Heart to Heart - A Transformation Group for Grieving Moms

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Well, I guess it is finally going to happen. The purpose of my blog is growing clearer... And so I am starting a new blog for grieving mothers. If you would like to learn more about it, click the header at the top of this post to send me an email to receive more information. I will continue to blog my personal journey and names of God study here... but I am so anticipating what God will do with this new opportunity.

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As for how I got to this place... In the fall, I will start what my church calls a Transformation Mentoring Group for bereaved mothers. Since the request has been made for an online group, the new blog will be devoted to grief care and healing as its focus.

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Let me tell you about the vision of my heart related to this ministry. Heart to Heart was born in the fall of '06 and the spring of '07 when I was attending two different support environments. H.O.P.E. Support Group: A church based support environment for Bereaved Parents which means Helping Other Parents Endure, and the WARM Place: which is a secular support environment designed especially to help children who are grieving the death of someone close (i.e. a sibling or primary care giver).

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The goal of the WARM Place was to help children by providing age and grief appropriate grief care through support group activities while ministering to their primary caregivers or parents in gender appropriate environments. All the group facilitators were people who had suffered similar losses and had been trained by the WARM Place for the volunteer position. It was the only thing available to help my girls through their grief at the time.

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These two environments were wonderful places to start working through our grief, but they lacked something truly necessary. Each group was entirely dependent on its own environment and the "self will" approach to healing. HOPE became the only source of HOPE for the parents who attended, and often allows people to get mired down in their grief. You have to really be strong willed to get through your grief at HOPE. HOPE was beneficial to me in the first weeks as I attended. After working through the messiness of grief and finding a place to hope, to live and thrive again - I began to attend the group and see that what people who attended HOPE need really is the Lord and His Word. That is when my heart began to grow this ministry.
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My vision for ministry is to have a Christ-centered environment that connects our heart to God's and to one another while working through our grief. I also hope to eventually develop a ministry environment that will minister to the entire family greiving losses of loved ones with a Christ-centered focus. My children all but begged me for the opportunity to attend a more Christ-centered environment but nothing of the sort was available that involved ministry to minors.

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Please join me in prayer for those who are in the process of grieving the death of their child and the opportunity to begin a group that will benefit those who do not have support/healing environments in their local area.

El Kanna - His name is Jealous

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As promised, I am back to unpack the name of God that identifies Him as Jealous, El Kanna.

In recent days, light has been shed on the fact that there are those who would say that God being jealous is a contradiction in terms and decries the reality of His existence as documented in the Bible. Though I am not arguing for or against this opinion, I pray that God would give us discernment and truth as to how we are to identify Him in this way. So... with that in mind, let's start with our primary verse of Scripture.
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I love the way the amplified calls Him an "impassioned" God. Think about the way we view jealousy in our human mindset.

Webster's Online Dictionary gives us the following definition for Jealous:

Jealous
Adjective
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1. Showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages; "he was never covetous before he met her"; "jealous of his success and covetous of his possessions"; "envious of their art collection"; "he was green with envy".
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2. Suspicious or unduly suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival; "a jealous lover".
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Synonyms: covetous (adj), envious (adj), green (adj), green-eyed (adj), overjealous (adj).
Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

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I also looked up the word cupidity because I did not know what it meant:

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Cupidity
Noun

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1. Extreme greed for material wealth.

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Synonyms: avarice (n), avariciousness (n), covetousness (n).
Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

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If we define God as Jealous by human standards He would be: covetous, envious, extremely greedy for material wealth, unduly suspicisious (which implies paranoia) and fearful of being displaced by a rival, as well as painfully desiring the advantages of another. How far off the mark is that?

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All of those qualities are not virtues, they are vices. The very sinful degrees by which we humans measure our worthiness and our value, by which we measure our success or failure - in comparison to and in competition with others. But, God says He is Holy and without sin(Leviticus 10:3, 11:44, 20:26), He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and has no need of anything (Psalm 50:10), and He commands us not to covet (Exodus 20) or to fear (Isaiah 43). God does not have to compete - He is God, He created everything and He knows how the story ends. He is not vying for our favor, we are seeking His. And, if Scripture says that God is Jealous, but that coveting is a sin then we must discover what this word means and why our God would call Himself jealous when we view it in such a negative light. After all, God is not a man that He should lie or a son of man who changes His mind (Numbers 23:19). How about we unpack this thing together..

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Our first order of business is to unpack the Word Study and commentaries on this particular verse (Exodus 34:14).

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Hebrew Strong's Reference Number: 410

Translated in the KJV: God

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Hebrew Word: ‏אֵל‎
Transliteration: ʾēl
Phonetic Pronunciation:ale
Root: shortened from , Greek and
Cross Reference: TWOT - 93a
Part of Speech: n m
Vine's Words: God

Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV: God 213, god 16, power 4, mighty 5, goodly 1, great 1, idols 1, Immanuel + 2, might 1, strong 1 [Total Count: 245]

shortened from ('ayil); strength; as adjective mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) :- God (god), × goodly, × great, idol*, might (-y one), power, strong. Compare names in “-el.”

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*NOTE As we studied before... This word was borrowed from the neighboring pagan countries and could be used to identify God Almighty or any old god. The context of the verse is typically the clarifier for most instances.

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Hebrew Strong's Number: 7067
Translated in the KJV: Jealous

Hebrew Word: ‏קַנָּא‎
Transliteration: qannāʾ
Phonetic Pronunciation:kan-naw'
Root: from , Greek
Cross Reference: TWOT - 2038b
Part of Speech: adj
Vine's Words: Jealous (To Be), Zealous

Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
jealous 6 [Total Count: 6]

from (qana'); jealous :- jealous. Compare (qannow')

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Hebrew Strong's Reference Number: 7065
Translated in the KJV: (NOT APPLICABLE - ORIGIN REFERENCE for 7067)

Hebrew Word: ‏קָנָא‎
Transliteration: qānāʾ
Phonetic Pronunciation:kaw-naw'
Root: a primitive root
Cross Reference: TWOT - 2038
Part of Speech: v
Vine's Words: Jealous (To Be), Zealous

Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV: jealous 10, envy 9, jealousy 5, envious 4, zealous 2, very 2, zeal 1, [Total Count: 33]

a primitive root; to be (causative make) zealous, i.e. (in a bad sense) jealous or envious :- (be) envy (-ious), be (move to, provoke to) jealous (-y), × very, (be) zeal (-ous).
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Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nelson, Vine (Unger and White), p. 124 Hebrew Dictionary)

Under J.

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TO BE JEALOUS, ZEALOUS, C. Adjectives. qannāʾ (‏קַנָּא‎, 7067), "jealous." This adjective occurs 6 times in the Old Testament. The word refers directly to the attributes of God's justice and holiness, as He is the sole object of human worship and does not tolerate man's sin. One appearance is in Exodus 20:5: "...For I the Lord thy god am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me."

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The adjective qannōʾ also means "jealous." This word appears only twice, with implications similar to qannāʾ. Josh. 24:19 is one example: "And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins." Nah. 1:2 contains the other occurrence of qannōʾ.

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Our passage in Deuteronomy 4:23-24 yesterday has a bit more commentary that I want to examine from the Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament (Victor Books, Walvoord and Zuck, 1985, p. 270).

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4:21-24. (continued) As a jealous God (cf. 5:9; 32:16, 21; see comments on 6:15) He will not allow another to have the honor that is due Him alone (Isa. 42:8; 48:11). Therefore Israel needed to be extremely careful to remember the covenant (cf. 4:9).

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(p. 158, commentary on Exodus 34:14)

34:12-17. God had revealed His character (vv.5-7) and promised His presence and power (vv. 10-11). The covenant obligation to obey, given in detail in chapters 21-23, was not (34:12-18) given in summary form. This code is essentially what was previously given in "the book of the Covenant" (24:7) though 34:12-28 is more harsh than the first because of Israel's recent sin (chap. 32).

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One of the major purposes of these regulations was to keep Israel from idolatry, an unthinkable practice in a theocracy. Israel, however, had already fallen into idolatry. To make a treaty (cf. 23:32) with a people implies the acceptance of their gods, and this was to be avoided. Strong action was to be taken against idols: altars were to be broken, sacred stones (cf. Deut. 7:5; 12:3), possibly male fertility symbols, smashed, and Asherah poles cut down. In their pagan worship Canaanites erected poles in honor of the goddess Asherah, consort of Baal (also see comments on 2 Chron. 14:3). Because Israel had fallen into idolatry (Ex. 32) the instructions here (34:12-13) were more inclusive than those in 23:24.

The Mosaic Covenant was the basis of God's theocratic rule over His people. Therefore since He alone is God He tolerates no rivals (cf. 20:3). It is in this sense that God is jealous (cf. 20:5).

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Making a treaty with idolaters would lead to involvement in their sacrificial communal meals (34:15), to intermarrying their daughters (many of whom were spiritual and/or physical prostitutes to their gods; cf. Hosea 4:13-14), and even to making molten images (Ex. 34:17, cf. 20:4) as they had already done with the gold calf (32:4). Tragicaly Israel did not heed these warnings and they did in fact become involved in worshipping the Canaanites' adn others' false gods. Ultimately this led to Israel being exiled.

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In context, this passage and God's name being Jealous takes on a whole new meaning. God is not jealous of us worshipping other gods, He is jealous for us to worship Him as the One True and Living God of all. Jealous, full of zeal and impassioned about His people is our God upon His throne initiating each and every phase of His Divine plan for us from Creation to Eternity and desiring what in return - our devotion, our worship and our praise, our humilty and our love. God wants us to be as sold out on Him as He is on us... Sold out enough to die for Him, the way He died for us!

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As a western culture nation, I would say that we in the United States are desensitized and demoralized by the "fat" lifestyles we live, we cry when we don't have enough money to get our nails done or to buy the new dress we've been eyeing at Dillard's. Our children tell us they are bored with the 50 video games and 500 DVDs hidden away in our house and they just don't have time to read their Bible as they should. Where did they learn it? From their parents, the grown ups who have for decades modelled a slow and tedious move from the spiritual to the natural way of doing things. We may not hang around the temple erecting monuments to false gods and prostituting ourselves for and to them, but we sure have sold our soul to MasterCard, Visa and American Express.

