The little boy took the oddly curved shaped object from his mother’s hand.  It had a long, twisted cord that came out one end and stretched to another funny looking box with a circle with holes in it that spun around if you twirled it with your finger.  His mother guided the part she’d given him up to his ear and mouth.  “Say hello to Pop Pop”, she said with a smile.  A voice came out of the part next to his ear, “Hi Erick!”  It sounded like Pop Pop but it didn’t look like Pop Pop!  “Go on,” his mother prompted, “Say hello.”  But the little boy continued to stare at it in spite of the familiar voice and the encouragement of his mother.  The first time a child talks into a telephone or hears a voice on the other end of it must really be confusing as so many children become tongue-tied when presented with the task.  The scenario above took place when we still had our phones attached to the wall, but I don’t think cell phones have made it any easier- except perhaps when a picture is involved.  Even so most children struggle with the fact that the person they are talking to is not actually in the room.  The first time a person prays can be very much like that.
            Prayer, in its simplest and most unassuming definition, is communicating with God.  Although some branches of Christendom make it appear as if only the professionals know how to do it, it is not what God intended.  My first exposure to this misconception occurred when I was discipling a woman who’d immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine.  She was a new believer and learning both English and about her new-found faith so we would read the Bible together.  One day we read the passage where Jesus taught the disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Mt. 6:9-13; Lk. 11:2-4).  I asked her if she prayed.  The response was that she did not know how because the priest was supposed to do it.  When I asked her who Jesus was teaching how to pray she recognized prayer was meant for everyone who had a relationship with Him.  We looked at the prayer and what it entailed and I left thinking I’d done a pretty good job in equipping her for an exciting dialogue with the Lord.  When I returned the following week I asked her how her prayer life was doing.  “Oh Ann,” she sighed, “I am not so good.  I did not get to the church for prayer.  I will do better this week.”  My heart sank as I realized I’d not explained well enough.  We then talked about WHERE prayer can take place.  “You can pray anywhere,” I said, “You can pray when you’re washing the dishes after a meal, when you’re sitting at the table with a cup of coffee, when you are walking to work, even when you’re running the vacuum!”  And yes, the following week there was a glowing report of all the different places where she’d talked to the Lord.
            Let’s look at the components of prayer using the telephone as our example.  First, just as the telephone is a way to communicate with others, it is also a way for others to communicate with us.  Prayer is not merely a way for us to read off our list of activities and desires to God.  Like any good dialogue, prayer requires us to listen for and to God’s response (Mt. 7:7-8).  Secondly, there are a number of different kinds of calls we can receive on our phone.  Some calls are more formal and business-like such as a confirmation call from your dentist.  But others are more personal like calls from friends and family.  Though more formal, some liturgical prayers are quite beautiful (Ps. 4; 86) but more often than not our prayers will be personal.  We join a host of Biblical people who prayed this way (Gen. 32:9-12; 1 Sam. 2:1-10; 1 Ki. 8:22-30; Job 42:1-6; Dan. 9:1-7; Mt. 15:32-33; Lk. 2:36-38; 3:21-22; 9:28-31; Acts 4:24-31; 7:59-60; 9:40; 16:13. 16, 25 and many more!) and this type of prayer really illustrates the heart of our faith (Mt. 6:5-8; Phil. 1:3-11; Js. 5:16-18).  Jesus, in His most personal prayers, addressed God in a familial manner (Mt. 11:25-26; Lk. 10:21; Jn. 11:38-42; 17:1) and instructed us to do this too with respect and reverence (Mt. 6:9).  Prayer also covers a multitude of topics, just like a good conversation (as seen in the variety of topics in the list of those who prayed).  Sometimes you will initiate the topic and at other times the Lord will introduce one to you.  As previously mentioned this aspect of prayer underscores that it is a dialogue, requiring both speaking and listening (Is. 55:3, 6).
            When I was a child my mother or father would say “grace” before a meal; a tradition I carried on with my children and they now carry on with theirs.  At some point though, our prayers must move from the traditional to the more personal.  Jesus’ disciples had seen Him pray on many occasions and in both ways but they understood by observation that His prayers were not like theirs.  They were deeper and more personal.  So when we recognize that we are ready to engage in that kind of prayer, like the disciples, we must make the same request as they did, “Lord teach us to pray” (Lk. 11:1).
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
 https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            I have always had a love for the ocean and the beauty of the shoreline.  I think it comes from my paternal grandmother’s side of the family who sailed from the Netherlands and landed in New Amsterdam (which is now New York City) those many generations ago.  Because of that my house has always had a healthy collection of shells decorating pots in my garden, the nightstand in my bedroom and the shelves in my bathroom.  Although I’ve never had the opportunity to get a Conch shell from a tropical beach, I have found several Whelk shells in Cape May.  It’s exciting when you find one of these grand “homes” intact, but more often than not, shells come to us broken and battered by the sea.  However, no matter what condition I find them in, I find them to be beautiful.  I often pick up a shell and admire its beauty but never really stop to consider that it was once a creature’s home.  But all shells whether they come from a fresh-water, marine or sandy environment are just that- the outer housing of an animal that once dwelled inside it.  I don’t know who lived in many of the shells I’ve collected but I do know I enjoy looking at them on a daily basis- even the ones that are chipped, scarred or even a small remnant of their former selves.
