Big girls DO cry...Happy Mommy tears!

So last night was our kids' school musical.  For my daughter, this is THE REASON for going to school.  She lives for this night.  She practices for hours for her 10 minutes on stage, and she diligently memorizes every part in case someone is absent on the day of the show.  She bravely and unquestioningly auditions for speaking parts or solos, and it just makes her year if she is chosen for one.   She adores her music teacher and can't wait for this night every fall.  While on stage, she is fully tuned in to every move made by her teacher as she conducts them.  She gives it her all and thrives on being in the spotlight and using her dramatic talents.  When it is over, she laments that the best motivation in the world for going to school has passed her by for another year.

This year's musical was about different nations in the world, and it ended with a short segment about how many cultures have come together to make America the great nation that it is.  Each grade represented a different culture, and our daughter's was Africa.  One of the songs chosen for her class to sing was Kumbaya, in demonstration of the African influence on spirtuals. When our daughter found out that her class would be singing Kumbaya, she immediately went to her teacher (before we knew anything about it!) and told her she probably wouldn't be performing that song, and that she would need to think about how to handle it. Her teacher was surprised, as she knows Kaitlyn's love for the musical, but she was loving and supportive.  Scripture teaches us to worship without the use of musical instruments when singing to God.  Also, praise songs are not to be used for our personal entertainment, as they are to be directed reverently to God.  Worship is not about us, but about the mighty God we serve, and we strive diligently to follow His wishes for how we approach Him.  Our daughter (who is only 8!) asked her teacher what she should do, and her teacher said she would support whatever she chose to do.  She came and asked us, and we told her that she could either stay on stage and just not sing or she could step off stage.  We assumed she would stay on stage to be a part of things, but she said that she would feel hypocritical staying on stage when she knew that the song was not being sung in an appropriate context.  So, last night, in front of a packed audience in the elementary school gym, my brave little girl let her light shine so brightly and walked right off that stage before that song.   I had teared up a few minutes earlier when she belted out her solo part, but it was nothing like the happy tears in my heart when I saw her march confidently backstage while her class performed Kumbaya.   Sometimes we wonder if things are "getting through" to our children, but when I see her do something like that ON HER OWN, without complaining and without drama, I am encouraged by the power of the gospel to work on even stubborn little souls who want everything "my way."   I was reminded of how I need to be bold in standing up for our amazing God.

A few days before the performance, we overheard our son talking to his big sister (he is 6).  He said, "Sissy, I wish I was in your class."  She asked why, and he said, "I hate to think of you standing off stage all by yourself, so I want you to know that I'd be standing right there beside you if I could!"  Sweet kids.  Happy Mommy.  Tears of joy and thankfulness.

Digging with Moses

The ladies at our congregation met last night for our monthly group discussion about the Digging Deep Bible study for women found here:  http://thecolleyhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Unto-Thee-O-Lord.pdf   This study is put out by a faithful Christian woman in order to help her sisters in Christ grow closer to God.  This year the focus is on prayer, which, personally, is exactly what I need!  For the record, anything in colored font below comes directly from Mrs. Colley's study notes found at the link above.  

Here are some notes from our class last night.  I am not on facebook, so I cannot post on or read posts from the group there, so I'll put some here!  :)  I was the facilitator for our group last night, but by no means the ones with all the answers, and these notes are not all my original thoughts and notes. :)  I am so thankful for the older women (I think I was the youngest last night!!) who were in the study with me last night, from whom I can and do learn so much!

We were asked to read and study prayers at the beginning and end of Moses' service to God and to notice what kind of (if any!) growth Moses had in his desire to lead and intercede for God's people.  Here are some questions we discussed.

1.      WHAT EXCUSES DID MOSES MAKE IN HIS COMMUNICATION WITH GOD?  WHAT EXCUSES DO WE STILL MAKE TODAY?  WHAT HOLDS US BACK FROM LISTENING TO GOD?  I don't know enough, I don't have time, I am afraid.  It is interesting that Moses never expressed fear of Pharaoh as a reason for his reluctance.  Would we not be terrified if sent before a powerful leader to discuss God's word??

