Hunger

     Just a quick note on some things I’ve been studying lately…one thing, mainly.  I guess I would have to say that God has been teaching me about hunger.  That probably sounds strange.  Especially, considering anyone who knows me, knows that I love to eat.   Still, it seems like so much of what I have read lately, in the Bible and out, has been related to hunger or thirst.  Even Altar at the supper table last night, mentioned how Samson sinned by reaching inside of the carcass for the honeycomb.  She, of course, was totally disgusted, and even asked, “Does honey come from dead animals?”  I tried to explain how it was the dry, empty skeleton where the bees had chosen to build their hive and make their honey, but she was still pretty grossed out.      

        Only the other morning, I read Proverbs 27:7, “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”  Have you ever been so full that nothing sounds appealing?  I’ve been a glutton many times, and regrettably, have had to turn down something I love because I had already stuffed myself with…well…just stuff.  We do that when we’re hungry, don’t we?  Have you ever eaten something that you normally wouldn’t touch, but you’re just so hungry, you eat it anyway?  My body may be craving ice cream, but I’ll eat broccoli and enjoy it, if I’ve got caught up in the day and haven’t taken time to eat.  I think that’s what this verse is saying.  “…to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.”  Have you ever been so hungry, spiritually, that you’ll take anything God has to dish out…even the “bitter” things?  Spurgeon said, “Send me what thou wilt, O God, so long as it comes from Thee.”  Nothingness is an awful feeling!  I’ve gone through long seasons of feeling nothing, and I can honestly say that I would rather endure the pain of trials than the pain and guilt of feeling numb to anything and everything around me. 

     So, here’s the question:  Does God want us to be full or to hunger?  I think it’s a little of both.

     Never get so full of all the world has to offer that you loathe the honeycomb!  Proverbs 24:13 “My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste.”  If you Google honey, you’ll see that it is used many times to dress wounds and promote healing.  The “honey” of God’s Word will definitely do the same, spiritually!   “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3   

    Also be sure to stay hungry enough that you don’t always refuse the bitter things.  Trials and correction are never pleasant, but they’re a necessary part of our Father-child relationship.  There have been a few times I’ve come through a hard time and looked back and thought, “Wow!  That really wasn’t as bad as I expected!  In fact, I’m glad it happened, because it opened my eyes to a greater possibility!”    God recently did such a thing for me.  I’ve spent a long time running around without really taking time to “eat”.  So, God sat me down and gave me broccoli.  I think, maybe, I was hungrier than I thought.      

Simply Amazing Love

     Today is my thirteenth wedding anniversary.  It amazes me!  I've racked my brain about what exactly to write in regards to it, but all I keep thinking is, "Thirteen years!"  I feel (in my mind) barely over thirteen years old!  How can it be that I am actually thirty-three and celebrating my thirteenth anniversary on the same day that I am sending my youngest daughter off to kindergarten?  Life really is a vapour, isn't  it? 
     I am so thankful for my husband!  He loves me.  That's a simple statement, I know, but I hope I never forget the value in that one, short sentence.  He loves me.  I could go on and on about his traits or the ways he shows it, but the main thing is simply that he chooses to love...me.  With all of his talents, education, or dreams, I have never, in thirteen years of marriage, ever doubted that I was at the top of his priority list.  I really mean that!  He has never had to tell me that.  It's just been that clear, and I'm so very thankful for it!  It is wonderful to know that God knew just what I needed and then gave me someone abundantly more!
     Mother Teresa said, "Love begins by taking care of the closest ones – the ones at home."  I have a husband who loves.  I am blessed!
     I love you, Clark!

Hanging Harps

     "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.  How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?" Psalm 137:1-4 
     Have you ever felt that way?  Carried away into a strange land?  I've been carried away many times.  Sometimes, we wander away, but sometimes, we're carried...by people, or jobs, or just life.
     I've remembered "Zion" and wept many times.  Of course, when I say "Zion", I mean that time in life when I was so focused on Christ, that nothing mattered any more than pleasing Him.  To say that what people thought of me didn't matter would be untrue, because I upheld beliefs and standards for man's approval, but it was with the best of intentions.  Now, I know that it's people that "require" things.  In this passage, those people are called "captors".  Pretty strong word!  You see, God gives us gifts and abilities, then longs for us to use them to glorify Himself...because He knows that we will be the ones that reap all the benefit from that worship.   ("...in thy presence is fullness of joy." Psalm 16:11)  When someone places a demand or condition on a gift God has given you, they're not being godly.  They're taking.  God is not a taker!  He is the Giver of "every good and every perfect gift".
     In this passage of scripture, the Jews are refusing to sing out of respect for the Lord's song.  It is low for their captives to even suggest such a thing!  In a different context, let me say that I've wondered how I would sing the Lord's song, too.  I'm thankful that I can say that He helps us in the most difficult circumstances.  I've been moments from knowing I was scheduled to sing and asked the Lord, "How can I?"  I've sat at the piano, unable to breathe, thinking, "How can I even utter one word?"  God enables.  Anything that glorifies God or is any help whatsoever to anyone is from Him.  Never allow ability to overrule complete surrender!
     There may be a time to hang our harps "in the midst" of trouble.  But, be sure to hang them high enough to see now and then!  You see, when the world carries away, God delivers.  You may have to stretch to reach it, but don't leave your harp in Babylon.  The song is still the Lord's!