Exodus 28 is a detailed description of the garments God wanted prepared for Aaron and his sons.  The priests were going to carry the responsibility of the spiritual condition of the entire nation of Israel.  God clearly describes how the priests must be clean and holy themselves so that they can perform the duties  required to make the sacrifices for atonement.  It was such a sacred duty and required such purity of the priests' own hearts that God instructed bells to be sewn around the hem of the garments so that as Aaron moved around in the Tabernacle his garments would make noise.  The flip side of that is that if his garments didn't make noise, it was an indication that God had found him to be unworthy and had stricken him dead.  That's pretty heavy responsibility! 

I'm pretty sure that I can perform certain duties in my day-to-day life without the purest heart.  And before you gasp in mock judgement, just think about it for a minute.  Every human being "can" perform tasks without their hearts being into it.  When I am in the middle of washing dishes or cooking supper and the Preacher asks me to bring him a certain screwdriver, I am not always happy about the interruption.  Oh, I probably take him the screwdriver and smile, but I'm not all butterflies and fairy dust on the inside.  And I can usually pull it off well enough that no one around me can tell what's up.  But God can.

God looks on our hearts and not at our actions.  The Bible says that God can even tell the difference between a thought and an intention.  Was that a little sigh I let out because I "had a thought" or was it because my intention was to mark how displeased I was that MY plan was disturbed?  Even if I can fool myself into justifying some sinful action, God can see the intentions of my heart for what they really are.

So.  Since God is already seeing us and our motives for what we truly are, even in day-to-day duties, shouldn't we all maybe put a little more effort into being genuine with our actions?  Otherwise God considers them empty, vain, and sinful.  I'm glad I don't get struck down by lightening when my heart isn't pure, but maybe if I had to wear bells on my clothes because of the possibility it would help me think about it differently.  My clothes would be telling on my heart!

The Preacher and I went on an overnight trip to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.  We went to Saratoga Resort and Spa in Saratoga, WY.  I had a wonderful massage....and fell asleep.  We had a super dinner....and split dessert.  We did NOT sleep in.......no, we did not.  I got up and made a strong cup of coffee in the Keurig coffee pot our lovely room and put it in the insulated cup, put on the snuggly robe provided for the day, took a deep breath and headed out barefoot on the sidewalk at 15* to a little tipi.  By the way, yes, I LOVE coffee and, yes, I go outside barefoot when it is stupid cold.

Anyway, this little tipi was sitting over top of a small roundish hole in the ground that has been lined with smooth river rocks and had three or four steps of red slate going do into it.  It was our own private little pool of hot springs water to soak in.  The tipi is a nice replica of the "real thing."  Each of the four tipis had a little sign outside it that described the Indian it was named for and a small digital thermometer to tell the temperature of the water.  While the little pools is "man made" in its finish and decoration the phenomenon of the hot springs is not.  There is a thermometer, but no thermostat.  The Preacher chose a pool that was right about 98*.

And then we began the wonderful soaking tradition of doing nothing but soaking.  And about three minutes into that sacred process often called "relaxing" we both looked at each other and smiled.  Not a romantic smile.  Not a laughing smile.  But an understanding smile of how hard it is just to sit there!  In our culture so many of us run around "like heads with our chickens cut off" (Farnum-ism by Papa Bill).  And we wish and wish for time to just sit down and do nothing.  But it is really hard to shut your brain off!

And yet the Bible says "Be still and know that I am God."  As a little girl I was told many times a day to "be still" and it meant be quiet.  I was also told to "sit still" and it meant stop wiggling.  I am sure my Heavenly Father wants me to be quiet about something or stop trying to just do things often.  But I think He also wants me to rest and make myself at peace because I know He is God and He is in control.  Hmmm, that is often pretty difficult, too.  But I must.  The Grammar Geek reminds us that this sentence is written in the form of a command not just a statement.  There is no choice.  If you think there is a choice, just try ignoring His sovereignty for awhile and He will give you no other choice BUT to be still.

So, whether you're barefoot in cold, snowy ground or not, and whether you have a private, tipi-covered hot pool for soaking or not, use your heart's imagination to pour a cup of coffee and just be still for a while.....in your Heavenly Father!

Thinking about my daddy today made me think of some of the words of wisdom he has given me.  Some I heeded and some I obviously did not.  Here are a few of my favorites . . .

"If you know how to act like a lady and when to act like a lady and you can be the toughest ol' broad you wanna' be the rest of the time!"

"You kinda have to grow up but you never have to be old."

"You better not be crabby or I'll stick a balogna sandwich in your ear!"  (and he did once)

"Never sit between you momma and me......you don't belong there."

"Always treat a woman like a thoroughbred and she'll never act like a nag."

"There's a BIG difference between a woman and a lady."

"I love you."

Happy Birthday, Daddy.......I love you!

Most people who know me very well know that I call my parents "momma" and "daddy."  It's actually kind of a Southern or Appalacian thing I adopted a long time ago.  These terms seem to hold a very endearing feel.  I have known my parents my whole life and am really very close to both of them. 