The American Dream is no longer a Judea-Christian environment with family values and strong moral convictions. It is not the dream of community ownership and legacy building as the forefathers saw it where prayer, Bible study and religious convictions rested alongside family and community values at the forefront of their writings and speeches. No... we have sold out the American Dream for the Bigger Better Deal that leaves us feeling cheated or inadequated if we don't have 2.4 gas guzzling vehicles sitting in the garage, cannot afford our every whim or fancy that catches our eye and if we don't have the latest and greatest technological device (ipod, cell phone, superduper nanosecond processing computers and flat screen super huge and terribly expensive televisions) we somehow think we are missing out and missing it. We work three jobs and debt our way into the next century leaving behind a legacy of bad debt, bad decisions and godlessness. What's worse, we feel entitled to it... we compromise daily to achieve it and we wonder why God is allowing our nation to sink lower and lower into the mental and social slavery of this world.

The other day, my father made a comment about Nikita Khrushev stating that the west would fall by their own standards and they would not only be buried by the Communist countries, but we would pay them to bury us. This is totally a political statement, but the trillions of dollars of debt this country has is selling us into a scenario none of would soon imagine. Watch the Middle East and the communist run countries... They will be here before you know it if we do not wake up. Our debt is currently being purchased by nations like China and Arab states. That means these countries won't have to invade us to take us by force - they will just have to call in their debts! They are buying America lock, stock and barrel and we think we have it over them! Rome fell, Jerusalem fell, Babylon fell... all the great cities of society have fallen, why? Because God is in control - He sets up kings and deposes them. He sends His people into exile to bring them back unto Himself... when will we wake up and realize that Jesus truly is the answer for the world today. Without Him we are more than lost, we are destroyed.

My political rant is over, please, please... pray for our country. But don't stop there... Take a Stand! Are we really standing up and saying that the cream of the crop are the three remaining candidates that stand before us to claim the position and responsibility of President of the United States. Really?

Now, to Scripture! Today's sampling is meaty no doubt, but see it through to the end and I pray you are blessed!

Zephaniah 1:18 (AMP) "Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s indignation and wrath. But the whole earth shall be consumed in the fire of His jealous wrath, for a full, yes, a sudden, end will He make of all the inhabitants of the earth."

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Anything that we can gain in the natural that gets our devotion, our full passion and desire and temporarily satisfies our physical, emotional or mental needs but does not focus or center us on God alone is an idol. Here God tells us that our own accomplishments, earnings and ability to provide for ourselves and take care of ourselves amount to nothing. It will not redeem, save or deliver us from our troubles. And ultimately the perishable will be consumed while the imperishable lasts forever. If it doesn't glorify God and contribute to His eternal Kingdom what is the value really?

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Psalm 78:58-72 (AMP) "For they provoked Him to [righteous] anger with their high places [for idol worship] and moved Him to jealousy with their graven images. 59 When God heard this, He was full of [holy] wrath; and He utterly rejected Israel, greatly abhorring and loathing [her ways], 60 So that He forsook the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent in which He had dwelt among men [and never returned to it again], 61 And delivered His strength and power (the ark of the covenant) into captivity, and His glory into the hands of the foe (the Philistines). 62 He gave His people over also to the sword and was wroth with His heritage [Israel]. 63 The fire [of war] devoured their young men, and their bereaved virgins were not praised in a wedding song. 64 Their priests [Hophni and Phinehas] fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation [for the bodies came not back from the scene of battle, and the widow of Phinehas also died that day]. 65 Then the Lord awakened as from sleep, as a strong man whose consciousness of power is heightened by wine. 66 And He smote His adversaries in the back [as they fled]; He put them to lasting shame and reproach. 67 Moreover, He rejected the tent of Joseph and chose not the tribe of Ephraim [in which the tabernacle had been accustomed to stand]. 68 But He chose the tribe of Judah [as Israel’s leader], Mount Zion, which He loved [to replace Shiloh as His capital]. 69 And He built His sanctuary [exalted] like the heights [of the heavens] and like the earth which He established forever. 70 He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; 71 From tending the ewes that had their young He brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob His people, of Israel His inheritance. 72 So [David] was their shepherd with an upright heart; he guided them by the discernment and skillfulness [which controlled] his hands."

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When I landed on this Scripture I read it aloud to my husband. I just couldn't quit reading it in the context in which it was written. God so desires to be the sole pursuit of our lives that He will take away His presence forever if we cannot and will not turn ourselves to Him. He is a jealous, all consuming God. He desires us, and is passionate about dwelling with us - in our midst. He desires to have a relationship with us, not just to be identified with us. We must be after His heart, His desires and His continual presence in our lives or we have completely missed it.

