Lessons from the Chicken Carcass...

What happened to Annette?  Has she gone off the deep end?  This isn't her food blog… what's going on?!?!

Not to worry, you'll get it once I'm done explaining…

I was having a very busy day, and I was getting a picnic dinner pulled together using one of the roasted mini-chickens that are available at my local store…

I guess I should also back up and say that because I spend so much time alone (now that I'm retired) I tend to talk to the living things around me (my cat Oreo, visiting birds & insects, the plants…).

So I had brought this little chicken home hot, and subsequently put it in the fridge to get it cold for use in our picnic dinner… I pulled it out of the fridge & started talking to it (ok, maybe I'm just a bit nuts) saying "I guess that wasn't very nice of me to bring you home all nice and warm & then put you in a cold fridge, but I'm going to be cutting you up anyway so I'm sorry about all that…" then I realized how crazy it was talking to a dead chicken carcass… and so I said "ok, I just realized you're already dead so you don't care, you're probably up in heaven sitting next to God, looking down & laughing yourself silly at this crazy person talking to your dead carcass…" then it happened, I had an epiphany….

I got thinking about all those Old Testament sacrifices, and how those animals were in the presence of God once sacrificed, having gone from one life to another & the better off for it… it made me realize that the sacrifices weren't all that hard for the animals, they were hard for the people!!  In OT times frequently the family raised the young animal (typically a lamb) for a time in their home before taking it to sacrifice, I'm sure they couldn't help but get a bit attached (especially the children), can you imagine the tears of the kids watching their pet be led away to be sacrificed?

Up until this time I've always felt bad for the sacrifice, but I realize now that I had the wrong perspective… when I look at things from the perspective of eternity I can see how God was using this to tug at the heartstrings of His people & preparing them for His perfect sacrifice - the Lord Jesus Christ.

Word Studies...

Sometimes its nice to change things up and do a different sort of study.


I was asked to do a single devotional for a group of Christian friends, and I decided to do a basic Word Study…


Taking a different approach to the scriptures sometimes gives us a fresh new perspective, keeping things fresh always a good thing!


Here's a link to my word study, its on: Propitiation.


I'm thinking I may do a series of these, if that's the case I may start a new tab… we'll see.


Blessings!!

A woman I admire...

I've been spending some time in 1 Samuel 25 today, reading not only the text but some additional resources as well… and I find once again that I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Abigail.


Right up front the scriptures tell us she was both intelligent and beautiful, which could make one a bit jealous; however, she has these other attributes: inner beauty, faith, tact, humility and so much more!!  She was used by God in a mighty way to turn away David's wrath when he uncharacteristically "lost it".


I want to be like Abigail!!  That said, I wouldn't have wanted to walk in Abigail's shoes… married initially to a rich man who was harsh, foolish, mean… likely having to repair the damage he inflicted on those around them on a regular basis.  Married later to David (who would become King David), but being one of multiple wives (makes me sad).  Women in her day didn't have the opportunities we have today, and being intelligent must have made that all the more difficult.


Abigail is one of those characters in scripture I wish I could sit down and talk to over a pot of coffee, but that's just not going to happen in this life.  Here's looking forward to the fellowship that we'll have with believers throughout the ages when we're united with the Lord!!


I look forward to what God has in store for Sunday when I'll be teaching on this passage.  Now I need to get back to my studies to finish my preparations.  Look for Lesson 12 in my Life Of David series, to be published after its taught.

Some study materials added...

I've added in my studies to date for my Life Of David series… enjoy!

Prepping for my next class...

I've working on my class materials for the next section of the study on the Life of David… and for some reason this morning (providence?) I felt compelled to take a picture of my little string of beads that I use to remind me of the people/things I want to focus on in prayer.

I took a break, took a shower, had lunch, started some laundry… and went right back to my studies… not realizing I had left my little string of beads in the pocket of a fleece jacket I'd been wearing earlier - yes, they went through the wash.


The string broke, but I was able to find all the beads & they appear to be unscathed (how I don't know, some shouldn't have made it)… I am grateful that God allowed me to recapture the beads, I had put a lot of thought into them & they have helped me focus my prayers.


Praise God for His act of kindness on my behalf!!

Laying The Foundations...

I am just getting this blog off the ground… I will use this blog to contain Bible Study materials produced for classes I teach as a lay minister.


This is to benefit those who attend my classes, as they can catch up on lessons they've missed.


This may also benefit others simply looking for new Bible Study material.


Whatever your reason for being here you're welcome to come in and browse, my hope is that hearts will be touched by God through this site.