Cosmic Disturbances

I tried to find a picture to adequately express my thoughts tonight. But nothing would suffice. As I review that last month in the news I realize life is tilting in precarious ways. Both in the temporary, earthly realm and the spiritual realm there seems to be a "disturbance in the force" to quote Star Wars characters and Bob Hamp in that historical order.

In the last few weeks I have watched Egyptians unseat their national leader, and try to kill each other. American journalists have been kidnapped/arrested, tortured, beaten and raped while covering the Egyptian crisis.

The Egyptian crisis was preceded by a Tunisian uprising, and now Iran is sailing warships off the coast of Israel through Egypt's Suez Canal. What in the World?

Add to this protests in Bahrain and Greece, and then there is Libya and their rather unusual leader, Muammar al-Gaddafi. He would like the world to believe HE is the victim of terrorism.  Is that ever the pot calling the kettle... Well, you get the picture!

New Zealand had a horrific earthquake, and Australia has had devastating floods and tornadoes in that last year. And the United States has experienced record snowfall in all it's areas this year - well except maybe Hawaii.

I'm just thinking that there is something going on in this big wide world around us and it is more than eyes can see.

Teachers in Wisconsin are not going to the schools and teaching - for the kids. Instead they are camping in their state capital building day and night because they don't want to lose their unions. Perhaps I would not want to lose that deal if I could get it either - personally, I'm a union wife who has spent a time or two sparring with a Union President who was not only rude and insulting, but takes my husband's hard earned money each month and provides little in return. When the company needs to lay off they cut here not in New York - why? Because New York workers for my husband's company have a "No Lay-Off" clause in their contract and make a considerable higher wage as well. Are Unions really what they are cracked up to be. Listening to their rhetoric on television makes me want to hurl. ENTITLED, ENTITLED, ENTITLED.

Add to that the idea that if you can cross the border to our country and establish a residence here we should make you a citizen - even if you break the law... I'm all for Hispanic and Canadian citizens coming to reside in our United States of America. I'm all for it, but I'm also for them doing in accordance with the laws of this country. We should not find ourselves rewarded for breaking the law - and if we were to transgress the borders of another country illegally we'd be imprisoned or dead. Just sayin'! Again, Does crossing the border make you eligible for citizenship? Or should you have to follow the rules for the privilege of living in the United States of America. Everyone has an answer - but what is the real solution? How can we keep from splitting families and enforce the laws of our land?

The President and his "talking heads" are now saying they will not defend the Defense of Marriage Act - a state's rights issue at its core. National Healthcare is also a state's rights issue. Don't ask, Don't tell has been repealed and I don't know... television is portraying Christians as being radical, extremists bent on destruction and rebellion ("anarchy") calling Jesus the original rebel. WHAT?

Add to that the rising cost of clothing, food and gas... And, you have a world ripe for disaster. But my God is bigger than all of this. I may not know for certain what is happening here on earth, but I know that God is greater than anything I face here on this earth and anything that looks like war produces the hope in me that we are one day closer to the rapture. "COME, LORD JESUS!"

"There will be wars and rumors of wars until I come again." ~ Jesus (my paraphrase)

 

 

Blog Through The Bible: A Week of UGH!

For a gal who made her way into ministry filling in her Bible study blanks weeks before the study even started just so she never came up short on any given week of leading Women's Ministry... This post creates a wealth of conflict for me.

I'm three days late on my Monday post AND an overwhelming five days late on my Friday post. But, I'm here - still kicking and reading. I just am out of energy this week. Our church hosted a pastor's conference this week, and I had additional duties besides my regular weekly routine. I went to bed at 6:30 pm last night and find myself sitting in a darkened living room, enjoying the quiet and awaiting the arrival of the television series "The Tudors"on my television a little later this evening.

I'm just beat and find the prospect of conjuring a blog post up out of my weary heart and mind an absurd proposition so I come to you tonight, in humility and in contrition, and I ask for two things: 1.) prayer. Lots. Of. Prayer; and 2.) forgiveness. I did not keep my commitment and it was totally my idea. I love you much whether you read or read and write. I'm grateful you've been along on the journey and pray the Lord is meeting with you continually in the pages of His Word.