            Shells remind me that life can be as stormy and turbulent as the sea.  In fact, most of us would relate more to a shell that bears the scars of the ocean-depths over the pristine specimens in a bin at Craft World.  The little chips and dings are much like the mistakes, storms, and detours we encounter as we journey through life.  The bad news is those events will inevitably happen, but the good news is we are not alone.  Everyone experiences them.  The people who grace the pages of Scripture are no different.  While we like to think that people like David, Moses, Peter and Paul are stellar examples of the faith, the truth is they were anything but!  Peter lied about being one of Jesus’ disciples (Mk. 14:66-72; Lk. 22:54-62; Jn. 18:25-27) and impulsively cut off the ear of a servant when Jesus was arrested (Jn. 18:1-10), but David, Moses and Paul were all murderers (2 Sam. 11:1-27; Ex. 2:11-14; Acts 6:8-12; 7:54-60; 8:1-3; 22:4; 1 Cor. 15:9)!  There are a number of notable women who struggled too:  Miriam caused division among the Israelites (Num. 12:1-15), Esther kept her identity a secret (Est. 2:8-11), and Euodia and Syntyche were at such odds with one another they threatened to disease an entire house church (Phil. 4:1-3).  There are also a host of men and women who suffered due to circumstances beyond their control (Joseph- Gen. 39:1, 6-9, 16-21, Hannah- 1 Sam. 1:1-8, Daniel- Dan. 6, and Epaphroditas- Phil. 2:25-30, to name a few).
            No matter what the cause, suffering can have a positive outcome in our journey of faith.  If it is caused by our own poor choices it can often be a source of discipline which the Lord is using to get us back on track (Dt. 8:5; Heb. 12:5-11).  If its source is something beyond our control, it is an opportunity to rely on others and see effective prayer at work (Js. 5:13-16).  If our suffering has occurred because we have taken a stand for Christ, we should not be surprised (Mt. 5: 10-12; Jn. 15:20-21).  Our suffering mirrors what Christ endured for us (2 Tim. 1:8-9; Heb. 12:3).   It would be wonderful if life never sent our little shell tumbling through the waves, but in this present world, we can expect it to happen.
            If there was ever a man who understood the brokenness of life it was David.  He not only made his aforementioned disastrous choice to murder Uriah, he suffered at the hands of others too.  King Saul who asked him to serve in the court also tried to kill him (1 Sam. 18:10-11).  He lived on the run as a result of Saul’s obsession to kill him (1 Sam. 23:24-29).  He mourned the loss of a close friend who’d stood by him all those years on the run (2 Sam. 1) and his kingship was threatened by his own son (2 Sam. 15:1-12).  But each one of those experiences directed David to the Lord.  The events may have damaged and marred the shell of his life, but each dent and ding brought David into a deeper relationship with the Only One who could make sense of it all (Ps. 30:1-5, 10-12).  This is true of your shell too.  The suffering and sorrow that you encounter are opportunities to find solace and healing in God’s capable hands (Mt. 11:28-30; Jn. 16:33; 2 Cor. 4:16-18; Js. 1:12; 1 Pet. 5:6-7).  When the Lord looks at you and your chips and broken pieces, He sees what’s in your heart (Ps. 51:17).  And to Him it is beautiful.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
 
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
For further reading:  My Beautiful Broken Shell by Carol Hamblet Adams

            I don’t know about you, but I hate it in the Fall when the clocks get changed and darkness comes earlier and earlier.  When the days are short like that, I often feel as if I haven’t accomplished anything when the streetlights turn on in the late afternoon.  I don’t like the “cold” feeling the house gets when the shadows are long and the sun goes below the horizon either.  The only remedy for the darkness which enters my home is the light of my lamps.  Several of them I inherited from my mother and grandmother, two were wedding gifts and one my husband bought when we needed a little more light in the bedroom.  When Hurricane Riley blew through recently, we lost power for six days.  During the day it wasn’t as noticeable when the sunlight was streaming through the windows.  But at night we really missed the power until our neighbor hooked up his generator.  Just one lamp truly made a huge difference in our “comfortable” level!
            While most people are drawn to the light of a lamp, there are some who seem to prefer the darkness.  It could simply be an attribute of human nature, but I think the power of light and its positive effect on our inner being, or the adverse with darkness, has spiritual overtones.  The key component to seeing either, of course is the eye.  And just as the eyes see physical light and darkness, they are also the instruments which introduce both godly and sinful thoughts into our lives.  Jesus illustrated it in this way, “The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great the darkness!” (Mt. 6:22-23).  Simply put, what goes into you through your eyes has a direct effect on both your heart and mind.  So, as the children’s Sunday School song goes, “Be careful little eyes what you see”. 
