The Storm is Passing Over

As I sit to write this blog, I can hear the heavy wind outside and the rain pounding the roof.  Every news station is focused on one event and that is “Hurricane Sandy” People were warned to evacuate low lying areas, and all schools and many business were closed.  A number of the States that are in the path of Hurricane Sandy have declared a state of emergency and numerous shelters are opened for those needing a place to go. Is all this fuss necessary?  Well I do believe that we need to take the necessary precautions to be safe.  God is merciful and gracious, but not taking heed when warned of impending danger is being foolish.  Expecting God to reward your folly is not very smart.  So you do your part and then allow God to do the rest.

Consistently watching the news can become overwhelming, so take some time out to pray.  Here are some suggestions. Let us pray for minimal or no loss of lives as this storm passes over and let us remember those who are more vulnerable than we are.  Do you have an elderly neighbor or a neighbor living alone?  Having some physical company makes the storm a bit more tolerable, so pray about inviting them over.  Let us pray that those people who have to evacuate their homes will find the structure still standing when they return.  For those who will be in shelters, let us pray that they will be comfortable and will have their basic needs met. Let us pray that there will be no quarrels among those people in the shelters, of course our nerves can become frayed when forced to move from an area of comfort to gather, sleep and eat with people you do not know.  Let us pray that those who are medically challenged will be able to get their needed medications and if not that God will sustain them until they can get to the pharmacy.  Let us pray for that the anticipated electrical outages will not be as bad and that basements prone to flooding will be spared. Let us pray for the emergency workers who will be called out in the storm to rescue others or to remove fallen trees or to restore electricity, pray that they will be free from accidents and return safely to their homes.  As you end your prayer thank God for his protection around your home, and over your families and then go to bed, rest in peace knowing that The God you just prayed to is able to attend to all that you have asked.  Remember that He never slumbers or sleep.  Have a good night.

In His Service,

Vilma

Are you a Carrot, Egg or Coffee Bean

For today’s post, let me share an article that was sent to me. I found it very powerful and encouraging.  I hope you will have a similar experience.

 Coffee Beans, Carrots, & Eggs
A certain daughter complained to her father about her life and how things have been so hard for her.  She did not know how she was going to make it and she wanted to give up.  She was tired of fighting and struggling.  It seemed that just as one problem was solved another arose.  Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen, filled three pots with water and placed the fire on high.  Soon the three pots came to a boil.  In one he placed carrots, in the other he placed eggs, and in the last he placed ground coffee beans.  He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.  The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently wondered what he was trying to do.  She had problems, and he was making this strange concoction.  In half an hour he walked over to the oven and turned down the fire.  He pulled the carrots out and placed them in the bowl.  He pulled the eggs out and placed them in the bowl.  Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.  Turning to her he asked.  "Darling what do you see?"

Smartly, she replied "Carrots, eggs, and coffee."

He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.  She did and noted that they were soft.  He then asked her to take an egg and break it.  After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.  Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee.

Her face frowned from the strength of the coffee.  Humbly, she asked.  "What does it mean Father?"  He explained.  "Each of them faced the same adversity, 212 degrees of boiling water.  However each reacted differently."  "The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting.  But after going through boiling water, it softened and became weak."  "The egg was fragile.  A thin outer shell protected a liquid center.  But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened."

"The coffee beans are unique however.  After they were in the boiling water, it became stronger and richer."   "Which are you," he asked his daughter.  When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?  Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?  Are you the carrot that seems hard, but with the smallest amount of pain, adversity, heat you wilt and become soft with no strength?  Are you the egg, which starts off with a malleable heart?  A fluid spirit?  But after a death, a breakup, a divorce, a layoff you became hardened and stiff.  Your shell looks the same, but you are so bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and heart, internally. 

Or are you like the coffee bean?  The bean does not get its peak flavor and robust until it reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit.  When the water gets the hottest, it just tastes better. When things are there worst, you get better.  When people talk the most, your praises  increase.  When the hour is the darkest, trials are their greatest, your worship elevates to another level.  How do you handle adversity?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

II Corinthians 4:8-9

In His Service,

 

Vilma

I Won't Stay in Lo Debar..... Part III

This week we will conclude our discussion on the story of Mephibosheth and King David which as previously pointed out mirrors Jesus Christ and mankind.  Let us look at what happens when Mephibosheth arrived at the Palace.
II Sam. 9:6 - Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence.  And David said, Mephibosheth.  And he answered, Behold thy servant!
Mephibosheth immediately assumed the position of reverence and servant hood. Remember Mephibosheth was lame in both feet and crippled, but he was willing to serve in what capacity he could.  Being a servant in the King’s palace would be much better than being served in Lo Debar a place of nothingness.