Blog Through The Bible: Happy Valentine's Day (AKA: Leviticus 19-Numbers 12)

This week we move right on through the Law and into the preparations to enter the Promised Land! How exciting!

I feel like the season I am in my life right now mirrors the Israelites as they make their way to the Jordan Crossing and look to set their feet on the solid ground of God's awaiting promise.

I want to start with a very sobering charge issued by the Lord, Himself:

"Speak to the congregation of Israel. Tell them: Be holy because I, God, your God, am holy.  Leviticus 19:2 (MSG) 

This charge precedes a reiteration of the "Ten Commandments" from Exodus 20 and a few additional items that can be summed up in "Love God, Love People." The two greatest commandments as Jesus would later share with those who would ask Him which of these would be the greatest commandment. Jesus' short answer, "All of them." ALL. OF. THEM. Well, really - His short answer is Love God, and the other which is "like it" is Love People.

Be holy. Do these words land anywhere in the vicinity of your heart? They landed right on my heart. Positionally, I'm righteous in Christ, but holiness is about the sanctification of my body, mind and spirit through the transforming work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Am I being holy?

God has been talking to me this week about taking thoughts captive and imagination - which is at its root a reflection of image. What does my imagination reflect? The vanity of my whims and desires or the whispered lies of the enemy masquerading as fear... Or does my imagination reflect the captivating person of Christ and His plan for me - His glory revelation right here in my own heart. I will likely pen a post about the subject at a later date after the Lord preps a big ol' juicy steak kind of meal of it for me to chew on.

Preparing to enter the promised land of your destiny is no simple task. There will be sifting and dry seasons - testings and even sufferings along the way. Preparation can be wilderness or a walking with Jesus experience - that part of it is we get to choose. The Israelites chose to walk in the desert and have that which was their flesh and their soul purged through extreme hardship, suffering and trial. But the glory that was revealed in those moments must have been "knock-you-down" like a dead man moments. How did they choose? They grumbled and complained, worshiped other gods, cried out against their leadership (a near mutiny) I might add, longed for death and let fear rule their hearts every step of the way. They remained in the desert until the generation of bondage died off and two bold young men rose to the occasion - Joshua and Caleb. (But, I may be getting ahead of myself, loves.)

The disciples who later became apostles - save only Judas who became the author of his own demise - walked with Jesus, but guess what - they still suffered. They watched their leader arrested, tried and executed a criminal. THE. MESSIAH. No less.

Peter had to be "sifted as wheat" and deny Christ. He, too, was crucified. John and Peter were often brought up before the Sanhedrin as blasphemers and heretics. Their lives constantly threatened by death. John watched his brother, James, die a martyr's death early in the account of Acts. He watched as his friends and fellow apostles died off one by one - and he died an old man after being imprisoned on the aisle of Patmos. One account reports he was boiled in oil and survived. WHOA, Nellie! Am I willing to go that far for Christ? I better be.

Jesus' words to Peter resonate in my head this morning as I consider the beautiful/bitter process of sanctification: "Peter, Peter, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you, Peter, and when you come back strengthen your brothers."

Are you in a sifting season? Beth Moore often says when we find ourselves in sifting seasons one thing is sure, we want whatever it is that is being sifted to the surface to be sifted OUT! Don't want to have a do-over of our sifting seasons. :)

Hear these words in your heart as I hear them this morning - place your name where mine is and know Your Savior and Lord intercedes for you. Michelle, Michelle, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But, I (Jesus) have prayed for you, Michelle. That when you come back you may strengthen others.

And that is where I will stop this week. When we come to the Jordan Crossing in our lives - after a long season of sifting and suffering - will we stay in the desert or will we walk forward in confidence fully trusting in our loving, blessed God.

The choice is ours - He prepares the way - shall we walk in it?

