Traveling Towards Home

Isaiah 43:1-3 (and 4a) has become 'home' to me recently.  It is easy to become overwhelmed when life is out of our control.   We begin to feel like those waves crashing over us will swallow us up.  We feel frightened at the heat of the fire all around us, licking at our feet.   'But now, thus says the  Lord , who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called  you  by your name; You  are  Mine. 2  When you pass through the waters, I  will be  with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3  For I  am  the  Lord  your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4  Since you were precious in My sight, As the dear friend who pointed this passage out to me noted, "It does no...

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no  children.  And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.  So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the  Lord  has restrained me from bearing  children.  Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.   Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.   So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. ----Genesis 16:1-4 What is written in the scriptures is there for our instruction in Godliness.  When you consider Hagar, several issues that we as Christian women should consider come to mind.  First:  although Abraham and Sarah were God-fearing and faithful, Hagar never, apparently, comes to an understanding of who God really is. ...

"This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." ~  Ephesians 4:17-19   I hope you will bear with me in a little foolishness, but when I read this, an illustration of futility came to mind .  In the past, I was a huge Star Trek fan and followed the show for some years.  At one point they were battling a seemingly overwhelming foe.  I remember the cold monotone voice when anyone tried to defy them,  "Resistance is fu-tile."   The intent was chilling and no matter how valiantly they fought, the end result was assimilation into the collective conscience of the enemy....

Recently I hosted a tasting party at my home.  We were chatting about this and that and someone asked me, "Where is your home?"  It is a common question, but one that made me stop and think.  I quickly smiled and said, "Why, here!"  But later I thought how that answer missed the whole point I wished I had made. First of all was the inquirer's intent.  The questioner meant,  'Where are you from?' in recognition that I wasn't 'from here.'  Since everyone within 10 miles knows we are new to our present home and work it was an honest question.  We ask our new neighbors or acquaintances where they are from in an attempt to gain information about where they were born, raised, and where their family is established. Many thoughts ran through my head as I quickly answered.  First, my family and my husband's family are scattered from coast to coast.  My parents are not homeowners, and so they don't have a permanent address.  I also consid...

“[A Psalm of David.] Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:” Psalm 103:1-2   NKJV   Everyone is talking about the economy today.  We see our country and our world spinning out of control in spending, debt rising, values on homes dropping. . . . it goes on and on.   As our young people graduate High School and University, they are wondering where they will find a job and what benefit packages they will have.  It seems the cushy perks of the past generation may be gone; the 401K's, the generous salaries, the health insurance and retirements being cut to the bone or disappearing altogether.  I found this as the 'verse of the day' on Biblegateway, and it was so appropriate. In this day many find the words of Jesus difficult to follow. I see some who think  his teaching is about making life here on earth easy and trouble-free, they look for the ...

  My soul still remembers And sinks within me.  This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.  Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “ Therefore I hope in Him!”    Lamentations 3:20-24 This passage is such a comfort to me this morning!  I have been feeling overwhelmed by the events unfolding in my life.  Many things have simply thrown me on my knees, imploring God for relief and comfort.  What a joy to rediscover this beautiful passage.  I am reminded that my faith in God is not hopeless.  He will have compassion on me.  In His mercy He will not let me be overtaken by the circumstances not within my control.  There is hope that in His merciful compassion I will find the sweet relief. It occurs to me that others have faced ...

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things  sent   from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.  ~  Philippians 4:17-18 Paul was thankful for the Philippian's help, time and again.  But it wasn't simply the monetary help they gave him that he wanted.  He was thankful for their growth and maturity in their faith.  He knew that *they* were benefiting from sharing with him.  It is in serving others that we find our true path as we travel towards home.  God isn't interested in making us rich, or famous, or successful in business.  He wants us to learn to put others first, for the sake of the gospel.  In sharing, once and again, the Philippian Christians were learning obedience and trust.  They were learning to look upward and seek benefits for their eternal home. ...