Well we have reached the last day of our VBS for grown ups. I have loved every minute digging into Psalm 91. 

It has been a long while since I took the time to follow rabbit trails in Scripture and if you got one thing out of this, I am so thankful but I would have done it all again just for the time I have spent with the Word and a pen and paper and the Holy Spirit whispering to my heart. 

I have so many thoughts I could write this morning and words poured out yesterday as I prayed about what to say to end this week of VBS. 

Typical of me, my mind wants to present a well-organized conclusion but my heart and soul and spirit are just going to pour out some final thoughts. 

Psalm 91: 5 & 6 in the Contemporary English Version says:

You won’t need to worry about dangers by night or arrows by day. And you won’t fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disasters at noon. 

Oh wow.

Isn’t it the way of life on planet earth?

As a child I dreaded night time. Laying in the bed I was often paralyzed with fear that something was under my bed or in my closet. I was so frightened I couldn’t even get out to run for help as I just knew whatever it was would grab my ankle. 

I would call out and my dad would come in and turn on the light. He would look under my bed and in my closet and proclaim my fears unfounded. 

But the panic was tangible. 

I have told you before I had a little plastic glow in the dark figure of Jesus as the shepherd with some sheep. I would often fall asleep looking at that cheap fluorescent trinket drawing strength in Him who promised to watch over little children. 

Arrows by day fly too. Daylight does not protect us from a rude encounter with a driver or a person who loves to stir up strife. 

Words and actions of others directed toward us at work or in our home or out on the byways zing us and the fact that they happen in broad daylight makes them even more of an affront. 

Diseases…oh yes. They sneak up don’t they? They brood and germinate out of sight. 

Cancer

Alzheimers

Chron’s and IBS

Strokes

Heart issues

These are just a few of the more insidious diseases that have fermented in the bodies of people I love. 

We didn’t know about them until they manifested in symptoms and then we faced the diagnosis and testing and treatments and we walked through new realities that caused us to say…this isn’t how I thought our life would go. 

Sudden disasters at noon? 

We know those don’t we? We watched the Twin Towers fall before our eyes. 

Some of us have had to leave work to head to the hospital. 

Flood waters have risen and people have been escorted from their desks as others munched on their lunch and sometimes trains derail right in the middle of rush hour. 

And I want to read the next line that says … You will not be harmed….and I want to ask God how on earth He couldn’t see that those arrows and terrors and diseases and disasters have very much harmed me and people I love. 

But I go back and I look again at the beginning of verse 5 to find the promise. 

The promise is … we do not need to worry. 

And by harmed…it doesn’t mean we won’t be affected…it doesn’t mean we won’t experience the results of these things…

it means that what matters most…our salvation…our position as children of God…His love and care and provision in the midst of it all…will not suffer any damage. 

This will get us through. 

This will help us hold on. 

This will give us the courage to reach out to others around us as they dodge arrows and follow the procedures for treatment and grieve their losses and together, we who dwell in the Shadow of the Almighty…we will hold fast together until He comes and makes all things right and new <3

Your activity today is simply to abide in Him. 

No matter what has happened in the past or is happening today, at any sign of worry, remember…you are different. Choose to NOT worry…

Easy? Not at all…so ask Him to help you <3

Your snack today is a comfort food from my past and a reminder that God is the one who comforts you in all seasons. 

I got this recipe from a dear friend of my youth, Janey Boyd.

Janey was the antithesis of me…so smart and could play the piano like a pro. She had long blonde hair and a hippie soul and I loved her dearly even if we were polar opposites. 

She became a doctor and worked in clinics for little money out in San Diego and when we went to visit her with our three young children we sat up until the wee hours of the morning, just like we used to do in high school…rambling and talking and laughing and philosophizing because time cannot separate good friends. Ever. 

Fruit Magic

1 box Jiffy cake mix white or yellow

1 can fruit filling 1 lb 5 oz ( I love cherry for this)

1/4 cup butter

350 degree oven. Put fruit in bottom of greased 8 x8 pan. Sprinkle dry mix over and dot with butter. Bake 45-50 minutes. 

Delicious with ice cream of course <3

Welcome back!

To start us off let’s look at the opening verses to Psalm 91 from The Message:

You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow, say this: ‘GOD, you are my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!’ That’s right —he rescues you from hidden traps…

Psalm 91:1-3

In other translations that “hidden trap” is called fowler’s snare. 

