taking the easy way out

Have you ever thought about the whole Cain and Abel situation with regards to their offerings?  I was just reading in Genesis  and stopped to think about that.  I mean, they both brought good things to the Lord, and yet Cain's offering was rejected.  Why?

I had a few thoughts of my own before reading some commentaries on it, but found all to be helpful nuggets of truth.  First, this is the scripture I'm talking about:

"3 In the course of time Cain brought to the  Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,  4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,  5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell." (Genesis 3)

I noticed how it says that Cain brought "an offering of fruit of the ground" but when it explains what Abel brought it says "the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions".  That's a lot more detailed of a description versus the one for Cain's offering.  In addition, it doesn't say that Cain brought the first of his crops - just that he brought some fruit.  Even on those descriptions alone, it sounds like Abel's offering was more of a sacrifice (but that's just a personal observation). 

The commentaries that I read pointed out that it wasn't necessarily about the sacrifice that was brought, but more so about the heart behind it.  Abel obviously took time to bring the best of what he had while Cain threw some fruit in a basket and called it a day (I'm assuming here).  In another commentary that I read though, he mentioned that Abel's sacrifice was probably also accepted because it was in line with the instructions the Lord had set up for offering sacrifices and that those instructions were just not mentioned yet in Genesis.  That made a lot of sense to me especially since it gives credence to Christ's sacrifice in the New Testament.  Christ died and was sacrificed for us.  His blood was shed for us.  He was the ultimate, spotless lamb.  "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before it's shearers, so He did not open His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)

That is truly amazing but I digress...

Back to Cain and Abel for a second.  As I read this and thought through the ramifications of everything that happened because of Cain's thoughtless sacrifice, I analyzed how that can apply to us in 2012.  It's not like we go to the temple to offer sacrifices anymore (praise God that that is no longer needed) but we do offer things to the Lord and, if Cain is any indication, we can offer the wrong thing in the wrong way (or even the right thing in the wrong way).  

Do we try and give the Lord something that is easy for us to give?  Something that we think He wants from us yet is not what He is asking of us? Or maybe we give what is easy to give?  It doesn't require any sacrifice on our part, it really doesn't take much thought at all.  What if God is asking us to give not only what we want to give Him, but what He wants us to give Him?  I have a feeling that's the most likely case. 

The words of Psalm 139 come back to me from the women's conference this last weekend.  "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way."  It's scary.  It's hard.  Sometimes I'm even afraid of the answer, but it is always best to ask the Lord what He wants me to give.  It is always best to trust Him and His gentle, lovingkindness when it comes to matters of the heart.  

What is He asking you to sacrifice to Him?  Better yet, how will He help you do that?

unexpected answers

This morning I was reading in 2 Kings 5 where this guy Naaman learns of a profit of God (Elisha) who could heal his leprosy.  Leprosy isn't something you want to continue to have, so he packs up all sorts of fun, expensive things and heads over to the King of Israel.  He asks if he can be healed but the King tears his clothes (he's not having a good day) and cries out thinking that the King of Aram (whom Naaman serves under) is just trying to pick a fight.  Naaman then goes to the household of Elisha (who has heard about all of this and the King's torment) and, rather than talking to him face to face, sends a servant to Naaman who tells him all he must do is wash 7 times in the Jordan and he will be healed. 

Naaman won't have any of that.  He's thinking to himself, "Wash in a river?  Yeah right, like that is going to do any good let alone heal me!"  So he storms away until one of his servants comes up to him and humbly says, "Had the prophet told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash and be clean'?" (v13).  Naaman listens, washes in the Jordan, and what do you know?  He's healed.  He goes back to Elisha and tries to pay him for the service but Elisha will have none of that.

Ok, simple story right?  Kind of fun, short, simple, easy to understand - right?  Wrong. 

