So many pretties in our yard right now
Books
Twinkies
I actually think it’s charming…when I’m not in a hurry
Chiminea and S’mores – at the first hint of chill in the air. Always.
The only one who takes the time to get it browned just right
Spontaneous Skylander drawing
A College Hill September sky from the sun roof.
Your 7 Days?
Life has been so full.
My mind has been wrapped around prayer lately, then at the Beth Moore Simulcast, she killed it about prayer.
I’ve been thinking about a way I pray sometimes that doesn’t always feel like official “prayer.” Thought I’d share.
During a rough season I had typed out a bunch of verses that spoke to the struggle. But it was pretty cumbersome. I needed something to grab in the heat of the battle in my mind (and something easy to recite to myself if I was feeling intimidated). So I just left off verse numbers. I took out extra sentences. I narrowed it down to one bite.
Here’s a bit of the list:
Your truth lives in me
You will never lie to me
You have not run away from being my Shepherd
You will answer me
Your banner over me is love
You love me freely
You will fulfill your purpose for me
You will fight for me
You determine my steps
Your way is perfect
Your Word is flawleess
You are the Shepherd and Overseer of my soul
I wholeheartedly embrace Scripture memory in its fullness. But this gave me a lifeline to cling to when full verses were too much for my brain. Hope it encourages you!
“When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem.
Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God…”
So our group has been settling in their various towns (2:70). After three months of setting up house, they assembled “as one man” back in Jerusalem.
What would you have done first? If you were the spiritual (Jeshua) or civil (Zerubbabel) leader of these 40,000 people?
I love how they immediately “began to build the altar of the God of Israel…”
Mind you, there is no actual temple yet. No walls, nothing. But first thing’s first.
There are two altars described in the Holy Scriptures: The Bronze Altar (Altar of Burnt Offerings) in Exodus 39:39, and the Altar of Incense in Exodus 30:1-10. The altar in our text is the former.
This Altar of Burnt Offerings is first described in Exodus 29:
“For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy…
For generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet with you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory…
Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.” (Exodus 29:37,42-43, 45)
Later it was this altar Solomon stood before as he dedicated the Temple of the LORD:
“Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said:
‘O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below – you who keep your covenant of love…
The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there’…” (1 Kings 8:22-23, 27,29)
This was the altar visible to all the people. The one every person, no matter how rich or poor, could bring their appropriate sacrifice and worship Covenant Yahweh.
In contrast, the Altar of Incense was in the Holy Place, just before the curtain into the Holy of Holies.
In the wilderness, it might have looked like this:
With our Altar of Burnt Offerings for all to see in the courtyard, while the Altar of Incense is inside the Tent of Meeting.
In Solomon’s Temple it was positioned like this:
With our Altar of Burnt Offerings in the Outer Court, and the Altar of Incense inside the Holy Place (number 5).
The instructions for how to perform the burnt offerings are in Leviticus 6:
“The burnt offering is to remain on the altar hearth throughout the night, till morning, and the fire must be kept burning on the altar…The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out…The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.” (Lev 6:9b, 12, 13)
This repeated command must be important. And it is. The first time the burnt offering was consumed by fire, it came directly from the LORD:
“Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.” (Exodus 9:23-24)
Then later, when Solomon’s Temple was being dedicated, a similar thing happened:
“When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying,
‘He is good;
His love endures forever.'” (2 Chronicles 7:1-3)
Oh yes, He is a Consuming Fire.
But there’s another, tender reason this is so important. Just like the first covenant with Abram, when the Smoking Firepot alone passed through the pieces, the only way for the sacrifice of man to be acceptable to God is if God Himself lit the fire on the altar. The atonement required for the people could only be made through Him.
Salvation is from the LORD.
Even under a Covenant that required sacrifice for every sin by the people, our Covenant God was the initiator. He alone made the way for the sacrifice to be acceptable.
Friends, how much more under the New Covenant? Jesus alone was the acceptable sacrifice. He makes the way. He is the Way.
And we get to rest there. We receive and rest. We cannot earn it or do enough. We just rest in that perfect Love that had a Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.
“He is good,
His love endures forever.”
Salvation is from the LORD.
Did you know the Kansas State Fair starts tomorrow? Just sayin.
Zoobilee, Sedgwick County Zoo’s annual fundraiser, is this Saturday night. Register here for tickets.
This Saturday is 2nd Saturday! Support local merchants and save.
On Monday the 14th, the Extension Office is hosting a Shopping Tour at the Dillon’s on South Seneca. Come learn how to buy healthy foods and still save money at this free guided grocery store tour. Register here.
From 11 to 3 on Saturday the Bradley Fair Green Acres will be hosting a Fall Tasting Fair. Come try free samples and visit with local experts.
Ballet in the Park will perform Snow White this Saturday at 6 pm in Riverside Park.
This Saturday from 11 to 3 the Great Plains Nature Center will host Art on the Trail. This is a chance to watch local artists interact with nature on a half mile trail. Inside the center enjoy fall refreshments and a nature craft for kids.
Library Events
This Saturday from 2:30 – 3:30, come to Westlink for Baby Safety 101. Instructors from Sedgwick County Healthy Babies program will offer home and car safety tips for new parents.
Monday the 14th Linwood Branch will show you how to make “stained glass” mosaic art from 3-7 pm.
Tuesday from 5:30 – 6:30, Central Library will host a Book Discussion of Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra. Also on Tuesday from 1-2 pm, come discuss Jane Austen’s Emma at Westlink.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Swings and friends are the best
Just these two little guys this year in our garden
Someone turned 5
Daddy covered Birthday Pancake duty
Simplicity in a teacup
Enjoying my early morning river walks
And spotting them
And all the variety
Glory
Your 7 Days?