I did some research and found a sermon preached by Charles H. Spurgeon that expands on this image. 

The fowler often snares birds by using a net. Since these creatures would be suspicious of the foreign material of netting lying over the ground or in the weeds or trees, the fowler camouflages the trap by covering it with vegetation, leaves, sticks and such. 

To entice his prey to land strategically in the trap, he places tidbits of food so that the bird will be drawn to eat and once settled on the bait, the fowler pulls the trap and the animal is caught. 

Interesting and ironic, isn’t it? 

When we hide in the Secret Place of the Most High….He rescues us from the secret traps of the enemy of our soul

In an earlier post I suggested you ask God to reveal to you the place where He longs for you to dwell…what that looks like for you and for your relationship with Him. I do believe that the context of how we “dwell” in obedience to God will not be a cookie cutter experience. 

I do believe that each of us, while we must all share the common ground of coming to the Cross of Jesus Christ and exchanging our life of self and sin and deception for His life of sacrifice and forgiveness and truth, have very personalized and unique sanctifications. 

Thus our acts of obedience and our refinings, our trials and our triumphs, will all vary and be tailor made to how God created us to be. 

In the same way, as Spurgeon points out, the fowler does not use the same trapping method nor bait for every bird. 

The snares for me will look very different than the snares for my husband, my children, my friends….my pastor, my co-workers, my neighbors. 

The thing they will have in common is that they are geared to catch us off guard and offer us things that look good for us. 

Like all bait they will be…pleasing to the eye, good for meeting our needs and helpful in making us smarter, wiser and better equipped to live the life we think we were meant to live. Sound familiar? Think Genesis 3 if you need your memory jogged. 

Spurgeon has a great quote:

“…he adapts his snare to the condition of the bird which he desires to take.”

My heart beats a little faster on reading those words. 

It makes me feel a bit fearful for myself and those I love. 

Which is why the promise of Psalm 91 is so precious. 

He rescues us from the hidden traps.

He himself rescues from the fowler’s snare. 

In the sermon I read, Spurgeon says this rescue has two-fold meaning. 

He often rescues us FROM the snare in many different ways when we are living so closely with Him. 

Perhaps we suddenly see a glimpse of the net and realize we are about to enter a trap. 

Perhaps a problem or trial erupts suddenly and in the midst of seeking God for how to deal with this interruption, we recognize the hidden work of the fowler who was luring us into a net.

Perhaps in our walking closely with Him, we suddenly feel called to a deeper level of prayer and Scripture reading and we are strengthened spiritually to recognize the bait being offered. 

Perhaps God orchestrates events and circumstances in such a way that by the time the trap is set, we have not interest in the bait which days, weeks or years before would have enticed us.

And then…grace upon grace….when we have chosen to abide under God’s protection by living in surrender and obedience and yet, somehow we succumb to the hidden entrapment of sin…even as the net closes around our sorry soul and we think all hope is lost, it is His hand of love and grace and mercy that reaches into that web and pulls His child back out. 

When we belong to God through the eternal Blood of Jesus Christ, we ARE protected…we ARE rescued…there is NOTHING that can separate us from His love <3

For your activity today: Think back to a time (if you can’t come up with one, ask God to remind you) when you know there was a trap set for you and somehow you realized and flew on away unscathed. Take some time to acknowledge that it was not your great smarts or your hutzpah that saved you. Thank God for helping you to avoid the net. 

Now think of a time you were duped. You saw something that was good and good for you and you pulled up a chair and began to dine only to hear the snap as the strands of a nylon mesh net enclosed around you. There you were. Caught and feeling foolish and knowing there was no way out.

And suddenly the bands that held you tight were loosened as a gentle, nail-scarred hand pulled you out and held you close to the beating heart of your loving Savior. Surely you cried out your relief through sobs of gratitude that day as the blue sky was once again yours to soar through. Will you drop down and thank Him once more today with the same tears of joy? 

Dear Father God, thank You. Thank you for the times You got my attention and I flew off free, shaking my head in relief. Forgive me for my failure when I didn’t acknowledge it was because of Your care for me that I was wary of something that looked too good to be true.

Thank You for the troubles You have sent my way that forced me to my knees and as I cried out to You, You lifted me away from something that was about to ensnare me.

