Ready for the Road Ahead is reaching into the archives of pieces which were written before the website began while I continue with physical therapy after my knee surgery.  This piece was first published in May of 2011.    

       On June 17, 1978, a bride walked down the aisle of the First Presbyterian Church in Caldwell, New Jersey.  There in front of friends and family, she promised her groom to love, honor, obey and be faithful to him through sickness and health.  He promised the same to her.  Of course, I was the bride and my husband Jeff, was the groom. The marriage ceremony is a covenant.  The American History Dictionary defines a covenant as a binding agreement made by two or more persons or parties; a contract.  We can see how this applies to a bride and groom.  Their ceremony is legal and binding.
 
           Early in the morning on March 10, 1979, a nurse placed a tiny bundle in my arms.  My son Erick weighed eight pounds, fourteen ounces and was twenty-one inches long.  He’s now a fully grown man and at least seven inches taller than I am!  But at the moment he was placed in my arms, I promised to love him, to care for him and to teach him everything I could until he was able to make his own way in the world.  A mother’s undying love for her children is also a covenant.
 
           These illustrations from life help are excellent tools to help us understand three very important covenants which are woven throughout God’s Word.  The Abrahamic Covenant is like the relationship between the mother and child.  The Mosaic Covenant is like the covenant between the bride and groom.  And finally the New Covenant is also reflected in the parent-child relationship.
     
       The Abrahamic Covenant is foundational to all the other covenants.  It first appears in Genesis 12: 1-3.  The fulfillment of this covenant rests solely on God and His ability to keep His promise.  The Abrahamic Covenant is an unbreakable, unconditional promise that God made to Abraham and upheld through Isaac, Jacob and the Jewish people.  However, all believers are included in a spiritual sense in the Abrahamic Covenant (Romans 4:16).  The main provisions of the covenant can be summed up in three promises with equal weight which God will bestow upon Abraham:  a people, a blessing, and a land.  In a similar fashion a child is given a name and genetic traits when he/she becomes part of a family.  There is nothing the child does to earn them; they are passed on by the parents and in the same way there was nothing Abraham did to earn the promises of this Covenant.  They were passed on to him by the Lord. 
 
           The Mosaic Covenant is a conditional covenant between God and the people of Israel.  It is modeled after the kind of agreements in the Ancient Near East which were usually agreed upon by kings and their subjects.  The books which specifically deal with the actual conditions of the Mosaic Covenant are Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  Genesis and Exodus are also considered to be part of the Mosaic Covenant, but they do not list the specific laws and regulations as explicitly as the other books do.  The basic command and promise of the Mosaic Covenant is found in Exodus 19:5-6.  When the people of Israel agreed to this covenant it became their guide and the Jewish people have tried to be faithful to it ever since.  The bride and groom make promises to one another in their wedding ceremony, much like Israel and God made promises to one another when the Mosaic Covenant was ratified at Mount Sinai.
  
          The New Covenant is the covenant God has made with all who believe in Him.  It first deals with Israel, and secondly with the church.  The New Covenant can be found in Jeremiah 31:31-34, Hosea 2:18-23 and Zechariah 2:10-11.  The New Testament indicates that the church is included in the New Covenant (Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:8, 9:15).  The New Covenant is founded on the fact that Christ died for our sins, freeing God to redeem, reconcile and transform mankind apart from human merit or worthiness.  The New Covenant is a grace filled covenant that will be observed by God throughout eternity.  It is unconditional like a parent’s love for their child.
     
       The most wonderful aspect of all of these covenants is the God who made them.  Throughout the pages of Scripture we discover His faithfulness in keeping all of the promises He makes, both conditional and unconditional.  We should always keep this in mind as we journey along the road of faith.  Whenever we meet a challenge, trial or triumph, we would be wise to take the risk, fight the good fight, have faith in God and move forward.  Our Promise Keeping God has not failed us yet and He never will (Deuteronomy 7:9).

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

This week's reprint originally appeared in our church bulletin on February 13, 2011.  At that time Egypt had been experiencing 14 days of riots giving rise to the perception that times were very uncertain...   

