Cappuccino Muffins

Garden love

Beef and Butternut Squash Stew. We like food.

Glory

Your 7 Days?

While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple of God, a very large crowd of people from Israel – men, women, and children – gathered and wept bitterly with him. Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, a descendant of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God, for we have married these pagan women of the land. But in spite of this there is hope for Israel.”

Ezra 10:1-2 NLT

This scene is beautiful to me as Ezra’s solitary grief becomes communal – before the face – paneh – of God’s Temple. Men, women, and children all have an aha! moment and begin to weep bitterly. Sometimes in these scenes I’m cautious if the weeping was like the kind paid mourners would do at funerals. But no, bitterly in this verse means…bitterly.

Been thinking about love lately, particularly at this point in our nation. But not just any love; God’s agape love – the kind that both covers a multitude of sins and does not delight in evil. Only He can do that with perfect clarity and righteousness and compassion.

God did not suddenly develop this kind of love in the New Testament. His covenant faithfulness, His hesed, was Israel’s hope as surely as this kind of forgiving – yet not enabling – love is ours. Some synonyms for that word confession Ezra made are throw, cast out.

And thanksgiving.

Isn’t that what it’s like? When we confess to Him, He forgives. When we confess to each other, we get to forgive each other. For the sake of relationship and for our own hearts. Holding on will destroy. Enabling will destroy. Wise love and forgiveness will heal.

Shecaniah (who has a great name by the way) was right. In spite of Israel’s unfaithfulness, there was still hope. Hope is miqveh: abiding.

Because Jesus abides perfectly with His Father, and His Spirit abides perfectly in those of us who trust in Him alone, there is always hope.

Hope hovering over us.

Tallgrass Film Festival is on. “Stubbornly Independent,” the Festival features more than 190 of the best independent films from 33 countries. You can buy a pass and not miss a one.

Wichita Art Museum is in. So is Great Plains Nature Center.

Catch Janice Lee at Watermark tonight at 6:oo pm for author talk and a book signing of her latest The Expatriates.

Another Caffeinated Lab Class at Reverie Roasters is coming up this Saturday the 15th from 10-11:30 am.

And don’t you just love this?

This Sunday catch the Community Walk About & Art event from noon to 3. Hosted by The Workroom and Douglas Design District, this is your chance to check out all the new artwork on benches and walls and pillars along Douglas Avenue.

On Saturday the 15th from 11-2, enjoy the Non-GMO Educational Event at Green Acres Bradley Fair and West locations. Free samples, education and support.

Sorry the pic is fuzzy, but did you know Kid Lit Con is coming to Wichita? The goal is to “connect bloggers, librarians, teachers, authors, and parents to promote literacy.” And, A. S. King & Clare Vanderpool!

Library:

Did you know November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)? The Library is jumping in this year with scheduled writing times. You can bring your laptop and your tired brain and write alongside others. Because get it done.

Also, don’t miss Exploring Apps: Holiday Helpers at Westlink this Saturday to get ideas on DIY stuff and meal planning on your Apple or Android. And register for Basic Photo Editing at Rockwell next Tuesday the 18th from 6-7:30 pm.

Don’t you love the library?

Have a great weekend!

Enjoying National Taco Day

New fav

Pumpkin Patch

Goats

Let’s Move Kansas run

The school team who walks together

Farmer’s Market charm

Zoo time

Stormy Glory

Your 7 Days?

I’ve been thinking lately about gift giving and how it can be a way to show our people love. A friend recently gave me this:

The map, the verse, the heart behind it made me feel known and loved.

Something else? For the past several years, our small group has filled out sheets called, “Let Us Love You.” Basically, you fill in your favorites so if I’m ever at Sonic and heading your way, I know what to grab you. Or if I’m thinking of you, you’ve spelled out to me what $1, $3, or $5 gift would touch your heart.

I adore that I can pull these personalized lists up on my phone and bless someone easily. No wondering if it’s something they would like.*

Also? A sweet friend has been known to gift online printables. You can purchase a package of card stock and make sure you have enough ink and go to town. There are many that are available for free.

But it’s also fun to support online etsy businesses and designers on their blog.

How about you? Any tips for how to show love with gifts?

