Cup Bearer

Wednesday night was the final night of this quarter in Bible class, so I was finishing up my lessons on the Jewish Exile and Return period (II Kings, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, Haggai, Zephaniah). I like to do a review game for my final class so the students leave me with the entire quarter’s worth of information fresh in their minds. But first first I had to finish up the discussion of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem since we didn't quite compete this lesson last week. We reviewed Nehemiah’s job as the cup bearer for the king of Persia and discussed why the cup bearer was an important and trusted position. Many kings died from poisoning so the person who had control over the king’s food and drink was a highly trusted individual. Then we continued with the discussion of Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem and the process of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem in just 52 days. This would be an impressive feat with modern day tools and heavy equipment but this was completed with hand tools and manual labor. It is amazing what can be accomplished by a group of motivated people.

When I finished the review of Nehemiah, we began our game. Last night’s game selection was Bible Jeopardy. This game is always a big hit with the kids. And it is surprisingly easy to make. I have posted a photo and instructions on the Christian Living page of the Tabitha website. The game was a lot of fun. One of the biggest challenges is for the students to decide whether they want to choose the easy questions worth 100 or 200 points or the harder questions worth 300 - 500 points. I love watching their faces as they try to choose between the easy questions and the big points. One of the students kept asking for an easy 500 point question - he really never got it.” One of my little ragamuffins wondered why he didn’t get very many points when he answered almost every question with Sanballat and Tobiah (see Nehemiah chapters 2, 4 and 6 if you have forgotten who they were). Believe it or not, this was not my “Paul” student.

This time the funniest moments revolved around the question “What job did Nehemiah perform for the king of Persia?” It was my dear little “Paul’s” turn. He immediately answered “cup holder”. I gently informed him that a cup holder was something that kept your drink from spilling in the car and that Nehemiah’s job was “cup bearer”. Paul looked at me , his eyes dancing with mischief, and said “ I really knew he was the cup bearer. I was just messing with you.” I knew I should have pinched that kid’s head off the first week. I am really going to miss him next week.

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In case you are wondering, the photo at the top is from a fresco found in the ruins of Knossos in Crete.

Gloom

At the risk of complaining, today is a gloomy day. It is cold, windy, rainy and gray. I am very thankful for the rain since we have been in drought conditions most of the summer. But days like today make me feel sad and grouchy; they seem to sap my strength. They can be downright depressing. But occasionally, today I have been greeted by a small glimpse of the sun peeking through the thick, gray clouds. I have embraced those rays of sunshine with immense joy - basking in the warmth and light. I know that we desperately need the rain but still those brief moments of sunshine have greatly elevated my mood and made the day seem just a little less depressing. Thank you Lord for the tiny flashes of sunshine amidst the gloom to remind me of a better place.

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.- Revelation 21:23

May I have the envelope please...

I hope each of you in the US had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. Today is the day to draw the names for the Unexpected Blessings contest. Thank you to all who shared their unexpected blessings and a special thank you to each of you who linked to my blog. Your names were entered into a random list generator and the winners are:

Elizabeth
Aunt Kathy
Phoenix Anew
Katie O and
Jossee

You have one week to send your snail mail address to tabitha@tabithasheart.com so I can mail your prizes. I do not have email addresses to contact you privately so this is the only notice you will receive that you have won. If you haven't contacted me by November 30th, another winner will be chosen from the randomized list.

Thank you again to everyone who shared their unexpected blessings with me. God indeed blesses us so richly even though it is sometimes hard to see those blessings. There will be a new contest coming soon so check back often. And if you were interested in entering the Bible quiz contest on Tabitha's Heart & Hands you have until midnight on Saturday, November 24th to enter. Winning this contest does not exclude you from winning the other.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,- Ephesians 1:2

Hope

My hope is build on nothing less...
These are the opening words of a beautiful hymn by Edward Mote and William Bradbury. Growing up we jokingly sang the song with slightly different lyrics. In our version made a gentle poke at preachers who may not spend enough time studying on their own. The words were "My sermon's built on nothing less than Scofield's notes and Broadman Press". I always think of this little joke whenever we sing Edward Mote's much better original. Apparently, it made an impression on my friend Ed, one of song leaders for our congregation. I shared this story with him a few weeks ago and he had lead this song every time he has been the song leader this month. I nearly laughed out loud the first time he lead it. One day I am going to remember to ask Ed if he is trying to see if I will sing the wrong lyrics.

For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. - Psalm 71:5

Thankful

Tomorrow in the US, we will celebrate Thanksgiving. Tonight, I would like to share some of the things for which I am thankful.

• for the rain that we are currently receiving.


• for the three of my hens that survived the attack by the neighbors dogs.


• for my home, my family, my church and my friends


• for the things that I have learned in the past year


• for the gift of laughter shared with family and friends.


• for a measure of good health. Even with various my aches and pains, I am still healthier than most.


• for all the necessities of life that have been so richly supplied


• for my internet friends who allow me to blab on and on without telling me that I am monumentally boring and who gently encourage me to continue writing


• and for a life overflowing with the bountiful blessings of God

For these and so many other things, I am truly thankful. God has blessed my life richly. I would like to share one of my favorite psalms. I always think of it at this time of year. Thank you Mrs. Allen for making me memorize it- I still remember.