I also have a Heavenly Father.  I often begin the day with a prayer that starts out something like "Good morning, Lord God Heavenly Father..."  I actually read this little way of addressing God in a Christian novel about an Amish woman.  I adopted it for my own because I felt like it had both the personal, intimate feeling and the reverent, honoring feeling that my Father and my God deserve.

Then I hear people refer to God so casually.  I'm talking about Christians here.....people who claim to be part of the family of God.  What is happening to the fear of the Lord?  I am NOT afraid of my daddy but I certainly respect him.  I am one of three people on this earth who get to call him daddy, but I am not one of the millions who could call him Duane.  If I ever decided to call him "my old man" or "hey, Anderson" he would be one very insulted man and I would be one very sorry soul!  He gave me life and he has sacrificed A LOT to make that life everything wonderful he could. 

Christians are doing this to God though.  Oh, they may not call Him "the man upstairs" or whatever, but I see them no longer capitalizing His name or pronouns referring to Him.  I hear them talking like He is a genie in a bottle who they can just ask for any little thing and expect Him to answer exactly how they want.  It bugs me.

Yup, I've been called the Dictionary Dork and the Grammar Geek and the Spelling Queen and a few other sweet little loving names.  Yup, I'm very old school and follow the old paths in so many areas of life.  Yup, I'm a conservative and have been labled "old fashioned" and "way, way, way too strict."  But I insist that God deserves all the respect and honor that I can possibly find to give Him.  Yes, He is my Abba Father.  In Hebrew culture the term Abba was similar to our term daddy.  And God is my personal God whom I love and tell everything to.  But He is the God who created the universe and who sent His Son to die in my place.  He is holy!  He deserves all the respect I can give Him and then He deserves sooooo much more!

People will say it's a little thing, but I am determined to never give up the capitalization of God's name when I write.  I refuse to call Him by slang terms or to "dumb down" the way I talk about Him to others.  Who's with me?  Are you going to stand around and let people make our Holy God less and less respected?  "It takes one little step to begin a journey of a thousand miles."  Use the shift key when you write His name and use the names He has given us to use.  He has done so much more than we can comrehend and deserves our respect in every area of life!

This morning I read Luke 10 where Jesus tells the story of the man who was robbed on the way to Jericho.  This poor guy didn't do anything to provoke the attack so it certainly couldn't be called "his fault."  Now he's laying there in a dirty ditch all beat up, in pain, and........naked.  He's obviously been beaten pretty badly or I'm thinking he would have been humiliated to be seen like that and would have dragged himself out of the ditch and, at the VERY least, have hidden his nakedness.  It would take quite a whopping to put me into such a state that I would just lie there in the ditch of a very busy highway and let people see me naked.

Now, who should come along on this very public and busy highway but a religious leader.  Oh, I suppose other people happened by......it was a very busy highway.  I doubt very much that the thieves robbed and beat this poor guy to a bloody pulp in broad daylight on a very busy highway and right in front of a religious leader.  So, it stands to reason that people had been walking past this guy and not even checking to see if he was alive.  But the religious leader stopped!!!!  Oh, yes, he did.  He stepped off the very busy highway where he was very busy travelling and went over to the poor, beat up, naked guy in the ditch on a very busy highway.  Are you catching my emphais that this was a very busy highway?  It's important to the story, because LIFE is a very busy highway that we are all travelling down.  So this religious leader stops his life and goes over to check on the man in the ditch who didn't do anything to deserve to be in this situation.  And then he walks off.

What?! Are you kidding me!!!!!  The first person who came over to the scene of the crime walked away without even covering the poor guy up?  This leader knew the Law and what a huge humiliation it was for this man to be exposed like that.  And religious leaders were supposed to be sensitive and devoted to the care of others.  Was it too gorey a mess and he couldn't stomach the guys injuries?  Well, why not call out to others on the road to help him?  Was he embarassed by the guy's nakedness?  Now, that's just silly.  What would be embarassing about helping someone else cover up?  I just don't get it.....I really don't get it.

But then I look at my own life.  Have there been times when someone came into my very busy life and it was glaringly obvious that they needed help, but I just left them to their own defenses?  Have there been times when I encountered someone in a jam that they did not create or deserve but I let somebody else lend a hand?  I have to say yes, I have neglected people.  I have skirted around the visitor at my church who smelled bad and dressed funny.  I've said "I'll pray for you" to get someone to quit "rambling" when they needed a patient listening ear.  Each of us that claim to be followers of Christ should work hard to pay attention to those in need......whatever their need.  I need to step out of my busy life and really give a hand to others who need help, encouragment, support, or just a shoulder to lean on.  I sure don't want to be the one who ends up in a ditch and exposed with all my need just out there for the world to see and have another Christian realize what I need but walk away and leave me. 

Thank You for this picture, Lord.  You were willing to be beaten, naked, and abandoned in Your pain on Calvary for me.  You didn't hold back any part of the process even though You are a King and I am just a sinner.  "Let me see this world, dear Lord, as though I were looking through Your eyes..."  

It's not a law, but it is a pretty well-known fact.  The Preacher's wife very often sits on the front pew.  Some of these wives sit near the front because they are the Hostesses of the church and need to be ready if the Pastor needs them .  Some of them sit up front every service because trying to pick which friend or visitor to sit with just causes a hassle and hurt feelings.  Some of them need to be near the piano or organ.  Some sit on the front pew because they have terribly short attention spans and need to be close to the action with few visual distractions.  Sure, some of them are setting an example of how to behave one's self, but a few are actually "grounded" there by their husbands. So why do I sit on the front pew?  Well, for all of the above reasons!


And, my, oh, my, what a view I have from up there!  Why, I can "see out the eyes in the back of my head" all kinds of interesting things.  Such as.....


 I can "see" who is singing along with the hymns and who is standing silent.  Of course, when I adjust the focus on these folks, I can "see" who isn't familiar with the songbook or who struggles to understand how the verses are written out differently than the chorus.


I can "see" who is fidgeting because it is too warm.......or in OUR building....who is too cold; and I make sure to have the pretty afghans laying in better places next week.   I can "see" which husbands and wives are not sitting as closely as usual and wonder if they are struggling.  I can "see" who sniffles all the way through the sermon; and I can pray that God is working in their heart.


I can "see" which little tykes are wiggling way way way too much; and I can offer to have them sit with me so mommy and daddy can listen without distraction.  I can "see" the mommy who is trying to console a tired baby; and I can make sure the nursery is clean and open so they can have privacy but still hear the Preacher.


I can "see" which teenagers are goofing around or passing notes or casting glances; and then I know which ones need me to say hello and ask how they are doing. 


I can "see" who sits alone; and I know exactly who needs to be introduced around and made to feel more welcome.  I can also "see" who plops down in their usual spot and never reaches out to anyone; and I know who needs a hug or special conversation.


I could go on and on with all I see from the front pew.  But mostly I can "see" what is most important.  I can see the Preacher.  Now, I'm not trying to be coy here, but rather, I am being very serious.  There is obviously a lot going on in the pews behind me every service....that's the way it is in a crowd of people.  But there is so much more going on in the pulpit before me!  Do you ever stop and ponder, I mean really ponder that it is God Who is speaking.  I sometimes can't believe that GOD from Heaven is talking to my puny little heart when the Preacher stands up to speak.  Remember the God that simply said words and the whole universe popped into existence?  Yuppers, my friend, THAT God is speaking to you and me.  The God that sent His Son.......His one and only Son.......to take my punishment of death is speaking.


I sit on the front pew because I learned a long time ago that that's where I can catch the most blessings!  Sure, lots of people can sit two or three rows or maybe all the way at the back and catch blessings.  But I want to be right up front where there's no chance of anyone else intercepting the ones meant for me or of them wearing out before they can get back to where I am.  I want to sit in the "spit zone" because that's where there are "showers of blessings!"

.....say what!  Oh yes, I said that marriage is like a small round chocolate cookie sandwich.  "And this," you say "is how you begin a new blog?"  Yup.  Yesterday was my 25th wedding anniversary and I've been thinking a lot about marriage, and of course, waxing philosophical.  Aside from the obvious comparisons like "it's sweet" or "people love it or hate it" and such, let me explain.

The divine Oreo cookie is a delicious combination of two chocolate wafers and just the perfect dollop of cream frosting.  I prefer mine dunked in a glass of milk just long enough to soak up some milk, but not so long as to become soggy.  Not everyone eats Oreos this way.  In our marriage the Preacher has always handled all of the financial burdens and I even check with him before I spend $25 or so.  Not every marriage works this way.  In our marriage I organize the kitchen cupboards a certain way and really like them to stay the way I organized them even if the Preacher was searching around in there for something to fix for lunch all by himself.  Not every marriage works this way.

But I think the comparison that started this whole line of thinking was the comparison in my mind between "becoming one flesh" and twisting the Oreo apart to eat it.  I can feel when the Preacher gets home before I hear him.  If I'm not feeling well, the Preacher can tell it just by looking in my eyes even if there are no symptoms to be seen.  We are literally one flesh.  We are definitely two separate but similar parts, much like the two chocolate wafers of the Oreo.  What brought us, and keeps us, together  is the frosting or our love.  Once the two wafers are sandwiched together and joined by the frosting it is considered one cookie.  Now, isn't that just the most beautiful picture of marriage!

And on the flip side......if you break apart the cookie, it must go through some really painful twisting.  A little bit of the frosting stays on both of the chocolate wafers no matter how skillfully you separate them.  And the breaking apart of a marriage is the same.....no matter what causes the separation.  I've seen so many marriages come apart and often watched someone I thought was a tough cookie crumble in the process.  Cookies are much stronger when they're whole.

I am so blessed and so grateful to have my cookie intact!  Now, I love Oreos, but I love, love, l-o-v-e, LOVE the Preacher!  And we've got some really good frosting holding us together!