Its honestly taken me a few days to really process and articulate this into words. An event that happened 20 years ago yet still feels like yesterday when the images are tattooed in your memories as a growing anxious and awkward middle school adolescent. September 11, 2001- a day many people will never forget if you were old to remember it all unfolding. I was a lanky, gangly, shy, anxiety ridden eleven year old. I had just started sixth grade, that day was our fall picture day, sadly no one felt like smiling for their yearbook photo unless it was a halfhearted nervous easy smile, because we were confused and not really sure what was going. When the announcement came on from our principal that some planes had crashed we didn’t really know what was going on, until our teachers turned on the TVs in our classrooms. I was in my art class, and my teacher Mrs. Crenshaw The images were hard to watch, but hard to look away from in shock of what was happening. Then they said those words most kids had never really heard of thought of: terrorist attack. Sure it struck terror to anyone who saw it, but what does that even mean? We thought someone unfortunately crashed a plane on accident, but then TWO planes and then MORE in other places, you mean someone strategically attacked on purpose with the sole intent of fear and terror in the hearts of thousands and millions of people?! Yes, that’s exactly what happened.
Now, to an eleven year kid who just lost her grandpap earlier that year, watched these terror attacks unfold, been diagnosed with asthma while at a doctor appointment with a sprained ankle from basketball conditioning and tryouts, a retainer and glasses, already diagnosed with anxiety in elementary school…my little sheltered world was not all blue skies and sunny days. When I was a young girl fear, faith and fall all used to collide. Anxiety and depression are real. As a little girl who dealt with fear constantly, October was a time when everything scary and frightening came to reality…even if was fake. Scary movies, costumes, ghost stories all of the above made their debut in October. I dealt with anxiety, shyness (that was a very brief season in my life), nervousness crippled me at times. I would find excuses and let things hold me back. When I was a teenager, the anxiety had weakened but depression was more on the forefront. I would get nauseous at the thought of getting up to speak or even sing in front of an audience. Fast forward ten years later, I speak and sing and teach all the time now. It’s as natural as breathing. God conquered my fears and doubts with growing my faith. Fear and faith can’t exist in the same dwelling place. God has been teaching me throughout the last few years that change is a normal part of life. In the past few years, I graduated college, changed careers, lost loved ones, and blessed with a beautiful relationship, laughed, cried, struggled and became more brave. Life is full of change. How we adapt to change is how we learn and grow.
Pause for a REFLECTION QUESTION: What point or events in your life have changed or challenged your perspective whether for worse or for better? If worse, how can you change your perspective?
Fast forward a little over a year and a half later our country goes to war in March 2003. In my lifetime I’d never seen a war. I was too young to remember the first Desert Storm in the 90s. The recent events in the past month our troops have come home but there is still turmoil in the middle east and there’s still work to be done. The world is full or fighting- alot of it fighting over things that don’t matter. Fast forward to 2020, a global pandemic called COVID-19 the coronavirus. Business and school shutdowns, social distancing, sanitizer, cleaning products, stay six feet away, virtual learning for schools, no social gatherings, economic struggles, etc. Then things started to get back to a new normal and a vaccine came into the scene. Then recently the COVID delta variant emerged far worse than its predecessor. Here is a list of what people fight about to this day: Pro Gun/Anti Gun, Pro Life/Pro Choice, LBTQ+ , the Vaccinated and the Unvaccinated, Wear a mask or don’t wear a mask and the list goes on and on increasing more trivial as we go. All I want to say is do you remember SEPTEMBER 12, 2001? The day after the attacks where it did not matter what state you were from, what neighborhood or socioeconomic class you were, what color your skin is or what religion you are, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, at that point we were and are all Americans hurting and embracing each other in the midst of tragedy and crisis. The world not just our nation is facing a crisis and people want to fight and cause more distress? What happened? This is a time we need to examine our hearts and motives, our own personal convictions and relationship with God our creator. Give yourself grace, and show others grace. Put down your weapons for a moment because you’re fighting the wrong enemy: when the enemy can cause division amongst a connected group or body of believers he’s made a civil war amongst them. Recollect yourselves, bear one another’s burdens, pray and then pick up your sword to fight the real enemy.
Joshua 1:9 the Lord says to Joshua “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” The Lord said I commanded you not to be scared, it wasn’t a suggestion to be strong. Sometimes being strong is the only option you have. Joshua had no choice but to move on and prepare to conquer without fear, but in full faith. The only other choice would’ve been to back down and quit.
It’s time to change the narrative, flip the script and do better. Get back to the basics y’all. Wake up people. Seek Him. I leave you with this verse and prayer from 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV https://2chronicles.bible/2-chronicles-7-14
With hope for a better kingdom, Heather H. Carnley
Beautiful art print from my cousin at Bridgett Kay Designs, go check out her custom work!
Have you ever prayed for a miracle and felt like it didn’t happen the way you wanted it to? Even when you’ve seen amazing miracles happen in the exact way for others. That’s probably how Mary and Martha felt. The two sisters and their dear brother Lazarus were very close friends of Jesus and the disciples. In fact this Mary is the same one who anointed Jesus’s feet with very expensive perfume and wept tears of worship on his feet. They knew what Jesus could do, what He taught and most importantly they knew and loved Him. The Son of God, surely He could easily heal and restore health to their gravely ill brother Lazarus. However when Jesus heard about it in the next town over, He had been teaching and preaching to another crowd. He was taking care of His Father’s business, on assignment. It wasn’t as if Mary, Martha and Lazarus weren’t important, they already had accepted and received Jesus as the Messiah. He was teaching those who had not heard about the Kingdom of Heaven, the Gospel. Their miracle was coming, but Jesus had a particular timing for a reason, the reason being so that God the Father could be glorified in it all. If Jesus would’ve came earlier He could’ve just easily healed Lazarus’ sickness and that would be all there was to it. Many people had seen Him heal the sick before. But what He was going to do was far greater than any doctor could ever do. He would raise the dead back to life! He waited. He did it purposefully so they would all believe that God sent Him! Mary, Martha and everyone else said He was too late, he was already gone!
Scriptures:
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Have you ever felt that way before? Like it was too late for a change, the chance of a miracle had come and gone, the hope and dream was well past dead? Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days! When we feel like it’s over, it’s done- He is always on time! You may have given up, when you’re miracle is on it’s way! And yet sometimes we have to understand that our miracle is not always about us, Lazarus’ didn’t get healed right away, but he was restored! His miracle was a testimony to others witnessing what had happened. Our prayers for healing of the sick loved ones may not always be answered on this side of Heaven. Jesus made sure that God the Father in heaven was glorified through this miracle. A little known fact is that this was one of the last miracles Jesus performed, after that they sought out to arrest Him! He was foreshadowing what was to come the Resurrection of His own life after the crucifixion that would take place. Jesus said in John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
What “dead” dreams and “hope is gone” in your life need to be resurrected? On the flip side, what things do you need to let go of? Scripture says we die daily to our sin nature and live in the hope that Christ Jesus gives us. We, too, will live eternally with Jesus when we go to Heaven. But you have to accept the gift first.
