I thought this was going to be REaLLy short partly because I've still got NO focus and partly because I've not been reading for the past few days. But ... here we go.

Blessings: God himself, in the big picture, seems to sweat this one great big huge thing ... "be loyal!" much more than any specific series of activities.

The book of Joshua focuses on getting the land parceled out ... and really ... relative to the amount of work that it took, there's not a lot of words on the subject.

But once we're into the books of the Judges and (eventually the Kings) ... there's just one repeating theme:

• The Israelites turn away from God to worship idols,
• God grieves ... yeah ... as in he's sad about being rejected and betrayed,
• God sighs (there seems to be a moment when He keeps hoping they'll come back on their own),
• God applies the learning curve (oppressors),
• The Israelites suddenly remember who is really able to rescue them,
• They cry out in their misery for God,
• God has pity on them,
• God raises up a leader (who has yet to be a high-priest) called a judge or a prophet (God absolutely choses this person) or a king (the people want to have a say in this chosen-leader-thing),
• The leader helps Israel out of their misery by leading them in war against their oppressors,
• The Israelites have a generation or two of peace (depends on how well the parents teach the kids)
• and then poof ... back to the beginning with little gold objects of worship or some obsessive need for Asherah poles.

Why do I consider this to be a blessing? Well, because I'm forever messing things up and getting myself into trouble ... but God constantly amazes me. Constantly! As soon as I turn back and say even the smallest little bit of concession that He's the God I need, He steps in and rescues me. Well, ok sometimes, in the process, it seems like forever. But when I look back, it seems like the smallest little space of time elapsed.

I know some of my biggest blessings have basically come from prayers that amount to little more than, "OK Fine! Whatever! All I know is You're the one that has to rescue me ... and I'm really hoping you'll rescue me ..." This, of course, is usually just the beginning of my time of humbling and hoping and begging ... and ... goodness ... He's so patient and generous and ... patient ... did I mention He's patient with the thick-headed and thoughtless?

I'm not saying this is the optimal formula for a daily walk. I am saying that this is how things tend to play out when I'm just unwilling to pay attention to &/or follow God's plan.

But this thought also leads to my ...

Frustration:

In keeping with the idea of being "created in His image," I find it interesting that the quickest way to hurt a fellow human being is to "break faith" with them -- and we do it in the most insidious ways played out with the most nonchalant manner ... dismissing their dreams and hopes, giving credit or credence to someone's nemesis, or just flat-out failing to make time to pay attention to someone. Oh we make it up to them by being nice to their face when their face is in our face but ... what they don't know, or notice, or call our hand on ... is ... no big deal. Right?

Yeah ... I can be that way with people ... and I am even more likely to be this way with God. Serving an idol is one way to "turn away" but just failing to take the time and effort to honor Him by paying attention to what He's really all about ... isn't that also turning away?

And ... I'm being goofy about reading when Billy is around. When he's around, I don't want to read. I want to visit. Now, you know the man has no problem with me going off and having my own thoughts when he is home ... Lord knows he'd probably love to have some time when I let him have his own thoughts ...

Soo ... +43 pages behind my on my catch-up schedule ... hmmmmm ...

A mixed blessing:

In case you're feeling discouraged about today's "Christian" leaders, Gideon is an amazing read. Really, there's just stuff about these "holy characters" that church leaders gloss over or ignore. I'm relieved to know God was still able to use Gideon, sad to know that what Gideon did with his blessing actually undid the good he'd done.

~ The Sleeping with Bread meme is propagated by Mary of Life, the Universe and Everything. ~