More About Wells

 The wells Abraham dug, and that had gotten "stopped up" were reopened by Isaac. However, Abimelech's men claimed them for themselves.  Isaac had more dug.  Again, these springs of water were claimed by Abimelech's men.  After all, they needed this essential of life too.

Yeah, I know, why couldn't they dig their own?

As was noted from previous chapters of Genesis, Abraham and Isaac also built altars to call upon the LORD.  This was specific action on their part.  They feared and reverenced God the Creator.  They worshiped Him.  In God they put their trust.  They knew their spiritual thirst was quenched in Him.  The wells of water only quenched their physical thirst.

Abimelech and men did not seem to connect to God as did Abraham and Isaac.  They tried to get satisfaction from "stolen" water not realizing their true resource was God.  Abraham and Isaac knew it though.  We see Isaac "surrendering" his wells to Abimelech's men quite possibly on this reasoning.

The road from this ancient Old Testament account leads me to Jesus, the Living Water.  In the New Testament Jesus told the Samaritan woman He could give her water that would cause her to never be thirsty again.

She was skeptical, at first, but as the conversation continued, she really did "get it"; the understanding and insight that this man Jesus, was that Living Water.  Significantly, she left her water pots at the well.  She now had the Real Source of soul thirst quenching.  She hurried to tell others the good news.  They came and were satisfied.

In Jesus Christ, one and all can be satisfied when they put their faith and trust in Him.  He is still the Living Water where we can quench our spiritual thirst.  Accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Drink deeply.  Be satisfied.

                                                         ~ERC  August 2021~

Based on Genesis 21-30 and John 4:4-42

Sing, Fill My Cup, with CRC worship

 

Book Review - Notable Native People - By Adrienne Keene - Publication Date: 19 October 2021

 

This book is so crammed full of many notable native people it's difficult to choose a favorite.  All have accomplished great things in their particular gifting and/or skill, often spending a lifetime of commitment to them for the sake of teaching and/or benefiting others.  Some are artists, filmmakers, beadwork makers; linguists (Sequoyah was pretty cool); carvers, activists, dancers, basket makers, educators, advocates of their causes and more.

All have a common goal, or actually a two-faceted goal.  One facet is to educated their younger generations to know and appreciate their Native culture and traditions, and to stand up for their Native rights.  The other is to give more accurate representation to non-Native people of their Native ways and history; to give knowledge, understanding and insight, which in turn, will hopefully impact the non-Native peoples into infinitely better treatment of the Native peoples with justice, kindness and respectful dignity.

It struck me that many of these notable native people are so environmentally caring, passing this deep desire to protect the land, not just for themselves, but for Earth, in general.  I have learned much but am aware I've only just scratched the surface.  We non-Native people have much more to learn.

                                              ~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                          September 2021

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the review copy given by the publisher.

See Book Review on Goodreads

Dig For Yourself

 

What's with Isaac and Abraham's 'thing' with altars and wells?  Like father, like son too, in this good thing.  We saw in He Built Altars, that Abram built altars at various points in time in his life and "called on" and "worshiped the LORD".

Isaac, the son who'd brought laughter and joy to the hearts of Abraham and Sarah in their old age, watched, listened and observed throughout his life, the fear and reverence his father had had for God.  God was integral for his father and therefore He would be for him, Isaac, too.

In these chapters of Genesis (21-30) we see Isaac building an altar and calling upon the LORD (Genesis 26:25 ESV).  Isn't this a good thing to pass on to our next generations too?!  The worship of the One True God and Jesus Christ, for us.  However, not just in theory but in visual, authentic practice; that which one's offspring can see and observe and emulate.

I recall my own father often sitting quietly, absorbed by the Scriptures - reading and meditating upon God's Word.  He was always telling us to have personal times in the Word too.  He and Mom would plan ample time per day to have family Bible time reading as well.

No doubt Isaac's being "the offering" upon one of his father's altars imprinted (branded?) him indelibly, for life.  The deep dedication of his father's love of God, over and above his love for his precious, promised son Isaac overrode all else.  Isaac got the point, up close.

Praise the Lord, God stopped Abraham from fully carrying through.  "Yes, Abraham; you do love Me,  I knew it but wanted you to realize it too."

Then the wells...wells of water.  Refreshing.  Essential for life.  Abraham had dug a few.  They'd gotten "stopped up" by the locals,  Isaac tried to "revive" them.  Eventually, he had to dig his own new wells of life-giving liquid.

There will come a time when, we children will need to take respoinsibility for our own spiritual growth, and dig into the well of God's Word for ourselves.  Don't just rely on what Dad taught; nor the Sunday school teacher and/or pastor.  

