Weird Bible Wonderings #1

Every once in a while, as I read the Bible from my 2014 perspective, a weird thought enters my head – a thought I just can’t get out.  Not long ago I had one of those days.

weatherI spent an evening with friends, talking about a snowstorm that was supposed to hit our area the next day.  It seemed we just couldn’t get enough of talking about what might happen.

“What time will the snow start?  How many inches?  Will it be fluffy or heavy?  Is there going to be freezing rain mixed with the snow?  I wonder if they’ll cancel school?”

The next day, I found myself obsessively watching the snowfall predictions on Weather.com to see exactly how many inches we were going to get, because after all……well, it just matters!

 

And then it happened….my Weird Bible Wondering.

I wonder.....

I wonder…..

I wonder…..

When they were in the wilderness, did the Israelites spend as much time talking about the next day’s manna as we do the next day’s snowstorms?

You see, back in the book of Exodus when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, food was tough to find.  So they griped and complained about their situation to God.  The very same God who’d just pulled off a string of great big miracles to liberate them from Egypt.  So – in retrospect – it was pretty gutsy of them to complain.  But God (in a waaaaayyyy more gracious response than I could ever muster up), told them He’d provide manna.  Every day there’d be just enough manna for each of them to collect and eat.  Except the day before the Sabbath, when there’d be two-days’ worth, so they could rest and observe the Sabbath.  Yes, the God who’d already performed amazing miracles clearly spelled out how He would provide for them day by day.  They didn’t have to worry, they just needed to trust.

So how do you think the Israelites responded?  I can just hear them now…..

“How much manna will be on the ground when we wake up?  Will it be fluffy manna or heavy manna?  Do you think it will be windy? If so, the manna may blow away. Or sand may get mixed in and make it all gritty – yuk!  What if it rains – will it turn into manna-mush?   What if we’re still hungry – do we REALLY have to wait until tomorrow for more manna?  Watch out for yellow manna!

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”  Corrie Ten Boom

It may sound ridiculous, but I’ll bet there were at least a few of those conversations.  Because human nature is, after all, remarkably consistent.  We love playing the game of “what-if” rather than relaxing in the knowledge that God has promised to provide.  Yes, sometimes just trusting God doesn’t seem as satisfying – it doesn’t satisfy our love of speculating about the future, it doesn’t make for good conversation around the coffee bar or wherever you happen to hang out.

So yes, I bet they DID talk about this, even though God told them His plan – very clearly.

And we know they didn’t listen – or if they did, they didn’t trust what He said.  We know, because they hoarded the manna.  Thinking ahead to the uncertainty of the next day, they collected more the one day’s manna.

You see, the Israelites were focused on what they thought were their needs.  Truth be told, we all are.  The Israelites were hungry, so they thought they needed food.  But God knew what they really needed – they needed to trust Him.  So God made the leftover manna rot – because God was determined they would learn to trust His provision one day at a time.  Just like He’s determined with us.

Thousands of years later, I’m like the Israelites and their manna.  If you’ve been reading my blog, you know I’m contemplating some adjustments in my life – clearing out some major time commitments to make room to serve God more.  To be honest, I’m not 100% sure what that will look like.  Not even close.  And my mind keeps spinning on what might happen – like a person about to get snowed on, or like the Israelites with their manna.

“What will I do with my time?  What if God doesn’t make it incredibly obvious what I’m supposed to do?  What if He makes me wait 40 years like Moses before He’s ready to use me?  I could be dead by then!”

And so I’m learning that “what if” isn’t just a fun game I play as I try to guess my future.  It’s destructive.  It does nothing to help my stress level.  It does nothing to help my faith grow.  In fact, it may just be listening to Satan whispering in my ear…..that God can’t be trusted.

But what if….instead of spending my energy playing “what if,”  I focused on seeing how God is meeting my needs today – right here? right now?  Would I be surprised to find my average existence is actually quite amazing?  God’s full, personal attention and intervention, meeting my needs, showing me opportunities to serve Him?  Would I be able to trust Him more?   Would I find, if I focused on trusting God, that my “needs” pale in comparison to God my provider?

But that would mean I need to stop looking at my fears, my “needs,” and look instead at Jesus.  All. the. time.  Consciously choosing to look at Jesus, when Satan wants me to look at my uncertainties, my fear that my needs won’t be met.  But Jesus knows my needs – and Jesus wants me to learn to trust Him.

Dream Hard Trust HarderIn the end, a life spent trusting Jesus everny day is way more exciting than a life spent worrying.   Just ask Peter….who ended up walking on water.  Just ask Moses…who saw that Red Sea parted.  Just ask Paul who – imprisoned with his life in danger – kept his eyes on God and saw countless souls come to faith through his words.  Just ask Corrie Ten Boom, Billy Graham, or Hudson Taylor.  Or perhaps some Christ followers you know.  No, a life spent trusting Jesus is not boring – when you look and see Him working, it’s exciting!

And in the midst of all that, I’m still obsessing about how much snow we’re going to get  this winter – even though it really doesn’t matter a whole lot.  In the end, we will get snow, and when we do I’ll stay home from work because the roads will be treacherous.  We may lose power or (gasp!) our internet connection.  Our cell phone batteries may run down.  We may get colder than we would like.  The pipes may burst.  But I will survive.  On the off chance I don’t….I’ll be rejoicing with Jesus.

And the God who worked miracles for the Israelites – who was obsessed with teaching them to trust Him….He WILL bring me through my own times of uncertainty.  And if I pay attention, I’ll be amazed at His provision.

What about you?  Do you spend your day playing mental gymnastics about what might or might not happen in the future?  Has God ever surprised or amazed you at how He’s met you needs?  We’d love to hear your story in the comments!

Faith – Cruising on Auto….

The gift that taught me about faith

THANKS Dear! Fortunately, the gift made up for the card!

I have a new toy! (The Hubbie did great for my birthday!)

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been fascinated with photography.  It started with my first Brownie camera – remember those?  But somehow all I ever progressed to were “point-and-shoot” cameras.

Because I always had one rule – my camera must be convenient.

It couldn’t be heavy, it needed to fit in my purse, it needed to be easy to use.  I wanted artistry that didn’t interfere with my life.  Now don’t get me wrong – point-and-shoot cameras have become pretty good over the years.  But looking at other people’s photos, I know I can do better….a lot better.

If only I had a “real” camera to take advantage of all its features.

the gift that taught me about faithSo I was delighted when the Hubbie got me a “real” camera for my birthday, with lots of lenses, settings,  buttons, dials and other gizmos that attach and plug in….somewhere.  I’m still figuring out where.

Which leads to my next dilemma….how do I use this thing?

Because when faced with a “Kodak moment,” I need to set up the camera to capture my spectacular picture. And for that, using my camera needs to be second nature.

But there’s a major temptation I face, every time I use it.  It’s called….Auto mode.  That evil Auto mode…..

Faith on Auto

Auto Mode – the Great Tempter!

It seems the marketers knew there’d be lots of people like me who want good results, but don’t want to do the up-front work for outstanding results. So they made Auto mode, which essentially turns my camera into just an expensive point-and-shoot model. Trapping me forever in the world of pretty good, but not great….and definitely lacking the competence to work a “real” camera.

What do I need to be competent?  Not much. Actually, I have everything I need – except practice.  Taking the same picture over and over, using different settings – in MANUAL Mode – seeing what works and what doesn’t.  Changing lenses until I figure out how to do it quickly. Over and over. It will happen if I spend the time.

But somehow it’s never “the right time” to practice.  It’s just so tempting to use Auto.  Nikon gave me a booklet on how to set the camera for each kind of picture.  A reference manual.  But how can I see a great shot – and then tell everyone “hold that pose” while I go read the reference manual?  Tell your family that.  Tell a bunch of wiggly kids that.  Tell a sports team to freeze the action for a few minutes. HAH!

But my friend Auto……

Auto is easy.

Auto is comfortable.

Auto makes me look like I know what I’m doing…..even when I don’t!

I love Auto…..

But……only spending time in Manual mode gives me the maturity I want.

I got a bit uncomfortable when a little voice hinted to me that this was like my faith.  

There’s a difference between interest and commitment.  When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient.  When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses; only results.  – Kenneth Blanchard

I often wish I had great faith – like Paul, or Billy Graham.  God’s made it clear – God doesn’t play favorites with our faith.  I CAN have great faith, if I’ll get out of “Christian Auto” mode, be willing to roll up my sleeves, work in “Manual” mode and trust God, step by step.

Now Auto mode is not entirely bad.  It’s kind of like training wheels for your bike – supporting you, helping you develop basic skills.  We all need to start in Auto mode.  But we miss out if we stay there.

What does Christian Auto mode look like?  It may be different for you, but here’s what it looks like for me:  focusing only on building and maintaining relationships with Christians, because they support me in my spiritual walk without really challenging me.

Not bad….but if I want to have mature faith, I need to move into “Manual mode”, stepping out in faith and trying new things.  For me, that means focusing on developing relationships with non-Christians, especially those that are “unlovable,” or involved in “the big sins.”  Being their friend, loving them right where they are, in tangible ways so they can see the love of Jesus in me.

Maybe you can relate to that.  Or maybe to these:

Auto: Attending Bible studies, but not reading the Bible myself (other than perhaps looking up some verses for Bible study homework).

Manual – Daily Bible reading and studying – on my own.  Finding one thing each day to apply…..and then applying it.  Reading the Bible all the way through….several times.

Auto – Talking about something I do at church, without ever talking about faith issues.  Or inviting friends to church so they can hear someone else talk about Jesus.

Manual – Learning to talk about my faith in everyday language folks can understand.  Initiating spiritual conversations with non-Christians, that progress all the way from general spiritual topics to helping them commit their lives to Christ.

Auto – adding items to a prayer list.

Manual – routinely getting on my knees for my needs and the events of my day – that one day.  Sharing with others about how God answered my prayers that day.

I have to confess – so often I intend to operate in Manual – but in that last moment, I cave. I resort to Auto.  It’s a day-by-day moment-by-moment thing – so many decisions, each one about whether I’ll step out in faith, or whether at the last minute I’ll say “Maybe next time.” Each “next time” delaying the growth of my faith to maturity, my ability to trust God and capably handle the situations that are coming my way.

So….over the next several months, I’m going to spend a lot of time with my new camera…first in Auto mode, but quickly moving to Manual mode.  Because I want to grow in my photography skills.  And that “evil Auto” button is my reminder that I need to shift into Manual…to gain Maturity.

And when it comes to Jesus?  I’m asking Him for an opportunity each day where I can wade into Manual….for Maturity. My current area of focus is making social connections with those that don’t yet know Jesus – a divine appointment.  I’m excited to see what God will do as I practice trusting Him!

How about you – when does your faith slip into Auto?   Or perhaps you can encourage others with the story of how you were able to step out in your faith?  I’d love it if you’d share your perspective in the comments!