BIBLE PICK 'EMS - A Mother's Day Poem

A MOTHER

She carries you for nine months,

Then cares for you

Forever...

She watches out for you

when you are young,

Then watches over you

for a lifetime...

She holds you closely in her arms

for a while,

Then tightly in her heart

Always...

She is there through every change,

Then never changes 

herself...

She teaches you about life,

Then lets you leave home...

and live -

A mother is

every gift of God

wrapped up in one person -

Joy, Peace

Patience, Kindness, Goodness

Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control

And most of all...

Love.

Though I am no longer a child,

I will always be 

My mother's child

And that is comfort personified -

My mother is

A safe place to be

A soft place to fall

A refuge in every storm...

She calms the winds of life

And helps smooth

the paths

I have chosen to walk.

I have never questioned 

Her love

or her faithfulness,

My faith in her

has never faltered...

She is the sun

that rises every morning,

And the promise

of a new day.

She is

The keeper of secrets,

The spark

to my dreams,

The footsteps

that walk beside me -

She is the one

on the sidelines

who whispers quietly,

with hands

folded in prayer

and

tears in her eyes,

"Go...go...go,

I'm here."

She is 

The quiet heartbeat

that keeps time

with my own...

My mother is

My best friend,

The beacon

of my life...

My mother is home...

© Sharon Jean Kirby

May 10, 2007

I LOVE YOU, MOM!

"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. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.  Repeat them 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.  Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.  Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

Thank you, Mom, for leading me to Jesus when I was young.

"Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." (Proverbs 22:6)

And thank you, Mom, for always showing me how to follow Him.

**********

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all of you wonderful moms out there!!

**********

"When in doubt, search God out!"

JOEL - The Locusts Are Coming

I love dominoes.

I especially like the ones with the different colored dots.

There are many fun games to play with dominoes. I enjoyed that. But my favorite thing to do was to line them all up, real close together, and then topple them all down – just by pushing the first one over.

Such a harmless tap of my finger – but oh, what it sets into motion!

Sin is like that.

Sometimes we can start with the smallest "innocent" decision or action, and without even knowing it, we set a series of consequences into motion.

Because sometimes that first "little" sin is merely the first domino – the one that makes all the other ones fall.

When I read today's "Bible Pick 'Ems" I was reminded of that:

"Listen, all who live in the land. In all your history, has anything like this happened before?...After the cutting locusts finished eating the crops, the swarming locusts took what was left! After them came the hopping locusts, and the stripping locusts, too!" (Joel 1:2, 4)

I investigated some commentaries to help understand the different types of locusts. Here's a quick overview of my research:

--Some scholars have suggested that the words indicate four stages in the

development of locusts

--Others believe that the locusts symbolize four different invading armies

--Many believe that the creatures here spoken of are different

kinds of locusts, so named from their number or voracity

--The law mentions several sorts of locusts – in fact, more than 80 different

kinds have been observed

--Slight as they are in themselves, beautiful and gorgeous, they are a scourge

that grows in successive devastation

--Each judgment, though in itself desolating, is later followed quickly by

another, and thus they complete their destructiveness

--Morally, also, four chief passions can desolate successively the human heart:

--lust – which so pollutes the heart it possesses

--vainglory (pride) – which exalts itself with empty presumptions

--gluttony and covetousness and materialism – appetites of impious desires that

are indulged in too immoderately, leading ever

more fiercely to any object of

ambition

--anger and impatience – whose flames wither the fruit of virtue

When some vices succeed to others, one plague enters to devour the *field* of the mind, while another is leaving it.

As much as I would love to tell you that I have no experience of this type of "plague" – I have to be honest. There was a time when my life was invaded by sin.

I made one small decision – at least it seemed small at the time – but it became the first domino to fall in my life.

Unbeknownst to me, the first wave of locusts had arrived.

It doesn't take much

–

one crucial lapse of judgment, one singular step over the line into sin, one selfish ignoring of faith and values, can lead to a "swarm effect."

An *innocent* beginning can quickly turn into devastation.

