Taking a Look Back

Ten years ago this week Les and I traveled to Hawaii to start a new adventure.  He joined Decision Research Corporation on January 21, 2013.  I re-read some of the posts from that time and it's interesting to see what we got right and what was not at all what we expected!  I'm going to re-share some of those posts here and add my thoughts from 10 years later (those thoughts will be in purple.)

The first post I want to talk about was posted in December 2012, "The Curse and the Scarlett Thread."  The focus of this post was worry and let me tell you, I was so wrapped up in worry at the time!  I didn't blog about everything that was going on in our life at the time, but I was a mess.  My dad was in the hospital at the time, our house had been broken into, and Les had been unemployed for about two months.  

 

The things that were plaguing my mind were REAL, not imagined, but I still needed to take all my thoughts captive.  It would be some time before the answers to my "what if?" questions would arrive, but I was able to change my worrying to praying with faith.

 

This lesson has been invaluable to me for the past ten years.  Sis. White asked me to speak at Ladies Prayer on March 10, 2020 and I chose this topic.  Little did I know how much fear and worry would be taking hold of our world in the weeks ahead.

Les started a new series in our adult Sunday school class last week - The Scarlet Thread.  This is the line through the Bible, from start to finish that teaches us that the life is in the blood.  Blood has always been necessary for redemption and eternal life. Yesterday's lesson was excellent as always.  Les taught about Adam and Eve and the curse that came upon the world because of their disobedience.

Most aspects of the curse were familiar to me.  I'm so thankful that Jesus bruised Satan's head.  Les pointed out something in verse 16 that I had never heard before:

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

The first use of the word "sorrow" is not the same as the second usage.  The second word "sorrow" in the Hebrew is as we would expect - "pain," but the first "sorrow" is actually "worrisomeness."

Worrisomeness in the Hebrew means:  worry, pain, anger, displease, grieve, hurt, be sorry, vex. Webster's dictionary doesn't contain the word "worrisomeness" but is does give the definition for worrisome: causing distress or worry, inclined to worry or fret. 

Les didn't spend much time on this, but I've been chewing on it since his lesson.  Any ladies reading this today know the feeling of worrisomeness?  Are there days when you just feel overwhelmed with it all and sit fretting about things over which you have no control?  Then you tell your sweet husband all about it and his response is, "What's the big deal?"  Men just don't worry as much.  I know they feel stress, but that is not part of the curse that was put upon man, we ladies got that privilege!

Eve had never experienced worry before the fall.  The Bible doesn't tell us how long they were in the garden before Adam and Eve partook of the fruit.  It may have been weeks, months, or even years.   She lived in a perfect world with nothing to worry about it.  Until the fall, then the curse.

Does that mean we ladies should just resign ourselves to worry?  Should we spend our days as Chicken Little:  "There's no way to avoid it, I'm cursed with worry, the sky is falling, the sky is falling!!"  I don't believe so.  I believe we will be attacked with worry, but we must take those thoughts captive.

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6:

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Repeatedly Jesus says "take no thought."  One commentator said this:

It is the repeated command of the Lord Jesus to his disciples, that they should not divide and pull in pieces their own minds with care about the world. The thought here forbidden is, 1. A disquieting, tormenting thought, which hurries the mind hither and thither, and hangs it in suspense; which disturbs our joy in God, and is a damp upon our hope in him; which breaks the sleep, and hinders our enjoyment of ourselves, of our friends, and of what God has given us. 2. A distrustful, unbelieving thought. God has promised to provide for those that are his all things needful for life.

I needed this so much!  We've had a lot of stress in our life lately and I have watched Les confidently going on, believing that God is going to take care of us.  I believe that, until worry takes hold.  I wasted precious time on Saturday taking thought instead of trusting.  (This was the understatement of the day!)

The answer to overcoming our thoughts is the blood.  The scarlet thread that was started in the garden when God slew the first sacrifice to clothe Adam and Eve with skins, is still the answer today.  The blood of Jesus does more than save us, Isaiah 53 tells us:

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Our grief, our sorrow, our worry, our future, He carried it all.  Because He did, we can take no thought and know that our heavenly Father knows exactly what we need.  Several weeks ago, Les taught about God's purpose.  He said, "Since aspects of God are identical past, present and future… God’s future plans are as if they had already been fulfilled."  I have to wonder, what am I worried about?  God has it all in His very capable hands!

Vashti, Esther and Zeresh

My Bible reading this week includes the book of Esther.  It's such an amazing book.  I studied both Vashti and Esther in 2015 when I studied women of the Bible.  Vashti's story was eye opening to me.  Her refusal to expose herself to a group of drunken men brought her removal from the throne.  She has been considered a rebellious women when in reality she obeyed "the law of the Persians, which suffered not women to be seen in public; and particularly did not allow their wives to be with them at feasts, only their concubines and harlots, with whom they could behave with more indecency; as for their wives, they were kept out of sight, at home (s); and therefore Vashti might think it an indignity to be treated as an harlot or concubine." (John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)  You can read the full post here.

Following Vashti's removal, we meet Esther.  She was a woman of great grace and dignity, who submitted herself to the authorities in her life. "If I perish, I perish."  Such brave words!  "I will put my life in danger and refer the success to God, seeing it is for his glory and the deliverance of his Church." (1599 Geneva Bible Translation Notes)  "Signifying, that she readily and cheerfully risked her life for the good of her people; and if such was the pleasure of God, that she should lose it, she was content, and acquiesced in his will, leaving herself entirely in his hands, to dispose of her as he thought fit." (John Gill)

 

While I usually consider the defeat of Haman's plot the end of Esther, she continued to be influential in the kingdom.  The final verses about Esther show that she continued to lean upon Mordecai's counsel and spiritual guidance.  He helped her write letters establishing the Feast of Purim.  Esther 9:29 says, "Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim."  Verse 32 says, "And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book."  A new festival was instituted, "It was called the feast of Purim, from a Persian word, which signifies a lot. The name of this festival would remind them of the almighty power of the God of Israel, who served his own purposes by the superstitions of the heathen." (Matthew Henry)

 

According to the Jewish virtual library, "Esther, while she needed some convincing, was able to save the Jewish population in Persia. She is considered one of the most heroic women in Jewish history. Her story is read every year on Purim."  You can read the full post on Esther here.

