Hello, ‘Other Side Of The Hill’ Here I Come!!!

This past Friday was my fortieth birthday. I am not exactly sure what possessed me to start looking up things about the number 40 or when it started. But it’s definitely been on my mind for quite a long time now. While life is busy and I haven’t been able to get as deep as I would like, the part that I have gleaned about that number has made this birthday mean more than I could’ve expected. Whether or not there is a hill ‘to go over,’ it is a cornerstone. -Perhaps a ‘coming of age’ that I hope all of us are blessed enough to find. Let me share:

You may not know that in the bible the number 40 represents periods of trial and testing. You see this when:

-        Jonah told Ninevites that destruction was coming in 40 days – Jonah 3:4

-        Jesus ‘went away’ to the desert for 40 days to fast and pray and while there he was tested by the devil – Matthew 4:1-11

-        God destroyed the Earth with a flood; it rained for 40 days and 40 nights – Genesis 7:12

-        In Deuteronomy 25:3 a judge deemed that the maximum number of lashes that a person could receive for punishment was 40 stripes. Some believe that’s how many Jesus received, but there’s are disputes about whether or not ‘lashes’ are the same as scourging (which Jesus received). Plus, there isn’t a number of lashes mentioned in the bible for Jesus. It’s is also believed that many Jews followed a rule of 39. They would give 40 lashes ‘minus 1’ because it was believed that 40 would kill a person and it was essentially a death sentence. In 2 Corinthians 11:24 Paul said that he received that exact punishment ’40-1’ on FIVE different occasions by the Jews.

-       You’ll also see that it was 40 years that Moses and the Israelites spent in the wilderness - Deuteronomy 8:2-5

There are many more examples of this in the Bible, and you can google them, but you get the idea. That last one is probably the one that gets me the most because it sounds so much like trials of life; dry spells, loneliness, and hardship. The way that we complain or simply get discouraged because we can’t SEE or don’t understand what is happening.

Don’t get me wrong the Israelites endured much and not just desert conditions. But through it all there was a God that was IN THEIR MIDST, leading them, day and night. –He produced miracle after miracle on their way through. While the whole goal was in getting them to the promise land, the purpose was to get them to DEPEND ON HIM to get there but also to be their DAILY provider.

This season was also a place where, as a leader, Moses character was tested and developed. Not just in his own dependence and trust, but in the way that he ‘reacted’ to the people. He was ‘the speaker’ even though he had little faith that God could use him, and many believe that he had a stutter (because of the NLT translation of Exodus 4:10). Either way, he resisted the call over and over with the same excuses you and I use. (I am not good enough Ex 3:11, I don’t have all of the answers Ex 3:13, People won’t believe me Ex 4:1, I am a terrible speaker Ex 4:10, I am not qualified Ex 4:13).

My Bible commentary says “Personal greatness doesn’t make anyone immune to error or its consequences.” And throughout the entire life of Moses or the story of the Israelites, “God did not change WHO or WHAT Moses was; he did not give Moses new abilities and strengths. Instead, he took Moses characteristics and molded them until they were suited to his purposes.’

It took a huge chunk ‘of a lifetime’ for God to get Moses to ‘let him use’ what he created in the first place and for its intended purposes.”

Sadly, part of what kept them in the wilderness was their disbelief. God told them to take possession of the land (Ex 3:8), yet they became convinced they could not, even though God told them they could do it. It was their lack of belief in what God said (even the good stuff he promised) that brought along his wrath. This led to 40 years of wandering the desert until an entire generation died off.

What kills me here is that you know they wanted the promise land. You know they wanted the miracles and a LOVING, PERSONAL, God that was WITH them. I mean, all of us need someone who has an aerial shot of the ‘big picture,’ and we want someone to guide us. How could they not want that too? But their stubbornness is so much like our own.  –Especially in the first half of our lives trying to do things ‘our way.’ Trying to create a certain type of life or trying to be polar opposite of something else that we’ve seen. We’re so ‘focused’ on the goal that sometimes, we’re not even paying attention to the details. Is this goal, the right goal for me?

(Not just what you think sounds good. And not just what you’ve been repeating for all these years. But in the quiet, soft place, if you acknowledge a daydream, what are those details that you dare tell no one because it sounds too corny, it doesn’t have an ‘earth shattering purpose’, or it feels unrealistic?  --That IS a goal or could be, FYI. And our disappointments in life might really be because we’re not lined up here.)

