October 2006

When King David was running for his life from his own son, Absalom, there was a man from the town of Bahurim, of the house of King Saul, who walked along on the hillside opposite King David casting stones at him and shouting insults. This man must have held bitterness in his heart for quite a while, or perhaps something King David had done surprised and irritated him and he was just lashing back. It is possible that he was a disguntled relative of King Saul that lost some measure of power when David took over the kingdom.

Since he couldn’t retaliate against David when he was in power, Shimei waited until David was down and out, overwhelmed with sorrow and running for safety, to strike out at the king. The Bible says that he, “threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David…” and “he cursed…”

Sometimes it’s really hard to overlook an insult. I’ve been struggling with that very thought these past few days, wondering, praying about how to respond when someone hurts you. I’m not often accused or insulted – so what do you do when it comes at you so personally?

In my searching, I’ve done a lot of praying and seeking God’s Word and I came across these verses from Proverbs 12 (NIV):

Verse 16 says: “A fool shows his annoyance at once,
but a prudent man overlooks an insult.”

And verse 18 says: “Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

There are other examples of when Jesus was insulted and kept His mouth shut. Then there are times when David prayed for God to bless him where others had cursed. In fact, where Shimei was concerned, he did that very thing.

You see, David’s nephew, Abishai, who was also one of his captains, got pretty riled at Shimei’s cursing and stone throwing. He said, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”

Good old, Abishai. Always ready to react and retaliate. :) But David said, “…let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’…It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.”

David wasn’t always so gracious. There was a time in his younger days when he was ready to slaughter Nabal and his men for insulting him. He’d learned a little patience in the ensuing years.

While my first reaction to insults is not to slaughter with swords, it is easy once the hurt sinks in to want to cast stones with words. But that is not the way of wisdom, is it?

The dictionary has several definitions for prudent. One of them is this:

“showing wise self-restraint in speech and behavior especially in preserving prudent silence”

Perhaps that’s what Proverbs 12:16 means when it says, “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.” In other words, a prudent man shows self-restraint in how he reacts and keeps his mouth shut.

It may be that God wants to teach me something through the insults hurled our way. I only pray that I may learn it quickly and graciously.

If you love Bible trivia like I do – I’ve posted some questions about some Bible characters on Favorite Pastimes blog today. Click on over and see if you can answer them. Leave a comment and it will enter you in a drawing to win a copy of Angela Hunt’s Magdalene.

Now for my real post. :)

Randy and I have joined a Community Bible Study group that meets once a week. I only learned of the group since attending a new church, and last night was fellowship night, so we got to meet a number of new couples. It appears to be a good group.

One of the pastors of this church gives a thirty-minute message following small group time, and last night he spoke on Proverbs 31. Instead of covering the virtues of the noble wife, he focused on the first nine verses – the advice King Lemuel got from his mother.

According to this pastor, most commentators believe that King Lemuel was actually King Solomon, that Lemuel was a family name for Solomon. Assuming that this is true, then the advice was coming from Bathsheba, the infamous woman with whom King David committed adultery.

Bathsheba gives Solomon some great advice telling him not to spend his strength on women that can ruin kings or drink much wine or beer. She didn’t want alcohol to cloud his judgment as ruler of his people. He was the king and kings are held to a higher standard.

The pastor went on to say that we are children of the KING, (if we are believers), therefore, we are also held to a higher standard. Anything that we place as more important than God – be it alcoholism, workaholism, materialism, etc. – gets in the way of our ability to live up to that standard.

Unlike some teaching out there today, being a child of the KING does not entitle us to live the high life or always expect to be happy, healthy, and wealthy. The world seeks those things. But a child of the KING is held to a greater model, a more noble criterion. Our standard is the Word of God, and we must measure all that we do against its truth. Good advice from a woman (Bathsheba) who knew too well the pain of ignoring those truths.

Along those same lines, I’m learning that I need to be more discerning in what I take from what other people tell me. There are many good teachers out there and there are even more false ones. How do you tell the difference, especially when they sound so right? I spent some time today reading the “What We Believe” statements of some prominent ministries and they all sound fairly good on the surface. But in at least one instance, I knew that the teaching didn’t give the whole picture despite a fairly accurate “What We Believe”.

Then I looked at it again, in comparison to a couple of others and realized it wasn’t what they said that was wrong, but what they didn’t say. As children of the KING, we have to look deeper and not just take things at face value. False teachers aren’t going to come right out and be blatant liars. They will mix truth with error. The trouble is that a little bit of error can lead a person straight to hell.