Stay hopeful, your miracle may be late to you but He’s always on time!
Peace vs. Chaos. Justice vs. Injustice. Fear vs. Faith. Freedom vs. Captivity. July 4, 1776 and June 19, 1865…dates that represent freedom. One for the birth of a country breaking away from a tyrannical ruler, the other for people the first time being called free and not someone else’s property. Rewind centuries earlier, thousands of years earlier: a dreary Friday, a silent Saturday, and a glorious Sunday where death had been defeated…the day where true freedom began.
In the world as of lately, it was and is in an uproar let’s be realistic. A global pandemic causing death, everything to shut down and people living in fear. A battle against racial tension and injustice, inequality. Politics. Economic crisis. A coin shortage. Churches under attack from the enemy. And so much more, it will make your head spin if it’s all you consume yourself with. You will drive yourself crazy if it’s all you see and hear and let yourself think about. Step away and look at society, and look at it a little more personally: Who is in control of your actions? Who is in control of your thoughts and opinions? Who is in control of how your feelings and emotions cause you to react? Who is in control of the choices you make? The answer to all these questions is the same…YOU. God is in control of all things in the great big world and universe, but He gave us the ability to think, know, grow, live and make our own choices…good ones and bad ones. Freedom of choice. Freedom of opinion. Freedom of assembly. Freedom of speech. (Scripture says to be careful with our words because the power of life and death is in the tongue) We live in a country where we can do just about anything that is legal of course. You even have the freedom (free will) to go and make bad decisions (remember to everything there is a consequence). You sadly can oppress your own self by choices you make, in the form of addictions or vicious cycles if you so choose. You can work, you can dream, you can have a family. You can go into your church and worship freely. We have those rights. In the Declaration of Independence it states these three main points: All men (and women) are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain Inalienable Rights including Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness. Individuals have a civic duty to defend these rights for themselves and others. You have been given LIFE by the one who created YOU. You have been given LIBERTY, freedom by His Son Jesus on the Cross. You have been given the pursuit of happiness by the JOY that He brings you…anything else you chase and pursue you won’t always catch. This world cannot steal away what it did not give you to begin with. What is given by God cannot be taken away.
Let’s go back to that last part, no one can steal your joy or your peace, because no one in this world gave it to you. But freedom now, no one or no thing can hold you captive unless you let them have the keys! What freedom feels like is walking in your calling. What freedom feels like is knowing you are protected and loved. Freedom feels like a safety net and leap of fearless faith all in one because His arms will catch you. Freedom to fly and soar. What freedom feels like is walking into the sunlight. What freedom feels like is breathing in new fresh air in lungs once suffocated by panic. What freedom feels like is a new life. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! Jesus sets free every captive. He has the key, let Him in. Every chain can be broken or if it has a lock, you know there’s a key to it somewhere! Stop letting other people’s opinions, choices, words and actions determine you and your choices, opinions, words and actions. We often fall victim to our own thoughts, we create our own prisons of doubt and fear. Y’all, who the SON sets FREE is FREE INDEED! Stop letting others opinions and choices effect and dictate your life! We are called to live in freedom.
When you were little, were you ever afraid of the dark? I had a Barbie nightlight when I was about 5 years old. As an adult I still like to have some type of light, so I don’t trip, fall, or bump into anything if I have to get up in the middle of the night. The dark itself is not the scary part, it’s the uncertainty of what the darkness beholds. Not being able to see what is there is what scares most people. For a small child, they may think there are monsters lurking and waiting in the dark. Can you imagine being born without the ability to see or living in complete blindness and uncertainty? Never being able to see your loved ones faces, let alone know what you look like. Never being able to see the beauty of creation or the magnitude of the sunset or sunrise. Fear of the unknown is what holds many people back. Fear of not being able to see what lies ahead of them, but my dear friend isn’t that what faith is? The ability to trust and believe what you can’t always see despite the uncertainties.
How often in our lives do we walk around with spiritual blinders on? Sometimes we get tunnel vision and only see what we want to see, or what is directly in front of us. But how often do we really look around us at our surroundings, the physical and the spiritual? God gave us peripheral vision for a reason, when we get distracted we can’t see what is around us. For example, when you are driving a vehicle, you have a rearview mirror to see what is in front of you without looking back, a windshield huge window to see ahead of you and two side view mirrors to see what’s beside you. But you have this thing called a blindspot where you’re side view mirrors cannot reach. You have to physically look and make sure your surroundings are safe. Spiritually we forget to check our blindspot sometimes, the things that we allow to catch us off guard but if we had took the time to look could’ve been avoided. Did you know that when you lack one of your five senses that most of the time the other senses are heightened and even more in tune with surroundings? There is a thing called spiritual warfare. What we can’t see but feel in every fiber of your being. The invisible enemy, if we were to put on spiritual glasses we would be afraid. Scripture says we fight the principalities of darkness and evil. Scripture also says that “the angel of the Lord encamps around those that fear Him.” The world is full of darkness but as children of God, followers of Jesus the one true light of the world- we must be the light. We must not walk around in spiritual darkness and blindness.
Scriptures: Mark 8:22-25, John 9:1-7
Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-25)
22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind (John 9:1-7)
1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.
When we pray and seek for Jesus to open our eyes, just like Bartimaeus and the other blind men He healed-our spiritual eyes are opened to see the needs of other, the eyes of your heart are opened to compassion, your spiritual eyes are sometimes opened to the unseen battles that are around you. Eyes that see not only the flaws but the beauty that everyone is made in His image. We must see others as He sees them. Also, we can no longer be blind to the evil around us, nor should we be afraid.
Prayer for you today: Dear Lord, open my eyes to see Your glory, power and honor in everything. Help me to see You are in control of the seen and unseen. Thank You for fighting my battles. Thank You for Your angel armies standing guard over me. Remind me daily, of Your beauty in creation in every little thing. Lord, open my eyes to see the needs of others, to see selflessly instead of selfishly. Open my eyes to my heart Lord. Amen ❤
Have you ever been so hungry that it hurts? Have you ever been hangry? We have all experienced some type of hunger and thirst, but I’m sure its trivial in comparison to those who have actually had to go without and are starving or have a lack of clean drinking water. Think about it. The last time you were hungry, all you had to do was maybe open your refrigerator or pantry. You and I are not in a third world country without clean water and a scarce food supply. When was the last time you knew what it was like to be starving? Some of you, sadly that may be part of your story. You never know what someone may be going through or what difficult path they’re on or the season they are walking through.
Did you know that whether you realize it or not, we all have a deep-seeded need or an unexplainable hunger or unquenchable thirst that we need filled?
It can be different for each person. Everyone has a void that is empty. Everyone has a God-shaped hole in their heart that only He can fill, that hole is the shape of the cross. Jesus is the one who can fulfill our needs.
There was a big need for big crowd of people with no resources in sight and Jesus met their primary needs in a mighty miraculous way…
Matthew 14: 13-21
“13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sickness.15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.”
He can take a little bit and make a surplus out of what was once a dire need!
