Thou Shalt...Thou Shalt Not...

We just read Exodus 19:1-20:21.  You should go read it to fully follow me.  (I'm sure you know the story - but I've been saying that since day one and continually discovering new things).

God decides He is going to come to Moses and the Israelites.  It is an intense passage - where you see God is such a rich, scary, big, intense way.  Yet at the same time you see how much love He has for us.

This reading today reminded me that God is HOLY.  I know this - but how often do I stop to think about HOW amazing and holy, great and mighty, big and powerful God is?  Do I always give God the respect He is worthy of?  Do I always stop to think how truly blessed I am to be able to even just SAY His name - let alone call on Him for help.  When I pray, do I realize that I am talking to the creator of the universe? 

The amazing thing about this passage is how God - in all His greatness - took the time to come to us...and then to give us rules.  When we speak to children about rules at SU Sportz Camps we never share them in a negative way - because rules are given for ones benefit.  Rules are actually a good thing.  God cared enough to give us rules so that we could be happier, safer and closer to Him.

I appreciate that I can call Him Father and Friend - but at the same time He is my King, Lord and my God.  I never want to forget how amazing and great and holy God is. 


Today's reading was powerful.

Moses - An encounter with God

Reading 17 was powerful.  We read about how Moses encounters God - through a burning, talking bush.  I really like how Whitney Kuniholm puts it "Many people over the centuries have tried to find God in all sorts of ways.  That desire is certainly good, but as Moses discovered, God is already there.  He's present everywhere, and he's waiting for us.  The real question is, do we really want to meet him...and on his terms?" (The Essential Bible Guide).

As we've seen so far (and I'm sure will continue to see) our plans/desires/expectations are not always the same as Gods.  God called Moses (a timid man) to bring an entire nation out of slavery, He called David (a little kid) to bring down a giant, and He continues to call people to do things they never would sign up for (or expect to be able to do).

Am I ready for an encounter with God?  Am I prepared for what may happen and what He may ask me to do?

Joseph

I mentioned in the last blog that I was so excited to read the end of Joseph's story that I read ahead one day.  The beauty of revisiting classic stories is that you develop a different appreciation for the story.  It's like watching Shrek as a child and thinking it's awesome, then growing up and watching it again and realizing there's all this great stuff that you didn't get as a child - because it went right over your head.  That's what I'm discovering now with the E100.

I was excited to read about Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers -when he reveals himself to them.  Genesis 45:8 "It was not you who sent me here, but God" is a beautiful line that shows Joseph gets it.  The poor guy (and his family) went through many rough times - sold into slavery, leaving his home, learning a new language and being thrown into prison).  Yet if he hadn't experienced those rough times he wouldn't have gotten to where God wanted him to be.

God has never promised that life would be easy.  However He promises to always be with you.  I know that life won't always be easy and wonderful - but I'm okay with that.  My lows have helped shape me into the person I am today.  They have led me to where God wants me - just as they led Joseph to where God wanted him.

Excuses...

I hit a wall with this whole Jacob and Esau thing.  I didn't know how to share my thoughts about the whole reconciliation between the two of them because I didn't know enough about them to make a judgment (well...to be honest after reading about the two of them I wasn't a huge fan of Jacob, but I wasn't about to write that up in a blog seeing as he is a big deal and all).  So I began to read more about them to gain a better understanding and then....

Something really exciting happened that changed how I do the E100 Challenge.  The Essential Bible Guide (Canadian Edition) arrived at SU Canada (what an exciting day! you can see pictures here) and there was finally more than one book in the office!  So my husband (Jani) and I took up the challenge together, making it part of our devotions together.  Every night after dinner we head to the couch to do "The E100" and take turns reading the passages and guide together.  It's so great to do it together because it now truly has become a daily routine and I can now share my experience with him. 

I'm no longer going to write this blog for each and every reading. I just don't have the time and I don't want to make this challenge a chore by feeling I need to blog everyday.  Instead I'll share things I come across that really interest me.  For those of you interested in what I'm reading (the Bible and The Essential Bible Guide) you can purchase your own guide at www.e100challenge.ca (americans - it's .com for you!) I seriously encourage you to...I've recommended it to so many people already.  This challenge is giving me a fresh look and appreciation for Bible stories I thought I knew inside and out ex. yesterday after we finished devotions I definitely read ahead on the story of Joseph to read how he reveals himself to his brothers after years apart.  I knew the ending (from Sunday School, and from Joseph and The Technical Coloured Dream Coat - a musical I LOVED as a child) but still wanted to read ahead just because I was so interested....I'll share about our experience with the Joseph story next...