And you can end up feeling like the Israelites:

"Despair…wail…weep…The fields are ruined, the land is stripped bare. The grain is destroyed, the grapes have shriveled, and the olive oil is gone….And the people's joy has dried up within them." (Joel 1:10-12, parts)

Yes, I finally looked around at the mess of my life and realized – I was a wilderness. I was far from home, far from the Lord who loved me. And I wanted to return.

My repentance was quick. His forgiveness was instantaneous and complete. And though my healing took a little longer, I fully understood like never before, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love.

He is eager to relent and not punish.

I will never forget the day when I knew that I was headed down a new path. I had a *random* meeting with a woman (no coincidence – this was a divine appointment). We talked, I told her about my story. She said some of the most powerful words I have ever heard – and oddly enough, they were from the book of Joel:

"The LORD says, 'I will restore to you the years
 that the swarming locust has eaten,
 the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter…Once again…you will praise the LORD your God, who does these miracles for you.'"

(Joel 2:25-26, ESV and NLT)

I hugged her with tears in my eyes.

Oh dear ones, God proved to be faithful.

He did indeed restore and revive me, renew and re-establish me. He paid back – many times over – the time that I lost.

My lesson for today?

It's two things.

First, be very careful when dealing with dominoes. One small sin can be the first catalyst to an onslaught of ensuing consequences – and one day you will find yourself devastated.

But, there is hope.

For the second lesson is this – we have a great and gracious God. And He is perfectly able, and completely willing, to forgive the repentant sinner. He can heal broken hearts, He can restore shattered relationships. He can mend and mold a faithful life out of the locust-eaten fields of iniquity.

Anyone who calls on God's name can be saved.

"I will pardon my people's crimes…and I, the LORD, will make my home…with my people." (Joel 3:21)

Do you, or does someone you know, need to hear this message of hope?

Won't you pass it on?

(I'm linked today with Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays, and Peggy at Soaking On SONday. And please feel free to visit me during the week at my other blog, Sharon Sharing God!)

"When in doubt, search God out!"

RUTH - At His Feet

At His feet.

Doesn't that sound soothing?

Today's "Bible Pick 'Ems" provides a great introduction to pondering this statement:

"Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! 'Who are you?'he asked. 'I am your servant Ruth,' she replied. 'Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.'"

(Ruth 3:7-9)

Can you just imagine Boaz's surprise?!

I remember one time when I was visiting my son for the weekend. Sleeping arrangements tend to be a little *haphazard* at his one-bedroom apartment! I usually put "dibs" on the recliner. My youngest usually conks out (unintentionally) on the couch.

On this particular night, as I was finally dozing off myself, my youngest was sound asleep, on the couch, with Marty (my adorable grandbeagle) tucked in nice and close to him.

Sometime in the wee hours of the morning, while it was still dark out, I moved to readjust my position. And lo and behold, I was no longer sleeping alone. I was now accompanied by one warm and cuddly beagle, tucked in all nice and close to me.

I looked down at him and smiled. He opened a couple of sleepy eyes, and I'm pretty sure he smiled back. I tucked the blanket over him.

It was a good feeling – downright soothing.

When I read these verses, I thought about that night. How Marty had made his way to me in the middle of the night. Desiring my company, wanting to be close to me, he had quietly found his way to my feet.

Just like Ruth, quietly making her way to the feet of Boaz. When he woke up, did he look down at her and smile? I think he did. Something in his heart moved, and he vowed to marry her.

Ah, is this not the most beautiful picture of our Lord Jesus?!

He is our Redeemer, the One who bought us back from slavery to sin and death. The One who spreads His covering of righteousness over us. The One whose presence we seek.

The One who looks down at us and smiles.

How often do I forget to make my way to His feet? Why do I forfeit the comfort that I find there? How is it that I sometimes prefer to be wandering about in my own ways – cold and lonely – when there is warmth and welcome next to Him?

All I need to do is tuck myself in – nice and close.

Ruth trusted Boaz.

Marty trusted me.

And I trust Jesus.