Prayer for you today:
Dear Lord, thank You for being the supplier and provider of my most essential needs. Thank You for my family, friends and my career. Thank You for a roof over my head, a place to call home and sleep, food to eat and water to drink. Thank You for my health and my peace. Thank You for the desires set upon my heart (Psalm 37:4) You supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory. (Philippians 4:19). Amen❤
Did you know that perfection here on earth once existed? Think of the most beautiful place you’ve ever visited and or picture of a place that is so beautiful that people may call it “heaven on earth”. To each picture it may look different, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The beholder in this case, is the Creator- God the Father. He makes no mistakes, everything He created is beautiful and good. The Garden of Eden in Genesis 1-2 was absolutely beautiful and perfect. God created the oceans, mountains, valleys, all the plants, trees, every animal on earth and saw that it was good. Then He made each of us, in His image. Everything was as He created it to be, perfect. He gave one rule to Adam and Eve to not eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge in the middle of the garden, anything else they could have and eat freely. But the one fruit of that particular tree was dangerous-it wasn’t literally poison but the aftermath would contaminate Adam and Eve’s lives as well as everyone else after them: something toxic and deadly called sin that marred and tainted the perfection that God created. You see, that fruit opened their eyes to more than they ever needed to know: the conflicting battle of good and evil. Evil was never meant to have a place, but once that serpent saw a way to trick God’s beautiful humans He made then the serpent started His scheme. We were created to love and be loved by our Creator, we were never meant to have pain or hurt, to be sick, to hurt others or for evil to run rampant. God gave Adam and Eve, and us the ability of free will.
The problem came when sin entered the world, perfection of Eden had ended. Sin is what separates us from God, it drove a wedge in an otherwise perfect relationship.
Creation/Purpose of Mankind: “The Prologue”-Setting the Scene for God’s Ultimate Plan(Genesis 1-2)
In the beginning, God created something amazing out of absolutely nothing! God has been around before time, He has no beginning and no end. He is eternal. When the Bible says “In the beginning…” it refers to what we call time and recorded history. Genesis 1:1-2 says “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. This universe, this earth that dwell on and everything in it was created and formed by a creative, all powerful, sovereign, artistic God with many diverse details. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” God spoke everything into existence. On the first day God said “Let there be light”, and there was light. God divided the light and darkness. He called the light Day, and called the darkness Night. This evening and morning were the completion of the first day. On the second day, God created division between the sky and seas. Then the third day God created made division between the dry land and the seas. On the third day, God also created the trees, plants, and flowers. Every beautiful, lush, green blade of grass, every diverse, creative leaf, every branch of every tree, and every colorful flower God created it. On the fourth day, God made two great lights and placed them in the sky, He called the one for the daytime, the sun. He called the other one for the nighttime, the moon. God also created and hung the planets and stars in the night sky. The fifth day, God created birds to fly in the air and fish that filled the seas. On the sixth day God created all the other animals and creatures, like mammals. But there was one special creation that was above the other things, a creation that lived, moved, and could think.
On the sixth day, God created and formed humankind. Everything God created, He spoke into existence, because He has that kind of power and authority. But when creating man God formed Adam from the dust of the earth. He sculpted, crafted, and formed man with personal care and intricate detail. Genesis 1:26-27 speaks of how God created mankind by stating “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” God created man in His image, and then woman was fashioned and created from man’s rib. God formed man, whom He called Adam, from dust and breathed His very own breath of life into him and he began to live. God saw that it wasn’t good for man to be alone so He created woman, whom He called Eve, from Adam’s rib. God gave these human beings dominion and authority over all the creatures of the earth. Adam and Eve walked, talked, and spent time with God. We carry the same attributes of personality and emotion. God is love, and we were created for a love relationship with God and others. He created Eve to have a relationship with Adam. Throughout Genesis 1 & 2, numerous times it says God looked at His creation and saw that is was good. But God saw that man was alone, He said this isn’t good. Then God created woman and saw that it was good. Creation was now complete, man and woman were together. We are capable of feelings, deep critical thinking, emotions, love, and the ability to have dominion and control over the animals. Our flaws and things we may not like about ourselves like body image. God created all of His children differently, but yet we are all created in His image. Genesis 1:28 states God’s purpose for humanity, “God said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’ And God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” As human beings the most important purpose of our lives to grow in relationship with God and glorify Him. All throughout Scripture the purpose of man is mentioned. Isaiah 43:7 says “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him yes, I have made him.” later on in 43:21 says “This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.” We are created in His image to glorify Him. The purpose of God reveals His entire purpose of all of creation in Habakkuk 2:14, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”
The Need of Salvation/Problem of Sin (Genesis 3-11)
In Genesis 3 we see this ideal and beautiful relationship between God the creator and mankind the created, become marred and tainted. Genesis 3:1 introduces a creature “more cunning than any beast”; the serpent. The serpent, Satan, was talking to Eve and Adam was also present with her. The serpent lied and said “God is just trying to keep knowledge from you, He doesn’t want you to become like Him; all-knowing and powerful”. Before the fall, everything was how God intended it to be. Then sin entered the picture. Genesis 1:28 gives the first command “Be fruitful and multiply, subdue and rule the earth. Genesis 2:16-17 gives the second command, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ‘but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” This did not mean that Adam and Eve would physically die immediately, the flesh has overtaken the spirit; meaning that because of sin we will all one day die. Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Sin is the barrier that separates us from God. God is holy and set apart. Sin dominates the fallen world we live in. Adam and Eve were ashamed and tried to hide in the garden from God, but He still pursued them. Today God still pursues us even when we try to run away. Genesis 3:15 is a prophetic verse in Scripture that reminds of the consequences of sin as well as the ultimate sacrifice that has to be made. Genesis 3:15 says “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” The Seed of woman is the offspring that later comes in the New Testament, God incarnate, divinity in human form…Jesus Christ of Nazarene. The seed of the serpent obviously is Satan. A snake can strike a human’s heel by biting, “you shall bruise His heel” and a human can crush a snake’s head, “He shall bruise your head.” The world had increasingly become sinful, tainted and corrupt. Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. Abel and Cain both presented offerings to the Lord, but Cain’s was not acceptable to Him. Cain became jealous and angry, so he killed his brother Cain. God knew and punished Cain, banishing from the land like a fugitive and nomad. Eve eventually conceived and gave birth to another son named Seth (Gen. 4:25-26). Genesis 4 ends with the descendants of Seth.
The world that God had created and “saw that it was good” had become so sinful that a man would kill his own brother. In Genesis 5, we see a recap of Genesis 1:26-27; mankind being made in the image of God; and we also see a brief history of the genealogies of mankind. The world had become so sinful that God was sorry that He made man. God saw that there was one righteous man and his family, his name was Noah. Noah was the only righteous man that followed the Lord. Noah was not a perfect and saintly man, but He followed the Lord. God gave Noah specific and very detailed instructions to build an ark. The ark was kind of like a giant floating box, made to float like a boat but had no rudders, oars, or any type of steering. The ark floated and drifted whichever way the Lord sent it with the wind and waves. The reason God told Noah to build this ark is because God was going to send rain to flood the entire earth! God wanted to wipe the earth clean of its corruptness and start all over again. It took Noah approximately 120-140 years to build the ark. God told Noah to only bring his family, his wife, three sons; Ham, Shem, Japheth and their wives along with two of every animal that was “unclean” meaning those that they couldn’t eat as food. Yet God asked for seven each of clean animal, so they would have enough for food as well. The Lord sent one male and female animal so they could reproduce and multiply. It rained for 40 days and 40 nights until the earth was completely covered in water, even the mountains were covered! The water stayed on the earth 150 days (Gen. 7:24) Noah sent out a raven and a dove, one day the dove returned with an olive branch, meaning that the waters had receded. God placed a rainbow in the sky as a covenant and promise that He would never destroy the earth again (Gen. 9:13-15). Genesis 10 and 11 we see the ancestry of all the generations after Noah, his sons, and their descendants.
