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Posted on January 6, 2021 by beverlyeash

Blamelessness. A quality of Noah, mentioned in Genesis 6, that gives me pause. The same quality is attributed to Job in Job 1:1 and the prophet Ezekiel affirms it described both Noah and Job (Ezekiel 14:14).

Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 

Genesis 6:9

1There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.

Job 1:1

These Hall of Fame saints were said to be blameless. Digging a little into the original Hebrew word used here, I found that most uses of the word referenced the quality of animal used for sacrifice. It had to be without defect, the best of the herd. In several instances, the word is used to describe God. On occasion, an individual uses it to describe himself (David in Psalm 18; Job in Job 9).

In Psalm 15, the psalmist begins by asking, “Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?” The answer?

2Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.

Psalm 15:2

The psalmist goes on to list qualifications to come into the presence of God. Blamelessness tops the list. How does one live blamelessly? Without fault? Full of integrity? For we know, humans are simply unable to live in this manner just because they desire it.

Yesterday, I noted that Noah maintained close fellowship with God. Job 1 says this about Job:

. . .He feared God and stayed away from evil. . . . Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

Job 1:1-5

Apparently, Job also maintained close fellowship with God. He even regularly offered sacrifices for unknown sins his children might have committed.

Allow me to draw a conclusion from these two examples. Blamelessness is not sinlessness. It is truth in the inner parts, integrity, without blame – not because I am perfect, but because I am forgiven. Blamelessness is a character quality that develops when I maintain close fellowship with God, with an awareness of my proclivity to sin, coupled with a willingness to confess that sin quickly. It is a posture of the heart.

Blameless. What does that word stir in your heart? In a world where someone needs to take the blame, do you yearn to be blameless? Without blame in a world hungry for someone to blame?

The New Testament provides a fuller picture of God’s desire for and the pathway to blamelessness for all people – not just spiritual giants like Noah and Job.

Tomorrow: Blamelessness – Part 2.

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Posted on January 5, 2021 by beverlyeash

It happened again. Listening to the account of the flood, God told Noah to build an ark. An ark – that’s a really big boat! And it’s going to rain. It had never rained so this was a totally new concept — water falling from the sky. I might have had a few clarifying questions. Not Noah.

22So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Genesis 6:22

5So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him.

9They entered the boat in pairs, male and female, just as God had commanded Noah.

Genesis 7:5, 9

Curiosity drove me to do a little digging. I find myself a bit more hesitant than Noah. It seems I ask more questions. Complete obedience — what would it take?

It didn’t really take long to find Noah’s secret as I looked again at the whole of chapter 6. Noah’s strategy was right there in plain sight. What enabled Noah to respond with complete obedience?

Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.

Genesis 6:9

There it is. The answer to my query. Noah’s ability to do just as the Lord commanded sprang from a lifestyle of fellowship with God. He didn’t try hard, he just regularly spent time with God. I bet he made smaller deposits of obedience every day, so when God asked this one thing of him — build a really big boat — he made a large withdrawal from an already established relationship.

I am reminded that every small step of obedience, every moment spent in fellowship is a deposit enabling me to do just as the Lord commands without hesitation. It doesn’t seem like much at the time, but it yields great reward!

How about you? Is your account growing or dwindling? What enables you to say YES! to the commands of God without reservation? Willingly and completely?

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Posted on January 4, 2021 by beverlyeash

This year the church I attend is undertaking the community task of reading through the Bible in a year. It sounds a lot like a resolution to me and if there is anything I avoid with a vengeance, it is resolutions. I even told my friend I was not planning to participate. Not that it’s a bad thing. How can reading God’s word be bad? No! It is a noble undertaking and one in which there is much reward. I just didn’t plan to participate.

On Saturday, Dave asked me to show him how to access the Bible in a year plan on his phone. I assisted him in signing into and beginning the plan. We sat together and listened to two days of the scripture read to us. And I changed my mind.

First, I have never read through the Bible with my husband. As I sat and listened with him, it was incredibly powerful to be together for this most noble task.

