It was my turn for carpool duty this particular afternoon. I was driving, not only my kids, but the kids of some close family friends home from school. As I usually do on these drives, I was listening quietly to the chatter of two first grade girls and two third grade girls. You won’t believe the information I can gather on these short trips……

As we neared this family’s home, Madeline, my third grader, hugged her friend and said “Bye B-F-F-L.” Now I consider myself somewhat hip on pop-culture. I know B-F-F stands for “Best Friends Forever”, but “L” what is that about?

Later that evening I asked my daughter about it. And after some hesitation and wanting to guard this BIG third grade secret, she told me it was probably okay to tell me. Whew. Apparently “B-F-F-L” stands for “Best Friends for Life.” Pretty clever, I thought.

As I walked away from that conversation I thanked God that Madeline has such a great friend. I pray that will always be the case, but I know she will one day experience the hardships and challenges that come from navigating through friendships with women.

Our Lord wired us to be in relationships. I suppose we could go through life avoiding friendships, but I believe in each of us lies an empty place that is meant for a friend to fill. And because we are more emotionally driven individuals, so are our friendships, and that is where friendships become challenging.

In Philippians 4, there is a brief, but important message that Paul gives in regards to the friendships of women. Let me introduce Euodia and Syntyche. (Your guess is as good as mine on the pronunciation.)

“I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” Philippians 4: 2-3

Apparently it has been brought to Paul’s attention that there is trouble among these two women, and the church community does not know how to resolve this issue. It is clear that they are both Christ followers and have been instrumental in Paul’s ministry. But this community is facing a crossroads. Struggling friendships were the last thing these new believers expected, therefore, they called on their mentor Paul to gain some perspective.

Paul’s advice is two-fold: One, he told them to settle their disagreement because of their common ground in the Lord, and two, to not lose sight of the bigger picture—spreading the gospel. Paul did not take sides, as that would cause division. He wanted them to be of the same mind, and if they needed to, to seek the counsel of others to come to that place of unity so they could move forward with their ministry.

I realize this is easier said than done. But perhaps remembering during the stormy times of friendships the common ground they were built on will lead to restoration. And, I’m almost certain that looking at the bigger picture is always better than narrowly focusing on the disagreement.

It always amazes me how perfectly scripture weaves together. Do you know what scripture immediately follows this difficult lesson on friendships? It’s one we’ve heard over and over.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

Friendships of women are beautiful and sometimes complicated, but they are a gift to be cherished. Rejoice and be thankful for your girlfriends!

For the most part I would say I have an optimistic outlook on life. I try to see the good in bad situations. I try to encourage others when they are down. I try to be the voice of reason in situations where there is controversy. But lately, I can’t seem to turn on the morning news or peruse the news sites on the Internet without feeling hopeless and wondering what our world has come to.

War in the Middle East, the H1N1 Virus at critical levels, the economic downturn, more military troops needed here and there, the threat of terrorism in our homeland, and the list goes on an on. It’s disheartening and discouraging to me when I look at my beautiful, young, children and wonder what kind of life they will have. Will they even enjoy the same freedoms and security I have all these years?

Then I open the timeless pages of scripture and I feel my anxiety melt away. I find the answers that once again restore my hope. I draw upon the strength of my Savior. Not just my Savior one time on the cross, but my Savior every single day. One recent morning I turned to

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self discipline.”

I’ve heard that scripture quoted many times for many different reasons throughout my life, but this time I dug a little deeper. And guess what I found? A grandmother and a mother who instilled these truths in a Godly man named Timothy.

Timothy was a young man who had been raised by a wise and loving mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois. The Apostle Paul had mentored Timothy, and in this particular passage of scripture, encourages Timothy in his ministry. Paul recognized Lois and Eunice and the great wisdom they poured into Timothy.

“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” 2 Timothy 1:6

What a tribute Paul is paying to these wonderful women. And what a reminder of the tremendous influence we have on our children and grandchildren. Yes, this world has its problems, but we must remember it is temporary. We must cling to our faith at all times and boldly speak the truth. Like Lois and Eunice, we are called by God to teach our children the truth, and through our example, to stand on faith alone.