At His feet is rest. Protected by the Redeemer – the One who never, ever lets go.

"He alone is my refuge, my place of safety..." (Psalm 91:5)

How are you resting at His feet?

(I'm linked today with Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays, and Peggy at Soaking On SONday. And please feel free to visit me during the week at my other blog, Sharon Sharing God!)

"When in doubt, search God out!"

HEBREWS - What A Friend

"You just don't understand!"

I don't know how many times I've said that to someone, or thought it in my heart.

We each have our own uniquely individual *take* on life – and we perceive the circumstances that we experience through distinctly "me-colored" glasses.

And yet, there is something deep in our souls that desperately wants to be understood. We want to be known. We want someone to *get* us.

There is a Native American saying:

"Don't judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins."

Of course, the saying is an admonition against judging other people. But underlying that sentiment is the unspoken thought – that the person in the moccasins wants his life to be understood.

So, take the deep-seated need to be understood, coupled with a paltry few people in life that ever really *get* it – and you’ve got the formula for some really lonely people.

There's a cure.

Or, more accurately, I might say that there is The Cure.

Today's "Bible Pick 'Ems" is such a lovely reminder of the One who truly cares:

"We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested." (Hebrews 2:16-18)

I think this is one of the most beautiful passages of Scripture, on so many levels.

So, let's break it down.

First of all, Jesus did not come to earth to help the angels. They did not need redemption. His creatures – His human creatures – did. The one and only reason that Jesus came to earth was to die. And He came to die for us. We were the lost sheep, the ones who had strayed so far from the Truth. We were the hopeless ones, estranged and separated from God. We were the descendants of Abraham – the ones who desperately needed a Messiah.

Second, Jesus was made in every respect like us. That means He was human in every sense of the word. He got tired, and hungry, and probably even sick once in a while. He felt human emotions, and thought human thoughts. Though He may not have walked in our moccasins – He most certainly logged many, many miles in our sandals!

Third, God deemed it necessary for Jesus to be like us. It wasn't just a convenient way for Him to relate to us. It was crucial. The verses preceding today's passage explain why:"Because God’s children are human beings – made of flesh and blood – the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying." (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Fourth, Jesus became our High Priest. In the Old Testament, the high priest was the mediator between God and His people. His job was to offer sacrifices and to intercede with God for forgiveness of their sins. Now, Jesus came to once and for all pay the penalty.

Merciful because He knew our weakness, and He knew our need.

Merciful because He knew we had no hope without Him.

Faithful because He never wavered from His message or His purpose.

Faithful because He did what He came to do.

Finally, our verses today end with a great promise.

He is able to help us.

Why?

Because He understands us – completely. He has seen the world through "human-colored" glasses. He knows how we think and feel. He knows how our bodies function. He really and truly *gets* us.

He faced struggles and suffering and temptation. He is the One who overcame it all.

"You just don't understand!"

We might be able to say that to any number of people, but never to Jesus. He is the only person who fully understands us – and knows us better than we know ourselves.

He is our High Priest, who intercedes for us at the throne of God.

"Who then will condemn us? No one – for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us." (Romans 8:34)

It might go something like this:

"Father, see Sharon? Can we talk? You see, I understand what she's going through…"

Won't you join me today in celebrating the very Good News that we have a Savior who understands us – thoroughly, inside and out – and who loves us with an everlasting love!

We have a Friend.

What a friend we have in Jesus,


All our sins and griefs to bear!


What a privilege to carry


Everything to God in prayer!


Oh, what peace we often forfeit,


Oh, what needless pain we bear,


All because we do not carry


Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?


Is there trouble anywhere?


We should never be discouraged,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.


Can we find a friend so faithful,


Who will all our sorrows share?


Jesus knows our every weakness;


Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,


Cumbered with a load of care?


Precious Savior, still our refuge,


Take it to the Lord in prayer.


In His arms He'll take and shield thee – Thou wilt find a solace there.

(Sidenote: Unbeknownst to me ahead of time, this was the first song sung at my aunt's memorial service yesterday. Evidently, it was one of her favorites. God just winked at me again - and I felt my aunt smile!)

