Offering an Expression of Thankfulness

I am participating in the "Read Through the Bible in a Year" plan along with many others at Calvary Baptist Church.  Currently, in the Old Testament readings, we are in the book of Leviticus.  The subject matter has been regulations around particular offerings.  I have to be honest and admit that this wasn't particularly inspiring.  However, God gave me something special in the midst of all the sin and guilt sacrifices...offering an expression of thankfulness.

In Leviticus chapter 7:  

¹¹ “‘These are the regulations for the fellowship offering anyone may present to the Lord:
¹² “‘If they offer it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with this thank offering they are to offer thick loaves made without yeast and with olive oil mixed in, thin loaves made without yeast and brushed with oil, and thick loaves of the finest flour well-kneaded and with oil mixed in. ¹³ Along with their fellowship offering of thanksgiving they are to present an offering with thick loaves of bread made with yeast.

I was basically "skim" reading and I almost missed it...  bread with yeast!  "Now that's different," I said to myself.  "All the offerings I'd read about that had to do with bread were without yeast...until now."

The reason it jumped out to me...the reason it became a personal, intimate moment with God, is that on that particular day I was baking bread.    

Saturday mornings have become a time of baking bread for me whenever I get the chance.  The aroma of the yeast as the dough rises...it makes my mouth water just thinking about it!  I usually cut a thick slice off the end of the hot, crusty loaf fresh out of the oven, add real butter and honey, and relish the sensory experience of it all for a short while.

That day, as I read about offering an expression of thankfulness with a loaf of bread made with yeast I became thankful myself.  I began counting my blessings.  I focused on what was good in life.  I found a simple reminder in the midst of that "dry" scripture in Leviticus that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16).

Darla


 

I'm an artist!

I've recently discovered I am an artist.  I spent an evening with a group of about 20 women in a workshop with India Cruse-Griffin.  I told her before we started that if anyone could bring out any tiny bit of artistic talent I had hidden deep inside me, I knew she could.  Hearing her story was inspiring. Allowing myself to trust the experience of creating was relaxing.  My "aha" for the night was that we are all artists...we just have to find the medium that allows what's inside to come out.  My favorite quote from India, "Art is what happens to you."

I encourage you to view India's work:  http://indiacg.wix.com/artist#!artist-spotlight

I encourage you to find the artist inside and let her out!

darla

Try again

I think I may try this blogging again, especially since I can post from my iPhone!

My Parent & Me Weekend July 24-26, 2009

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." --Zephaniah 3:17

This was the Scripture for My Parent & Me Weekend at Butler Springs Christian Camp in Hillsboro, OH. The campfire talks and the Sunday morning message focused on various aspects of this verse...and, WOW...

God spoke to me very clearly!

I've been living under a "contract" with God -- I do what I'm supposed to do, and He owes me. The problem is, that when bad things happened then I got mad at Him... He broke the deal!

That's not what He wants at all. My Father wants me to desire just Him... not what He can give me or do for me in exchange for my good behavior. He laughs over me...He smiles over me...He dances over me... THAT is my Creator!

Thank you, Rick Alvey, for sharing this message with us... it has changed my life! I'm glad to have a venue to pass it along...

darla

lessons from Deuteronomy

I signed up for the "Read Through Your Bible in 90 Days" program at church...well, maybe I'll end up taking more than 90 days to get through it, but I'm sure enjoying the journey!

Today God spoke to me in the eighth chapter of Deuteronomy, verse 2...to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart...

In order to know what was in your heart.

Sometimes what is in my heart is hidden to me. Then when it becomes visible it can be SCARY! I WANT my motives to be pure. I DESIRE for my intentions to be good. But that is definitely NOT the case much of the time...

Hmmm....

I really like it when I find a little piece of Scripture to "chew"on...

this was my "find" of the day!

my very first blog

well...I attended a training today focused on public relations and social networking. One of the action steps I committed to was to research "blogging" as a means of communicating about the organization I work for. As with other social media tools, I am going to try it out personally before I present a plan to use it in connection with my work. So here goes...

blogging was described today as an "online journal" -- now THAT appeals to me! I've always enjoyed journaling...sometimes recording the experiences of the day, sometimes expressing my feelings and emotions, and sometimes writing Scripture that encouraged or inspired me. The pleasure I find in journaling all started with the diary my Daddy bought me when I had my tonsils taken out in third grade -- you know, the kind that locked with the little key! I still have that precious treasure and from time-to-time I rediscover it among the keepsakes of my childhood.

I will close with some words from Psalm 62: "One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that You, O God, are strong, and that You, O Lord, are loving."