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Posted on April 7, 2021 by beverlyeash

I sometimes wonder how my life would be different if Jesus were not a part of it. I said yes to his invitation when I was only six. In a cabin in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, I sensed Jesus asking if he could live in my heart. I said yes! For many years, I assumed the invitation came because I sinned and Jesus offered to cleanse me from that sin. But as I reflected on that night, there was no shame or guilt on my part, no awareness of sin. The invitation was one of deep love, as Jesus expressed his desire to walk with me through life. I was changed forever.

3We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. 6This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

Colossians 1:3-6

I read this scripture this week and found it comforting. Paul is writing to the church in Colosse. He has never met these people, but writes to encourage them in their faith. He begins the letter by noting what they are already doing well. These are the qualities he commends them for . . .

He commends them for their faith and their love for others. He explains that these both grow from their hope of heaven. I meditated on that for a while. My love for others is directly impacted by what I believe and understand about my inheritance in heaven. I am able to freely give love to others because heaven is so rich, I don’t need to be stingy in giving. Wow!

Secondly, the fruit of the Good News (this is the gospel about Jesus) changes lives. When people hear the good news and understand God’s grace, lives change. It’s a fact. I think I have been a follower of Jesus so long (fifty years!!), I forget to be amazed at how my life is different. Paul says it like this . . .

14. . . {God } purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:14

Imagine for a moment that you buy a house, borrowing the entire amount from The Local Bank. Eventually, The Local Bank sells your mortgage to Big City Bank. Now you are enslaved to this bank until you have paid your debt. And then you get a notice in the mail. Your debt has been forgiven, wiped out, paid in full! That news would change your life, wouldn’t it?

We were all slaves to sin, apart from God and separated from his love. And then Jesus, through his death on the cross, bought our debt. Now you might think you are still enslaved, just a different master. But no! He canceled your debt, forgave anything written against you! You are truly free for the first time in your life!

But there must be a catch, right? Not really. He only asks that you love him with all your thoughts, feelings, intentions and strength, love who he made you to be and then love others too. Let your whole life be guided by this magnificent love!

We do that well because we are convinced that he has reserved a special inheritance for us in heaven. So there’s no need to be stingy with our resources of love while we wait!

Wow! That’s a lot for one day! How did your life change when you heard the good news? If you aren’t a follower of Jesus, what prevents you from believing the good news that your debt is purchased and then marked PAID IN FULL!?

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Posted on April 6, 2021 by beverlyeash

18When the Lord finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, written by the finger of God.

Exodus 31:18

1Then Moses and the leaders of Israel gave this charge to the people: “Obey all these commands that I am giving you today. 2When you cross the Jordan River and enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. 3Write this whole body of instruction on them when you cross the river to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you—a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 

Deuteronomy 27:1-3

Just like other nations in the Ancient Near East, the Israelites utilized a stela to record the commands from the Lord. (See Out of the Chaos 04.01.2021 for more information about the use of stela in the ANE.) In this way, the laws governing Israel would be visible to anyone coming into the area and would immediately tell something about the God these people served. (Another item of note is that there were not many roads that went through a given area. There were only three main roads of travel and perhaps only one through between the mountains referenced in this reading. Unlike today when I can choose one of several ways to get to my desired destination.)

I always find it interesting to notice places where God uses what is common and accepted in a culture to make himself known to his people and to the world. He could have come up with something completely different so that his methods and means would stand out. But he didn’t. He used what the people already knew and were familiar with. Covenants and the format of the laws (Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20 and the chapters that follow) also follow the common format of the day.

Certainly there are ways he deviated from the culture. His laws, as I mentioned before, protected human life and dignity. His concern stretched beyond humans and included nature as well. That wasn’t the case in other nations.

Why do I mention this? First, it’s interesting to me. Secondly, if God worked within a culture then, wouldn’t he also work within culture today? At times, I am so enamored what I know about life that I expect God to work within certain parameters. It is uncomfortable to me when he doesn’t. For instance, style of worship is greatly affected by culture. I have not been to Africa, but it is my understanding that worship there is louder, filled with music, dancing and movement. Worship among the Quakers is the exact opposite. Is one right and the other wrong? I don’t think so.

Today as I ponder on this, spurred by the reading in the One Year Bible last night, I wonder. I wonder if there are ways he works through our culture. If he is not bound by any certain set of “rules,” what is he doing or wanting to do that I am missing?

My prayer today is, “Father, open my eyes to see in a new way what you are doing. Help me not to miss your activity because it doesn’t fit into my cultural box.”

What about you? Having trouble with something because it doesn’t fit? Is perhaps God just moving within the cultural understanding because he isn’t bound by time or tradition? Are you willing to have your eyes opened to something new?