Secondly, I have never listened to the entire Bible read to me. Securing a degree in Biblical studies requires a person to read the Bible in its entirety over a period of time. Perhaps not in a year; but from cover to cover on multiple occasions. I found it to be an entirely new experience listening to the reading. Here is my first take away…

6Then God said . . . And that is what happened.

Genesis 1:6-7

In our listening today, I couldn’t help but notice the manner in which things were created. God said it and that is what happened. Is that what happens in my own life? Do I act more like Adam and Eve — justifying my behavior by pointing to others or blaming it on the devil?

I desire for my life to reflect the same obedience nature exhibited during creation. God said, it happened.

How about you? Are you quick to respond to God’s word? Or do you find ways to justify, blame or accuse others for your lack of obedience?

Just a thought to begin the week!

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Posted on January 1, 2021 by beverlyeash

Perhaps the assignment today will be the most difficult thing you will do all year.

13You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

Psalm 139:13-14

Today I want you to acknowledge how awesome you are. Everything about you, all your accomplishments and failings, all your quirks, oddities, pecularities, beauties, talents…everything! It is truly awesome! You are a wonderfully complex individual and today is the day to acknowledge and embrace it.

I encourage you to speak it out loud to at least one other person! It can be as simple as this:

God has made me wonderful, complex and amazing! I accept it and believe it today!

Happy New Year!!

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Posted on December 31, 2020 by beverlyeash

As I review the year, I acknowledge God’s presence. He was with me every step of the way, even when I didn’t feel it.

Secondly, I ask God to show me ways that he showed up, blessed me, made his presence known. It might be helpful to take time and write down what he shows you. Twelve months is a lot of opportunity for God to show up and you don’t want to miss a single one!

The next step can be difficult. If you are like me, I don’t like seeing where I have failed. Failed to respond lovingly or to go the extra mile, failed to support someone or missed an opportunity to forgive or think the best. Transformation cannot happen if I overlook my failures to respond with Christlikeness. Recently, I was watching “The Crown,” a Netflix series based on the British monarchy. At one point, the queen reminded the new prime minister how important it is to accept personal responsibility for things that didn’t go well. That’s what this part is all about.

11I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—12but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

Psalm 139:11-12

23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139:23-24

Too often, I long for the darkness to hide me, for my failings to be secret. But there is no darkness in my Father so I pray with David, “Search me, know me, test me, lead me!”

As I reviewed the year, the Lord brought to mind a comment I made to a friend. It bothered me almost immediately after I said it, knowing that it was not kind. I wanted to send a quick text and be done with it, but the Lord challenged me to consider my ways. I made the comment face-to-face, wouldn’t apologizing face-to-face be the way to go? I knew it was but resisted for a few days. Today, I made the FaceTime call. I apologized for my unkindness and asked forgiveness from these friends which they quickly granted, releasing me from any distressing feelings I experienced.

Perhaps over the next few days the Lord will bring more to mind. It seems there have been plenty of opportunities for harsh words, judgmental attitudes, criticism, lack of graciousness toward others. There is no end to the way humans can harm one another. My admonition to you… be quick to confess, quicker to ask forgiveness and quickest of all in letting it go. Don’t allow the difficulty of this year to hang on you into the new year!

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Posted on December 30, 2020 by beverlyeash

In the first step of the year in review, I acknowledge God’s presence with me, even when I didn’t feel it. The second step is to look for consolations. Consolations are simply those times in the year when God showed up, times you know now were his hand of blessing. It might have been a visit with a friend, a good book, spectacular sunsets, a bountiful garden, sunrises that awed you, deepening relationships, time spent with children, meals around the table . . . let the Spirit of God lead your mind to the blessings of the year.

7I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 17How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 18I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Psalm 139:7-10; 17-18

As I reflect on the blessings of God this year, my heart is overwhelmed. Here are just a few from my list:

  1. Deepening family and friend relationships.
  2. Shorter lines . . . everywhere!
  3. Faster appointments at the doctor when I did have to go!
  4. Ease with which we accomplished spring, summer and fall yard work even though I broke my toe early in the summer.
  5. Eating at home . . . and enjoying it.
  6. Dave experimenting with the grill and making some really good food on his own.
  7. Forced slowing down to facilitate deeper spiritual and personal growth.