 

The feast of  Purim is still celebrated each year in March. It covers two days, the first being the Fast of Esther, followed by the Festival of Purim. This particular fast has one purpose - to remember God’s deliverance of the Jews from Haman’s attempt at extermination.  We don't usually fast to remember, but to ask God for something.  I know I have never fasted in remembrance of what God has done for me.  The next day, during the Festival of Purim, is a time of joyful celebration.  I wrote about it in my post called "When Satan Runs Amok in the Streets."

There is one more woman in the book of Esther that I did not study.  She popped up in my reading this morning.  Esther 5:14 says, "Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made."

Zeresh is mentioned by name only three times - Esther 5:10 and 14 and Esther 6:13. Between the time when the gallows were built and Esther's banquet, the king had a troubled night.  It was during that night that the king was reminded that Mordecai had saved his life and no honor had been given to him.  Haman is then forced to show Mordecai great honor.

Esther 6:12-13 says, "But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.  And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him."

That is all we read about Zeresh, but we do read in Esther 9:14, "they hanged Haman's ten sons."  We don't know where Zeresh was.  I do wonder, was she still alive and watching as her sons were hanged?  She was a wife who's influence contributed to great harm to her own family.

One book in the Bible, ten short chapters, and three very different women.

2020 vs. 2022

Two years ago yesterday I headed out for a run.  I blogged about it here.  "I got up yesterday morning and wanted to take advantage of a week of altitude training.  I went for a nice 5 mile run.  I felt great until the final mile...  my feet got a little tangled up and I found myself flying and then landing with a painful thud.  I'm not sure how it happened, but my sunglasses slammed into my face and I'm now sporting my first ever black eye!  I am okay, banged up and sore, but I'm thankful that I was able to get back up and hobble the final steps home."  (You can read about the progression of my black eye here.)

 

Yesterday I went for a wonderful trail run.  Nine miles with almost 1,300 feet of elevation gain (and just as much loss!)  I felt strong and stayed upright!

In a lot of ways that seems like how the year 2020 was versus 2022!  Lock downs, social distancing and masks were the buzz words of 2020.  While COVID is still around, I'm glad that many of us have gotten back to a more normal life.  Even if there are still a few downed trees in our path...

The moral of the story?  When life gives you a black eye, get back up!  There are beautiful mountain tops and blue skies ahead.

 

Repost: What A Difference the Light Makes

It's amazing to me how quickly our neighborhood transforms for Christmas.  Lights and decorations went up this weekend.  I don't do much outside, but since we were home I pulled all my inside decorations out on Friday. I was reminded of a post I wrote way back in 2009:
 

 

I love looking at all the lights at this time of year. It's amazing how many things people have in their yards these days - carolers, Santas, reindeer, polar bears, penguins, Christmas trees, snowmen, gingerbread men, angels, stars, snowflakes and even a nativity or two.


The other morning, I was thinking about the unique perspective I get while running in the early mornings. The lights are usually off, but of course the decorations are still out. It's not such a pretty sight. All the beautiful decorations amount to are a bunch wires, metal and extension cords.


As I was thinking about this, two seemingly contradictory thoughts came to mind:

"Things sure look different when the light is shined on them..."
and
"These decorations look so much better when their light is shining."

Hmmm... I pondered if I could write a post about these two thoughts and actually make sense! I turned to see what Jesus said about light. One instance just happens to be in one of the most well know chapters of the Bible. John chapter 3, starting at verse 16:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

So my two opposing thoughts are truly in line with the word of God. It just depends on where the light is. My question for you is - do you have the light ON you or IN you?

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine...

Repost: Hannah

I started reading the book of 1 Samuel this morning.  The first two chapters are the only ones written about Samuel's mother, Hannah.  What a great woman of faith she was.  I wrote quite a lengthy post about her in 2015 and wanted to re-post it here today.

 

I feel like the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:11 "Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you."  This is a long post, so grab some water, tea or coffee...

Studying Hannah was a great reminder to me.  When I thought of Hannah, I thought of a woman who prayed and God answered.  This happened, but there were many years of sorrow before her broken prayer and God's beautiful answer.  There was so much in just two chapters.

Verses: 1 Samuel 1:1-28, 1 Samuel 2:1-10, 18-21

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
Hannah was married to Elkanah.  Matthew Henry said, "It is probable that Elkanah married Hannah first, and, because he had not children by her so soon as he hoped, he married Peninnah, who bore him children indeed, but was in other things a vexation to him. Thus are men often beaten with rods of their own making." 

Hannah did eventually have children, first Samuel whom she gave back to God, and then three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21) 

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?

This is the third polygamous marriage that I have studied this year (Abraham and Sarah/Hagar and Jacob and Rachel/Leah.)  There was not harmony in any of these homes.  All three times it was because of the husband's greater love toward one who was barren and the fruitfulness of the other.  "The conduct of Peninnah was most unbecoming. But domestic broils in the houses of polygamists are of frequent occurrence, and the most fruitful cause of them has always been jealousy of the husband’s superior affection, as in this case of Hannah."  (A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown)

We don't know how many children there were, but John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible said, "how many Peninnah had is not said, perhaps ten; see 1Samuel 1:8."  1 Samuel 1:6-7 says, "And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat."  If Peninnah really did have ten children, then her provoking, and Hannah's barrenness, went on for a decade or more!  This was not a simple, light teasing.  "Some render it, "because she thundered" against her; that is, Peninnah was exceeding loud and clamorous with her reproaches and scoffs, which were grievously provoking to Hannah." (John Gill)

It's so easy to think this happened quickly because it's all in one chapter, but Hannah's suffering went on for many years.  She finally reached a breaking point.  She wept and could not eat.  "Hannah wept at the insults, reproaches, and scoffs, cast at her by her antagonist; insomuch that she could not eat of the peace offerings, though her husband always gave her the best part and portion of them; but her grief took away her stomach and appetite, that she could not eat."  (John Gill)

[Funny side note:  I have never been so upset that I could not eat!  There are times when I get busy and don't eat when I need to, but my body quickly lets me know.  I tend to have low blood sugar and I can go from happy to hangry (hungry with a side of angry) in a matter of seconds!  Les knows when I say, "I have a food headache," that it's time to get this girl some food.]

