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Marah

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Exodus 15:22-25a
 And Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto Jehovah; and Jehovah showed him a tree, and he cast it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet . . . [ASV]
These verses describe the scene early after the Israelites departed Egypt.  The exhilaration of their escape had faded.  They were far from Egypt and found themselves in a wilderness.  Their water supplies were spent, they were tired, and needed refreshing.
They found water after arriving at Marah, but it couldn’t be consumed because it was too bitter.  They started a complaint campaign against Moses.  I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to endure the grumbling and complaining of millions of people thirsty and irritated.  They looked at the water and it probably looked inviting but when they tasted it; it was overwhelmingly bitter.   Undoubtedly they bathed in it, but they couldn’t drink it.  After this went on for a while, the complaint campaign escalated in earnest.  Moses then knew he had to talk to God.
Moses had no solution.  Bitterness is impossible to overcome. God had always provided an escape.  Would He do it again this time?  He showed Moses the remedy for the situation.  He showed Moses a tree to be cut down and cast into the water.
This story is a metaphor, I was told years ago.  The waters are a symbol for life in this world.  The waters were bitter and life in this world is bitter for those who do not know Christ.  In the middle of the bitterness, the Israelites cried out to the Lord for a solution.  He is so rich toward us that He always gives us what we need.  He showed Moses a tree that was to be thrown into the water.   The tree is a symbol for Christ.
By obedience, the BITTERNESS was taken from the water making it sweet.   Life in darkness is bitter, no joy, no peace – but God who is rich in mercy, hears us and gave us His son.  What He gave was beyond our comprehension.   He was slain for our good, He is the answer to our prayers.
 
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Pretty is . . .

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My grandmother had lots of maxims.  Some might call them proverbs or wise sayings.  She shared them with my mother who would then share and explain them to us kids.  We would hear them and they were part of us but we as with all things of value, they needed to stay with us for awhile until we learned their depth and validity. 

I was talking to one of my students, a lovely bright-eyed Latina, and told her “Pretty is, as pretty does”.  She said okay but I could tell that she didn’t really hear it.   I asked her if she understood, she later confessed that she didn’t.  I began explaining about my grandmother’s maxims.  How they were illustrative of greater truth but had to be lived and experienced to bear the fruit of their contained wisdom.  

“Pretty is, as pretty does” literally describes how pretty people (male or female) are only as pretty externally as their behavior matches.  Just because you are appealing to the eye doesn’t make you beautiful.  Your demeanor, personality and actions must align.  Compare with the following proverb:

Proverbs 11:22
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful face on an empty head
[MSG.]

dedicated to the memory of Myrtle Mullens

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Conflictual

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People who don’t know the Lord lose perspective as they navigate life’s conflicts.  We often conflict with others including bosses, card playing buddies, or even mothers-in-law.  Conflict often arises with circumstances beyond our control with work issues, traffic, the economy or the lack (or overabundance) of rain.  Finally, we face conflict in the daily effort to achieve finances that include the press of competition, access to commodities, and ill will due to greed.

Conflicts face forward and confront obstacles that impede progress.  The world teaches that we should pin our ears back and stare until we beat these obstacles.  Face-to-face confrontation forces us to look at the obstacle and measure up to it.  This is the perspective by which the battles are lost.  Simply put, by looking at the obstacle, it’s easy to be overwhelmed looking squarely at it.  The devil is in the detail as you scan every nuance and distortion seeming amplified and bigger than life.
 
No one feels comfortable confronting their obstacle alone no matter what the old school conquistadors have to say.  There are those who say that seeking help from God is a cheat, the real fighter does battle alone. How ironic does the Apostle Paul appear when he says “ . . . when I am weak, then am I strong (II Cor. 12:10 ) 
 
 
Being aligned and allied with God allows me to see everything from its proper prospective.  I see my boss, mother-in-law, the economy and even the country’s problems in light of the Lord’s ruling presence.  He shows me the people, the bills, the floods and storms of this life and reassures me that even with them all,  He will NEVER leave me alone to deal with them. I am not overwhelmed by circumstances, because I am not alone. 

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The Faith of the Magi

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I saw the sign today “Wise Men still seek Him” and since I aspire to be wise, I took note.  I did some research on the Magi and one writer says that they may have been inspired by Daniel’s text and even Balaam’s prophesy that a star would come out of Jacob.  “We know that the Magi were astrologers from ‘the East,’most likely Persia, or modern-day Iran. This means the wise men traveled 800 to 900 miles to see the Christ child. Most likely, the Magi knew of the writings of the prophet Daniel, who in time past had been the chief of the court seers in Persia. Daniel 9:24-27 includes a prophecy which gives a timeline for the birth of the Messiah. Also, the magi may have been aware of the prophecy of Balaam (who was from the town of Pethor on the Euphrates River near Persia) in Numbers 24:17. Balaam’s prophecy specifically mentions a “star coming out of Jacob.” 