Yes, times are hard, standing firm in our faith is tested daily, but we have been given a tremendous gift of power, love and self discipline through Christ. If we believe that God indeed has given us these gifts, there really is no room for fear.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen” Ephesians 3:20-21

“…and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.” Acts 16:15 NLT

Okay, does that seem a bit pushy? Here is the Apostle Paul ministering to the people in Philippi. No doubt he has had an extremely long journey by boat and by foot. And this woman, Lydia, is insisting that he come and visit her home.

From scripture we know that Lydia was a merchant who sold fine purple cloth. She worshipped God, but had not heard the good news of the gospel until she met Paul. It appears from her brief conversation with Paul that she was a saleswoman through and through. This woman didn’t seem the type to take no for an answer.

Divine interruptions. We’ve all experienced them. We have one plan and God boldly places someone or some situation in our path that changes the course of our day. For years I learned the importance of sticking to a plan and a schedule. I learned the pressure that comes when working under a tight deadline. I learned that in the workplace there’s not much time for socializing with others when a job needs to get done.

But what about those divine moments? What about those times when you know in your heart the interruption is divine and purposeful? I think the answer is obvious. We need to be obedient to God. In that moment He is entrusting us with an assignment. And in Paul’s divine interruption he knew God had placed Lydia in his path. The funny thing about divine interruptions is that we may never fully understand the purpose of our assignment. All we know is that the Lord chose us to be His hands and feet at that moment.

“When Paul and Silas left the prison, they returned to the home of Lydia. There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.” Acts 16:40 NLT

Lydia’s mention in scripture is somewhat of a mystery, but we know one thing, Paul was obedient to the assignment God gave him. He did go to Lydia’s house, even though it may have been inconvenient and out of the way. But in her home believers met together and were encouraged. How divine!

“As Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to them.” Mark 10:38

How nice is Martha? It appears that without hesitation Martha has opened her home to 13 weary travelers and is preparing to feed them a delicious meal. What could be wrong with that?

Absolutely nothing is wrong with this woman’s servant heart. Would I be that gracious? I would like to think I’m flexible and would open my home on a whim to anyone, but the truth is, I like advanced notice. I like to have my home in order before anyone graces my doorsteps. I like to look through recipe books and choose just the right meal for my guests, and then try it out on my family weeks before. I like to have my hair just so and my lipstick on before the doorbell rings. Yes, I definitely prefer planning over spontaneity.

And that is where the problem lies in this story. Like Martha, I think entertaining Jesus and his disciples is a great idea, but I tend to get so caught up in the details that worry sets in. And if Worry enters, his siblings, Anxious, Snappy and Rude are right around the corner.

In Martha’s case she festered about all the work she had to do and how her sister wouldn’t lift a finger to help. Her anxiety led her to actually, dare I say, tattle on her sister to Jesus. Now before you think that you are the mature adult who would never “tell” on anyone, have you ever had those moments where you just needed to point out to someone else all that you were doing? Let them know that you were serving when no one else was? I know I have.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, ‘You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:41-42

Jesus was not saying that serving is wrong, He was saying that worry is wrong. I believe when our focus is on the One we are serving, the details fall into place. Yes, serving is work, but imagine how easy the work is when there is no room for worry?

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:25 -26

Jesus places extraordinary value on each of us, whether we serve or whether we sit at His feet. What He doesn’t care for is worry.

I noticed something this week as I studied the scripture references to Mary Magdalene.  In many of the passages where she is mentioned, she is observing.  There is a short conversation recorded between Mary and Jesus (after He had risen), but it is mostly her presence at one place or another that caught my attention.

“Among them were Mary Magdalene……” Matthew 27:56

“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.” Matthew 27:61

“Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene…” Matthew 15:40

I find silence uncomfortable.  I feel guilty for watching rather than actively participating.  And I probably enjoy talking more than listening, but I’m wondering how a woman like Mary Magdalene made such an impression when she wasn’t very outspoken.