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Posted on April 5, 2021 by beverlyeash

10Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

Zechariah 4:10

The work has begun. It’s not a lot to see, but the work behind the scenes is amazing. Talking to suppliers, securing plumbers, electricians and landscaping is done. Plans are being drawn, quotes written, schedules made. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind.

This week we made some notable progress. Dave buried the electrical wire. Although not something immediately beneficial, it is imperative for everything we want to do at the cabin.

Dave trenching for the electrical wire.

We also did a lot of work outside the cabin cleaning up the scrub brush that had grown up the last few years. Dave and I have different ways of approaching a project. He wanted to cut off the top of the bush and leave the root for later. I wanted to use the tractor to push the bushes over and pull them out by the roots. Friday we found a nice compromise and used a shovel to dig out the wild honeysuckle that was taking over around the cabin.

As we cleared the yard, I noticed the bushes didn’t have much of a root system. Many of them, we could just pull out; a few required some encouragement from the shovel. I found myself thinking about the scrub brush in my own life and I pondered the root system of my own wounds. While it feels like the roots are deep and entangled, most of the time, they are easily uprooted. Sometimes it takes a bit more effort, but the Holy Spirit is totally able to expose the roots of the wounds and lead me to places of greater freedom.

After
Before

Beginning is often the hardest part. So much work happens behind the scenes that can’t be seen and then all at once — the landscape looks completely different. In your own life, I stand with you as the work is begun. The Lord is pleased to see you begin and he’s excited for what is coming.

The carpenters who will do the work on the cabin are beginning in a couple of weeks. We will continue to do the behind the scenes prep work for the project to move ahead at a good pace. I’m excited to share with you the progress photos and especially to open it up for others to come and use. It truly is a place of refuge and restoration!

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Posted on April 2, 2021 by beverlyeash

27You complained in your tents and said, ‘The Lord must hate us. That’s why he has brought us here from Egypt—to hand us over to the Amorites to be slaughtered.

Deuteronomy 1:27

Have you ever felt that way? Life is difficult; everything seems to be going against you from bad to worse? In frustration, you look to the heavens asking, “Do you hate me?”

I get it. I admit I wandered down that path a bit at times. When it seems like everything is falling in around me, it’s human to wonder if I heard correctly. Was I really supposed to take this path?

It’s especially important at that moment to recall what is true. Listen to how the Lord really felt about Israel…

7“The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! 8Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors.

Deuteronomy 7:7-8

The truth is that God chose Israel, not because they had something to offer him, but because he loved them and he’s a promise keeping God. No matter what you might be experiencing, how you might be feeling, how desperate you have become — God loves you. It isn’t because you are clever or intelligent or well-known or anything else. He simply chose you because he loves you.

On top of that he is a promise keeper. When he said he will never leave you, he means it. When he said he will come for you again, he means it. When he said nothing can separate you from his love, he means it. His promises — you can count on them.

This song by Jason Gray has been speaking to my heart the last couple of weeks. Maybe you need to hear it today too!

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Posted on April 1, 2021 by beverlyeash

5“Look, I now teach you these decrees and regulations just as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy. 6Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, ‘How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!’ 7For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him? 8And what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this body of instructions that I am giving you today?

Deuteronomy 4:5-8

In the current milieu of relativity with very few, if any, absolutes, this passage may be difficult to understand. After all, it seems the righteous decrees and regulations of God are not seen as wise or intelligent by the people who surround those who follow Jesus.

Let’s pause for a moment and put these verses into context. In the Ancient Near East (ANE), laws and punishments were decided by human rulers based on what they perceived the many gods wanted, of course, influenced by their own personal preferences. These rulers utilized a stele (a prominent slab of stone) to record important information. Think public bulletin board. The earliest and best preserved example is the laws of Hammurabi (c. 1760 B.C.). On this slab of stone Hammurabi had scribes carve into the stone the crimes and punishments for his domain. Anyone coming into his territory would see the stele and be without excuse when accused. At the top of the stele is a relief of Hammurabi facing the sun god Shamash.

The importance of these discoveries is evident when we consider the passage above. You see, the laws of ancient rulers did not favor the accused. As a matter of fact, they did not necessarily favor humans. When God gave his laws and decrees to the Israelite people, they stood in stark contrast to the laws of neighboring nations. God’s laws always protected human life and creation in general, they regulated punishments and allowed for the accused to give testimony. Basically, God’s laws protected human dignity in such a way that surrounding nations longed to be included.

Not only were his decrees righteous and fair, but God was also approachable. He lived among the people in the Tabernacle. He was predictable and responded to the cries of the people. This was completely unknown by other nations.

