The problem with Moab

The Moabites were supposed to pay a tribute of sheep and such to Israel, but at the time of Ahab's son Joram, they quit doing it. Joram sighed, and figured he's better go set them straight. He called for Jehoshaphat king of Israel to help him out, and they were going to march on Moab, but there was no water to be found! Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD through him?" Elisha was about, and was called to the kings. But he said, What do we have to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother."

The parents of both these kings were bad lots. "No," the king of Israel answered, "because it was the LORD who called us three kings together to hand us over to Moab."

Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or even notice you. But now bring me a harpist."

While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he said, "This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches. For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also hand Moab over to you. You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones."

The next morning, guess what? Water flowed into the camp! Yes, just... flowed into the camp! It filled the ditches and there was water everywhere.

But there was yet another purpose for this water. When the Moabites woke up the sun was shining on the water, making it look red. "That's blood!" they all said. "Those kings must have fought and slaughtered each other! Now to the plunder Moab!" But guess who popped up while they were in the camp?

The Israelites destroyed the towns, and each mad found a stone and threw it on a good field until they all were ruined. They stopped up all the springs and cut down every good tree.

Then I guess they took all the sheep they wanted!

La Roca

We had a Mexican church using our building for about ten years. They grew and grew and finally they said that they were moving to a bigger place that could hold all of them better. Yesterday we had a combined service to see them off. Alameda Hills played two songs in English, La Roca played two songs in Spanish. La Roca picked the songs that we knew in English like How Great Thou Art to sing in Spanish. It was neat to worship in a different tongue! The different languages mingled and our pastors both preached a little. At the end, Alameda Hills sang Lord I Lift Your Name On High in English... then played it while La Roca sang it in Spanish!

Dad said that may be a little like what heaven will be like - different languages, different people, and a whole lot of singing!

I wish we'd combined services more often.

What do I do?

What do I do?

I write... things.

I like to write some fantasy.

I like to write some sports analysis.

I like to write some modern-day stories,

with a sprinkle of fan fiction on top.

I like to write what God tells me to write,

and I have everything I need to do it.

But right now God is not giving me anything.

And I suspect it has something to do with me.

I haven't been writing lately at all.

Tired, uninspired, for stupid reasons.

Do I have any talent in the first place?

Why do I feel pressure to achieve a certain word count when there is no deadline or prize whatsoever and NOBODY said that it's a must?

Do I have the people I need behind me?

What is going to come of all this I put into it anyway?

Probably nothing.

Every author dreams of getting published.

I dream of finding a style of writing I can stay sharp and not get distracted with.

I guess it's up to God,

but I doubt stores will ever carry a novel of mine.

Just because I can't stick it.

My plot doesn't work.

Everything's already been done.

I don't have the time.

Nobody cares anyway.

So why do I have to keep loving it?

That's the part that gets on my nerves.

Why did God pick me to write things?
If he's gonna pick me, why can't he give me something to go with that will ACCOMPLISH something?

From what it looks like now, I'm gonna be one of those fantasy geeks with a zillion short stories in files on my computer forever.

Those files that no one wants.

The files that can't ever be anything.

I stink.

Where'd all the KNIGHTS go?

Yesterday I took my sword and knighted Mayf and Jess as Knights of the Oval Table, since they're in charge of cleaning it off. They thought is was VERRRY cool, and sauntered downstairs to quiet time like they were something great. Not two minutes later I heard Bird yelp and peeked down the stairs. "Mayf, what did you do?"

Mayf grinned and pointed at the flustered Bird on the floor. "I tackled her!"

"What? Mayf, knights are supposed to always protect the girls! You have to beat up the guys that tackle them!"

Mayf's eyebrows shot up. "OoOoOoOoOoOooooh... ok!"

What with this incident and a book I'm reading with the girls that has this wonderful knight in it, I started wondering... where'd all the knights go? Made me think of this kind of funny poem...

The days of Chivalry are dead,
Of which in stories I have read,
When knights were bold and acted kind of scrappy;
They used to take a lot of pains
And fight all day to please the Janes,
And if their dame was tickled they was happy.
But now the men are mild and meek:
They seem to have a yellow streak:
They never lay for other guys, to flatten 'em:
They think they've done a darned fine thing
If they just buy the girl a ring
Of imitation diamonds and platinum.

Funny, but sorta true! I miss the knights. I hope there's still one out there somewheres...

Operation Babysit

Today I am facing an adventure. I am babysitting an active, fun, typical four-year-old boy who loves to fun and play for the afternoon. The only problem is... my leg is VERRRRRRY stiff today, and I can barely walk, much less run! I'll need to find something we can do while sitting down... hmmm....

Then Lucy and I babysit about five kids for our church tonight. I don't expect any problems, but this is the first time, and ya never know what will happen when you get a bunch of toddlers together!

Plus school. Ugh. All of a sudden I stink at school. Or at least on this one test I'm working on. It makes no sense that it's so hard all of a sudden, and that has me confused as much as the test.

This is my verse for the day:

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."

~ 2 Chronicles 15:6-8

Please pray that the Spirit of God (and maybe the spirit or gusto of caffeine) would be on me today!!!

The Glory of the LORD

Not a lot in Leviticus today - instructions about offerings, priests, etc. But there was one really amazing part.

Once the priests were ready to begin their ministry, Moses told them to sacrifice offerings "for today the LORD will appear to you". WHOA!!!! They got ready - they made every offering, did everything they were supposed to do, and the people watched. Then after this was done, the glory of the LORD appeared before everybody and fire came down and consumed the offerings! And the people's reaction really got me - "they shouted for joy and fell facedown". The fall facedown you see numerous times in the Bible, but shouting for joy? Wow!

Sometimes I just yell with excitement in God too, and it's always an amazing feeling! Sometimes when I find something amazing in the Bible, I just whoop. Sometimes in the worship services when I get a little excited and joyful in Christ, I sing as loud as I can (it's good that I don't have a microphone for more than one reason:P). I thought it was just me before this, but now all Israel is doing it in Leviticus! Whoo!

Let's shout everybody!!:D

The Armor of God

I am here commentating on Ephesians 6:10-18 in red.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. Imagine if you tried to fight a duel on your own and without any armor! For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. I just wrote a story about this - there is a guy who is living a normal life, but doesn't know that the demons and God are in a great battle for him. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Readiness that comes from peace - it makes sense doesn't it? If you're peaceful about a situation in Christ, you're not going to freak out and say the wrong things. You're ready with Christ! In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The word of God is like a sword! Do you have it ready? We should work on memorizing more scripture and have it on all the time, just in case. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Praying for the saints... do you do it? I don't as much as I should. But why not? I haven't figured that part out yet. I'd certainly like to be prayed for to stay strong in my faith, so why don't I do it for other people?