Thank You for the strength You give me when I am tired and weak and You fortify me to continue in steadfastness.

And Father…thank You. Thank You that your love is stronger than any sin I have ever fallen into. Thank You that You have reached into my foolishness and my ignorance and You have also condescended and reached into the places where I willfully took what I knew was bait…and You have rescued me time and time and time again.

Your patience with me and Your love for me overwhelms me and my heart bows in humble gratitude before Your throne of mercy and grace today <3

Let’s celebrate with a yummy snack:

This one is from allrecipes.com and I have a note on it that reminds me we served it at John’s high school graduation party. 

Our graduation parties for all three are among some of my most treasured memories. Our house was jam-packed on all three occasions with friends and family. It was always the hottest day in May and I thought we would have to take out a loan to pay for the AC bill that month. 

Worth every penny…as it was such a great time to put out a huge spread and really thank all the people who had been a part of our each of our children’s journey through childhood to teen and then help launch them to their next step in education. 

For all three parties, I over did the food prep because that is my jam…planning the menu and all is like a hobby for me. But I needed back up and it came in the form of our sister-in-law Sonja. 

For all three events, she came early and helped me clean and cook and then kept the food refilled.

She was and is a sister and friend and helper extraordinaire and I am forever grateful for her organizational skills and steady temperament and loving support. 

So here is the offering for today:

Toasted Almond Party Spread

1 8oz package cream cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted and divided

1/3 cup mayo

2 Tbsp sliced green onions

1/8 tsp pepper

1/8 tsp nutmeg

assorted crackers

Beat cream cheese with mixer until smooth. Stir in cheese, 1/3 cup almonds, mayo, onions and seasonings. Spread in lightly greased pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 14-15 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining almonds. Serve warm with crackers 

Hello August! 

We got back from our little getaway to Florida late Saturday night and enjoyed catching up on things around here yesterday. 

While I started laundry, Russ mowed and then there was rest and a long bike ride and we have launched back into real life. 

As I look at the calendar, I realize it is now or never for our annual adult VBS series and so even though I had great hopes to have it all mapped out and ready to go…we will, as usual…just diving in with it and let God lead us! 

If you are new to the Journey, I decided several summers ago that I miss Vacation Bible School. 

I loved it as a child and I continued to love it as a volunteer when our kids were young. 

So I developed my own little AVBS series and had enough people say they liked it that I have continued the tradition. In the past I have told you to bring your own snack and craft, but this year I have decided to add a recipe for a yummy snack we like at the end of each session. 

Before we start, full disclosure:

1. Having a recipe with a devotion is a concept I found in Kelly Minter’s studies and I love it and I am blatantly copying her good idea so I give her full credit for combining the feeding of our spirits with the feeding of our tummy’s.
2. I loved VBS with our kids because it gave me a chance to meet other adults at our church and wore all of us out so that we felt like we had done something besides be couch potatoes and validated us going to the pool or watching a movie when we got home.
3. In addition to the benefits of #2, I actually learned more about Jesus by sitting with my group of little kids at the teaching times and it made me hungry to study God’s Word as an adult.
4. I did not love running the craft table. Ever. Kids never do what you tell them to do when you have copious amounts of glue, foam craft shapes and paper plates. It refined me. Greatly.
5. By “enough people” I mean one or two people. Seriously. It takes that few people to affirm me and I am all in. So this is for both of you…and any others who enjoyed from afar. You know who you are.

Ok. With that out on the table…here we go….

AVBS (hold the glitter) has official opened for the summer and our theme this year is Psalm 91.

Our Key Verse for the week is the opening portion:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalm 91:1-2

Today I just want to focus on the names of God in these two verses.

There are four names for Him in this passage:

Most High 

Almighty

LORD

God

Each of these is referring to the one and only God, but they are different names for Him. 

I think of how I have many names and they have different meanings attached to those who use them…

Laura is the name I am called by most commonly but other people call me by different names and these express relationship…

Pearl…was the name my family called me when I was little. There is a whole story behind it involving a doll named Pitiful Pearl and my grandma soothing me when I was fussy…and how it stuck and all the neighbors until I was probably in early grade school thought that was my given name. 