Reading 9 - Analyze This

Reading about Jacob, Esau, Isaac and Rebekah's crazy family drama makes me appreciate my amazing family even more.  

Reading 8 - Strange but True

When I saw today was about Sarah giving birth to Issac my first thought was "I know this story - I'm just going to read the guides notes on it" (don't judge me!).  Then I reminded myself the whole point is to actually read the Bible.  So I read the long passage and am so glad I did.

I found myself laughing out loud at one point at how bizzare this story truly is.  When you're a kid in Sunday School they skip over some parts of the story, for good reason - this is much like a soap opera.  Abraham's slave (Hager) has his first son (Ishmael), but then his wife (Sarah) gets pregnant and has a baby (Isaac) and she kicks out Hager and Ishmael.  They're stuck wandering in the middle of no where and she deserts Ishmael under a tree because she can't watch him die...(he doesn't - but you'd know that if you read the story!).  Then Abraham takes his son (Isaac) to the top of a mountain to sacrifice him (something God asked him to do), but at the last minute God sends a ram instead.

Who says the Bible is boring.

Reading 7 - He Feels Your Pain

My boss is awesome....if you know him you'll laugh and agree.  He always has BIG plans for SU Sportz - the reason our ministry is so amazing is because he isn't afraid to dream big.  Sometimes he will share his newest plan with me and I smile and nod, while thinking to myself "this sounds crazy and I don't know how we're going to do this".  But I trust him and know he can make these things happen. So instead of telling him "no way" I ask him "so, what do you want me to do next?".  I find it's sometimes easier to take it step by step, rather than trying to understand the entire plan.

I just read about a time when God came to Abram, and reveals His big plans for Abram's life.  God promises him lots of children (he actually says "count the stars, if you are able to count them...Your offspring will be that [numerous]" Genesis 15:5 HCSB).  Sounds great - but when you're in a situation where your wife can't have any children, it must have seemed pretty crazy. But the next verse tells us that Abram believed this promise. 

Sometimes I wish God would tell me his entire plan for my life - but sometimes I wonder how would I respond if I knew the big picture?  Maybe it's better that we don't know everything and just take it one step at a time.

Reading 6 - Why me?

I just finished reading the story about Abram and Sarai's trip to Egypt when they pretended to be siblings.

It seems ridiculous - but my husband reminded me that it's not the only time this happens in the Bible.  So I head to trusty Wikipedia (my professors would never allow us to use this website for research, but I read somewhere that it's more accurate then Encyclopedia Britannica because it's updated so often!).  After doing some reading on "Wife-sister narratives in Genesis" I realize this must have seemed like a good idea to these men (Abram, Abraham (same man, does it TWICE...genius) and Isaac).  Though all three times God comes in makes it known that this isn't cool (He has never liked adultery).

These great men weren't always perfect.  The Bible is full of stories of great people, who were not perfect.  Yet even when we take detours - God always is ready to help make our path straight.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Introduction to The Patriarchs

We know the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (or at least we think we do)...they had some pretty crazy experiences (which I'm guessing I'll be reading for the next few days).  In the introduction to the next readings Kuniholm reminds us that God worked in a big way using these three men.  But they weren't perfect and they made mistakes.  Their stories can remind us that "God's plan isn't thwarted by our mistakes".

Reading 5 - Can We Talk?

The Tower of Babel.

Today was a short reading.  Short, but sweet.  God comes in and shakes everything up by making everyone speak a different language.  The first thing it made me think of was my own struggle with a different language.  My husband is from Hungary - for those of you who don't know, Hungarian is one of the most difficult languages to learn (I'd say impossible).

I've studied the language - went to lessons with the best private tutor in Budapest.  But you will never hear me speak it.  I'm too proud, too afraid that I'll look stupid if I mispronounce something.  My pride is holding me back - and today I read that pride is what put an end to the tower of Babel project.