I read this and it hit me that we do the same thing Naaman does all the time!  I think our behavior shows itself in a few different ways though.  One way would be that God gives us an answer to a prayer we had and we think "that can't be it, there has to be more" when really, God is simply giving you the answer.  Maybe it's just something you know, or maybe it's as simple as a passage  you read in the Bible but it gives you the answer and you just need to accept it.

Another way may be that the answer is not only simple, but it's not the answer we were looking for.  I think Naaman went to Elisha with grand ideas of hocous-pocous in his mind - maybe some smoke and lasers or even a little bit of dramatic flair brought on by costumes and intense music.  Instead, Elisha sends his servant to Naaman (a captain of the entire army of the King of Aram) and the servant tells Naaman to wash in the river. 

In our own lives, I think we do just what Naaman did.  We come to God expecting something miraculous (not that God doesn't do miracles) but we walk away disappointed when He's clearly given us the answer.  Just because we didn't see a blinding flash of light or something doesn't mean God wasn't there and working! 

Plus, are we willing to look for the unexpected answers to our prayers?  Or are we just excepting God to answer them in one way and, if it doesn't happen that way, we give up and think His answer is no?  We could be missing out on a completely different route to something we desire just becuase we're so focused on ourselves and our way and we miss God's way.

Just something to think about (for myself included!). 

strength in numbers

This last weekend I was blessed to take part in the women's conference for my church!  I was able to see it shaped, molded, and formed into a different type of conference for the women this year.  We assessed the conferences from years past and felt the Lord directing us to simplify things.  We used to have 5 speakers, this year we had 3, we used to have maybe 20 minutes for personal time this year we had 30-40.  All of it was geared toward us, as women in the body of Christ, coming together and sharing our struggles and triumphs in  order to become a more cohesive unit in the church. 

I'll admit to being slightly wary of what this weekend was going to look like.  I'm a planner, a HUGE organizer, and a weekend where a lot of aspects were left up to "the Holy Spirits leading" was admittedly a bit frightening.  I say this now with regret because, looking back, I see how there was no way in which I could have planned it better and, because of our flexibility, I was able to spend valuable time discussing what the next session would look like right before we started.  It gave me a fresh perspective, anticipation, and immense peace.  We knew that God would be leading us, which meant undoubtedly it would be to His glory, not ours. 

As the conference came to a close on Sunday, we introduced  a 90 program (for lack of a better word) that is to help instill a habit of discipleship and personal time with the Lord.  The Aletheia (as we are calling it) falls on the heels of the men's version, The Alliance, and we use The City, a web-based communication system similar to Facedbook for our church, to keep in touch as women through these 90 days. 

We're only on day 3 but already I know I have personally been so encouraged.  The other women have also mentioned they feel the same way.  There is a daily scripture passage to read and then we are able to reflect on what the Lord is teaching us through that passage, struggles, triumphs, or just encouragements and prayer requests to each other every day.  It's a lot of posts to read through, but they are the second best thing (to the scripture reading that is). 

As I read through this morning (and again this afternoon to catch posts I hadn't yet seen) it hit me how truly amazing and unique this is.  I'm not saying that we've found something better than any other church, or that we are better at community because we're doing this program, but I have noticed a few things.  First, I've noticed the urge to pray more!  To pray immediately when a sister shares a struggle, or when there is a triumph mentioned, to praise God for it.  Secondly, I have noticed a lot of struggles and trials - persecution if you will.  It is hard and painful, but at the same time encouraging in a way because the devil doesn't attack someone who's not a threat.  I wouldn't wish the hardships we are facing on anyone, but I do choose to be encouraged by it and strengthened by the fact that God is right there with us, facing the hard times and, most importantly, giving us strength to make it through! 

