Matthew 24:37-39 (NIV)
37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Yesterday I focused in on the faith and obedience that it took for Noah to build the Ark with everyone around him poking fingers and laughing. I use a couple of inspiration and bible study apps on my IPad on a regular basis. One is Daily Bible Inspirations. As I was writing the Noah blog I had no idea that as I did devotions later that day I would be presented with this scripture reference in Matthew. To be honest I was surprised to see the reference to Noah in the New Testament. 

We tend to compartmentalize stories from the Old Testament as old and not relevant to today. Most read the story of Noah and focus on his faith and obedience, the cute collection of animals, the 40 days of rain, and of course the promise of a rainbow at the conclusion of the story. I personally have a number of symbolic items in my house that represent this story for just those reasons. 

The scripture reference in Matthew takes the cuteness right out of the story. Those very people who we briefly mention as poking fun of Noah are the very people that died in the flood. People who did not know Noah or anything of the Ark being built died as well. It was not the destruction of one city being destroyed as in the story of Lot and his wife, but a flood that covered the entire earth. The only people remaining were Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives. Our time on this earth is not guaranteed. God grieved the destruction of the flood and made the promise to never flood the earth again with the covenant of the rainbow. But it critical that we live a daily life with a relationship with God. 

I am not worried about a flood but I also know our world is a bit unstable at this time. More importantly the scripture is reminding us that no one knows the hour or the day of Christ’s return. Have we got our affairs in order? Is our walk with Christ current and fresh? Have your friends and family made commitments to follow Jesus? It sure changes the way you look at the story of Noah and the Ark.

Genesis 6:22 (NIV)
Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

John 2:7-8 (NIV)

⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.   ⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”  They did so,

A year ago we had the privilege of attending the wedding of my nephew.  The ceremony took place in Milwaukee, WI at a beautiful venue.  It was an amazing weekend.  Weddings can be so much fun and I think Jesus would agree with me.  In Luke 5:34-35 he tells us to not skimp on the cake and the wine.  If you don’t believe me look it up. 

We all know the story of the time Jesus turned the water into wine.  As at all weddings something always seems to go wrong. In this case a serious situation occurred.  They had started to run out of wine.  If you read all of the details you see Jesus a bit miffed at his mother for bothering him with such details but needless to say he not only came through but he exceeded the original wine in taste. 

The verses I wanted to highlight are of those who got to see the miracle first.  It was not the bride and groom they had no idea anything was happening.  It was the servants.  I bring this up because at the wedding of my nephew we got to experience our own miracle.  Tim had misplaced his IPad.  As we arrived at the hotel we had to quickly unload for the hotel valet services.  This is a great feature but the Terrell’s never really pack appropriately for these services.  Somehow in the process of unloading Tim misplaced his iPad.  As I programmed all of the family’s electronic devices to wifi we discovered Tim did not have his IPad.  We let the hotel desk know that the IPad was missing and they sent Tim down with the valet attendant to check the van.  Tim and I took a second valet attendant down to the underground parking area to check the van but came up empty handed each time.

It was somewhat of a bummer thinking that we had lost the IPad but we tried really hard to give the issue over to God.  Upon checking out we requested the van be brought up.  As the valet attendant drove our van into the pickup area the IPad was spotted tucked under the hatch door of the van trapped against the bumper.  Note the van had been backed into a corner of the parking area and this area was not visible when we had checked earlier. Also note that if the IPad had not been pinned to the bumper it would have fallen off as they drove it down and up the steep ramp to the underground parking area.  The IPad was not harmed in anyway even though it had been crushed against the bumper as the automatic hatch had closed. 

What I loved about the whole event was the response from the valet attendants and the hotel staff at the desk.  Upon discovering the missing IPad there were hi-fives and wows being sent all around!  Even the guests in the area waiting to pick up their cars were a part of the victory dance that was taking place. 

Can you imagine being the servants at the wedding as they went to serve what they knew was simply water to the Master of the Ceremony?  Cool facts from this story, miracles are not saved for only special people.  Miracles affect more than those who receive the miracle. 

Isaiah 40:28-31 (MSG)

^27-31 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.