        One time while visiting Cape May, Jeff and I saw a print in a gallery that we just had to have.  It was a photograph of a lighthouse off the coast of France, well known for the stormy waves that crash upon it each day.  A photographer in a helicopter had captured one of those waves as it smashed around the base of the lighthouse while the lighthouse keeper blithely looked skyward to see what the noise was all about.  One glance at this picture and you want to yell, "Watch out!!  Get inside!!"

            How many times over the years have you been gripped by headlines?  There never seems to be a shortage of fearful circumstances.  Mass shootings, urban unrest, violent storms and wars between nations dominate our media.  It seems that the world is a fearful place to live without a shelter to keep us safe in the storm.  One glance at the headlines and your mind wants to yell, "Watch out!!!  Stay inside!!" 

            No one understood better about how chaotic life could be than the ancient Israelite.  Due to its key location on the path of several major trade routes linking 3 continents, Israel was constantly subjected to attacks and turnovers.   Not only was their little sliver in the Fertile Crescent valuable for trade, other nations such as Assyria and Egypt, were on a mission to prove that their gods were far more powerful than Yahweh.  They viewed their military victories as a reason to proclaim that Yahweh was weak and undependable.  As threats for another invasion surfaced it was enough to cause any faithful Israelite to yell, "Watch out!!  Don't go outside!!"

            When Israel was conquered by Babylon in 597 B. C. it truly was a fearful time both for the weak and powerless people who were left behind and for those who were carried off into exile.  The future was uncertain and most wondered if they would survive.  If they had the ability many would have chosen to “stay inside”.  But that was not possible.  Instead the people were thrown into the storm but it taught them a valuable lesson.  The times may have felt unstable but God was in the midst of it with them.  Surprisingly that lesson is most prominent in the Book of Esther which describes the origin and reason for the festival which the Jewish people faithfully (and rather joyfully I might add!) celebrate every year.  The strange thing about the book of Esther is that God's name is never mentioned.  On the surface it appears that God is not involved in the story at all.  Actually, God is very cleverly disguised within the story, and to the faithful there is no doubt that He is the source of Esther's courage and the reason the Jews prevail.

            Sometimes the chaos of the world feels the same way.  No matter what continent, no matter what nation or state, strife and turmoil seem to say that God is not involved in our world at all.  Times are unstable and uncertain.  However, the psalmist encourages us in Psalm 46 that even when mountains shake and the waters roar, God is in the midst of His people acting as an anchor and a source of hope which will see us through the storm safely (Heb. 6:13-20).   We may not see it; we may not sense it, but we know God is at work in our story.

            The Sea of Galilee is often depicted as an idyllic body of water surrounded by pleasant hills.  However, it is not always that peaceful.  Cutting into those rolling hills are gorges called "scarps" and when the wind blows down through the scarps on to the Sea of Galilee it stirs up the water and sailing becomes treacherous.  Such a storm is recorded in Luke 8:22-25.  This storm was so fierce that even the disciples who were seasoned fishermen feared they were about to die.  Whether it is a massive wave off the coast of France, a disturbing headline about our chaotic world or a squall upon the Sea of Galilee, there is only one thing to do when a storm of that intensity comes your way.  Esther turned to God through fasting and prayer.  The disciples turned to Jesus.  Rather than succumbing to panic or hiding when life seems out of control, our best recourse is to follow in the footsteps of the psalmist and place our trust in the Lord (Ps. 121) for that is where our help comes from.     
 
 
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

          While my days are still basically filled with trips to physical therapy I'm continuing to draw from several years of Ready for the Road Ahead that were never published on my website.  The end of August and beginning of September marks the start of soccer season so it seemed appropriate to pull this one out to revisit.