Blog Through The Bible: Reading Plan Week 7, Numbers 13-33

My apologies for the tardy Reading Plan post. Last week was crazy with more inclement weather on Wednesday and catch-up on Thursday & Friday. I'm back, however and glad to be so. You will find a new feature on this week's reading plan. Just click on the Reading Plan box below and you will be taken to an online Bible featuring this week's entire reading selection! FUN? I think so.

I will try to have my Monday post up this evening, but have been sick with a stomach bug so I may be standing down today and coming in strong tomorrow! Leave a comment with your observations here or on the "official post" once it is up. I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Blog Through The Bible: Exodus 37 - 18

What a ride we have had through the pages of Scripture since January 1st! I mean we've gone from the Garden of Eden and the fall of mankind through the flood, tower of Babel, Abraham's covenant with God, the birth of hundreds of generations of people and now we are smack dab in the middle of the desert with Moses as he receives the plans for building the temple. As a matter of fact, Exodus 37 starts out with the building of the Ark of the Covenant! We are being taken step by step through the exquisite detail of the fashioning and the buidling of the outercourts, the tabernacle, and the most holy place - the inner sanctuary of God. The place where God would rest among the Israelites - IN THEIR MIDST - a cover of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Their God was with them the entire journey - even when they cried out against Him, even when they fell apart while Moses was on the mountain talking to God because they wouldn't go up.

We see the Israelites through the commendation of the building of the Tabernacle - and WE. WATCH. THEM. SHOW. UP. BIG. in providing what is required for the work. And as we walk out of the Exodus experience and into the literal Book of the Law - Leviticus - we find our bandying troup of Abraham's kin trusting in God's protection. This just stopped me in my tracks:

"The Cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Glory of God filled The Dwelling. Moses couldn't enter the Ten of Meeting because the cloud was upon it, and the Glory of God filled The Dwelling. Whenever the Cloud lifted from The Dwelling, the People of Israel set out on their travels, but if the Cloud did not lift, they wouldn't set out until it did lift. The Cloud of God was over The Dwelling during the day and the fire was in it at night, visible to all the Israelites in all their travels." Exodus 40:34-38 (MSG)

YES! YES! Can you picture it? The nation of Israel encamped around the tent of meeting - Ps. Zac Neese of Gateway Church actually teaches about this in the first series of Equip classes for Worship - they literally appear in the shape of the cross. By day the tent of meeting is emitting a thick and heavy Cloud. A. GLORY. CLOUD. This really represents a picture of the Shekinah Glory of God. The shekinah glory is used to describe the MANIFEST. PRESENCE. OF. GOD. Literally, the shekinah glory says - "Our God  Is In The House!"

Okay, back to the picture. A thick heavy Cloud not only settles over the tabernacle, the outer courts, but over all the tribes of Israel and their encampment. He covered them. God literally provided a covering of protection for Israel in the desert. And, can you imagine that the Israelites did not miss the reality of this Glory Cloud resting upon them. They did not dare move their camp unless the Cloud lifted. Makes me think of when Moses said, "Lord, if You don't go with us, then don't send us up from this place." Amen? Amen.

AND... Now get this picture - when that Cloud did lift - a pillar of fire came a blazing out of that tent. That same fire that burned the bush but did not consume. Come over the hill and watch this ... A million people moving in orderly prossesion through the desert carrying an ark with golden angels on it's cover - and a pillar of fire shooting up from it into the heavens as far as the eye could see. You would fall down and say - WHAT. ON. EARTH?  Have you ever seen the distant smoke of fire wafting across the afternoon sky and started to ask, "What is going on? Something must be on fire." Yeah, that is pretty much the picture, but better! :) 

So, as I consider all of this I think when the Glory of the Lord manifests in my life am I paying attention? I mean really...

Am I waiting for the Glory to show when and where to move or am I moving along at my own pace, failing to heed to His presence in my life. Do people see a Glory Cloud all over me when I'm still and a pillar of fire shooting out of me when I'm moving? Well... These are important questions.

Okay... so we're moving on. The first six chapters of the Law are about OFFERINGS. Now, I'm going to be honest - tithing came hard to us. I grew up and had been taught about "grace giving" a heart that gives to God in response to His blessings in their lives. And, I had heard many times that the tithe was law and we were no longer under law. But, my goodness gracious - there is very near an offering for any and every circumstance - and each of those offerings point to one thing: The Atonement Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I think my favorite part of this whole deal is the "Scape-Goat." I don't know why that picture of tacking our sins on  a goat in the form of a scarlet ribbon tickles me so, but it does. It is so like God - I mean Christ - the unblemished Lamb of God - became our literal scape-goat. 

The ordination of the Priests is a particularly beautiful picture of the set-apart work of the priesthood of God. We are His priesthood now, and we are set apart. Can you picture Christ Himself washing you with water, puting a fresh robe on you, an ornamental breastplate that identifies you as His priest and a covering of a turban with a gold plate fixed as a holy crown upon your head... Can you picture this? Then He goes through your house and He anoints and consecrates it with oil, the anointing oil, which represents the Holy Spirit. He sprinkled the articles of worship, but He pours that oil on your head.

And finally we come upon all the rules about how to keep a clean house and personal hygeine. RULES, RULES, RULES. That is the entire book of Leviticus, but in it is the reason we needed to be atoned for - all those rules were impossible to keep unless you were indeed perfect. Each a rite of passage marking God's people as set apart and different from those who did not follow God. For a girl that once said, "I think I've been rebellious since birth." This book is hard to get through. But, still - It is the heart of God laid bare before us. What is He saying to you tonight?

Don't forget to add this HTML code to your post to add the link back here! Leave me a comment and let me know how you are doing. Don't be afraid to share what you're reading with us. God speaks to each of us in an individual way, unique and specific to our relationship with Him. I think if He is speaking on it to YOU, it might bless me, too. Jump in, the water is fine! :)   

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Well that was a shocker...

So, my hubs and I have been working through for the last six months how to get that  IRS Home Buyers tax credit for our home purchase in 2009-we had some hang ups because we did a private mortgage without a HUD-1A form filed. So we had to work that out with them.

At any rate, they didn't allow me to claim my daughter for 2009 because I typo-ed her Social Security Number. They wouldn't let me claim her tuition credit even though I filled out the form I needed from the Form 1040 instructions. I had to amend our return which now takes like four months to resolve. In addition to this we have had to amend our 2007 and 2006 tax returns to claim some income we received but did not receive records for - which is an additional part of the hold up.

What it comes down to is this... Every four weeks or so I check online to see what the status of our refund may be. Last night - in my winter weather boredom - I did just that. Logged into the IRS "Where's My Refund?" Link with the required information and found to my horror that it said they had adjusted our tax return and now we OWED the FULL AMOUNT of our expected REFUND.

With my heart racing, I hastily dialed in the numbers that appeared on the online notice and dug out my file of tax papers, including the letters from the IRS regarding our "REFUND DUE."

I started to explain the problem and provided the needed information to identify our return. I learned several things:

1. The lady on the phone as well as the IRS website reported we "OWED" that amount.

2. That my heart can race faster than it had when I dialed the phone. I mean it is a large chunk of change and we were expecting a refund. She put me on hold.

3. She came back and said, "Wait. Ma'am. I misread the information - it says you have a refund due [in the amount my records indicate] and they are still working on it. If you sent in the needed forms you should have an answer in 12-16 weeks. The refund has not been sent."

4. WHEW! I laughed out loud. My heart began to return to normal and I realized that if we wait much longer we might just get a larger refund. They have already increased it by $800 from the amount we originally expected in the few months we've been waiting.

The down side: I have to claim $10.72 in interest earned on my 2010 taxes. Small price to pay.

Could God be in cahoots with the IRS?

Things that make you go HMMMM!

Blog Through The Bible Reading Plan - Weekk 6

Here is the reading plan. All this snow seems to have stymied my memory.

Let me know if you are still reading along. I've not heard from many of you in the last few weeks. Would love to know what you are getting out of your readings!