I am so thankful to the women who are vulnerable and open, who struggle yet turn to Christ, who see the blessings and thank God for them.  I know I am not alone in my walk, and God has provided a way for me to tangibly see that!  Praise Him :)

cheap imitation

Today at church it really hit me that Jesus, showing His humanity, asked God if the cup (God's wrath) could pass from Him but Jesus made it very clear that it wasn't what He wanted but rather what God wanted.  "Yet not what I will, but what you will."  (Mark 14:36b)  That hit so close to my heart for some reason this morning.  I wrote down the question: How many times do I say, "Not what You will but what I will."  Instead of getting it the other way around I ask for my will, not God's.  


That breaks my heart because I know it's not just something that I struggle with - it's something humanity struggles with.  Our perspective is off.  We view the world around us in such a limited way.  We say "this is what I want and this is what will make me happy" but we choose the wrong thing(s).  Instead of lasting happiness and security, we pick things like wealth which diminishes, beauty which fades, and momentary pleasure which stops satisfying much to quickly to be of any good.   Sure, these things seem like the answer at the time, but they are quickly exposed for what they truly are - a cover up.  A band-aid.  A cheap imitation.

We have to re-focus; adjust our perspective to put Christ at the center.

I love photography and when you take a picture, what you focus on is so important.  In fact, it shapes the entire point and purpose of the photo.  When I look at a portrait I've taken and notice that the eyes aren't in focus it pretty much ruins the while picture.  What good is it if the ear is in focus but the eyes aren't?  The same is true with our walk with God.  What good is it if we have only one aspect of our relationship with God in focus while everything else is left blurry?  


I want to sharpen my focus on the important things, the things that make up the picture.  It wont help me to hone in on certain aspects of my life if Jesus and the cross are out of focus.  I hope that my passion for taking photos will help me to remember where my focus needs to be.  Every time I got to take a shot I want to be reminded that the same idea will be helpful in my own life.   Focusing on Him will lead me to put everything else into focus.


 

hope.

Things turn our differently than you think they will.  Our grand ideas of the world usually dissolve into reality like salt in water.  We don't realize what we used to think until we taste it and the saltiness comes out in full force. 
I think back to high school which seems like a mere moment ago and realize how much has changed.  Now is real but so was then.  How do I reconcile what I thought was going to happen with what did?  Do I make excuses for what I've done or didn't do?  For who I've become from who I was - the good and the bad?
Why do some moments come back so clear?  The pain.  The joy.  The confusion.  The excitement. The loss.  All with equal force and yet unequal in their importance.  I want so much to remember the good in volumes and yet the bad often out weighs it.
The faces of the past loom before me.  Was it my job to do more and I didn't?  Does that question even help the situation?  Probably not.  It just mocks me as I stare into the distance...wondering.
Things come in shades for me.
Dusty beige for parts of my past faded and gone.
Yellow and shining for the things I remember with fondness.
Hazy blue and grey for the sad times I know I needed but wish I could have evaded.
Green for the future.  For what could and can be.  In a word, hope.
Hope.
I see lots of green these days.
There are shadows and hints of grey and blue but they usually entice me to find the green that's to be held in His hands.
How can I dwell in the past and keep my gaze on what was when that will never change?  Only the future holds treasures to be found and joy to be uncovered.  The future, trapped only by the present, holds true reward.
I choose to place my focus in His hands.  To see the green when the blue and grey threaten to choke it out. 
I choose to live in hope.

a vineyard, a whiner, and the consequences

1 Kings 21

I was reading through part of the story of Ahab this morning.  The Old Testament is filled with these great, seemingly random, stories that sometimes make sense and sometimes work to confuse you if you're not sure what was going on before (or after, in some cases).  As I read though this section of Kings, I was faced with a pretty heavy realization about sin.

In a short synopsis, Ahab wants this vineyard from a guy named Naboth.  Naboth can't sell it because of a promise he'd made to the Lord regarding the land so Ahab goes home and whines to his wife.  She takes matters into her own hands and works it out so Naboth is stoned (with rocks...).  Then Ahab gets his vineyard and all is good - that  is, until the Lord talks to Elijah (the profit) and has him relay a message to Ahab basically saying he's gonna regret what he did and will end up among the nonliving very soon.  In a twist that I hadn't seen coming, Ahab "humbles himself" before the Lord and the Lord recognizes this and says that He will not "bring evil in his days" though He does explain that He will "bring evil upon his house in his son's days"(v29).

