What exactly is a Patriarch? I love saying that word because it sounds so regal, but what does it actually mean? Webster states, “one of the scriptural fathers of the human race or of the Hebrew people.” Doesn’t that sound regal? Kind of untouchable or out of my league, but these Patriarchs experienced many bumps and bruises as they navigated this regal role!
Abraham is the first patriarch from the Old Testament. There are 4 patriarchs…some say three…but we are going to roll with 4. First is Abraham, then his son Isaac, then Jacob and finally Joseph. They are direct descendants, father to son.
I am currently writing a book. Yes, a book! I have over 40,000 words written stored in my computer with more writing ahead of me. I never thought I would write a book, so game on! I even have a contract with a publishing company that is ready to edit and print once I finish my manuscript. Now, don’t be impressed when I say publishing company because you can do anything for the right price.
The writing of this book and, truthfully, this blog has been solely an act of obedience for me. I have always loved to write but typically those writings have been for my eyes only. Writing connects me to God and gives me peace on my own life journey. But I had never thought of sharing it with others. Through the prompting of friends in my life and my own journey with God, I felt a nudging to share what I write in obedience to Him.
As you have read and listened to this blog over the past 9 months, you are listening to my obedience to God while here on this earth. Therefore, a book is a part of this obedience.
What is the title of the book? Well, that is a work in progress. I love to write, but titles are not my forte!
I currently have…” Walk Like a Girl…your journey to God’s story within you.” I think it sounds pretty cool, but it doesn’t really tell you what the book is about. It also narrows my audience down to women which I have been told often lately that I need to allow men into my writing world. Any suggestions would be appreciated! But first, let me tell you what the book is about.
If you know me, I have a love for the Old Testament. Other than the big stories written in the Old Testament like Noah and Moses and Goliath, the Old Testament is often set aside because of lack of understanding. Yes, it is filled with countless commandments. We think of the big 10, but in reality, there are 613 commandments from Genesis through Deuteronomy. We get bogged down within the details of these words therefore move on to the New Testament for inspiration. But are you aware why there are 613 detailed commandments in the Old Testament?
Let me paint you a picture that you might relate to. What if you had 10 children? Well, for one, we would pray for you! Imagine having these 10 children but no restrictions. No set bedtime; no restrictions on showering or bathing; no guidelines on eating. Just think of what that would look like. Or don’t think of it because the stress it would cause you.
This is the same type of situation for the 613 commandments that we skim over when we read the Old Testament. It’s okay to skim because most of them do not relate to us today.
When God created the world, He created man and woman. As we know, man and woman blew it inviting sin into our world. Once sin was introduced, the world of peace and tranquility became a world of chaos. This chaos ultimately ended up with the destruction by way of flood and a “do over” for mankind. Unfortunately, the “do over” was left up to mankind’s response which we blew again and again. So, God pulled out His “white board” and began to write. He wrote and wrote and wrote until there were 613 documented guidelines on how these people needed to live. Up to this point, it was simply a chaotic world. These commandments shored the people up a bit and allowed some order in their lives. Just how we do for our own children.
So, back to what the book is about…it is a walk through the Old Testament while gleaning some practical lessons that are taught to us as we walk through our current world. The Old Testament is so incredibly practical, but often overlooked.
Here is an excerpt from my book intro…
“What if we could pick up the Bible and see His story written within us?
What if we could see God’s movement? Hear God’s voice?
What if these pages moved beyond stories and became the lesson we need this very day?
I believe that is what this book is. This is not a verse-by-verse study, but a book that will walk you through the Old Testament gleaning from the stories of people just like you and me. A book that will allow you to feel the dirt between your toes as you walk the roads of Canaan; a book that will take you through the heartfelt loss as Adam and Eve were kicked out of paradise; a book that will allow you to sit in the quiet of an unformed universe. Practical lessons for today taken from a book written centuries ago. I don’t think you will want to miss this journey!
As I began to study the Old Testament, I was amazed not just at the stories but at God’s voice speaking through these stories. I was amazed at how practical the Old Testament was to my life and how learning His story impacted MY story.
The Old Testament answers questions like…
“Why is there sin?”
“Why does heart ache continue in our current world?
“Why did Jesus die?
The Old Testament is the foundation for what we believe today. It is more than the 10 commandments taken from the book of Exodus. It is filled with stories of people…people with names, with emotions, with heartache, with laughter.
I believe that if we could sit beside them today, they would shed tears as we told them our story. Eve’s heart would break as she related to our story of feeling abandoned by God. Noah would understand when we told him that God has asked us to do something beyond us. Sarah would weep when we told her that our womb was barren. As our hearts pour out to them, they would assure us that the journey toward God is worth every step.
