Month: November 2015

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Curds & Honey

Last night I stumbled upon a Holiday Scripture Writing Plan. I’ve never seen one of these before, but I liked the idea and decided to start early. ScriptureWriting.jpg

Along with writing out Day 1’s verses, I added my own Bible journaling aspect to my writing. If you’re not familiar with Bible journaling, google it – there are some beautiful pieces out there.

The verse that stood out to me was Isaiah 7:15. “He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.”CurdsAndHoney.jpg

I’ve been a part of an amazing Bible study based on the book Good or God, by John Bevere. So the concept of “good” has been in my mind a lot lately. In the process of the study, God has opened my eyes to a few situations I deemed “good” but were actually deceptive. I was pretty shocked at the revelations.

So when I read verse 15, the word “good” stood out to me, but of course “curds and honey” also stood out . . . The verse is talking about Jesus, and I honestly don’t ever remember reading it before.

What do curds and honey have to do with anything? And what do they have to do with refusing evil and choosing good? My thoughts stayed on this scripture and I woke up this morning thinking about it again.

What do curds and honey have in common?

Curds are the curdled part of soured milk. Gross. But it’s also what makes stuff like cottage cheese and cheese curds. A lot of people like curds, but it takes some bad, some discards, some souring, some “evil” to make the curds.

And honey? Bees are involved, and they sting. There’s also wax and a hive and danger and a process to obtain the honey and make it “good” to eat. There’s “evil” (or negative) involved.

Evil might seem like too strong a word to use when talking about curds and honey, but you get the point. There’s a negative aspect to producing something good and beneficial.

If we aren’t willing to go through the process, to withstand the evil days, then we will not stick around to enjoy the good. As well, if we focus on the negative or the process, we might not choose to see the good. Even once the process is complete, there is still “refuse” (a part to throw away) and a part to enjoy.

Today, look past the sour, the sting, the danger and the smell. Refuse the evil and choose the good. Eat curds and honey. Enjoy the day.

 

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Keep the Oil in your lamp!

Matthew 25:1-13 is the story of ten people who waited on the groom to arrive before they went to celebrate the wedding. Five were wise and stayed ready, with their lamps full of oil. Five were foolish and were not prepared when the groom arrived. Most people are familiar with the story being called “the parable of the ten virgins.”

 A few details stand out.

  • In the Bible, oil represents the Spirit of God.
  • The people in the story were referred to as virgins, meaning they were pure.
  • The people were responsible for keeping their lamps full and ready.
  • Ten people were waiting and watching for the groom’s arrival, but only five were ready.
  • The groom’s arrival represents Jesus’ return.

I was thinking about this story today and conviction struck the core of me. If the people in the story represent the church, or believers, only half of us are ready for Jesus’ return. If the oil represents the Spirit of God, and the lamps represent our souls, then we must be filled with the Spirit of God, or we will not be ready for Jesus’ return. Those who were ready went with the groom, but those who were not ready were locked out.

Are you filled with the Spirit of God? Does God know you intimately? If not, be wise, go now and get the oil in your lamp. Keep it full. Get ready. Jesus is coming soon. Be ready to go with Him. Know Him and be filled with His Spirit.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

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Being a Christian and THINKING about the Refugee Crisis

The Refugee Crisis . . . I’ve heard so many people say it is unChristian to not want to bring them in. This post isn’t arguing one way or another, but like many of my thoughts, I simply want to challenge you to think about it from another angle. One that is both compassionate and practical. (Side Note: I realize not all the refugees are terrorists. I am NOT saying they are.)

The whole situation reminds me of a couple my parents know. They are very good hearted people who had a desire to reach out to homeless people. They would go down to the parks and minister, and occasionally they met one or two, or five, that needed a place to stay, so they opened up their personal home to them.

It wasn’t long before their home was full of homeless people that they were personally supporting. They didn’t have enough money to do it, so they ended up having to move away. They couldn’t even afford to take care of themselves anymore. It’s a sad story. The homeless people didn’t change or get better. They went right back to the streets because that is where they want to be.

As much as we love people and want to help them, we can not force them to change or assimilate. The refugees need help, for sure, but they have no desire to be American. They will not assimilate. We must be careful that we don’t open our personal assets, or one day we will find ourselves without a home and with no resources to even care for ourselves.

Think about the Revolutionary War – British soldiers were taking over people’s personal homes. People were required to allow others to live with them – to provide for them – to feed them.

Would you open your home to a refugee family? What if the government’s way of providing turned into telling us that since we have an extra room we had to offer it . . . It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened. It still happens in communist countries.

Take a look at the way China has been – they micromanage how many children people have. They force abortions. Talk about getting personal.

Do you want to live in a boundary-less country? Do you want to live in a boundary-less life? What if you had to live with the people you work with? That would be much easier than living with terrorists. I’m not saying all the refugees are terrorists.

All I’m saying is THINK. Stop with the idealism and be practical. You go first. Open your home to the homeless. They are less violent than potential terrorists, and they speak English and are already a part of American society, though in a sub-culture.

Proverbs 25:28 KJV
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Proverbs 22:24 KJV
Make no friendship with an angry man;  and with a furious man thou shalt not go: