Tuesday 23 August 2016

Warnings From the Life of Uzziah

I'm back.  It seems when it rains it pours.  In the last few weeks, everything went down, including the computer.  Our fridge/freezer stopped cooling.  Our oven stopped heating.  The lawnmowever stopped mowing......the list seemed endless!  But, miracle of all miracles, we didn't have to get new appliances, lawnmowers or computers.  We were able to fix each one for a pretty good price, nothing was broken so badly it couldn't be repaired, so I'm grateful.

Last week, my two oldest wore black around the house for a few days.....they were back from their leadership camp and they were so depressed!  That's what camp does to people.  You go, you bond with all sorts of new people (in a very short time, I might add!), then you leave.  By the end of the week, everyone is new best friends and then you have to come home to a bossy mom and little siblings who don't care where you went....poor kids!  But all in all, they had a great week and did make new friends, learned a lot, and are psyched up about street preaching again!  So much so, that my son found himself standing on a box in Niagara Falls reading out a tract to anyone who would listen as they walked by!  I think it runs in the blood, though.  I was pretty sure I remembered my dad doing something like that from a roof of a car when he was first saved as a young man.  I asked him about it and sure enough, he did.  Got some speakers, he said, and went to the middle of town and started preaching!  So, the grandapple doesn't fall far from the grandtree, it turns out.....

This past weekend, they went again with some of the new friends they had met and walked around all day handing out tracts.  You just never know where these tracts will end  up and who will read them.  I think what is compelling our kids to do this is what compelled Wilberforce....they see that a "Manners Reformation" needs to take place.  Not the manners you typically think of, but the kind that refers to morality and behaviour.  Wilberforce saw the English society and how corrupt it was.  Not only did he want to abolish slavery, but he wanted the culture to be changed and he knew only Jesus could do that.  Our kids are starting to see how awful our society is becoming and they are starting to see it through God's eyes, how it saddens Him.  They know the only solution is Jesus and this compels them to get the Word out any way they can.

Meanwhile, we are coming to the end of our more intentional time of focused prayer.  We realized we can't stop even once the 40 days is over.  Between the two of us, we've lost 30 lbs!  So we can't go back to the way we were eating either.  We knew that before, but had slacked off big time over the winter months.  Mmmmmmm....salads....!  Here we come!  Actually salads are pretty good when they come straight from your garden.  Winter salads are going to be more of a challenge because they won't be nearly as delicious.  So, really, we're just going to stay in this mode.  It's a good place to be as we are depending on God for direction daily anyway and the discipline of eating well is always a good thing, too.

While I was specifically praying about RM, I came across this chapter in 2 Chronicles.  Chapter 26.  It talked about Uzziah and how he became king.  Immediately, when you start to read about the kings in the Old Testament, you wonder, will he be a good king or a bad king?  Uzziah was a good one, at least initially, "And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord."  I always pay attention to the good kings.  I want my husband to be a good king, too!  So what did he do that made him do right?  "He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper. (26:6).  There you go, if we weren't sure before, it's pretty clear from that verse....seek God, get instruction - any king, any man, any woman, simply needs to stay in the ways of the Lord in order to be in the favour of the Lord.

Then, it breaks down Uzziah's work.  This became very interesting for me as, again, I was reading it with RM in mind.  Uzziah starts his "king work" by going out and having a war, breaking through some walls, building some cities, fighting more enemies and then getting famous!  All in a day's work!  A very busy guy.  This is truly the day in the life of my husband, too!  He's always at war in some capacity....fighting the enemy of debt, or some customer who won't pay, or weeds, or a broken machine....yes, he fights wars.  Breaks through walls, too.  He is constantly doing new things, coming up with new ideas, breaking the status quo for us.  If he isn't breaking through a wall, he's building a city or at least building a wall of protection for his family, not to mention a farm.  Our little farm is basically being built from the ground up.  Yes, the bare bones were there, but we have had to rebuild almost everything from the house to the outbuildings, to the fences.....Uzziah was busy, my husband is busy!  I was starting to see some pretty funny comparisons, but it gets even more similar to my amazement....

Then it said "Uzziah built towers".  No way.  My husband's main work right now is building towers.  Coincidence I thought.  Uzziah built them all over the place.  My husband builds weather station towers that are literally all over the place, at airports, for example, wherever they need to measure weather.  Uzziah and my husband - tower builders, who knew?

Uzziah also cut out many cisterns, "for he had large herds".  He also "had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil."  Crazy.  We may not have large herds, but he do have herds, cows, in particular.  And we have vines and fertile lands where we grow hay.  If you were to ask my husband what he loves to do, he would tell you, he loves being on the tractor - he loves the soil.  He loves what our land is producing.  We started farming so we could get a tax break, but we also wanted to eat off the land.  What has shocked us in this whole process is how much we have enjoyed doing the farming!  We didn't expect that!  Yes, it is hard work, but it is so fulfilling and satisfying and creating such hard-working kids...so, just like Uzziah, we love the soil!

Uzziah also had an "army of soldiers".  So do we - our young family, that is quickly getting older, is our army.  They are being prepared to "make war with might power".  Uzziah provided all that they would need in order to fight "army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging."  RM is doing all that he can to prepare our kids for the war that is ahead of them once they leave the nest.  He's trying to provide them with the necessary tools and skills they'll need to take on provision for their own homes and fighting for their own families one day.  So, both men have armies and both men provide what their armies need to fight.