            Several words in Jesus’ admonition drive home this point.  While the word “eye” is obviously the bodily organ which causes us to see, what we traditionally think of as a lamp did not exist when Jesus spoke these words.  So what was Jesus talking about?  A “luchnos” was a small, portable clay “pot” with a hole on top to pour oil in and a spout out of its side where a wick would come out.  They looked like a miniature tea pot without the lid.  The wick would be lit and the light produced by it was surprisingly strong.  The word “haploose” which gets translated as clear in our English translations concerns the clarity of how we see.  It literally means to “see things the way they are”.  The adjective “bad” in verse 23 describes a moral condition.  It can be used of people (Mt. 5:45; Lk. 6:35, 45; Acts 17:5; 2 Thes. 3:2), evil spirits and malignant demons (Mt. 12:45; Lk. 7:21; 8:2; Acts 19:12, 13, 15, 16), or Satan when combined with the definite article “the” (Mt. 13:19, 38; Eph. 6:16; 1 Jn. 2:13), things such as the eye (Mt. 20:15; Mk. 7:22) and thoughts or words (1 Tim. 6:14; Js. 2:4; Mt. 5:11; Acts 28:21; 3 Jn. 1:10).  Jesus also makes a figurative contrast between light (as in knowledge which enlightens the mind- Mt. 6:23; Lk. 11:35) and darkness (as in ignorance or error- Jn. 3:19; Rom. 2:19- or a person’s spiritual state- Mt. 4:16; 8:12; Lk. 1:79; Acts 26:18; 1 Thes. 5:4; 2 Pet. 2:9, 17).  Jesus is concerned about what fills the lamp.  If the eye is filled with light then the eye is healthy, but if darkness, the eye is in desperate need of attention.
            We’ve all experienced times when light and shadows have played tricks on our eyes.  A coat, blanket or clothes thrown over the back of a chair appears to be a monster to a child; bushes shrubs or trees take on human form in the night.  Each makes us think it’s something that it’s not.  But by shedding light on the situation we are no longer fooled by the illusion.  It drives home the point of how important the lighting is.  A flashlight with weak batteries for example might not reveal the pile of clothes or the bush, but one of those magnum titanium mega lights “as advertised on TV” most certainly would.  What then should we be using as a lamp to enlighten our souls?
            In one of the most powerful scenes in the New Testament Jesus encounters Satan who attempts to change Jesus’ lamp so to speak (Mt. 4:1-11; Mk. 1:12-13; Lk. 4:1-13).  No matter what Satan enticed Jesus with, fame, power or pleasure, Jesus steadfastly refused Satan by quoting God’s Word.  Jesus knew that Satan’s promises were optical illusions and the clearest way to see them was through God’s Word.  Like a lamp turned on in a dark room, God’s Word dispenses light that shows everything for what it truly is.  There was a commercial a while back where a band of crazy Vikings would come crashing into a modern scene and demand, “What’s in your wallet?”  Jesus is not concerned with what’s in your wallet.  He wants to know “What’s in your lamp?”.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            I’ve been trying to drink more water lately.  According to the experts I should be drinking half of my body weight each day.  So, I’ve selected a glass, measured its capacity and now dutifully check off the number in my head after I’ve consumed each one.  There are days I’m highly successful and feel great.  But every now and then I have a day where every ounce seems a chore and when I see that glass filled half way I have to become my own cheerleader to finish it!  Of course this task has gotten me to thinking about glasses and cups and the way we perceive them.
            It’s the age-old question that everyone recalls when they see a picture of a cup partially filled with liquid:  Is the cup half-empty, or is it half-full?  Although this common rhetorical question is often used to determine whether you are an optimist (half-full) or a pessimist (half-empty), I’ve been wondering if it might be a better gauge of how one views the art of hospitality and giving.  Oh, yes, I know that goes against the grain of philosophy and psychology, but I think it is an appropriate test on how we use the resources God has given us!
            In David’s most beloved psalm (Psalm 23), the overflowing cup reminds us of God’s abundant provisions throughout life.  It’s good to remember that an overflowing cup does not keep all those blessings within itself; it lets them spill out to bless others (v.5).  The author of Hebrews in 13:1 admonishes me to let brotherly love “continue”, an admonishment that is not always easy, but it implies that these actions go on indefinitely!  My selfish human nature, which is encouraged by commercialism, tells me that I deserve to keep those blessings all to myself.  But if I hold back, I might deprive myself the pleasure and joy of “entertaining angels” (v.2).
            In a world where instant gratification and personal satisfaction is of utmost importance, placing others first and the concern for their welfare is a foreign concept to most.  Is this reflected in the church?  Do we give God our tithes and offerings first (maybe even a little more) and then buy the latest music, go to the movies, a new outfit, or splurge on a new gadget?  Or do we upgrade our cell phone because we “need” it and then give God what’s left?  Hebrews 13: 1-6 speaks of prisoners and marriage- people and a relationship that in our current culture have been all but forgotten.  James notes the widows and orphans are also to be cared for (Js.1:27) and Paul reminds the Philippians to consider others better than themselves (Phil. 2:3-4).  It is very clear, whether you are reading in the Old Testament or the New, that God is concerned with how we treat others because it is a reflection of how we treat Him (Prov. 19:17; Mt. 25:31-46).  But do we really recognize that all which we have is really His?  Paul exhorted the Corinthians to look forward to and take part in opportunities to give (2 Cor. 9:6-11) because they could not out-give God.  Although we often say someone has the gift of hospitality, it is never listed as such.  Rather giving is expected to be a natural part of our walk of faith (Rom. 12:10-13).  We give because God first gave to us.