They were indeed astrologers and students of ancient prophesies. But more importantly, they traveled hundreds of miles by camel or on foot for one reason: to worship this new king.  Matthew’s account of the gospel describes “wise men” coming from the East. Tradition holds that since there were three gifts, three emissaries would carry them.  Their political importance is underlined by their ability to get an audience with the sitting king Herod. The bible records that he and his advisors were astounded to see them and to hear of this new “King of the Jews” born in Israel.

There are several speculations about the gifts given to the Child.  Symbolically speaking the gifts were absolutely appropriate.  They brought Gold a symbol of divinity, Frankinscense, an incense or sweet savor offered and symbolic of purity and righteousness.  Finally, they offered Myrrh, an embalming oil symbolizing the death that he would die.  Some say that the gold alone would have provided for the journey to Egypt that Joseph would soon take. 

The journey of the Magi was not an inexpensive journey either, unlike the depictions in nativity scenes worldwide, the Magi were most certainly accompanied by servants who tended to their animals, guides and armor-bearers. They came to worship the new king but their very action corresponded to their purpose to show the worth of this new king.  The word worship comes from an old English word “worschipe” and its connotation is ´to show the worth of´. The Magi then showed the worth of this King by traveling hundreds of hard dusty miles to an uncertain destination, talking to undesirables [King Herod], but that could not have been compared to the joy of meeting the new King of Kings.  

We are challenged to let our faith live in worship; not the traditional meaning of worship: the singing of hymns, the upward look, the raised hands. Please note: there is NOTHING wrong with any of these gestures! They are traditional but they are also symbolic gestures that in good hope point to the surrendered life and the absolute joy that corresponds with living in relationship with the King.  

May your faith and grace be multiplied as you commune with the KING in this holiest of seasons!

photo from Nativity scene in Managua, Nicaragua

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Religious Freedom Reformation in Indiana!!

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As an Indiana native I am enthralled by the political nightmare Mike Pence and the Indiana political bureaucracy has created for itself.  The Religious Freedom act was created to protect business-owners from lawsuits against them for providing services to individuals to whom providing such would contradict the providers religious beliefs.  

 
That being said, litigation involving gay couples and vendors refusing to provide services for them is not new.  These matters may not have been called to question in many of Indiana’s rural communities but in the 12th largest metropolitan area in the country, there have been cited instances of conflict beginning in 2010.  
 
These instances were brought up in arguments pro and con the bill in the Indiana Statehouse.  Unfortunately, this being a true red state, the bill passed both houses and went on to the Governor’s desk to be signed without hesitation.  
 
That’s when the proverbial rubber met the road.  People from all over the country [and world] began voicing their opposition to the bill and subsequently voiced their ire toward Indiana for sending civil rights backwards.  
 
As I write this, Governor Pence is working [frantically] to try to re-frame the bill and the message that came with it. The message that they did not want to send was that this was a bill to license and protect discrimination.  
 
To be clear, and to the peril of gay friends and relatives, I believe this legislation was not wrong-headed but there are ALWAYS ways to shrivel up and feign helplessness dealing with uncomfortable issues.  We have to use wisdom rather than fear and human government to reach out in love to different communities.  Not only homosexual communities but differing religions and cultures. 
 
The problem with religion is that it needs freedom but the Bible says “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [freedom]”.  2 Cor. 3:17  How do we love people enough that they see past us to the God in us?  Are we helping by refusing them service?  Do you interpret scriptures as saying isolate and ignore all sinners?  I seem to recall a statement saying “love covers a multitude of sin” 1 Pet. 4:8; and Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Mt. 22:39
 
I have problems with religious people who are so invested in tradition that they cannot see past nonsense that is peddled from conservative radio to political leadership and ultimately and unfortunately to some pulpits.  

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Not Just a Baby . . . (Christmas 2013)

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How amazing it is that Christ, after spending eternity with the Father took on this frail flesh and suffered the outright humiliation of being born not only with the limitation of being a human, but in the primitive ancient town of Bethlehem.  It is imperative that while we celebrate His being with us, that we contemplate the sum of his work.  It is true that we may not know the whole sum of his work for some time to come, but the revelation of what his work of salvation means is still staggering.  
 
So when we get enticed to consider his birth (and coinciding celebration) outside of the context of his life, ministry and creation of the Kingdom. We are missing it.  We are told he was slain before the foundation of the world so when he was born, his work of salvation was already complete!!
 