But if God could grant us any promise that we desire, in our future, what does that land look like? Are we in line to get there?  Where are we at in that? Are we in our bodies enough to see how that lines up with our heart and the world around us or are we fixated on why we can’t take a short cut to that place we’ve been busy trying to get to?

…over the hump or hill…

People make ‘40’ sound like a bad thing with ‘over the hill’ like it’s only depressing or rough on the other side. I guess I see how people think that, but it just doesn’t resonate with me. I mean, yes, I once ran off the side of a fort wall on the Yorktown battlefields when I was paying more attention to the wind keeping my kite up, instead of where the ground ran out. Going down the hill hurt. FOR SURE! The entire sides of those ‘fort walls’ seem to be covered in stumps of thorn bushes! I don’t know if that’s a fluke or if it was intentional to keep the enemy out and now the park rangers cut them down so tourists can climb them. But, when I fell, I bounced and bumped onto every stump, the whole way down. I even had thorns INSIDE my bra.

And some of my more recent and ‘metaphorical’ stumbles or physical displays of ‘falling down’ have been even uglier. They’ve hurt worse, hurt others, and have even landed me flat on my face. And ‘soul hurt’ is a whole other kind of hurt that isn’t as easy to recover from. But isn’t that just what the Israelites also had to endure. —Being humbled. 

You’ll often hear that the ‘bad things’ that happen in life aren’t always because of our inadequacies (as if we could control everything). But also, they aren’t necessarily a reflection of our worthiness or even a reflection of the effort that we put into something. It’s not always due to sin or some bad karma or juju that came to pay you back. I am not even convinced that it’s because we’ve taken something for granted. In looking at the ‘big picture’ through the story of the wilderness, I think I’ve decided that for the first time ever, I don’t have to know why. Maybe the ‘bad things’ are simply a result of something greater that God wants US to see, and to produce in us, and somewhere else that he wants us to be. A place flowing with milk and honey. (Which is how God described the promise land. Ex 3:17)

It’s not that he doesn’t want you to have things now, or be happy, or that he wants to intentionally hurt any of us. True yes, life is more than getting everything we want, ‘being all fat and happy’. It’s about giving too. And scripture says it is better to GIVE than to receive! But somehow a large part of us all too often live as if we weren’t meant to receive at all and therefore we don’t fully embrace it, put ourselves out there, or allow ourselves to be seen. (And I could write a whole other tangent/post here but just think about that for a minute. ALL of our senses work best when we are ‘taking in’ –seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, hearing—not giving out but taking IN! How much more could that apply to a spiritual level??? Don’t tell me God made us to ‘not get’ anything out of life!)

And yet, we deny ALL kinds of things. Some, for really noble, ‘God glorifying’ reasons. (So, I don’t mean that condemning.)

God takes us the long way to teach us this human tendency, and to show you who he is and why you need him.

Deuteronomy 29:5-6 says it best “For forty years I, the Lord, led you through the desert, but your clothes and your sandals didn’t wear out, and I gave you special food. I did these things so that you would realize that I am your God.” But the Lord must give you a change of heart before you truly understand what you have seen and heard.

It does you no good to be in a land with ‘milk and honey’ if you’re going to complain about it, or if you aren’t prepared to receive it, or embrace it, and allow yourself to take it in for the incredible gift that it is.

Sometimes you and I (WE) need to see how much more we desire than what we say, think, feel, or act as we do. –And those trials in life have a way of bringing that out a little deeper in us.

But also, in the first verse that I shared Deuteronomy 8:2-5 he more specifically says that he does this to show you that you need more than food and clothes. He takes us through the wilderness to learn that we need, not just one or two, but EVERY WORD of God to truly LIVE –and to be ALIVE- and not just ‘get through’ life. Ahem, ‘Alive in Christ!’

I tell you this. Faith is a deeply personal thing. Everything that we do hinges on how much faith you have and what you believe. And sitting in a church listening to a sermon doesn’t take near as much faith as stripping apart lines in a bible and, praying them, or trying to live by them, and apply them to your core. But I am certain that the things that have given me strength in life and even a healthier view, have been less about physical needs and more about ‘spiritual bread’ that I’ve indigested.

