Exodus

Exodus

Eácodov
Transliterated: Exodus
1. exit, departure
2. departure from life, decease

4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. –Colossians 3:4-5.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? -Hebrews 12:7.

For the past two months, I’ve been working in Covington, IN, which is about a 30 minute commute one-way. On bad-weather days, it can be a pain getting to work, but for the most part, I’ve enjoyed my time in the car.

Part of “redeeming the time” has been listening to the radio and playing cd’s. A close friend of mine handed me a cd by Andrew Peterson entitled, “Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ.”

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been listening to the songs, and their meaning is pretty deep. A recurring theme throughout the album was the nation of Israel anticipating Jesus Christ to free them from bondage. Interwoven with this theme is also a message for the believer: Anticipate Jesus Christ to free you from spiritual bondage.

What’s ironic about all this is that we’re beginning to study the book of Exodus. When I looked up the word Exodus, it means to exit or depart; the word is also used to describe physical death.

When I read that, the Lord began to deal with my heart… “there’s some things you’re going to have to leave behind, if you’re going to follow me. There are some things (habits/earthly desires) you must put to death.”

Okay. There might be a few things I need to deal with before I can/we can go on with the Lord. And with that in mind, I sat down and read chapter 1 of Exodus. That’s when this jumped out… “13 So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.” Exodus 1:13-14.

My first thought was "hmm... dully noted, Lord-- let's avoid the whole bondage thing and get on with whatever you have for me." Unfortunately, I can be pretty stubborn; and it usually takes a degree of suffering to bring me to a place of submission.

Oftentimes, the Lord has to make us uncomfortable in order to get us to respond to His leading; He allows us to experience the consequences of living according to our earthly desires so we will turn and follow Him. He’s just simply preparing us to move on. For the Israelites, He allowed their lives to become bitter, hard and rigorous so they would want to leave Egypt… so they would be ready when He called.

Do you find yourself being afflicted? Has your life become bitter and full of rigor? Is there something you need to come away from and leave behind? Is there an earthly desire or habit that needs to be put to death? There’s a good chance the Lord is trying to get your attention. There’s a good chance He’s preparing you to move on.

Blast From The Past

Here are our two oldest girls, wearing coats that originally belonged to my mother and her sister and were also worn by my two cousins. They were so careful with the coats Sunday as they trotted off to church. I know my mom and aunt will get a kick out of seeing their coats again!

And So It Begins...

What do you think? Will he survive three older sisters? They spent all morning trying different colored headbands on him. Next it will be his toe nails and some pretty pink polish...

Things I Found While Cleaning Today...

I haven't cleaned our bedroom in, oh, say for-dash-ever. I mean other than just making the bed and picking up laundry (sometimes.) There are three of us camped out in there right now as Samuel is still sleeping next to our bed--oh, okay, truth be told he still sleeps IN the bed with us a couple nights a week! Anyway, it's amazing what you find whilst cleaning and de-cluttering:

Dust bunnies the size of my fist (all the way under the bed having a big party together)
Miscellaneous socks under the bed, dressers and at the bottom of the closet.
Lost shoes.
A library book I repeatedly assured the librarian over the phone had been returned ages ago (I had to call and apologize and return the book pronto!)
Chapstick
Receipts
My journal
Expired coupons
Unopened mail (nothing serious, thankfully!)
Photos
A piece of jewelry I've been hunting for since we returned from Christmas vacation (I was certain it had been lost on the trip!)
3 pacifiers in need of a trip through the dishwasher
Misc. pony tail holders, barrettes, clips, and headbands


It was quite the treasure trove of sorts, but mostly embarrassing because I've neglected our poor bedroom for so long. Now, there are clean, fresh sheets, dusted furniture, floors that have been swept and mopped, tidy bookshelves, and a lovely candle glowing and scenting the room. I can't wait to go to bed! I will feel like a queen...

Sometimes our hearts get this way, too, don't they? We are so busy as wives and moms that we forget to clean our own hearts regularly. We accumulate things that don't belong there: fear, guilt, pride, resentment, prejudice....the list could go on. That's why a daily time with God is important (I'm remembering!) It isn't about "feeling" something special. It's about spending time with Someone special: Jesus Christ! Many mornings, I've not felt particularly connected to God, but through the day, my mind recalls His Word or I see answer to my prayers--even the half-hearted ones. It develops intimacy with God. It helps frame my day. It gives me the correct lens to see things as He does.

So, spend some time today, tomorrow, every day for that matter in the Word. Even if you don't feel like it. Let God begin to clean your heart and fill it with His love.