           On July 5, 1994, my son Christopher and I attended "Game 44" of the World Cup.  The game was being held at Giants Stadium.  We went early to take in some of the activities set up outside the stadium and it was amusing to see all the costumes people had put together to wear to the game.  Bulgaria was pitted against Mexico and the stadium was completely full.  Over 70, 000 fans were there to witness the first game of the world’s grandest competition to go into overtime, and then a sudden death shot out in order to determine the winner.  The atmosphere was amazingly electric and we were blessed to watch the shoot out in the front row!  The World Cup, The Super Bowl, The World Series, The Stanley Cup, and the Olympics all have one thing in common.  They are the premiere game that determines the best of the best in their given sport.   If you've been able to attend one of these championships, you can't help but be captured by the energy of cheering on your favorite team and the instant familiarity you have with the thousands of others who have come to do the same.   It is why many teams in many sports consider their fans to be "the twelfth man".
 
            The Christian walk can feel like an intense athletic competition.  We are met with opposition, temptation, trials, challenges and obstacles in our daily lives as well as milestones, victories and the satisfaction of a job well-done.  If you've ever tried to face the challenges alone, you know how discouraging and detrimental that can be.  And who wants to celebrate a victory by themselves?  It's so much better to celebrate with others who understand your joy and want to celebrate with you.  Most importantly though, knowing there are others who surround you with encouragement and love, no matter what part of the journey you're on, is like the team whose "twelfth man" cheers them on to victory in spite of the tremendous obstacles they face to win.  This is the imagery that the author of Hebrews is reminding us of when he writes that we have a "great cloud of witnesses" watching us as we run the race of faith in Hebrews 12:1.   Not only do we have fellow believers here on earth to help us take on the challenges of the race, but we also have those who have gone on before (take a look at chapter 11 if you want to know who some of them are), sitting in the bleachers of heaven, and rooting for us to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:7).
 
            Paul was well acquainted with the struggles of the Christian walk.  When writing to the Corinthian Church he used several images from the Olympic games to describe his struggles and the outcome of those trials (2 Cor. 4:7-18).  Those words, afflicted, crushed, perplexed, not despairing, persecuted and struck down were terms which also applied to wrestling and running.  Like an athlete who trains his body almost mercilessly so that it will perform in competition, the struggles of faith train us for an eternal end and although no suffering is pleasant, Paul reminds us that it is temporary.  Our great cloud of witnesses know better than we do the glories to come therefore they cheer us on like the fans in the stand who call out encouragement to their team when they are behind. 
 
            Have you ever noticed that Paul often closes his letters with greetings from the believers with him to those who will receive it?  Paul is reminding them all that they are in the "faith walk" together and face the same challenges.  The same is true for us.  We not only have a fan base in heaven, there are earthly counterparts that can be a source of encouragement too if we let them (Heb. 10:23-25).  Whether or not you are a well-trained athlete you may be facing a competitor this week.  That adversary could be as simple as managing your time better or as deep as overcoming an addiction.  Remember, you are not alone in this challenge.  There is a "great cloud of witnesses" gathered around you to cheer you on.  Draw on the strength and enthusiasm of your "twelfth man".
 
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

            Before I began posting Ready for the Road Ahead on my website I usually had titles for my pieces but they weren’t printed on the church hand-outs.  However when I initially wrote this piece on August 4, 2013 I made sure it was included.
 
            Who would have thought that when I set out to meet my newest grandson on June 29th that I would end up with two new tires, a broken speedometer and a new battery!  The beginning of my trip was uneventful.  In fact, Jeff checked the oil and other such things to make sure everything was a-o-k for the 8 and a ½ hour drive.   But about 150 miles into the trip, while passing a slow moving truck in the center lane, I heard a loud POP and I knew immediately that I’d just gotten a flat!  I quickly pulled over on to the shoulder and while my mind was racing as to what to do next, I noticed that someone else had pulled over ahead of me.  As I stepped out of the car to assess the damage (and boy was that shredded tire a shock!), a kind gentleman came up to offer assistance.  First order of business: move the car from the left shoulder to the right shoulder!   Oh dear!  That was going to be tricky!!   But we managed to do it and decided AAA was the best “call” to make.  Three and ½ hours later I was on my way again thanks to a tow truck/auto shop owner who had my tires in stock (Coincidence? I think not!) and noticed that a second tire was about to give out too.

            As I sat in the air conditioned waiting room and thought about what had just happened, I realized in a modern sense that I’d just been visited by “angels”; not the winged and awesome kind that gather about God’s throne to praise Him (Is. 6: 1-3) but the human kind whose hearts are geared toward helping people in distress.  And I’d like to say that the rest of the trip was uneventful and worry free but it wasn’t!  Just after crossing over the Pennsylvania/Ohio border, the speedometer decided it had lived a long and productive life and died.  Four days later, the battery did the same.  Poor Jeff, every time I called home I could here the unspoken question, “What broke now?”  This was definitely NOT the trip I’d planned!  But, I eventually arrived in Michigan.  The week was filled with lots love and came rapidly to an end! I was worried about driving home. What could go wrong this time?  Thankfully nothing went wrong with my car, but construction on Route 80 did slow the traffic down to a halt a few times.

            Life does have its unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes you set out on a quest or heading towards a goal and get totally tossed about by an unexpected event like a blown out tire. Other times the road is filled with detours or even a dead stop and you wonder if it's really worth making the journey at all. Maybe those road hazards put fear in you so that you don't even want to venture forth lest "something else goes wrong" like a busted speedometer. I guess after this trip, I've learned that the bumps might not necessarily be fun, but the fear is worse; and there will always be kindness when a stranger stops to help or a service person does their job well, or someone says an encouraging word. The bottom line is this- it does look better in the rear view mirror, but unless you leave the house, there will be nothing in the mirror to see. And if you don't leave, you may never experience the joy of where the journey brings you. So, it's best to pack your bags and be as prepared as you can.

            Setting forth on a journey that brings you to something unexpected puts you in good company with a number of Biblical people:  Abraham, Daniel, the disciples and Paul to name a few.  Once settled in at my son’s house after the tire fiasco, I was reminded of Paul’s second missionary journey.  Instead of reaching his projected target of the west coast of Asia Minor, God redirected him to Macedonia.  I thought about Paul’s original destination.  Had he reached it at that time we may never have had several New Testament letters that Paul wrote to churches he planted on that re-routed trip (Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians) or Luke’s account of the detour in Acts 16.  I started to wonder what had occurred that day which wouldn’t have happened otherwise:  a 30 minute time of praise and prayer while waiting for the tow truck, being able to speak a blessing into the lives of two helpful strangers, and even the enjoyment of a beautiful sunset since a broken speedometer tends to insure you keep the speed limit!  And of course the eventual joy of reaching my destination and meeting my grandson!  I encourage you to take time and enjoy the detours and unexpected turns in your journey.  God is in the midst of them!  Watch and see what He is about to do (Heb. 11:7-8).

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            Have you ever actually watched a loaf of bread rise?  After you mix the leaven in warm water, it looks rather cloudy and unappealing.  Adding it to a bowl of sifted flour only seems to make matters worse.  The result is a gooey, stretchy mess.  But the yeast bonds to the gluten of the wheat while it is being kneaded, and after the malleable ball of dough has been left sitting for about an hour, it's almost doubled in size!  I am sure there's a wonderful scientific explanation for this, but I don't know it!  What fascinates me about this process is how quickly the bread rises and how much the yeast causes the dough to expand.
   
         In Luke 13, after Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a mustard seed, He uses another unlikely example to illustrate God's kingdom- a lump of yeast (Lk. 13:18-21)!  It is a picture from everyday life, but this time, it has a twist.  Scripture almost always uses yeast as a negative image (1 Cor. 5:6-8 for example).  But in this case, Jesus uses yeast to symbolize the way the Gospel would expand and affect an unsuspecting world.  This time yeast is seen as a positive influence.
 
           So, what does the yeast in Jesus' parable do?  When it is placed in the dough, it changes the dough (Lk. 13:21).  Like the yeast which a baker places into a ball of dough which in turn causes it to rise, the Lord has placed the Gospel into the world in order for it to expand.  The Gospel, or Kingdom, works like yeast in two ways:  1) it changes individuals until their whole being has been transformed.  2) It changes society as a whole.  When it affects individuals, they in turn affect the culture in which they live.
     
