Under His Wings

Buck and I were the wonderful recipients of a blessing. We received a two night stay at a luxury motel in Door County, WI. Now for those of you who don’t know Wisconsin well, Door County is the “finger” peninsula of Wisconsin surrounded by water and it is a very wonderful place to go in the spring, summer, and fall. Buck and I have gone a couple of other times some years ago. This was a real treat for us.

We got there later than we had expected on Wednesday evening so we checked into our room and found a local restaurant and headed back to our room for a good night’s sleep. No dog or cat to wake us. The next morning we went to a special restaurant because another friend had given us some money to go to “Al Johnson’s” for breakfast. We got there and this is what we saw:

That’s right, there were goats eating on the grass-covered roof. The waitresses were all dressed in Swedish costume. We had Swedish pancakes with strawberries and piled high with whipped creme. Then we walked around Sister Bay for a couple of hours.

It was a crisp, clear, fall day. The water was so blue and the sky so bright. The following weekend was the weekend that the majority of the businesses were going to be shutting down for the winter so the boats were leaving the marina for the winter also.

The best part of our time there was just being together. We tried to get pictures of the sunset, but found “Sunset Beach” in Fish Creek two minutes after sunset.

So to make up for not getting a sunset picture, my Beloved wanted to let me get a picture of the full moon. I kept trying to tell him that this is a very difficult thing to do without a tripod. The picture we did get is unique to say the least.

Another thing Buck did to try to make a memorable moment for us was to make reservations at a restaurant that was having candlelight dinners. He did ask if we could dress casually because we had only taken jeans, sweatshirts and tennis shoes. We got to the restaurant and the dinners were $24 a plate. Instead of leaving we decided to share a meal.

My Beloved was very patient with me as I went through some of the gift shops. I think I found two little plaques that said exactly what I was feeling about my husband and I,

“We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.”

“And they lived happily ever after.”        

For His Name’s Sake.

I have never even heard of the word before and now here I am in week three of a class studying, “The Biblical Doctrine of Salvation” with Tim Hegg at Torah Resource. I have learned many things from Mr. Hegg in the last five years and have gone to see him give a lecture on “What’s so New about the New Covenant” in St. Paul, Minnesota a few years ago.  There have been many times when I thought that I would like to take one of the classes that he offered online but finances did not permit me to do so.  Well, here I am.  I am really hoping that I am not in over my head.  I am learning so much from the class, but the things that are unnerving me just a bit are the midterm, the final and the 10-12 page research paper that are required should I decide to take the full track of the course.  I have no idea right now what to do the paper on.  Mr. Hegg made a suggestion this week in his lecture for a topic and that topic was to look at the later rabbinic writings on nature of man or the evil inclination and see if they were possibly reacting to the emerging Christian Church.

You see Rabbinic Judiasm believes in the yetzer ‘ra (evil inclination) and the yetzer tov (good inclination) and that man was born with the capacity to choose either.  If man has the Torah and studies Torah, this will feed the yetzer tov and man can basically pull himself up by the bootstraps thereby saving himself.

Biblically, however, man is born with a sin nature which was imputed to us because of Adam’s sin.  The Bible says, beginning in Gen. 6:5 “Then Adonai saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  To the Hebrew way of thinking the heart is where we think and where we make choices.  In Jeremiah 17:9 it says, “The heart is more deceitful than all else and “anush”(which is what it is in the Hebrew) meaning incurable.”  The only possible cure is to get a new heart.

In the New Testament there are many images used to describe the way this is done in our lives: resurrection, new birth, and creation.  Paul says, “You were dead in your trespasses and sins…But God made us alive together with Messiah….” Eph. 2:1-5  “If anyone is in Messiah he is a new creation…..”(2 Cor. 5:17)  and Jesus told Nicodemus that we must be born again (John 3)

There have been so many other things that have been mentioned so far such as the Order of Decrees which is the way the Christian church has been teaching soteriology for the past 2,000 years.   But, this is different than studying Biblical theology.

There are many things to think about: “Did God create evil?”, “Did God allow evil?”,  “Do we have a sin nature or not?”,  “Was Adam’s sin imputed to us?”,   “Do we have free will?”

Every week has encouraged me and caused me to praise my Creator and my Redeemer.  He is Faithful and He will bring to completion what He began in me.

For His Name’s Sake.