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Vapor

This week there was a tragic loss in a nearby town. A handsome, vibrant, 17 year old boy chose to end his life rather than face whatever tomorrow had in store. This sort of news is never easy to hear but it is especially lamentable when the life cut short was one so full of promise. He came from a well-respected and financial secure family. He was popular, smart and seemed to have everything going for him. Yet today he is no longer with us. How my heart aches for his family.

This shocking event has turned my thoughts to the brevity of life. We truly do not know when life will end for any of us. We all hope for a long and happy life but so often we see life end abruptly, unexpectedly. Yet we are constantly reminded in the Bible that life is short. James 4:14 tells us:

"For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

Sobering words, I know. But we truly do not know how many days the Lord will bless us with. Christ frequently reminds us that we do not know when we will have to face eternity. Some may meet death, while others may live to see Christ's return. Events like the tragic death of a young person remind us how suddenly life can end. We must strive to live every single day as if it were our last. Remember to serve God every day, don't forget to let those you love know it, study your Bible and pray every day. For we do not know when we will be standing before our Creator and Judge.

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Mark 13:33-37

A little levity

Here are some random moments of humor that have spiced up my morning.

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Kids get a little weird around holiday time. My 6 year son has been making a "top-secret" birthday present for me (if this thought doesn't frighten every fiber of your being then you obviously don't have a 6 year old boy in your household). Turns out he saw a cartoon where the kids were collecting items to make a facial mask for the mother and Mr 6 decided that sounded like a good idea. He has ignored the fact that the mother on the cartoon didn't like the facial mask and that his own mother has repeatedly informed him that she doesn't like facial masks either. This morning I found out that he had made one for me from a mixture of odd leaves found in a friends yard, chicken and guinea feathers, glue, beads and maybe the left-overs of his mushroom and fungus hunt. Oh yeah, I am really going to put that on my face.

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Conversation with the 11 year old that occurred in my bedroom this morning before I had my coffee.

Preteena: Mom, do you have any permanent markers?
Mom (skeptically): Yes
Preteena: May I borrow one?
Mr. 6 (fake-whispering** from the doorway): Tell her no!!

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My husband has taken to making up daffy definitions for words this morning. Here are some of gems he shared via email at random points during the morning.

Agnostic: An atheist who is afraid to commit.
Shotgun Wedding: A matter of wife or death.

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Mr. 6 came running upstairs to my bedroom.

Mr. 6 (half-panting): "Mom, DO NOT go into the bathroom downstairs."
Mom (skeptically): "Why son"?
Mr. 6: "Because Preteena has to go potty in the downstairs bathroom so you cannot go in there" (just so you know, potty visits at our home are not usually preceded with announcements)
Mom: "Okay, son"
Mr 6 (fake-whispering** down the stairs): "It's Okay... Go ahead.... I'll be the look-out.
Mom: (thinking to herself) "Oh no. Should I wait or dial 911 now."
Mr. 6 (every 30 seconds for the next 5 minutes or so still fake-whispering**) "She's still there."

If you will excuse me now I have to go see if I still have a downstairs bathroom.

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** For those who might not know, a fake-whisper is a method of communication that involves a very breathy half-yell executed with the hands placed on either side of the mouth in order to keep the words secret from someone in the room while allowing them to be heard by another. A favorite method of communication among the Under 7 age group.

Update:
There was no apparent damage to the downstairs bathroom. I don't know what the kids were up to but it didn't leave its usual destruction and devastation behind. For that I am very thankful.

The Power of Prayer

I received the following devotional from Thought for the Day and thought it especially meaningful today as I have been discussing this topic with my cyber friends lately.. I wanted to share it with you.

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THE POWER OF PRAYER

One of Erma Bombeck's favorite Jewish grandmother stories involves a grandmother who took her grandson to the beach. She put a sun hat on him and then dozed off to sleep as the little boy played with his bucket and shovel in the sand. Suddenly, a large wave came in and dragged the child out to sea. The grandmother woke and was devastated. She fell to her knees and prayed, "God, if you'll save my grandson, I promise I'll make it up to you. I'll join whatever club you want me to. I'll volunteer at the hospital, give to the poor and do anything that makes you happy."

Suddenly, another huge wave came in and tossed her grandson on the beach at her feet. She noticed there was color in his cheeks and his eyes were bright. He was alive!

As she stood up, however, she seemed to be upset. She put her hands on her hips, looked skyward, and said sharply, "He had a hat, you know."

Though we may not always get everything we want when we pray, the Bible teaches a great deal about the power of prayer. Prayer truly makes a difference. As James said, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16).

We see it happen time and again in the scriptures. Abraham's servant prayed and Rebekah appeared. Hannah prayed and Samuel was born. Isaiah and Hezekiah prayed, and 185,000 Assyrians were slain. After three years of drought, Elijah prayed again and rain came. The church in Jerusalem prayed and Peter was released from prison. That's just a small sampling of answered prayer in the Bible.

We've seen it happen in our own lives as well. We do not receive everything we ask for (even the apostle Paul didn't), but we have seen God's answers time and again -- for sickness to be healed, for safety through difficult times, for the wisdom to make right decisions, for needs to be provided.

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." (I John 5:14)

Praise be to God -- our Heavenly Father -- who is willing to hear us and cares enough about us to answer our prayers. Most of us have been more than willing over the years to carry our burdens to God and tell Him what we want. May I suggest that you take some time today to give God your thanks for the many times He has heard and answered.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
from Thought for the Day. Used with permission.