But you know what else? Do you know why that ‘over the hill’ reference doesn’t resonate with me? It’s because I’ve also had a lot of great times going down the hill. In fact, the very best ones were when I laid down on my belly, rolled with it, and embraced them for what they were. If God wants me to be me, and if God promises he can use it, (no matter how much I screw it up), and if he’s gonna lead me to a promise land, who am I to argue?

Trust me. I see a lot of myself in Moses, and I think that I’ve subconsciously spent a lifetime arguing and resisting, even while I was trying to serve him with all of my heart. It has been SO.MUCH.HARDER in the long run. I’m kind of tired of the punishment I’ve brought on.

I do not mean that I am getting ready to be a perfect display of Christ – I couldn’t do it if I tried. The last I checked, I am as human as it gets.

But I AM READY to plunge forward, and let God show me how to fall—completely— forward-- into my path, and ALL that he promises. ❤ 

This might be a little corny but the last I checked, there’s a song that says he fits the whole world in the palm of his hands. I pray that you’re able to leap with me and for once trust that he can catch you too. In fact, I encourage you to print this out and read it (or look at it) every day for 40 days – asking God how and where you can apply it. Then read through the chapters that cover this story in the wilderness.

If you’ve been following me on Facebook, you’ve seen that I’ve recited poetry terribly when I am nervous and shared paintings that look nothing like the tutorial that I follow. –I share many other things that don’t turn out right.

But for me, that’s kind of my ‘Moses Moment’ Who am I, God, to do XYZ’?

But not only does sharing those examples help me get comfortable just being me but in a world of social media where everything ‘looks perfect’ I prefer to be real. I mean there’s a lot of good in my world, but I hear so many women compare themselves or discredit themselves. I think it’s partially because it’s easier for us only to display things that we deem perfect. I can’t keep up with that pace anymore, and I think we all miss out on a lot by not being willing to practice the raw.

My deepest hope is that if I can be bold enough to step out, then it might give you a little bit of faith that you can step out and do things terribly too on the off chance that now and then we’ll get it right – just like he says!  --And I mean that from the very bottom of my heart. Happy ‘Birth’ day – to all of us!

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You may also like these related posts that I have found.

Desert Lessons – 7 things that we can learn from the Israelites wandering years

Moses Five Excuses

Oh and this link because everything is better with a little Van Morrison in it and this song just so happens to be perfect!  When will I ever learn to live in God

And just when I thought I couldn’t love that song more, I discover that Bill Murray covered it.  A comedian/actor, off-key, full of strings, and from the belly of his soul, and you know what. He meant it. And it was beautiful! I might have cried a little. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs_ehhWDMaA

Living As Our Creator | Genesis 1

Hello, this morning we are in Chapter 1 of Genesis. You might already be familiar with it, even if you don’t read your Bible regularly. It’s the chapter about creation. You know, when God created the Earth, man, and animals.

When we spend time in the Bible and with our heavenly Father, we can look for God to reveal new things about himself which are also invitations that we can accept to be more like him.

Ephesians 5:1-2 says that we should be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love, just as Christ loved you and gave himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God, as fragrant aroma.

As I was reading through Genesis 1, some unexpected things stood out to me. Mostly words that were repeated throughout the chapter. So, this post won’t be line by line but rather focused on the sum of those words that stood out.

Sometimes we don’t share enough scripture between friends, so let’s begin by reading the full chapter of Genesis 1. 

For whatever reason, it’s a bit of a tongue twister for me, so please extend a little grace

while you listen. ;) If you’d like to follow along, I’m using an NIV translation.

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1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. 

Gleanings:

Sometimes, I like to use a word counter when I study. I did mention it recently in another post, but it’s not something that I usually rely on. When several stuck out to me, I was curious about any others that I may have missed.  So, I used it in this post. While I know you’ve probably heard several words repeated here, let’s take a look at some of them now. Those are the keys that I will be pointing to in this message.

The first is ‘Created.' It’s used five times. The word ‘Made’ appears another 5 times [KJV has it 8x]. In verse 27 he says that we are made in His image. Well, remember that verse I just shared in the beginning from Ephesians about being an imitator of Christ-  well, that got me wondering if we too are meant to ‘create.'

