Coffee Time

It's Coffee Time again at Home Sanctuary. I enjoy this link on Fridays because I can share what's on my heart and what's going on in my life. It truly feels like sitting with a girlfriend sharing a cup o' Joe and chatting. (Ok, I don't drink "Joe," but my water bottle will do...who's to know!)

I don't have my baking done YET, but if you were here later today there would be an assortment of cookies and snicker brownies that I would share with you. I plan on baking up a storm to take homemade goodies to my daughter in college tomorrow. So, feel free to enjoy, calorie free, the thought of a yummy treat as we visit together! :)

Last week I shared how the Lord was talking to me about my moment-by-moment obedience...walking in step with the Holy Spirit. I talked about Resurrection power since Easter was on all of our minds. This week I tried my best to live in obedience and to keep in step. There were victories and defeats - just as there will always be, but the fellowship was sweet. Isn't that what it's all about anyway? It's spending time with the Lord - connected!

I learned many new things this week. If I shared them all, I'm sure I'd be plagiarizing Beth Moore so I will just share one lesson that was significant for me. Yesterday I read about the sons of Korah (Korahites or Kohathites.) If you remember these were the men who basically said in Numbers 16 why do Moses and Aaron get to do the BIG jobs. They tried to make it sound not so bad by twisting it with words: "Why do you take too much upon yourselves?" But their true motives are revealed in the next words, "for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?" Don't you just have that "Oh, man!" feeling inside? I would hope that if I had been present that day when those words were spoken that I would have had enough sense to take a few steps backwards. You could just feel something coming.

Moses with dignity and humility falls on his face (no wonder he was the leader!) and basically says, "Ok, tomorrow let God show us who He will come near to." Moses didn't exalt himself; God had exalted him. Moses didn't have to defend himself; God was his defense. When we know our true position before the Father we do not have to clamor for recognition. Our hearts should long for the recognition/connectedness of our Holy Father and that will always be enough.

I hope you're familiar with the rest of the story. Obviously, God revealed that Moses and Aaron were his chosen leaders and for their wickedness the sons of Korah, their dwellings (tents) and their households got swallowed up by the earth. Yep, I wouldn't want to have been standing too close.

How many times do I hunger for recognition and exaltation? How often do I want others to see me as something more than I am...a sinner saved by a grace that far exceeds any self-worthiness I can muster.

Beth caps it off with Psalm 84 - where the sons of Korah who are the temple musicians sing:

"How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (vs 10) For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."

They could look back at their ancestors and remember that serving where God has placed you is better than anything you can imagine in your own vanity. It's the "bloom where you're planted" idea. The Father has you today right where He wants you.

I need to be content and walk the path He has laid out for me today. It may be in the laundry room or scrubbing a bathroom, but I would rather be in the doors of my work rejoicing in the Lord than dwelling in the tents of the wicked. Amen?! I hope that's true for you today too!

One verse that just makes my heart sing and I want to share with you before I go off to scrub and bake is Zephaniah 3:17:

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

How sweet is that!

Until next time...