Genesis 11 tells of nations that had formed out the descendants of Noah. Genesis 11:1 says “Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.” But they began to want more, similar to when Eve was tempted by the serpent to know more and become like God. In Genesis 11:4 we see that they wanted to make a name for themselves, “And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” The Lord saw what they were doing. God scatters them and confuses their language. This was what we call the tower of Babel. In Genesis 11:7-9, we see how the “nations” began to spread out and grow. Genesis 11:6-9 says, “And the Lord said, ‘Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.’ So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” God is beginning to make many nations. We begin to see the multiplying of generations throughout the years and ancestry in Genesis 11.
Genesis 1-11 is known as the prologue, setting the scene of the beginning of God’s ultimate plan of redemption. We have four main components that introduce what we now read as our Bible. The four components are Creation and the purpose of Man (Genesis 1-2), the Need of Salvation that we have for God’s mercy because of the problem of sin also known as the Fall (Genesis 3-5), the Noah’s ark of safety amidst the catastrophic flood that God used to wipe the earth of all its corruptness (Genesis 6-10), and the flop of the tower of Babel by the scattering of many people and confusion of multiple languages (Genesis 11). All of these events form the foundation for God’s blessings and His ultimate plan to be known and worshiped throughout all the earth. The earth is beginning to be filled with people. Each of these people were sons and daughters of God. God stated a command to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth will people who reflect His glory. God’s plan to reflect His glory is through people who love Him as well as love others. We are His chosen instruments, as mankind to reflect His glory in all the earth; after all we are created to be His image-bearers. We needed someone perfect to fix everything, and Jesus Christ of Nazareth was His name.
Have you ever just stopped to think about nature and all its beauty? God created everything just as it should be. Think about how tall the majestic mountains are and how the valleys provide cooling shade amongst the canopy of trees? The intriguing and mysterious depth of all the oceans. The warmth of the sun, it’s strategically placed to maintain enough warmth to keep us from freezing and far away to keep us from burning. The detail and function of every plant and animal in the kingdom, every living organism. God created science and the building blocks of life. Lifegiver. Creator. Sustained. Provider. Father. His plan unfolded in a miraculous way.
Jesus came and showed God’s power in human form. Divinity in the flesh. He came to earth just like me and you, a baby from his nurturing mother’s womb. From the beginning conception was even miraculous, a young virgin. His birth was just like any other child, except in a barn because the inns were crowded. As a child, his wisdom grew as he learned and taught in the synagogues. Wise beyond his years. A normal kid and teenager with his parents and younger siblings. A hardworking carpenter’s son like his dad Joseph who loved to fish. He grew up into a young adult, and started his ministry at age 30.
His first miracle was at a wedding of some family friends, Mary his mother was with him. They had run out of wine, and all they had were pictures and jars of water. Jesus, provided the wine. Wine was symbolic of joy. Jesus brought wherever he went. He calmed the storm by saying peace, be still. He walked out of the water and called one of his beloved disciples to join him in by doing it too. He fed thousands with just a little snack of a lunch meant for one little boy. He can multiply even the smallest of things in our lives if we have faith to just let Him work! He healed the blind, and opened their eyes to wonders they had never seen before literally and spiritually! He opened deaf ears and the first thing they heard was the voice of truth, the Son of God! He healed the mute, their first words were praises to Him! He healed the sick and hurting from all ailments and afflicting diseases. He helped the lame to stand and walk in truth and life! He spoke the truth and changed lives for the better. He brought a dead man, who had been in the grave for four whole days, back to life! Can you imagine?! Everything he did struck up wonder and amazement!
What are some examples in your life or in the lives of others around that you’ve seen His power and glory displayed? Are you in need of a MIRACLE? Ask Him! Seek Him!
Here are two song links and MEMORY VERSES for you to study and ponder on your heart:
“Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.”
Luke 5:26 (ESV)”And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
Tones drop, even when they’re not at the station. Radio chatter, hearing the dispatcher relay the situation at hand. Notifications pinging throughout the day. Gear bag and boots ready in bag by the door. Charging radio batteries. The majority of his wardrobe in the laundry being fire department shirts. Hearing an engine or ladder company go by sirens blaring wondering if its his crew. Waving at every fire truck that rides by because it might just be part of your fire family and if not it’s someone’s family. Trying to watch a tv show or movie and firefighter and trucks are on scene and he scoffs and laughs saying “That’s not how you do it! That’s Hollywood, it’s not accurate.” I just smile and laugh. Buying every firetruck or Maltese cross emblem or ornament or trinket as small reminders of how proud I am of him. For as long as we have been dating, he has been a volunteer firefighter and I have been a preschool teacher. We were both young and had been out of college two years, we were indeed brand new rookies. We had known each other 5 years as college friends, we didn’t date until 2 years after we graduated. In college we both graduated with the same Bachelor’s degree of Science in Youth Ministry and Family Culture. Little did we know that our “ministry” would look different than we ever expected. Wes loves what he does, but yet most people think volunteer firefighters aren’t “actual” firefighters or that they don’t get paid because they are “volunteer”, or that they don’t do the same stuff career firefighters (just like some people think that childcare and preschool teachers don’t do the same amount of work that regular school teachers do). Let me set the record straight on all regards here, IT IS the same. Volunteer Firefighters have to go through the same recruitment classes, rigorous training, and testing that a career firefighter does. Danger or fire doesn’t care if you or career or volunteer, you must be ready and trained either way. Training, drills, station meetings, classes and continuing education that they do, community outreach and service-everything they do career staff and volunteers do it together as a team-there is no difference. As for pay, they do get a check for what they earn and do every so often a month or quarter. Back to what I said about how our “ministry” looks different than what we expected it would from our college days, firefighting is a ministry in it’s own way- you are somebody’s safety and hope in a time of crisis and need what better way to show the love of Jesus than saving lives and serving others. I am so proud of the man my husband is.
So here’s a little Q&A (H-Heather, W-Wes)
H: What was the hardest thing to do in training when you were a rookie vs. the hardest thing as of now?
W: The hardest thing about being a rookie is was not knowing what you were doing and the hardest thing now is staying teachable and not seeming like you know everything.
H: What has changed in your years of experience since you’re first day as rookie?
W: The crew now relies on me to be a key member of the team, I have more responsibilities than I did as a rookie, the newness wore off. You learn as you go.