This was the most amusing comparison.  Uzziah was also an engineer, and, dare I say, a mechanical engineer, just like my husband.  How do I know?  He "made machines"!  No joke!  When I read that, I nearly fell over.  He made machines "to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones".  So his machines were built to make things work better and faster - isn't that the definition of an engineer?  They see a problem, slow arrows, slow stones, and they design something that will make things bigger, faster and stronger.....Hmmmmm....kind of what my husband does all day everyday.  "His fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong."  Neither RM or I are looking for him to become famous, but what is to be noticed here is that he was "marvelously helped".  Not just helped, but marvelously helped.  Cool.  It really shows that Uzziah couldn't do it on his own.  He had farmers, vinedressers, and skillful men on his team, but he also had God.  He would never have been as successful as he was without the support of those around him and, of course, his reliance on God was absolutely key.  Same with us.  We have a lot of people on our team, from our kids, to grandparents, to friends, neighbours....but the head of our team is God who marvelously helps us all the time.

I kind of wish the chapter had ended there.  It was such a happy ending, but, no, the chapter went on and included one verse that changed everything.  "But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction."  (26:16)  Why?????  Why couldn't he be happy with how his life went?  Why couldn't he just see that all he had came from the Lord?  Why does our pride always bring us down?  Big lesson there.  We read this in Scripture all the time - prides comes before a fall.  So, our prayer is that all the similarities between RM and Uzziah will end there.  We pray that if God were to ever give us success of any kind that we will take notice of the warnings and always give God the glory.  Uzziah ended up being a leper the rest of his life "because the Lord had struck him".  That is not how I want our story to end.

I have read that chapter before and never noticed all the similarities between my husband and Uzziah.  I can't help but think this time my eyes were opened to it in a different way because the Lord had something to tell me.  Needless to say, I read it to RM and we talked about it for a long time, heeding the warnings.  Scripture is just so amazing, so practical and even ironic at times as it described my husband to a "T"!  Warning received.

Friday 12 August 2016

Whole-Hearted Living

Though I do not want to think about it, school is around the corner.  For all of July, I just put it out of my head knowing August would be when I sat and planned.  Now, sadly, August is here....summer always goes so fast.  Why doesn't winter go fast?!  So today, my mom will come over to watch the littler ones and I'll sit and plan, organize bins and shelves, make schedules, chore packs....blah, blah, blah.....but knowing this was coming as I don't get a lot of time to do this, I knew I needed to go to bed early in order to get up early in order to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time!

I sat and read, drank my coffee, while it was still quiet in the house, (even dark outside now in the morning...sigh).  I came across a great verse that will probably be our school verse for the year, as it sums up even my bad attitude about school,

"And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart."  2 Chronicles 25:2

Didn't you hear how I was going to go about my planning this year?  Yes, I was going to do it, it's the right thing to do, but with such a bad attitude!  Instead of waking up excited, I was kind of dreading it.  Instead of looking forward to planning what amazing things are going to go in my children's heads this year, I was about to go about it with a half-hearted attitude.  This verse says no - it must be done with a whole heart.

The message on Sunday was about having a whole heart as well, how God loved David because he was a man after His own heart.  He loves whole-hearted people.

One of my favourite bands is For King and Country.  These guys write lyrics that often speak to what I'm trying to say, but much more poetically, not to mention they have such incredibly catchy tunes....

The song I've been blaring around the house lately has been on this very theme..."Wholehearted".  It speaks of not taking the easy road, the smoother ride, but to live whole-hearted, no matter what. The lyrics are below and the link to the song comes right after that to listen to.  Love it.

Look how far we've come
look where we started from
best thing about it is you know we've only just begun
they say life's a dance
10 percent circumstance but,
what great adventure ever plays out just the way you've planned it
oh oh oh
we'll fly into the turbulence
oh oh oh
no telling where we're gonna land
oh oh oh
isn't that just part of this romance?
oh oh oh
so when I'm stuck out in the cold
let me be warm-hearted
when it weighs too much to hold
let me be light-hearted
when all I have is not enough
won't be broken hearted
cuz you taught me how to love, to live to learn
to live whole hearted
oh wholehearted
should we take the easy life?
should we take the smoother ride?
no need to ask, I see the answer written in your eyes
oh oh oh
so sail the ship onto the sand
oh oh oh
no telling where we're gonna land
oh oh oh
oh that's just part of our romance
oh oh oh
he-ey
when I'm stuck out in the cold
let me be warm-hearted
when it weighs too much to hold
let me be light-hearted
when all I have is not enough
won't be broken-hearted
cuz you taught me how to love, to live to learn,
to love, to live whole hearted
(yeah) (oh wholehearted)
(oh) (oh wholehearted)
(yeah) (oh wholehearted)
(oh) (oh wholehearted)
when you love somebody
(yeah) (oh wholehearted)
(oh) (oh wholehearted)
when you love somebody
oh wholehearted
on and on and on we'll go
and to our lives through the unknown
on and on and on we'll fly
write the legend of our lives
on and on and on we'll fly
for every day and every night
the greatest stories ever told
were written with a heart that's
whole
so when I'm stuck out in the cold
let me be warm-hearted
when it weighs too much to hold
let me be light-hearted
when I'm stuck out in the cold!
(let me be warm-hearted)
when it weighs too much to hold!
(let me be light-hearted)
when all I have is not enough
won't be broken-hearted
cuz you taught me how to love, to live, to learn,
to love, to live whole hearted
whole wholehearted
when you love somebody x2
you live wholehearted
wholehearted
whole, wholehearted
oh you taught me how to love, to live, to learn,
to live wholehearted

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fdic64bteg

I think my favourite line in the song is this, "On and on and on we'll fly, Write the legend of our lives, On and on and on we'll fly, For every day and every night, THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD WERE WRITTEN WITH A HEART THAT'S WHOLE"

That is the lesson I want my kids to learn this year - do everything with your WHOLE heart, be it school, work, marriage, church, raising kids, serving God.....all of life.  The king in 2 Chronicles that did not live whole-hearted, Amaziah, did not have life go so well with him.  That is not how I want things to go for my kids (or myself).  I want their legends, their stories to be the greatest stories ever told!

