Who? What? Where? Why? When? How Long?

There are over 3000 questions in the Bible? Beginning in Genesis when Satan asks Eve, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" to Revelations where the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God..., cried out, "How long Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"

Some of the questions, God asked. For example, when Elijah flees to Horeb and hides in a cave, God asked him, "What are you doing here, Elijah'?"

Poetic questions come from the book of Job, with God asking, "Who shut up the sea behind doors..., Where does darkness reside?....Have you entered the storehouses of the snow?"

On one occasion, an expert in the law asked Jesus, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus responded with a question of His own, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"

Who, what, where, why, when, how long....?

We ask questions at home, at work, with friends. We ask ourselves inside our private thoughts.

Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you... Matthew 7:7-8

Questions are okay. More than likely, it develops intimacy with God. Asking doesn't mean you'll get what you want. Maybe, it's what God wants for you. Maybe, he's telling you to be patient.

3000 some questions....

Do you know how many times in the Bible God tell us not to be afraid? According to my research, it is 365 times that He tells us, "Fear not." How may days in a year? Guess he made His point....

Ask your questions. But, also don't be afraid. It's in His hands.

Treasures in Jars of Clay

But now, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8

I have come to believe that our greatest treasures are within our hearts, minds, and souls. Since retirement, I have more opportunities to reflect. It gives me pleasure to remember ....

-our children eating fried chicken in a shady park with only a swing or two and a merry-go-round
-two of our daughters playing on the same basketball team
-a picture of our son under a rainbow
-a long ride with our first child, as a two year old, to meet her great grandmother
-David's pride with his first horse
-a family vacation

I used to not want to go back. Now, I do. Not to change anything. I just want to be a silent observer of some of these times and hold them close to my heart.

Further back, there are other memories....
-Mom's special lemon meringue pie made on two occasions (their anniversary and Dad's birthday)
-the tree house where my brothers and I made a chimney and a fireplace and a second story
-the humongous snow pile designed by my father's imagination and a tractor with a loader
-walking into a house filled with love and the smell of supper every day after school
-a blonde-haired, blue-eyed bf from second grade to forever
-a memorable "I love you."

There are the more recent memories of the birth of each grand child--little miracles with incredible journeys ahead. These memories all kind of mesh together until it feels like it was someone else's life. Or, it was mine.... and now, I'm someone else.

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with all these reflections. It seems that there is a reason my head is sometimes filled with them. There must be an explanation for not wanting to let them go. Perhaps they are all puzzle pieces and when all is said and done, the puzzle pieces will fit. Perfectly.

What lies behind us and what lies before us

 are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

What Do You Believe to Be True About God?

During my younger years, "Do you believe in God?" seemed fundamental to any conversation about my faith. As the years have passed, scripture studies, various experiences, and my thoughts are more often of, What do you believe to be true about God?

When sharing a family meal with grandchildren, it is common for one of them to suggest conversation starters. This usually involves a question, such as, "What is your favorite color?" or a request, such as "Name some things that fly."

If you reword these same questions or requests with, "What do you believe to be true about the color blue?" and "What do you believe to be true about things that fly?" --the conversation takes a twist in deeper and broader thinking.

In high school, I once asked a boyfriend, "Do you believe in God?" I was flabbergasted when he said, "no." In my innocence, I thought everyone believed in God. He explained that he was agnostic. I was bewildered, not even knowing what the word meant.

He returned the question, "Do you?"

"Of course," I answered.

"Why?"

And, that's when I became silent. I believed because that was the way I was brought up. Our family got up every Sunday morning, dressed in our finest, iron-pressed clothes, and recently shined shoes, piled in the station wagon, and drove the 12 miles to church--rain, shine, or blizzard-- where we heard the Word of God.
How could I not believe?

Other believers do not grow up in the faith but come to it because of experiences, study of God's word, and/or a friend's gentle, loving, Godly persuasions.

Although my belief was always with me, I have come to view it differently because of experiences, the study of God's word, and hanging out with gentle, loving, Godly people.

And, so now, I want to ask my grandchildren and I want to ask you, What do you believe to be true about God?  What you believe to be true about God and who you increasingly believe God to be will expand your own insightfulness in who you believe yourself to be. Something to consider....

What do I believe to be true about God?
He is my Savior, my King, my Helper in time of need, my joy, the Creator, the Ancient of Times, The Beginning, The End, my Everything....

Hallelujah!