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1 Corinthians 10:14-31 (AMP) "Therefore, my dearly beloved, shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be) any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God). 15 I am speaking as to intelligent (sensible) men. Think over and make up your minds [for yourselves] about what I say. [I appeal to your reason and your discernment in these matters.] 16 The cup of blessing [of wine at the Lord’s Supper] upon which we ask [God’s] blessing, does it not mean [that in drinking it] we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the blood of Christ (the Messiah)? The bread which we break, does it not mean [that in eating it] we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the body of Christ? 17 For we [no matter how] numerous we are, are one body, because we all partake of the one Bread [the One Whom the communion bread represents]. 18 Consider those [physically] people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners of the altar [united in their worship of the same God]? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is [intrinsically changed by the fact and amounts to] anything or that an idol itself is a [living] thing? 20 No, I am suggesting that what the pagans sacrifice they offer [in effect] to demons (to evil spiritual powers) and not to God [at all]. I do not want you to fellowship and be partners with diabolical spirits [by eating at their feasts]. 21 You cannot drink the Lord’s cup and the demons’ cup. You cannot partake of the Lord’s table and the demons’ table. 22 Shall we thus provoke the Lord to jealousy and anger and indignation? Are we stronger than He [that we should defy Him]? 23 All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. 24 Let no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but [rather] each one of the other [let him seek the welfare of his neighbor]. 25 [As to meat offered to idols] eat anything that is sold in the meat market without raising any question or investigating on the grounds of conscientious scruples, 26 For the [whole] earth is the Lord’s and everything that is in it. 27 In case one of the unbelievers invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is served to you without examining into its source because of conscientious scruples. 28 But if someone tells you, This has been offered in sacrifice to an idol, do not eat it, out of consideration for the person who informed you, and for conscience’s sake— 29 I mean for the sake of his conscience, not yours, [do not eat it]. For why should another man’s scruples apply to me and my liberty of action be determined by his conscience? 30 If I partake [of my food] with thankfulness, why am I accused and spoken evil of because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God."

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This too just captured my full attention. I have read and reread this passage about liberty, but also I consider the weight with which it speaks to the way we must find God in everything from what we think to those things we eat to the tiniest activities of our day we must in the end find God glorified in it. Liberty is not given for liberty's sake, it is given that we may fully and freely live for the will of God. I don't think I have fully grasped all the weight of this passage, but for today... I think two parts resonate in my heart loudly enough for me to take notice: verse 15 "I am speaking as to intelligent (sensible) men. Think over and make up your minds [for yourselves] about what I say. [I appeal to your reason and your discernment in these matters.]" and verse 22 "Shall we thus provoke the Lord to jealousy and anger and indignation? Are we stronger than He [that we should defy Him]?"

I am responsible for what I believe, I am responsible to what I believe and I am to consider the weighty matters with due diligence by the power of His Holy Spirit and His ability to discern Truth for me. I must allow God's Will to resonate in my life.

The following is noted in two different translations:

2 Corinthains 11:1-3 (NIV) "I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ."

2 Corinthians 11:1-3 (AMP) "I WISH you would bear with me while I indulge in a little [so-called] foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I am zealous for you with a godly eagerness and a divine jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one Husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But [now] I am fearful, lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ."

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Paul so beautifully expresses the jealousy of God for us as the Bride of Christ in this cautionary exhortation. He longs for us to get it, to live fully immersed in our relationship with Him. Identifying and prospering in His will and His presence. But, the enemy certainly would like for us to live defeated, to have us give up on our Bridegroom and forsake Him for the here and now. Let's live beyond the curse and walk in our calling as the ELECT, the Bride of Christ.

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As we weigh the Word today, consider all the ways that God's jealousy is for us and not of us or against us:

Zechariah

Chapter 8
The Lord Promises to Bless Jerusalem

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1 Again the word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

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2 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

"I am very jealous for Zion;

I am burning with jealousy for her."

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3 This is what the Lord says:

"I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem.

Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth,

and the mountain of the Lord Almighty

will be called the Holy Mountain."

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4 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

"Once again men and women of ripe old age

will sit in the streets of Jerusalem,

each with cane in hand because of his age.

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5 The city streets will be filled with

boys and girls playing there."

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6 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

"It may seem marvelous to the remnant

of this people at that time,

but will it seem marvelous to me?"

declares the Lord Almighty.

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7 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

"I will save my people from the countries

of the east and the west.

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8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem;

they will be my people,

and I will be faithful and

righteous to them as their God."

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9 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

"You who now hear these words spoken

by the prophets who were there when

the foundation was laid for

the house of the Lord Almighty,

let your hands be strong

so that the temple may be built.

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10 Before that time there were

no wages for man or beast.

No one could go about his business safely

because of his enemy, for I had turned

every man against his neighbor.

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11 But now I will not deal with

the remnant of this people as

I did in the past,"

declares the Lord Almighty.

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12 "The seed will grow well,

the vine will yield its fruit,

the ground will produce its crops,

and the heavens will drop their dew.

I will give all these things as an inheritance

to the remnant of this people.

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13 As you have been an object of cursing

among the nations, O Judah and Israel,

so will I save you, and you will be a blessing.

Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong."

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14 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

"Just as I had determined to bring disaster

upon you and showed no pity when your

fathers angered me," says the Lord Almighty,

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15 "so now I have determined to do good

again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid.

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16 These are the things you are to do:

Speak the truth to each other,

and render true and sound judgment

in your courts;

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17 do not plot evil against your neighbor,

and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,"

declares the Lord.

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18 Again the word of the Lord Almighty came to me.

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19 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

"The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months

will become joyful and glad occasions

and happy festivals for Judah.

Therefore love truth and peace."

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20 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

"Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come,

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21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say,

'Let us go at once to entreat the Lord

and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.'

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22 And many peoples and powerful nations

will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty

and to entreat him."