            William Barclay wrote, “Christianity was, and still should be, the religion of the open door”.  But oftentimes I find myself guilty of using my home as a refuge and retreat rather than the hub of hospitality God desires for it to be.  If I opened the door of my home to reach out to others, both believing and non-believing, what kind of impact would that have?  Would my hospitality minister to the needy, the sick, the imprisoned, maybe even the angelic, or would it be squirreled away and hidden like the slave who buried what the master entrusted to him?  (Mt. 25: 24-29)  The author of Hebrews perceives my home as a cup filled with God’s blessings, but with a twist that only God can orchestrate, my question now is when it comes to the good things God has given me should my cup be half-empty or should it be half-full?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            We’ve all seen the commercials proclaiming the wonderful health benefits and purity of natural spring water which has been bottled for mass consumption.  But as recently as 2017 some of the companies producing this water have come under scrutiny.  Take for example Nestle’s Poland Springs Water which is currently being called out in a class action suit for using wells that collect ground water and not the 100% water from natural springs that their advertising claims.  Not only is water a necessity, the truth of where that water comes from is too for water purists.  While a person can survive up to 3 weeks without food, water is a different story.  The maximum amount of time a person can go without water is 1week.  Our area, like many places around the world, is prone to storms which occasionally knock out the power.  Whenever that happens, the pump which brings the water from our well into our house can’t work, so we keep several jugs of water on hand just for those short power outages.
            Water was the focal point of a discussion that Jesus had with a woman at a well in John 4:1-30.  John tells us that Jesus had left Judea and was returning to Galilee (v. 3).  For devout Jews this trip would have involved avoiding the central section of Israel because that was the region known as Samaria.  Jews and Samaritans had an antagonistic and adversarial history.  In fact John points out that they generally had nothing to do with each other (v. 9).  Jesus is not concerned with ethnic barriers.  He travels directly through the “enemy territory” (vv. 4-5) making a point to stop at a revered watering spot, Jacob’s well, a detail we often gloss over (v. 6).  The second action of note is that Jesus not only travels through Samaria, he engages in conversation with a Samaritan, and an unmarried woman at that (v. 17)!  The “icing on the unusual cake” is that she also has a tainted reputation.  Instead of avoiding her, Jesus places Himself in the middle of her day.  She has come for water at a time when most people avoid the sun (v. 6).  Jesus asks for a drink (v. 7) in order to introduce her to the Son of God.  She is shocked by His request (v.9) as are the disciples when they return from searching for food and see Him engaged in conversation with her (v. 27).  The ensuing conversation shows Jesus’ artistry in using everyday needs to get to the heart of spiritual needs.  The woman takes His statement about water literally (v.11).  Jesus makes it so much more (vv. 10, 13-15, 21-26).
            Many times we approach these poetic words as something which is highly figurative.  But Jesus was a much more practical teacher than that.  In that day there was a basic distinction between “living water” and that which was not.  Living water was running water.  It was water that flowed, such as in a stream or brook in contrast to the stagnant water of a cistern or pool.  The water of Jacob’s well percolated from the subsoil.  It did not come from a spring.  It may have appeared to be “living water” but Jesus pointed out that even so the water of the well could only quench one’s thirst momentarily (v. 13).  Jesus had a better offer (v.14).  I’m sure the woman was thinking, “Better than this?  I’m not so sure about that!”  It was more than likely that she wondered where Jesus had found flowing water.  But she asks Jesus to tell her more.  The dialogue quickly turns to her spiritual needs over and above the physical ones.  In essence Jesus says to her, “You have tried to quench your thirst with tradition and men, but those things will never satisfy your soul and they won’t save you.  Only I can offer you water that will do that.”  In a few short sentences the woman not only recognizes the truth of what Jesus is saying, she is ready to go tell others about what she has discovered (vv. 28-30).   The conversation may have begun around the simple need for a drink of water after a long journey, but it quickly dove into the need for a deeper more significant water to sustain life.
            I may keep a jug or two of water on the shelf to help sustain life when the power goes out, but that water will never sustain my spiritual needs.  The narrative then begs the question, am I seeking a source other than Jesus to satisfy that need like the Samaritan woman?  Sadly I think I often do look to other things to quench my thirst.  I get caught up in thinking that a particular person, or a particular past time will fill the need of what my soul longs for.  And when I’m sapped and drained because those things failed, I meet Jesus at the well and He reminds me that I am in great need of His water, not the water of earthly things.  It is fundamentally true that the human heart thirsts for something only Jesus can satisfy (Is. 42:1; Jn. 7:37-38) and God is the only One who truly provides “living water” (Ps. 36:7-9; Is. 12:2-3; 35:5-7; 44: 1-4; 55:1; Jer. 2:5, 13; 17:3; Rev. 7: 15-17; 21:6).  So I must ask myself, why would I draw from anywhere else?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Fresh ingredients and home cooking seem to be making a comeback these days- but with a modern twist.  One no longer has to search through cook books or collect recipes from magazines or even cooking websites to find something tasty to make.  Now you can sign up (for a price of course!) with a company which will deliver a recipe and all the fresh ingredients, premeasured and ready to go, right to your doorstep.  All you have to do is assemble them and eat!  The price seems high to me, but I’ve been cooking for a long time so throwing a meal together is not hard in my eyes.  I was also blessed with a mother who was a great cook and taught me how to get around the kitchen while I was still in elementary school.  To this day many of her recipes are some of our favorite meals although through the years I’ve modified some of the ingredients and added my own flare.  Even though a cook may not follow them exactly, recipes are a handy guide when putting food together.  And I admit I have quite a collection of them which I must periodically pare down or we’d be overrun with them!
