RECONSTRUCTION

Thank You, Father, for Your teaching

by Your Holy Spirit!

There is nothing so powerful and liberating

as truth jumping out to meet me

when I read Your word or pray.

You continue to teach me about tabernacle

and temple in many ways and layers,

and I love it!

The truths concerning My dwelling place are powerful and full of many elements.  My original tabernacle was a temporary, portable shelter in which My presence was seen in the forms of cloud and fire.  There I met with Moses face to face and showed him what I wanted for Israel.  As the pillar of cloud/fire lifted, Israel took down the tabernacle and followed until I came to rest.  Then the tabernacle was set up and Israel camped until I moved them forward again.  Following Me was a day by day reality for them.  They had no idea whether I would keep them in one place for a day or for a year.  Their eyes had to remain fixed on My presence for direction.

Years after settling in Canaan, Israel was ruled by David, a man after My own heart.  He wanted to build Me a temple, but it was My will that his son Solomon fulfill that duty instead.  David made preparations.  Again My dwelling place was built from the very finest materials I had created.  It was glorious, extravagant, filled with gold and splendor---a wonder that honored the Creator of all things.  There was still that special place where My presence rested, and Israel knew that I dwelt among them.

After many kings lived and died and Israel had forsaken Me over and over again, the time came when her enemies overpowered her and My temple was ransacked and eventually in ruins.  Following years in captivity I put it in the hearts of faithful men to return to the land and rebuild the temple and the wall around Jerusalem.  They were heartbroken to see the disrepair and condition of My dwelling, but they were determined to make things better.  A season of reconstruction began under My direction.  For a time men became distracted and began building their own homes and neglected My temple.  In a very similar way today, My people are caught up in the ways of the world.  They try to do the right things but so often with the wrong motivation.  They are trying to care for My temple, their bodies, but are motivated by appearance and approval rather than by honor for Me and My dwelling place.  Others believe they are working to further My kingdom when they are often advancing their own organization, ministry, or influence.  Success on those terms only glorifies man and his own righteousness instead of becoming broken bread and poured out wine that meet the needs of a world starving for Me.

When Israel returned to the job I had given them, they found that I cared for and blessed them in the process.  I was pleased with their work and effort.  I protected them from their enemies and provided all their needs.  I encouraged them in the day to day labor of reconstruction.  Honoring Me is an active living undertaking.  It is not merely a matter of completed perfection; I am honored not only when everything is in its ordered place.  It begins in the heart, and every step taken, every word spoken, every thought and intent worthy of My name honors Me.  I see and know the hearts and motives of My people and honor those who honor Me.

When the temple was completed the people celebrated a dedication to Me.  To the human eye the new temple did not compare with the glory of the first and some were disappointed.  People never see things the way I do.  My people had again welcomed My presence and My Spirit among them and I was lifted and exalted in their eyes.  The new covenant that I share with you now is even better.  My Spirit is abiding in your midst, and I fill My dwelling with My glory, Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Set your heart on Me and do not be grieved or discouraged, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Ezra 1:1-6; Ezra 3:7-13; Haggai 1-2; Colossians 1:27; Colossians 3:1-4; Nehemiah 8:10

TABERNACLE

Lord, I'm trying to put it all together.

I'm reading about Your tabernacle and offerings

and all the details and rules that You set for Israel in 

implementing Your worship.

Holiness matters to You.

That much is clear.

Everything that surrounds You should

be reverenced with a holy awe.

Today, in the new covenant that You have established,

You have set aside many rules and restrictions.

You have declared all foods clean,

all people as objects of Your love,

the observance of days as a matter of individual

faith and conscience.

Yet You have been clear that our bodies are

Your temple and we are not our own,

having been bought with the price of Your blood.

All that we do and say is to be for Your glory,

and Your Spirit should be listened to and obeyed.

What does this look like for me?

How much order and discipline is healthy yet

still allows the Holy Spirit free sway?

My child, you are hearing My voice and seeking to obey.  I have indeed set forth a new covenant that is better than the old, yet there is much to be learned from the old as long as you do not get stuck there.  As you read My instructions to Israel through Moses, understand My character.  The tabernacle was built with only the finest materials and the most skilled work because it was for Me, just as you are created for Me.  I have created you with great care to be a specific vessel for My life.