DIG FOR YOURSELF!

Refresh yourself with the Holy Spirit's help and then refresh your children and others.  "Pitch your tent' at this well.  Build your own altar and call upon the LORD.  Pass it on.

Others will see and want the blessing of the Lord.  Feast upon the Scriptures.  May we each find favor with the Lord and others.  Make God your Personal Friend Deity, through Jesus.  Be revived, refreshed as was Isaac and his father before him.  May we find favor with the Lord and others.  By His grace, we can dig and worship.

                                                   ~ERC  August 2021~

Based on Genesis 21-30.

No Half Truths

 

For all his faith and worship of God, Abram operated at times, according to selfish, foolish folly.  How could he have told half truths about his wife and put her in danger only to preserve his own life?  What kind of person does stuff like that?!

Didn't the fact that if God had asked him to leave his life of comfort in Ur of the Chaldeans and venture forth to the great unknown, that He would take care of those scary "what if's"?

Pharoah of Egypt and then King Abimelech were astounded at Abrahams' audacious studpidity.  Again, I ask, what kind of husband would conspire to put his wife in such danger?  Abraham's actions put so many at risk and harm, actually; very possible potential violation of Sarah; closed wombs of royalty and maidservants; how he wronged the innocent, unsuspecting rulers and their people.

Abraham did this twice!  Incidently, if you read further into Genesis, Abraham's son Isaac did the same dastardly 'trick'!  Like father, like son.

Yes, there are times, such as during persecutions that a believer may have to omit certain details to protect others.  However, I feel that is a different matter than Abraham and Isaac's types of not so "white lies".  Whom do we think we are protecting?  I don't know about you but I absolutely HATE being lied to!  Let's all take warning from these stories that half truths and outright lies do hurt and harm others, often resulting in grave consequences.  No matter how faith-filled one may be in other areas of our lives, beware, take heed, lest we fall and take others with us.

Seek God and His care and protection in uncertain situations; well, at all times, really.  I had a junior high school teacher who liked to say, "Tell the truth and shame the devil."   I'd like to tweak that and say, "Tell the truth and honor Jesus who is Truth."  If we are followers of Jesus Christ, let us speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  May our child of God testimony and faith in His care over us be pure and upright in God's eyes.  So help us, God.

                                                   ~ERC  August 2021~

Based on Genesis 11-20 NIV.

Attainable Holiness

 Do you think holiness is unattainable?  Perfect, 100% holiness as intrisic as God is Holy, yes.  Wow!?  God does not ask you to do the impossible, however.  He says, to "be holy as He is holy" (Lev 19-20 & 1 Peter 1:16) and He gave us His holiness.  We must therefore, aim all the more for holiness by perfecting it (2 Corinthians 7:1).

Yes, on the one hand God did impute His holiness upon the one who has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior.   The other side of that though is the progressive sanctification which brings us to living a holy life; holiness like God our Father is Holy.  This is Christian living.

We are in His family.  Being holy is a family trait; it's what we do.

In day-to-day living be conscious of who our Father is: of what He is like - holy - this remembrance will help us to live holy.  Go outside of yourself to the Holy Spirit in Jesus Name for His help. The Holy Spirit will teach us and convict us so this seeming impossible goal will be more possible.  Ask and it shall be given.  Therefore, we cannot brush this aside nor forget about it.

People of the living Holy God, be holy as He is.  Therein is attainability, by God's power and grace.

                                                   ~ERC  August 2021~

Prayerrfully Sing, Take my Life/Holiness, with Scott Underwood

Pulpiteer's Trumpet Call (Prayer)

 Father God, many people don't believe one should "toot their own horn," so on behalf of preachers and teachers of Your word and the gospel of Jesus Christ, may this "little talk with You" be a benediction upon those spiritual leaders in the congregations of Your children, worldwide.

We often pray for missionaries and their work in foreign countries but neglect those of Your servants on our own doorstep.  I want to call them the "pulpiteers" and this is a trumpet call of encouragement and uplift for those who faithfully feed and shepherd Your flock on a regular basis on the homefront.

Abba Father, You sent Jesus upon the earth to redeem the souls of mankind and we thank and praise You from the bottom of our hearts.  Jesus was also a teacher of Your will and ways, teaching the hordes of people in word pictures they could easily relate to and understand.  His words convicted many and angered many, especially the religious leaders.  No doubt these similar reactions come from that spoken from the multitudinous numbers of pulpits around the world.  