(Linked today with Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays, and Peggy at Soaking On SONday. Please feel free to hop on over to my other blog during the week - Sharon Sharing God)

"When in doubt, search God out!"

EPHESIANS - A Tribute to My Dad

In honor of this special day, I'm sharing a poem I wrote about my dad.

BIG SHOES

When I was small

I used to walk around

in his big shoes,

clumping through the house,

Playing, yes

but also proud of my daddy.

Strong and sure

Always there

to protect me -

Now that I have grown

It seems

that I have spent my life

Trying to follow

in his footsteps...

They are big shoes

to fill.

But he left a path behind

A character road

Footprints

of intelligence,

integrity,

honesty,

and fairness.

In following him

I have learned to be

a leader,

I have learned to be

a better person.

Through the years

some things have changed,

most have not.

I am still proud of my daddy

Strong and sure

Always there

To protect me -

And though his steps

are slowing,

They are still

worth following

And I do -

For I will always be

a young girl

Walking around

in his big shoes...

© Sharon Kirby,

June 15, 2007

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, Dad!

Know that I have always loved you, and I always will!

***Wishing all you wonderful fathers a very Happy Father's Day!***

"Honor your father and mother. This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, 'things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.'" (Ephesians 6:2-3)

(Linked today with Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays, and Peggy at Soaking On SONday. Please feel free to hop on over to my other blog during the week - Sharon Sharing God)

"When in doubt, search God out!"

LUKE - Giving All You've Got

I own a solid gold necklace. It is a beautiful piece of jewelry.

And it's heavy – literally!

The price of gold is currently around $1500 an ounce. So this necklace would definitely be, as they say, *worth its weight in gold!* It’s a treasure – and it would be quite a gift if I gave it away, wouldn't it?

Now what if I showed you two pennies – two tarnished, beat-up pennies? They've been sitting in a dish of spare change for who knows how long. They're not worth much. In fact, in today's economy, they're probably not even worth two cents!

Back in the day, they could buy something – a piece of candy or such. But now, the penny is so worthless, we don't even like having them rattling around in our pockets. Many stores have little trays where you can "take a penny, leave a penny." If you don't want your pennies with you, leave them.

So, giving away these two pennies wouldn’t be much of a gift, would it?

Today’s "Bible Pick ‘Ems" is a story about a woman who gave something away…

"While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. 'I tell you the truth,' Jesus said, 'this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.'" (Luke 21:1-4)

Jesus was in the area of the Temple called the Court of Women. In this area were seven boxes in which worshipers could deposit the Temple tax and six boxes for freewill offerings.It appears that Jesus continued watching the giving for some time, and He observed a number of wealthy persons making gifts.

This woman gave a freewill offering of two mites. At the time, a mite was the smallest of copper coins, normally equal to just 1/8 of a cent! Though it might seem that her offering was small, her gift was a sacrifice, for it was all that she had.

Today, I'm not going to talk about financial giving – I'd like to expand the story beyond the issue of money.

The question I would like to pose is this – What are you giving to God of YOURSELF?

The issue here is not that the woman had given more as to value and substance – but that she had cast in more in proportion to what she had.

Her gift was counted as more by Christ, and more highly valued and esteemed by Him, because Jesus – the One who sees the heart, and knows all things – knew that she had given FROM HER HEART.

Yes, my friends, the Lord desires no greater gift than the gift of yourself. He is to be loved with all your powers and capabilities. He doesn't want offerings – He wants you to KNOW Him and to LOVE Him.

Mark 12:29 sums up this greatest gift: "The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength."

Jesus uses the poor widow's offering to teach an important lesson.

A gift is not to be evaluated by its size, but by a comparison of the gift with the total possessed by the giver.

In the secret, innermost part of your heart, have you laid your life on the altar? Have you presented everything you have to Him?

May God help us to be like this faithful woman as we give our hearts in His name.

