Paula
By Paula
It has been several months since I've written a Friday update, mostly because the news consisted of "still waiting", and that makes for boring reading. However, now with the first case of books arriving and another on the way, I wanted to share with you what happened last night.
My husband had said months ago that he wanted to pray over the first box of books before they went out. They arrived Wednesday afternoon, and when we didn't have church that evening because of inclement weather on its way, I figured that would be the opportunity. He said, "I'm not ready yet. I can be ready by tomorrow, but not tonight."
Okay.
It was worth the wait. Thursday evening, we set the box of books on the dining room table and gathered the kids around. Then my husband led us in the most beautiful time of worship, dedication and prayer. He read Isaiah 55:10-11: "For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven (and we'd had both in 24 hours) and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
My book is hardly equivalent to God's word, but we do pray that it accomplishes God's purposes and that it prospers in that.
Then Jon read Colossians 4:3-6 and emphasized our desire to touch people through the written words or through conversations that may result, and that in each case grace would be the result.
He then read 1 Corinthians 9:7-10 and stressed that while it wasn't about the financial gain, it was okay to receive income from this labor, even though it was done for God's glory.
Next he read a parable from Luke 17:5-10 about how a servant shouldn't expect thanks for doing what is expected of him or her. Using what God has given me to honor Him is exactly what I should be doing.
I said in some ways, it reminded me of Hannah and Samuel. I've prayer for this little story, raised it, and now it's time to put it into God's service.
Finally, he mentioned 1 Chronicles 21:24 when David buys the property where Solomon will build the temple. The owner, hearing David's intent, offers to give him the land. He says, "I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offering for that which has cost me nothing."
(You, my friends, have helped pay that cost through your prayers, your comments and your undying encouragement. What a blessing!)
We stood and put our hands on the books and each of us prayed. What an incredible thing to hear each of my family members praying from the depths of their tender hearts for me, for the book, and for God to be glorified through it all.
Soli Deo Gloria and Amen.
By Paula
It’s been several years since I’ve read through the Bible- you know, the whole Genesis to Revelation thing. I’ve done plenty of studying, mind you. I just haven’t given in to the whole ‘order and structure’ thing. (That right brain asserts itself occasionally.) This year I began a new trek through, and I’ve hit 1 Chronicles. (And I’m not on any ‘plan’ or anything, so there’s no pressure. I hate pressure.)
Anyway, 1 Chronicles… The first few chapters are tougher than Leviticus and Deuteronomy put together. (I happen to like Deuteronomy, thank you very much.) The book begins with genealogies that go on page after page, with names I can’t spell (but I always pretend I can pronounce them). Why on earth would God want to include 1 Chronicles in His Bible? I don’t know, but I have a few ideas.
Don’t you revel in the minute details of those you love? Can’t you remember the first time your kids smiled? Or that second grade program? Don’t you include all that in your Christmas letter each year? Or… how about this… how long could you talk about your hobby? Those details get us giddy and excited because of the love, not the details themselves.
The web of His will is so intricately woven, we can’t begin to fathom the connections.
In 5:20, there is a quick reference to a victory won by the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. It says the victory came because ‘they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer because they put their trust in Him.’ There are so many lessons there- crying out to God in battle, He hears when we put our trust in Him, how victory comes… and those are the obvious ones.
He knows each one of those people intimately. He delighted in their obedience. He grieved when they sinned. So many stories are there waiting to be uncovered. Like the folks in 1 Chronicles, I am not just a number or a name to God.
So… any portions of Scripture slow you down? I have another that’s even more difficult, but I’ll save it for later.