            There are many references to food in the Bible and many accounts of food being prepared for a number of reasons:  for special guests (Gen. 18:1-8; Est. 5: 4, 7-8; Lk. 10:40), by Jesus (Jn. 21:9-13), to celebrate holiday meals (Lk. 22:7-8) and even to revive a weary traveler (1 Ki. 19:1-8).  However the kinds of “recipes” listed in Scripture are not often about food prep.  Instead they are recipes for living.  Perhaps the grandest of these is the passage which in Jewish circles has become known as the “Shema”.  The title is based on the first word of the passage in which it is found, Dt. 6:4-9.  The command to hear (shemah) not only involves using one’s auditory organs (the ears), but obeying what is heard (the will).  Spiros Zodhiates wrote, “The most famous usage of this verb is Dt. 6:4, “Hear Oh Israel” which is then followed by the content of what the Israelites are to understand about their God and how they are to respond to Him”.  In short, the Shema is a recipe for living.
            What are the ingredients then?  The ingredients are a list of action verbs- love, teach, talk, sit, walk, lie down, rise up, bind and write.  The first verb, love, can be directed toward a number of things: an object such as money (Is. 1:23), wisdom (Prov. 4:6), wine (Prov. 21:17), peace and truth (Zech. 8:19), tasty food (Gen. 27:32; Ruth 4:15; 1 Ki. 11:1) or God (Ex. 20:6; Ps. 116:1) as well as God directing His  love toward people (Dt. 4:37; 1 Ki. 10:9; 2 Chron. 15:15).  The remaining verbs cover the activities a person would perform throughout the course of a day: teaching children about God through His commandments so that they obey Him (v. 7), talking about those commands while sitting at home or walking along the way (v. 7), having them in your heart and mind whether going to sleep or waking in the morning (v. 7), making them the force behind the work of one’s hands and thoughts- that is binding them to the hand and placing them on the forehead (v. 8), and “writing” them on the gate in the yard and on the doorposts of the home (v.8) meaning they are a part of the home both inside and out.  According to the Bible when stirred into one’s life, these ingredients are a recipe for success.  In fact Jesus’ opinion concerning this passage was that it was “the greatest and foremost commandment” (Mt. 22: 36-38).
            Recipes for successful living are not limited to the Old Testament.  The New Testament has its share too.  Consider this short list (and search the Scriptures to find your own!): Mt. 6:25-34; 7:24-27; Rom. 12:9-21; Eph. 5:15-21; Tit. 3:1-11; 1 Pet. 2:16-17; 3: 8-9; 1 Jn. 1: 5-7; 2:15-17.  In every list, the ingredients emphasize either following God’s commandments or turning away from worldly standards.  There is a reason why most recipes do not advise you to add motor oil to the mix.  It’s not edible!  In the same way, staying close to God’s recipes keeps you “faith” healthy and away from harmful “life” ingredients.  As for worldly things, they may look enticing and even sound beneficial but in the long run they may be as harmful as consuming seven pounds of fat or sugar every day.  Sure fats and sugars make for some great tasting foods, but over-consuming either of them leads to numerous health issues, not to mention the weight you will gain.  Just like sticking to a recipe in your real-life kitchen leads to a good meal, sticking to God’s recipe leads to a good life.  The psalmist said it this way, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does he prospers.” (Ps. 1:1-3).  The person who sticks to God’s recipe has found the ingredients to a successful life.  What’s cooking in your kitchen?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre           

            My house is full of little things; some are useful, some not so useful.  Some things are meaningful and some things appear to be meaningless.  That would not be the case with the hundreds of pictures I must own.  Granted some of them are just a record of something that was important to me and not really print-worthy.  But a good majority of them are family heirlooms and I truly count it a blessing to have photographs of several generations on both sides of my family tree.   The most recognizable photos grace the mantle over our fireplace- my father and mother, grandfathers and grandchildren.  The oldest is in an elaborately carved wooden frame and is the image of my great-great-grandfather Amos Hoster.
            While some may think of photography as a modern invention, there are some hints in antiquity that man dabbled with the idea that images could be projected on to light sensitive materials but keeping a permanent record of that image didn’t seem to be a concern.  The first successful fixed images were made in the 1800’s by Nicephere Niepce but they required at least 8 hours and up to several days of exposure in the camera and the results were very crude.  The first man to accomplish a more practical process was Louis Daguerre.  The daguerreotype required only minutes of exposure in the camera and the pictures were clear with fine details.  Photography took off from there with the advent of photographic paper, reduced exposure time in the camera, rolls of film, and cameras designed specifically for amateur use.  The introduction of digital cameras revolutionized photography even further so that what took days to produce by Niepce can now be taken on your phone and almost instantly posted on the world-wide web.