The tower of Babel was an awesome idea - it brought people together and was forward thinking.  But...as Kuniholm writes "The driving motivation for all this seemingly good work was to gain human glory rather than God's glory".  When the focus stops being on God and starts to be on me there's a problem.

In your weakness He is strong - it's the truth. The sweetest things in my life have happened in my weakest and most timid moments -- why?  because that's when I realize the need for God to take the lead and I sit back and let Him.  The moments when I've blushed the most or felt REALLY stupid are the times my pride has led.  

Now if only I could find a way to get over my pride and work on speaking this new language....

Reading 4 - Never Again

The Rainbow - God's Promise

One Sunday at church a little boy and I were talking about Niagara Falls.  He had just been there with his family and was telling me how amazing it was.  He told me about how strong the water was, how much water there was, and how many rainbows he saw.  Then he asked me where do the rainbows come from.  I wondered if I should give him the scientific answer or the good answer.  So I told him about God's promise to us.

I won't try to understand God, how He works or thinks....but the passage I read today was interesting - it talks about God the way you'd describe a person - saying He smells and "says to Himself" (Genesis 8:21).  It's like God realized at that moment that the flood is something He never wants to do again and He makes a decision to promise this to us - using a rainbow.


It's amazing that God cares this much about us.  He thinks about us and loves and respects us enough to make a promise with us.

When you see a rainbow what do you think "wow, the light is bending" or "wow, thanks God for your promises"?

(I'm skipping so much sweet stuff that's discussed in E100 because I don't want to write essays here - but the book has some great stuff to say about how Noah acted when He got out of the ark, and the fact that the flood didn't rid the world of sin...unfortunately.  This isn't a "plug" this is a serious "you've got to read this book")

Reading 3 - Wipe Out (Noah)

I was raised thinking God is our best friend - our "daddy".  He is.
My husband grew up thinking God is to be feared - a loving, but vengeful God.  He is.
Two very different ways of thinking about one great God.

I think the story of Noah shows this.

We first read that God's heart was broken because He saw how wicked man had become.  This shows a Loving God - how much He wants us to succeed and how much we let Him down by living in sin - this feeling is something a father would feel for his child.
Then we read Gods decision to destroy the entire earth - that's a Scary God....I can't imagine how many people died in the flood and feel bad for the poor animals who died in this flood. 

God loves us so much...but we can't take that for granted.  He calls us to be righteous people - like Noah.  When we follow Him we know He will keep us safe (though He may ask us to do something crazy like building a big boat, or leaving behind a sweet life to serve Him in remote or urban jungle...).

But don't think that just because God is love He'll let things slide- He's got some great things planned for those who follow Him, but for those who don't....it can be scary.  This challenges me to work harder to be who God wants me to be.  It also reminds me to pray for people I love who don't know Him yet....

Never forget how BIG our God is - He's more than you can ever comprehend...He's more loving and merciful than any person you will ever meet - but at the same time He has the power to wipe out the earth and all that's in it...

Reading 2 - Eyes Wide Open

**Welcome Back - I promise it won't be so long between updates again - the book was away from the office and unfortunately I couldn't continue....but I'm back and will be updating this VERY regularly! **

Reading the story of Adam and Eve reminds me of children.  My friend has a 16 month old son and one evening during dinner we were talking and the entire time we watched that little boy as he wandered around the living room - exploring.  He discovered the electric socket (oh the eternal appeal of the electric socket) and his mom immediately said "please don't touch that".  He continued around the room admiring things, but always returned to the electric socket, the "forbidden" thing.  There's something appealing about things we are not suppose to do or touch.

God made sure Adam and Eve had everything they needed, but that forbidden tree was just so very appealing.  We've all been there - wanting something we can't or shouldn't have.  Maybe you feel like you're strong enough to beat temptation - but then satan comes into the picture....and he sticks around, working hard to lead you to sin.

I'm sure God's heart broke when Adam and Eve sinned - the relationship between God and man was destroyed that day....and took a long time to be fixed.

Never forget:
Satan is real...and wants you to mess up...
God loves you...and (as one of my favourite verses, Jeremiah 29:11 says) He has "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  (pretty awesome)