*Categories our group has used are:

Birthday

Fav Color

Fav Flower

Fav Candy

Drink

Fast Food Restaurant

Fancy-ish Restaurant

Hobbies

Love language

$1, $3, $5 gift ideas

Now we are being punished because of our wickedness and our great guilt. But we have actually been punished far less than we deserve, for you, our God, have allowed some of us to survive as a remnant. But even so, we are again breaking your commands and intermarrying with people who do these detestable things. Won’t your anger be enough to destroy us, so that even this little remnant no longer survives? O LORD, God of Israel, you are just. We come before you in our guilt as nothing but an escaped remnant, though in such a condition none of us can stand in your presence.”

Ezra 9:13-15

On we continue with Ezra’s prayer of repentance on behalf of the exiles. He has recounted the grace given in the exiles’ return. He’s pointed out how connecting heart and soul to those involved in detestable acts – such as child sacrifice and degrading fertility rituals – is complete disobedience to Yahweh, His laws which are for their good, and His fame among those watching.

Now Ezra gets down to the nitty gritty: all this disobedience brings on God’s enraged anger. His anaph – nostril-flaring, breathless anger. He knows this disobedience deserves  kalah – annihilation.

And in the Hebrew he acknowledges Covenant Yahweh’s character: He is just – tsaddiq. Completely blameless and in the right. As such, the exiles cannot stand – amad – before His face – paneh – with their guilt al – hovering over – them.

Don’t look now, but Ezra just described the entire human condition. That a God of justice cannot look upon our outright rebellion. We cannot come into His presence; we have no right.

This is where we should jump up and down about one of God’s Names: Jehovah Tsidqenu – The LORD our Righteousness.

He is our righteousness. Even under the Old Covenant, this is His Name. The Covenant-Maker, Covenant-Keeper is our hope. And under the New Covenant?

God made Him Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

He kept that covenant and took it one step further: In Jesus, He took on our unrighteousness – all the way to hell and back – and covered us in His righteousness. Completely blameless in His presence. No more guilt hovering over us.

Able to stand – arise, endure, be employed.

Completely dependent on Him.

It’s 2nd Saturday. Get your $5 bag, shop local merchants, save money.

Which means it’s also time for the 2nd Saturday Artisan Market

And Yoga on the Lawn at Wichita Art Museum

And there’s even more, including Shops & Hops Along the Avenue

Remember, Alton Brown is here today. Then, stay tuned for Nicholas Sparks tomorrow, the 7th.

Later this week is Rock Neelly and Anita Skeen.

Also, enjoy the Special Storytime this Saturday with Sue Gallion, author of Pug Meets Pig

And don’t miss 4 Corners Fall Festival at Douglas & Oliver. Food, music, prizes & local shopping all Friday and Saturday.

Coming to the Let’s Move Kansas Run on Saturday at Sedgwick County Park? You can still sign up.

Yay! Bootanica this Saturday at Botanica. “Costumes are optional. Fun is not.”

Slow Ride Bike Night is tonight from 5-8 with Bike Walk Wichita and Wichita Art Museum. Start at WAM, enjoy a fun ride with your people.

Spotted at WSU

Enjoy Dr. Bronner’s Tent Sale today, the 6th, through Saturday at Green Acres Bradley Fair. Learn about the uses of Castile Soap and Try before you Buy.

Tonight, enjoy a Vegan Dinner at Whole Foods’ entree bar from 4:30 – 7:30.

See the upcoming events at The Donut Whole, including Blue Baboon Books Friday the 7th at 10:30 am.

Library:

Are you reading the Big Read yet? Get on it and see all upcoming Library events here, including Coloring for the Fun of It at Westlink on Wednesday October 12th.

And don’t forget:

Have a great weekend!

Wanna Hurts Donut?

Kindergarten Party Fun

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKvrpKKAJ5s/?taken-by=rere_moff

My friend custom makes wreaths

Working it

Football

Fall glory

Your 7 Days?

And now, O our God, what can we say after all of this? For once again we have abandoned your commands! Your servants the prophets warned us when they said, ‘The land you are entering to possess is totally defiled by the detestable practices of the people living there. From one end to the other, the land is filled with corruption. Don’t let your daughters marry their sons! Don’t take their daughters as wives for your sons. Don’t ever promote the peace and prosperity of those nations. If you follow these instructions, you will be strong and will enjoy the good things the land produces, and you will leave this prosperity to your children forever.’

Ezra 9:10-12 NLT

Remember, we are in the middle of Ezra’s prayer soon after he learned of the the people’s rebellion of intermarriage with those who do not follow God’s ways. Ezra has recounted to God the brief moment of grace He’s given them, allowing them to return to Jerusalem after exile. Now he continues on.