       Yeast changes and transforms bread.  Bread made from water and wheat alone, is hard, dry, and not too nourishing; but yeast, mixed into the dough, changes and transforms it.  When yeast has been added to bread there are four results which represent the effect the Gospel has on people:  1) yeast makes bread soft and no longer hard.  The Gospel does the same.  It penetrates hearts of people and softens the hardness of their life.  As a result we become softened toward God too.  We become a more caring and giving person (Ezek. 11:19-20; Col. 3:12-15).  Softness is one of the trademarks of a transformed person.  2) Yeast makes bread porous and moist, no longer dry.  The Gospel does the same.  It penetrates the dryness of a person's heart and life.  The Gospel moistens our hearts so that we can grow into a moist or fruitful person (Lk. 8:4-15; Jn. 15:8; Col. 1:10).  3)  Yeast makes bread satisfying.  The Gospel changes a life with no purpose or meaning and gives a person purpose, joy and hope.  4)  Yeast makes bread nourishing.  The Gospel not only gives purpose, but it inspires, commissions, and cultivates.  A person transformed by the Gospel is able to bring truth to the world.  The Gospel is able to explain the reasons for the emptiness and loneliness of the human heart and to replace them with love and fellowship (Prov. 15:30; 25:25; Is. 52:7; Rom. 10:14-15; Eph. 4:15-25).
     
       It should be noted that yeast works quietly and silently.  You don't hear it fizzing or crackling like milk poured on Rice Krispies.  But you know it's working because you can see the difference in the dough.  This says something about the way we should be living as transformed people in this world.  As part of the "yeast of the kingdom" we are to be making an impact in the world that we live in.  Yeast changes the whole lump.  It permeates every pore of the dough's being.  And so it should be with the kingdom.  As "yeast" in this world, we should be impacting every pore of society.  As a disciple of the King of Kings, how will you be an effective lump of yeast this week?  How will you expand the kingdom?  Jesus is challenging you to make a difference.
 
Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre
 

            Nain was a small town in Lower Galilee. It doesn’t look like much today because nothing of its ancient buildings has survived.  In fact Luke 6:11-17 is the only time this little town is ever mentioned in the Bible (which should always clue you in to the fact that something significant is going to happen there).  It was situated on a small hill a few miles southwest of Nazareth.  One rather important miracle of the Old Testament also occurred near Nain- Elisha raised a son from the dead in Shunem (2 Ki. 4:18-37) which was also located in this region.  So then, it is no coincidence that Jesus encounters a funeral procession for an only son just outside of this slightly obscure town.

            Luke's wonderful writing highlights several important aspects of this story.  First and foremost was the fact that this woman was a widow and this man was his mother's ONLY son.  She had no other means of support.  In Jesus' day women did not have the vast resources and opportunities available to them that many of us have today.  If they lost the income of their husband or children, and there was no extended family to take them in, they had two options.  The first was begging; the second was prostitution.  So when Jesus and His disciples approached this funeral, led by its professional mourners and accompanied by the townsfolk, they were coming upon a scene of desperation.

            Luke emphasizes that Jesus SEES the widow.  This word, esplagchinisthe (just try and pronounce that one!), means to see physically as well as to be moved inwardly; to yearn with tender mercy, affection, pity, empathy and compassion. It is the deepest movement of emotions from the deepest part of one's being.  There is no stronger word in the Greek language and it is used time and time again concerning Jesus.  When Christ saw this woman He was moved in the deepest part of His heart.  This caused Him to touch the funeral bier (generally a wicker pallet used to carry the body to the grave), a complete no-no according to the Torah.  