We were able to keep our secret a secret and it worked out perfectly. Were did we go? We headed to the western side of the state to Praire du Chien, WI the home of Villa Louis, a Victorian mansion which I toured as a child, and Cabela’s, the sporting goods company. Although Buck would love to sped a day at Cabela’s that was not our destination this time. Our reason for going to Praire du Chien was to surprise a group of young people who are dear to our hearts.

Last year Buck and Hannah coached this team of Bible quizzers from the church we attended at the time. Josh was a Bible quizzer right along with them. Last weekend was their first quiz meet of the year and we went down to participate as quizmaster, scorekeepers and timekeeper. We arrived at the church 20 minutes before the team from our town arrived and we had managed to keep our participation in the event a secret. I am so glad that we did. The look on the faces of the teens was incredible. The young man on the far left of the picture at the top is my son’s best friend. He had just been at our home on the previous Wednesday before the meet and we had talked about his participation in the quiz meet. We had not, however, let on that we would be there. He was totally surprised along with the others. Everyone gave us huge hugs and one girl started crying. It was so nice to be able to bless them in this way.

This is the novice team, all brand new quizzers. They won first place and the boy with the broken arm won first place individual. Well, I should also tell you that there were only two novice teams there so every team took home a trophy.

And this is the whole gang. The tall kid in the middle is my son, Josh, the smiling girl behind the trophy is my daughter, Hannah and the guy in the back with the beard is my husband, Buck. The weather was beautiful and the teams and coaches went to a corn maze on their way home to wind down from the competition of the day. Another quiz year is under way.

My family and I are going away for an overnight this evening so I need to be busy getting ready.  I will announce the destination when I return because it is top secret.

In other news……I am taking an online class taught by Tim Hegg at Torahresource.com on the Biblical Doctrine of Salvation.  We are two weeks into the class.  Hopefully when I return I will be able to share a few thoughts on what we have covered so far.  When I share my thoughts it helps me learn.

After some months I finally was able to contact a good friend of mine who recently moved to Canada.  I had several varying email addresses for her and I finally found the one that worked.  I am so excited to be in touch with her again and I was able to give her my blog address.  “Hi, Joan!”

I pray that you all have a wonderful weekend and I will reveal our secret destination when I return.  Perhaps even with pictures.

Last week I went to see this woman.  She is my 97 year old grandmother and her name is Dorothy which means, “Gift of God.”  She truly has been a gift of God to me and to all the people in her life.  I learned some things last week about my grandmother’s life that I didn’t know before.  We talked about memories that I did know.  There are many things that she does not remember any more.   But, my memories of her are wonderful and I am truly blessed to have had a relationship with her and a heritage of having been her granddaughter.

My grandfather died 22 years ago.  We just put Grandma in the nursing home this spring.  One of the things that was found in going through her belongings was a Bible which Grandma had written in.  In that Bible she had written a description of what Heaven was going to be for her.  The most important part for her was going to be holding her husband’s hand again.  They loved each other so much.  And they were an example to me of a wonderful married couple.

I lived with my grandparents for 2 1/2 years while I attended college and did an internship.  Grandma took care of Grandpa since he had had a severe car accident when I was young and several heart attacks after that.  Grandpa would peel the apples when Grandma made apple pies.  She didn’t mind his snoring because then she knew he was beside her in bed.  He loved her “salt and pepper” graying hair.

When they first married Grandpa would sell mole’s feet for a quarter so that they could go to a movie.  Grandma used to love to dance, but Grandpa didn’t so he used to say that Grandma would, “Dance with the wolves, but go home with the sheep.”   My Grandpa was a good man.  My Grandma loved to laugh.

Grandma did have pain in her life, but she would never talk about that.  I don’t think I ever saw her complain or cry very much.  Last week I found out that she had an alcoholic father.  Because of his drinking they had to move around a lot when she was a child.  He’s kind of stuck in her brain now and she talks about him whereas she never did before.    But, she points to the picture of Grandpa and says, “He was a good man.”  I’m so glad she had him.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. Psalm 16:6

Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the Universe, who desires to dwell with Your People.

My Bible study group recently had the opportunity to celebrate the Biblical Feast of Tabernacles together.  This is a picture of the booth that we made together.   Yes, it looks a lot like our sukkah from last year.   I love all of the Biblical Holidays, but this one has a special meaning.  Sukkot is a time of rejoicing and celebrating.  We are commanded to rejoice because God desires to dwell with His people.