So, that has helped me change my whole perspective on today.  I will no longer go into this day of planning with dread, but instead with excitement!  What will our year hold?  What great things can we do together, learn together, visit together?  It suddenly makes my day so full of anticipation!

Every night we go out to pick beans as it is waaay too hot to pick them in the middle of the day.  I love this time of day as we're all outside, soaking up the last few weeks of summer.  Every child is outside.  Ideas start to come to me as I see the kids playing of things we can do this Fall.  They've been playing "Indians" every night.  We now have two teepees on the property, full of zucchinis, cucumbers, and tomatoes.  They're bringing in their supplies for the winter months, so funny.  So, immediately I thought of an Indian village we can go visit in September.  I started to realize I need to capitalize on this and visit places like that as well as Pioneer villages nearby.  The Canadian History curriculum I have will actually interest them this year as they are living it out before my eyes!

So, I start to see how my year is going to be fun and alive.  No need to dread.  That's living half-hearted or even one-quarter-hearted.  Not how God intends us to live.


Wednesday 10 August 2016

Success in the Battle

Yesterday brought big news....the contract we had been hoping for will amazingly enough be awarded to us.  Pending any huge upset anyway....so we're praying the final paperwork will confirm the contract.

That morning, I had headed out with the kids and we prayed in the car for Daddy.  I said to the Lord out loud in front of them all, "Lord, help Daddy to be faithful in his field, even though he feels forgotten."  They knew what I meant.

Meanwhile, back at the house, RM was reading in Judges (so I found out later).  He was in Judges 20. The people of Israel were going to fight against the people of Benjamin.  They had asked the Lord, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?"  And the Lord had answered, "Judah shall go up first."

They obeyed the Lord and sent the men of Judah out, but 22,000 men of Judah were killed.  How could this be?  They had inquired of the Lord, thought they had heard him right, obeyed and yet so many were killed.  It says, "But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day.  And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening."  They asked the Lord again, "Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?"  The Lord said, "Go up against them."

Off they went again, the second day.  They went against the people of Benjamin and this time 18,000 men were destroyed.  "Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept.  They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings before the Lord.  And they inquired of the Lord...'Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?'"

This must have been an absolute mystery for the people of Israel.  They inquire of the Lord, they seek Him, and then they get destroyed!!!  Did they hear wrong?  What did they miss?  If Zophar, from the book of Job, had been there.  He would have said there was sin in their lives.  That's what he told Job. He said, basically, "You just need to confess your sin, ask for forgiveness and THEN the Lord will bless you."  Job hadn't sinned.  Israel hadn't sinned.  In Job's case, it was due to a conversation Satan had had with God.  In Israel's case, the reason just isn't revealed.

Finally, for the 3rd time, Israel goes out.  They got a little more strategic this time (perhaps that was the problem?  Lack of strategy?)  They set an ambush and this time, 25,100 men of Benjamin were destroyed and defeated.

This is a little how we have felt lately.  We've sought the Lord, not just three times, but multiple times.  We have confessed anything that has come to mind.  We felt like we were being as faithful as we could, yet, not unlike the Isarelites, we would come before the Lord, perhaps not weeping, but certainly fasting and feeling a heaviness, as we would say, "Why are we being defeated?"  Contracts weren't coming that normally came, certain doors were being closed, others just weren't opening. There was definite confusion, especially because we had inquired of the Lord.

Then, the contract came.  We were very strategic in how we went about getting this contract, we had to be as there was intense competition.  We prayed and prayed over the number that went in for the bid.  We were very careful that we had all our ducks in a line.  Why did we get it now?  We had to wait weeks to find out.  Even that was confusing.  So much waiting!!!!  But then, all the others who bid as well, were "destroyed" (well, hopefully.....just need the final paperwork!)

The Israelites can teach us many lessons.  Despite their confusion, their huge losses, they still "took courage", they "again formed the battle line".  They didn't give up inquiring of the Lord, thinking they could take matters into their own hands.  They wept, they didn't deny it was hard to go through. They fasted, showing their utter dependence on God.  And then, they had success.  They never knew for certain when it would come.  They thought it would be two battles earlier!  So many times they are unfaithful, yet this time, they act very faithfully.

The Bible does not reveal why He let them lose the first two battles and then win on the third time. We don't know that a conversation in the heavenlies isn't part of the equation.  There is more to the story that we just don't know, but even that is a lesson.  When life does not go as planned, when we don't succeed even when we think we are being faithful, we still must trust that God is in control. Yesterday, an answer was forthcoming, we didn't know it at the time, but until it came, we had to be faithful in our field, in our little daily battles, whether the contract came or not.

Scripture continues to show us that life just doesn't always go as planned, yet we can still trust in a faithful God.  What is exciting is that sometimes, however, He does give us successes in our battles. This is one of those times for us and we are so grateful!  Definitely sighing a huge sigh of relief!  We won't stop inquiring of the Lord.  We won't stop trusting Him for our daily battles, big or small.

Monday 8 August 2016

Being Faith in Our Field

Don't tell anyone, but I went to church on a beach yesterday.  Normally, we wouldn't go to a service held on a beach, but a friend of ours was preaching, not to mention, I love the guy's preaching, and it was just an awesome opportunity to have a one-day vacation as a family.