            Luke records that Christ spoke directly to the man.  You can imagine what thoughts were entering the minds of those in attendance!  (This guy must be crazy comes to mind.)  However, to their surprise, the man responds by anakthizein, a special medical word which describes a person who gets up after a long illness.  The immediate understanding among the on-lookers is that only God can make this happen.  Because of their location the people are familiar with the story of Elisha and immediately connect Jesus with the prophet.  Luke even uses a phrase right out of the Elijah story (1 Ki. 17: 8-24) in saying that Jesus gave the man "back to his mother" (1 Ki. 17:23).   The reaction of the crowd is similar to the stillness that falls over sports fans when an athlete is severely injured on the playing field.  Everything is quiet as the medical personal attend to the athlete’s needs.  But when the player gets up and is able to walk off the field an enthusiastic round of applause breaks out.  The funeral crowd is deeply in awe and although they misidentify Christ as a prophet, they nonetheless give credit to God.

            It would be easy to let this story go at face value and store the information in a mental file named "Cool Things I Learned About Luke 7" and a month or two later forget what was in the file.   Disciples (which you and I are) don't do that.  We must move the information into application by looking at Jesus and doing what He did.  To truly be a disciple, it means more than compassion, it means touch.  Although considered "unclean" Jesus was willing to touch the bier and speak the words of life into a dark and desperate situation.  We also speak for Christ.   We are His hands, feet and body.  An effective disciple not only speaks the words of life to a dead world, he or she reaches out and touches it as well.  Our compassion must be coupled with actions, otherwise, as James would say, our faith is dead (Js. 2:17) and useless.  What or who will move you to respond as Jesus did?  Be willing to move when you see "the widow of Nain" in your world.

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

   Ready for the Road Ahead is taking a brief detour while I recooparate from my recent knee surgery.  We're delving into the archives which never appeared on the website and revisiting some of my favorite posts.  This particular piece originally appeared as the bulletin insert on March 27, 2011.

         Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink!  That little ditty ran through my head several times during the first full week of March 2011.   Not only did we see record rainfall in my area of the Northeast, but an earthquake in Japan set off a tsunami which destroyed property and beaches in the Northwest.  The rainfall coupled with melting snow caused rivers and creeks to overflow their banks and commuters to detour around the more troublesome areas of flooding.  Thanks to the fact that I had to drive up Route 209 more than once that week, I was able to see the rising waters first hand.  One Saturday afternoon found me stopping at the Bushkill Access on the Delaware River to take a rather comical picture of the Stop sign submerged in four feet of water with debris caught on the One Way sign below it.   There was lots of water, but not much of it was worthy to drink.
   
         Sometimes I marvel at people who build houses along the coast or next to a river.  They must know about the risks, but the setting is so appealing, it's worth the risk I suppose.  I have to confess I've daydreamed about living near the ocean.  I love the vast horizon, the sound of the waves, and the shells!  In the past I did wish I could live there.  I also thought living on a farm in one of the Plains states would be just as nice because they too have wonderfully flat horizons and wide open skies.  One season of Storm Stories cured both of those desires!  Hurricanes and tornadoes are not that appealing to me even though the landscape might be.  There are appealing places to live like this in Israel too.   One such place is mentioned in Psalm 23:2.  We often translate the word as "green pastures", but this Hebrew word actually relates to the well-watered and green area at the bottom of a wadi.
   
         "What's a wadi?" you ask.  Wadiis are like gorges, but not as wide.  They were carved out of the limestone in the wilderness area in the same way the Colorado River carved out the Grand Canyon.  Shepherds who raise their flocks in these areas of Israel must know the layout of a wadi inside and out, because although they are a great water source, they are also dangerous.  Rain can cause flash flooding in a wadi, so it is wiser to get your water and leave, rather than make yourself comfortable and stay.
         
        Jesus had this geographical characteristic in mind in Luke 6:46-49.  Maybe you remember singing this as a child:  "The wise man built his house upon the rock...".  It's not necessarily convenient to build on the top of those rock walls; most of them are quite high.  In ancient times when there were no pumping stations to bring the water to you it was far more pleasant and so much easier to build down in the gorge, next to the water source.   When you build next to the water, you don't have to lug those big water urns up and down the path.  It's convenient.  It's comfortable.  But Jesus warns his listeners that building in the sand, is unsafe!  When the rains come down, and they will, your house will wash away just like a flash flood in a wadi washes away everything in its path.