1 Timothy 2:2 says that we should lead Godly lives. There are countless other verses that show us that the things in our life are created to glorify Him. Wouldn’t that consist of doing and being the same as he?  Yet how many times have I heard someone say, I am not talented or creative? How many times have I said those things myself?

I recognize that for some of you listening, it would take a real act of faith to believe that you could create something that might glorify God but isn’t that gap where God does his best work? –When God asks you to believe that he can use your offerings- when you don’t see the way or the means or even direction.

Our God carefully and thoughtfully created each of us with plans and purpose. –And if it there is something that has been brewing in your heart, he might have designed you to do something with it. Please, friend, take the pressure off of yourself and just prayerfully explore it.

The next word I see is the word ‘Saw.' It appears 7 times. In this case, He looked at the things that he made after he made them. Do you and I study the things that we’ve made? Do we let them minister to us while we’re making them or once they are complete?  On the other hand, as humans, maybe we need to first see them in our mind to create them. –To envision them or use our imaginations.

But over and over again every time he ‘saw’ or looked at something, you know what he did? He said it was ‘Good.' That’s our next word. It appears 7x. He saw the light, and it was good. He saw the seas, and it was good. He continues through the passage.

Yet you and I when we create, we’re quick to note the things that we could do better or differently. We judge them usually in a negative fashion or compare them to someone else. He does none of this. I know—He’s God. Why would he?

For every single thing he makes, he says it is good. Then when he gets to man, he says -----‘whoops—do over’. 

Just kidding.

He says that we’re good too!

YOU are good!

Good.

Now, I don’t know if this disclaimer will be helpful or confusing but, when I say that we’re good, I am not talking about who we are as sinners.

We are all sinners. Christ died on a cross for every one of us, but he also died to give us a new life.

1 Timothy 1:15-17 is a great passage (and paraphrased here) it says to me, Christ came to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. BUT because I am the worst and because God shows me mercy- and uses something in my life even when I am still a Hot mess, others are able to believe and have hope in him as well and receive their own eternal life.

He died to use or weakness, to reveal his glory.

Yet how many times, do we tell God, who we are not, why we cannot, instead of living by the Life of a God who is and who is shown time and again using people who create and step out of their comfort zone and use things within their means.

Because you are made in his image, chosen, forgiven, accepted by God, you have power. His power.

John 16:15 says: All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

John 17:10 - All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.

You can’t be full of power available to God, made in his very image, chosen and purposed, and yet still be too broken to make a difference. YOU ARE GOOD!

And I know, this might be too- “self helpy” or too “hippy” because it’s about creating. Some of you are flinching because you think creative only means crafty. Hang in there.

Hear my heart. He does not say we’re perfect or flawless. He says that you (we) are good!

So, the sum of things that you make out of your life, they don’t have to keep you up at night to be perfect either. It’s like we tell our kids; if it was your best, and in the right heart for God, your ‘good enough’ still glorifies our heavenly Father. That might to you feel like a failure because it’s not blue ribbon worthy in your eyes, but it’s good enough for Him.

We’re talking about a God who let Moses part seas with a stick. I don’t think that his standards are too lofty. They might be too lofty for us to attain as it says in Psalms 139.  But that’s is a matter of what we can understand.  –Not who or what he expects us to be.

Moving right along.

Remember that crafty bit? Well, creation isn’t only using a paint brush and canvas. Creation is in your work and how you plan your meetings. It’s in your parenting and how you choose to discipline your kids. True yes, it can be in how you express yourself, your hobbies, your interests but it’s also in the methods that you choose to connect with people, even when—especially when- you have to overcome an obstacle to meet them.

But the next thing that I see is the word ‘Said’ – 11 times it appears. Creation is in your words. It’s how you encourage others. God spoke light, he spoke the sun and moon and stars. Some of the brightest things that you and I will ever create will be things that are made from our words. Even if it’s only what you say to yourself that no one hears-- or what you pray for.

Who do you speak to?

What and whom do you have authority over?

What do you give your power to when you do speak? Are your words about the problem, or the possible solutions? Are they about your worry or your hope? Are they about what you cannot or what God can? 

--or are your words even about what God might be able to do through and in you?