Mary lived in the grip of the enemy, demonized by seven spirits. She experienced life in a way that many back then could not relate to, nor can many of us today. Her life was tormented until she was delivered from the bondage of darkness and freed through the blood of Jesus.

Perhaps peace, quietness and meekness were attributes of a life she longed for. And now through her Savior, Jesus, she found that peaceful life. By no means did that take away from her purpose in the Kingdom. In fact, I believe her presence alone made a bold statement wherever she went—especially to Satan himself. Her testimony to God’s grace and power in her life spoke mightily without words.

We are called human beings for a reason.  We weren’t created to be human doings, yet so often that’s what makes us comfortable. The more we do, the more we participate, the more we serve, we feel more purpose. But do you suppose that sometimes our purpose is to just be, to observe, to shut out distractions and be quiet?

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

Lately I have been captivated by Jewish biblical history—especially as I follow the ministry to the Gentiles in the New Testament. It has brought the story of the Samaritan woman to life for me. Though morally I can’t relate to the lifestyle she led, I can relate to her Gentile heritage. Let’s take a stroll in her sandals as we step back in history. Maybe we can get a glimpse of what hearing the “good news” as a Gentile would have been like.

I loved the picture Stacy painted last week as the scene unfolded at the well. This woman, as labeled by that society, was shameful. But she must have known something was different about this Jewish man, Jesus. After all, she felt comfortable enough to go against cultural norms and visit with him.

She started to question Jesus about Jewish laws and practices, comparing them to her Samaritan teachings. But Jesus was quick to advise her that none of those practices would matter anymore because salvation would be for everyone. To this the woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” John 4:25 NLT

It almost sounds like she is ready to dismiss the whole conversation at this point. Perhaps out of frustration and not understanding she would have rather walked away, but the next four words Jesus says to her would change her life forever.

‘Then Jesus told her, ‘I Am the Messiah!’” John 4:26 NLT

Can you feel the chill that must have run down her spine? The sound of her heart racing? The astonishment that filled her eyes? I’m sure it took several seconds for those words to sink in. But when they did, she was on a mission to share her story and the salvation that was available to everyone.

At this time in history these were hard words to comprehend. Many believed that a Messiah was to come, but they could not grasp where the “law” fit in. Then to make matters more difficult, the Jews knew they were the chosen people, Abraham’s offspring. Now a Jewish man, Jesus, is claiming that He is the Messiah, here to fulfill the law for EVERYONE?

Whew! Do you see how this news was so powerful to the people of this time? The mere thought of salvation, grace, and eternal life for all was such a radical concept to process. In fact, many couldn’t accept it. Following the four gospels in the New Testament are pages filled with the challenges many apostles, disciples and missionaries faced while sharing the good news of Christ. I think the Apostle Paul sums it up best in his letter to the Galatians:

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29

I’m so thankful to the Samaritan woman and her story. To her, this news was life changing and something she could not keep quiet. From the encounter at the well she went and told her whole town of what transpired. The Samaritans pleaded with Jesus to stay a few more days so they could hear more; all because one ordinary woman took a step of faith and believed. So, I’ll leave you with this thought, one that I’m grappling with also. Does the good news pack as much punch now as it did back then? Have we become so focused on this temporary world that we forget we are heirs to Christ Himself, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and Heaven bound?

We’ve been told by some of our neighbors that our home has nice curb appeal. We have worked hard to create a home that is warm and inviting from the inside out. If you were to walk up the steps to our door you would first notice a lovely flower garden with a café table and chairs nestled among some flower pots. Then you would notice a large, colorful doormat that says “Welcome.” As your eyes travel to the doorbell you would then see a small, handmade sign that boldly reads, “PLEASE NO SOLICITORS.”

Kind of takes away from the charm I just described doesn’t it? Well, I have two children who are always eager to answer the door, so for our safety, I felt it best to turn away solicitors with my sign. Then one evening I was out watering flowers when two young men with “salesman” oozing from their smiles walked up the driveway (too far away to see my sign). They asked me if we were interested in a home security system. The funny thing is that, not five minutes before, I had told my husband I thought we should reactivate our security system. Hmmm. So, I invited them in. We discussed the details. And the next week our new system was activated.

My first impression of those two men was that they were going to waste my time. Immediately my guard went up and “no” was on the tip of my tongue. But my assumption of them was wrong. They really did have something to offer that I wanted to hear about.

I find the story of Hannah’s experience in the temple to be a great lesson on first impressions. When Eli (the priest) first noticed Hannah in the temple he was a little mislead observing Hannah’s pleas to God.

“Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." 1 Samuel 1:13 – 14

We all know drunkenness was not Hannah’s problem. In fact the way scripture describes this earnest outpouring to the Lord is beautiful to me. Hannah was not causing a scene in the temple. Scriptures says she was not heard. But Eli was drawn to observe her. Why was that?

I believe Eli was well read and intellectual. He obeyed the laws of his faith and held a respectable position within the temple. But in my opinion, he had not yet experienced God like Hannah had. He didn’t understand the deep emotion she was experiencing in worship and thus formed a faulty impression.

As the story continues in I Samuel, Eli eventually became a tremendous influence in the life of Hannah’s son, Samuel. As she had promised to the Lord, Hannah gave her son over to the Lord’s service at a very young age. Samuel was mentored and taught by Eli as he grew up in the temple. I have to wonder if Eli ever reflected on the day when he first met Hannah. Did he kick himself for having such a poor first impression of her?

First impressions go both ways. We not only need to be careful of the first impressions we leave, but we also need to be careful of what we assume of others. As Christians we have the capability of being such a tremendous influence in this world. There are so many searching for truth. Most likely they don’t turn to the Bible first; instead they read the person—the Christian. From a short distance I may look warm and friendly, but how many people have graced my presence only to turn away when they read my “no solicitors” sign?

“You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14a

I was inside tidying up the house when I heard the sweet sounds of giggling coming from our backyard. I smiled and thought how I love to hear my daughters enjoying each others company. I decided to take a closer look to see what was so funny. As I quietly walked downstairs and toward the patio door, the giggling had turned to shouting in about 2.2 seconds, and soon there was an all out battle on the deck. Oh the simple, quiet days of summer.

After a few minutes, and some mediating from me, the battle ended and they were back to playing quietly. Madeline, 8, and Isabelle, 6, are very imaginative girls. I love to see the games they invent and the costumes they use to act out their imaginary play. This particular day Isabelle was adorned in several pieces of costume jewelry and an old hot- pink negligee of mine. I quickly announced that she was NEVER to go in the front yard with that on. What would the neighbors think? The girls informed me they were pretending to be teachers—their day job—and rock stars at night. They also informed me they were teenagers with no parents. I walked away a little perplexed, not quite knowing what to make of that.

Then it started me thinking, who are their heroes? Who do they look up to and mimic? Is it their teachers? Is it a young, female rock star? Is it a Disney Channel actress? Are these so called heroes people I would approve of?

Sure I grew up thinking Wonder Woman and the Bionic Woman were heroic, but for some reason they seemed more innocent than the young celebrity types my daughters are drawn to. They were “larger than life” helping anyone in need. The heroines my daughters are exposed to seem to get overwhelmed by fame, and end up on the cover of news magazines and on the nightly news because of poor choices they have made.

So, where does a mom find a good hero for her daughter these days? I think the answer is rather simple and obvious. The Bible. We are just over half way through our year-long study on Women of the Bible here at the Intersection. I have enjoyed this study immensely as I hope you have. What struck me this week are the amazing heroic qualities these women possessed: Esther’s courage, Ruth’s devotion, Sarah’s perseverance, Tamar’s vulnerability, Eve’s gigantic assignment, and so on. These women were far from perfect, but with God’s supernatural outpouring in their lives, they overcame the obstacles that stood before them. In the end, their stories were recorded in this great book for all to read throughout the ages.

After much thought about this subject, I am convinced that it’s time for my daughters to turn off the television, put the magazines down, and pause their Ipods for a few minutes. It’s time for them to discover the timeless and relevant stories of biblical heroes.

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:28-30

Now that’s a heroin.

As we pick up the story in Esther 3, King Xerxes has appointed a man named Haman to the highest position in the royal court. But Haman lets his ego get the best of him and orders the people of Susa to kneel and pay him honor when they see him. There is one person, however, who refuses to pay Haman the kind of respect he is seeking—Esther’s close relative, Mordecai. So Haman orders that Mordecai and his people (the Jews) be put to death. He also convinces King Xerxes to sign a decree stating that the Jewish people of Susa be destroyed.

After learning of Haman’s intentions, Mordecai pleads with Esther to use her position as queen to convince the king to lift this decree. At this point in time, Esther has kept her Jewish heritage a secret, so she refuses Mordecai’s request out of fear of losing her own life when her secret is discovered.

Not giving up on his niece, Mordecai sends back this reply to Esther: "Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape? For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:13-14

In the book of Esther we really don’t see the name of God mentioned, however, we see His hand boldly weaving through the lives of Esther and Mordecai. As God spoke through Mordecai, the phrase, “for such a time as this” shows that God was in charge of this situation and He was going to work through Esther at this moment in history. God gave Esther this assignment and equipped her to carry it out.

Rather than give away the ending to a really great story, I encourage you to read through the book of Esther and see for yourself the hand of God at work in Esther to save her people. As you read, I want you to ask yourself if you would be willing to take such a risk in today’s world?

The truth is we have been given a similar assignment—for such a time as this. We have a world desperately in need of saving from an eternal death. We may not hold an earthly position like Esther did, but we are royalty in the Kingdom of God.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.” 1 Timothy 1:7-8

Friends, the time has come for us to share our story with the pre-Christians in our world. Our Heavenly Father has not only commanded us, but supernaturally equipped each of us to proclaim the news of Jesus for such a time as this.

But Ruth replied, “I will go if you really want me to, but it would make it so much easier if you just stayed here. However, where ever you do go, I promise to text, email and call you often. And wherever you decide to live, I will come and visit, as long as I have my own room. I hate sharing a room. As far as your friends go, well, they just aren’t my type. And that church you go to, sorry you’re on your own with that. I’m just not into the whole church thing.”

No, this is really not an excerpt of scripture from any translation of the Bible. It’s what I believe would be a more realistic response of Ruth’s conversation with Naomi if it took place today. It is no secret that we live in a very self-absorbed, self-centered, selfish, culture. Sacrifice is the furthest thing from many minds. But wouldn’t it be nice if people were less focused on themselves? What would that look like?

Sacrifice: An offering; to surrender or give up something for the sake of something or someone else. I think to some degree we as Christ Followers understand the meaning of sacrifice, but to live it out is a whole different concept.

Perhaps one could argue that Ruth had nothing to lose by going with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem. After all her husband had died, there was a famine in the land, and Ruth did not seem eager to re-marry. Those circumstances alone would cause anyone to pursue a better opportunity. But think about it. This was Ruth’s home. There was familiarity there. Her family and friends were there. Her roots were established there.

Yet, she willingly gave all that up to travel with her mother-in-law to unfamiliar territory and make a new life. She wasn’t asked to do anything. In fact, Naomi encouraged Ruth to stay in Moab. Do you see it? Ruth wasn’t asked to do anything. Is sacrifice making a little more sense now?

I have celebrated thirty-something Easters in my lifetime. Each year I am moved to tears when I reflect on what God sacrificed and what Jesus endured for me. It’s mind blowing sometimes. But this past Easter, something struck me. Jesus was never prodded or persuaded to die on the cross, He volunteered. He willingly submitted His life for ours. We know in His humanness He did not desire the torture He endured, but He did it. Jesus made the incomparable, ultimate sacrifice of all time.

The story of Ruth puts sacrifice in a more realistic perspective for me. Though she did not make the ultimate sacrifice like our Lord, she is an example of living out this concept in a practical way. Now here is Ruth’s real response:

“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.’ Ruth 1:16”

Much better don’t you think?

Rahab sat outside the tent. It was just around dusk and a warm breeze began to blow through the Israelite camp. She tucked her knees close to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. As she exhaled a faint smile crossed her face and she began to think back on all that God had done for her and her family.

She thought back to the words of the spies. "Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land. (Joshua :14)”

Rahab knew at that moment she could trust these men—these Israelites. She knew Jericho belonged to them, and though most of her people had feared them, she knew she served the same God, Jehovah, the one true God.

Her smile faded for a second when she thought of her old life as a prostitute. Oh, she knew in her heart of hearts that what she had done for a living was wrong in the eyes of God. But somehow living among these Israelite people she found peace with her past. She believed in the lessons she had been taught and that one day there would be One (the Messiah) who would crush the head of the serpent and pay the price for sin once and for all.

By this time her heart overflowed with thankfulness and tears began to trickle down her face. She remembered the day she was rescued from Jericho. She had done just as the spies had told her. She had gathered her family in her home and tied a scarlet cord in the window so the Israelites would know to spare her home. And that they did.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked up toward the Heavens. She clasped her hands together and said, “thank you, thank you My LORD, Jehovah.”

“But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day. (Joshua 6:25)”

All we really know from scripture is that after the fall of Jericho Rahab went to live with the Israelites. So, truth be told, I made up the above scene. Forgive me. I just know that if I had walked in the shoes of Rahab I would be so grateful and thankful to God for sparing my life and blessing me with a new one, or would I?

Honestly, I know I could be much more thankful. I am so quick to give all my requests to my Heavenly Father, but I’m short and to the point with thanking God when my prayers are answered. I tend to just move on to the next request instead of basking in the greatness of what God has done for me.

I challenge you, along with myself, to give back to God by showering Him with thankfulness and praise. He is so worthy.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalm 100: 1, 4)”

In Genesis 38, we find the account of Tamar. She was married to Judah’s oldest son, Er. He died. And as was custom in that day, Judah ordered his next son (Onan) to be Tamar’s husband, but he also died. [Tamar, what are you doing to these men?] So Judah told Tamar to go back and live in her family’s house as a widow. When his third son was of marrying age Judah promised to send him to be Tamar’s husband. [Let me tell you, this family knew how to share.]

Are you with me so far? It gets better. Judah (now a widow himself) made a trip to Timnah where Tamar lived; however, his trip was not for the purpose of Tamar. Tamar learned of Judah’s travels and was angered by the fact that Judah did not follow through with his promise. But she had a plan to seek revenge on Judah. Tamar discarded her widow’s clothing and disguised herself outside the city gates. Judah saw Tamar and thought she was a prostitute, so he proceeded to “enjoy” some time with her, never knowing who she really was.

A few months later Tamar announced she was pregnant. Judah, not knowing that Tamar was pregnant with his twins ordered that she be put to death for her sin. [Hmmm, what about Judah’s sin?] No worries, Tamar kept some items that belonged to Judah to prove he was the one who had relations with her. [Too bad paternity tests weren’t around at that time in history.]

“I am pregnant by the man who owns these," she said. And she added, "See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.” Judah recognized them and said, "She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah." Genesis 38:25-26

Of all the women we have studied thus far, Tamar stumps me. I don’t believe her intention was to become pregnant with her father-in-law’s children. She just wanted to embarrass Judah by exposing his indiscretion with her. So, what is the significance of her story? What can we learn from Tamar? She believed in a promise that was never to be, and took it on herself to right a wrong. Perhaps that is the lesson. She believed in a human promise. How many times have we fallen victim to man’s promises only to be disappointed?

"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.” Isaiah 40:6b

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

And there you have it. God’s promises (His Word) stands forever. Thank you Lord for Tamar’s story and the reminder that you keep your promises. And what great promises they are.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what is says.” James 1:22

I will never forget that April morning seven years ago when I woke up feeling sad and hopeless. I glanced outside at the blazing sun and the already 93 degree temperature at 8 a.m. In that very moment, I was overcome with regret. I longed for the life that I had left behind in Southern California; the prefect weather; great friends; the ocean; even the traffic didn’t seem like such a bother now. The Arizona desert just wasn’t cutting it for me.

I had hit an all time low. Thankfully my dear husband came to the rescue and with much concern and love told me I needed to move on. His suggestion that day seemed daunting. He was bold enough to tell me I needed to take the initiative to make some friends and make a life for myself in our new home.

We decided to go to a Bible study for couples in our age and stage of life, and that’s where I met Diane. I could tell the minute I met her that she was kind, a good listener, accepting, and wise. We hit it off immediately and made plans to go to lunch.

That day was the start of a beautiful friendship that has spanned over the years. We have walked through births, deaths, health issues, financial struggles, and relocations. Diane and her husband are the god-parents to our Isabelle. Many great moments of laughter and conversation have been shared over the years. Though miles separate us now, it only takes a moment to reconnect, whether over the phone, or email or in person. I hate to think what would have happened had I continued to live in my loneliness and bitterness and not taken the initiative to make friends in Arizona. But thankfully God had a much bigger plan and orchestrated the opportunity for this amazing friendship.

The story of Rebekah comes to my mind when I think of initiative. In Genesis 24 we are introduced to one of Abraham’s servants who is assigned the task of finding a suitable wife for Isaac, Abraham’s son. It was common practice in that day for a son’s wife to be chosen by his parents. So Eliezer set out from Canaan with ten camels and headed to the town of Nahor. He reached Nahor just around dusk as the women were coming to draw water from the well. He made his camels kneel by the town well and prayed this prayer:

“Give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.” Genesis 24:12-14

Before Eliezer was finished praying, Rebekah approached the well to draw water. Now in those days it was custom to offer weary travelers water, but not their animals. Eleiezer asked Rebekah for a drink.

“’Drink my lord,’ she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given him a drink, she said, ‘I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.’” Genesis 24:18-19

Rebekah doesn’t stop there though, she offered Eleiezer a place to stay for the night in her family’s home and a place for his animals to eat and rest. After meeting Rebekah’s family, Eliezer explained the purpose of his visit and how God had honored his request in finding a suitable mate for Isaac. The families made arrangements for Rebekah and Isaac to marry.

I love this story. I love to see the hand of God weave in and out of the lives of Eliezer and Rebekah. I’m sure Rebekah woke that morning ready for a normal day in Nahor. Little did she know she would be engaged to Abraham’s son by that evening. She followed the promptings of our Lord, took initiative that went against the common customs of that day, and demonstrated a servant’s heart.

Now fast-forward to 2009. How are you at taking initiative? Have you watered any camels lately? Would you drop what you are doing to be a friend to that lonely individual? God certainly directs the lives of those who serve Him, but He leaves plenty of room for us to take initiative.

“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25

One day a Native American boy asked his father, “Father, how did we (siblings) get our names?”

“Well,” said the father, “When your sister was born, I came out of the tepee and the first thing I saw was a soaring eagle, so we named her Soaring Eagle. When your brother was born, I came out of the tepee and saw a running bull, so we named him Running Bull.” Perplexed by his son’s question, he turned to him and said, “Why do you ask Pooping Dog?”

I find this joke especially fitting for our topic this year. As I look over our Bible character for this week, and some of the characters we will study in the weeks to come, I have to chuckle at some of their names.

I wonder if a similar discussion unfolded between Hagar and her parents, Abednego and his parents, and Euodias and her parents. All of these Biblical children grew up to be extraordinary characters in Biblical history. In fact, I believe, their given names had everything to do with their purpose in the Kingdom.

Hagar, for example, means “flight.” As we saw in Stacy’s devotion last week, Hagar fled shortly after she conceived a son with Abraham. “Then Sarai mistreated Hagar, so she fled from her.” Genesis 16:6.

The passage goes onto say, “The angel of the Lord said to her: ‘You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael for the Lord has heard of your misery.’” Genesis 6:11. Guess what the name Ishmael means? “God will hear.”

There are also many characters throughout the Bible that God renames. Sarai meant “my princess,” but God renamed her Sarah to signify His promise that she would conceive a child. One commentary I read suggests that “my princess” confined Sarah to one family. But her name change to “princess” signified God’s favor upon her. She no longer belonged to one family, but humbly she became the ancestor of many nations.

We still see the importance of an individual’s name in many cultures today. Some are named after ancestors and relatives; others are named because of their religious or cultural heritage; and then there are those who are named by what their father sees when he exits the tepee. Joke or not, names are important and carry significant meaning in many cultures and families.

Do you know the meaning of your name? Do you know the story behind how your name was chosen? If not, I encourage you to find out. As I have researched this topic the past week, I have found that many names can be traced back to the Bible, and carry significant spiritual meaning. I believe that God continues to have a great influence on naming His people today. I know that sounds like a radical thought, but read Psalm 139 in its entirety.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13.

If our Creator knows the inmost things about us before we were even born, isn’t it possible that He carefully chose a name that’s fitting for us and our purpose in His Kingdom?

The day was dark and cloudy. A storm was brewing in the distance and Sarah could hear the faint sounds of thunder. She wrapped herself a little tighter in the brightly colored wrap as a chill ran down her spine. She shuddered and closed her eyes. The thought of what she had done flooded her mind. She shook her head in shame and let out a gasp. Tears and sobs soon followed. She knelt down on the cold, hard floor and wept and wept.

Oh the bitter sting of regret. We have all experienced a moment like Sarah when sheer, cold panic sets in and we realize a tremendous mistake has been made. Self doubt takes over, shame sets in and rather than turning to the One who will carry us through, we set out to fix it ourselves.

We are first introduced to Sarah, Abraham’s wife, at the young age of 65. Scripture notes that Sarah was a beautiful woman, but despite all her beauty, one problem plagued her day after day. She was barren and unable to conceive a child—something she wanted more than anything.

The years wore on for Sarah, and still she remained childless.  day came when she grew tired of waiting on the Lord to fulfill this longing deep within her. She decided to take matters into her own hands and convinced her maidservant Hagar and her husband Abraham to conceive a child together. They did, and Hagar became pregnant. Scripture says that after Hagar conceived, she began to despise Sarah (Genesis 16:4). I tend to think she acted haughty toward Sarah because she had the one thing Sarah wanted more than anything.

Can you imagine the regret Sarah must have felt in that moment? Not only was Hagar pregnant with Abraham’s child, but now she despised Sarah. In the midst of anger and hurt, Sarah lashed out at Abraham with these words, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. (Genesis 16:5)”

Sound familiar? Okay, maybe not this exact scenario, but how often in the turmoil of our mistakes do we lash out at others and cast blame? Emotions take over and we wonder how we arrived at this place. We let a moment of weakness dictate our lives…… until something amazing happens. We find forgiveness from our mistakes. We find comfort in knowing God has heard our cries. We find hope and strength to move forward.

Sarah did move forward. She learned to live with her mistake as it played out in front of her day after day. Thirteen years passed from the time Ishmael was born from Hagar. Abraham was almost 100 years old and Sarah was 89. The Lord said to Abraham, “I will bless her (Sarah) and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Genesis 17:16

Can you imagine? All that Sarah had hoped and prayed for was coming to fruition. Certainly it was not her timing, but the Almighty God’s. “Then the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say will I have a child now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:13-14) In my opinion, Sarah’s laughter was not out of disrespect to God. I have a feeling she was more overcome with surprise and joy by this Word from the Lord

Sarah did in fact give birth to Isaac. The Lord’s promise was fulfilled. “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me (Genesis 21:6)” I love it that the name Isaac means laughter. To me this is a sign that Sarah lived out her life with joy. The bitterness and regret of her past disappeared. Her hope was realized, as was God’s faithfulness.