In the middle of a time of celebration, Hannah made her way to the house of God.  I don't believe this is the first time that Hannah prayed, but she did pray with great intensity.  "Her prayer was with strong crying and tears; it was very fervent and affectionate; she prayed most vehemently, and wept bitterly." (John Gill)

During this time of prayer, two things happened.  Hannah vowed a vow and Eli the priest took note of her.

Hannah vowed, "O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head." (I Samuel 1:11)

I find this commentary very interesting: "Samuel, as a descendent of Levi, was the Lord's property, from twenty-five years of age till fifty; but the vow here implies that he should be consecrated to the Lord from his infancy to his death, and that he should not only act as a Levite, but as a Nazarite." (Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others about 1880, with introduction by R. A. Torrey. TSK)  So Samuel would have spent time in the temple, but Hannah dedicated him to a greater degree than called.

The next thing that happened is really interesting to me.  I Samuel 1:12 says, "And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth."  I've always imagined Eli hitting Hannah's mouth, but John Gill said he "observed the motion of her lips, and no doubt her distorted countenance, and uplifted eyes and hands, but chiefly the former; not knowing what the woman was at, and what could be the meaning of such motions."  The Hebrew word there is "shâmar" which means to "beware, be circumspect, take heed, keep, mark, look narrowly, observe."

There's a lot to be said about Eli (I'm working on a separate post because this one is too long already!) but he did stop Hannah in the midst of her prayers, thinking she was drunk.  "The suspicion of the aged priest seems to indicate that the vice of intemperance was neither uncommon nor confined to one sex in those times of disorder." (JFB)

"Hannah did not retort the charge, and upbraid Eli with the wicked conduct of his own sons. When we are at any time unjustly censured, we have need to set a double watch before the door of our lips, that we do not return censure for censure. Hannah thought it enough to clear herself, and so must we. Eli was willing to acknowledge his mistake. Hannah went away with satisfaction of mind. She had herself by prayer committed her case to God, and Eli had prayed for her. Prayer is heart's ease to a gracious soul. Prayer will smooth the countenance; it should do so."  (Matthew Henry)

Eli said, "Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him."  "He found he was mistaken in her, and that her discourse was not only sober and rational, but religious and spiritual; and therefore dismisses her in peace.  The God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him; which may be considered either as a prayer for her, he joining with her in a request to the Lord, that what she had asked might be granted; or as a prophecy that so it would be, it being revealed to him by the Holy Ghost, as the high priest of the Lord; or impressed by an impulse upon his spirit that the favour asked would be given; and therefore she might go home in peace, and with satisfaction of mind." (John Gill)

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?
It was after Hannah's time of prayer that she was able to reset.   She said to Eli, "Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight." Then she went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.  Hannah's faith was so strong that before Samuel was even conceived her countenance changed.  "A beautiful example of the composing influence of prayer. Hannah had cast her burden upon the Lord, and so her own spirit was relieved of its load. She now returned to the family feast, and ate her portion with a cheerful heart." (Albert Barnes)

We know that Samuel was conceived not long after Hannah's prayer.  She then stayed home from the yearly trip to the tabernacle until Samuel was weaned.  John Gill gave a very thorough explanation of what it meant to be weaned: "there was a three fold weaning of children in old times; the first from their mother's milk, when three years old; the second from their tender age, and care of a dry nurse, when seven years old; the third from childish manners, when at twelve years of age; and that it is this last and metaphorical weaning which is here meant, when Samuel was twelve years of age, and fit to serve in the temple."  

The Hebrew word for "young" used in 1 Samuel 1:24 is "nah'-ar" meaning "a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication a servant."  This makes sense to me.  I don't think Samuel was still a toddler when Hannah handed him off to Eli, but he was a young child.

1 Samuel chapter 2 opens with Hannah singing!  What a difference answered prayer made in her life!  Ten verses she sang and rejoiced. "My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.  There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.  The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.   The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.  He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed."

Matthew Henry's commentary: "Hannah's heart rejoiced, not in Samuel, but in the Lord. She looks beyond the gift, and praises the Giver. She rejoiced in the salvation of the Lord, and in expectation of His coming, who is the whole salvation of his people. The strong are soon weakened, and the weak are soon strengthened, when God pleases. Are we poor? God made us poor, which is a good reason why we should be content, and make up our minds to our condition. Are we rich? God made us rich, which is a good reason why we should be thankful, and serve him cheerfully, and do good with the abundance he gives us. He respects not man's wisdom or fancied excellences, but chooses those whom the world accounts foolish, teaching them to feel their guilt, and to value his free and precious salvation. This prophecy looks to the kingdom of Christ, that kingdom of grace, of which Hannah speaks, after having spoken largely of the kingdom of providence. And here is the first time that we meet with the name MESSIAH, or his Anointed. The subjects of Christ's kingdom will be safe, and the enemies of it will be ruined; for the Anointed, the Lord Christ, is able to save, and to destroy."

