Falling into the Hodgepodge...just for fun

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

I haven't done the Hodgepodge in a hot minute...but now that the Weddings are both in the rear view mirror, and Fall is officially...well, at least sort of...here, I thought I'd just jump in and have some fun.  So here are my thoughts for this week's edition...

1. It's officially fall y'all. In the northern hemisphere anyway. Any signs of it where you are? What's your favorite thing about this time of year? 

Well, in these parts we really don't see what I'd call Fall until around the first weekend of November...peak fall color can be as late as Thanksgiving. We're still in mid-to-upper 80's for the 10 day forecast, so I'm not hurrying to pull out the sweaters and the boots.  But it is nice that it's not absolutely ROASTING outside.  My favorite thing about fall is probably the cozy settling in...the fire in the fire place, s'mores, and knowing that the holidays are coming and we'll see everyone before too long.

2. Have you visited any 'falls' in person? Tell us about one of your favorites? Of the following top ten famous falls (according to this site ) which would you most like to see in person-

Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe/Zambia), Igazu Falls (Argentina/Brazil), Niagara Falls (US/Canada), Angel Falls (Venezuela), Yosemite Falls (California), Dettifoss (Iceland) Kaieteur Falls (Guyana), Plitvice Waterfalls (Croatia), Gullfoss-Golden Falls (Iceland), or Sutherland Falls (New Zealand)

I've been to Niagara and Yosemite, although the trip to Yosemite was in August and there was barely a trickle over the falls.  Niagara was amazing; there's a spot on the Canadian side where the walkway railing is just a few feet from the edge; you can see through the water as it goes over and really, it's not that deep.  But it's moving fast.  I kind of subconsciously felt like it should be turned off at night, which I know is completely absurd.  I think my puny little brain just couldn't fathom that much water pouring down without stopping.

3. What's something you'll miss about summer? 

Daylight.  We're on the eastern edge of the time zone, so by the winter solstice the sun sets at like, 4:30 in the afternoon.  Depressing.

4. A favorite fall recipe?

Russian Tea!

2 cups Tang

1 cup instant tea (no sugar, no lemon)

2 packages unsweetened lemon Kool-aid

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground cloves.

Put all in a tupperware container, seal it up and shake it really well.  2 teaspoons of mix in a cup of hot water...sweeten with sugar or honey to taste.

Beats Pumpkin Spice Anything hands down....

5. Something you enjoy but lately have allowed it to 'fall by the wayside'? 

Oy.  I have been hankering to pull out my clarinet and play a bit, but I've lost my binder of music.  I put it in a new one a couple of years back because the old black one was falling apart and...now I can't find it.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have much Fall Cleaning to do.  Much too much.  But I have managed...so far...to keep my Commitment Level for Things in the Fall down considerably from the past few years, so maybe I can actually get that Round Tuit thing...

Blogging Bible Study: The Heart of the Matter - Deuteronomy, Discourse Five

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

And so we come to the final discourse and conclusion of Deuteronomy, chapters 31 - 34.  There is only one verse that mentions heart...and that is Deut. 32:46, following the passage known as the 'Song of Moses', verses 1-43 of chapter 32.  I'm going to include the whole sentence, lol.

When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law."

The Hebrew word for heart is,  as almost all have been, Strong's H3824, Lebab.  

As I typed that verse out, the word command stood out.  Command your children.  

And it hit me...IF the words are taken to heart, THEN the result is that the next generation will be diligently taught...commanded...to carefully obey all of those words.  Which will include taking the words to heart and doing the same with the generation following them.

Take a selah moment right there.

I am reminded of a situation I had back years ago, teaching young people in our denominational church.  One family stood out to me; with a single child, they stated that they were 'going to let [the child] decide what to believe and not push their beliefs onto [said child].'

That wasn't an isolated opinion, although it was more rare in that particular denomination than in more...progressive...churches.

Now, I totally get that forcing kids to toe a religious line just purely from a legalistic stance often produces rebellion and pushes the kids away from faith altogether.  I have seen it happen.

Which is why the phrase take to heart is so key.  We are not talking about an externally enforced list of  requirements.  This is about living out of personal, heart- felt convictions.  Part of teaching the kids to carefully obey the word of God includes teaching them to take those teachings to heart.

And the word 'command' makes it clear that such teaching is not optional, is not left up to the kids to decide what they want to believe.  No, from a very young age, the kids are to be taught to take to heart  the words of God, so then carefully obeying those words will be part of who they are.

So...I have to ask...how are we teaching our children to take God's word to heart?  

Because, has we have found in earlier lessons, obedience is a heart issue. 

Blogging Bible Study: The Heart of the Matter - Deuteronomy, Discourse 4

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Like Discourse Three, Discourse 4 only covers 2 chapters... Deuteronomy 29 -30.  We have one verse in chapter 29 (all scriptures today taken as usual from the NIV 84):

Make sure there s no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart [H 3824] turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.  -- Deut. 29:18

I read that verse and it pulled me up to a full stop....'bitter poison' needs a selah.

What is compared to bitter poison in this verse?  Worshiping the gods of other nations, other cultures.  Foreign gods, which starts with turning away from the Lord, the deliverer and provider that the Israelites have known.  Specifically, the heart turns away.  Why, after seeing God move and work, would someone's heart...or the heart of a family or tribe...turn away from the Lord?  What is the root that leads to the heart turning away?  We will see a similar warning in Hebrews; I thought for a minute about throwing that into the discussion but, no, we'll talk about that when we get there.  Just know that this concept shows up in the New Testament....that the people who seem to follow God can still have a heart that turns away.

But there is something in the core of some people that results in the heart turning away.  A root.  Disappointment, unbelief, entitlement, rebellion...it could be any number of things that, if not dealt with, will fester and result in a heart that turns away.  

And we all know the consequences of turning away from God.  'Bitter poison' is a good analogy.

Is there anything in my heart that could produce a turning away from God? Selah.

Moving on...

When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart [H 3824] wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the LORD your God with all your heart [H 3824] and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he has scattered you. -- Deut 30:1-3

The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts [H 3824] and the hearts [H 3824] of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart [H 3824] and with all your soul, and live. -- Deut 30:6

The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart [H 3824] and with all your soul. -- Deut. 30: 9b - 10.

No, the word is very near you; it is in our mouth and in your heart [H 3824] so that you may obey it. -- Deut. 30:14

But if your heart [H 3824] turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to other gods and worship them,  I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.  You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. -- Deut. 30:17-18

These verses make a very nice little condensation of the narrative... repentance, restoration, obedience, and a warning against idolatry.  

And we see again a reference to a circumcised heart. In Deut. 10:16, the Israelites were instructed to circumcise their own hearts, here we see that God will circumcise their hearts...but that is after dispersion and repentance and restoration.  And...I think I've mentioned it before, but it is worth noting that, after the return from the Babylonian exile, the Hebrews never again fell into national idolatry.  

That's an interesting point to ponder.

Of course, this is all followed up by the well-known passage from Deuteronomy in which Moses exhorts the Israelites to 'choose life'...by loving and obeying the Lord.

Once more I am struck by the concept that the covenant was so simple...obey God and serve him only, and he would prosper and protect the people.

But...that root that led to turning away and following other gods poisoned it all...

Blogging Bible Study: The Heart of the Matter - Deuteronomy, Discourse 3

 Posted by Lisa Willis to Beer Lahai Roi

I went to my list of verses this morning to see how much ground there is to cover today and was surprised to see that Discourse Three is only two chapters long....the blessings and curses.

And there are only two verses in those two chapters that mentions 'heart/hearts'... and they are in the same paragraph so I'll just include the pertinent bit:

Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot.  There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing , and a despairing heart. You will live in constant suspense, filled with dread both night and day, never sure of your life.  In the morning you will  say "If only  it were evening!" and in the evening, "If only it were morning!" -- because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see.  -- Deut. 28:65-67, NIV 84

First, a quick look at the Hebrew words used in those two verses shows that  'hearts' in verse 67 is Strong's 3824, which we have seen so often, but the word rendered 'heart' in verse 65 is Strong's 3820.  Both carry the connotation of innermost part, the seat of emotions.

This is a description of trauma.  And if you read the whole context, you will find that it is the consequences of idolatry.

Following other gods.  Worshiping other deities.  Dividing one's loyalty between Yahweh and...others.

As I was pondering that, it suddenly hit me that idolatry is a heart issue.  And look at the consequences... a heart full of fear, dread, despair, terror.  That's what idolatry does.  Because an idol, ultimately, cannot save, deliver, edify, encourage...anything.  

By and large, we don't worship statuettes, but that is not the only expression of idolatry.  Think of the Rich Young Ruler, who loved his riches/ his lifestyle too much to respond to Jesus' instruction to sell everything, give it away and follow him.  That's a clear cut case of idolatry.  The religious rulers of Jesus' day who valued their interpretation of Scripture so highly that they completely missed when their own Messiah stood in front of them.  They valued their status and position so highly that they successfully plotted to hand Jesus over to the Romans to execute, so they could keep the political status quo.

