Hezekiah - Part 2

Hannah hopped off the bus at school and began her walk down the hall toward her classroom. There were girls clustered around lockers showing off these colorful wristbands. Some were glittery, others multi-colored, and when the girls stretched them out, they were in the shapes of animals, fairies, dinosaurs...just about anything she could think of. It seemed as if from nowhere all the kids in her grade had acquired hundreds of these randomly-shaped rubber bands overnight.

"They're called 'silly bands,'" her friend Arleen said.

Soon, Hannah caught onto the craze. She had twenty of them up each arm and wanted more. Every time a new package of shapes came out, Hannah used her allowance money to buy them. She was gaining popularity with her classmates, too. Everyone liked to trade with her because she always had the newest shapes.

Her parents didn't approve of her infatuation with these bands, but they also wanted her to learn how to spend her money wisely. They gave their input, but in the end, it was up to her.

One day, Hannah was in her room and had all of her silly bands spread out on the floor. Tamara, her younger sister, came skipping in and wanted to play with her. She scooped up about five of the bands and began stretching them as far as they could go.

"Ma-ra!" Screamed Hannah as she snatched them out of Tamara's hand. "You're going to break them! Don't you ever touch them again! They're mine. You hear me?? Mine!"

Tamara ran out of the room, crying.

A little later, Hannah's mom knocked quietly at her bedroom door.

"Yes?" Hannah asked sulkily.

"Do you know why I'm coming in here?"

"I think so."

"Hannah, why did you treat your sister that way? You usually love playing with her."

"I know. She was going to break my silly bands, though."

"You've gotten quite carried away with those silly bands and your dad and I are very worried about you. You hardly ever snap at your sister like that. It's not like you, Hannah. And I think you realize that too. When was the last time you read your Bible? You haven't told me any cool stories you've read recently. Have you been reading?"

"Well, no. I haven't had time because I've been trying to earn more money to buy silly bands... and I like to count them... and my friends and I like to trade them. Plus, I have to make sure I keep track of when new shapes come out..."

"Hannah, silly bands can be completely harmless, you know, until you begin placing those things before God. He is zealous for time with you. He loves to listen to you and show you new things about Him. What you are doing is placing an idol in a higher position than God. My advice to you would be to put your silly bands up and pick up where you left off in your Bible."

"Yes ma'am."

Hannah's mother smiled and quietly left the room. As she began to pick up all the silly bands surrounding her, Hannah got her Bible out and flipped to where she had left off.

...David had done. [Hezekiah] removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan).


"Well, I don't have a bronze serpent, but I do have some idols placed in some high places. Time to tear them down."

The next day, Hannah gave half of her silly bands to her sister and the rest she gave to her friends at school. She kept one for herself though. It was a reminder to her that many of life's pleasures are okay in small doses, as long as God remains in the high place.

Hezekiah - Part One

In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David ha--

"Hannah!"

"Yes, mom?"

"Could you come down here and give me a hand?" Hannah closed her Bible, slid off the bed, and gracefully danced down the stairs. Her mother was in the kitchen.

"What is it you need me to do?" She asked her mother.

"Would you mind helping me with dinner? I've got a great meal planned but it's going to take two chefs," her mom said playfully. Hannah hesitated. She had wanted to watch some t.v. and draw. 

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD...Honor your father and mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you. Right. "...Sure. What're we cooking?"

"Stuffed bell peppers..." Hannah wrinkled her nose. "Don't worry, I haven't told you the rest...my green bean recipe you love, and homemade dinner rolls."

"Okay, I can handle that!"

"Great, let's get started."

Numbers 11

This is the first chapter that has really stuck out to me in a while. I've been trudging through Leviticus and Numbers trying to enjoy it...but it's been rough. Then I came to Numbers 11. There was simply too much to ponder in that one.

The title of the chapter in my Bible is "The People Complain." I'm thinking...okay, I do that. I'm a person and I complain. I'm going to learn that complaining is a bad idea and I need to refrain. I did learn this, but more so than that, I was surprised that I have absolutely no reason to whine and gripe whatsoever.

