I'm adopted_Galatians 4:1-7

Verse 5, "God sent him (Jesus) to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could ADOPT us as His very own children."

I was every bit anxious for the time when Maki would ask me about our relationship.  After all, I was sure she'd wonder sooner or later why her Daddy and Mommy were so much older than the parents of her classmates. I prepared the groundwork by telling her the story of how Moses' mother put him in a basket to save him and how the pharoah's sister found him and raised him as her own son. When that time came, my heart skipped a beat but as we talked she expressed how happy she was that we FOUND her and WANTED her to be part of the family. She feels so loved, and so accepted that even though someone else had given birth to her, she sees me as her Mommy and Em as her Daddy. She knows her rightful place in the family is secure.

This is how it is with our adoption into God's family.  We are given full rights as His children and our position is secure because we received Jesus, His son, as our Saviour.

Father God, Maki's story is but a glimpse of Your adoption plan for us.  Thank you for her life that has blessed our family, and thank you for sending Jesus Your son so that I too can call you Abba!

Yet I will praise Him_Psalm 94:2, 16-23

In the Bible, there is a one-syllable word that packs a punch -- the word YET. Its synonyms are nevertheless,
nonetheless,
even so,
despite that,
inspite of,
JUST THE SAME,
be that as it may.

The Bible is [peppered with YETs. According to the blog, soulspartan.com, the word appears approximately 395 times, usually between verses of despair, pleas for help, laments and suddenly, YET pops up followed by declarations of hope, prayers with praise and proclamations of His goodness.

YET is like an orange light, signalling me to slow down and reflect on His faithfulness and love. YET always encourages me.  One of my favorite YET passages is this:
"Though the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vine;
though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food;
though there are no sheep in the pen, and no cattle in the stalls,
YET
I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God, my Savior." Habakkuk 3:17-19

Heavenly Father, Faithful God, I sing praises to Your Holy name!

Timing is everything _Esther 4:5-14

We humans are obsessed with time. We have our alarms, calendars, planners, annual projections, 5-year goals etc.  when Imwas in college, in the cusp of moving forward to the next phase in my life, I wrote on index cards all the things I wanted to accomplish within certain time frames -- be  news anchorwoman, write a novel, appear in a movie or tv show, get married, have children, own a mansion, etc.  As to be expected of expectations, not all of them happened, or if they did, not at the time set.

Looking back, now at my age of 62, I see God's loving hands gently prodding me this way and that through all those seasons in my life, just like the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23, "He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name sake."

Esther's story is one I particularly relate to in hat, in a slow, sometimes perplexing way, her story unfolded to the time she was at the right time, place and status to be used by God to save her people. Jeremiah 29:11-13 is oft quoted when we go through difficult times. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future. then you will call upon me and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek Me with all your heart."

It is comforting to know that He is in control, and that He knows exactly where He is leading us. We know too that what He has planned is always good, because He is good.

Lord, I'm in wonder in how You orchestrate everything in my life to suit Your purposes. Even in those times I am disobedient, You turn it around for good for my own good.

God's Rock Garden_1Peter 2:1-10

Growing up, our 1960's-constructed house featured a huge sunken garden right in the formal living room.  It had a skylight which allowed rain and sunshine in to nourish the plants landscaped into the rock feature.

The prophet Isaiah says in Isaiah 28, "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; he one who trusts will never be dismayed." When I read 1 Peter 2 where Jesus is called "the living Stone", the image of the childhood rock garden came into mind, with Jesus at the center surrounded by other stones of varying shapes and sizes.  We too are described as "living stones which are being built into a spiritual home to be a holy priesthood." Thus, we, as God's chosen people by adoption through Christ, are called into this holy priesthood.  We are not to be like those decorative rocks in the rock garden but rather be living, breathing stones that serve a higher calling in God's kingdom.

Thank you Lord Father for calling me into this holy priesthood, to be a servant, Your living stone in this life, until Jesus comes to call me home.

Not for show_Isaiah 58:6-9

Fasting is one of those things one can do to help one focus on God as "you rely on God for strength, provision and wisdom you need." Many times, however, people fast to show off their spirituality.  This is not the fasting that is acceptable to God.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:16, "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you they have received their reward in full." True fasting pleasing to His eyes is described in Isaiah 58:6-9 -- feed the hungry, shelter the wanderer (homeless), clothe the naked, help your relatives.

Lord, I confess I haven't fasted for quite some time   It is something  I want to do to seek You more and know You more. Please forgive me. But let me always live in the way that pleases You.

Who are you trying to impress?_Matthew 15:19-20

I love the way Jesus countered the accusations of the Pharisees in these verses!

The Pharisees questioned Jesus why his disciples did not wash their hands before eating, as it was Jewish tradition that requires ceremonial washing of the hands.  Of course today we know how important washing our hands before eating is but at that time it was more of a ritual washing rather than an honest-to-goodness-hey-there-are-germs washing.  The Pharisees were obviously more concerned that this band of people who were gaining quite a following were not following "their ways". Jesus countered with "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?" Here Jesus confronted them with how they treated parents, nullifying the 5th commandment of honoring your father and mother. They were more concerned with traditions and rituals, like washing of hands, that make a person "ceremonially clean", but not obeying God's commandments.  Jesus says in v. 17-18 "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean."

1 Samuel 16:7b "Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart."

Lord Father, I want to impress only You! Create in me a pure heart, and renew the right spirit within me!

My Father_Romans 8:9-17

"And by Him we cry 'Abba, Father."' The Spirt himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." Romans 8:15-16

For his recent birthday, I captioned my birthday post for Em this way: "Role model to our sons.  Hero to our daughters. Funny Daddylo to our apos.  My forever love." Em is indeed all of these, and more.  He works very hard to provide for our family, and often forgets about his own needs as long as ours are met. His love is a sacrificial love. When I look at this man who is my children's father, I see an inkling, a shadow of who my heavenly Father is, and how great His love is.

If this is how Em loves his family, I cannot wrap my mind around how much more, how much greater -- the depth, the width, the height -- is His unfailing love for me, His child.

Abba, Father, I cry out to you in love and gratitude for how You pour out Your love for me! Each day is a testament of Your grace. Help me live it as You would want me to. I love you, Abba!