Our Path

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

I am on a need-to-know basis with God these days. I would prefer to have my life laid out neatly on a piece of paper so that I can plan my day but He doesn’t work that way. His timetable and mine often differ but I know that I can trust Him. I remember when Kate was little, she feared getting lost and would ask me if I had a map in my head when she got in the car. Only when I assured her that I did, would she settle back and enjoy the ride. That same confidence is mine when I trust Him with my life. Repeatedly in Scripture, He talks about our "path" with specific instructions about how to negotiate the daily twists and turns of life. Not only can I count on the clues from His Word, but also He directs people to influence me and circumstances to confirm what He wants me to do. Yet, there are moments when I question and plead with Him for answers, or change, or direction TODAY. His patient answer comes back, "I will advise you and watch over you." Yes, Lord.

Extreme Tabernacle

Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. Numbers 9:22 (NLT)

Have you ever watched Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? Recently, Tucson experienced the razing and rebuilding of a 3600 square foot home—all done in one week. I used to build houses and can't imagine coordinating the crews to meet that deadline. Even under normal circumstance, I remember how important it was for me to put away the plans, after pouring over them all day, if I wanted a restful night's sleep. I needed time to wind down from the countless details and drawings. As I read the story of the building of the Tabernacle, it struck me that God is a God of detail. He knew exactly what He wanted and gave a list of instructions to Moses about its construction, contents, arrangement, and even the best craftsmen to do the work. (While reading, I tried to visualize the construction plans and realized we use many of the same details when framing a house today.) But, this was not a one-man or one-week project. Moses was the project manager but all the children of Israel participated. Everyone donated to the project—from precious metals and stones to wood and colored thread—all used for the completion of the intricate patterns and designs. Imagine the excitement of the people as Moses assembled all the pieces and the Tabernacle took shape before their eyes. And think of their wonder as they watched the glory of the LORD fill it with His presence—a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. The LORD now had a visible place to dwell in the camp. However, did you notice how God chose to direct His people? If the cloud moved, the people knew it was time to break up camp and follow it. How many times have you asked God about His plans for your life? Wouldn't it be easier if we could look out the window and see the status of the cloud—kinda like looking up the weather on the Internet? No, it is not that simple, but God did not leave us clueless. We have a guide and guidebook in the Holy Spirit and the Bible. He will speak to our heart and mind if we seek Him and listen. We may not see a cloud but we can count on His presence in the stillness of the night, the loneliness of a hospital bed, or the joy of a newborn baby. He promises never to leave us. So get your plans out and study them…for the next step.

Turf War

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22 (NIV)

The other night my daughter called and wanted some advice about a situation going on at the girl's school. As women, we seem to be very good at creating large problems out of small incidents, the proverbial mountains out of molehills, and she was mixed up in one with another mother. In thinking about the various aspects of the problem, I conceded that mothers become very protective about their children and intimidated if there is a feeling of being taken advantage. It is also easy to make assumptions about another person's life, particularly if things are not going well in our own home. Before you know it, we misconstrue seemingly, simple, innocent gestures or actions resulting in hard feelings and unkind responses. So how do you handle the elephant in the room? I immediately thought of the phrase "heaping coals of fire" on an enemy's head from today's verse. Not sure about the exact meaning, I decided to do a google search and found some interesting definitions:

• In the biblical era, fire was a valuable commodity. Often a person would go to a neighbor and ask for a coal with which to start his fire. This expression means don’t just give him the basic essential. Instead, give him so many coals they are so heavy he has to carry them on his head as was the custom with heavy loads. Thus, we are taught a lesson in helpful generosity.
• To heap coals of fire on the head of a foe: To melt down his animosity by deeds of kindness.
• It means to treat someone who wrongs you with extra kindness, above and beyond the norm and in spite of whatever they have done to you. It usually shocks the person and points out to them that they have done something wrong.

I found the translation from The Message offered some helpful clues:

If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch; if he's thirsty, bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and God will look after you. Proverbs 25:21-22 (The Message)

So I gave her a few suggestions: Call this mom up and arrange to meet at Starbucks for coffee. Listen rather than talk. Put yourself in the other person's shoes. Offer sympathy and help. She may turn down your offer and probably will never be your BFF, but you will have done your part. An act of kindness, a simple cup of coffee, may completely turn around the situation. It won't be easy but remember, it's during the hard times that we grow. Whatever the outcome, the verse ends with the promise that He will look after you. This is a win-win situation. Got her number?

God is God

I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. Job 42:2 (NLT)

Job's story blows me away. Each of us can spin the tale of our lives to include romance, pathos, sorrow, and victory but Job wins the Oscar. I have many questions to ask God some day and we read that Job, also, had a few. He could not figure out why God was treating him with so many trials and indignities. It was so bad that he wished he had never been born and wanted to die. The incessant hammer of the "so-called" advice from his friends was useless…it just made him mad. He scolded these friends for humiliating him and doubting God. Although I am impressed that Job never renounced his faith, I do think pride may have been his Achilles heel. Why? Because when God finally took center stage to respond to him, the majesty and grandeur of our Creator was overwhelming to Job. He realized that all he ever had or was came directly as a gift from the Father. He could control nothing and in the end, he takes back everything he said and repents. We can rail against God because of our circumstances or we can accept that the God who created thunder, lightning, ice storms, and ocean monsters has also created me with my particular story. I must remember that God is God.