Israel was given many rules and restrictions in order to teach them the difference between what was ordinary and what was holy.  They had no other way of seeing that I was the one true God and I deserved their worship and faithfulness.  They had come from a land of many gods which were easily tossed about to please their own desires.  As you become more and more aware of My holiness and My right to your life, the other lesser gods that would clamor for your attention fall away and are exposed for the frauds that they are.  My Holy Spirit lives in you and convinces you what is true and what is false, and His instruction is far more valuable than a list of rules to follow.

Even so, the vessel and container of My Holy Spirit is to be holy, surrendered, and submitted to My will.  As you read of the tabernacle you find that I am a God of order, beauty, and quality.  My tabernacle of your body should be cared for in a way that honors its inhabitant, Me.  Order and discipline are not outside My will, but must be dictated by My Spirit and not by the trends, wisdom, or motivation of the world.

See yourself as I see you and you will be amazed at what I have created.  You are unique, loved, valued, and full of purpose.  You were lost in sin and death, but I have redeemed you from all of your past, present, and even future sin and circumstances.  Now everything that touches you has passed through My hand, and My intentions are always for your good.  Submit to discipline and correction that comes from Me, but shun the voice of the world and enemy which would condemn you and bring you into slavery.  Trust the voice of My Spirit and walk this path of life and freedom with Me.  Let Me be the joy of your heart and your greatest desire, and I will be faithful to lead you into life more abundant than you can dream.

Hebrews 8-9; Psalm 139; John 16:8; 1 John 2:27; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20;

Colossians 2:16-23; Colossians 3:1-4; Galatians 6:1, 13, 16; Ephesians 3:20-21

Life Changes

I hardly know where to start in explaining the changes in our lives since December, 2013.  First of all, we both retired from our jobs.  I was done on December 7, and Jon was done on December 25.  Prior to leaving, Jon took a fall at work and was in the process of seeing doctors to check out his left shoulder.  In February he was finally able to see a specialist who diagnosed a rotator cuff tear after having an MRI.

On February 27 our youngest daughter Megan and her husband Greg had twins!  Beautiful and perfect.  The little girl is named Arya and the little boy is Damian.  I went to stay with them and help out as they already had a 3 1/2 year old boy named Oskar.  I stayed at their house each week from Sunday afternoon till Friday night or Saturday for 6 weeks with one notable exception.

On April 3 (babies now 5 weeks old) Jon had surgery in Dakota Dunes, SD and I was home with him for about 4 days then took him with me to the kids to help them for one more week.  After that we came home so he could start a regular physical therapy schedule.

Things didn't go that well.  He had lots of pain and swelling.  The swelling was in his arms and both feet and legs.  We finally made some progress getting the swelling down and thought we were on the right track.  He started having pain in the right calf that worsened over about 3-4 days and then his breathing seemed more labored.  I took him the the ER on April 29 and he had clots in his right leg and both lungs, a pulmonary embolism.  Within about 48 hours his blood thickness reached therapeutic levels and they were keeping him in the hospital till he could gain more strength.

On the morning of May 7 he had another pulmonary embolism...more clots in right leg and right lung.  He was life-flighted to Methodist hospital in Omaha.  They put a screen in the vena cava to protect his lungs from more clots from below.  They also found there were clots in his left arm.  They administered a TPA treatment by IV that is a super clot-buster.  By morning he was breathing much easier.  He was dismissed from there on May 11.

Since that time we have been focusing on physical therapy and getting him stronger.  We are so grateful that he's alive!  We were so blessed by so many people who came to visit, sent cards, called, texted, and PRAYED!  It's definitely given me a new perspective on life and the value of community.  Our children were such a help and blessing to us as they drove many miles to be with us and help us.  They checked on us often when they couldn't be here, and we always knew that they were there for us.

There are no words to thank everyone who reached out and those who are continuing to pray for Jon's health.  The doctors could find no reason at all for him to have formed clots the second time when he was at therapeutic level.  He will probably be on blood thinners the rest of his life which is no problem at all, but we will have to be diligent to be aware of both bleeding and clotting potentials and symptoms.

I've learned much.  I feel like I should have learned more.  I know I need a Savior.  I know that my Savior is with me always, every moment.  I know that I love my husband.  I know that we need community.  I know that life is fragile and anything can happen.  I know He holds us in His hand.  And I know that's enough.

How They've Grown!!!

Oskar with Arya and Damian in the hospital

Damian and Arya at 13 weeks old

Look how these little ones have grown and changed!!  They are actually looking more alike now than they have since they were born.  Happy and healthy and growing like crazy!  We've been so blessed to share in their lives!  Oskar is growing in some important ways too...like being a big boy and a great big brother.