I was quite worried the pastor might give a "less-than" sermon because there might be a certain number of unbelievers there, but it was quite the opposite.  I was so happy.  He actually turned to a passage in 1 Samuel 16 and exposited the Word of God just like he would have if he had been in his own church.

All pastors trust and pray that God is using them to speak to their audience and he never could have known what I needed to hear that day, but it was just more confirmation for us that we are right where God wants us.

The passage was about David, soon to be King David, but he didn't know it.  Samuel had come to see Jesse and all his sons as one of them was going to be chosen as Israel's next king.  Jesse had called all of them, except for David.  Why?  Because he was just a shepherd, watching his flocks, in the field, completely overlooked, not important.

Finally they brought David out from the fields...turns out he was the one to be king!  Oops!  Samuel annointed him with oil and back to the fields he went...for the time being.  What was the "take-home"?  There were 4 F's, he called them....

1.  Be faithful in your Field.  How did the pastor know we had a field?!  He didn't of course, but my husband and I laughed.  We actually have a field, but it isn't just a literal one, we also have a figurative field....right now it is writing a course.  This is one of his least favourite things to do.  He is grateful for the work, but he would so much rather be working on other projects or things that bring either more income or more satisfaction.  Yet, this is what he has.  For now.  It's his field.  I'm sure David would have liked to be doing more exciting work than just watching a few sheep.  Yet, God did keep things interesting while he was out in his field.  He sent along a bear and a lion.  Another "why"?  Because God was preparing him for his Goliath which was soon to come.  It would, in fact, be sin for us to complain about our "field" based on this passage.  So, instead, we are grateful and thank God for the field He has given us, both the literal and figurative one.  And we wonder, if maybe, just maybe, God will continue to use it to prepare us for something (or not) later on.

2.  Be faithful in the familiar.  This is similar to the first "F".  Here is a great story about being faithful in the familiar.......This past year, my oldest son has wanted to go the Worldview Camp his older sister had gone to two years ago.  She had made it seem like such a positive experience that he couldn't wait to go, too.  He signed up last year and then it was cancelled.  He was very disappointed. Then, this past year, there was space, but we told him, "There's no way."  We also told his sister, "Sorry."  We couldn't justify the cost and besides, she had already gone.  He had already learned a lot of worldview-type knowledge in other conferences, so it wouldn't benefit him too much PLUS he needed to save his money, not spend it.  PLUS he had to finish up a course for school.....the list of reasons went on and on.  BUT, we always told the kids, "If God wants you there, He'll make a way." Meanwhile, my oldest daughter's miracle happened when she found out they were looking for mentors.  Turns out she got to go AND she gets paid to be there!!!!  My son had pretty much given up hope.  There were 10 guys on the waiting list...there was no way.....hmmmmm.....sounds like a miracle might just have to happen.....

I heard my son pray at family worship, "Lord, if you want me there, please make a way, but I'll be ok if it doesn't work out, too."  That's the kind of prayer God loves.  I believe he meant it.  So he dove into his chemistry course these past few weeks, working all day on chemistry.  That is unfamiliar territory to me, but it was his "field'.  He continued to work in what was "familiar", by just doing regular life, always trusting, always praying, but really, he had completely surrendered his rights to going.

Then, an unexpected gift of money came.  I didn't think we should put it towards the camp as I thought the right thing to do would be to use it for groceries, but then the giver actually mentioned, "Use it for the camp if you'd like."  With that freedom, I quickly ran to my husband and just like two years ago when the opportunity came up for my daughter, my husband was nearly asleep again and said, "Let's talk about it tomorrow."  WHAT?!  So, all night I prayed that God would work it out as it seemed a miracle was happening.  Sure enough, the next morning, before I even got a chance to speak to RM, he had already asked my daughter to see if there was a last minute space for our son to go.  This was only 2 days before the camp.  But no miracle.  There was no space.  I was disappointed and so was he, but in the spirit of staying faithful we thanked God anyway as He clearly didn't think he needed to be there.

Meanwhile, we all headed off to the beach the day the camp was starting.  My son wasn't going.  Half way through the day, my daughter started calling and texting from where she was taking wedding photos.  We missed all the calls and all the texts because we were having such a fun day in the sand and surf.  When we finally left to go home, we called her back only to find out a space had opened up....with hours to spare before the camp started!  Turns out, some guy had cut up his hand really badly and couldn't make it to camp anymore!  Sorry about that!  Don't know what happened to the other guys on the waiting list, but somehow....in not just the 11th hour, but the 11:59th hour, our son made it in.  I told him, "We've got good news and bad news.  The bad news is we won't have you around this week to help with the animals and you won't be able to do your chemistry, but the good news is YOU'RE GOING TO CYWAL (the camp)!!!!!"  He was in shock.  We were all in shock, but thrilled that once again, our children could all see that God cares about their lives and the details of their lives.  He is showing them life lesson after life lesson that miracles still happen and that they just need to trust Him, surrender their rights to Him, and that He can work out anything He wants to work out.   So we headed home from the beach, packed his clothes and took him right to the camp. Talk about a whirlwind day!

This is being faithful in the field and in the familiar.

3.  Be faithful in the forgotten.  David was forgotten, left in the field.  He wasn't important enough to his father.  So sad.  We are still being overlooked, or so it seems, in the work we are pursuing.  It feels like the places we have sought out work have forgotten us.  Yet, God is at work behind the scenes. God elevated David.  He never elevated himself.  We just need to be faithful even in this time when we feel forgotten.  How does that actually look?  By continuing to pursue what we do have and trusting God that He hasn't forgotten us even if others have.