On the other hand, I’m learning that no matter how good a teacher is, the Bible still must be my only authority. Even if the most respected teacher I know says something is right or wrong, it has to square up against God’s Word. Methods of ministry may change with the times, but the truth never changes. God’s truth is pure gold and children of the KING need to cling to its standard above all else.

Since the conference in September, I’ve been avidly reading the books I brought home. (One cannot go to a conference and return without at least a few books.) I wish I could have afforded more – there were SO many good-looking books to choose from, but my budget won out in the end. Here are a few I’ve finshed so far:

Fire Dancer by Colleen Coble. WestBow. This romantic suspense is one of Colleen’s best. Compelling characters and enough suspense and mystery to keep me turning pages – not to mention she kept the villain from me until near the end. Good job, Colleen!

The Trouble With Tulip by Mindy Starns Clark. Harvest House. I met Mindy in Dallas and listened to her late night chat on mystery writing. She gave some great tips on writing, so I picked up one of her books. This romantic mystery is more of a cozy mystery with suspense sprinkled throughout. She kept me guessing and her characters are thoroughly engaging. My mom really liked this book as well and is looking forward to reading the sequel.

The Guy I’m Not Dating by Trish Perry. Harvest House. This book is Trish’s debut novel, and it is a good one! As a homeschooling mom, I was very familiar with the non-fiction book the characters were reading, I Kissed Dating Good-bye and found Trish’s way of putting those principles into a story compelling and believable. Her characters are three-dimensional and they stay with you when you close the book. I absolutely loved the ending – but no peeking until you’ve read the whole thing! You’ll ruin the ending if you read it first. A very well done debut novel. I’m looking forward to more of Trish’s books.

Harvest House appears to be expanding their fiction line with both Mindy and Trish among many other authors. B.J. Hoff’s recent series is with them – and if you haven’t read A Distant Music and The Wind Harp don’t wait!

The artwork on all of these books is awesome – a perfect fit for each genre – and the stories are compelling and page-turning reads.

Of course, I can’t be without a book in my hand, so I’m currently reading:

Reluctant Burglar by Jill Eilzabeth Nelson. Multnomah. Jill used to be one of my critique partners several years ago, so I knew her book would be good. So far, I’m right. Jill drew me in immediately, snagging my attention. This is also Jill’s debut novel. I expect much more from her in the future!

Other stuff…we saw the movie “The Prestige” last night. I must say it was a compelling story. Lots of twists and turns, and even though I called some of it before it happened (and Ryan called more than I did), we were still figuring parts of it out after it ended. A descent movie – worth the ticket price, in my opinion.

They showed the trailer for “The Nativity” coming in December. I hope it’s good. I’m really looking forward to it. “Haddasseh, One Night with the King” is also out. I haven’t seen it yet. The reviews aren’t good, but I’ve read the book and still want to see it.

Randy bought me several bags of apples and some pumpkins (do you think he’s hinting for apple and pumpkin pie?) In any case, I am planning to make apple pie squares today. Should be fun.

Now if I can just not eat too many…you know it wasn’t the apple that got Eve in trouble – it was being told not to eat it. Diet (dare I eat this?) has been our downfall since the beginning… :)

There is an old song that has been playing in my head. I finally found it in one of my piano books and played it this afternoon. “I Am Not Worthy” is the title by Beatrice Bush Bixler. Perhaps some of you remember the words. “I am not worthy, the least of His favor, yet Jesus left heaven for me…”

It’s a concept that has been all but lost today. This feeling of unworthiness in the light of God’s holiness. Too often we think we deserve something from God. People in Christian circles go around telling other Christians that since we are His children, we deserve the best life has to offer. After all, we’re children of the King, right?

Years ago, I had a neighbor that I thought was a Christian. She had “accepted Christ” at another neighbor’s church – a neighbor from a denomination that at first glance I assumed was a Christian denomination. I later learned that this denomination denies the Trinity and believes that salvation is not God’s priceless gift – rather they believe in a works based doctrine that is “part God, part man.” They do not hold to the basic tenets of Christianity, which made me realize that this woman they had “led to Christ” did not know Him at all.

Her name was Cathy, and her son had spent nearly every day at our house for years. She knew I was a Christian as I had called to “congratulate” her upon what I had thought was her salvation experience. She welcomed me into her home and we talked. I asked her, “If you were to die tonight and stand before God and He were to say to you, ‘Why should I let you into My heaven?’ what would you say?”

Without hesitation, Cathy said, “He’d better let me in because I deserve it.”

Stunned at her answer, I struggled to understand how she could think such a thing. How does a human being, by nature a sinner, become so arrogant to think that we deserve anything from God? But as I remembered some of her earlier comments about having fasted for days and prayed for God to lift her depression (I suspect she had some sort of post partum blues), it occurred to me that she thought these “works” had earned her a place with God.

