Me, a Squanto?
Many of us will read the story or remember the story of Squanto and the Pilgrims today. In the quiet moment perhaps the still small voice, will whisper our significance in the now as well. But can we believe it? Us? Called to be a Squanto “at such a time as this”?
A neighbor, a family member – someone could see the faithfulness of God through us today. The expression of this will be as varied as the number of stars in the universe, all for God’s delight and possibly in our total unawareness.
My son was helping me in the kitchen a few days ago and his particular job was to slice up a bell pepper. I had not considered it was his first time doing so and was as astonished at his exclamation as he was at his discovery… it was empty!
With wild wonder he asked me what could have happened?! Even concern that maybe he had done something wrong. I quickly relieved him and our laughter was full.
Isn’t that how it is sometimes though. We can be so unaware that even emptiness is meant to be sometimes. God’s creation and process of creation in us. He looks and sees perfect. He enjoys. Hopefully we don’t miss out on the enjoyment too, or the chance to be “Squanto”.
“Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.” ~ Mother Theresa
Happy Thanksgiving Friends!
Jay & Raynna
P.S. Check out singer/songwriter Christa Wells song, “How Emptiness Sings”. It’s #6 on her website.
Wake Up! Wake Up!
At dinner last night we were talking about the trumpets blasting of Rosh Hashanah. All the kids wanted to hear it with their own ears so bad. As I explained that we wouldn’t be hearing it with our ears this night but that if we listened carefully we may hear it with our heart, my eight year old excitedly said,…
” I hear it! It’s saying ‘Wake Up! Wake Up!’ “
That sounded incredibly close to a quote I had read once from Maimonides symbolizing the meaning of the blowing of the rams horn:
” Rouse ye, rouse ye from your slumber; awake, awake from your sleep, you who mind vanity, for slumber most heavy has fallen upon you. Take it to heart, before whom you are to give account in the judgment.”
I do not claim to know how this all works out and looks like in the day to day. 1 Peter 4:17-19 comes to mind this morning,
It’s judgment time for God’s own family. We’re first in line. If it starts with us, think what it’s going to be like for those who refuse God’s Message!
If it’s with difficulty that the righteous is saved what will become of the godless man and sinner?
So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. (or entrust yourself to Him) He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.
Suffering seems to be apart of the refining process. We don’t have to have it all figured out. We can simply entrust ourselves to Him. He knows what He’s doing and He’ll keep doing it. Our God is faithful.
Peace to you this Thursday morning friends,
Raynna
The Feast of Trumpets? Rosh Hashanah? What’s That?!
I definitely had a LOT of questions the first time I heard of this Biblical holy day. One of the main ones being, “How could I have been a Christian for so long and never heard anything about this?!” Wow, that’s a post all in itself.
Here’s where it comes from in the Bible, Leviticus 23. It’s this chapter in the Bible that most of us Christians have never learned to pay a lot of attention to.
““Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation.”
( Leviticus 23:24 ESV )
There’s a Biblical calendar that can still be followed today and tonight marks the first day of it’s seventh month. From ancient times on this night a ram’s horn trumpet is blown. A thorough study of this holy day would sparkle with the symbolism and depth of meaning of the sounds of this horn breaking through the atmosphere.
A simple thought to grab on to however is this, this sound was a call to remember. To remember our Creator at the end of all, at the beginning of all, in the middle of all, now. Now is an especially holy day, a rhythm created by Creator God in order to echo His song throughout all our days. Can you hear it?
““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”” ( Psalms 46:10 ESV )
Momma is a Martyr, here in America
Lately, I am doing a lot of singing a long with Rich Mullins… Whose song, Here in America, repeats the line, “And the holy king of Israel loves me here in America”.
Jesus loves his disciples here in America. Mommas are on my heart lately. Mommas are martyrs, because martyr means witness. They die to self everyday and share in the hardships of Christ in order to witness the life of Christ to their children. (I’m not talking about having a martyr syndrome here.)
Should we undervalue this fellowship? We do, and moms don’t know their worth. But Jesus sees. Lord, give us eyes to see, affirm the mommas. The enemy wants to kill, steal and destroy across the ocean and here in America. He wants to beat down the mommas and steal the children. God wants us to draw strength from the momma in prison for her faith and know our battle is real too.
“Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows”. – Jesus (Luke12:6-7)
Sending love out to all the mommas – “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.” (1Peter4:12&13)
Love,
Raynna
This battle is not always obvious. I think this book by Emily P. Freeman really touches on a major aspect of the battle for many of us women . Grace for the Good Girl.
If you buy the book here … it supports the ministry of The Martyrs Cross, thanks.
Something We Can Do
Here’s a small thing we can do today, to speak on behalf of a persecuted family & momma.
www.CallForMercy.com
It’s a petition with hopes to be signed by one million and delivered to the Pakistani embassy on behalf of Asia Bibi, a wife and momma accused of blasphemy and sentenced to death.
www.CallForMercy.com
Then there’s this, we can do too:
Isaiah 66:1 “God’s message: ‘ Heaven is my throne,
earth is my footstool.
What sort of house could you build for me?
I made all this! I own all this!’
God’s Decree.
“But there is something I’m looking for:
a person simple and plain,
reverently responsive to what I say.”
With much love and prayer for your much blessing!
Raynna
A Quote
You learn to speak by speaking,
to study by studying,
to run by running,
to work by working;
and just so, you learn to love by loving.
All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves.
- Saint Francis de Sales