H: What is your favorite thing that your station does for the community besides protecting them?
W: One my favorite things that we do is the Santa claus run to get out there and see the joy of the kids as well as the families in our community is a pretty amazing feeling.
In the last blog, “Know Your Roots” in the I talked about ancestry and genealogy, why it’s important to know where you come from and your heritage. Family history is not such a new found hobby or science, people have been studying it for years. In the medical field, its important to known your family medical history to look any genetic markers or heredity diseases or disorders. Those who have been adopted into a loving family, still yearn to learn about their biological family. That is completely normal. When you get married and start building your own family like I am, its important you and your spouse look at your family trees as you continue to grow the branches and leaves. I’m gonna “retweet” myself here a line from my previous post “Learn the past, but don’t you dare stay stuck in it-move forward! If you don’t know your history, you may be bound to repeat it. If you don’t know your past, how will you truly have a future?” In bible times, they felt the same way about remembering their roots but forging their own path in God’s call. Let’s look at some biblical examples of ancestry and good ole fashioned family trees: after all we all came from Adam and Eve, [The Genealogy of Adam to Noah is found in Genesis 5, Noah’s Descendants are found in Genesis 10, and Abraham is a descendant of Shem’s tribe found in Genesis 11] but let’s fast forward…
Abraham: Father of Nations- In Genesis, Abram was a faithful servant of the Lord. God called him to go from his country away from his father’s land, the place he called home for most of his life. He was starting new, uprooting and replanting somewhere else. God calls us to bloom where we’re planted, sometimes He calls us to pick up roots and replant in order to grow. Abram had an encounter with God, so amazing that God changed his name to Abraham. He and his wife Sarai, her name became Sarah. His name Abraham literally means “father of nations” and her name now meant “princess”. Our names, are part of our story and identity, who He made each of us to be. When God changed someone’s life and their situation, He also changed their name. Abraham’s very name included the words father-something that most men among to be. Now you see, Abraham and Sarah loved each other and the Lord very much. They had been married many years and were very old in age. The thing is, they had no children. God made a promise-a covenant that included land, descendants that would outnumber the stars in the sky and build a nation that would be a blessing to the entire earth. How was the father of nations to be a father when he had no children? No son to call an heir or to teach him how to be a man. And for Sarah, this was extremely heartbreaking because she was barren. The heaviness of not bearing children for her husband weighed on her. One day, Sarah had a plan. Her plan included another woman, her servant Hagar.
Issac: The Chosen Child- A child born late in life to happy parents who waited his miraculous arrival and the older half sibling born of a compromise and agreement-created a blended family dynamic. Isaac was the promised child, Ishmael was the compromise child. As mentioned above Sarah thought for sure that she would never be a mother naturally so she decided to become one on her own terms, through her trusted maidservant becoming a surrogate. Sarah became jealous once young Ishmael was in the picture and when her pride and joy Isaac was born she made Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. A true example of a blended family and half siblings. I, too was a late in life baby born to much older parents with much older half siblings. Miracles happen, Sarah was 90 years old and literally laughed when the angel told her she would have a baby, I mean I would too! Isaac’s name literally means “laughter”. Miracles happen because this is still family. Even if its messy. I come from a blended family with half siblings too.
Jacob & Esau: Sibling Rivalry & Stolen Inheritance – Isaac grew up and married a beautiful wife named Rebekah. They were thrilled at the idea of becoming parents-and guess what it’s TWINS! God gave them a double portion of blessings! Esau was the older twin, debuting first out of the womb and Jacob was clinging to his heel on the way out. They entered this world in a wrestling match and they struggled with each other the rest of their lives. Esau was a strong rugged outdoorsy man, he was a hunter gatherer and provided food for his family. When Isaac was old and well in his years, his vision and cognitive awareness wasn’t what it used to be and Jacob took advantage of that with the help of Mama Rebekah. Esau was outraged, and rightfully so-his own twin brother AND mother betrayed not only his trust but their own father. Remember this is not the first example of sibling rivalry (Cain and Abel) and won’t be the last in the Bible, Jacob realizes later that picking favorites causes dysfunction and hurt.
The 12 Tribes of Israel (aka the sons of Jacob) – After Jacob fled to the land of his mother, to stay with relatives his Uncle Laban. Laban was Rebekah’s brother. Laban had many sheep, a lot of land and two daughters- Leah the eldest and Rachel the younger. It was love at first sight for Jacob when he saw Rachel. Laban made a deal with Jacob to work for him SEVEN years just to marry her. Little did Jacob know his former deceitful and conniving ways were catching up with him. When that seventh year was up and the wedding day and night came, Laban sent Leah his older daughter in the wedding chambers to lay with her new husband Jacob. Jacob was alarmed when he didn’t wake up next to his chosen and beloved Rachel. He had been tricked! He then had to turn around and work SEVEN MORE years to marry Rachel. So 14 years later, 2 wives and 2 concubines later (he gained their maidservants Zilpah and Milcah as well) Jacob began to start a family. Jacob’s twelve in birth order were Reuben (by Leah), Simeon (by Leah), Levi (by Leah), Judah (also by Leah), Dan (by Bilhah Rachel’s servant), Naphtali (by Bilhah), Gad (by Zilpah Leah’s servant) , Asher (by Zilpah), Issachar (by Leah), Zebulun (by Leah), one daughter named Dinah (by Leah), Joseph (by Rachel) and Benjamin (by Rachel) whom she died giving birth to. Jacob grieved his beloved Rachel. Two sisters who loved the same man. One big family with alot sibling rivalry. Joseph’s brothers we know were very jealous of him and you can read the rest of Genesis to find out his story of redemption and forgiveness. One man, Jacob- became the father of a nation just like his grandfather. Jacob had a dream and was visited by an angel. He literally wrestled with God, He touched his hip socket and he was never the same! The point being- when you have an encounter with God you won’t even walk and talk the same as you were before Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, and Jacob became Israel! He went from being “deceiver” to “He who strives or wrestles with God”. God changes things, circumstances and you!
The Lion of Judah: the unofficial “Royal Family” Just before Jacob/Israel passed away and all his sons had made peace with each other and their brother Joseph, he prayed and blessed each of his sons as well as his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh-Joseph’s two sons. This was more than just a prayer and farewell to his beloved sons, it was him prophesying over his sons as tribes of a great nation: He knew that God has something great for the future regarding his legacy of sons. He said to Judah – “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.” Genesis 49:8-12 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.49.8-12.ESV. (Judah must’ve have been what we call “tall, dark and handsome”) Judah’s family was not by any means perfect or special in any extraordinary way but God chose his descendants to be the royal bloodline. Judah himself was not a king, neither were his sons. In fact, Judah’s sons were actually pretty wicked. Judah himself didn’t always do the “honorable” thing either. But God honored the same covenant He had with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and now Judah…your people, your family will be a blessing to all the people on earth. Jesus is called the Lion of Judah, the lion has and always will represent the King, a symbol of power and royalty. The scepter and ruler’s staff would never depart from his descendants nor would the throne ever leave the family. I think of the depiction in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, the beautiful King Aslan-is to be a parallel representation of Jesus. Let’s go further and look at Judah’s descendants that almost never existed but God had a plan…
The Women Who Birthed the Mighty Men: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba & Mary- one by one these women and the offspring of their wombs impacted the prophecies that were to be fulfilled!
Tamar- Let’s look at Judah’s immediate family and in laws for a minute. This family story is about to get a little crazy. Judah married a Canaanite woman and she born him three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. The lovely Tamar was married to Er, he was dishonorable to God and died because of his wicked ways. She was then to marry his brother, fulfilling the levirate law of marriage if there is no heir of the deceased, she must marry the brother to conceive a son for the deceased brother. So she married Onan, who was also dishonorable and wicked, he failed to impregnate her and he died also. Lastly, she was promised and betrothed to Shelah the youngest son who was far too young for marriage and he had to become an adult before she could marry him. Her father in law Judah promised her his youngest son to produce heirs. She was a widow twice and now barren and childless yet she had to patiently wait. Years had passed, Judah’s wife had died and he grieved her accordingly. He was out hanging with one of his old buddies at a sheep shearing and was trying to low key find him a new wife in the same place he found his first wife. (Cue music “Looking for love in all the wrong places…”) Judah had not kept his promise to Tamar and neglected to fulfill his father in law duties because Shelah was now an adult. Tamar heard that he was in town and took matters into her own hands, she disguised herself pretended to be a prostitute and Judah had relations with her. Judah offered the “harlot” a kid (goat, not human) as payment and she asked for collateral until he was to pay her. She asked for his seal, cord, and staff. When Judah’s friend Hirah brought the kid, everyone said they didn’t know a town harlot. They found out it was Tamar and wanted to have her executed for breaking her marital vows with her in- laws, little did they know that was indeed about three months pregnant with TWINS! She said the man who these items belongs to, is the father of my unborn children. Judah then came forth confessing that he had slept with Tamar unknowingly. He let his bad decisions take control and she proclaimed what was rightfully hers in a somewhat scandalous way. She had finished her task and put back on her widow’s clothes. She had been forgotten and rejected, and now redeemed. She bore him twin sons Perez and Zerah. Talk about some soap opera family drama! And people think the bible is boring!!! She Reads Truth author Melanie Rainer puts it this way “That is a lot of background to unpack a story that is, at its root, a story of God’s faithfulness to a family. God had made a promise to Abraham. He made a promise to Isaac and to Jacob. And at so many turns, the promise appears threatened by someone’s sin. Judah almost destroyed what he should never have had in the first place: the blessing of the line of Christ.” God used Tamar despite the sins of the family, He kept the covenant from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob to the fourth generation Judah. From Perez, the family tree continues….he is the ancestor of King David but let’s see how. Let’s fast forward the Abraham through Judah links we already know and read Matthew 1:3-6a “and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, Matthew 1:3-6 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.1.6.ESV
Rahab- Another somewhat scandalous woman with a town reputation. Rahab was indeed a harlot. She actually married Tamar and Judah’s 5th great grandson Salmon! Let’s look at Joshua 2, enter the land of Canaan the Israelites were promised, but they had a slight inconvenience, people already inhabited their promised land so they sent spies to check it out before they went to conquer, “And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” They found refuge and a willing aid in an unlikely woman– “And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.” They were being hunted and found safety in Rahab’s home along the city walls…“And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, Rahab had heard stories of who their God was, she wanted to be on their side and find out more about the God of the Israelites “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. She made them promise to protect her and her family to preserve them, she wanted to join in their faith! “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.” Joshua 2:1-24 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/jos.2.1-24.ESVRahab was a woman who had a reputation and she was also a Canaanite, they believed in idol worship of Baal. She also had a hunger and yearning inside of her for something that she was missing, that was God. She had heard the stories of the God of the Israelites and how He sent plagues and parted the Red Sea while delivering them from Egypt. She wanted to know that same God and His power. So she befriended and aided the men, learning more about their God while she hid them from her own people. She promised them protection if they did the same for her. This was her escape, her way out of the ways of life she knew-a new beginning when she and her family left and went with them. Rahab later married a young man named Salmon from the tribe of Judah. He was in fact the descendant of Hezron one of Judah’s twin sons by Tamar. Salmon was their fifth great grandson! God is always working! No matter what the family circumstances, God uses it all for a greater purpose! Now let’s meet Rahab’s future daughter in law…
Ruth: A Beautiful Love Story of Patience & Redemption- (personally one of my favorite characters and books of the Bible). Ruth was not an Israelite. She was a Moabite woman who married an Israelite man Mahlon the son of Naomi and Elimelech. Elimelech and Mahlon and their other son Chilion all died leaving Naomi and her daughters-in- law Ruth and Orpah widowed. Naomi told Ruth and Orpah that were free to leave and go back to their homeland and their families, Orpah went on and moved on with her life. Ruth decided to stay with her dear devoted mother in law, she couldn’t leave her in her time of need and grief. She had no family and no one to take care of her. Plus, Ruth had grown well acquainted and accustomed to their way of life, their religion and way of worship. Their God was like no other god, at least any she had heard of in Moab her homeland. “When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord ’s hand has turned against me!” At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.” Ruth 1:6-19a NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/rut.1.6-19.NIV
Bathsheba: A scandalous story of adultery, heartache and God’s redemptive power of His covenant. Y’all if you think the Bible is boring or full of perfect people, you’ve been not really reading or paying much attention yet. No matter how broken and messed up we are in our own sin and choices, God loves us enough still to forgive us and redeem our story for His glory! Even a “man after God’s own heart” King David made mistakes, but God is so loving to forgive! Bathsheba was married to a mighty soldier named Uriah. David was the King at that time and his troops were at war. One day King David was walking his rooftop terrace of his palace and his eyes landed upon a beautiful young woman bathing on her rooftop. The seeds of lust had been planted, he could’ve looked away and went on about his day but he let his thoughts get the best of him. He sent for her to come see him. Then began a love affair with a married woman. She became pregnant, while her brave husband Uriah was away so the child she was carrying couldn’t possibly be his! David arranged for Uriah to come home on leave to spend time with his wife so the pregnancy could seem legitimate. However Uriah did not want to abandon his responsibilities during war. David then plotted to have him killed in battle. King David then married Bathsheba and they lost that child, but later had more children together including the wise King Solomon. From Solomon’s lineage came many good and bad kings, and Joseph came from the “house and lineage of David”.