As you read though these sections in scripture most of the time people mess up, aren't repentant, and they 'get what they deserve' in a sense.  In this case though, Ahab was truly sorry.  It says he was "despondent" and the Lord recognized that and forgave him.  I thought that was really amazing and wonderful all at the same time.  But, I also noticed that even though Ahab was forgiven, the consequences of his sin would still be brought about.  It made me think of David and Bathsheba - David was heartbroken about the sin he committed and he repented before the Lord.  God forgave him, but David still had to face the consequences of his sin with the death of his son.  In both cases the men were forgiven, but their sin caused others in their life to be adversely affected.  In Ahab's case it would be his household after he was gone (dead) and with David it was his son's life that was forfeited. 

When we sin, it doesn't just affect us.  The Lord has created us to live in community and with family.  Our individual sin - though personally committed - affects those around us as well, sometimes even more than we'd think.  That shouldn't be a scare tactic for us not to sin, but it should help us to stop and consider our families as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ before we act on a fleshly impulse to sin. 

But, when we do sin, this story also shows us that God desires us to be truly repentant and humble in the face of our sin.  God saw the fact that Ahab humbled himself before Him and was pleased with that.  When sin is committed, the best thing to do is to be honest with the Lord.  To remember Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf and to realize that we can be nothing if not humble before our great and loving Father. There may be consequences, but God promises to be with us through those as well.  Be encouraged and remember that we have a faithful God!

the littlest & the greatest

This morning I read from Matthew 18 and came to verses 3-5 where Jesus says, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever then humbles himself as a little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me..."

It took me a second to process that.  I mean, I've heard or read this passage numerous times before and have probably heard quite a few pastors speak on it but, for some reason, this morning it stood out to me.  I thought back to yesterday morning at church when I was setting up part of our sanctuary and a little girl named Olivia offered to help me.  In fact, she didn't even say "Can I help you?" she just stood there, expectant, smiling, and willing.  The mental image of her sweet face, ready to do anything and everything, causes my heart to melt with her sincerity.  I was struck by how completely sweet and innocent she went about offering her help to me.  She didn't run up expecting to be given a great task.  In fact, I think she knew I would give her small things in order to see what she could handle, but she didn't complain.  She just waited patiently for me to give her directions and then followed through with what I had asked to the best of her ability.

I look back on the whole encounter in light of the passage I read this morning and am overwhelmed by what an amazing analogy it presents to me of how God views and treats us.  When God asks us to come to him as children, it's because He stands above us in a similar position to what I had over Olivia.  I was the one directing her and, therefore, I was the one who would be held responsible for the tasks I asked her to accomplish.  Understanding her age (about 5 years old) and abilities, I would never have asked her to fill up a 60 cup hot water pot and carry it across the room - it would be foolish of me to even think she could accomplish something like that at her age.  But, having seen her attitude toward service and her attention to the smallest details in the simplest things I had given her, by the end of the morning I was confident in asking her to handle a few "more complicated" tasks.  I had seen and observed her and knew she could handle them.

I feel in His own, perfect way God is like this with us.  He observes us where we are and how we handle the smaller tasks He has asked of us and, when He knows we can handle it, He offers us larger, more challenging tasks.

In light of this, I desire to respond like Olivia did.  I want to come to the Lord and wait patiently with an open heart, asking Him to give me what He will - knowing that He wont give me more than I can handle (1 Cor. 10:13).  And then, with whatever He gives me I want to do my best!  Maybe in the future those small tasks will turn into larger ones but the important thing is that, in whatever I do, I do it for His glory (1 Cor. 10:31).  Here's to turning back the clock a little and remembering what it's like, and how humbling it can be, to be a child.