Uncommon

It seems the theme of life right now is "uncommon". I feel that God wants to show me how uncommon his ways are, how uncommon His Kingdom is, how uncommon His people should be.
Starting tomorrow, I'll be starting a 21-day fast. That's certainly uncommon in my world. I am unaccustomed to fasting, especially for 21 days. It's a partial fast, but I am entering timidly. I certainly don't have any faith in this flesh of mine.
I heard a Word of hope and warning from Pastor Adrian Rogers the other night.
Pastor Rogers said that the design of man was 3 parts, as supported in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, being body, soul and spirit. Three is a recurring number in Scripture.
God is 3 in 1 - Father, Son and Spirit.
Time is 3 in 1 - past, present, future.
The tabernacle or temple were both 3 in 1 - outer court, inner court, and Holy of Holies (where God dwelt).
*The outer court was the place of physical sacrifice. Death of flesh. That came first. I pray that this fast accomplishes the putting to death of my flesh in order to press in closer.
*The inner court was a place only the priest could go...the mediator between God and man. It is said that the soul is the mediator between our flesh and the spirit of man. I have to think on this analogy more to see what I can learn from the lamp, bread and incense as it relates to this.
*The Holy of Holies was for the high priest only. God's Holy dwelling place.

I desire that this fast would draw me nearer to God than I have ever been.
As I have been meditating on Isaiah 58, I have been focused mostly on this phrase on the correct reason for a fast,

"Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

(Isaiah 58:7 ESV)
My focus is exposing my flesh and allowing God to deal with it. Then, with all my soul and spirit (by His Spirit), I desire to seek God, to give in an uncommon manner, to love in an uncommon manner, see the oppressed be freed, share bread and cover the naked. This is an uncommon life that God desires. I have settled.

Father, may You work in my life. May You receive honor and glory in this period of time set apart unto You.

Leading by Word

Last night, Jason and I watched a Ray Vander Laan video about Moses. I'm certain that the one we watched was "By Every Word - Striking the Rock". The message was a powerful one! Moses was punished for his sin of striking the rock by not being allowed into the Promised Land. Ray unveiled possible reasons for this. What was the real significance?
Many Jewish stories and histories tell possible reasons.
Pharoah was symbolized by the staff that he carried which looked (to me) somewhat like the shepherd's crook. But, in contrast, Pharoah invoked fear with his staff being a harsh ruler. He (the Pharoah of Moses' time) was known for wiping out a whole generation of babies because the Hebrew children were too numberous in His opinion.
God wanted to raise up a leader in Moses that would be in stark contrast to this harsh leadership. Moses had been in Pharoah's court as a son and had lived as a shepherd in Midian. God had led him into the right places for training! Shepherds had staffs too, but they didn't strike with them.
Ray Vander Laan teaches that the word "leader" and "word" have the same root. The shepherd led by word, as our Shepherd does. A shepherd calls to his flock and they know his voice and follow, as Jesus instructed.
So, Moses' sin in striking the rock could have been that he reverted to a Pharoah-ish type of leadership, striking in anger. God needed a man of Word, not a hard-hitting leader.
When I think of Moses' leadership, I first think of his many prayers. He asked the Lord to take His punishment out on Moses for the sins of the people or to change His mind when it came to wiping the people out! He was a man of compassion...a man after God's heart. But, he did fall in at least this one aspect. And, the consequences were great.
Of course, it makes me internalize this word and ask, "Am I trying to lead by word?" I have confessed before that I revert to anger. Most of my emotions come out looking like anger when I am in the flesh. God has tempered that tendency some over the years. I want to lead by word. I want to speak the Word. I want to be different than a Pharoah. What little influence and power I have, I want to serve and love with it.
Ultimately, I want to serve and love like Jesus. He is the great Shepherd. He laid down His life for His people. I must surrender my own life for those that God has entrusted to me, if I am to lead by Word.
This is my prayer, O God. Let my heart be humble before you and before those around me. I pray that I will not call an accusation against my husband or children or strike out in anger. Purify my heart and my own words that I will pray, as Moses once did, that You would offer grace and restoration to my children when they sin and that I would offer grace as well. I want to have this type of loving leadership in my own home.

New Year...New Purpose

I have a need to journal my prayers. I have done so for years. Recently I threw about 10 full notebooks in the garbage because I see the vanity of thinking that anyone after me would want to keep them. That is my cynicism showing through. Also, I am not sure that I want my kids reading through those early years of my faith and seeing how very messed up I was. They could be scarred, confused, or (worse) they may not even care to read them.
But, I have decided to use this space as a prayer journal of sorts. I want to track along with what God is teaching me and what I need to pray for my kids and loved ones here. Less notebook paper used and my kids can sit down and look through this multi-media source years from now (if they choose). I like the 365 blog idea with pictures, but I'm not quite the picture gal. I would like to adapt that concept to prayers.

Anywho...now I have explained the turn.

Today, I'm meditating on fasting. I am learning myself and hoping to teach the kids about fasting. We are choosing to fast in the month of January (upon the suggestion of a friend) with the intention of giving to those in need. Spirituality meets practicality. They really always meets, but I sometimes forget and attempt to separate the two. So currently, I'm reading in Daniel chapter 10 and Isaiah about fasting and praying about why I am to fast, specifically.

I'm looking forward to what will come in 2011!

Funny Kids

When asked what his favorite character of Star Wars was, John responded, "The Hoo-chahs." We had to probe to find out that he meant "the mean guys with guns"...aka Ewoks!
So, days later, Lily and John were playing Lego Star Wars and Lily announced that they were in Hoo-chah City! (Endor) Woah...it's contagious! : )

ABC Box

Lily and John helped put together this ABC Box for working on spelling and playing word games. The project itself was fun for them. Lily wrote some of the ABCs on the juice lids (V-8 Fusion is our juice of choice).



It's good to pull out in a pinch when I'm lacking in the planning department for the little ones. Can anyone say, "Recycle?"

My three munch-kins just sang in a chorus with New River Youth Symphony and Chorus. I have been a proud Mama.
And, aren't they cute? ; )
OK, this really isn't my kids...these are some little carollers we made.





But, here is the real thing:

Weighed Down

Today, I'm thinking a lot about the heaviness of this season. The holidays can weigh many people down. One reason is that we want to escape the everyday and get lost in lights and presents and baby Jesus. We want the supernatural to erase all that is weighty in life. But, the weight is still there.
That shouldn't disappoint. I picture the weight pulling on us until we are so weighted down that we are on our knees. I'm close...to being on my knees. I have very little weight on me personally, but I'm watching numerous people around me who have much pulling on them and it makes me heavy for them.

My kids pray day after day for healing for loved ones and for peace for those who are suffering. I listen to their prayers and benefit from their faith.

Recently, a friend asked me and others to join in a New Year fast and I did not jump at the chance. But, it has come to mind time and time again. I think of this Scripture:
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard."

Jason said that he would like to support a child or two through Compassion. And, I'm realizing how all this is connected. If I don't feel the weight of other people's needs, I'm missing out.

I only want to fast if the Lord directs it. And, I think that He is. Food for the hungry. Shelter for the poor. These are weights I don't want to escape.

May God soften any hardness in this heart so that I could feel.