What about what he doesn’t say?

This is the first chapter, right? I get it’s the history of the beginning, but it’s also like the baseline. I mean, it sets the tone for the whole Bible. Not once in the first chapter when God is making the entire universe, do you see the words labor, sweat, work…

Give me some more words that aren’t listed – please. It peaks my interest. (Yes, I know that there is an entire dictionary that's missing from chapter 1.)

In fact, the word we see instead caught me by surprise because it appears 13 times. More than any of the other words we discussed. It’s the word ‘Let.' He said let there be light, let there be water, let there be grass.

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with hard work or planning or trying to make things the best you can. Certainly, we should do our best to glorify God. –But I have been a perfectionist and it sometimes still seeps out. When it does, it robs me of the joy that surrounds me. –I mean does anyone remember Martha? Jesus was at her table, and she couldn’t put the vacuum down.

I am kidding again. Don’t look that up. There are no vacuums in the Bible.

You can read about her in Luke 10. But some of you are the same way. Jesus, the Holy Spirit, GOD is in your midst –and you can’t understand why you don’t see him. Why He doesn’t speak to you. Why you don’t feel his presence. It’s because you haven’t left your work. Even when you’re sitting in a pew.

You’re relying on the things that you can create perfectly, instead of trusting a perfect God to use what you created.

But HE LET- these things happen.

Just stop and Imagine with me all the things your life could be, the person you could be, the things that you could make and the ways that you could glorify God if only you would let it…

Maybe even let it go.

Or Let yourself go.

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Now backing up for a minute. I am really trying to write/speak more about Scripture and challenge myself to go deeper than just ‘what about me”.

I recently shared a post on some tips to help you study your Bible. Then this week, I opened a box of books that were given to me by a friend last year. In it just so happened to be (in a Godly coincidental kind of way) a book on Genesis. It is called, “My Creator, My Friend” by Bruce Larson

On pg. 13, the author gives two more points that I’d like to add to that but to also challenge myself to use here and in the future as well.

The first is:

1. When you study your Bible, what does this chapter say about God? (And how does it say it?)

2. The second tip given was Instead of looking for hidden messages, what does the text say when you take it at its word? So, let me try to answer both of those things here.

So, what do I see about God, simply from the text?

·       First verse – God IS…. and has been from the beginning

·       Verse 2 says he is hovering above waters. Later in the Bible, you will see other verses, like Zephaniah 3:17 that says He is in our midst. The end of this chapter does not lead to the end of God, he is still here.

·       As for God, he is a creator. He is shown over and over making things from what was not there before.

·       He is a part of the Trinity. (v26)

·       He calls things to be. The he restates it. Go back and read each thing that he spoke into existence, then a few lines later you will see, “and it was so” or a summary of what was just created.

·       Next, he is a God of law and order. One or two things were created at a time. He didn’t make it all at once or even on the same day. He was putting things in their place., separating water from the sky. Even designating power to some of those things. The sun and moon were to govern the day and night. Men were made to rule over the fish in the sea…

·       In that same vein, He is a God of purpose – The trees and plants were created to produce seeds. The birds and fish were to multiply. Even the land was called to produce something. When we circle back to our purpose, man’s purpose. Look at verse 28 – God blessed man and woman and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.

Subdue doesn’t mean to force submission. It means to make things calm. 

So, with your purpose and circling back to the point of my message, imitating Christ as a creator; When you create, how can you bring law, order, yet calmness to your realm. -In your work place, in your home, at your church, in your neighborhood?

Colossians 3:15 says:  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Philippians 4:7 says that it’s the peace of God that transcends all understanding.

Matthew 5:9 says Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Friend to friend: I don’t know what this speaks to you, but I hope that it speaks the same light to you as it did to me. But I had to go through this on my own and learn it before I even saw it here. So, let me wrap this up with a few tips from what I’ve learned. If you’re not looking to have the power to use, or looking for a way to use God’s power in your life, there’s a void. Create an opening and let it in. If you don’t have a hobby, get one. Find things to learn about. I had a lot of things that I was interested in but when all this changed for me, it started by painting rocks that I found at the river with my kids. You don’t have to use rocks. It’s what I had available. Don’t buy anything if you’re not able, find some things in your house and google it. –or message me, maybe we’ll have an adult creative experience. Haha (I don’t know what that means).