            There is something special about holding those family pictures in between my fingers and looking at the people pictured there.  While I’ve never met my ancestors when I look at their pictures I get a strong feeling of who I am.  Pictures and heirloom photos may be considered part of the “little things” that fill my home.  But this week they were also an illustration of the Lord and how He understood Who He was and what He came to do.
            In Luke 18:31-34 Jesus announces to the disciples “we are going to Jerusalem” after which He proceeds to describe His betrayal, suffering, death and resurrection which will take place there.  It was as if Jesus was holding in His hands the snapshots of all the prophets’ words concerning Him (handed over to the Gentiles: Ps. 41:9; 109:4-5; Zech. 13:7; mocked, mistreated and scourged: Is. 53:3-5, 7; killed: Is. 53:8-9; Dt.  21:23; rise again: Ps. 16:8-11; 2 Sam. 22: 6-7; Ps. 18:4-6; 116:3; 2 Sam. 7:12-13; Ps. 132:11; Hos. 6:2).  One can almost imagine the disciples’ objections to this trip since opposition to Jesus had risen steadily (Jn. 16: 7-8, 16) but Luke notes that Jesus knew this is how the words of the prophets would be accomplished (Lk. 18:31).  This word, teleo, means not merely to end something (as in turning off a video game whether you’ve won it or not) but to bring something to its destined goal, to carry it through to perfection.  Jesus, as John notes in his gospel, was able to do this because He knew that the Father had “given all things into His hands” (Jn. 13:3).  When Jesus looked at those prophetic pictures, He knew Who He was and what He came to do.
            Many years ago, in those ancient days of film, I would often get a roll of film developed and look forward to seeing what came out.  Once in a while there would be a picture which was unidentifiable.  Somehow the shutter went off and the camera recorded a random view.  In spite of my best efforts I could never figure out what the object in that picture was.  In a way that is how the disciples first reacted to Jesus’ announcement.  Our Bibles say they did not “understand” what Jesus meant.  This Greek word refers to the inability to assemble individual pieces of information into an organized whole- as in assembling the pieces of a puzzle into organized picture.  In contrast the following verses (Lk. 18: 35-43) record the story of a man who did see the big picture (literally and figuratively!).  When you look at the pictures of Jesus’ final week of ministry do you understand the big picture?  Do you recognize He had to go to Jerusalem and why?  We don’t like to think of the reason for the cross.  It is far more popular to think good thoughts about ourselves in reference to God’s love rather than to acknowledge the Sin which Jesus bore for us to satisfy God’s wrath (Rom. 3:21-15; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 2:14-17; 1 Jn. 2: 1-2).  But more importantly, do you see the fulfillment of all the pictures painted by the prophets in the events which took place then?  If you do, your celebration of the resurrection is joyous indeed!   Thankfully, unlike those pictures I could not identify, the final picture of this week is recognizable- the accomplished work of Jesus as testified by His resurrection (Mt. 28:6; Mk. 16:6; Lk. 24:6).  He is risen indeed!
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            I’ll never forget the first time I drove to visit my father in Vermont by myself.  I climbed into the car thinking it was going to be a LONG 7 hours without anyone to talk to and so to entertain myself I’d brought along most of my favorite music and immediately popped in the first cassette.  I do not usually sing in the shower, but I love to sing in the car!  The miles melted away as melody after melody filled the car and I sang to my heart’s content.  Before I knew it I arrived at my father’s house and the trip was over.
            Music is a powerful method of conveying thoughts and emotions.  It can reflect a person’s perspective or viewpoint, their feelings and desires, and any number of nouns or verbs- joy, sorrow, happiness, regret and so on.  Some songs connect us to significant times in our lives.  They can relate to how we felt or actually be the thing that helped us through them.  They can remind us of people and places that are dear to us or even stimulate an attitude or determination to make us a better person.  Songs can be sung in protest, for motivation, in reverence or camaraderie.  And that’s just scratching the surface of the role music plays in our lives.  So it is not surprising that it has a large role in the Bible as well.
            In fact there is ample evidence that music played a large role in the ancient world in general.  Archaeologists have uncovered both music (dated 1400 B. C.) and instructions (dated 1800 B. C.) in digs from Egypt to Mesopotamia.  Music was an integral part of Israel’s daily life in Old Testament times.  It was played or sung at parties (Gen. 31:27), in celebrating heroes (Jud. 11:34; 1 Sam. 18:6), at coronations (1 Ki. 1:39-40; 2 Ki. 11:14), as entertainment in the royal court (2 Sam. 19:35), at banquets of the wealthy (Is. 5:12; 24:8-9), by workmen to help pace their work (Is. 16:10; Jer. 25:30), was used to express sorrow upon a person’s death (2 Sam. 1:17-18), and was an integral part of worship (Neh. 12:27, 45-46).