In what ways has this past year been a blessing? Sure, we don’t want to go back and do it again…but what has been a positive outcome? Where has God shown up, not in spite of everything, but because of everything?

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Posted on December 29, 2020 by beverlyeash

Reviewing this year may seem like an insurmountable task; one I might just as soon forget. After all, there is something to be said about leaving the past in the past. There is also something to be said for reviewing the past and making peace with it. I know I don’t want to allow 2020 to hold me captive in anyway for any length of time. So, I review.

1O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 5You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

Psalm 139:1-5

I begin my review of the year affirming the truth that God has been with me every step of the way. I cannot go anywhere or say anything that he doesn’t already know. Knowing that the loving presence of God is always with me gives me confidence to look back. There is nothing I will encounter in my review of the year that is unknown to God, the one who loves me deeply, intimately, and unconditionally.

Perhaps you have felt abandoned or neglected by God this year, even angry at situations and events outside of your control. I encourage you to take a few moments to acknowledge your feelings before God. If his hand of blessing seemed to be missing, acknowledge that and tell him you want to see anything you missed the past year. Ask him to go before you into this honest review of your life.

Rest in his loving embrace today.

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Posted on December 28, 2020 by beverlyeash

It is at this time of the year, these days on the calendar, I begin to ponder the end of one thing and the beginning of something else: the end of one year and the beginning of a new year. While nothing really happens except turning to a fresh page on the visuals we call calendars, it feels right to pause and reflect.

As I sat down to write this, I opened YouTube and watched a review of the year 2020. As you might imagine, the images were filled with sadness, loss, catastrophe, grief, cries for justice, outrage at injustice, fire, violence, death. As I watched, I wondered if this review accurately portrayed the year. Was there nothing good? Was God not active anywhere?

There is an ancient tradition called Examen. It is the process of a daily or weekly review of one’s personal experiences. Often occurring at the end of the day (or week), the participant begins by prayerfully acknowledging God’s presence, giving permission for the unveiling of the consolations (presence of God) and desolations (moments of failure) throughout the time period in review. The time ends with gratefulness for the presence of God and confession for times of failure. It is a means of wiping the slate clean, so to speak, on a regular basis.

As I considered the approaching end to the year 2020, I felt the Holy Spirit inviting me to prayerfully consider the year in the tradition of the Examen. I invite you to join me in this adventure as a means of clearing the slate to begin the new year on Friday.

Over the next few days, I will break down the elements of the Examen and provide some scripture to guide the practice. Of course, as always, you can be as involved or uninvolved as you like. In preparation, Psalm 139 is a great text to read. I will be using a portion of the psalm throughout this process.

Thanks again for joining me on this pilgrimage we call life. It’s comforting to have a traveling cohort – to know we don’t have to go at it alone.

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Posted on December 25, 2020 by beverlyeash

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

In case you missed it yesterday, listen to the real reason for the season, compliments of Charlie Brown!

So maybe this year is different than last. It’s okay. The reason we pause to celebrate is still the same! Jesus was born and someday he will come back to take us home with him! And that’s reason to celebrate!

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Posted on December 24, 2020 by beverlyeash

1At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. 8That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Luke 2:1-20

I am arrested by the way God broke through the trappings of humanity to accomplish his purposes in sending Jesus to heal our brokenness, to bring us back into relationship with himself. Meditate for just a moment on the way God spurred an emperor to take a census at the exact time Jesus was to be born. Due to this edict, Joseph and Mary needed to make the long trip to Bethlehem. Remembering how I felt when I was nine months pregnant, I don’t think Mary thought this was a great idea. As she prepared herself to make the journey, she may have been wondering why. Why did this have to happen now?

I don’t know what she thought or how she felt, but I do know that God does not change. If he said it, he will do it. And he used whomever he needs to accomplish it, even Roman emperors. Your situation is not beyond his ability to restore and heal. The journey may not be comfortable — Mary’s sure wasn’t — but it will be restorative and fulfill his word to you.

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