2.      WHAT GROWTH DO YOU SEE IN MOSES? Humility because of who God was, rather than as an excuse for his inability to serve.  

3.      WHAT CAUSED THIS GROWTH?  (SERVICE TO GOD; EXPERIENCING GOD’S POWER AND GOODNESS)   

4.      HOW DOES OUR SERVICE TO GOD HELP US TO GROW CLOSER TO HIM?

5.      WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT WE, AS WOMEN, CAN LEAD AND SERVE SO THAT WE CAN GROW CLOSER TO GOD?   support our husbands (especially as elders and/or deacons), raise faithful children, teach Bible class, prepare meals for those in need, visit, conduct Bible studies, write cards, etc.   One of our ladies mentioned that there is never an enemy of Jesus listed in Scripture who was a woman.  Interesting!  we discussed many powerful/influential/encouraging women in Scripture, such as Deborah, Ruth, Esther, the women who aided Jesus and the apostles, etc.  Women have powerful roles in God's kingdom, and we should never feel inferior or unappreciated!  

6.      LOOK BACK TO WHEN YOU STARTED COMMUNICATING WITH GOD AS A CHRISTIAN.  HAS YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE HIM GROWN SINCE THEN?  IF NOT, WHY NOT?  HOW CAN WE CHANGE THAT? 

Then we start a discussion comparing Moses as Israel’s intercessor and our own Intercessor…why?   Deut 18:15-19 & Acts 3:22  ²² For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you

What made Moses a good choice for Israel’s intercessor? - He had been on both the Egyptian and the Israelite side of things.  Can you imagine going back to confront the people in the very household where you had grown up?  Here we digressed into a discussion of what it is like for newly converted Christians to "go back" to their family of origin and talk to them about error in their lives.  

Who was the intercessor sent later who WAS perfectly willing to intercede for and free a people?    JESUS! 

INTERCESSOR/INTERCESSION  “to deal” - these are some definitions we found.  I especially like the one about reconciling.  It makes a good "word picture" for me.

·         a person who intervenes on behalf of another, especially by prayer.

·         1.an act or instance of interceding.

·         2. an interposing or pleading on behalf of another person.

·         3.a prayer to God on behalf of another.

·        to attempt to reconcile differences between two people or groups;mediate.  (Heb 12:24

ROMANS 8:34 ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

HEBREWS 7:25 ²⁵ Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

ISAIAH 53:12 ¹² Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors

Read Philippians 2:1-12.   Sometimes, as women, we grumble about the tasks we are given to do within our roles in the church because we feel that they do not get as much recognition as the tasks given to the men.  I have heard women say (and I have felt!) that our roles are “not as glorious,” or are “inferior,” or “unappreciated” in comparison to the roles men hold.   However, if we are going to have a heart like that of Jesus, we need to remember that He gave up ALL glory to empty himself to become one of us!  Do I have the willingness to engage in that which “makes me nothing” in the sight of others??  Who are we trying to please? 

While we know He was willing, find his prayer that showed that this submission, in the end, was difficult for the human side of our Intercessor.

Matthew 26:36ff; Mark 14, etc.

Notice also that God identified Himself, the sender in Exodus 3. What was that identifying name? I AM (Exodus 3: 5-6)  Interesting side note:  THE GOD is plural in the original language, emphasizing the Godhead.  J

The “sent”  wore that name when the Great Intercessor came. Find the New Testament passage that gives that label of identification to our Intercessor. 

John 8:58 ⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

When Jesus said “I AM,” He wasn’t using the same word as the name of God in the Old Testament; however, with all of His I AM statements (also found in John), He was claiming attributes of divinity, and thus signifying His place as part of the Godhead.  The Jews would likely have recognized all of these as ways in which Jesus was claiming equality with God.