1.     Curiosity seems to feed your creative energy. You can be curious about being a gardener, and it can feed your thoughts in another area of your life, unrelated to gardening.

2.     Whatever you attempt the first time, heck even if it’s a big deal like a presentation or a speaking event that you have never done. Don’t go in, making it perfect.  Go in, making a list of what you’ll learn from it so that you can do it even better next time.

3.     If you can tie it to scripture and meditate on it while you’re doing it, it will speak to you, but it will also help you memorize it.  –That’s part of why all those verse coloring pages and Bible journals are such a hit.

4.     More than that, though, having a hobby, all your own, will give you a sense of accomplishment and your own little private thing to enjoy. But it’s also a form of meditation. It’s relaxing. Because the thing requires such focus, it helps you stop giving attention to all the other chatter running behind the scenes that is stressing you out.

5.     Finally, don’t stop there. When you get too comfortable or bored, look for another hobby or take it up a notch. Do the same in your spiritual life.

So, with that, I challenge you to go into the day being willing to put your ideas to work. "Let us challenge ourselves." Be willing to try new things, reinvent, even if it's only ourselves. In the end, no matter the results, acknowledge the effort and what was produced. –How’s that for another look at holy living?

I would LOVE for you to read Genesis 1 on your own and share your findings with me as well. (Links, emails, comments – all of it! –Even if it’s a week or month later or if your points are extremely different than mine.) J

 4 Kids

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All of this started because I wanted to have a lesson with our neighborhood kids. Using this message and doing an art project. I had to cancel my event because of weather, but I know it will happen soon, so these are my notes.

1.     What are the things that you can see about God here?

a.     Well, he’s a creator. What else?

2.     What are some of the things he created?

3.     How did he create them?

a.     He spoke many of them.

b.     Some of the brightest things that you create will be the things that you speak into your life and others as well.

4.     Can you name something that you heard about us in this passage?

a.     We’re created in his image too. – v26

b.     What else –we’re good?

c.     See commentary on 1:25

5.     In fact, it looks like every time he made something –he stood back, checked it out and decided that it was good.

a.     Admire your work [take picture]

b.     Tell me things 3 things that are good about it. [Write them down]

c.     He doesn’t say look at your best friends work or write what you wish was different.

d.     He doesn’t tell you everything that’s wrong with it either.

6.     Did you learn anything from what you made today?

Not Consumed

For the Lord, your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. – Deuteronomy 4:24

By definition, the word 'consume' means to 'use up.' While this word is most often heard when talking about eating a meal, consuming groceries or logs that are ‘used up’ in a fire- Sometimes, we ourselves can feel as though we are used up- overtaken and consumed. –Along with all of our time and resources that we have available.

This can be a result of internal emotions, like depression, exhaustion, shame, insecurity. –You know the stories that we tell ourselves and things that we rehash. But it can also be caused by a job, an issue, or a relationship.

In fact, even things we love, like hobbies, church, or other Godly activities can drain us, if we get them out of order or allow them to have more power over us than God.

This can be tricky because good things, important things, can get out of whack. For example:

God should come before everything. Many of us go to church and even help run it in order to partake in the lessons and fellowship that strengthens our faith.

Relationships are important. Otherwise a good “love walk” wouldn’t be written in the commandments.

Work is important too. I mean, you do need an income in order to consume other basic necessities, right?

So where do you draw the line? How do you know when things have crossed over? Well consider these next few items and think of your current situation. Could any of them be said about you?

*You're up at night, full of anxiety, fear, stress or worry?

*You cannot rest and your health is suffering because this thing keeps you ‘on.'

*You don’t have time for reading your Bible, going for a walk or enjoying something little or new is just a luxury.

*You don’t even offer to help others because your time is tied up or you’re too afraid that your contribution wouldn’t be enough.

*Perhaps normal ‘interruptions’ from your family frustrate you because you are trying to work on or look at this thing.

*You can’t even begin to plan ahead or even think of anything else because [it] always has ‘one more thing’ that needs to be taken care of first…

*What about being a martyr? Are you the only one that can do something when it comes to [it]?