4.  Be faithful in the future.  David was now annointed as king, but initially he went right back to his field.  God would work out when he would actually sit on a throne in a palace.  We, too, must trust God in His timing that if we are to succeed in the ventures we are pursuing, that God will work out all the details of what that looks like.  We can't even imagine what God may have planned for us.  It is good to not know.

So....church on the beach was awesome!  We all got a little too much sun, but had so much fun AND we did truly hear and take in the Word of God.  Miracles were happening while we were at the beach enjoying ourselves.  We didn't even know.  More life and faith lessons were learned.......all in the course of the familiar, just living life.

Thursday 4 August 2016

Fearless

One of my all-time favourite stories in the Bible has to be in 2 Chronicles 20.   It's the story of Jehoshaphat.

"After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle." (vs. 1)

Seems like a tiny little verse, but it is packed.  The two words "after this" make it sound like it was completely normal for a few countries to come against somebody.  But it wasn't normal!  No one liked a few countries coming against them!  What does the "after this" refer to?  Is there a connection?  It's interesting to note, Jehoshaphat had just finished making some major reforms in his kingdom.  In the chapter before it says he "brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers." He also "appointed certain Levites and priest and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the Lord and to decide disputed cases."  That was important because he wanted the people to treat one another well, to have the fear of the Lord, to be faithful, to be upright (all words from Ch. 19).  So he had made some big reforms.  He had "set his heart to seek God", it says in 19:3.

Generally speaking, when someone starts living for the Lord, a major test should be expected.  They are naturally a target for the enemy because they are a threat.  Sure enough, Jehoshaphat is tested, too. He was told, "A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi)" (20:2).  I don't have a Bible atlas in front of me, but I picture that they guys talking to Jehoshaphat were saying, "They came from far away, BUT, they are AROUND THE CORNER!!!!  RUNNNNNN!!!!"

I appreciate Jehoshaphat's response so much.  He was afraid.  Maybe he was terrified.  The Bible downplays it a bit, but says this, "Jehoshaphat was afraid..."  Here, however, is where his response of fear differs from most.  It says he was afraid yet instead of freaking out (which would be most people's response), in the same phrase, very calmly and casually and perhaps even naturally, he "set his face to seek the Lord...."  In addition to this, as the verse isn't done yet, it quickly adds on "and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah". (vs. 3)  This is just not the normal response we see when something awful is about to happen.  Fear - normal response.  Setting our eyes on the Lord - sometimes, maybe after we freak out.  Fasting?  Almost never.  Yet I think we've been just shown that should be the pattern.

Jehoshaphat continues to model the right response as the chapter continues.  He stood amongst "the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court..." (vs. 5)  Then he cries out to God, in front of everyone, speaking to the Lord, recalling all His works, who God is, "God in heaven", what He does, "You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations", repeating back to God His authority, "In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you." Perhaps Jehoshaphat, and even his people needed this reminding more than anyone.

He also tells of His faithfulness, how He had driven "out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel".  He mentions how they had said in the past, that if disaster, the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine would come upon them that they would "cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save." (vs. 9).

After speaking of all that they had said God would do and all they had said they would do, it ends with Jehoshaphat begging God, "O our God, will you not execute judgement on them?  For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us."

Then, my favourite phrase I think in all of the Bible is said, "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."  That has to be one of the greatest lines in Scripture.  Doesn't it sum up what most of us feel?  Most of the time, we just don't know what to do, but as Christians all we have is God, so we keep our eyes on Him.

Jehoshaphat models how we can simply and honestly talk to God.  We can recall His works, all that He has done in the past (this is more for us, than for God, of course, but it helps us remember how He has been faithful).  We can speak of His character, His attributes.  This, too, is for us, as it is good to remember He is not like us.  He is God!  Not a human, by any stretch.  It is also good to be really honest with Him and tell Him our requests, even if they seem like huge requests.  God can take it. Finally, in our honesty, we can admit, we just can't do it on our own and we, quite frankly, just don't know what to do.  Yet, we know our dependence is on God.

All of Judah was there at that moment, all of "their little ones, their wives, and their children".  No babies were kept at home or put in the nursery.  They, too, were there, standing "before the Lord", it says (vs. 13).  Why is that mentioned?  I think it shows that they were supposed to be a part of what God was about to do.

Then, Zechariah, heard from the Lord, "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's...You will not need to fight in this battle.  Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.  Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.  Tomorrow go out against them and the Lord will be with you." (16, 17)

We are, also, to not be afraid or dismayed.  The battle isn't our's, but God's.  We must stand firm, hold our position and watch for His salvation.  In case we were unclear about this, it is repeated, "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.  We are so easily made afraid and dismayed.  God knows this and so He says it twice - don't be!!!!

After immediately bowing down and worshiping the Lord at this great word, the Levites, Kohathies, and Korahites, "stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice."  Put on worship music and sing....loudly.  We are to be in a constant state of praise and worship wherever we are. That's great evidence that my daughter is allowed to play loud music, I'll have to show that verse to my husband.....

The next morning, Jehoshaphat gave the people one last pep talk, "Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem!  Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed."  Then, back to the loud worship music...."he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise Him in holy attire".  They sang, "Give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever."  No fighting, just singing!  Sounds impossible.  But "when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab,andMout Sir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.....they all helped to destroy one another."  Crazy!  They turned on each other instead of attacking Judah.