His architecture and creation of Kingship and Kingdom are masterful and profound.  As we learn minuscule portions of his creation and how minute changes in DNA create everything we see.  How the his spirit permeates the entire world at this time of year and unwittingly even those who refuse to accept him are affected.  These are the absolute shadings of how Great He is and that he is not just a man and he was not just a baby.  As the songwriter said: Sweet Little Jesus Boy, we didn’t know who you were . . . 
 
I have been in worship enjoying Fred Hammond’s song “Not Just A Man”  that says it better than these few words:
 
Merry Christmas All!!
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Guest Blogger Ann-Marie Brewer – God Always Responds With a Promise

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My special guest blogger is Ann-Marie Brewer, an author, a mother and a gifted, experienced child of the King! She has a Bachelors of Arts in Journalism from Indiana University. She along with her husband, Darryl earned a second BA from Metropolitan School of Theology. Ann and Darryl are proud parents to a blended family of 8 young adult children and 5 grandchildren. The couple currently resides in Phoenix, AZ where they serve in ministry together at Word of Abundant Life Christian Church.
God Always Responds With a Promise
Webster’s defines a promise as “a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance of a specified act.” When God says He’s going to do something – you can count on it. God is not like man. He never breaks His promises. When God tells you something in his Word, you can count on it.
When you face a problem in your life God will always respond with a promise. The Bible is full of men and women like you and me who faced many challenges. Each of them put their faith in a promise of God and came through with the victory.
Psalms 34:19 “Many evils confront the consistently righteous; but the Lord delivers them out of them all.” (AMP)
The Bible clearly teaches you how you can obtain the success that God wants for you. God has promised this success if you follow the instructions He has given you in His Word. Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.” (AMP)
This scripture clearly and simply explains what you must do to have success in your life. You must follow His plan and that includes three steps outlined in the above scripture:
  1. You must decide or make the choice to speak His Word – over your life and over your marriage, your family, your relationships and your health.
  2. You must decide or make the choice to meditate upon His Word day and night – you must rehearse it and ponder over it continually.
  3. You must decide or make the choice to do what God tells you to do. You must make the choice to obey Him.
In order to speak, meditate and obey God’s Word – you must first take the time to read it. It’s important that you read God’s Word out loud. Faith comes by hearing. When you hear your own voice speak the promises of God – it will produce hope and expectation in your heart. It will cause you not to give up because it produces a deep longing for you to see and experience His promises.
The next time you are experiencing problems in your marriage, you need to declare….
  • “Lord I thank you that me and spouse are naked and unashamed in each other’s presence. We have spiritual, emotional, financial and physical intimacy. What God has joined together, no man will tear apart. We are one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24,25)
The next time you are experiencing problems with your children, you need to declare…
 
“All of my children obey their parents in the Lord (as his representatives) for this is just and right. They honor esteem and value as precious) their father and mother. My entire household is saved…”(Ephesians 6:1-2, Acts 16:31)
The next time you are experiencing problems with your health, you need to declare:
  • Lord I thank you that no weapon formed against me will prosper. You have restored health to me and healed all of my wounds. (Isaiah 54:17, Jeremiah 30:17)
The next time you are experiencing problems with a broken relationship and broken heart, you need to declare:
  • “Lord, I thank you that nothing in all of creation will be able to separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus my Lord. You love me! You have bound my wounds and healed my broken heart.” (Roman 8:39, Psalms 147:3)
The next time you are experience problems as a result of divorce and feelings of rejection and shame, you need to declare:
  • “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near…It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me…”( Isaiah 50:7-9)
So the next time the enemy shows up in your house with a problem, you respond with one of God’s promises.  Don’t rehearse the issue, rehearse the solution.  Speak LIFE!  Even when you don’t feel like it, be determined to speak God’s Word. Remember it is a precious treasure chest full of promises for your marriage, family, health and future. God loves you and wants the very best for you. I’d like to encourage you to make God’s Word the final authority in your life. Allow God’s Word to become your perspective.
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All scripture in the confessions list are based on the Amplified Version (AMP) and New International Version (NIV) of the Bible and tailored made to make them personal.
This blog post was adapted from Chapter 5 of Ann-Marie Brewer’s book, Fighting All Hell For Your Marriage, Your Man and Your Babies.
 
About the Book
Fighting All Hell For Your Marriage, Your Man and Your Babies is Ann’s personal testimony of how God cleaned up her life, taught her how to be a mother and wife and showed her the precious promises in his Word for her marriage and family. God blessed her with the marriage she had longed for in His Timing and in His Way.

Her website:  www.ann-mariebrewer.com

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Samson – Judge/Man of God or sloppy victim of his appetites?

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Samson was the judge of Israel for 20 years. He is a not-so-popular subject of Sunday sermons where he is often torn down for languishing in the lap of Delilah and sharing the secret of his strength. If he was such a victim of his lust and appetite for Philistine women, why did the writer of the book of Hebrews place him in what has been called the “Faith Hall of Fame”  where the heroes of the old testament are lauded for their exploits [Hebrews chapter 11]? I believe that although he had some lapses in judgement that appear to be largely due to youth and hormones, his purpose was tellingly shared in Judges 14:4:
    4 His father and mother didn’t know that the Lord was behind this. The Lord was looking for an opportunity to do something to the Philistines. (At that time the Philistines were ruling Israel.)  GOD’S WORD translation

So what was his story really about? The book of Judges describes the judges (actually rulers) of Israel for the following period:  1350 – 1004 B.C.

During this time Israel fell into periods of disinterest with God/idolatry and as a result God would allow them to be victimized or enslaved by their enemies. When they recognized their plight they would cry out to the Lord for help and He sent judges to deliver them from the enemy. Samson was one of these judges.  
What are we to learn from all of this?  Our blessing remains in place only as long as we remain true to our purpose.  As the nation would turn from God and suffer as a result, our lives will suffer the same consequence.  Note carefully that our faithful God always sent help (in the form of judges) even though this continued for more than 300 years!
What did he actually accomplish?  Samson, a Nazirite from birth was foretold to be the deliverer for the people.  He had a considerable swagger as a man of destiny.  He made himself the main target for Philistine animosity by burning Philistine fields and taking up with Philistine women.  Chapter 15 tells of the aftermath of one of his rampages where he chose to escape to a cliff rather than endanger his community.  The men of Judah came to capture him but when he was about to encounter the Philistines, the Spirit of God came upon him and he [famously] used the jawbone of an ass to slaughter 1000 Philistines. 
Doubtless, most people familiar with Bible lore remember the rest of the story of his betrayal by the infamous Delilah.  Her name is synonymous with being a temptress and betrayal.  The story climaxes as he is led blind and helpless to entertain a palace full of Philistines.  He asks God for one last infusion of strength to avenge himself for his two eyes.  He asked to die with them hence giving his life to rid Israel of their most plaguing enemy.  
He could not have known that the palace would be full of the most powerful and influential Philistines.  Look at the faith he exhibited, he only asked to avenge himself for his loss of eyesight but by God’s grace he gave his life and destroyed thousands of Philistines in one place.  So many gloating over Samson’s shortcomings but which of us have sacrificed our lives (literally) to deliver people from oppression?  
How are we to be guided by this example?
Have faith in the purpose God has placed in you and in the fact that God will help you in achieving that purpose.
grace & peace!!
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A Christmas Story for 2012

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It’s so incredible to consider that before the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry there had not been an inspired word from the Lord for more than 400 years.  It was as if the heavens were shut down.  This is a Christian credo that some may dispute but it is marked by the end of Malachi’s prophetic ministry at the end of the Old Testament and John’s pronouncement to prepare for the Kingdom. If this was indeed the case [as it was] then those devout people held close their interest and desire for the fulfillment of the psalmist’s bold promise that his sceptre [kingdom] would last forever.

This is the backdrop where we find the two stirring characters that comprise one of my favorite Christmas stories.  Simeon was in the temple at the time Mary and Joseph had come to offer their firstborn’s purification offering.  Luke describes him as righteous and devout, and the holy spirit was upon him which is formidable considering that before the Acts 2 Day of Pentecost, there were only a few people upon whom the Holy Spirit rested.  

It is very important to recognize that Israel was under siege at this time by the conquering Roman Empire.   The event resembled when the then ‘Soviet Union’ invaded Czechoslovakia (8/20/1968).  A nation that cannot possibly be beaten has forcefully entered your country and you remain hostage in your own land.   The notion of being under siege is completely foreign to twenty-first century Americans.  The notion of a prophesy foretelling a heroic king who would come and throw out the invaders was more than they could even hope for; something only Jehovah could deliver.  

Simeon was eagerly anticipating this Messiah who would bring Israel out of the state of siege.  Isn’t it just like God to give you an answer to prayer even if that answer is beyond your wildest dreams and imagination?!!  He was led to the temple at the time Joseph brought his offering and was able to see the child as the Spirit revealed that this was indeed the anointed one.   He prophesized over the child providing a glimpse to the unknowing parents who Jesus would become.  

As Simeon was talking, our second character came and overheard the prophesy.  Anna a widow of some sixty years, who Luke says “never left the temple” but stayed there (in the outer courts)  worshipping day and night was a true worshipper who was devoted to fasting and prayer. Both Anna and Simeon were given the unmerited favor to see their hopes realized. 


This is a truth of Christmas illustrated.  Hope when there is (or was) no hope, is the reality that God wants us to recognize. And even when all seems lost, if it takes 400 years, he is still working and will fulfill his promises.

[painting by Simon Vouet 1640-41]