The chapter starts out with the people crying to Moses about how tired they are of eating manna day after day after day. I thought about it and agreed that I would definitely get tired of eating bread baked with oil daily. Apparently they begged and pleaded a little too much because God just started burning up the place. Puts a whole new idea to Sean Kingston's song "Fire Burning." Shorty isn't fire burning on the dance floor...God is BURNING UP the dance floor Shorty is dancing on!

So, naturally, everyone starts freaking out and Moses hears this. He gets upset himself. He goes to God and says, "Did I give birth to these people? Why am I in charge of these idiots? How am I supposed to take care of these masses?" Personally, I think he was being quite sarcastic (which I'm trying to work on not doing myself...).
Basically, Moses was complaining to God about the people complaining to him about manna and fire burning.

God, in His mercy, gathers together 70 men and designates leaders for the separate tribes of Israel. This will give Moses a break. Plus, God said he would provide meat for everyone...you know, a change in pace. This is when Moses goes, "And HOW am I supposed to do THAT?" He completely doubted the fact that God could produce such a large number of animals to hunt and eat. God told Moses he would give the people so much meat it would be coming out of their fingernails! (Actually, God said it would come out of their nostrils) They think they're sick of manna! Heh. Just wait. I, personally, think it's kind of frightening to be sarcastic and doubtful of God's power like that.

Wait...but I think I'm like that most every day. I really do. When I looked back on the manna everyone was so tired of eating, I thought to myself, Self, what does the manna stand for? I think it stands for blessing, God's protection, God's willingness to provide daily... Perhaps God blesses us so often that we begin to take it for granted. I step into my house, my manna from God, every day and cease to find it much of a blessing anymore. I hop in my car, manna from God, that still works (it may have water jiggling in the door but whatev)and don't think of it as all that big of a deal. I put. on. clothes. Daily. It's true...I really do that. And I don't think a thing about it. Okay, I think that I need new clothing.

However, when I step back, my manna is protection, transportation (the freedom to go wherever I want to go whenever), and security. God grants me those three things every single day and what do I do? I sit in my house and complain about not getting this or wanting to know more than I need to about that...I sit in my car and gripe, gripe; gripe. I put on my clothes and think about what I could be buying if I had the funds and how much better I could look.

I think that sometimes God gets tired of all our griping and actually gives us what we want. And he doesn't just do it at a small level. Oh no. He's like, you think you want a piece of this earth? I won't just give you a piece, I'll give you a whole chunk of what the world has to offer! And it makes people sick.

Look at all the screwed up celebrities who have gotten their fill of this earth. Or take a look at anyone who has had more than they need of a certain thing...whether it be food, lovers, entertainment, shallow friends, whatever. God knows exactly how much we need of everything. He loves us enough to give us a balance. Sometimes we think these balances are bad things. We want more; we have to have something different than what God has given us. Well, I'm saying be careful what you ask or complain for because God might take those daily mannas and bump you up to a level you can't handle and it will make you very ill, indeed.

Don't put God to the test. Try and find what your daily manna is that you have forgotten throughout the years. Places that God has been continuously faithful in that you have ceased to recognize. I think doing that will open your eyes to a God that is more caring than you ever imagined.

Genesis 1-4

It has always been a struggle for me to get through Genesis. I don't think I have ever been able to fully accomplish it until this past year. I'm trying for it again so we shall see what I learn from this go round.
Even before we were created, God had us in mind. He could have created the world in one day but instead chose to give us a pattern to live by. He showed us how to live a healthy life: work 6 days and rest one.
God has also designed us to desire certain things, such as, a spouse to share life with, children, purpose... Do not think that God would equip us with such desires and not give us a way to fulfill them. Unfolding our purpose in life is what brings God glory, among other things.
In Genesis 4:6-7,9 it reminds me of what Rich Mullins used to claim. He would counter Cain and say, "I will be my brother's keeper." God has called us as Christians to excellence. It is through Christ's blood that we are blameless. A goal in our lives must be to live our best through God's strength. Satan does not want this to happen so it is crucial that we fight against the lion daily who waits to pounce on us.

GENESIS 1 - AND IT WAS SO.