(Linked today with Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays, and Peggy at Soaking On SONday. Please feel free to hop on over to my other blog during the week - Sharon Sharing God)

"When in doubt, search God out!"

LUKE - Accident Forgiveness

Weren't we all teenagers at some point in our lives?

Notice I'm not asking how long ago that was!

Did you ever do anything you felt REALLY bad about?

(OK, I better see every hand raised out there in Blog Land!!)

I can recall one incident so vividly, it’s like it happened last week.

My dad and uncle owned a business in Pasadena. And at some point in time, they decided that it was a good idea to lease two company cars – two brand-new 1970 Pontiac Firebirds. I'm pretty sure that this was my "hot shot" uncle's idea!

My dad's car was awesome!

One night, I needed to borrow a car to go to a church party. OK, I'm 16, the ink is barely dryon my driver's license, and my dad lets me use HIS car. He actually offered it to me!

I know!! Honestly, what was he thinking?!

After picking my jaw up off the floor, I graciously accepted…

"OK, Dad, if you insist."

I went to the party, and when it was over, a bunch of my friends and I thought it would be coolto drive over and see a boy that I had a secret crush on – because I was behind the wheel of a radically "hot" car.

We thought this was a great idea, because nothing screams "GOOD DECISION" like a car full of 16-year-old girls!

Anyway, we got to talking, got to flirting, and time ran away. When I finally headed home, my 11:00 PM curfew had disappeared in a teenage fog of…

Oh, he's so cute!

Do you think he likes me?

How's my hair look?

BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

OK, so now it’s like 1:00 in the morning, it's pouring rain, and I have to park the car in the garage. Our driveway was very steep, and Dad parked his car on the right-hand side of the garage, so you had to make kind of a sharp turn at the top of the driveway, just past a retaining wall.

You KNOW what's coming, don't you?

Yes, I made that turn, just a LITTLE early, and heard the most awful sound as "brand-new" Firebird met concrete block wall. Man, it still hurts today.

I tried backing up…SCRAPE.

I tried going forward…SCRAPE.

The car was sorta stuck on the wall.

In a panic, I finally just gunned the engine and the car leapt forward, almost piling intothe corner of the garage. I got the car parked, and looked at it. There was a huge dent, andmassive scratches right through the paint, all along the whole side of the car. OH MAN! I quietly entered the house so I wouldn’t disturb anyone's sleep…

OK, OK, yes…I was trying to sneak in! You guys are awful strict!

I was almost to my bedroom when I noticed my mom sitting alone in the dark, shivering with fever and chills, sicker than a dog with the flu, waiting up for me.

I didn't sleep much that night.

The next morning I got up early, bringing all $200 in my savings account, to confess to my dad what I had done to his car. He told me to keep my money – he would "take care of it."My dad didn't get mad, he didn't punish me – He forgave me.

Jesus told His disciples a similar principle about forgiveness, and it's found in today's "Bible Pick 'Ems":

"If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks for forgiveness, you must forgive." (Luke 17:3-4)

Jesus took forgiveness very seriously – it was His whole mission on earth.

Can we do any less?

"…and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us." (Matthew 6:12)

"'Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?'

'No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!'"

(Matthew 18:21-22)

(Linked today with Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays, and Peggy at Super Sunday. Please feel free to hop on over to my other blog during the week - Sharon Sharing God)

"When in doubt, search God out!"

PROVERBS - A Proverbs Tribute to My Mom

Who can find a virtuous and capable [mother]?

I can.

She's my mom.

She is more precious than rubies.

I think my mom is priceless.

[I] can trust her, and she will greatly enrich [my] life.

She is my confidante, my listening ear and shoulder to cry on. She's my best friend. I can't imagine my life without her.

She brings good, not harm – all the days of her life.

My mom has made my life's journey so much easier, so much better. She always thinks of my best interests.

She finds wool and flax and busily spins it.

My mom always made sure that I had nice, clean clothes to wear.

She [brings] her food from afar.

I can't count the miles she has walked in the grocery store. She still sneaks food to me!

She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household…

I couldn't begin to count the meals my mom prepared – the sack lunches she packed. All that food was her way of saying, "I love you."