Today as you go about your daily activity, be reminded that God’s decrees for you are righteous and fair. By obeying them, you show yourself to be intelligent, wise and prudent!

The crowning jewel of it all — God is near and he responds when we call on him!

16So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 4:16

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Posted on March 31, 2021 by beverlyeash

One of the most interesting classes of my undergraduate studies was Sociology – the study of human social behaviors. I learned that when a person is in a situation where the outcome is negative, she will blame the outcome on something outside herself – others, the weather, the referee, unfair distribution of resources, etc. If the outcome of the same situation is positive, she will take credit for the outcome citing her personal skills, talents, brilliance – whatever she perceives attributed to the positive outcome. You see, humans are not fond of taking responsibility for failures but are quite happy to take credit for achievements. Even if a neutral third party observes the exact opposite.

This is not a modern phenomenon; it has existed for as long as there are records of human behavior. Consider the Israelites. In Deuteronomy, Moses is giving his final instructions, reminders and warnings to the people before he dies and they cross into the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua.

The land they are entering to possess is already established. There are houses, vineyards, olive groves, fields of grain, flowing streams, pools of water – everything they need to live and live well. The land is plentiful and rich in natural resources. Listen to the warning Moses gives the people . . .

9It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. 10When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11“But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. . . .  17He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’  18Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful . . .

Deuteronomy 8:9-18

Clearly the possibility existed for the people to take credit for their good fortune. Living in a land so plentiful, building houses and expanding flocks and herds, pride and forgetfulness were imminent. Pride that the achievements were due to their own cleverness and forgetfulness over all that God had done bringing them into the land.

Oh, how easy it is to sit on this side of success and take the credit. Forgetting that God is the giver of all good things, forgetting to return praise for his goodness, forgetting to acknowledge him. No, it is not a new phenomenon. It is ancient.

Forgetfulness leads to disobedience. Pride in my own abilities, my clever ways and ingenuity, my dependence switches from the One who gives me power to be successful, to myself.

When I read this passage again, I am surprised that God isn’t really asking that much from his people. He just wants us to say thank you and acknowledge his goodness.

Have you paused today to thank God for his goodness and presence in your life?That he gives you the power to be successful?

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Posted on March 30, 2021 by beverlyeash

I am never alone. At times, situations arise that are above my pay grade. I’m sure there is no way I can accomplish what needs to be done. And then I read something like this:

 17Perhaps you will think to yourselves, ‘How can we ever conquer these nations that are so much more powerful than we are?’ 18But don’t be afraid of them! Just remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all the land of Egypt. 19Remember the great terrors the Lord your God sent against them. You saw it all with your own eyes! And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the strong hand and powerful arm with which he brought you out of Egypt. The Lord your God will use this same power against all the people you fear. 

Deuteronomy 7:17-19

Remember! Bring to mind! Recall and rehearse what God has done for you. Nothing is more powerful than remembering all the ways God has cared for you and delivered you in the past. Of course life is too much to do alone. God never intended for us to do it alone.

A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Jay Shetler in the sermon series “Covenants” spoke from the book of Exodus. He summed it up like this: “God always wants more from us than we feel qualified to give, but he says, “I will be with you.” Exodus 3:12 God’s first reassurance is always about his qualifications not ours.”

Are you faced with a situation that overwhelms you? Do the next few days or weeks seem impossible? Take a moment – or two – to remember. Remember how God has sustained you in the past. Rehearse his qualifications, not your lack of qualifications. If you are having trouble getting started, find a friend and ask them to help.

We aren’t made to do it alone! Depend on his qualifications, not your own!

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Posted on March 29, 2021 by beverlyeash

The book of Deuteronomy is one of my favorites; it speaks so much of God’s love to me. His desire for a people devoted to him is evident on every page. He longs for me – and you – to be wholly set apart for him. I completely understand if that is not your perspective when you read it. I owe a debt of gratitude to my Old Testament professor, Dr. Eugene Carpenter, who brought it to life in such a powerful way.

If you happen to be reading through the Bible in a year, you likely find yourself in this amazing book. Last night, as Dave and I listened to the daily reading, I was captured again by the desire of Yahweh’s heart for me to be singly devoted to him. Perhaps a bit of reframing will assist you in hearing God’s heart of love and desire for you.

1“When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are about to enter and occupy, he will clear away many nations ahead of you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These seven nations are greater and more numerous than you. 2When the Lord your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. 3You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, 4for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you. 5This is what you must do. You must break down their pagan altars and shatter their sacred pillars. Cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols. 6For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.