Now let’s really fast forward several generations (approximately 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David to Exile and 14 more generations to Jesus’s birth, roughly 42 generations equaling a few thousand years maybe, you do the math) from the Old Testament branches to New Testament branches of Jesus Christ’ family tree. The plan had been prophesied years before He came to earth! Read here in Matthew 1:1-17 “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.” Matthew 1:1-17 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.1.1-17.NIV
Now let’s pick up with Mary and Joseph…
Mary: The Favored Young Maidservant of the Lord, mother of the Savior-A young woman betrothed to the love of her life, an older man who loved her and dreamed of taking care of her. The were making plans of their future together. One day unexpected visitor came and changed their lives one visit at a time. That same heavenly visitor saw her dear cousin Elizabeth months before. That visitor was an angel named Gabriel. Mary, so young and a life full of love and marriage as a new wife ahead of her…was about to become a new mother as well. Biologically and physically speaking that was IMPOSSIBLE, she had not been with Joseph they were waiting until they were married to have relations. She had never been with anyone else, she was a virgin. What would people think of her? An unwed mother? Most importantly what would her dear Joseph think of her? Her mind raced to many things in that moment. She couldn’t fathom how she could be carrying a child. The angel Gabriel sensed the sudden distress on her face and told her to not fear. Not to fear because the Holy Spirit would plant a seed in her womb that would bring forth the Savior of the world. Not to fear because she had been chosen and favored. The angel told her specific details even what to name her son, his name would be Jesus.
Joseph: The Unexpected Earthly Father- Hardworking, rugged, God fearing man with a plan-that was Joseph. He was engaged to the woman of his dreams who loved the Lord and family. Together they would one day create a family of their own. Years of carpentry and woodworking as a family trade, he couldn’t wait to build a home and life with Mary and teach his future sons his craftsmanship skills. Fishing together, all the memories a father wants to make with his children. He was quite a bit older than his young wife, so they definitely wanted children. Little did they know how soon that dream would be a reality. That beautiful, glowing, unexpected heavenly visitor named Gabriel was almost finished fulfilling his earthly assignments-Joseph was the last one he needed to see to complete his mission. Joseph wasn’t last simply because he was the least important…in fact he was a vital part of the plan. Joseph’s faith in the Lord would be needed to manifest his faithfulness and trustworthiness of his wife to be, Mary. He knew she loved him and here she was pregnant to surprise. He had not only an important holy duty as a husband but now as a father. A godly father to raise the earthly SON OF GOD, talk about quite a task! The boy who he carried on his shoulders and played with, would soon carry the weight of the world at the Cross. Mary, the chosen pure maidservant of the Lord…young and innocent could not raise this child on her own. That is why God chose and created them to be a family. Family is not anything to be taken lightly. Marriage and family was instituted and created by God. Joseph could not abandon and divorce her at a time like this just because what other people may have thought of their “illegitimate and out of wedlock” child. This was no mistake. This was God’s plan. After all, Joseph himself was indeed the descendant of the tribe of Judah…a descendant of King David just as the prophecy had been told. Gabriel even told Joseph just like he did Mary, what exactly to name their child…Jesus.
You see now how it all connects, one continuous thread, a tapestry woven by different individual stories and their families creating one bigger picture of one beautiful family. God delights in what He created: He created humanity and He designed the idea of family. So with that being said, go do some digging and researching on your own roots and heritage and spend more time with your family: your actual family God put you in, and your spiritual family meaning your brothers and sisters in Christ. I encourage you to study your bible-God’s Word, your history, and in the words of Dolly Parton find out who you are and do it on purpose!
Tides change in and out sweeping with the current but you know when the tide will change if you pay attention. Seasons change just like they are supposed to. God placed the sun and moon exactly where they need to be for both tasks. We anticipate the seasons as they change, we look forward to the change in scenery and weather. Winter thaws out and melts into beautiful spring colors and warmth, spring bursts forth into summer, and summer sunshine fades into the beautiful autumn golds, the hues change deeper and the leaves fall making way for new growth when the time comes, and then nature braces itself for cold winter and its frosty beauty. A cycle. But you know in your mind and spirit when there is a shift in the atmosphere. Some changes come abruptly and unexpectedly, that’s usually the change that no one likes. The changes that catch you off guard that you’re not prepared for: unexpected death and tragic accidents, loss of any kind, job loss, terminal illness or diagnosis, a global pandemic. None of these things are like seasons you expect, but yet we have all walked through them at least once. But then there are the changes you know are coming: the kind you dream about, wish for, pray for and plan tediously. The ones you want, the dreams you’ve kept tucked away. You mentally prepare and pray over it all the time. The signal beacon in your spirit turns on, you know the ship is on the horizon sailing closer but you don’t know how far away it is or what it looks like but you know it holds something in store for you. Listen to His voice, and when you feel the nudge you will know…
I have said this before and I tell people all the time, especially those younger than me (teens and college grads especially) you don’t have to pick and choose to be one thing or have it all figured out. It’s okay to change majors, change your minds, who cares if you graduate in 4 years or not, you stick to it…whatever it is God leads you to. You can do more than just one thing, you don’t have to be pegged down to one career one make it or break it decision, you are multifaceted and made in His image. Make friendships, make memories, take adventures. Worrying and stressing will not change anything, finals and exams are not be all end all life or death. You will make it. A saying I remember from one of my professors “Whatever it is Lord, don’t let me miss it today.” In fact, I’m going to go out on a limb here: you dont even have to go to college to have a career you can in fact go to trade school or find an apprenticeship that doesn’t require a four year education but extensive hands on training and skill development. Life skills and good ole fashioned common sense are just as essential as a piece of paper with your name on it with student loan debt attached to it. I say this as a college graduate and an adult in the real world, common sense ain’t always common I see it everywhere. Whatever your path is, it’s yours not anyone else’s except those who choose to walk alongside and the good Lord’s guidance.
As a young girl, I wanted to be many things: a rodeo cowgirl, a horse trainer and equestrian, an Olympic figure skater and an Olympic gymnist, an elementary music teacher, a singer songwriter, a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, a WNBA player, a fashion clothing designer, a vet, many things. We all dream of things we want to be when we grow up. I did alot with art and music growing up, that will always be part of who God made me to be (after all I am an enneagram 4, creative is kinda our thing). Drawing, designing, painting, sketching, playing piano and piano lessons, learning guitar and writing songs, lyrics and poetry, reading and writing, and photography. Competing in art, poetry, and vocal categories in Teen Talent programs through church. I enjoyed volunteering with March of Dimes and various youth group activities, praise team and outreach. At school, I enjoyed extracurriculars such as Art Club, Scholarship Finders Club, FISH Club (a Christian discipleship group), Honors Chorus, Guitar, Miss Falcon Pageant, and the Falcon Press newspaper (go figure right? I mean I love to write!). At a young age people often try to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. In school even as young as middle school they want to try to make you figure out what major you want in college or what career and vocational path you want to take after you’re out of school I mean who really knows at 12-13 years old what you wanted to do let alone at 18 when you’re out of high school. I didn’t know what I wanted to do at that age! I tell high school and college kids upon their graduation many times: “Don’t worry honey you’ll change your mind multiple times and you will figure it out” or “you don’t have to have a plan right away after graduation, doors will open and shut and it will be okay”. You don’t have to have it all figured out what your next steps are. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be a preschool teacher and assistant director and children’s ministry director.
My first job, was in fact at Chick-fil-a at 17 years old. October 2007 until January 2016 when I entered childcare. I started as a Team Member, moved to a shift supervisor Team Leader and also became highly involved in marketing and promotion of products. I worked at two different store locations a mall unit in a food court and a free standing store. I coordinated and planned several events. I helped train other employees as well as excelling at what we called 2nd Mile Service. You can learn alot about people, business, how or treat others and food when it comes to America’s number quick service family restaurant chain for 8 years. My bosses taught me so much more than chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, they taught me life. Everyone should at least work a restaurant job at least once in their life, it builds character and people skills (and there is food so that’s a plus! We made all kinds of recipes and tried new ideas all the time!)