Thank You, Lord, for a clean bedroom and the opportunity to have a clean heart whenever I choose. Thanks for reminding me that it really is my choice and that You are always willing to oblige. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Red Envelope Day

If you want to participate in Red Envelope Day, March 31, 2009, I've copied some details below. The basic premise is to flood the White House with empty red envelopes addressed to the President, representing the millions of lives affected and destroyed by abortion. It's an easy yet powerful statement to our country's leader. I believe it is important for us to make such statements of faith. Hope you will join me!

What: Get red envelopes or postcards (http://www.zazzle.com/RedEnvelopeDay) and mail them on March 31st to the White House
When: March 31st, 2009
Get a red envelope.
On the front, address it to:
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington , D.C. 20500
On the back, write the following message:
This envelope represents one child who died because of an abortion.It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to be a part of our world.

Barack Obama spoke at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event, uttering the now infamous line, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. [Applause.] That's the first thing that I'd do." An empty red envelope will send a message to President Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue [The Freedom of Choice Act, which will essentially “undo” every law currently in place to limit abortion in the U.S. (i.e., parental consent laws, parental notification, waiting periods, prohibition of transporting a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion, etc.)]. It will be quiet, but clear. Please read more about The Freedom of Choice Act here:
http://www.lifenews.com/nat4359.html
http://www.barackobama.com/2008/01/22/obama_statement_on_35th_annive.php
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2008/07/one_year_annive.html

Elvis

We are grieving. We are remembering. We are thankful.

Yesterday, after an agonizing decision, we said good-bye to our beloved Elvis. Though he was a stinker dog--shedding everywhere, leaving muddy paw prints through the house, barking at every.single.person. he was still our dog and faithful to the end.

Friday, someone opened our back gate and let our dogs out. Our neighbor saw them and called Penny to her, but Elvis took off down the alley. At some point, he got into a fight with another dog and Animal Control was called. When the officer arrived, Elvis was the only dog to be found. Unfortunately, Elvis decided the officer was the enemy and attempted to attack him. The officer wasn't injured, but Elvis was transported to "dog jail" to cool off. In the mean time, we spoke with our vet who was able to peek in on him and reported that he just wasn't himself. After recounting to her how many incidents we've had with him in the last couple years (five unprovoked bites), she recommended that we consider putting him down. And the knot formed in our stomachs.

Yesterday, Charlie went to the shelter to visit Elvis and talk to the officer who had taken him in. After hearing the story and seeing the obvious distress our poor dog was in, there really was no other choice. He took Elvis for one last walk around the grassy yard of the shelter and said good-bye to him. When he came home, he said our dog was not the same dog. Something serious had happened to him. He couldn't be trusted. Charlie didn't want to risk his family's or any other family's safety keeping a dog around that had turned so aggressive. And we couldn't give him to another family in good conscience. We cried. We prayed. It was the responsible thing to do, but it left us with such heavy hearts.

We decided not to tell the girls until after their Valentine party. As we were doing our family bedtime routine last night, we told them. They cried which made us cry, too. We all held each other and grieved together. There is comfort in so many little bodies piled together. They asked all the usual questions: Is Elvis in heaven? Will we see him again? Where is his body? We answered the best we could, but continued to emphasize that he always belonged to the Lord and the Lord is taking care of him now. Emma being the absolute animal lover she is was devastated. She cried herself to sleep. Ruthie cried, too, but more because she felt so badly for Emma. Olivia didn't completely understand all that we were saying and was tired enough to cry from sheer fatigue. It was by far the hardest parenting moment either of us have faced.

But, this morning, we are rejoicing in the many years we had with our faithful friend. I will miss his familiar outline in the black night as we return home. I will miss his tail wagging in delight whenever he saw my husband's car pull in the drive. I will miss running with him. I will miss his kind eyes and face that always seemed to smile. Those are the images and memories I will take with me.

Thank You, Lord, for our faithful friend. For providing his companionship and comfort to us all these years. Bring comfort to our hearts now. In Jesus' name, Amen.

...and missing envelopes

Yesterday, it was the crashing mirror. Today--it was missing envelopes. Charlie couldn't find the valentine envelopes I wanted him to mail today so I had to get up and search for them. And, since I was already up and didn't want to disturb Samuel climbing back into bed (though it was so inviting!), I was able to spend time in the Word again.

Thanks, Lord, for employing a variety of ways to get me out of bed. Thanks for knowing me so well...knowing it takes a mountain to move me. In Jesus' name, Amen.