These speakers need our prayers, love and support.  Help each "pulpiteer" to speak as Your Son Jesus spoke - with courage and boldness, straight to the ears, minds and hearts of their congregants.  May their words be Spirit-filled and therefore as sunlight and showers of rain blessings, watering the spiritual lives of their hearers, sprouting up with flourishing growth therein.

Thank-You for the speakers in _________ (reader, name your specific church/assembly), for their willingness to speak for You.  I pray specifically for _________ (name each individual who speaks from the pulpit in your church and/or small gatherings).  May these pulpiteers be mighty men and women of God, filled with Your Holy Spirit.  May they be marked by integrity, faithfulness, and be steadfast in their faith.  May there be no fakers among them.

Give them renewed strength as they spend quality time communing with You and meditating upon Your Word, so that their preaching and teaching will not be ritual meaningless duty and drivel that sounds good to "itching ears" but rather be from the depths of their own hearts, birthed from personal soul-searching, encapsulating their words spoken forth with the clarion ring of sincerity and truth.  May their messages be relevant to their hearers and bring great conviction and revival.

Again, may these pulpiteers be strong and courageous as You told Joshua of old to be.  Thus, to speak the truth with love so that the hearers will be convicted and motivated by Your Holy Spirit to not just be hearers, but to take appropriate action to grow in their spiritual lives to become more Christ-like and especially to draw closer to You, Father (James 1:22-24; Matthew 4:23-5:2).

If any of these speakers feel they lack wisdom as to what to convey to their listeners or even how to deal with their own family (or church) issues, may they seek You and Your wisdom.  Your word says that You give wisdom freely and without reproach.  May they be encouraged to always ask of You without any reticence (James 1:5).

By seeking Your direction may their own spirits be renewed and refreshed.  May many souls be added to Your kingdom due to the messages spoken through the dynamic power and authority of Your Holy Spirit rippling through these pulpiteers' anointed mouths and lips.

We know Your steadfast love never ceases.  Let these pulpiteers and their families know Your presence and love which surrounds and blankets them.  Bless and keep them in Your will and ways due to this envelope of love.  May they each have fruitful lives for you.

May they each be kept faithful to You through whatever storms of life hit them.  Send encouragers to them so they know they are not alone.  Yes, we know there is none like You Father but I know You are gracious, kind, loving and also work in tandem with Your other "children" and even use them to help one another, poor and feeble though we many be.

Raise up more "mouth-pieces," sanctifying and anointing their lips too, with Your power and authority.  Combined with all the other pulpiteers, may great revival come to this world so that all nations and peoples will extol and praise You, oh LORD God (Psalm 117).

Thank-You for the many and varied sacrifices these preachers and teachers of Your Word make for You and on their hearers behalf to bring Your Words of life to the rest of us

This trumpet call goes up to You Father, in the most precious name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Praise the Lord.

                                                       ~ERC May 2021~

Sing Pastor's Song by Donna Jackson

Clergy Appreciation (10 October 2021)

Book Review - The Empire of Rubber: Firestone's Scramble For Land and Power in Liberia - Gregg Mitman - Publication Date: 12 October 2021

 

This is a big reveal, whistleblower biography of the purported 'advancement' of the country of Liberia.  Under cover of economic advancement and humanitarian deeds (snort!) to benefit the people of Liberia, the US based Firestone Tire and Rubber Company reigned, or thought they did.  Essentially, they lined and padded their own coffer pockets with great machinations and attempted manipulations, using trusted Firestone employees and cronies (often from high echelons of US government), to wield much power; attempting to mentally and politically armwrestle, outwit and hoodwink the Liberians.  

It was a huge power play but the Liberian Presidents pushed back - almost like a chess match between professional status players.  It would have been amusing if it was not reality.  Kuddos to the Liberians, especially to Prsident Barclay, an intelligent, astute politicaian who knew how to thwart, and to be a thorn-in-the-side of, the Firestones.  The Empire of Rubber, although somewhat rooted and maintained for many decades, in the end, had only a tenuous hold and did not take over Liberia by the covert ways and means it had wished.

Historians and history lovers will love this book, which is chock-full of detail and methodically written dates and timelines; although it may make it a plodding read for the less attuned to detail.  There are black and white pictures interspersed among the pages, documenting the years and key players, which supplement the factual historical narrative.

Additional information such as Acknowledgements, Notes, About the Author Gregg Mitman and an Index, follow the main comprehensive work of Mitman, who seems to have done his research homework well.  What a mammoth task to which he was obviously equal!

                                              ~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

                                                            September 2021

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the review copy given by the publisher.

Book Review on Goodreads