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23 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

"In those days ten men from all languages

and nations will take firm hold of one Jew

by the hem of his robe and say,

'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'"

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An Oracle

Esh Oklah - Our God Is A Consuming Fire

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I picked an amazing name of God to study for the week that I am getting back into the saddle... Our God who is a consuming fire, His name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14). I am choosing to divide this name into to parts because, well I am sort of a rabbit trail kind of person and we could be here for days if I don't divide it up into bite size parts for me to study! So, this post will be about how God is a Consuming Fire and Part II will be about Jealous, the God of Zeal.
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Esh Oklah is literally translated from the Hebrew "to eat by fire." Think of that for a minute. God is a consuming fire. We have people who claim to commit crimes in the "heat of passion." They claim they are so consumed by the passion of the moment that they could not control their actions. Yet, God, as a consuming fire, is not ever out of control and He cannot ever sin. Often times when we think of God as a consuming fire we are thinking of a burning, searing anger that will destroy whatever is contrary to His holy nature.

When I think of this, I think of how Moses met with God on the mountain in the form of a burning bush. The bush, though consumed by fire, did not burn. What is it that can be consumed by the presence of God and not be burned. Today, I hope to unpack this truth in such a way that we will never consider this identity of God the same way again.

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First we will look at definitions and commentary related to Deuteronomy 4:23-24.
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Hebrew Strong's Reference Number: 784
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KJV Translated: fire
Hebrew Word: ‏אֵשׁ‎
Transliteration: ʾēsh
Phonetic Pronunciation:aysh
Root: a primitive word
Cross Reference: TWOT - 172
Part of Speech: n f
Vine's Words: Fire
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Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV: fire 373, burning 1, fiery 1, untranslated variant 1, fire + 1, flaming 1, hot 1, [Total Count: 379]
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a primitive word; fire (literal or figurative) :- burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.
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Hebrew Strong's Reference Number: 398
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KJV Translation: consuming
Hebrew Word: ‏אָכַל‎
Transliteration: ʾākal
Phonetic Pronunciation:aw-kal'
Root: a primitive root
Cross Reference: TWOT - 85
Part of Speech: v
Vine's Words: Eat (To)
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Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV: eat 604, devour 111, consume 32, misc 55 [Total Count: 810]

a primitive root; to eat (literal or figurative) :- × at all, burn up, consume, devour (-er, up), dine, eat (-er, up), feed (with), food, × freely, × in...wise (-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, × quite.
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.The Bible Knowledge Commentary-Old Testament (Walvoord and Zuck, Victor Books, 1985, p.270) contains the following commentary:

4:21-24. Though Moses knew he would not... enter the Promised Land (the good land; cf. 1:25) he still desired it. So again he mentioned God's displeasure with him (cf. 3:26-27), and reminded the Israelites that he would not be there to enforce the prohibition against idolatry. However, the LORD would enforce the command. Like a consuming fire (4:24) He would purify what is precious (just as fire purifies precious metals) and destroy what is worthless.
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Let's review the following verses and see what we discover about God as a Consuming Fire (Esh Oklah):
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"Behold, the Name of the Lord comes from afar, burning with His anger, and in thick, rising smoke. His lips are full of indignation, and His tongue is like a consuming fire." ~ Isaiah 30:27 (AMP) ("devouring fire" in the KJV)
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"He has broken off in His fierce anger every horn (means of defense) of Israel. He has drawn back His right hand from before the enemy. And He has burned amidst Jacob like a flaming fire consuming all around." ~ Lamentations 2:3 (AMP)

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.Isaiah was writing to an unrepentant and disobedient nation. He wanted them to strongly weigh the consequences of their actions and what it would cost them in their relationship with God.
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I remember as a young girl, my mother would remind me of just this sort of consequence when I misbehaved. Many of you may have heard the same warning: "Just wait until your father gets home." Despite the fact that I knew my father loved me, and that He would take care of me no matter what my need... I also knew when I crossed the boundaries of appropriate behavior as his child - My Goose Was Cooked! I remember fearing my father as a young child - being quite afraid of that "anger" that preceded the consequences for my actions. Perhaps more than anything, the worst part was that my father disapproved of what I had done. My father, out of love, would administer a discipline appropriate to the action and severe enough to ensure I would not want to repeat the inappropriate behavior.
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So it was between God and the Israelites. He wanted them to know that His holiness could not tolerate their sinful disobedience. He also wanted them to fear Him in a reverent, humble way so that they would not step outside His boundaries and earn His disfavor again. God brings forth His holy consuming fire of anger and disapproval for our benefit, not to condemn us. We stand condemned and unworthy already. From birth we have earned the right to be without His care, His grace and His presence because we are born into a sinful existence. God's anger burns in consumption of things that dishonor Him because His Love burns so passionately to be reconciled to us in every way!
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"Circumcise yourselves to the Lord and take away the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest My wrath go forth like fire [consuming all that gets in its way] and burn so that no one can quench it because of the evil of your doings." ~ Jeremiah 4:4 (AMP)
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This passage speaks so powerfully to the desire of God for us to put away the old nature, to have it cut away. In the Old Testament representation of cutting covenant through physicial circumcision set the Israelites apart from their gentile neighbors. They were set apart both spiritually and physically. It was by this covenant that Israel would enjoy the Lord's favor and His protection. It was an act of obedience and a symbol of their relationship. However, at this time, the Jews were practicing the rite and embracing the symbolic meaning of circumcision without the spiritual restraint and discipline that should have accompanied the Children of God. Jeremiah is calling out for them to submit themselves to the life-changing spiritual circumcision that God administers to the hearts of the humble. In Colossians 2:11-14 (AMP) we read about this circumcision as it applies to both the Jew and the gentile believer alike.
"11 In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but in a [spiritual] circumcision [performed by] Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh (the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its passions and lusts). 12 [Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [ to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God [ as displayed] when He raised Him up from the dead. 13 And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross."
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God call to us to have our hearts circumcised still rings with His desire that we be set apart. We are called to live not conformed to the pattern of this world, with our hearts commited to the temporary trappings of its existence. But, instead we are called to be transformed first through the circumcision of our hearts through Christ's sacrifice on the cross - a cutting away of our flesh nature - so that we may be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and given to the passions and the directions that He brings to our lives. It marks us as His own and points others to Him as the source of salvation, life and freedom.
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"Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; 29 For our God [is indeed] a consuming fire." ~Hebrews 12:28-29 (AMP)