So, walk with me as we listen to their to their voices!”
So, what I would like to do is to have a “Summer Series” teaching you about some of the voices in the Old Testament…a walk with the Patriarchs!
Join me over the next few weeks as we journey with the Patriarchs! Let’s learn the significance of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. How does the story of Joseph take us to the movement of Moses? These are some fun connections that I think you will enjoy!
Recently my husband and I were faced with a decision that required a lot of praying. It’s a big decision and big decisions take more prayer as far as I am concerned. Biggy decision require biggy prayers.
A good friend of mine, Cara, also has been faced with a biggy decision requiring biggy prayers. The other day, we were talking through different scenarios for her in regard to this decision. At one point she said, “I just don’t know what to do. How do I figure out what God wants”? Of course, my response as a law-abiding Christian citizen is to say, “pray about it.” Duh! That is our common response especially when we have no real advice to give. But as we continued to talk, I made a statement to her that seemed to capture the essence of what needed to be said…PRAY AND PURSUE! We both paused to ponder this statement. Hmmm…PRAY AND PURSUE…what did I mean by that? Trust me, I asked myself that same question.
Yesterday my youngest son married the love of his life.
Sarah’s story …”I was a freshman, and he was a senior. I saw him from afar at our church’s college retreat. I told my girlfriends that he was cute but didn’t think I had a chance.”
Joshua’s story…”Mom, there is a really cute girl”…need I say more!
That was the beginning and yesterday they committed themselves in marriage!
Last week I was given an incredible opportunity to speak at my church’s Mother’s Day Celebration. This message is based on my blog Beautifully Incomplete. It is an extended version of the blog featuring the verse from Philippians 1:6. This verse has been an inspiration to so many of us, but when I looked deeper into the verse I saw an incredible message the apostle Paul was telling the church of Philippi that I had never seen before.
Join me today and listen to this message!
Share this with a friend who you know might need these words of encouragement!
I realize that some of this story of my mom may shock some of you, so I apologize for this shock. The story of my mom is wrapped up in the story of my dad. And unfortunately, that is not the story that some of you are aware of. Family secrets! After years and years of counseling, my counselor has encouraged me that it’s okay to tell the story. Telling truth heals. My mother has also given me permission to tell this story. As she says, “The story is over and we must move on, but the story still affects our lives.” So, if you know us as a family and this is the first time you have heard this story, please know that this has become a story of God and His healing grace, not of evil brought on by abuse. It is a story of three beautiful women (my mom, sister, and I) who found healing in Jesus and healing in our own love for one another. I believe that God has given us these years for us to heal as a family.
What is one of the most meaningful conversations that you have had with your children?
Where were you sitting?
How did it impact your relationship?
Today I am going to tell you about a conversation between an old soul and a young heart. It rocked their world!
But first, let me ask you…
What are your priorities for your children and how are you preparing them for these things?
Happiness?
Success?
A good education?
Good health?
Good relationships?
Good marriage?
We have our children for approximately 18 years. During those 18 years, they are under our care to pour as much into them as we can. Once they are adults we can still pour, but the spout is no longer full pour but more of a light sprinkle. Once they are raised, the foundation has been laid. We must trust that what we have laid for them will anchor them.
Make a list of the top three things you want to teach your children, then set that list aside.
Let me tell you a story about an old soul and a young heart…
The Israelites had escaped the land of Egypt and had wandered in the desert for 40 years. They didn’t hang out in the wilderness because they liked to camp. They were disobedient people towards God, so God continued to give them time and a lot of space to get their act together. But they didn’t!
“Of all those I (God) rescued from Egypt, no one who is twenty years old or older will ever see the land I swore to give… for they have not obeyed me wholeheartedly.” Numbers 32:11 NLT
Now here’s the stark reality…
Our disobedience can cause death (maybe not physically, but emotionally and spiritually) and we may never see what is promised! I will have to write a blog on that some day!
Fast forward on the story a bit…it is NOW time for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land!
We often read that with little emotion. But take a moment and let your mind wrap around this! These people had waited 40 years to see what God had promised. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait 2 weeks for a promise!
They had watched their parents die, suffered many losses and now it was time for the promise.
God said to Moses…gather your people and speak!
“These are the commands, decrees, and the laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and command that I give you, and so that you may enjoy a long life.” Read Deuteronomy 6:1, 2. NLT
So, on a hot sunny day in the wilderness, the people gathered at the edge of the river to hear the words of Moses. He would soon die never seeing the Promised Land for himself, so final words from him were like gold.
Sitting with their own children and their children’s children, they listened!