 

I have been a bit discouraged this year with my ability to gain strength.  Megan, Tim and I have taken a couple of longer bike rides this summer.  Saturday we headed over to the Pumpkin Vine Trail between Shipshewana and Middlebury.  It was a beautiful night to ride.  Although it was a bit warm, still about 85 degrees we were shaded most of the way and there was a constant breeze. 

This time last year I would have been riding about 10 miles an hour and a 14 mile ride would not have been a problem for me.  I am currently just barely getting about 6 to 7 miles an hour and 8 miles is a stretch.  It can be a bit discouraging.   During the ride I finally sent Tim ahead as he kept circling back to encourage me.  At one point I stopped and took a two minute break.  It is so easy to compare the place you are currently to a place you have been in the past or even to a future expected goal.  It may be slow going but I do appreciate the opportunity to get out and ride. 

God has gotten an ear full recently.  I have been very frustrated with my lung capacity since the pneumonia.  I have also had some issue with my left knee which is my good knee and have had a couple of other health issues going on.  I must admit to feeling a bit left in the dust. 

I needed to hear these words:    

God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
God’s Message to Me: 

Stop Whining — Keep peddling – God’s not tired                                                                       He knows everything inside and out.  

 ¹My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.  Proverbs 2:1-5

Taking on the role as a teacher I can’t encourage you to read enough.  Sorry it may be summer vacation but I am convinced that the benefits of reading are enormous.  Zach got caught in a move where the school he attended Kindergarten introduced reading skills but did not expect them to read and the school we moved into expected 1^st graders to be confident readers.  This created quite a challenge for Zach and actually for his teacher.

Now don’t feel too sorry for Zach just yet as he always figured out a way to come out on top.  He was quickly placed in a reading program that worked one on one and also sent home books each night to help bridge the gap.  I added to the incentive with a dime for every book he read.  Interesting enough in the beginning he was expected to bring home 2 books every night and soon he began bringing home 3.  I never really questioned it we simply read three and he earned 3 dimes instead of 2.  It was not until parent teacher conferences that I mentioned the need for Zach to read 3 books each night.  Zach’s teacher expressed her surprise when Zach started requesting to read more but she never questioned it. He may have been behind in reading but he had no problem with math equations — 3 dimes > 2 dimes.

Sorry but there is not always a financial reward being extended for reading more but I can assure you that the benefits to spending more time in God’s word and enriching your knowledge with reading books about biblical concepts will have a payoff both personally and spiritually.  Reading may not be your favorite subject and that is ok.  A few years back I worked with a group of students that were getting remedial help in English and Math.  I used to encourage my students who did not enjoy reading to find a blog or magazine that they enjoyed and simply read 1 page a day.

I assure you God is honored by one’s desire to draw near to him and to grow in Biblical knowledge. With patience and diligence you will begin to see and hear God’s sweet messages being spelled out before your eyes. If you need encouragement Personal Message me and we can challenge each other with realistic goals.  Keep a journal of what you are reading and the key points you have learned. Write all over those Bibles, as you look back through over time you will be surprised at what was speaking to you at different times.  READ READ READ!

Ruth 2:3, 19-20 (NIV)

³ So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.  … ¹⁹Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. “The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,” she said.  ²⁰ “The Lord bless him!” Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” She added, “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.”

Ruth has always been a favorite book of mine in the Old Testament.  I love the devotion Ruth had for her mother-in-law.  Both Ruth and Naomi are widows and in Biblical times widows had nobody to care for their needs.  Ruth had the chance to leave Naomi and go back with her family but she, unlike her sister-in-law Orpah, chose to follow her mother-in-law back to a foreign land. In order for the two to physically survive Ruth was going to have to find a way to obtain food.  She chose to glean or pick up any grain that was dropped while harvesting.  This was not an easy task but Ruth was willing to give her all to care for Naomi.

In Ruth2:2 Ruth told Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”  Naomi could have directed Ruth to Boaz’s fields but according to scripture Naomi simply happened on the fields of Boaz.  Boaz was not just any land owner, he happened to be a guardian-redeemer.  This is a close relative that is willing to take responsibility for a family member who is in financial need.  God showed favor to Ruth for her loyalty.  It was not happenstance that Ruth happened to glean in the fields of Boaz. 