The flimsy sukkah is a symbol of the tents in which the Israelites traveled in the wilderness.  It is also a symbol of our temporary dwellings here on earth.  Even though the world would clamor round about us, we can rest securely because through the open roof of the sukkah we can see the heavens and our God is there.  We are safe in His care.  We are His people.  He is in covenant with us.  He is a covenant keeping God.

“You have today declared the LORD to be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice.        The LORD has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the LORD your God, as He has spoken.” Deut. 26:17-19

It is a covenant relationship.  He chose us and sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world.  We must choose to walk in His ways, to be set apart for Him.  He gives us the grace to do that.

For His Name’s Sake.

(The pictures on this post were taken by my daughter.  You can see more of her pictures here. )

Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:

“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations…” (Isaiah 45:5-6).

Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:

“I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations…” (Isaiah 45:5-6).

“The Torah of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11

Though I have not mentioned it, this week on the Biblical calendar is the Lord’s appointed time of the Feast of Booths or Sukkot.  You can read about the Feast of Booths in Leviticus 23:34-36.  But, it is the day that comes shortly after Sukkot that I want to write about today.  This is the day called Simchat Torah or “Rejoicing in the Torah”.   Simchat Torah comes on the 23rd of the 7th month of the Hebrew calendar which is the month of Tishrei (the current month) and will be on Friday.  Remember that the Word Torah means “teaching” and it is God’s way of showing us the path to Life.  We cannot understand the whole of the Scriptures unless we understand the foundation of the Torah.

I have read, in a number of places, this Nine-fold purpose of the Torah which I want to share here.  God is a wonderful Father and Teacher who wants only the best for those who choose to walk in His ways.

• The Torah reveals the good, holy, just and perfect nature of God and serves as the universal standard of His will for man.  Romans 2:17-18, 7:12; 2 Peter 1:4.
• The Torah gives us the knowledge of sin and reveals the depth of our own sin. Romans 3:20, 4:15, 7:7-12; Luke 20:46-47
• The Torah is our schoolmaster, showing us that we are guilty before God and leading us to Jesus, our Messianic justification. Romans 10:4; Gal. 3:21-24; Romans 3:19
• The Torah is the measure of our deeds toward both God and his fellow man, guiding the way in all matters of life and doctrine.  1 Tim. 8-10; 2 Tim. 2:5; 1 Cor. 3:13; 6:1-12; Rom 2:12-16; Rev. 20: 12-13
• The Torah teaches believers how to serve, worship and please God. Psalms 19: 7-9; Acts 18:13-15.
• The Torah is written in our hearts by the indwelling Spirit of God whose work in us is to cause us to delight in and desire to live in obedience to God’s desires.  Jer. 31:33; Rom. 7:6-25; Heb. 10:15-16.
• The Torah teaches believers the true path to happiness and prosperity, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and materially, by explaining the rewards of obedience to the rule and reign of God in our lives and the penalty of disobedience when His Lordship is rejected/ignored. Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; Luke 12:31-32.
• The Torah teaches us that only by grace and faith in the power of God at work in us do we fulfill its principles and instructions; hence, called the Law of Faith, Romans 3:27, 31.
• Torah teaches us how to treat our fellowman. Lev. 19:18; Gal. 5:4; Gal 6:2

“They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb”

For His Name’s Sake

This weekend was a weekend of refreshment.  I was able to hear a series of short talks on the Fatherhood of God.    I was impressed again this weekend with the fact that God wants to dwell with His people.  Now, lest I sound like a broken record, this touches me so deeply, I think, because I had a father who did not live in our home, nor did he desire to change his lifestyle to do so.  So the fact that the Holy God, the King of the universe, should desire to dwell among and have a relationship with His people is an awesome thing indeed.   It is not because we are anything special, not because of any righteousness on our account, but because He is love and has a Father heart.   Every person on the earth will know Him as Creator and as Judge, but we can choose to know Him as Father.

As a Father, God instructs us, He blesses us, He disciplines us, He gives us His Name, He defends us, and He sent His Son to represent Himself.  When we decide to go our own way we tarnish His Name.  But, He is a humble God who forgives.   He wants us to become like Him.

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God …And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure“1 John1:1,3

For His Name’s Sake