The first thing that is striking is how Ezra uses the word azab – to loose from oneself and widow. And he uses it in context to God’s commands. This is a very important word picture to keep in mind as we settle into these final two chapters of Ezra. The toebah – loathsome, detestable acts of the peoples around – are the primary issue Ezra has with these intermarriages. And as the priest for God’s people, he will do something about it.

So it seems important to think through this word azab again. We have studied it in context of our duty to fan aflame our First Love relationship with God. We thought through God’s part of the equation. How He will never forsake or loose us from Himself. Now we get to focus on that same kind of commitment to Him – but through His commands. If we don’t, things like “don’t ever promote peace (shalom) or prosperity (towb – beauty) of those nations” will seem harsh and inconsistent with Yahweh’s character.

Ezra makes sure to bring up two parts of God’s commands regarding intermarriage with foreigners: warnings from the prophets and the meaning of marriage.

First the prophets. Ezra is hearkening back to when God originally gave the Promised Land to His people. Through Moses, the first in a long line of God’s spokesmen, God told the people how to show off His character. The Hebrew word Ezra uses for how the prophets warned the people is tsavah. It means to appoint, lay a charge upon.

This is an honor. In my life so often I want to whine about how He seems to want something different from me than the world around. How bratty. It is an honor to be one of God’s many children. And we have the privilege of being appointed as an ambassador for His heart to the world. To make Him look good.

The second part seems to emerge more fully in the Hebrew. When talking about not giving their daughters to marriage with foreigners, Ezra uses the word nathan. We’ve seen it before; it means to commit, to entrust, bestow into the power of. That is what it is like to give your daughter away in marriage. You are entrusting her welfare to another.

In this case, God’s daughters were being committed to people whose ways are described as niddah – totally defiled, abhorrent. This is not what a Good, Good Father would want for the children He loves and is appointing as His ambassadors.

The reverse in the intermarriage is true as well: do not take their daughters as wives for your sons. Know what take there is? Nasa – to lift high. The way God designed marriage is for each spouse to love and serve the other. If God’s sons were to take a wife whose practices are toebah – detestable in His eyes – any time the husband sought to serve and lift up his bride, he would also be lifting high these practices.

Keeping their eyes on these commands is so God’s people could remain strong – chazaq – in the land He gave them. Chazaq means to be fortified and courageous. This seems like an important thing for people who represent God to a watching world.

None of this is less true of us as Believers under the New Covenant. We are His ambassadors, spreading the fragrance of Christ as we go. He desires all to come to Him. As we cling to Him and His commands, His Spirit in us is lifted high.

And He makes us fortified.

Final Friday is tomorrow. See fabulous, local art in fabulous, local venues. Check out events & a map here.

Check out the Extension Office’s Advanced Food Gardening Series. Registration is due by tomorrow, September 30th.

Coming up at Watermark: Leigh Bardugo & Ally Carter will be sharing about Carter’s newest book, Crooked Kingdom tonight at 6:00 at Abode.

Ben Hatke will be here Friday the 30th for a signing of his book Mighty Jack at 6:00 pm.

Then next Tuesday, catch Brian Farrey & Kelly Barnhill for an author talk about their respective books The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse and The Girl Who Drank the Moon at 6:00 pm.

In addition, Geraldine Brooks will be here for a signing of The Secret Chord at Grace Presbyterian Church at 6:30 on Wednesday, October 5th.

(Also, not within this week, but heads up: Alton Brown and Nicholas Sparks are both coming to Wichita next week.)

Yay, Big Read Wichita is starting up with the book Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The kickoff party will be at the Wichita Art Museum this Saturday October 1st from 2-4.

Also at Wichita Art Museum: Senior Wednesday on October 5th will be discussing selected works from their newest series Shiny, Sticky, Smooth: Pop Art and the Senses.

Do you know about free admission to all Kansas State Parks this Saturday?

Today, September 29th, is National Coffee Day.  Reverie will be celebrating all day long. Free coffee samples, a chance to win tickets to The Coffee Man at The Orpheum, and an early preview of Final Friday’s artwork by Caroline Ragatz. Long live coffee.

There is still time to join the fun for Oktoberfest.

This Sunday enjoy the Downtown Living Tour from 1:00-5:00. This free event will showcase apartment living in our city’s center.

As seen at Watermark

Library:

You know how Coding is pretty important? Want your kids to learn how? Every 2nd Saturday the library is hosting classes. Register here.

And check out all upcoming events here, including learning about Tablets and Smartphones at Westlink.

Have a great weekend!