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4, 5
“Repeat them (God’s commands) again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” Deuteronomy 6:7
First, parents…you must own your own faith! It must be real, and it must be deep!
Second, teach these things to your children! And again, it must be real, and it must be deep!
What if your child’s faith was solely determined by your faith? How deep would it be?
When they are young, they are moldable. As they grow older, they become independent in their faith. If you lay this foundation deep at a young age, when they grow older the foundation is solid…even if they stray! The catching of their faith is on them, but the teaching is on you!
God’s plea through Moses was…” Follow them! Please follow them! Your parents and grandparents are dead and never saw the promise land because they chose not to follow., Please be different…it’s so simple… Follow, Listen, and Learn!”
As, they sat at the edge of the Jordan river they were mesmerized by the words of Moses. His eyes filled with tears as he looked around the crowd knowing he was seeing hope once again, hope in a new generation.
Picture this…as they were sitting in the quiet of Moses’ wisdom, there is a sweet voice heard in the crowd. Little Billy tugs on the tunic of his father and whispers rather loudly…
“Daddy, what is he talking about?”
Billy’s daddy leans over looking at his precious little son and with tears in his eyes replies…
“I’ll explain later son. But things are going to be different from here on out.”
Billy’s dad knows that from this day forward things would change. Things would be different from how his parents raised him; different from how he had been living his own life; different, really different.
What we pass on to our children is totally within our control as parents!
If we want to teach them how to be happy, we can control that!
If we want to teach them success, we can teach that!
If we want to teach them to have a good education, we can do that too!
If we want to teach them Jesus…well, I think you know what I am going to say!
In the simplicity of Gods words, He tells us to teach our children one thing…
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
But He also tells us how to do it…
Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”Deuteronomy 6:7
Our lives with our children should be filled with conversations about God. We need to soak up every opportunity to have “God talks”. When your child discovers a beautiful butterfly, tell him who created it. When they stumble and scrape their knee, tell them that God cares for them when they hurt. When their best friend betrays them, remind them that God is always faithful.
Some of my sweetest conversations with my boys were bedtime and car rides. Make the most of your moments!
So, we must ask ourselves as parents, what is our priority?
Whatever is priority to us will become priority to them!
Now, pull out your piece of paper from earlier.
What is one thing you would change?
Before we go, let me share one mom’s story. Diane has a son who is a successful soccer player. He is now on scholarship at a prestigious university. Those sacrifices did not come easy! As we stood outside church this weekend, I asked her how Lawson was doing. She didn’t tell me how his soccer was going…which I already knew they had just won the Big 10 Conference…she told me how much he loved his bible study group. This is a momma who I know struggled to instill in her kids a love for Jesus. All I can say is that it stuck! When we teach a deep foundation in Jesus, that foundation sticks! No matter what their choices become later in life, the foundation is always the same.
What do you choose for your children’s foundation?
I am mom to a precious child who is suffering through mental illness and substance abuse. She cries for help but refuses to receive the help she is given. I cry to my Jesus nearly every minute of these long, hard days. Jesus, help me take one more step. Help me make the next phone call. Take away my guilt for not protecting my daughter. Fill out all these forms for me, Jesus. Father give me the words to say. Holy Spirit pray for me. Father, hold me, I just can’t do this anymore. And he does.
When you have a child who is suffering, the emotions are intense. Children cannot advocate for themselves. They don’t have the means to find help. There is a constant fear and foreboding that something is going to happen. Something that will disrupt your peace. And the wash of anxiety and the trembling that arrives when you discover again that your child is being disobedient or made another poor choice.
I often ask God, “Why do I have to watch this?” In the depths of my heart, I become very selfish. “That was MY carton of peanut butter chocolate ice cream she left to melt on her bed!” or “I paid for that conference and now I’m not going because I’m in the ER with my daughter.” A resentment begins to build as your limited self-care time is stolen by a poor choice your child made. When the resentment begins to overwhelm me, I turn to Scripture. Philippians 3:14 tells me to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ. I can do the hard things with God’s power in me.
I find time to squeeze in a warm bath, a cup of coffee, a phone call to a friend who listens without judgement. I choose carefully who I share with so one, I don’t have to remember who I told what and two, my daughter is not the center of every conversation. I have lots of other interests outside of her! The most important piece of my self-care plan is to talk to my therapist weekly. Finding professional help for yourself is critical to maintaining yourself and your sanity. We were never meant to do life in isolation.
The struggle to be the Proverbs 31 woman is real!!!
But have we created a struggle from scripture that was never intended by the writer or by God?
Our Christian culture has taught us to look at this passage of scripture as our measure. If we could achieve these attributes, then we would win the crown of noble woman getting us a better seat at the table.
THE WALK 