I went to a technical school called Midlands Technical College and planned on transferring to a university and majoring in Music, then realized what kind of jobs are in the music industry? I said to myself I’ll be a music teacher! So Music Education it was! I then changed my mind (again); I dropped the music part and stayed with education. When I left Midlands, I went to a Fall Preview Day at Columbia International University (CIU) I was torn between two passions and programs: Teacher Education and Youth Ministry. At age 19, I was a camp counselor at the camp I grew up at, Camp Robinson. Little did I know that my life would change again, I received the call of ministry into my life while I was at the altar praying over the kids, one of pastors spoke and prophesied over me. That day I heard the Lord say to my heart in the still small voice in my spirit clear as day “You want to be a teacher, but I want you to be a different kind if teacher. Teach them about Me.” That was 2009. I prayed and started pursuing Youth Ministry which lead me to CIU- Columbia International University where I met my future husband. Going to a Christian Bible college is different from going to a regular public secular university, obviously. In many ways college everywhere is the same, kids trying to find their way and figure out life all while building relationships and obviously learning. I was a commuter and did not live on campus, which made fitting in to the social campus life a little hard but thankfully I had really wonderful friends and professors.
After graduating college, I applied to so many places just like many young people my age do. Sometimes it feels like you just search and fill out applications shooting resumes like a machine gun fire and just hoping something lands or sticks. I landed one of my most favorite “jobs” that really didn’t feel work some days, it was fellowship and ministering to others through retail at Family Christian Stores. My bible degree from CIU was beneficial in helping people find the right translation to use a study bible or for their quiet time. Helping someone find the perfect wedding gift or baby gift for someone special in their life. A pastor or youth pastor looking for new resources or material. Someone looking for some special gift of a Bible or journal to help their newly converted friend grow to be a true disciple. Praying with people in aisles and walking with people in their grief and joy. Having people speak life and prophesy over your life while you ring them up at the cash register. Listening to all the latest music, Christian podcasts and preaching while working was always so encouraging. Family Christian was partnered with a company called World Vision that helped with sponsoring and adopting children in foreign countries as well as missions to help communities. You learn alot in retail about business and sales, Black Friday working was always fun. I was there from October 2014 until January 2016, when I entered childcare.
Fast forward to five years ago, January 2016. I had been applying to many more places for careers now that I was finished with college I was still looking. I knew in my heart it was time to move on from the world of restaurant and retail into something different. I knew I wanted to work with children whether it was in an afterschool setting, community programs, church or non church organizations where I could make a difference teaching and ministering to children in some way, somehow. After all, I was and had always been involved in our church children’s ministries as a student volunteer for about 10 years or so. I needed an open door, a new opportunity. I entered into the whimsical world of crayons and fingerprints, ABCs and 123s: early childhood education, childcare. I have learned so many things over the years. I had no education experience officially but years of babysitting and children’s ministry experience and a degree in Youth Ministry- a related field. I started as what we call a “non stand-alone”, a rookie to say the least-someone who is brand new, inexperienced and has to train with another more experienced teacher for at least six months until they can be by themselves. After that I was the toddler teacher, then a year later I became Assistant Director. I have worked at two different childcare centers both as Assistant Director: one secular psychology based and one Christian based non denominational. Vastly different environments, like I mentioned before you know when you are called to move on. I have learned and juggled so many things in this career field than ever before but my previous years experience of retail, restaurant and ministry applied to early childhood education. You have to know how to work with the general public (in this case parents are your “customers”), meet needs and care for others, lots of administrative paperwork, multitask, and generally learn hands on. I have changed diapers, wiped noses and tears, cleaned up boo boos and applied band aids, given time outs and calm down bottles, watched children crawl or walk for the first time, soothe a sick or crying baby, give a high five and hug when they do something great, walk them learn their colors and numbers, writing their name for the first time, reading, and growing. It really is something special to behold when you take a step back and look at these tiny humans. It takes a big heart to shape little minds they say, it is very true. You can’t be a teacher and have a selfish bone in your being. It’s not logical. It takes brains and heart. I have learned so many things for when I become a mother that I know that this path is God’s working way to prepare me for the greatest gift one day: motherhood. Until then I’m “Mrs. Heada”, the teacher, the assistant director, the chapel director, and the “bonus mama”. Childcare isn’t for everyone but don’t ever take it for granted or think that our job is easy.
Years of volunteer experience as a teenager and college kid, (and realistically an actual degree) led me to where I am today: Children’s Ministry Director. My dream and goal when I was in college for Youth Ministry is to be doing what I am doing right now. Does it look different than I dreamed or imagined it would? Of course! I served under many others for many years, until spring of 2017, when it started as an “interim” children’s director position and here still 4 years later I am over all the children’s programs for all kids under 12. This past year with COVID-19 closures and shutdowns had been really hard, we truly miss and love our kids. It came down to Facebook videos on bible studies, book read alouds and sharing little devotions and snippets on Facebook and Instagram-but it doesn’t replace hugs and high fives and hands on face to face interaction of just being together. We have our Youth Ministry (Beyond Student Ministries, middle and high school) program with our wonderful Youth Pastor/Associate Pastor Caleb and his gifted wife Carlie leading worship together and restarting a Girls Ministry my husband Wes as our Boys Ministry Coordinator (formerly Royal Rangers) and I as the Children’s Ministry Director of Reach Children’s Ministry. The focus is discipleship and getting into the Word and truly growing, then getting out there reaching beyond the four walls of the church building and sharing Jesus! That is what it is about, the foundation of it all is built on relationships: with Jesus and with others.
Now, there are a few other things that I can add to the list: as of 2019 I became a Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant and a few months ago around Thanksgiving I started a little baking and desserts business (“side hustle”) called Spoonful of Sugar Baked Goods.
My husband, Wes is quite exceptional. He is so humble and doesn’t like attention but he is so easy to dote and brag on, I’m obviously a little bit biased. In high school, he was a track star and football player. He has traveled across the United States many times and been to many more places than I have. Him and his dad have driven cross country multiple times. He did a summer internship in Montana at West Glacier National Park in the Parks Ministry program, he talks and dreams of it all the time. He has done lots of odds and ends jobs growing up from yard work and landscaping, interning in children’s ministry and youth Ministry, maintenance and grounds groundskeeping at college, and his job now at McEntire Produces as a Lead Parts Supervisor and also he has been a volunteer firefighter for Columbia Fire Department for five years. He serves as a board member at our church as well as media help and leader of our Boys Ministries program The Outpost formerly known as Royal Rangers.
I say all these things to tell you that your life doesn’t have to be a cookie cutter, fit the box type of life. You don’t have to stick to one thing your entire life and be stuck, you are multifaceted and God changes things according to His purpose for your life. So don’t be afraid of change, the next great adventure awaits you! Growing means we are NOT meant to stay the same!!!
Hope For Her Heart 