 Verse 7 continues:  And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.
This is one more detail of the picture that highlights God’s love for fallen man. After Adam sinned, our relationship with God was changed.  Man lost everything, and had to work hard for a living, instead of life and happiness it was sorrow and death.  Like David sought after Mephibosheth, Jesus Christ came to earth seeking us out.  He gave His life on the cross so we could regain life.  Through his death we became righteous and our “nothingness state” became one of abundance.

Let us look closely at Ephesians 1:3-6. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”

In conclusion, some of us have been dropped by our parents or guardians as they made hasty decision to get us away from their horrible past.  Some of us have dropped our own children by creating environments that do not foster their growth.  Perhaps it is how we speak to and about them; maybe it is the life we model before them “do as I say but not as I do”.  Is it a feeling of inadequacy?  Regardless of how messed up or disappointing your past or present may be, do not hide away in Lo Debar, things will only become worse.  Instead respond to the King (Jesus) and return to the palace, be fed and nourished and waited on, and watch as He returns to you everything you lost.  

In His Presence,

Vilma

I Won't Stay In Lo Debar Part II

For today I will continue with the story of Mephibosheth and King David.  Mephibosheth was accidentally dropped by his nurse and became crippled as she tried to flee after she heard the news of the death of Mephibosheth’s father and grandfather.  That day was a life changing experience for Mephibosheth , losing his father and grandfather, having to leave the luxury of a life in the palace, becoming a cripple and then taken to a place called Lo Debar.  Have you ever been there, where things seem to just come at you and come at you fast?  Before one thing is over, something else happens and before you know it your life is cascading out of control. 
Where is Lo Debar? 
The name Lo Debar means nothing- no pasture.  If there is no pasture, I am going to assume, there was perhaps no rain, little or no food, hunger and starvation and survival of the fittest mentality.  Remember however that Mephiboshet did not choose to go to Lo Debar he was taken there.  At 5 years old we are not usually asked our opinion about things, adults call the shots and children are expected to toe the line. But of all the places why Lo Debar?

When I think of a 5 year old child, I think of innocence, I think of trusting, I think of dependence, and vulnerability.  Even as an adult, due to a lack of knowledge and understanding of some things we leave ourselves open and vulnerable.  We put our trust in individuals who should know better than we do and in the end they fail us.  In the end we are taken to a place where there is nothing to satisfy our soul.  

The next time we hear of Mephibosheth is in II Samuel 9.  David wanted to show kindness to any living heir of Saul and was told about Mephiboshet and he immediately asked for him to be brought to the palace.  II Samuel 9:1- And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?

Did you know that the true heart of the King- Wants to do kindness to us just as David wanted to do for Mephibosheth as he asked Is there anyone left in the house of Saul?

David’s unconditional love for Mephibosheth is a great illustration of the unconditional love that God has for us. As you may have noticed David was the one that took the initiative to find Mephiboshet.  God also is the one that took the initiative to find us by sending His son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us even when we had no thought about Him.  That is so amazing, but what else does the rest of this story tells us?

Stay tuned for Part III next week

In His Service,

Vilma

I Won't Stay In Lo Debar

The story of Mephibosheth is a very interesting one.  The name Mephibosheth itself means “Exterminator of shame”. What makes this story so interesting is that it shows in a picture what man is in his natural ruined state.  It also shows how the grace of God can meet a person where he is, as well as what Grace does to the heart that has tasted it.
 Mephibosheth was first introduced to us in II Samuel 4:4 as a five year old child.

II Sam. 4: 4-Tidings come from Jezreel of the death of Saul and Jonathan His grandfather and father were ignominiously slain on the mountains of Gilboa by the Philistines, and when the tidings came, "his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame"

Why did this nurse flee?  She knew that Saul hated and hunted David  for a very long time. Both Saul and his son Jonathan were killed and David was to be the next heir to the throne – not Mephibosheth Jonathan's son. She assumed that David would no doubt seek revenge on any relative of Saul and so Mephibosheth being the only relative left, David would come after Him

Was she totally wrong?  No she was not and here is why.  It was not uncommon in the Old Testament times for a new king to kill any surviving relative of his predecessor who might claim to be an heir to the throne.

I do believe that this nurse was leaning to her own understanding of what things would be, failing to consult God's direction.  In her haste she made a blunder and accidentally dropped this young child.  

On the other hand as we analyze this story- David can be likened to a type of Christ: while Saul and His descendants can be seen like a type of fallen Adam.

Like Mephibosheth’s nurse we try to run away from God-because we assume that because we messed, we will be punished.  We fail to see a God of Love and forgiveness, and instead of running to God and seeking his forgiveness we run away.  In our haste to get away from God we get dropped and crippled and then we hide ourselves in places where we think no one will ever find us.  What is in your past that you are running away from?  Is it your family name?  Is it the legacy of depression, anxiety, alcoholism, divorce?  You can only get so far before we get overcome- Lets take it to God.

Stay tuned for Part II next week

In His Service,

Vilma