The Priestly Garment/Part One

This is a three part series that I posted before. I needed to hear it again and thought it might bless you as well. I will be posting the next two parts in a few days.  You might want to reference the chapters in Exodus 24-29. If you follow through to part three I believe you will be blessed. Oh, for the love of His great mercy! How great is our God! Blessings, Cheri


Talking with Aaron:

I can hardly believe it, Aaron! God is so merciful, I wouldn't have chosen you to be priest. Oh, perhaps in the beginning but you blew it! You really did! You destroyed my trust when you got impatient waiting for Moses to come down from the mountain! The people  that were in your  charge were impatient and you fell into the trap of trying to please them. It can be difficult to stand alone when there is a multitude persuading you, can't it? I can hear you saying:

"I know, I have an idea! A revelation! Let's make something!" 

Soon you had gathered gold objects in every form, placed them over a heated fire, and crafted a cow..........to worship. 

Aaron, what were you thinking? Did you not see God in Exodus 24:9-18? Do you not recall the moment of parting? Even before that wasn't there something special to recall?

"Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity."

Aaron, YOU SAW GOD! The real God. The LIVING GOD! How could you blow it so bad just forty days later? How could you forget the wondrous experience of seeing God?  

Verse 11: "But on the noble of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank." 

Okay, Aaron, the Lord not only let you see Him but He also fed you in His presence!!! He let you eat and drink from His table? Oh, will you please tell me what He served? I imagine it to be unforgettable! Heavenly! Beyond any picture I have seen in the best of cookbooks! Beyond the taste of the best of foods available to man! You ate from heaven's  table..........WITH THE LIVING GOD!

Is it because the Lord did not choose you to come into His presence? You were not invited into the glory cloud with the Lord like Moses was, tell me, did that bother you?

Verse 12: "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.' "

I am thinking it might have been different if you had been called into that presence for forty days and nights, Aaron. I don't think Moses would have blown it. Not that he never blew it, but he knew his God and he was faithful to Him. Surely, he would not have formed a calf for the purpose of worship.

Perhaps you all thought Moses was gone forever, taken into heaven, like Enoch. Where did he go? The Word says that your thoughts were that your leader had gone on. Who knew where! And he might never come back. Time for a new leader.

Okay, I get that part! BUT time for a new God? When you just ate with Him at His table! And it wasn't potluck! He provided everything you ate and drank! And it must have been very nourishing because Moses did not eat again for forty days and nights! 

The people were restless, weren't they? You needed a solution, didn't you? Think of something fast! "Well, God took our leader, so I will be the leader! Take off your gold and I will make you a new god." 

Whoa! And they didn't argue with you! And after you molded and fashioned that calf, they worshiped it, with singing and dancing. Where were the seventy who shared that meal with you? Did even one of them try to persuade you to stop? Think about it? Be patient? Challenge you to consider what you are doing?

Oh, I hope if I had been there I would have. I hope so! But I don't know! I really don't! I don't do well in the wilderness! It challenges me and I sometimes succumb to weakness and temptations that are not normally a problem for me. Perhaps, if I had been you, I would have been persuaded! Oh, but I know the rest of the story and I sure hope not!

I wonder if I would have tossed you my gold and begged you for a god, willingly handing over my earthly treasure entrusting you with it. 

The thought rattles me. My flesh can be so weak! That is the scary part. It can forget the wonder of eating at the table of God so quickly! All too soon I can find myself at the feast of my enemy, a god who poses as real! How can I loose sight of truth so quickly? 

Aaron, there is hope for you! Moses will intercede for you! Plead your case! Beg for mercy! Many will pay the consequences, but you will live! And the Lord will bless! 

You will die in the wilderness, eventually, but not before God trains you and raises you up as an example and calls you to pass on the priesthood. 

Tomorrow, I will expose the wonder of your God, Aaron. I am in awe of Him, for many reasons, and I marvel at His way with you.  

You fouled up so much and yet He used you! He did not thrust you aside and banish the idea of you being His chosen leader! I would have. I am sorry! I would have trouble trusting you with my people. I would find someone else.

But I am thankful that the Lord worked His way with you and not mine because that means there is hope for me. When I fail Him He is willing to forgive me. He listens to my intercessor, who is His Son, my advocate, who pleads my case and He chooses to trust me again. Praise the Lord! He lets me work for Him though He knows I am human frailty and I can mess up. I can form a false god with my words or opinions and cause the Lord's children to stumble. And yet, He knows that my mistakes can draw me closer to Him. It makes me realize my incredible need for Him. My mistakes make me grateful for my intercessor, Jesus! Grateful for the Holy Spirit! And so, so grateful for my Father God who loves the voice of my advocate! Praise Him!

Estate Sale

Ashli came home from New York City for the weekend. She gave us reason to pause from our busyness and hang out together. We went to an estate sale. We never do this. It was her first time to get a number at an auction. It was my third.

I am not very good at bidding. Ashli laughed at my attempts and gave me a big hug in front of everyone. She warmed my heart with her patience.

A collector of many years left behind a lot of stuff. It was fun to rummage through and find unique treasures. Together.We had a wonderful day.

Can you guess which one of these articles I brought home?

Ashli is like a fresh wind. She stretches us into new places when she comes home, leading us to places of adventure, forcing us out of our rut, challenging what is familiar. After spending a day among another's left behind treasures, I realized that I could have left it all behind and still brought home  treasure. Memories were born in the moments we shared and you can't put a price on that.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroys and where thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:20-21

Confession

                                                              

I am old enough to know better.
I should have realized it a ton of years ago, but I had a revelation this weekend that was very helpful.
The thing is, I think everyone else already knows this about me and I am just figuring it out. I feel like I have been standing on a platform in front of a whole Bunch of people with my pants unzipped and everyone can see things that they shouldn't! It is an awful feeling.

I am an expresser.

That is who I am and it makes me cry to think about it.
I think I am probably a leader/expresser which is even more potent.

There are good things about expressers ... it isn't all bad ... but it is much more vulnerable to be one.

I probably make more mistakes with my tongue than most people.

I know that I do. And I don't like that part about being an expresser.

My heart is an open book. I tell about it. What I feel, what I like, what I see ... what is on my heart finds its way to my tongue.

When I don't feel that I  have freedom to share I feel all locked up inside. It is a prison of sorts and I feel miserable.

Sometimes I don't know who to trust. If I show others those precious things that are in my heart they have the ability to stomp all over them. And they do ... sometimes ... so I close up and I get all miserable again. It is a painful cycle.

The analytical can pounce on everything said. I have learned that my heart needs a shield from them. I must be wise with the buffer I choose.

Being an expresser doesn't mean that I can't keep a secret. I can and do. I want to be trusted because I want to be able to trust. My own life is the open book.

This is helping me to understand myself a lot better and I am understanding others as well.

Have you ever taken an LEAD test? (Leader/Expresser/Analytical/Dependable) Do you know what you are? How do you feel about it?

The thing is, the Lord made me to be an expresser. What a responsibility! Did He know what He was getting into? The tongue is hard to tame ... for anyone! Oh, but how difficult for an expresser! He and I are going to talk about it this morning. I will let you know what He says!

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,  I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal." 1 Corinthians 13:1


" ... be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath ..."


"For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body."


"Look upon me and be merciful to me, as your custom is toward those who love Your name." Psalm 119:132

Treasure

I found a diamond on the sidewalk the other day. It was lying among broken glass but it out-glimmered the many shattered pieces, catching my eye. I am not positive it is a diamond, but it is cut very nicely and is very pretty. It is not a piece of broken glass. It is a gem.
I need to take it to a jeweler so that he might declare it a genuine stone. However, I do not want to be disappointed so I hesitate. It has been a delight to think that I found a diamond on the sidewalk.
I found it in another town that houses multitudes of people. It would be impossible to find the owner, therefore my conscience is clear. I am very sorry for the one who lost it. She must be very sad about losing something precious. I have lost precious stones before and it is very disappointing.
But finding one ... now that is a different story.
When I found this tiny little gem glittering in the sunshine I smiled all over inside. Not because it was going to make me rich. Nor will it make me happy. It was just fun to find something of value on the ground, just there, seemingly waiting to bless me.
I have reveled in the thought of it being real.
I have loved the reaction of my family when I nonchalantly tell them of my find. Their response is worth a million joys. I wish I had each reaction on video. Oh, what fun! Gonna keep enjoying this for awhile.

"I have not departed from  the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." Job 23:12

The Handmaid of the Lord

I met her the other day, the one I want to be like.

She is beautiful! No, absolutely gorgeous!

Her eyes are so beautiful that you would never notice if she forgot to wear make-up.

She has a radiant smile that makes you feel good all over.

She is a handmaid of the Lord. Genuine. Real through and through.

Not the look of a Hollywood girl.

She really, really loves Jesus. Deeply!

When you look at her, you see something of Him all over her.

As a result, she loves others well.

She doesn't know what I think of her. My deep admiration is tucked away.

How did she get to such a beautiful place in Him?

That amazing place of oozing the Holy Spirit of God everywhere she goes?

When I am with her I am a witness to genuine joy. Peace is present. Love embraces. Gentleness, kindness, goodness ... it is all there. The tasty fruit that nourishes a parched and hollow soul.

Our meeting was life inspiring. Feel like hanging out with her and those she hangs out with forever.

Hoping for a makeover.

Before the Day Gets Away

Trying to capture the vapor of time is like trying to manage a helium balloon without a string. It longs to escape my grip and float away with wings. I have charted my course, made my plans, and hope a few items will be crossed off  my list when at night my pillowed head surrenders to sleep.

Beds are stripped. One set being washed. One set warming in the dryer.
My wish, beds will be tucked back in place by bedtime.

Apple pie is on my mind. Make the crust. Chill in fridge. Buy apples. Peel, cut, slice, sweeten. Bake.

Finish writing project. Write. Edit. Prepare letter. Fold. Stamp. Send.

Warm up leftover Butternut/Acorn Squash soup. Serve with warm garlic toast. mmmmm

Fold, sort, toss, put away, straighten clothes in closet and drawers. Today. Must do.

Take a walk with the man of the house. Brevity of fall is on my mind. Must enjoy.

Dinner. Chili perhaps?

Evening open for surprise. Expecting blessings on the horizon.

On Down the Line

I am waiting for grandchildren! It might be awhile. So aware of that but it doesn't stop me from looking forward, anticipating that blessing with much joy and expectation.

My friend's families are expanding circles around circles. I am not envious. Just can't be! I am so delighted for them. It is so much fun to watch my friends get so silly with love for their little ones. It literally tickles my insides to listen to them chatter on about coos and grins and cuddles.

I love how they pray for their precious little bundles. Their petitions are focused far beyond now, way into the future of the child, beyond my friend's own lifetime. I LOVE that!

It reminds me of a verse that I have prayed for our family so many times.

"As for Me,"  says the Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and forevermore."  Isaiah 59:21 NKJV


Praying this verse today and believing for a whole houseful of grandbabies and a message passed on down the line!