We have received the greatest blessing we could possibly imagine. Adoption into the family and Kingdom of God through His Son's redeeming sacrifice. We do not serve the Lord out of obligation, but out of gratitude. Because of His great gift we surrender ourselves to His purposes, offering our lives in acceptable worship, modestly, carefully and in humble and reverent awe of who He is and what He does for us. His love is so all consuming, that to experience His zeal and passion for His own drives us humbly to the floor in worship of the God who loves us so much that He would give all to restore us to a place of favor and grace.

Think of it this way: God is love. He loves so completely, so passionately that anything that comes into the presence of this burning, passionate love is exposed to the consuming nature of its fire. Only things that have the capacity to withstand the fire will survive it. Anything that is of ourselves, temporary in its measure will be burned away - not just singed, but completely consumed until all that remains is that which is eternal, which is precious. Just as our rewards will be given by fire, our lives are tested by fire - and anything that is perishable will be consumed. This is why it is so important for us to clothe ourselves in the imperishable - Jesus Christ and live in His Glory, humbling submitting ourselves to His desires over our own. He is a consuming fire..
Read the following passage and note all the ways we can experience God's consuming love over His consuming anger:
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Hebrews
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Chapter 3
Jesus Greater Than Moses
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1 Therefore, holy brothers,
who share in the heavenly calling,
fix your thoughts on Jesus,
the apostle and high priest
whom we confess.
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2 He was faithful to
the one who appointed him,
just as Moses was faithful
in all God's house.
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3 Jesus has been found worthy
of greater honor than Moses,
just as the builder of a house
has greater honor than the house itself.
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4 For every house is built by someone,
but God is the builder of everything.
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5 Moses was faithful
as a servant in all God's house,
testifying to what would
be said in the future.
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6 But Christ is faithful
as a son over God's house.
And we are his house,
if we hold on to our courage
and the hope of which we boast.
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7 So, as the Holy Spirit says:
"Today, if you hear his voice,
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8 do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
during the time of testing in the desert,
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9 where your fathers tested and tried me
and for forty years saw what I did.
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10 That is why I was angry with that generation,
and I said,
'Their hearts are always going astray,
and they have not known my ways.'

11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
'They shall never enter my rest.'"
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12 See to it, brothers,
that none of you has a sinful,
unbelieving heart that turns
away from the living God.
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13 But encourage one another daily,
as long as it is called Today,
so that none of you may be hardened
by sin's deceitfulness.
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14 We have come to share in Christ
if we hold firmly till the end
the confidence we had at first.
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15 As has just been said:
"Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion."
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16 Who were they who heard and rebelled?
Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?
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17 And with whom was he angry for forty years?
Was it not with those who sinned,
whose bodies fell in the desert?
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18 And to whom did God swear that
they would never enter his rest
if not to those who disobeyed ?
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19 So we see that they were not able to enter,
because of their unbelief.

Tuesday's In Other Words: Transformed!

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Amy at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 is hosting IOW this week. Please visit her blog and read what others are saying about this week's quote:.. This week, I sat pondering Dave Ramsey's wisdom. I have attended "Financial Peace University," listened to Mr. Ramsey on the Radio and I have been blessed by his experience, his wisdom and his advice on more occasions than I can reasonably recall. However, as I read this week's quote one thing kept rolling through the kiosk of my mind: "Be set apart to the Lord."

This got me to thinking about consecration and sanctification. Weighty subjects no doubt. The lifeline of our lives is how sanctification and consecration occur and who is responsible for the process. First, we must recognize our need of Christ - the overall, encompassing and transforming power that is given through the Holy Spirit and provided by Christ Jesus for us.

Our part of consecration is to recognize and submit ourselves to the Salvation offered to us through Jesus Christ. When we do, the work of His resurrection power sets about changing us from the inside out. But, what about Sanctification? What does that mean and how does it work? Who is responsible for sanctification.
In Joshua 3:5 (NIV) we see Joshua tell the people to "consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." The word translated "consecrate" in the NIV is also translated "sanctify" in the KJV, NKJV and the Amplified. It is the Hebrew Strong's Reference 6942

Hebrew Word: ‏קָדַשׁ‎
Transliteration: qādash

Strong's defines the word in this way: "a primitive root; to be (causat. make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonial or moral) :- appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied one, self), × wholly." (From the WORDsearch Bible Explorer 4 Software Deluxe Ed.).