…and plan the day's work.

My mom planned her days – always working to maintain our household, while at the same time creating a home.

She goes to inspect a field and buys it.

My mom was wise with money – she knew when to save it, and she knew when to give it away.

She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.

Yes, even now when her steps have slowed, my mom continues to work tirelessly for the betterment of our family. And she is never too tired for me.

Her lamp burns late into the night.

How many times did my mom stay up late at night, waiting for me to come home safely? Or how many times did she lose sleep, just to talk with me? She still does.

She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.

My mom is the most generous woman I know. She unselfishly shares her money, her time, her heart – with family, yes – but also with strangers.

She is clothed with strength and dignity.

My mother is poised and charming, modest and honorable. She has never dealt with anyone harshly. She possesses a quiet strength that I try to copy.

She laughs without fear of the future.

My mom knows to whom she belongs – both now and forever. She has total faith and hope in the Lord who holds her securely.

When she speaks, her words are wise.

I still turn to my mom for counsel and advice. She speaks from experience. She speaks from a lifetime of following the Lord. She talks, and I listen.

She gives instructions with kindness.

My mom has never made me feel stupid, or inconvenient, or bothersome, or tiring. Her discipline was always given with love. She has always held my heart with kindness.

Her children stand and bless her.

I bless her!

She is a treasure beyond measure. She carefully watches all of her children, and her grandchildren. They are never far from her thoughts or her prayers.

There are many virtuous and capable women in the world – but you surpass them all!

Oh Mom, you're the absolute best!

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.

My mother's face shines with the graceful glow of the Holy Spirit. I love her for herself – and I love her for leading me to the feet of Jesus.

Reward her for all she has done.

Mom, these words express just a small portion of the love and gratitude I have in my heart. For words will never begin to tell you what I owe you. Thank you for being such a great mother, such a caring friend, and such a kindred spirit. Thank you for bringing Jesus to me, and for helping me along as I seek to follow Him. I'm so glad you're still a part of my life - and that I'll always be your little girl.

I can't wait to spend eternity with you!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, Mom – love you forever!

****A very Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!!****

(Thoughts based on Proverbs 31)

(Please join me with Peggy at Super Sunday, and Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays. And feel free to visit my daily blog, Sharon Sharing God, during the week!)

"When in doubt, search God out!"

LEVITICUS - You Must Be Holy

It had to happen.

Inevitably, one day "Bible Pick ‘Ems" would land me in the middle of Leviticus.

Today is that day.

I wasn’t sure what God was going to teach me in the middle of a seemingly endless list of rules.

But as I read, there it was – the reason for the list.

"The LORD also said to Moses, ‘Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.'" (Leviticus 19:2)

Leviticus is a revelation of God’s character.

God is giving clear instructions on how sinful people can relate to a holy God.

However, Leviticus represents so much more.

It isn’t just a list of things to do to make oneself "good." It isn’t an arbitrary accounting of do’s and don’ts. It isn’t the ranting of a despotic God with a persnickety nature – who sets forth the parameters of human interaction, knowing full-well that His list is impossible.

And yet, I think that IS the "hidden" reason for the laws in Levitcus. The most important part, I would venture to say. The sheer impossibility of keeping them. And the truth of a holy God who knows that fact.

The laws show us the seriousness of sin.

"Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." (Romans 3:19-20)

"God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were." (Romans 5:20)

"In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin." (Romans 7:7)

I got to thinking about this word "holiness" and what it means. The dictionary defines it this way: "Exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness."

Perfect in goodness, righteous.

Holiness is the very definition, the very essence of God. It is His nature. And because of our sinful nature, there is no way we can breach the gap.

Holy cannot mix with unholy.

Trying to grasp this impossibility, I came up with this analogy.

Picture the ocean – the vast, powerful, deeply mysterious ocean. By its very nature, it is water.

I am a human being, and by my very nature, I was made to live on land.

And because of my nature, and because of the nature of the ocean, I am unable to breathe under water. I would die.