Deuteronomy 7:1-6

Any passage that instructs the nation of Israel to completely destroy other humans is difficult to understand. Why would God want to annihilate a complete people group? That doesn’t sound loving. When I read the Old Testament, I keep two things in mind. First, we have no record of God’s interactions with these other people groups. I have no trouble believing that God was working with them in ways that are not recorded; but not all people groups were chosen to reveal Him to the world.

Secondly, God revealed himself to Israel so that all people would come to know him. It is through the nation of Israel that he reveals himself, but the blessing of relationship is meant for ALL people. (Genesis 12:1-3) The intensity with which God loves Israel is the same intensity with which he loves you and I.

Consider the passage above. The people are about to cross the Jordan River into the land God promised them. He is telling them in advance what difficulties they will encounter in the process. It is interesting he begins by warning the people to get rid of anything that will hinder their relationship with him. His concern is for the people he has chosen to remain holy and set apart — not in the way they look or how they dress, but in what they worship “. . . for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods.”

God’s concern remains the same for me today. Sure, I’m not conquering a nation and driving out its inhabitants. But every day, I take or preserve spiritual land. I conquer the enemy of my soul. I stand aware of his movements and attempts to encroach on the soil of my soul.

In the 70’s and 80’s, revival meetings, youth camps and spiritual renewal events offered an invitation to burn the things that turned the heart away from God. Bonfires were ignited and all kinds of paraphernalia was consumed in the fire – records, cassette tapes, 8-tracks, books, media, magazines, DVD’s, CD’s — anything that threatened a vital connection to the Lord.

God’s command to us is no less dramatic than it was to the Israelites. He knows how easily I am distracted, following the idols of my culture. He wants me to radically cut out anything that would encroach on my worship of him.

I pause to ask myself, “what is pulling me away from true worship of Yahweh?” What do I need to throw into the fire or cut out of my life so that my worship will be holy and pure?

Consider this: God’s love for you is pure and patient. Is anything hindering your pure love back to him?

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Posted on March 26, 2021 by beverlyeash

Wednesday I challenged you to talk to Jesus about how he was able to humble himself, set aside his rights as God and become a human. I wonder if anyone took time to do that?

I admit, asking Jesus questions might seem odd to you. That’s okay. You aren’t alone. It is something I am growing in and am always pleasantly surprised when I do.

I did ask Jesus how he was able to humble himself to become a human. Immediately I heard, “Because I love you more than myself.” This struck a nerve in me. You see, I notice I sometimes find it hard to humble myself because I am protecting myself — I love my own comfort and needs more than I love others. It probably isn’t what you heard, but it’s what Jesus knew I needed.

I’d love to hear what Jesus told you!

I want to finish with a song this week! As I contemplated my own foxes and Nehemiah’s strategy I wrote about yesterday, this song kept coming to me. I pray it blesses you and encourages you as you fight your battles and capture your foxes!

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Posted on March 25, 2021 by beverlyeash

1Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”3Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”

Nehemiah 4:1-3

A red fox is a small animal. Weighing between 10-12 pounds, the fox didn’t present much threat to those who were building the wall. Think about it, a fox wasn’t going to knock over much of anything. But the taunting and jeering – that was demoralizing.

This passage always amuses me. It is the equivalent of saying, “My dad is stronger than yours! Your dad would fall over if even a mosquito landed on his arm!” It’s a silly taunt that is meant to incite a reaction. Preferably one that causes the opponent to back off or quit.

That is the danger of the little foxes in my life. On their own, they are really powerless to harm. It is what I believe about them that makes all the difference.

If I allow the foxes to run about in my life with no acknowledgement of their presence, my morale suffers. When my morale goes down, I lose steam in life. My joy suffers; hope becomes a distant dream.

What must I do when the taunting becomes too much? Like Nehemiah, there is action to take to ensure the enemy is rendered ineffective. Notice what he did.

 9But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. . . .14Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”15When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 

Nehemiah 4:9-15

Nehemiah took a three-pronged approach I believe we can emulate. First, and foremost, the people prayed. When I am attacked by the enemy and the foxes are running wild, I fall to my knees. I cry out to my Father, acknowledging my need for his intervention.

Secondly, pointing others back to Jesus and his character is imperative. It is so easy to feel isolated, alone and defeated. When we band together, we are stronger. Endurance grows and blossoms in the light of encouragement.

Finally, we fight for one another. When we see someone struggling, we come to their side. No one is left alone or behind.

Where do you find yourself in this scenario? Are you the Nehemiah, equipped to make a plan and see it through? Are you falling prey to the accusing tactics of the enemy, desperate for some encouragement and assistance? Are you in a position to offer help to someone?

Wherever you are, take heart! God is in the business of frustating the plans of the wicked and protecting his children. Be still, take heart, and wait for the Lord.

17But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, {insert your name here}. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”

2 Chronicles 20:17

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