So I asked her, “Do you feel this way because you’re all fasted and prayed up?”

“Yes,” she said.

I tried to explain that God’s grace doesn’t work that way – we cannot earn His love, it is a free gift – that salvation is not earned, lest any man should boast.

I left Cathy some materials to read, but I doubt she ever read them.

Shortly afterward Cathy and her husband separated and she moved. A few years later, I learned that Cathy had died in a house fire. Her youngest son tried to save her, but she had passed out – rumor has it she’d been drinking and her boyfriend set fire to the house.

How she died doesn’t matter. What matters is what she believed before that fateful night. She once thought she deserved heaven. Like a lot of people who think they are worthy of the best, that God owes them something. If she died believing that, she was sorely mistaken.

Luke 18:9-14 says:
Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

That song I first mentioned goes on to say, “I am not worthy, this dull tongue repeats it. I am not worthy, this heart gladly beats it. Jesus left heaven to die in my place. What mercy, what love, and what grace.”

Amen.

Leaving a church is never easy – especially when you love the people whose fellowship you are leaving. But following God is not for the timid of heart either, and when He directs our path to go, we’ll only be truly happy if we follow.

I’ve always believed, whatever church we’re in, that Christian fellowship extends beyond church walls. In other words, just because we’ve left one church doesn’t mean we can’t maintain friendships we have made there.

Today, in keeping with that feeling of Christian fellowship, I received a phone call from a friend at the church we just left. She and two other women from the church wanted to visit me. That’s never happened to me before, in all of the churches we’ve fellowshipped in over the years. It was a pleasant surprise.

They wanted to hear about the conference and my Genesis award, which of course, was a fun tale to tell. :) In listening to them talk, I learned more about them and appreciated their warm hugs and caring hearts. I will miss seeing them each week.

But they fully understood that sometimes God calls us to new places, new ministries, even new teaching. Perhaps this new church has lessons for us to learn that we couldn’t learn in the old setting. God is always about the business of growing His children – and I sense that He could do so better for us in a different setting. And perhaps, hard as it was to leave, that church will grow better without our help. Only God knows.

We parted with promises to keep in touch, and I fully hope that we do. These women don’t know it, but their visit today blessed me in a big way. It confirmed in my heart that we are on the right path, yet let me know that the believers we left behind still love us as we love them.

One day there will be no more partings. But for now, on this earth, God tends to move our family from time to time in and out of the lives of old friends and new. It is just awesome to me to see His hand at work – and to meet so many people with whom I will get to spend eternity. That thought is like a warm hug from heaven. :)

Friday is usually my cleaning day – or at least our attempt at it. Most of the time the guys can’t help out until Saturday, but my aim is to do the work on Friday – just in time for weekend, drop-in company.

This weekend is Randy’s birthday, and of course, the house is a disaster! Part of the reason it’s so cluttered is because I’ve been trying to de-clutter certain sections of the house, and we all know that when we get ready to toss stuff, we inevitably end up with a pile of things that are too good to throw out so they end up in the donate pile. But donate piles just add to the clutter until we actually drive to the Salvation Army or other charitable place and drop them off. Sigh. Five people make a lot of clutter. My sister says we need to move. :)

Well, that would do it, because moving forces you to get rid of stuff. We’ve lived in this house a long time. But since we really have no reason to move – other than an excuse to throw things out, it’s time to put on my ruthless, de-cluttering hat, and get to work.

The trouble is, we have three adult sons with their own clutter. Then there is that “stuff” that they might want to take with them when they move out and start there own place to store more stuff. :) Then there are the collectors in the family. One collects computer parts, another collects car parts (all for good reason, of course!), another collects musical instruments (all put to good use – with the possible exception of two drum sets), another collects books (who shall remain nameless!)

And don’t even get me started on the paper clutter! If ever a law was needed regarding the mail service, it would be to outlaw all of the unsolicited credit card applications. Even after “opting out,” all five of us still receive weekly-monthly mailings for credit cards. Capital One is the worst offender. You’d think their TV ads would be enough!

But enough ranting. I’m stalling, in case you can’t tell, because there is this part of me that loves a clean house, just doesn’t enjoy the work it takes to get it there. Sigh. One step at a time. The clutter didn’t get there overnight. It’s going to take time to sort through it all. My goal? That when I die my children will not have years of junk to get rid of because I was too lazy or busy or sentimental to do so. We can’t take it with us – and I sure don’t want to dump it on those who will inherit it all!

Now where is my dust rag? (Anybody know of a good non-toxic tile cleaner that actually works?)