            The most obvious record of song in ancient Israel is the Book of Psalms which is often referred to as Israel’s Song Book.  The “book” is a collection of musical pieces in poetical form, but instead of one composer, there are several and only the lyrics have survived.  The 150 individual psalms that we have today are an organized collection, having been grouped the way we are familiar with by the priests and scribes of Ezra’s day.  However it is David who is attributed with making the psalms and the music which went with them an integral part of Israel’s worship.  Scripture notes that he selected instruments (1 Chron. 16:5), appointed musicians (1 Chron. 16-23), gave out assignments and designated students to perpetuate the addition of music to worship at the Tabernacle (1 Chron. 25:1-8), and subsequently the Temple.  David’s detailed organization of musicians and singers reflects how important music was in Hebrew worship.
            The Gospels and New Testament letters continue the Old Testament pattern and demonstrate that music remained an important part of the believing community (Mt.9:23; 24:31; Mk. 14:26; Lk. 7:32; 15:25; 1 Cor. 13:1; 14:7-8).  Music was a form of communication between believers (1 Cor. 14:26; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16) who often gathered in homes to worship together (Ac. 16:14-15; 1 Cor. 16:19).  Music was a way to recount God’s activity in human history (Dt. 31:14-27), to testify to God’s faithfulness (Ex. 15:1-2) and to praise God (Ac. 16:25) and Jesus for His sacrificial work on the cross (Phil. 2: 5-11 is believed to be an early Christian hymn).
            When we sing, we are in good company with a number of singers in the Bible- and not just the “professionals” like the sons of Aspah (1 Chron. 6:1-32)!  Moses sang (Ex. 15:1), as did his sister Miriam (Ex. 15:20-21), Deborah (Jud. 5:1, 12), Hannah (1 Sam. 2:1), David (2 Sam. 1:17-27; 23:1), the nation of Israel (Num. 21:17; Ez. 3:11), the Apostle Paul (Acts 16:25) and Jesus and His disciples (Mk. 14:26).  So, whether we can carry a tune or not, music should be a part of our walk with the Lord.  Lawrence Richards noted, “Music in biblical times, as in our own, enriched the daily life of ordinary people.  It captured the deepest emotions of the heart, celebrated national and personal joys and sorrows, and expressed the values shared by members of God’s covenant community.  Perhaps most of all, music was a vital element in worship, lifting the heart to God, celebrating His goodness, and calling to mind His mighty acts.  In a most significant way, the thoughts of the men and women of faith were guided and shaped by music, so that, to a large extent, those believers became what they sang.”  Are you letting the Lord speak to you through a song right now?  Are you using a song as an expression of your faith in Him or as a form of praise for what He’s done both in your life and for people as a whole?  If so you are enjoying one of the Lord’s most creative forms of expression and are fulfilling the words of Ps. 92:1-4.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

      Jeff’s keys always sit on the table by the door.  Well, at least they’re supposed to be there but sometimes when he’s loading the van or grabbing something out of the shed they travel about and get left in unusual places.  We then have to play the “Where did I see them last?” game until they’re found.  My keys, on the other hand, have less of a chance of being misplaced since I only use them for getting in and out of the house and to drive the car.  The car keys symbolize a sense of freedom to me.  With keys in hand I can travel near and far and some of those trips “afar” have been very interesting!  Take for example a recent trip home from visiting our son in Kentucky.  We left later than we expected but weren’t too concerned although the 12 hour drive meant we’d be pulling in around midnight.  It was smooth sailing until the traffic came to a stand-still. It was obvious why.  Not too far ahead we could see a thick cloud of smoke rising from the highway.  A 6 car pile-up was blocking the highway.  We turned around and spent another night in Kentucky.  The 12 hour trip home the next day was just as arduous.  We had to constantly check one of the tires as it developed a noticeable leak.  The following morning it was completely flat.  When the auto repair shop was replacing the tire they noticed a problem with the brake line which in turn led to finding a problem with the driveshaft.  What a trip that turned out to be!  When we were dealing with all those car issues it was stressful, but in hindsight we began to think, “What if the tire never went flat?  Who knows what would have happened with a faulty brake line and a bad drive shaft!”
            The Apostle Paul was an avid traveler as we all know.  His three missionary trips criss-crossed a prominent portion of the Roman Empire and eventually landed him in Rome.  One of those journeys reminds me a great deal of our Kentucky trip.  Paul began his second missionary trip in Antioch but instead of traveling by sea as he did the first time, Paul sets out on land traveling the Roman road through Cilicia and heading northwest toward Derbe, Lystra and Iconium.  After both success and opposition in these areas Paul and his companions proceed toward the province of Asia but the Spirit prevents them from entering the region.  So they turned northward to Bithynia but are blocked by the Spirit a second time.  I’m sure at this point some of them were thinking, “Well, where in the world are we supposed to go now!?”  We are not told how Paul knew the Spirit was blocking the roads to Asia and Bithynia.  It’s not as obvious as a 6 car pile-up!  But we do know how He showed Paul the right direction.  While Paul is staying overnight in Troas he receives a vision of a man from Macedonia asking him to come and help them whereupon Paul and his fellow travelers conclude that this is indeed where God wants them to go (Acts 16:1-11).