            It's tempting for us to "build our lives" in the conveniences of the world.  We think life should be easy, comfortable and advertisers are all too happy to convince us this is true. The trouble is, putting trust in the comforts of this world, is like building a house in the bottom of a wadi.   So, when storms come rushing into our little world, its sandy foundation is washed away with the water.

            What should disciples build on?  Jesus says in verse 47 that those who come to Him, hear His words, and act on them have built their life on the rock.  If we are letting the Bible guide us in the way we live and what we believe, when the storms of life come (and they will come), we will be able to withstand the tempest.  It is certainly more popular to build on worldly things.  It's easier, more comfortable.  But it's unstable.  Today's fads are tomorrow's history lessons.  The latest trends are forgotten tomorrow when the "next big thing" becomes news.  So, why build on this shifting sand?  Build your life on God's Word so that you will stand firm when storms come your way (Proverbs 3:1-8; Colossians 3:2).

Ann LeFevre, M. Div.
https://www.annhlefevre.com; Olivetreeann@mail.com; https://www.linkedin.com/in/annhlefevre; https://www.facebook.com/ann.h.lefevre

            My sister Diana and I took great delight in designing games for my youngest sister, Kim, when she was little.  One of our favorites was a birthday scavenger hunt where Kim had to figure out clues in order to discover the whereabouts of her presents.  Kim had a great deal of fun searching for those gifts and Diana and I took delight in watching her eyes light up when she figured out a clue and was rewarded with another colorful package.

            In January of 2011 I joined an online photography group called the "365 Project".  Photographers of all levels of ability search out pictures that capture their daily routines and the world around them in a creative and unique way.  Sometimes the photos are simply meant to document what their day was like.  But many use the challenge of capturing a picture each day as a means to improve their craft.  For some it’s a hobby and others it’s a passion but the main goal of many of the “365” photographers is to learn to look at the common, everyday things with a new perspective.  You don't need fancy equipment or a top of the line camera to join or to participate.  All you need is eyes to see.

            The Christian walk requires us to look for God in a similar fashion.  Years ago (1984 to be exact) David and Karen Mains wrote a book called The God Hunt.  In it they encouraged families to search for "God sightings" like Kim searched for her birthday presents those many years ago.  The interesting aspect of this activity is similar to that of the 365 Project.  The more you look, the more you see.  I recently read of a young mom who uses the walk to the school bus with her children as a way to see God at work in the world around them.  They look at the birds and see God's creativity.  They say hello and smile at people they know and see His love.  What a wonderful way to inspire children to recognize that God is with His creation!

            Developing your spiritual eyes is a must on the walk of Christian maturity.   It's a challenge to see life through a spiritual lens, because as adults, we've been conditioned to be concrete and practical.  In fact, I would propose that our practical, analytical and technological approach to daily living actually deadens our spiritual eyesight.  We lack the ability to see God at work because we’ve been conditioned to think that He’s NOT at work- especially in those things.  I believe God is at work in it all but most of us don’t see Him at work in anything because we think all God’s work has to miraculous or awe-inspiring.  But oftentimes, He is at work in the simple, daily routine each of us goes through just like there are pictures all around us each day.  Like my sister, we must look for the clues if we’re to discover what treasures await us.  That is the challenge of seeing with spiritual eyes, not just the two organs attached to our face.  If we do not learn to see things from a spiritual perspective, we may end up like the servant of Elisha, who could only see the enemies encircled around his camp (2 Kings 6: 8-17).  It took the prayer of Elisha to open his eyes to the spiritual realm.
  