 

 

Consolable Longings

I’m thinking about all the lavish things we consider necessity right now as I post on my blog using my wireless internet card that is so out of date – Verizon does not even offer a plan for it anymore. I will have to upgrade my USB modem just to get a plan with more data capacity. So, I write my blog post in MS Word offline and will publish it later so as not to overuse my MB’s on my wireless card. J Well, maybe I will publish it from Word or maybe I will cut and paste. Depends on whether or not I can add my Wordpress account to my MS Word blog post editor. I’ve tried five times in the last half hour and still get the same message: “Cannot add your account.”

Then I think about the frustration I expressed on the phone with the cable company earlier. I’m put out with them – I’m not going to lie. Every six weeks we have to call them and get an updated box or service call to keep the very expensive television, internet and telephone service they provide us. “We are checking out our other options… We just want you to know.” And we are, we’re a bit tired of the high price of information commodity and have recently been made aware of the opportunity to get the same, even upgraded, service from my husband’s employer at a much discounted rate.

Add to all of this the rolling power outages the state of Texas enjoys this fine winter day, when snow is on the ground and the temperature reads 13 degrees – that’s the high - and well… I’m realizing that my consolable longings list is growing by the minute.

As a matter of fact, I’m contemplating right this minute about whether I should delay the post and run grab a shower before our tankless water heater is once again shut off when the power goes down. But, then my chicken and dumplings that I warmed up in the microwave would be cold and in need of reheating and there is the outside chance our power would be off again. So I will write between bites of piping hot, creamy sauce wrapped around soft, plump dumplings and bits of chicken. I will postpone my shower until after the next power outage and consider my opportunity today to discover something new about myself.

As a matter of fact when I find my mind going to the area of complaint about these things I have to express gratitude that the house payment is in and we have shelter from the harsh winter conditions outside. That our home is equipped with a fireplace and that my lumberjack of a husband went around last February after a record setting winter storm to collect fallen branches and tree limbs.  He spent weeks littering the back porch with wood chips as he hacked away at those missing parts of trees gathered from across the D/FW metro area. He even broke a wedge he used to split the wood he was so heavy into the wood-splitting. I grimaced then at the unattractive bin he made to house his fireplace supply in the back yard and threw a fit when the thing came apart in the spring during a particularly fierce wind storm.  It dumped firewood all over the ground and could have killed our poor little dog who often tracks around the darn thing when he makes his backyard patrols.

I’m grateful for his determination to make fire in the fireplace when the winds blow cold during our Texas winters. I’m grateful for a heater that has only been off for an hour this morning when the rolling blackouts came through and I’m even grateful for the wireless internet card that will let me publish this post a little later today. I’m grateful that I can remain connected with the outside world even though the cable is not working right now. I’m even grateful to be iced into my little three bedroom house today with my family and knowing we are all safe and well, warm and dry and for the most part untouched by the external conditions of our location right now. I’m also grateful that I have bookshelves of books to read this fine winter day, curled up on the couch under a warm, fuzzy blanket and sipping cocoa.

All of these things are consolable longings for which I am very grateful. And, just now my mind drifts to those unmentioned on the news this week. The scores of homeless people that litter our urban streets – some of whom may have split the veil and made the transition to the life beyond our temporary existence on earth – where are they, what is their condition? Did they get in off the streets and get warm food to eat last night? Can I really complain about the cable being out and the limits of my outdated wireless internet card when there are people shivering and starving on our streets right now?

My memory verses for the early part of this year can be found in the book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-eight.

“This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage.” (Isaiah 58: 6-8 MSG)

Perhaps today I am fasting some consolable longings so that my heart will be moved to those who have so much less than I do at this moment. Maybe they need my attention and God is shifting my perspective to their needs rather than my own. Maybe that is what today is all about. I could easily give up my cable and my home phone – which I never use – even the additional phone lines I keep on my wireless plan to help those in need. I could – but, will I?

I think I need to allow the Lord to speak on this to me today. To rend my heart over these things and open my eyes to what it is He wants me to see today. Consolable longings come and go, but that which is eternal sustains and lasts beyond what I realize for just today.