Mom…momhead…momma…mommy…bubba….the various names our children have called me by. These represent a relationship that happened when God began to weave them together inside of me. The name has gained meaning as we have grown up together and walked through seasons of joy and laughter, sorrow and tears. Russ calls me this when he is talking to them about me. And a very few children of the soul have adopted that name for me and it is a great blessing.

Lola…our grandchildren and now even our children and friends of family call me this because I have gained the status of a grandmother. This name means I am the parent of the parents of four children who think I was never their age, never their mother’s age. Who think I have a never ending supply of coins to throw in fountains and will share my drink despite the fact that I cannot tolerate spit back in water bottle. I am the one who belongs to them as in ‘my Lola’ and I have added a derivation to it as Caroline has dubbed me “WO-WEE” said loud and with a big wide grin because she knows I will drop whatever I am doing and pick her up when she calls me.

Mrs. Reimer…a term of respect from well-mannered children who are now adults and yet continue to call me by this name because it represents that I was the mom of a friend, or a teacher, or coach or whatever and they cannot bring themselves to call me by my first name even though we are long past those days.

You get the point. 

We all have names that represent relationships and character and history and this is true of God’s names.

So let’s look at them today:

Most High = Elyon

Almighty = Shaddai

LORD = Yahweh

God = Elohim

and what do THESE mean….

Elyon – This is more a descriptive word…it is used to describe people or things to indicate their elevated position. For instance an “upper pool” or in this case … The Exalted One. It points to His position as being higher than anyone or anything. 

Shaddai – All-powerful; the name of God known by the patriarchs. Related to the word for “mountain” in Akkadian. It indicates God’s greatness, strength, ever-lasting nature. All sufficient, eternally capable of being all that His people need.

Yahweh – The distinctive name of “the God of Israel” even though the name did exist in the writings and names of other nations [Babylonian inscriptions, and Ammonite, Arabic and Egyptian names appear to contain it] It is the name God gave Moses to be known as: I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE … say I WILL BE has sent me. Or as we know it often…I am that I am…I am has sent you. This is the personal name of God. 

Elohim – Most frequently used name for God in the Old Testament. It’s form is plural…but the construction is uniformly singular. So it is a “they” who acts in unity as a single entity. Think of the Trinity here. The origin is unknown because the derivation of the name is prehistory. The meaning is of “might” or “power” although this is only a conclusion because the beginning source of this name is unknown. 

I kind of like that, how about you? That the Name of God existed before it was ever recorded? 

So here is where we start today. 

Your activity is to meditate on those four names and ask God to reveal more of Himself to us as we practice calling Him by each name. 

I am choosing one to use in our closing prayer and then we will adjourn for snacks <3

Elohim, I bow before You today and I marvel that You have existed before time. You know better than anyone how time confounds me. I lose all concept of it and yet I must function within it. I disrespect others by not honoring appointments and I disrespect you by not valuing the gift of it. I wish it away when seasons are hard and difficult. I beg it to linger and I make it an idol when seasons are good and full of the things I love. 

But You are not bound by time. Your Name reminds me that while I and all I know here on earth has a beginning and an end…You do not. And in You I am joined to eternity. 

I bless Your Name today, Elohim. My God…my LORD…my Life <3

Bread Hors D’oeuvres

This recipe was given to our family by a dear woman named Audrey Hrbek who lived down the street a few houses from us after we moved back to Decatur after six months in Galesburg. John had just been born and we were in a new neighborhood, trying to adjust to several moves and a pregnancy and an overwhelmed mother of three. Many an afternoon I would wander down to her house with the troops and she would make me tea and let the kids play with her grandchildren’s toys. She was a kind of mom to me that I did not have locally and this delicious treat is not heart healthy nor low calorie, but it will feed your soul like nothing else <3

You make ahead and have in freezer, ready to pop in the oven for a family movie night or a surprise house guest who needs some love and company and encouragement.

Thank you Audrey for loving me and teaching me about hospitality <3

• 3 sticks of margarine
• 2-3 loaves thin slice sandwich “Pepperidge Farm Bread” – a mix of white and wheat is good
• 12 oz. shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp onion salt

Cream the margarine, cheese and seasonings together

Cut crust off bread. Use one white/one wheat. Spread with the creamed mixture (not too thick…nor too thin…) 

Cut in bite size squares. 

Freeze.

When needed, bake at 350 degrees about 10 minutes or until brown.

Enjoy!