*Or survival mode. You are literally just trying to get through each day.
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Boy, those are some hard statements aren’t they?  - I can safely list each of these because I have been in every single one of them. –And learning it once or discovering this about yourself in an area doesn’t inoculate you from getting stuck there again somewhere else.

So, if any part of this has picked a scab for you, I pray that you hang in there and hear my heart. –Because I have to tell you this is not the path of walking in victory.

Exodus 20:3 is part of the 10 commandments that reads ‘that you shall have no other Gods before me.’

So, if everything in your life has to bow to this thing before anything else can be taken care of, then you might have an idol or a stronghold on your hands. If we’re 'consumed' and all used up by something other than God, His purpose, His plans, or His love for others. -That's not just a problem, it’s a sin.
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The funny thing is, when it's God consuming us, we are inspired and strengthened. Isaiah 40:31 says "but those who hope in the LORD will RENEW their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and NOT grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Even Psalm 40 is a passage called “God Sustains His Servant’. I encourage you to read it.

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I can’t help but find the timing for this message to be perfect. This week, on March 1^st, marks the first day of the Lenten season. Lent represents the 40 days between Jesus’s baptism and then going into Galilea. He was in the desert, fasting and prayerfully seeking God, but he was also tempted by the devil.

Many believers of various denominations will choose to fast from something themselves, each day during this time. As an effort to draw closer to the Lord and remember His sacrifice for us.

You can read more about Lent on the Upperroom but let's look at Matthew 4 together.

¹Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a] by the devil.² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’^[b]”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

    and they will lift you up in their hands,

    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’^[c]”

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’^[d]”

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’^[e]”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. 

Here are some of the things that stand out to me from that passage.

·       *Fasting doesn’t keep you from getting tempted (v2)

·       *The devil looks for those who are tired and weary. (v2)

·       *The devil uses scripture (v6)

·       *Each time that Jesus was tempted, He made it a point to recall the word of God too.  –And he was part God. (v4,7,10)

·       *Angels came to assist when he resisted. (v11)

Like Jesus, we have a holy spirit who is with us.

Psalm 34:7 says that The Angel of the Lord also encamps around us when we fear him.

Think about your own temptations for a moment. When temptation comes our way be it chocolate, cake, a cigarette, spending five dollars, DOESN’T doing it one more time, only lead to wanting to do it again just one more time? How is that any different from a job or a relationship or this thing you feel compelled to do or can’t pull away from?

Our verse today in Deuteronomy 4 reads “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” He wants to be the only thing that consumes us. In doing so, he refines the very offerings that we have to give everything else.

So how do we uncross those lines? Well, I believe that you fast from those things. But the way that we do that will look different to each of us. So, I encourage you to try this lenten season, maybe for the first time. Ask the Lord to reveal the area of your life that has more of you than he does. Maybe you already know what it is. Then ask him to help you give a little bit of it up every day for the next 40 days. It’s okay if that looks different every single day of that challenge. But seek a way to honor him, in replacement of it. Which can be in the form of prayer, it can be loving your family, it can be choosing a healthier option.

*You can prepare to be tempted through this season, like Jesus.

*You need scripture to meditate on, so go ahead and pick some verses out.

*Make some boundaries. Preferably with your spouse, a mentor, a group or friend, someone that can pray with you and/or keep you accountable.

Then have a date to check in and talk it out. Then do it again!

I’m going to end with a quote that I heard from Pastor Fred City Life, and it’s a good one so pay attention:

You will never have dominion over any appetite of your body until you give it over and make fasting a regular part of your diet.

I’d like to tweak that to say that you nor God will never have dominion over your life, as long as we let other things keep draining/claiming the power. 

Friend, if you’re feeling consumed, maybe it’s time to reprioritize and let the ‘thing’ go. If you can't quit it, maybe you should change the way you've been feeding it.

If any part of this message has been offensive, I hear you. I would encourage you to pray that if you didn’t feel like the message applied, but you were offended, ask God what he wants YOU to know instead. Let me assure you that God uses those deep things to take us higher. –Not to lead us into condemnation or to convert into anger.

I pray that this message ignites not only a new passion but a new area of faith for you that blows your mind. I would love to hear about your challenges and how you see the Lord working in them. Know that I am praying with you all the way to victory.

Until next time- Thanks for tuning in!