“I AM” statements in which Jesus claimed attributes of God

·         I AM the living bread which came down from heaven. John 6:51

o   GOD who sent manna from heaven Exodus 16:31

·         I AM the Light of the World John 8:12 

o   Psalm 27:1 – David identifies God as Light

·         I AM from above. John 8:23

o   James 1:17; Php 2:9 – He has name above all names

·         I AM the Door.  John 10:9

o   A Shepherd would lie down between sheep and open field to protect them.  He would be the “door” to the pasture.

·         I AM the Good Shepherd.  John 10:11

o   Psalm 23 – the LORD is my Shepherd

·         I AM  the Son of God. John 10:36

·         I AM the resurrection and the life.  John 11:25

o   Genesis 1 – it was God who breathed life into all things; He is the beginning of life

·         I AM the way, the truth, and the life.  John 14:6

o   Psalm 31:5 – God is the God of truth

·         I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  John 15:1

·         I AM Alpha and Omega/First and Last. Rev 1:8,17

o   Isaiah 44:6 Redeemer = First and Last

·         Mark 2:5-7 – sins are forgiven

o   Daniel 9:9 – forgiveness belongs to the Lord

·         Matt 25:31-32 – Judgment

o   Psalm 9:7-8 – the Lord shall judge  also see: Joel 3:12

·         John 17:5 – claims glory together with the Father

o   Isaiah 42:8; 48:11 – the LORD will not give His glory to another

Acts 9:5 “Who are you, Lord?”  “I AM JESUS…”

Read Exodus 5-7 giving emphasis to 5:22,23. This intercessor used prayer to complain

²² So Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? ²³ For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all."

Can you think of others who complained while communicating with God?  (Ex:  Job. Elijah, Jonah)

What do we complain about? 

Do we complain in prayer to make excuses??  What holds us back from serving the Lord with our whole hearts?

What SHOULD we pray for??

Did our Intercessor ever complain about the job He was doing on our behalf?

NO

Look at John 17, Matthew 26, etc. 

Monthly Focus:  For this month (October), let’s focus on the intercession of Jesus on our behalf. Spend fifteen minutes in prayer as you close this study, praising Him for the Intercessor who purchased our freedom from bondage; for His willingness and for the fact that He was uniquely qualified to intercede for us.

What makes Jesus the perfect Intercessor for us??

            He knows both sides!  (Divine and Human!!)  What comfort we should have in knowing that, if we love and obey Christ, He will intercede for us!  What a privilege we have to even approach our Father in Heaven with Christ at our side.  

 

Halloween on our eating plan...

We are still on our "real food" eating plan, working our way through month #10.  It has definitely become more second-nature now, although it does still require reading labels faithfully and watching for changes in ingredients.   We have survived holidays, teachers who weren't "sold" on our plan, vacations, etc.  We have no intentions of ever going back to our old way of eating.  However, looming in the distance is...Halloween!  How in the world do you let your kids go trick-or-treating for something they can't even eat?  It seemed kind of cruel to us, so we started brainstorming  Here is what we have decided to do, and the kids are both on board!

We are going to let the kids trick or treat as normal, getting candy and other goodies as they knock on neighbors' doors and hold out their  plastic pumpkins.  When we are finished for the evening, they can each pick one piece of candy of their choice.   ANYTHING, even if it's not on plan (provided, of course, that it looks safely wrapped!).  Then, my husband and I are going to "buy back"any non-plan candy from them.  We haven't decided yet if it will be per piece or as a whole group.  Next, the kids can use that money to buy themselves one type of candy or treat that they CAN have from the local health food store.  Any remaining money will be used to purchase goods for our church pantry.   The kids were excited about shopping for the pantry, so they are completely on board with this idea. Some of the candy we "buy back" will be saved for our annual gingerbread houses in December.  We are hopeful that, in addition to making sure we stay on plan, it will help the kids learn to think of others and to learn to use their money in ways that is helpful to others as well.   I'll be sure you let you know how it goes!