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Think about this: consecration involves an appointment, to dedicate yourselves - to be or to keep yourself holy. It means to be ceremonially or morally clean - to proclaim... HMMM! Let's think of how that applies. It means to be purified and sanctified wholly - not in part!

At Webster's Online Dictionary you will find this definition of sanctify:

Sanctify
Verb
1. Render holy by means of religious rites.
2. Declare holy or pure or free from sin; "he left the monastery purified".
Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

Synonyms: SanctifySynonyms: bless (v), consecrate (v), hallow (v), purify (v).
Antonym: desecrate (v).

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Sanctification - it is the process by which supernatural change is manifested in our lives. We often don't see the effects of sanctification right away, because sanctification has to work in our lives and have its way with us. Who sanctifies us?

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Jesus. When He gave His life on the cross and rose from the dead He gave us three things: 1.) Redemption's opportunity - the opportunity to live free from the consequences of sin and to receive eternal life's restoration; 2.) Forgiveness and Truth - the opportunity to be forgiven once and for all of every sin we will ever commit: past, present or future. When we confess and apply the forgiveness that God has already provided for us through His Son, Jesus Christ, something inside of us - in our hearts and our mind changes. Not only that the truth sets us free, but it sets us up to be more aware of that sin and its presence in our lives. Truth begins to replace every aspect of our thinking - an absolute Truth without the muddling human emotions and will that seem to confound and confuse us in every way. It sets us up to recognize the lies of the enemy and our own human nature and replace them with truth. 3.) And from truth comes VICTORY. Not just the victory of heaven in the afterlife... but, a real and present victory evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit everyday of our lives. We don't have to wait for heaven to live in victory - we can have it right here... where the Kingdom of heave is at hand as Jesus said.

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So how much of that is our part? Surrender. First to the will of God in Salvation - accepting the sacrifice of Christ as the only means of atonement for our sins and receiving God's forgiveness and truth in sin's place. Second, we must surrender to the Word of God. Setting it as our standard of truth and the Mind of Christ. We must come to know God according to His Word and embrace the change the Spirit brings when we study and apply it to our lives. Finally, we must choose "life." God gives us a choice everyday. He sets before us the choice to walk in grace and forgiveness, in mercy and truth... we must be merciful to others and seek justice for our own shortcomings. The righteous live by faith and we must surrender to that truth everyday of our lives to see the manifest presence and glory of God at work and the transformation come to life in us! God's glory revealed in our lives is the ultimate work of sanctification. A work that brings us to maturity in both our faith and our spirit, brings us to a place where love abounds and where truth prevails even when the circumstances decry the truth and the reality of God in our lives.

I will leave you with a few verses that speak to this change:

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Hebrews 10:11-13 (NIV) "11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."

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Hebrews 10:20-23 (NIV) "19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

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Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV) "1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

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Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV) "19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

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Remember our question??? Interestingly enough... When I wrote out the word "remember" I recalled a definition I heard recently - "To member again" or to "remake whole.

What is our part and what is God's part? Sanctification and Consecration as words do not occur in any of these verses, however, the process of Sanctification is beautifully brought forth as we learn how it works itself out in us through Christ Jesus Himself. We are sanctified that His glory may be fully revealed in our lives. Live on in His Glory and You will live like no one else!

A Young Life... A Huge Testimony

To God Be The Glory! And in the words of Caleb Chapman, "Jesus is real." He shared how he prayed for God to heal little Maria after the accident at her memorial service, and though he doesn't like the way God did it, she is healed. But, even more than that - Jesus is real. Read on... the memorial service is shared with us through Jim House, the manager for SCC.

Read about it here: Maria's Memorial Service

Blessings.

Happy Birthday To You!

Today is my friend Twinkle's Birthday!

I have put together this blog post as a special birthday gift for her:

A BIRTHDAY BLESSING

"TWINKLE"

Her name means: glimmer of reflection of light!

Origin: Well, I am sure God had something to do with it!

Birthdate: May 22nd

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” ~ Galatians 5:22[-23] (NKJV)

I am praying for God to bless you with every spiritual and physical blessing promised and provided for you in the coming year! May He bless you abundantly according to the works of the Spirit and your heart to share His Word, His love and His light in the lives of others. He delights in you and He sees the evidence of GOOD FRUIT in your life. You are the apple of His eye and the delight of His days. May you be given refreshment, opportunity and peace in the coming year! I love you, sweet friend.

Blessings in Christ.

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Leave me your birthday in a comment if you would like for me to send a special Birthday Blessing to You.

Please Pray for Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman and their family.

Please lift up this family who has so ministered to us as their lives and his music have witnessed Christ in so many ways. You may got to Steven Curtis Chapman's website to leave condolensces. I am praying 1 Thessalonians 4 for the Chapmans tonight:

"13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV)

Depressed or just AWOL?

"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance." ~ Psalms 42:5 (NKJV)

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I can hear Elvis singing now: "You ever have one of those days, boys? You ever have one of those days? When nothing goes right from morning to night... You ever have one of those days?"