God’s plan for our lives does not always make sense at the time.  The fact that Ruth, her sister-in-law and her mother-in-law all three lost their husbands would cause any family to be distraught.  In a situation like this it would take a lot of faith to be able to see God’s hand on you while experiencing such pain and hopelessness. Enter Boaz, not only is he willing to step up to the plate and take care of a relative he’s a bit smitten with Ruth and her unswerving dedication to Naomi. If you want to read about their courtship check out Ruth 3 and the shenanigans that Naomi puts Ruth up to.

If you think that all of this just happened by accident check out the linage of David.  Boaz is listed in that very linage.  Ruth and Boaz gave birth to Obed who became the father of Jesse who was the father of David. It may have taken a few years but eventually we see this connection of David to Jesus.

No matter how difficult a situation may feel at the time God has the power to accomplish the impossible. Ruth and Naomi were important pieces to the bigger picture.  We too are part of a bigger picture, don’t let the struggles of life overshadow God’s victories.

Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
22 Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let
the righteous be shaken.

When you are talking fishing most of us understand the concept of casting our line. But when you put the word cast into the biblical sense of casting our worries and care on Jesus we have a habit of throwing the topic out to Jesus but then continuing on as if we had never mentioned it as if we are reeling in the line quickly and trying another spot. Fishing takes a lot of patience and watching for those nibbles. Very seldom is there an instant response to the casting of our lines. Often your line will drift and you will need to recast again and again.

Recently I read in a book called 2 Chairs by Bob Beaudine an analogy of the word cast. He shared that the word cast in the bible actually means to toss or throw a blanket onto the back of a donkey. Bob compares what most of us do when sharing a hurt or concern with Jesus is to walk alongside a horse carrying the saddle rather than placing it on the back of the horse and letting the horse carry the weight. I am so guilty of misusing the word cast when it comes to giving my cares and worries over to Jesus.

Searching a little further I discovered that cast in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia means to throw with various degrees of violence or to use force. I have always heard it said that we need to lay our worries at the cross of Jesus. I struggle a bit with this definition and don’t want to continuously nag or pressure but Jesus won’t be bullied and he wants us to freely hand over our worries. Maybe It is time to unload the issues of our heart onto the horses back and stop carrying them while we walk beside Jesus. Better yet, we need to stop leading the horse. Let’s climb on board and let Jesus take care of our luggage and help us arrive at His desired destination for our life giving him time and patience along the journey.

 

Isaiah 61:11 (NIV)

¹¹ For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.

Tonight I got a chance to share in the planting of a pumpkin garden.  This is a unique garden in that we are planting with an intentional harvest in mind.  For the last few years I have been a part of a group of people called Family on Mission (FOM) whose goal is to share life together. This includes working together as a body of believers in worship, the study of God’s word, faithful prayer, sharing a meal together, working together on a joint mission and of course laughing together. This is an open group and anyone is welcome to join us.

 The joint mission we have adopted is a group of people who life has sometimes handed some pretty hard knocks.  One Sunday of the month we simply provide a meal and try our best to show the residents what it is like to be loved the way Jesus loves us. This can sometimes mean a dance party, a movie night, a Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings, and of course a pumpkin decorating contest in October.  The last two years getting enough pumpkins has been hard so with God’s blessing we have decided to grow our own.

 One of the best parts of FOM is the interdenominational and inter generational aspect.  It is easy to understand the outcome when you plant a pumpkin seed.  With proper sunshine and water God will provide us with pumpkins.  Planting seeds when it comes to the hearts of people is a whole different thing.

 For a couple of hours every week we as a family of believers share life together. In regularly meeting together as a group, we are modeling what it is like to love Jesus.  I love watching the children from preschoolers to young teens interacting with adults that love Jesus. Friends have invited friends and together we continue to plant the seeds in the hearts of each other and the hearts of the residents of our mission group.  Along with a bountiful harvest of pumpkins we are hoping that the seeds of Christ’s love will multiply as well.

 Ask yourself this week what seeds you have helped plant over the last year?  I think this passage is about more than just planting pumpkin seeds.