The ocean isn’t being unfair or cruel if I died – for the ocean, by its very nature, cannot be anything but itself. So, death is a result of the fundamental difference in our natures. I do not possess within myself the ability to breathe underwater.

God’s nature is holy, and my nature is sinful.

God cannot be anything but Himself. And He is utterly holy. I do not possess within myself the ability to be in His presence. I would die. For my sin completely separates me from His perfect goodness.

The purpose of the law is to demonstrate the standard of perfect holiness that God demands, by His very nature.

It is a "benchmark of behavior" – something to measure ourselves by – a benchmark from which we will always fall short.

Is God being cruel or unfair by setting a standard we have no hope of reaching? NO! I would argue that it is just the opposite. Only a loving God would care enough to show His creatures the IMPOSSIBILITY of reaching Him on their own. He desired to remove all illusions of human goodness – all illusions of a person’s power to save themselves.

It is only in this knowledge, that a human heart can understand its great need for God’s intervention.

And only a loving God would intervene. And that is just what He did – because love is also an undeniable part of His very nature.

So, He sent His Son. Jesus – who, by His very nature, was fully human and fully God.

He made the law obsolete, and He fulfilled it at the same time. He made the law a person. He took on the sin of the world to destroy its power. He overcame the great separation that no man could fix on His own. He bridged the gap between a perfectly holy God and His beloved unholy creatures.

It’s like Jesus made us able to breathe underwater!

When I first opened my Bible for today’s "Bible Pick ‘Ems," I wasn’t sure what God was going to say to me in the middle of Leviticus!

But what He said was this:

"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin…God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-25, 26)

The law foreshadowed the Lamb – the rules paved the way for the Redeemer.

You know what, I LOVE Leviticus!!

“When in doubt, search God out!”

ROMANS - A Son is Born

Anticipation.

Anxiety.

Awe.

I’m sure that a young girl, so many years ago, felt all of these things. She was nearing the time when she would give birth to her first child. A child, a blessed boy – because God had told her she would give birth to a son.

She was very excited.

Such delightful anticipation.

And yet, she didn’t know what to expect. What would it be like? Long and painful, of that she was sure – could she do it? And where exactly would she give birth? She hoped it would be at a nice inn, with warm and light-filled surroundings. So much she couldn’t know yet.

Such disturbing anxiety.

And oh…the most amazing thing of all. This wasn’t just a child – it was The Child – the Son of God. The Messiah – the Savior that her people had waited for, longed for, hoped for. The answer to their suffering – the Deliverer was coming to earth.

Such dramatic awe.

Mary – a young girl on the verge of being the vessel through whom God would save the world.

What joy she must have felt – and yet – what pain.

For her son was destined to die.

He was the first baby ever born for the specific purpose of sacrificing His life. Could Mary have anticipated the grief she would feel at the foot of the cross – seeing her Savior, seeing her son, dying a horrible death? Did she know He was dying for her?

Another parent felt joy at the birth of this child. And yet, He felt pain too.

God the Father sent His Son to be born into a dark and fallen world. It was His plan from time immemorial. It was His decision, it was His directive. And yet, one can only imagine the depth of God’s pain.

HE KNEW the true ugliness of sin.

HE KNEW the temptations, the sorrows, the suffering, the persecutions of this earthly realm.

HE KNEW a day was coming when He would have to turn His back on His ONLY Son - a perfect Son.

HE KNEW His Son would die – darkened by the stain of sin.

HE KNEW an agony that none of us will ever know.

But still, He sent His Son – right into Enemy Territory – right to the front lines.

He sent Him…

Because…of us.

Today’s “Bible Pick ‘Ems” comes from the book of Romans.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time…God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:6, 8)

Paul writes to his fellow believers in Rome – and to us, too – teaching and reminding us of the grand truth about Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we have entered into a place of undeserved privilege. We have been declared NOT GUILTY. Through Him, we have been drawn close to the Almighty God – we have become His children, we have become His friends.

We were weak and helpless – unable to do anything on our own to save ourselves. Someone had to come and rescue us.