Hannah is mentioned just a couple more times in this chapter, then she is never named in the Bible again.  Chapter 2 verse 19 says, "Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice."  Hannah left him in Eli's hands, but continued to take care of him when she saw him each year.  "This was an outer coat to wear over others, and this also was such an one as the priests wore; it is the same word that is used for the priest's robe, (Exodus 28:4,) and this, it is very likely, was altogether of her own spinning, and weaving, and making up; which were works women did in those times: and this Hannah did partly out of her great love to her son Samuel, and partly to lessen the expense that Eli, or the congregation, were at in the maintenance of him." (John Gill)  "She undertook to find him with clothes during his apprenticeship at the tabernacle, and took care he should be well provided, that he might appear the more decent and sightly in his ministration, and to encourage him in his towardly beginnings."  (Matthew Henry)

And finally, "And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.  And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters."  She prayed for a single child and God gave her five more!  "What is lent to the Lord will certainly be repaid with interest, to our unspeakable advantage, and oftentimes in kind. Hannah resigns one child to God, and is recompensed with five."  (Matthew Henry)

This is just a beautiful story!  We know that Samuel was an amazing man of God and he was greatly influenced by this godly mother.

Faith and Faithfulness

I'm continuing my study of the fruit of the Spirit.  Monday was faith, but the writers chose faithfulness instead.  Now you may be wondering why I am continuing with this study since I don't seem to agree with it.  It's actually really making me think!  I don't want my reading to just be an automatic thing that I do without it challenging me.

The first thing I looked at was the Greek definition of the word faith in this verse:

persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

 

The word faithfulness is not found in the New Testament, but the word faithful is.  The Greek definition of faithful is: trustful: - believe (-ing, -r), faithful (-ly), sure, true.

 

Faithfulness is found in the Old Testament.  The Hebrew definition is: literally firmness; figuratively security; moral fidelity: - faith (-ful, -ly, -ness, [man]), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.

 

The word faith is only found twice in the Old Testament.  The Hebrew definition of the word faith is: firmness; figuratively security; moral fidelity: - faith (-ful, -ly, -ness, [man]), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.

 

The Greek word for faith in Galatians is the same one used repeatedly in Hebrews chapter 11.  Verse 6 of that chapter says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  This is definitely not the same as faithfulness.

I believe a person can demonstrate faithfulness without having faith.  A person can be faithful to their job and have no faith.  NFL quarterback, Tom Brady, who just won his seventh Super Bowl, has been faithful to football.  He attended a football camp as a child and has spent his life committed to playing his best.  High school, college and now 21 years as a professional, he's been committed to the game.  He follows a strict diet and exercise regime.  All these things make him a great football player, but not a man of faith.  Wikipedia had this quote, "I don't know what I believe. I think there's a belief system, I'm just not sure what it is."

 

On the other hand, I do believe someone with faith will be faithful.  Take another look at those great heroes of faith in Hebrews.  Their faith, their persuasion and moral conviction, took them on journeys and led them to do great exploits.  Noah built an ark when it had never had rained before.  His faith in God and his faithfulness to the task went hand in hand.

 

Repeatedly, Jesus said, "thy faith."   Faith made people whole.  The woman with the issue of blood faithfully went to doctors for 12 years, but it was her faith, put into action, that finally brought her to Jesus.  Then she was made whole.

 

Walk in faith and faithfulness will follow.

Quote Me + This is Your Life

I decided to combine two writing prompts today:

 

January 4 - Do you have a favorite quote that you return to again and again? What is it, and why does it move you?

 

January 11 - If you could read a book containing all that has happened and will ever happen in your life, would you? If you choose to read it, you must read it cover to cover.

 

First, I'm choosing a quote that is not a Bible verse. I have so many verses that I go back to, I don't know if I could choose a top five. Second, I've got two favorite quotes:

Comparison is the thief of joy

~ Theodore  Roosevelt

I can see to the corner, but God sees around the corner... don't worry.
~ Mom's Bible

Let's talk about comparison and how it steals joy.  There are many ways we compare.  We compare ourselves to others.  They have more money, they're smarter, they run faster, they sing better, they... fill in the blank.  So much time and energy is wasted when we compare.  When we compare to others, we overlook what we do have.  Especially as Americans, even in this crazy time with all the upheaval, we are so greatly blessed.  Food, water, shelter.  Things we take for granted would bring great joy to so many around the world.

We can also lose our joy when we compare ourselves to ourselves.  Now, I admit that seeing a recent picture of me that told the true story of weight gain, comparing to my thinner self is actually a motivating tool.  I also know that I have to put in the work (like I did in my 40s) if I want to make a change.  It may be slower and even harder, so I must not compare today's journey to any of the past.  It's today that matters.  That is true about every aspect of life.  It's today's journey that matters - learn from the past, both good and bad, but don't let it steal your joy.

Now on to that second prompt...

If you could read a book containing all that has happened and will ever happen in your life, would you? If you choose to read it, you must read it cover to cover. 

As soon as I read this one, I knew my answer - No, thank you!  Knowing what I know now, if I could have seen all that the past 30 years would hold, my 27 year old self would have freaked out!  30 years ago, I was blissfully engaged and ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.  I don't have a single regret about that decision, but 30 years is a lot of living.  30 years of joy and sorrow, losses and heartache, adventures and good times.  30 years that have included promotions and job losses, blessings and belt tightening.

If I had known that I would lose Rod when I was 30 and Mom was I was 34, my heart would not have been able to take it.  At the same time, if I could have known how God was going to bless me, I probably would have been less careful and possibly filled with pride.

I just want to see to the corner.  That's all I need to know.  If I could see around every corner, I would have no reason to trust God.  But He's been around every corner in my life and with each turn I have found Him to be more than enough.

I can see to the corner, but God sees around the corner... don't worry.
~ Mom's Bible

Stroke of Midnight

Where were you last night when 2013 turned into 2014? Is that where you’d wanted to be?

 
I could not pass up this post.  Not because we did something exciting on New Year's Eve, but because it reminded me of where we were when the calendar turned to 2014!  We were finishing our first year on Oahu.  Our lease would be up on February 7, 2014, so we decided to stay through the holidays. I did a photo a day challenge that December and my final photo was of my running watch after a three mile run.

I remember that New Year's Eve.  We were living in Discovery Bay.  I'm pretty sure we did not stay up until midnight because the next day I wrote about getting up for an early morning run.  I was, however, exactly where I wanted to be because Les and I were together.

On January 1, 2014 I wrote a post called "Great Peace."  You can read the entire post here, but I just wanted to share a little today:

"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."  Psalm 119:65

 

How can we have great peace when we are being bombarded?  One commentator put it remarkably well:

Great peace have they -  They have great calmness of mind. They are not troubled and anxious. They believe and feel that all things are well-ordered by thee, and will be conducted to the best result. They, therefore, calmly leave all with thee. As a matter of fact, the friends of God have peace and calmness in their minds, even amidst the troubles, the disappointments, and the reverses of life. The love of God is the best - the only - way to secure permanent peace in the soul.
Which love thy law - It is the love of law, and the belief that the law of God is in accordance with justice, that gives peace to their minds. God’s government is a government of law, and therefore it is loved.
And nothing shall offend them - “They shall have no stumbling-block.” Hebrew, “And to them no stumbling,” or stumbling-block. The meaning here is, that they would not fall into sin; they would be kept safe; they would be preserved from the power of temptation. The meaning is not, as it would seem to be in our version, that nothing would pain, grieve, or irritate them; but, as above, that as long as they were obedient to the law, and disposed to obey it, they would be safe from the power of temptation.

Seven years later, I still believe that great peace is possible!

Hope Came at Christmas

I received this poem from my aunt yesterday:

Twas a month before Christmas, and all through the town,
People wore masks, that covered their frown.
The frown had begun way back in the spring,
When a global pandemic changed everything.

They called it corona, it brought with it fear,
It didn't bring good time. It didn't bring cheer.
Contagious and deadly, this virus spread fast,
Like a wildfire that starts when fueled by gas.

Airplanes were grounded, travel was banned,
Borders were closed across air, sea and land.
As the world entered lock down to flatten the curve,
The economy halted, and folks lost their verve.

From March to July we rode the first wave,
People stayed home, they tried to behave.
When summer emerged the lock down was lifted,
But away from caution, many folks drifted.

Now it's November and cases are spiking,
Wave two has arrived, much to our disliking.
Front line workers, doctors and nurses,
Try to save people, from riding in hearses.

This virus is awful, this Covid-19,
There isn't a cure. There is no vaccine.
It's true that this year has had sadness a plenty,
We'll never forget, the year 2020.

And just 'round the corner - the holiday season,
But why be merry? Is there even one reason?
To decorate the house and put up the tree,
When no one will see it, no-one but me.

But outside my window the snow gently falls,
And I think to myself, let's deck the halls!
So, I gather the ribbon, the garland and bows,
As I play those old carols, my happiness grows.

Christmas ain't cancelled and neither is hope.
If we lean on each other, I know we can cope.

- by Shawna Hickling

Shortly after receiving that poem, our monthly church bulletin came out.  This came from our pastor:

During the best of times when God brings to us extra special blessings, the righteous say that God was with us. However, the blessing that was laid in Bethlehem’s manger, did not come during the good times. Challenging government edicts were bringing much hardship to the people of God, and the Light of the World was revealed in the darkest of night.

This year we celebrate the birth of our Savior, in the midst of a world-wide exhausting plague. Our normal routines of church, home, and school have left us with a fatigue, that begs for things to get back to normal. Our cause for celebration is that through the gift of the Holy Ghost, we have Immanuel (God with us) all the way through a pandemic.

~ Pastor White 

In spite of the many, many, many ways the government has pushed and pulled us through COVID-19, hope isn't cancelled.  Jesus came to bring hope!

Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins... Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us... For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  (from Matthew chapter 1 and Luke chapter 2.)

30 Days of Thanks, Day 7: In-Between

Living in the "in-between" times can be challenging.  Waiting for a call after a job interview.  Waiting to hear back from the doctor after tests.  Waiting for the will of God to unfold.

Eight years ago this month Les was unemployed.  He was "in-between" jobs.  We were waiting.  We were "in-between" for three months.  That's a lot of waiting!

 

I wrote about the Will of God shortly after he started his new job in Hawaii.  I concluded that post with this:

We know that God doesn't change, but His plans for us are more than we can know all at once.  We can trust that He knows where we need to be, who we need to meet, how long we need to stay, and when it's time for a change.  Follow His path, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6.  While you're praying and seeking counsel, while you're waiting in the hallway, and while you're sitting still, remember this:

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

 If you are living "in-between" you can still give thanks.  Continue trusting and always remember:

 

How to Face Uncertain Days

I spent time playing the piano yesterday. Most of the songs I chose were about the cross and the resurrection. One of the songs I played was "Because He Lives." The song was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither in 1971.  Most of us are familiar with verse 1:

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Verse 3 is also pretty familiar:

And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Verse 2 is what caught my attention yesterday.  In an interview, Bill and Gloria said, "Because He Lives’ was written in the midst of social upheaval, threats of war, and betrayals of national and personal trust. It was into this world at such a time that we were bringing our third little baby. Assassinations, drug traffic, and war monopolized the headlines. It was in the midst of this kind of uncertainty that the assurance of the Lordship of the risen Christ blew across our troubled minds like a cooling breeze in the parched desert. Holding our tiny son in our arms we were able to write:"

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

After our trip to the Philippines, I wrote about our Sunday morning in Lucena:  "We sang "Because He Lives" and it was just beautiful!  EVERYONE sang.  The entire church was the praise team!  These precious people, who have so little materially, sang, "life is worth the living, just because He lives," more beautifully than I have ever heard it."  I remember us singing verse two that morning and it struck me then, as it did yesterday, what a beautiful verse it is.

We are living in uncertain days.  Things as mundane as going to the store for toilet paper bring a level of uncertainty.  Of greater concern is the trajectory of COVID-19.  I spent 10 minutes reading the news and the only thing I am certain of is the uncertainty.  But we can face these uncertain days because He lives!  Look at the chorus to this song:

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, 
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

No, we won't be meeting in our churches on Sunday to celebrate the resurrection.  But that doesn't stop the fact that Jesus did rise from the dead.  We can face tomorrow.  We can live without fear because HE holds the future.  Life, even in isolation and uncertainty, is worth the living.  Not because of anything we have or have done.  Life is worth the living just because He lives! 

Fear Not Them Which Kill the Body

I have another "fear not" by Jesus.  Matthew 10:28 says, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."  I thought this was an appropriate verse for this week as around the world people are concerned about COVID-19 and the destruction it is bringing to the bodies of mankind.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible explains that it is people, who can kill the body but not the soul:
That is, people, who have no power to injure the soul, the immortal part. The body is a small matter in comparison with the soul. Temporal death is a slight thing compared with eternal death. He directs them, therefore, not to be alarmed at the prospect of temporal death, but to fear God, who can destroy both soul and body forever.

The Biblical Illustrator by Joseph S. Exell, M.A. says this:
In showing what is in those miseries which men are able to inflict that may lessen our fears of them.
1. They are temporal, and concern only this life.
2. They do not take away anything from a man’s proper perfections.
3. They are all limited by God’s overruling hand.
 4. The good that may be extracted out of such miseries as are inflicted by men is often greater than the evil that is endured by them.
5. The fear of those evils seldom prevents them before they come, and never lessens them when they are come.
6. The all-knowing God, who knows the utmost of them better than men or angels, has pronounced them not to be feared.
7. The greatest of these evils have been endured, and that without fear or astonishment.

The Apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

No matter what happens to our bodies, we can be comforted knowing that Jesus died and rose again.  We have a hope that is not of this world.  In 1873 Horatio Spafford wrote the words to "It Is Well With My Soul."  He was on a ship sailing to France to be reunited with his wife.  The ship his wife and four daughters were on had gone down and all his daughters perished.  He experienced great, great sorrow, but he said, "it is well with my soul."  Whatever my lot, I want to be able to say, "it is well with my soul."

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

P.S.  As are many others, we are having our church services online during this time.  You can listen live by going HERE on Sunday morning at 11:00 and Wednesday evening at 7:30.  Sunday morning's service has been archived, Pastor White preached a great message about "Overcoming the Bondage of Fear."  Scroll past the songs and you can listen to it if you need some extra encouragement today.

Peace-filled Posts

Well it's been an interesting few weeks, hasn't it?  Les and I traveled to Hawaii on Sunday so he could spend some time working in the office.  He found out on Tuesday that all employees would be working from home starting on Wednesday.  Thankfully, no one has COVID-19, but they are taking precautions to keep it that way.  We have a nice condo here, with food and necessities, we're together and healthy, so we're doing fine.

The headlines can be quite disturbing.  Panic buying is real.  While I was out for a run this morning, I was thinking about other times when life was uncertain.  I've blogged about many of those.  I've also always tried to make my blog a place of encouragement.  That being the case, I want to share links to some of those posts today:

Peace that Passes Understanding
Casting Down Imaginations
Everlasting Arms
Changing Seasons 
What Mean These Stones?
Commitment
Thoughts on Osama bin Laden and 9/11  
A Future Filled with Hope
Trusting in God or Riches 
Smiling During Losses
The Curse and the Scarlett Thread 
What is the Will of God 
Rainbow Reminder 
Already There
Great Peace
The Ultimate Battle 
Safe Zone 
According to His Purpose
The One Thing Everyone Needs 
Is He Your Shepherd?  
Under the Shadow of the Almighty
Jesus is the Answer
We Have An Anchor
Exhale 

I wanted to share one full post here.  It is what I wrote after Les took his current job here in Hawaii and all that I had thought and prayed as we journeyed through that time.

The Peace of God that Covers

My post yesterday was really the end of a chapter.  Today, I'll tell you about the chapters we have lived since September.  In September we had our annual Youth Alive services.  That Friday night the choir sang "Cover Me" by Mark Condon:

Peace of God, cover me
Cover me, cover me
Peace of God, cover me
Through the storm, cover me.

Only in You I am safe
Only in You I'm secure
Only in You I find peace
So cover me, cover me 

Cover me when I am hurting
Cover me when I'm not strong
Cover me when I am going through the storm
Cover me when it all seems hopeless
Cover me when my faith is gone
Let the peace that passes all I understand

As I stood on the platform singing, I thought of friends who were hurting.  I sang for them.  But sometime in that song I felt like I was singing for me.  I didn't know it that night, but my life was getting ready to be stormy and I would need peace like never before.  I haven't blogged about every part of the storm we went through, but here it is...

Peace of God, cover me

Cover me, cover me

On the following Saturday, September 15th, Dad was hospitalized in Fresno, then transferred to San Francisco.  This started a very long journey that we are still on today.  Dad spent 7 1/2 weeks in San Francisco (hospitals and rehab center) before returning to Fresno.  He was back in San Francisco in December for surgery and is now back in Fresno.

Peace of God, cover me

Through the storm, cover me.

On the weekend of October 7-8, Les and I traveled to Fresno.  That Saturday Kim and I drove to San Francisco to visit Dad.  On Sunday morning, Les and I went to church in Truth Tabernacle.  We drove home that afternoon with plenty of time to make it to church that evening.  When we got home, we discovered that our house had been broken into.  Nothing was taken, the police said they were looking for cash and jewelry.  But it was a horrible feeling!

Only in You I am safe

Only in You I'm secure

Only in You I find peace

On October 22nd, Les was laid off his job.  In today's economy, we knew it might be a while before he found something else.  That ended up being three months.  But during that time, everyone of our needs were met.  We paid our bills, we had food on the table.  We were covered.

Cover me when I am hurting

Cover me when I'm not strong

Cover me when I am going through the storm

The same week that Les was laid off, Dad had his worst week in San Francisco.  For several days we were very concerned that his body was just shutting down.  His chemicals were completely out of balance.  The doctors were concerned about his heart.  After a few days back in the hospital, he started doing better and returned to the rehab center.

Cover me when it all seems hopeless

Here we are four months later and the peace of God has covered us through the storm.  There were days that I felt I was barely hanging on, but the peace would come.  Days when I worried, until I prayed and found peace again.  It's been a journey, but one that I never walked by myself.

Cover me when my faith is gone

Let the peace that passes all I understand

 Peace of God, cover me

Cover me, cover me

Peace of God, cover me

Through the storm, cover me.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 4:7

Finally, this is something I have posted before.  While it is called What Cancer Cannot Do, I believe we can also read it as was the COVID-19 or Coronavirus Cannot Do:

What Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendships
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit.
-Author Unknown

Now, if you've made it this far, I have a favor to ask.  I know my blog has readers, but you've all been very quiet lately!  I haven't had a single comment in months.  Now is the time to reach out!  Please tell me how you're doing.  Is your family healthy?  Is your community quiet or in full on lockdown?  Is there something I can pray for?  We all need each other, now more than ever.  Take the time to reach out to your friends, family members, and bloggers.

One more thing!  I follow quite a few Christian authors.  Right now, a group of them have Kindle books for FREE.  So if you're housebound and need some new reading material, go HERE.

Fear Not, Little Flock

Sister White asked me to speak at ladies prayer on Tuesday night.  I spoke about the battle of our minds, most specifically the battle with worry.  I've written about my own battle with worry here.  The key verses that I used about overcoming worry are Matthew 6:25-34.  Those verses do not contain the words "fear not," but Luke's account in chapter 12 does:

Luke 12:22-32,  "And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

The Thayer Definition of the word thought is:
1) to be anxious
1a) to be troubled with cares
2) to care for, look out for (a thing)
2a) to seek to promote one’s interests
2b) caring or providing for

The Thayer Definition of the word fear is:
1) to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away)
1a) to put to flight, to flee
1b) to fear, be afraid
1b1) to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm
1b1a) of those startled by strange sights or occurrences
1b1b) of those struck with amazement
1b2) to fear, be afraid of one
1b3) to fear (i.e. hesitate) to do something (for fear of harm)
1c) to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience

While the two words are not completely interchangeable, they are very similar.  They both happen in our minds.

The Biblical Illustrator by Joseph S. Exell, M.A. says this:
Reasons for banishing vexatious care
1. It is needless; “your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things”; and will certainly provide for you; and what need you take care, and God too? Cast your care upon Him.
2. It is fruitless; “which of you, by taking care, can add one cubit to his stature?” We may sooner, by our carping care, add a furlong to our grief, than a cubit to our comfort. All our care, without God’s help, will neither feed us when we are hungry, nor nourish us when we are fed.
3. It is heathenish; “after all these things do the Gentiles seek.”  The ends and objects of a Christian’s thoughts ought to be higher and more sublime than that of heathens.
4. Lastly, it is brutish, nay, worse than brutish. The birds of the air, the beasts of the field, the ravens of the valley, all are fed and sustained by God, without any care of their own, much more His children. Has God a breakfast ready for every little bird that comes chirping out of its nest, and for every beast of the field that comes leaping out of its den, and will He not much more provide for you? Surely, that God that feeds the ravens when they cry will not starve His children when they pray.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible says this:
It is the repeated command of the Lord Jesus to his disciples, that they should not divide and pull in pieces their own minds with care about the world. The thought here forbidden is,
1. A disquieting, tormenting thought,
which hurries the mind hither and thither, and hangs it in suspense;
which disturbs our joy in God, and is a damp upon our hope in him;
which breaks the sleep,
and hinders our enjoyment of ourselves, of our friends, and of what God has given us.
2. A distrustful, unbelieving thought. God has promised to provide for those that are his all things needful for life.

Fear and worry go hand in hand, making our minds miserable.   Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  The peace of God is the antidote to fear and worry.  How do we get that peace?  By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.  Whatever you are fearing today, make it known to Him.

Fear Not, You Are Valuable

Luke chapter 12 contains the words "fear not" in two different places.  The first is found in verse 7.  The complete thought is verses 4-7:

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

This same thought is found in Matthew chapter 10, verse 26-31:

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

I liked what Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible had to say about these passages:

He encourages them not to fear by two striking considerations: first, that God takes care of sparrows, the smallest and least valuable of birds; and, secondly, by the fact that God numbers even the hairs of the head. The argument is, that if He takes care of birds of the least value, if He regards so small a thing as the hair of the head, and numbers it, He will certainly protect and provide for you. You need not, therefore, fear what man can do to you.
 
His commentary continued with this explanation about sparrows - The sparrows are well-known birds in Syria. They are small; they are found in great numbers; they are tame, intrusive, and nestle everywhere. “They are extremely pertinacious in asserting their right of possession, and have not the least reverence for any place or thing. David alludes to these characteristics of the sparrow in Psalm 84:1-12, when he complains that they had appropriated even the altars of God for their nests. Concerning himself, he says, I watch, and am as a sparrow upon the housetop, Psalm 102:7. When one of them has lost its mate - a matter of everyday occurrence - he will sit on the housetop alone, and lament by the hour his sad bereavement. These birds are snared and caught in great numbers, but, as they are small, and not much relished for food, five sparrows may still be sold for two farthings; and when we see their countless numbers, and the eagerness with which they are destroyed as a worthless nuisance, we can better appreciate the assurance that our heavenly Father, who takes care of them, so that not one can fall to the ground without his notice, will surely take care of us, who are of more value than many sparrows.”

Regarding "the very hairs of your head are all numbered" - That is, each one has exercised the care and attention of God.  He has fixed the number; and, though of small importance, yet he does not think it beneath him to determine how few or how many they shall be. He will therefore take care of you.

I talked to a young lady at church on Sunday.  She had missed a service.  I told her I noticed and missed her.  Tears filled her eyes as I said, "you matter to me and you matter to God.  Don't let the devil lie to you.  You matter."

People are going to let us down.  People are going to turn their backs on us and make us feel worthless.  Some people will even call us useless or worthless.  But Jesus says otherwise.  He notices and cares about the smallest bird, He knows the number of hair on our heads, He certainly cares about us.  Jesus said it, no matter what anyone else says, "Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."  Not a single sparrow is forgotten and neither are you.

I wrote a post in 2018 about suicide and used the words to a song by For King and Country.  You can read the entire post here, but if you're struggling with not feeling valued today, please read the words to this song and know YOU MATTER.

"Matter"

All of the dreams that haven't come true
And all of the hurt that happened to you
It matters, I hope you know it matters
You felt the pain of a bitter defeat
Where the weight of the grief is more bitter than sweet
It matters, I'm telling you it matters

To the One Who spoke and set the sun ablaze
To the One Who stopped the storm and walked the waves
To the One Who took the tree so He could say
You matter, I hope you know you matter

I know it's not easy, not saying it's fair
But close as a prayer somebody cares
You're a treasure, I hope you know you're treasured
So hold your head high, wait for the dawn
Keep hanging on, your sadness will turn into laughter
Watch it turn into laughter, yeah

Let the water spill from your eyes
Let it wash the wounds of those lies
Oh, let the water spill from your eyes
All that you are, all that you’ll be
Someone put the beat in your heart so that you’ll see
You matter

To the One Who spoke and set the sun ablaze
To the One Who stopped the storm and walked the waves
To the One Who took the tree so He could say
You matter, I hope you know you matter
You matter, heaven knows you matter
You matter, I hope you know you matter
You matter, heaven knows you matter

Fear Not, Zacharias

I have had a really tough time getting this post written.  My thoughts have been all over the place!  I've finally figured out what I want to say and hopefully it will give you something to think about.

Over the course of the past two weeks I have read the phrase "fear not" eight different times in my daily Bible reading - seven times in the first 12 chapters of Luke "fear not" is found.  Zacharias is the first that I read and I thought he was a good one to study as I am reading the Prayer Life.

Luke 1:13 says, "But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John." There is so much to study about Zacharias, but I just want to focus on "thy prayer is heard."

What was that prayer?
Many commentaries agree that is was more than one prayer that had been heard.  First, the prayer for a son, since he and Elizabeth were childless.  The second prayer was for the deliverance of Israel by the coming of the Messiah.

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible says, "which he had many years ago put up for a son; for it cannot be thought that he had been now praying for one, being in such an advanced age, and having for years past given up all hopes of one, and was even unbelieving, when he was told by the angel he should have one: prayer is sometimes immediately heard, and answered; and sometimes an answer is deferred a long time, to try the faith and patience of the saints, and to discover the more the wisdom, power, and goodness of God: or this may have regard to his present prayer, one branch of which might concern the coming of the Messiah, which was now expecting, and therefore is told, that his prayer was heard; since the angel that appeared to him, brought him the news of the conception and birth of his forerunner."

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible says, "They are all heard - thou shalt have a son, and Israel shall be saved. If fervent faithful prayers be not immediately answered, they should not be considered as lost; all such are heard by the Lord, are registered in heaven, and shall be answered in the most effectual way, and in the best time. Answers to prayer are to be received by faith; but faith should not only accompany prayer while offered on earth, but follow it all its way to the throne of grace, and stay with it before the throne till dismissed with its answer to the waiting soul."

The Answer to Zacharias' Prayer
This is the part that I've been dwelling on for the past several days.  Zacharias had prayed for a son.  I don't believe he prayed for a son who would be the forerunner of the Messiah.  His prayer was simple, but God's answer was great.

When John was taken as a baby to be circumcised and given the name of John, Zacharias was able to speak once again.  Luke chapter 1 tells us he was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied.  Luke 1:68-79 gives that prophecy.  Zacharias was given a glimpse of what God had in store for his child's life.

This son, known as John the Baptist, was more than Zacharias and Elizabeth could have imagined.  John had a mighty ministry.  Matthew 3:5-6 says, "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."  But he knew who he was, Matthew 3:11 says, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."   John 3:29-30 says, "He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." 

He was the voice of one crying in the wilderness.  John 1:6-8 says, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."  Verse 6 of that same chapter says, "And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"

God Answers Prayer
My thoughts finally came together about this topic as I was re-reading a post about Rod this morning.  During the final months of his life, Les and I prayed earnestly for Rod.  We prayed that God would heal Rod from the disease that was destroying his body.  About six weeks before Rod died, Les and I went on an extended fast.  We believed that God was going to heal.  If an angel had appeared to me and said, "Fear not, your prayers have been heard," I would have believe it 100% and I would have expected a physical healing to take place.

After Rod died I could have questioned if God had heard my prayer.  But God gave me peace and assurance that He had heard it, but chose to answer in a different way.  My finite thinking could only see Rod's mortal body.  God could see Rod's soul.  The time spent in prayer and fasting wasn't wasted.  God heard and saw it all.  But God chose to deliver Rod from the chains of this life.  Rod was healed but he was also saved from any more sorrow on this earth.  My prayers were heard indeed.

Fear Not to Pray!
My conclusion regarding Zacharias, and in my own life, is we must pray without fear.  Ask, believing.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Fear not, my friend, your prayer is heard.