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Okay, so maybe my blues aren't straight issue G. I., but they are the result of serious warfare... the SPIRITUAL KIND! Maybe it is Martina McBride singing in the background for my melodrama! "When God-fearin' women get the blues..."

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At any rate there is a song and it ain't gospel that has been playing in the 8-track in my head...(yet more song lyrics - I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF! and those would be song lyrics, too... Please make it stop... a bad disc jockey is playing in my head!)

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Why you ask? Oh, well maybe it is the unconfessed anger I just realized I've been harboring against God about my son not being here. Perhaps it could be the pre-empty nest jitters I'm having as I realize the domino graduation process is about to begin.

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Ah, Yes... The domino graduation process. IF I have not mentioned it before, my husband and I are about to begin domino graduation with our children. We like to play dominoes, especially Mexican Train and Chickenfeet, but this Domino process may prove more than this Mother Bird's heart can bear. Domino graduating, as I lovingly call it, will commence on June 9th with daughter #1, Brittany, 18 will walk the stage in ye olde cap and gown while her mother CRIES CROCODILE TEARS AND BEAMS WITH PRIDE ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

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Not to mention we have sent out 41 and still counting invitations to friends and family for a huge "Hats off to Brittany" party... VERY CUTE THEME, by the way! I thunk it up with the help of a Scrapbook Sticker. I drew the cute little black cap with pink ... Oh yeah! I... uh... sort of posted that a few weeks back! Oh, that means there could be 120 people congregating in my neighborhood with very narrow streets to celebrate my Brittany's accomplishment.

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On top of all this, there is the underlying drama of her father promising to help with expenses and agreeing to the order I placed back in November. He let me know he is can't help out with the expenses just this weekend. Which, catching me in my "BLUE" period on just the wrong day with just the wrong question seemed to LEAVE MY OTHERWISE CALM, COOL AND COLLECTED SELF SOMEWHERE IN LAST WEEK. I not only emotionally vomitted on him, I shot it out of a cannon with two barrels.

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And this is the only first of four children who are graduating in our very household in the next FOUR YEARS... Did I say FOUR... Oh Yes, I did... TRAVIS, he is the next candidate for graduation class of 2009, and then my TAYLOR.... She will be a member of the class of 2010 if not sooner if she can manage it. Finally, last but certainly not least, MEGGIE-MOO will graduate in 2011. Thus the term DOMINO GRADUATING.

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Then there is college and life choices, and I can't even check up on them at school without their permission. Oh how the tides turn quickly... I know it is part of life, part of growing up... part of Learning to Let Go! For Heaven's Sake, I have been looking forward to a time when me and my man can have the house to ourselves... I just did not think it would get her so DARN QUICK!

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Oh, and did I mention future husbands, wives and children! And there it is... the thing I will be praying for, waiting for and watching the horizon for in so many ways! Don't get me wrong... I can't wait to see how their lives turn out, and weddings.... Yes indeedy... I'm very exciting about the weddings I know God has in their futures... But that crown of blessing called Grandchildren... well Grammy Bentham just cannot wait to see those tiny little hands and feet of another generation that I am praying into the Kingdom. I can't wait to feed them, change their diapers.... Hold it, did I just say that? Yes, change their diapers and watch my babies become Momma's of their own children. And it should be interesting to see how Travis come out since at 17, he has yet to discover girls! (I wish you could see the grin on my face about now.)

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Travis is a rare, quiet child. He has an awkward sense of humor and an unusual interest in video games which is really not so unusual for a boy of 17. He is his father made over and that amuses me to no end -except Travis is not a hat and boots kind of kid... He aspires to go to college and get a good enough job to support his game habit - and I might add he would prefer to do it in as few a years as possible. This is a step up from his previous goal of being a manager of his local Gamestop for the rest of his life. I asked him once why that aspiration and he grinned big...

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"Easy. Video Games." IOW: He could play all the games he wants and get paid for it. And if he buys them, he gets a discount. As I said, I love him, but I'm praying hard. He is also our one child who has not yet made a decision about Christ... still, in my heart of hearts I know that issue is a "when" and not an "if" proposition. God is good. And He is faithful.

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Taylor would like to take an accelerated program and graduate ASAP. Her words... "I Hate High School." Specifically the heathen culture of her high school. No prom, no cap or gown for Taylor - she just wants a fast track and accelerated exit with as little fanfare as possible. Megan will probably be our most classic high school student of the bunch.

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Brittany hated High School and wanted to be out ASAP, but she really is a nostalgia kind of kid so these once in a lifetime ops are good for her and me. But, Megan... She is a frehman and dating a senior - her father and I have little say in what she does these days, we don't see them much. But, it is so hard to see her with a boy so much older. She went to prom this year -and that may be a precious thing. We are just concerned really with the idea that her boyfriend is 18 and she is 14 which can't be good for either child. Another place we are having to pray and trust God because not much chance we are going to get a big opportunity to change the scenery.

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And so... thus it goes. Plus, all this family business is leading me to miss my boy bunches.

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So why so downcast, Oh my soul... Because Life is right in front of me and it just reared its ugly head. Thank goodness the Psalmist plays on and Psalm 46 is right around the corner... "Be Still, and know that I am God."

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Love ya'll. I'll try to get back in the swing of things again! This has been the best week I've had in a while.