God counted the cost of sending His Son to be born on this earth. And He declared it worth it.

Some thirty-three years later, Jesus made the same decision – and offered His life as a sacrifice for us. How incredibly blessed we are!

At just the right time, in just the right place, for the most “right” purpose of all – a young woman named Mary gave birth to the only Savior who could save us. A Savior who understood our weaknesses. A Savior who loved sinners just like His Father did – unconditionally and completely.

A Savior who was born – to die.

For us…

“So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” (Romans 5:11)

“When in doubt, search God out!”

1 CORINTHIANS - Do Not Judge

I wonder why “reality shows” have become so popular?

I’m sure there are many reasons – but I think, at least in part, it’s because we enjoy watching other people behave badly.

We humans love to compare ourselves with others. We love to feel like we’re “better” than someone else. Sometimes, I think we take a perverse pleasure in other people’s failures.

We measure our worth by the yardstick of someone else’s behavior – and we secretly applaud when they “come up short.”

We are a judgmental bunch…

Today’s “Bible Pick ‘Ems” serves as a warning – to be careful what we think of others.

“As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove that I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time – before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.”

(1 Corinthians 4:3-5)

WHOA!

Paul is speaking to the church at Corinth. He is urging them to think of him, Peter, and Apollos as mere servants of Christ. Paul understood one of the great “reversals” of the Kingdom of God – to be the greatest, you have to be the least.

“But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” (Matthew 19:30)

“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

It is tempting to judge people, especially fellow Christians. Unfortunately, it’s rather easy to evaluate whether or not they are “good” followers of Christ. It’s what we do to make ourselves feel or look better. But that is arrogance, pride. Only God knows a person’s heart – including our own – and He is the only One with the right to judge.

Paul left the judging up to God. He compared himself only with Jesus. He realized his sinfulness, and he understood his limitations. He was grateful to be a servant of the Most High, and did not waste time comparing himself to the standards of man.

Jesus was his yardstick…

We must do what God tells us to do in the Bible and through the Holy Spirit.

He will judge our hearts, and He will reward His servants.

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you…why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?” (Luke 6:37, 41)

"When in doubt, search God out!"

HOSEA - God is Like a Tree

Years ago on a family vacation, as we were driving on the highway, we saw a sign:

“FRESH FRUIT – HOMEMADE PIES”

One quick look at each other, one fast U-turn… and we were off into parts unknown.

It was a quaint country road – mostly dirt and gravel – bumpy, twisty – the four miles took about 40 minutes to navigate!

Around one more bend, and there was an adorable little farmhouse, nestled next to a fruit tree orchard!

The people were the nicest people ever…and the pie???

The MOST DELICIOUS I have ever tasted! YUM, YUM…

Today’s “Bible Pick ‘Ems” reminded me of that little orchard:

“[The LORD says] ‘I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me.’ Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them.” (Hosea 14:8-9)

What a lovely picture!

God demonstrates His loving care – He listens to our prayers, and He answers them.

He is the source of our nourishment! He is a tree that never dies – His fruit is all we need!

I have this picture in my mind of myself sitting under a giant tree, relaxing in the shade - and then when I'm hungry, I just reach up and pick a piece of fruit to eat.

It's kinda like what I do with "Bible Pick 'Ems" -

God is the Tree, and His Word is the Fruit.

Each time I go to Scripture, there is something "good to eat." Something that nourishes my soul. Something that is pure, and good, and satisfying!

Hosea reminds us that we need to listen, learn, and benefit from God’s Word.

We need God’s wisdom – “Lord, help us to understand.”

We need discernment – “Lord, help us to listen carefully."

God’s paths are always true and right – "Lord, show us the

way to go.”

It is only by walking in God’s ways that we can live in His power and hear His voice.

Without God’s guidance we are lost –

He is the difference between life and death…

“Those who are wise will take all this to heart…” (Psalm 107:43)

“But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them.”

(Isaiah 26:7)

We must always remember that God cares for us continually – His love knows no bounds!

“When in doubt, search God out!”