Today is our 13th Anniversary.
I hope you don’t mind a poor-quality photo stroll down memory lane.
First real interaction (flirtation): He came over to my roommate’s and my apartment with a bunch of other people and let me paint his toenails. I cannot remember why.
We started dating (well, over a year after the above picture – we’re slow movers). I got to see his childlike side that his student teaching kids adored.
First 80’s party together (the bug? I seriously have no idea. Also, Dan was supposed to be the teenage brother from The Goonies.)
He proposed to me. I said yes because he’s cute. If it all seems fast in a blog post, do not be fooled. It was after much relational work.
Then we decided to go overseas together for an entire summer. Maybe not our best plan as we were scheduled to get married a few weeks after our plane landed back in America. At least we had seen the best and worst of each other before the wedding. Here he is reenacting an American proposal for our English class.
He sang to me. He sang. Just a couple of kids who vowed to forever and keep vowing every day.
Second 80’s party. Courtesy of fun Lincoln friends.
We had ourselves a sweet addition
Another sweet addition
Last night.
These pictures are just a small record of our marriage. There have been many, many ups and downs. I just want you to know if you’re reading this and your marriage is struggling, there is hope. He is Hope.
When I look back on these 13 years, I do not see only sweet and fun. But I do see Him. He is tenacious in making us more like His Son. And often that has included struggles between us.
But the thing about struggles is you cannot rely on your own strength. Sometimes all your best answers and techniques fail. And the only thing left is to cry out to the One Who can change hearts.
He’s been changing both of ours.
We are not who we were 13 years ago, standing at that altar. We are so much better. Because He’s walked us through the valleys, shared our joy on the mountaintops, and used it all to soften our hearts.
If you ever wonder if God is for your marriage, the answer is yes. He is not for dysfunction or abuse, so don’t hear that if you’re reading this and in a situation that requires intervention. Get help.
But He is for your marriage. It was His idea.
When Paul talks about two becoming one, He says it’s a mystery because He is talking about Christ and the Church. The way a man and woman leave home and cling to one another as an entirely new unit is the best earthly example of how Jesus left Home and came to make His People one with Him.
It is sacred. And it is worth fighting for.
Daniel, thank you for fighting with me and for me.
And Happy Anniversary, my man. I’m…still…”so glad it was you.”
80’s party, anyone?
“When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site…
The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the other people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns.” (Ezra 2: 68 & 70)
So, they’ve arrived.
According to Ezra 7:8 & 9, their journey lasted around four months. Wonder who they lost on the way? How do you think various relationships among the 40,000 weathered the trek?
The first mention of being back in Jerusalem is “the house of the LORD.”
We can assume King Neb did a thorough job destroying the temple, so what they “arrived at” would have been ruins.
What must they have felt?
What do you feel? When viewing the ruins of a world burdened by sin?
I don’t always look. Sometimes I look, but only through rose-colored glasses.
But some days I hold eye contact with the ruins. The ravages of sin upon relationships and families and cultures.
It’s good to look. To let it matter.
I love how the heads of families are immediately compelled to give freewill offerings to rebuild. That inclusion of “freewill” touches me. No one was making them give toward the rebuild. And they hadn’t even settled in their own homes yet. Many of the younger family heads probably had never seen Solomon’s previous temple. Yet they were willing to give first to the reason for their journey:
Rebuilding Zion.
“You will arise and have
compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come.
For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
The nations will fear the name
of the LORD,
all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
For the LORD will rebuild Zion
and appear in his glory.” (Psalm 102:13-16)
The ruins make the redemption sweeter. Israel was never restored to the former political kingdom it once was. But from the tribe of Judah came a New King. One that ushered in a New Kingdom. A Kingdom that can never be shaken.
“For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.”
Tree Top Nursery is having a Labor Day Sale – 30% off all shrubs September 4 – 7
Johnson’s Garden is having a seminar entitled Overseeding Fescue this Saturday the 5th at 10:00.
The Sedgwick County Extension Office is hosting a Daddy and Me Cooking Class beginning Tuesday September 8th. Click here for more information or to register.
Kids can learn how to make a Football Toss Game this Saturday at Home Depot. Register here.
Yes! Library Events are starting back up:
Wichita is joining The Big Read this fall with Luis Alberto Urrea’s Into the Beautiful North. Pick up your own copy and join in.
Wichita is one of the nation’s longest-running Big Read participants, and many organizations will be hosting art and literary events in conjunction with the Read. To see a full list of events, visit bigreadwichita.org
Central Library is hosting a series called Spotlight on Kansas Writers. Local writers will be sharing about their work:
Tuesday, September 8, Dr. John Jenkinson will share about his writing beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 9, Jason Quinn Malott, author of Evolution of Shadows, will be sharing, also at 7:00.
For Senior Wednesdays, on September 9, Clark Bastian will share the story of the Wichita Carnegie Library Building and its impressive history from 1:30-2:30.
Storytimes and Book Clubs will be starting up soon!
I hope your weekend is filled with rest and love.
Caleb has been way into kitchen stuff lately
His idea: to make a “pie.” (His pies are awesome.)
Fun finds at Aldi
Sweet friend’s birthday
Just before a downpour
A generous friend, who knows her stuff with gardening, gave us the last few of her quality green beans to grow. Grow they did.
We’re grateful. The basil has been killing it too. My Silver Sneakers friends have been educating me on basil.
Chilly but fun
Beautiful evening
We loved celebrating with several others who dedicated their lives
He is so faithful
Your 7 Days?
Our son got baptized last night.
And few other things matter than the Truth played out in this obedience.
“Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But…God…made us alive in Christ…it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:3b-5
So, so grateful.