            The ministry in Macedonia begins in the beautiful city of Philippi.  It was a community established by military personnel and tradespeople, situated not too far from its port of Neapolis with the Via Egantia running straight through it.  Since it was a predominantly pagan city the small Jewish population met outside the city by the river for prayer and ritual cleansing.  This is Paul’s first stop on the Sabbath.  The Gospel is shared and it touches the heart of a God-fearing Gentile named Lydia.  Her home becomes the base of operations and the Gospel flourishes touching not only Lydia’s life but that of a demon-possessed slave girl and a jailor and his household (Acts 16:13-34).  The stories recorded here are some of the most powerful demonstrations of the transforming effect of the Gospel.  But what if Paul had insisted on going to Asia when the Spirit said no?  Or what if he’d gone to Bithynia anyway thinking the vision had only been a dream?  What if he’d stopped short of going into the very heart of Macedonia where Philippi was located and only gone to the border?  Would these stories ever come to pass? 
            As I said before Jeff and I often ask, “What if…?” concerning that trip to Kentucky.  But there are many times in life all of us ask ourselves, “What if?”  Sometimes we regret decisions or actions and ask, “What if I’d done it differently?”  Playing the “what if” game is not always a good idea if it leads to disappointment and discouragement.  But if it helps us to bring a new perspective to our struggles and trials, it can be a very positive form of reflection.  If it directs us to what the Lord desires for us to do, it is a tool in shaping us like Christ.  Perhaps when we encounter obstacles in our daily travels it is time to ask a new question.  The question is not, “Why is this happening to me?” but, “What if God is directing me to something better?”
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            In the little table next to my bed there is a drawer full of special letters.  Some of them are from my family, some from friends but each one has a very special meaning and I actually do enjoy taking them out and reading them from time to time.  The memories associated with them are very special particularly if they are from someone who has gone to be with the Lord.  The most recent addition came from my younger son and it’s a treasure like all the others!
            The dictionary defines a letter as a written or printed communication directed to a person or organization.  It is one person’s written message to another about something that involves both parties.  Despite the popularity of emails and texting, letters are still important particularly in business and for official communications.  Wikipedia listed several reasons why the most important being that it is difficult to forge an official letter or to transmit malware through it.  On a more personal level, letters help maintain intimacy or familiarity when two parties are separated by distance, conduct official affairs in business, government, academia and other professional settings, are a vehicle for self-expression and clarification in the arts, and can even represent one person on behalf of another as a form of introduction or recommendation.  The latter is often appreciated and received with satisfaction, but no one enjoys receiving a letter with bad news such as the infamous “Dear John” letter.
            The New Testament contains 27 books, 21 of which are letters.  Two other letters appear within the book of Acts (Acts 15:23-29; 23:26-30).  Letters were the most common form of communication in the 1st century Mediterranean world so it is not surprising that it is the predominant literary vehicle of the Gospel as well.  In style and skill the letters of the New Testament are at times eloquent and masterful or emotional and passionate demonstrating the close connection between the sender and those receiving it in more common vernacular.  The Greek word meaning “letter” (epistole) comes from the verb which means “to give an official order” indicating that letters originally were used in a military or diplomatic setting but their usage eventually broadened to the form of communication we use them for today- keeping in touch with family and friends, establishing agreements between clients and patrons and recommending a person for a position or the ability to participate in something like a prestigious school.
            The most extensive correspondence we have in the New Testament is the letters which Paul wrote to the Corinthian church.  Paul visited and ministered in Corinth numerous times.  One author noted, “In many ways, the city of Corinth Paul knew was closer to a modern American city than almost any other ancient city.  The upward social mobility conferred by large amounts of money, the large athletic spectacles, the love of parties, the problems created by a loosening of sexual limits, the desire to be as inclusive as possible in religious beliefs and practices, the desire to include social customs from secular life into the Christian community- all of these give to the problems discussed in the Corinthian letters.”  So it is interesting to note that in 2 Cor. 3:2-3 Paul likens the Christians there to letters.
            Several of the words that Paul uses to describe the Corinthians as “his letter” are notable.  They are written in his heart, the center of human life and in the NT it particularly represents the sphere of God’s influence in a person.  They are also Christ’s letter which Paul has been entrusted in caring for.  As letters the Corinthians are “written with the Spirit of the Living God” and the Spirit has engraved His message on the tablet of their hearts.  The imagery here is a throwback to the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, a message which was written on tablets of stone.  Stones are inanimate and have no breath.  This message however is “living”, a word from which we derive the term “biography”, and is the narrative on how one’s life is spent.  Thus, as letters, the Corinthians should be living in such a way that they reflect their author.
            All of Paul’s letters exhort and encourage their recipients to live as “letters of recommendation” (see these verses which specifically use the word live- Rom. 8:12-14; 2 Cor. 5:15; Gal. 5:16-25; 2 Tim. 3:12-14; Tit. 2:11-12) and it is just as true for us.  What people see in our biographies represents Christ’s activity in our hearts.  Are you allowing the Spirit to write your biography or you influenced by your culture as the Corinthians were?  Does your life act as a “letter of recommendation for Jesus”?  Christ has sent you to your family, co-workers and friends.  What kind of letter are they receiving?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
 https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre