Fallen Leaves

Fallen leaves remind us, as we rake them from our lawn

That life provides us seasons, as we grow & move along

Sometimes flowers and sunshine, others, gloom and rain

But in the end, God keeps us, He grows us through our pain

GF

Say the Word "Corn"

We read of the dream of Pharaoh in Genesis 41, and the interpretation of the dream by Joseph which led to the salvation of the world and the building of Egypt through his God-given wisdom to dole out the corn during years of famine.

Please notice the word, Corn - Shibboleth (Heb). This in not Nebraska sweet corn (otherwise called manna :), rather, grain, as in, a grain of wheat, etc.

Where do we hear this word "shibboleth" elsewhere in the Bible?

Look toward the end of Judges 12, especially verse 6.

During the days of the Judges when God punished Israel for their idolatry, there happened to be this rift between the Ephraimites and Mannassites (stemming from both of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh) and the men of Gilead.

The Ephraimites couldn't pronounce the word shibboleth. They had a problem with the sh blend. Think: Gringos trying to roll their R's like the Latinos.

The Gileadites used it as a password for those coming across the river Jordan. (Like the Grumpy old Troll - "If you want to pass over, solve my riddle").

If the Ephraimites couldn't say it, but instead said "Sibboleth," they were slain. 42,000 men died because they couldn't say corn. How tragic!

Yet, here is Joseph, progenitor of the Ephraimites and Manassites, in Gen 41, saving the world through corn (shibboleth). I wonder if he could pronounce the word??? 

The Cost of Humble Pie

Please read Genesis 32

Jacob's name means "supplanter" "trickster" or "deceiver." His early life story provides a litany of deception episodes. He tried to pull the wool (oh my, the puns that could follow!) over the eyes of his father, his brother, his father-in-law. But he got his! Oh yes, he did. The trickster got tricked. The deceiver was deceived. Now, he camps out by the river, conniving ways to squelch the wrath of the one he supplanted. His guilt-ridden idea? Try to heal the rift and smooth the torrent caused 20 years earlier by buying Esau's forgiveness.

Look at the cost... Jacob's appeasement gifts to Esau - Gen 32: 14-16

(Current market values of the cattle Jacob offered to Esau to save his neck)

220 Goats: $22,000

220 Sheep: $22,000

30 Camels: $21,000 plus $14,000 (for 20 colts)

10 Bulls: $40,000

30 Donkeys: $18,000

Total cost: $137,000

Your deception of others to gain an advantage may not seem like a big deal at the time of the crime.

However, the resulting guilt cannot have a price tag attached to it. And when you do try to appease those whom you have wronged, the cost is multiplied many times more than you could ever have calculated.

It would be much better to just be fair, just, honest and do the right thing.

The Rapture - Rev 4:1

“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”

Instantaneously:

*Heaven is opened

*The Trumpet sounds

*The Voice calls us up

But first... John looked! As he was looking way back then, so ought we to be looking today.

Note: Where are you looking? The Christian needs to take 3 looks: Inward, to guard his relationship (I Cor 11:28). Outward to look for souls for the kingdom (Jn 4:35). Upward from whence cometh our help! (Ps 121:1)

Don’t ever look down. Looking down strikes fear into the heart.

John was the last of the original disciples, longing for the promise that the angels gave them in Acts 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

Jesus had said to Peter concerning John:

Jn 21:22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 23  Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? 

If John was looking, anticipating, expecting then, how much closer is His coming today? He could have come at any time in the interim, but there is an appointed season, day and time.

Mk 13:32  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 

But the Lord says that there are dozens of signs that do point to that day. And we ought to be able to discern the seasons. See, He said no man knows the day of the hour, but Paul says that we should not be ignorant of the times and the seasons. It isn’t much of a stretch for us to imagine that all we are seeing and hearing portend the coming of our Lord in the clouds to call us home!

Ø No doubt Gabriel is prepared as the announcing angel (to: Mary, Joseph, Shepherds – “Jesus is coming!)

Ø No doubt the Mansions are being prepared as Jesus told Thomas in John 14:1,2 “Let not your heart be troubled…”

Ø No doubt the Bema is being prepared  II Cor 5:10

Ø No doubt the Supper is being prepared   Rev 19:9 (Cooks are in the kitchen, the servants are polishing the silver)

Ø No doubt the Guardian Angels are ready to return home from their earthly deployment   Heb 1:14 “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister to us”

Ø No doubt the Spirit that withholds is prepared to be taken out of the way   II Thess 2:7

Ø No doubt this old world is groaning for the end   Rom 8:22

Ø No doubt our loved ones are gathering at the river bank

Ø No doubt Jesus longs for His own to be home  “So shall we ever be with the Lord”

It all just awaits the Father's command: "Son, go get our children!"

Are you looking for His coming? Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 

I wonder if, even now, heaven is about to open, if the angel is getting his trumpet shined and lips ready, if the Lord is clearing His throat for the call home…

John was looking, Paul was looking, the martyrs were looking, our parents and grandparents of old were looking, the old time preachers were looking, SO SHOULD WE!

God is much more concerned about your future than He is your past!

God's Messed up People ..
Heb 11, "by faith, Rahab the harlot..."
Is there a worse intro to a commendation?

We read about the following Bible heroes:
*Sarah the snickerer
*Abraham the impetuous
*Moses the murderer
*David the adulterer
*Samson the MESS!
The list of failures is extensive.

What does this Bible frankness tell us?
1. The Bible tells it the way it really happened. The characters are not sanitized.
2. God uses imperfect people to accomplish His will. I Cor 1:20-21
3. Our past does not necessarily portend our future. Phil 3:13-14
4. His salvation is complete, His grace is sufficient, His forgiveness is thorough. I For 6:11

God wants to use you today. If you are a believer, don't bring up your past when He taps you on the shoulder. He Who knows all things willingly forgets what is under the blood.

What We Are!

Peter, in chapters 1 and 2 of his first epistle, gives believers a number of descriptors. I was blessed by drawing these out of these wonderful chapters. The more we think of ourselves as God knows us to be, the more confidence we are able to resource in our daily walk with and for Him. Here is what we are according to I Peter 1 and 2, bare bones, you add the meat.

We are:   I Pet 1
Strangers 1
Elect 2
Foreknown 2
Sanctified 2
Blood-Washed 2
Begotten to a lively hope 3
Inheritors (benefactors) 4
Kept 5
Tempted 6
Tried 7
Ultimately Saved  9
Obedient Children 14
Holy  16
Sojourners  17
Redeemed 18-19
Purified, Obedient  22
Born Again 23
Targets of God's Word  25

We are:    Chapter 2
Newborn Babes 2
Lively Stones in a Spiritual House  5
Chosen Generation  9
Royal Priesthood   9
People of God  10
Strangers and Pilgrims  11
Do-gooders 12
Free  16
Sufferers  19-21

Three things I take away from this:
We have tests
We are blessed
He is the BEST!

Spring Has Sprung

Finally, since March 20^th, the first official day of Spring this year, Spring has arrived in full force. The flowers and trees are budding, the grass is growing, the birds are chirping, and kids are playing outside. Teachers and students alike are getting cabin fever and longing for that last day of school in May.

Those who suffer with SAD, Seasonal Affective Dysfunction, now breathe in  allergen laced pollens to their delight. We have until June 21^st to enjoy the renewed freshness of nature as it awakens to fulfill the promise of vitality.

As well, believers, fresh and full of resurrection life and power, can enjoy the sense of God doing a new thing in their lives, families and churches.

Oh, that we might sing praises with the gusto of the birds. That we would blossom for God as do the tulips and lilies. That we would grow in faith as the verdant grass. And that we would shine warmth upon others with the power of the sun (Son).

Spring has sprung, let us cast off our wintry lethargy and terminal dormancy and rise to the vivacity of Christian joy and productivity.

We are called to life – let’s live it to the fullest as God gives us grace and strength.