Lifestyle/ position/ power...sounds a lot like the ol' Triple P threat (pleasure, possessions, power).  

Am I more concerned with one of those 'P's' than I am pleasing and obeying God?  

If I am...that's idolatry.  And idolatry will have consequences.

Gonna be pondering that today, I think.

Blogging Bible Study - The Heart of the Matter : Deuteronomy, Discourse 2

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Oy.  I have a big ol' bite to chew today.  Didn't realize that the second discourse in Deuteronomy covers chapters FOUR through TWENTY-SIX.  There is some repetition...and some interesting thoughts.  

There's a lot to look at here; I'm going to list all the verses out and we'll talk about the concepts pertaining to heart/ hearts...just be ready. Grab a cuppa and let's peruse this list together.  All references today are, as usual, from the NIV 84.

"'Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!'"  -- Deut. 5:29

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts." -- Deut. 6: 4-6

"Remember how the LORD our God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments....  Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you."   - Deut. 8:2, 5

"Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."  - Deut. 8:12-14

"And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?.... Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer."  -- Deut. 10:12-13, 16

"Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the LORD your God:  his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm; the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharoah king of Egypt and to his whole country;" - Deut. 11:2-3

"So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today -- to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul -- then I will send rain on the land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil." -- Deut. 11: 13-14

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads." -- Deut. 11:18

"If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, 'Let us follow other gods' (gods you have not known) 'and let us worship them,' you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer.  The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul." -- Deut. 13:1-3

"Give generously to [a needy brother] and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. -- Deut. 15:10

" [The king] must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray.  He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold."  -- Deut.  17:17

"The Lord your God commands you  this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul."  -- Deut. 26:16

First, the technical notes...I did go back to see which Hebrew words were used for 'Heart' and I found a couple of interesting things regarding the translation. All of the words rendered 'Heart' or 'Hearts' in this list are the same Hebrew word we've been looking at in the last couple of posts... Lebab (Strong's H3824)... except  for Deut. 11:3.  That one is Tavek (Strong's H 8432), which is rendered 'Midst' in other translations. I found the BLB listing to be kind of vague, so I actually pulled out our Zodhiates Study Old Testament (no affiliation there, just wanted to show what I was talking about) and looked it up in the Lexical Aids.  Zodhiates rendered  it 'Tawech', and reports that it is from an unused root word meaning 'to sever'. It has a prepositional construction, so in that verse it references a location: between, in the midst of, within.  It is also used to  mean 'in the innermost recesses of a man'...which could be poetically described as 'the heart of' someone, although that meaning isn't a primary interpretation of  H8342.  So including that verse in this list is entirely dependent upon the translation; had I looked up 'heart/ hearts' in a concordance based on a different translation, it wouldn't have shown up.  But...God did do his work in the innermost parts of Egypt, so, yeah, poetic language.  The other thing I found that puzzled me is also in Deut. 11...the voice is Moses' throughout the passage, but suddenly we have a blessing for obedience using the 1st person... 'I will send rain...'.  Now, Moses was not going to send rain.  But there's no indication that he's quoting.  In fact, when I looked this up,  the Hebrew really doesn't list a pronoun at all there....more like 'rain will be sent in its season'.  That's a mystery beyond my elementary level comprehension, lol.  But I had to mention those two things just to be fully transparent.

Now, if you actually read through all of that scripture with attention, give yourself a pat on the back.  I know when a bunch of Bible verses are just listed like that we tend to glaze over and skim.  But if you really read it...you will find, like I did, that it all fits together.

The basis of obedience is in the heart.  Yes, there are lots of specific things recorded in that second discourse that I didn't get into...dos and do nots.  But over and over we see that obedience is a heart issue.  One who truly loves God in their innermost self will be careful to be obedient.  Not from obligation...from love.

I am of the mind that the verses that reference God testing hearts wasn't so GOD could find out what was in their hearts...it was so the people would have to be honest about what was in their hearts.  It's easy to talk faith and obedience...until life actually requires a choice between faith-and-obedience and, say, doing what makes sense.  It's the choice that shows what's really in the heart.

Remember, a choice isn't a decision...a choice is an action. And I'm just gonna straight up say this.....you show what's in your heart by the choices that you make. 

And, as an aside, we did find another characteristic of an uncircumcised heart...an uncircumcised heart is a stubborn ('stiff necked') heart (10:16).  

Lots to ponder today.