Praising and worshiping God is the key to our success.  We must also believe in the Lord and His plans for us.  Can it really be that simple?  I think so.  Remaining faithful, not fearful.

I read this yesterday, then, later on that morning a friend came over to teach us how to make necklaces.  She needed to have more stock on hand for her craft shows and so was using my daughters to help her.  In return for the help she was giving them new skills and a couple of new necklaces as well.  I had on a necklace my daughter had given me for mother's day a couple of years ago, but sadly, one of the charms had fallen off.  I had loved that charm so much as it had said, "I love you" on it.  My friend said to me, "Oh, we can fix that.  I have some charms you could choose from and we'll just put it on right now."  I immediately saw the one I wanted.  It said, "Fearless".  I told her that was the lesson God was teaching me lately (not to mention that very morning!)  Within seconds, my necklace was new, with the word fearless hanging from my neck.  I walked around all day saying, "I'm fearless" to whoever would listen to me.  It was in my mind, "I'm fearless".  We still have no answers, but I'm fearless.  We aren't certain what our future holds, but I'm fearless.  We aren't sure what to do, but our eyes are on the Lord, and I'm fearless.  Fearless.

We can learn many lessons from Jehoshaphat.  We shouldn't be surprised when these armies come. At times fear does try to enter into our hearts and minds, but we continue to seek God and we are in the middle of a 40 day period of being more deliberate about that, including a fast of sorts.  Today, I will play loud worship music and I will march around my house thanking the Lord for His steadfast love and when the armies come against me, which they seem to try to do quite regularly, I will not be afraid.  I will wait and watch for the Lord to destroy them as He fights for me.  What a great story!

Wednesday 3 August 2016

Taking Heart

As we continue to seek the Lord for direction we have been encouraged, even though our situation remains the same.  That shocks me.  I think it used to be that my joy would depend on my circumstances.  And, to some extent, it still does.  I will have a tremendous amount of joy if we somehow find ourselves free from debt, but if we never find ourselves in that situation, I can still have joy.  "In this world you will have trouble...." Jesus said.  "But take heart!  I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33)  We need not be shocked by the troubles we find ourselves in.  That is the normal Christian life.  What is not normal is realizing we can be overcomers in our situation.  So, I daily, moment by moment, try to "take heart" as I still sometimes forget the trials are normal and instead pray for a life of ease.  My prayers are slowly changing to ask God to help me be an overcomer, to thank Him for my trials, my trouble and to thank Him for the ultimate victory and sacrifice He made.

Praying more deliberately has made us aware, too, of what distracts us.  Anyone looking from the outside would never realize what can be a distraction for one person over another, what can keep you from being as diligent as possible.  We are starting to be made more aware of what are distractions are and that is helping us focus more on what we need to do.  I consider that a real answer to prayer.

I heard a preacher in the last week talk about Christ being enough.  We think we need more of this or that to be content.  He said, no, Christ must be enough.  I struggled for a while as I listened to Him. Yet another battle was beginning in my mind.  Was Christ enough?  I had to admit, in that moment, I was not feeling like He was.  As some people say, we want Jesus Plus.....I think that is what I was thinking anyway.  That was how I came to the realization I was being caught up again in our debt-reduction focus instead of contentment in Christ.

I don't believe that means I am going to sit around and just think about Jesus.  Nor does it mean my husband doesn't need to work anymore, but instead just think about Jesus.  No, we both are continuing to pray for freedom and work towards that end, but we must keep our attitudes in check. And we both quickly can lose focus and start just thinking about ourselves instead of all that we have, all that God has done.  We maintain our hope, though Satan sometimes works overtime trying to kill that hope.

So we've had many revelations over the last 3 weeks.  This is why I'm so encouraged.  At the same time, I was reading in 1 Chronicles and it really confirmed what we were feeling and learning.  "...but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought Him, he was found by them."  (15:4)  We are finding Him.  Then in verse 7, "But you, take courage.  Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."  We continue to take courage.  Our weak hands are being strengthened.  Our work shall be rewarded, though, again, it might not be in the way we hope, but we always have the hope that none of our work is ever in vain.

Now, I have to make breakfast......salad....all we eat is salad!!!  I've never eaten so much lettuce or kale in my life.  It is coming out of our ears, no joke.  My husband said we'll have to have a salad party to use it all up.  Too bad you can't freeze it.  There's got to be a way......Oh well, it's helping to take off a few of those unwanted winter pounds!

Tuesday 2 August 2016

I Just Found Out I'm a Homesteader

I knew having a garden was going to be great, but I really never knew how great it would be.  In my mind, it was all about the food, nutritious, pesticide-free, cheaper than a grocery store, etc., etc.  I never stopped to think how it was going to give my kids such purpose for living!  It has become the new "fun zone" at our farm.  I look out our window now and regularly catch our kids (and cats) wandering around, picking peas, beans, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce....

Yesterday was a holiday, a day off.  Most regular people go to the beach or hang out at a park.  We love to do those things, too, but we also need those days off to catch up on things around the farm that never seem to get done like fixing broken machinery which there never seems to be an end to. So, though my kids would have loved to do that, you just can't sometimes.  And don't try to spring that on Daddy when he had a plan on how he was going to spend his day! He can be spontaneous for sure sometimes, but most times, he likes to plan getaways instead of waking up in the morning and saying, "Let's go to the beach!"

So yesterday's plan was fix the skid steer - a huge monumental task as we didn't know what was wrong with it.  That was his job, but what about the rest of us.  How do you keep kids happy when they would rather be at the beach?  What we've discovered is kids really need purpose for living, just like an adult.  They need tasks to do that aren't contrived, but actually contribute to the family's welfare.  This is where the garden comes in.

But first, the big boys were given the task of taking down the old eavestroughs as they have to be replaced as the siding is slowly going up.  This was no small job.  It required muscle and some real thinking. Dad showed them what he wanted, then left it up to them.  Later that day they had to put more hay into the barn - never a fun task.  Then finally into the garden.

What boggles my mind is that they don't seem to mind weeding.  My oldest son spent a very long time weeding.  He is starting to see all his seeds that he planted produce massive amounts of squash, zucchini, pumpkins, watermelons and even cantaloupes, so I think that is what is motivating him. My next son jumps at the opportunity to pick beans and peas.  The third son loves bringing in all the lettuce for the daily salads we are making.  The little boys run through the garden like it's a playground.  The corn stalks are way higher than they are and they play hide and seek!

Meanwhile, the girls and I, are being overrun by herbs.  They are taking over our lives.  I've taken to pureeing the basil and cilantro with a little olive oil and then freezing them in cubes.  This way it will last way into the winter.  My oldest daughter loves pesto and I don't think she realized it doesn't grow on trees, you have to make it.  I didn't think I would attempt this as I knew how expensive pine nuts were, but we simply replaced the pine nuts with sunflower seeds.  I forced my daughter to help as she isn't as much into the garden as the others.  I could have done it easily without her, but I wanted her to see how great it would make her feel to make the pesto and learn a new skill at the same time.  She was amazed.  Mission accomplished.  She started putting pesto on everything.  It was so delicious!

By the end of the day we had done so much, but no beach.  I was curious how the kids would reflect on their day.  Everyone was so happy!  When I reflected on how this was possible, I really think it was because they had had, as I said at the beginning, purpose for living!  Each one had contributed to the family economy doing significant things that really helped us.  Our youngest children pretended they were colonists and Indians preparing for winter, as if their lives depended on it, gathering sticks, making pretend fires, knowing over a hundred years ago, that's what it really would have been like. But, watching them play their little game struck one of my older children - that's really what we are doing!  We really were preparing for winter.  She suddenly saw the bigger picture....if we freeze this now, we won't have to buy it in the winter!  YES!!!  YOU GET IT!  YOU UNDERSTAND!!!  The garden has given our kids a bigger life picture.  They are starting to make connections.  We aren't just planting a garden because it's fun, though it is that, too.  We are planting a garden because it is wise! It will not only save us money, but it will keep us alive!  And not just alive, but healthy!  We'll be eating really good food in a few months that we can pick out from our freezer!

Having a garden is a very "homesteader" thing to do.  We watched a homesteading-for-beginners video a few weeks ago.  I never thought of myself as a homesteader.  I read the blogs of true homesteaders once in a while and I never think of myself as "one of them".  But after I watched the video, I realized, I am a homesteader!  Short of butchering my own meat (which I'm sure we'll do one day), we were doing everything on the video they were doing, the main thing being... growing a garden. That was very exciting for me to realize!  I never thought I was because I have electricity, a whole host of modern conveniences, etc., but you can still have those things and be a homesteader, just a faster and easier homesteader!

The other thing our garden has done for us, which I think I saw and appreciated the most yesterday, is how it kept the family together, enjoying one another.  I'm always amazed when our older children don't mind being with us!  I treasure that so much.  They enjoy being with one another so much, too, which also amazes me.

Purpose for living, food for the winter, potentially greater health, saving money, friendships and relationships amongst family members, a new play area, a beautiful greenspace to admire, the ability to share food with others....the list goes on and on.  All this from a garden.  I'm so grateful.

Monday 1 August 2016

A Wedding Story

Six years ago, when we built the house that brought us out this way, we had 3 young men live with us for 6 months.  We called them "interns".  They were my husband's 2nd, 3rd, and 4th set of hands throughout the whole house building experience.  They were just 16, 17, and 18 when they came. They really had little or no experience before coming to us, but that was part of the deal.  As interns, receiving only room and board, they would be trained and taught each skill.  It was going to be "school" for them as much as help for us.  In addition, to helping us build the house, my husband also had regular engineering work to do.  He used those boys as his helpers, too, with his engineering work.  They were up early every morning and worked long days.  Now that I have boys the same ages, I'm amazed their parents gave us their kids!  It was an awesome responsibility.

When we first asked their parents if they would "lend" us their children, it was also with the understanding they would be part of our home in every way.  So, they ate every meal with us.  I would deliver lunches to them at the job-site.  Then, after dinner, they were a part of our family worship, often participating to some small degree with extra comments here and there.  In addition to all of this, RM challenged each one of them to a 90-day Bible reading plan as well as certain book titles, requiring an essay at the end.  This was serious construction and Bible boot camp!  Yet, they rose to the challenge and never complained.

My personal challenge was to get these boys a little more prepared for marriage.  They were the most respectful boys I'd ever met, but so quiet!  I would ask them every day how they're day had gone and they would say, "Fine."  I remember saying to them once, "You know, if you are ever going to get married your wife is going to want you to say more than that!"  So I would gently pry more information out of them.  They were good sports.

All this to say, they took this experience very seriously and as a result, not only did we get our house built, but relationships with this family were made that would last a lifetime.  We know this because we keep getting invited to their weddings!

This past Saturday was the wedding of their second son.  Of all the boys, he had the most serious leaning towards engineering, though we didn't know it at the time when we first asked them to come help us.  His wedding was our first experience with a true "betrothal"-type wedding.

He had observed a young girl in his church over 2 years ago.  Turns out, she had noticed him, too, but neither said anything to the other, no flirting, no goo-goo ga ga or fluttering of eyelashes  - in other words, no "awakening of love before its time" (Song of Songs).  They simply prayed about it, asking the Lord to confirm  whether or not he or she was someone they could marry.  She had a checklist of qualities she felt a husband should have and she prayed through each thing.  Week after week, God would show her something so specific that would reveal how this young man was God's choice for her.  Meanwhile, our friend took his time as he was now in engineering school and was quite focused. He didn't feel he could start the relationship while he was in school, so he simply prayed, telling no one of his thoughts or his intentions.  But he wasn't a fool.  He got himself in Bible studies or prayer groups that just so happened to be at her father's house (a father of 11, I might add!  Our friend came from 8, a "small" family!)

By this time, the father had been told about this young man by his daughter, so he was checking out our friend week after week.  But what he saw amazed him, a young man full of integrity, diligence, godliness.....the list goes on and on.  One Saturday morning, the father told all the men there that he hoped his daughter would never leave him as she was such an asset to him and his business.  Turns out that was the morning our friend was going to ask for her hand in marriage.  This could have discouraged him, but no, he got up the courage to talk to her father that very same morning.

When all the other men had left, the father said, "So, what would you like to talk to me about?"  He responded very simply, "I'd like to take your daughter away from you."  So funny!  I think he said it like that because he had just heard how her dad had hoped she would never leave him!  Her dad responded, "But you just heard me say how much I need her help and how much she does for me!"  "Yes," he calmly replied, "And I think she can do those things for me now!"  Unbelievable.

At this point, our friend was given permission to officially speak to this young woman about courting her with the intention of marriage.  She and he had spoken before as friends, but never about a relationship.  That is the difference with betrothal.  It is entirely based on faith and God's working all things out, confirming through the parents (as both young adults had been speaking to their parents about the other person before they ever spoke to one another).  It is also confirmed to the couple through their own personal relationship and walk with God.  He did this for both the young woman and the young man in this case.  Both were praying and seeking God's will without the other one knowing.  That is truly the work of the Holy Spirit and evidence of their close walks with Him.

I do not know how long they courted before our friend officially proposed, but once they were engaged, it was only a 2 month engagement.  Why wait?

The wedding was very simple, but one of the most beautiful I've ever been to.  Our daughter had the privilege of playing the piano for the ceremony and she did a wonderful job.  I cry at every wedding, but was blown away at how many people were crying throughout this one.  All over the place faces were wet with tears as we were in awe of God and what He had done to bring these two amazing people together.

There were many, many moments in the wedding that triggered emotion.  It began almost right away as the pastor gave a beautiful talk about how marriage is the picture of the Bridegroom returning for His Bride.  Then, the couple walked up the steps closer to the pastor so that they could give their vows to one another.  As they turned to face each other, they grasped each other's hands.  That isn't normally a big deal to most, but for them, it was the first time they had touched....ever.  I can't imagine what they were feeling except electricity! Our friend went first and spoke the personally-written vows he had memorized to her.  Words of true love.  Then, she blew everyone out of the water by singing hers!  She had turned her vows into a song.  I couldn't see her face as we were seated in such a way her face couldn't be seen, but what got me was watching her little sister in the crowd looking up at her big sister singing on stage.  The little girl had the biggest smile on her face, yet tears were pouring from her eyes.  My eyes were pouring, too.

But it gets worse.  Once the ceremony was over, the pastor called up the two fathers to pray over their children.  The two men (I get tearful just writing about it!) got up and met at the altar and embraced one another.  What a moment!  Then, each man prayed for this new couple.  It was amazing to watch.

The reception started immediately afterwards, so no delays for the guests.  Immediately following a light snack, the speeches began.  The father of the bride said to his new son-in-law, "Thank you for making this so easy."  He explained how natural this young man had made giving his first daughter away.  He said, "There is a time to hold on and a time to let go and now is the time to let go, but I'm ready."  I think he was ready because our friend made it that way.  This father knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was giving his daughter to the perfect person for her.  He knew our friend would take care of her just as he hoped his daughter would be cared for.  To give away your most precious possession, a child, to another person will be so hard, but if it is done in such a way that you know the Lord has worked and has confirmed His will all along, it will make it "easy" as this father said.  How we are praying for godly spouses for our children!

The final speech went to our friend.  He got the last word.  It was a series of thank yous that again, had wet eyes everywhere.  He looked throughout the crowd, starting at the left and went to the right of the room, all around.  He would pick out individual family members, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters...to anyone who had invested in his life in his life and say moving tributes to each one.  I was shocked when he turned and began to thank us.  I wasn't sure what he would say as he's never commented on his time at our place ever.  He said, "I don't know if I've ever told you, but the night before you called to ask us to come work for you, I had just been praying, telling the Lord I wasn't sure what direction God wanted me to go, whether or not I should pursue engineering (he is an engineer now!)  Then you called."  He went on to say to my husband, "You've taught me so much, so many things, but most importantly, you taught me what it was to be a man."  I was floored.  My husband was floored.  His words touched us so deeply.  God used those words to encourage us that night in a way that cannot even be described.

I've never left a wedding so aware of God.  He was glorified again and again.  I can honestly say that even if they come up against the most difficult challenges in the years ahead, that they will survive. Their marriage started off right.  It had the best foundation.  But they won't just survive, they will thrive.  We told their parents over and over what an honour it had been to be a part of their day.  It felt like a gift to us to be invited and to witness such an amazing event.  It was an encouragement to our children to see how God answers the prayers of His people and can bring the right people into their lives at the right time.