          Cultivating your spiritual eyes is not difficult, but it does require that you look beyond the ordinary and the usual.  One day, while I waited for my friend to check out her groceries, I was charged with the task of entertaining her 3 year old daughter.  How do you keep an active toddler in a shopping cart in a busy supermarket when all she wants to do is get out?  In a moment of inspiration I began a game of "I Spy".  It was the perfect diversion for Cloe.  She loved finding the different colors and objects that I picked out and I was amazed at her powers of observation!  The same is true about seeing God in the world around you and in your life.  You are more observant than you think!  Seeing God at work does not always mean we will be looking at "supernatural" events in our lives.  More often it is learning to see those everyday events from a new vantage point.  It doesn't take fancy equipment or a top of the line camera to catch sight of God.  All you need is eyes to see.  Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men.  (Psalm 66:5)
 
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

 And now for something a little different!  While I'm having knee surgery and recovering in physical therapy Ready for the Road Ahead is digging into the archives and publishing articles that were written before the website was in existence.  First up a piece from December of 2010- the month it all began!

            The story goes that there once was a great funambulist (tightrope walker) who stretched a hemp rope across a great gorge while an incredulous crowd gathered and watched.  As the cord was caught by an assistant and attached to the other side of the ravine, the confident acrobat began to speak to the crowd.  “Ladies and gentlemen,” he called out, “I have crossed the widest canyons high above raging rivers and plummeting cascades!  And now, I shall attempt to cross your beautiful gorge.  Who believes that I shall succeed in my daring feat?”  Murmurs and discussions buzzed around the circle of on-lookers.  It was obvious that the man had trained for this stunt.  He sported an athletic frame of large, bulging muscles.  He was also dressed for the occasion in leotards, slippers and gloves.  He had a rod the exact length of his height to give him balance as he made his way across the tightrope. 
            “Sir, we believe you can do it!” a man called out as the rest applauded.
            But they were shocked and stunned when he placed a wheelbarrow upon the rope and said, “Then who will climb aboard and accompany me across?”  No one dared to speak.  Their previous faith in the acrobat was in crisis.  They trusted him when the stunt only included him, but did they trust him when it involved one of them?
            Suddenly from the middle of the crowd came a small voice, “I’ll go!”
            A little girl climbed into the wheelbarrow and held on to the sides.  Against the protests of those gathered to watch, the funambulist began the journey.  Some closed their eyes afraid to look.  Others held their breath and fearing for the safety of the little girl.  But the little girl just looked straight ahead as they passed the mid-point and then landed on the other side.
            By now a crowd had gathered there too.  A reporter rushed forward with a note pad and pen in hand.  “Little girl!” he said excitedly, “Weren’t you afraid of falling?”
            The angelic child scrunched her face and replied indignantly, “NO!”
            “Why not?” asked the reporter.
            “Because that’s my Dad!” she replied smiling at him confidently.
            The Scriptures remind us over and over again that God is a Father who keeps His promises.  We can trust Him because He is faithful.  It’s easy to accept this thought as long as it remains in the realm of our minds just as it was easy for the crowd to accept the claims of the tightrope walker as long as they did not have to cross the wire with him.  But we are exhorted James 3:17 that faith without any physical evidence of its existence (that is to say works) is dead.  Like the little girl we must climb into the wheelbarrow because we know our Father is pushing it.  Jesus challenged Peter to do the same when a storm raged around their boat (Mt. 14:22-33). 
            Whatever we are facing in life, if we believe God can take care of us we will behave accordingly.  Like Peter we will step out of the boat.  If we believe that God loves us, we will risk loving others.  If we believe God provides, we will not keep things to ourselves, but freely give to others.  If we believe God cares for our daily needs, we will not worry about what we have and don’t have (Mt. 6:25-33; Phil. 4:19).  How is God the Father asking you to climb in the wheelbarrow or step out of the boat this week?  How will you as His child respond?  Will you be silenced like the crowd, or will you climb in willingly like the little girl?  Will you step out of the boat with your eyes on Jesus like Peter or will you let your focus remain on the waves?  Whatever your response remember it indicates what you truly believe about your Father.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.                                                   
Reprinted and Revised from 12/5/2010
 
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Photography, Faith and the Art of Seeing #23
 
This year Ready for the Road Ahead is taking on a new direction.  It is one that follows the grand theme of sight in all aspects which runs throughout Scripture.  My weekly writings will be excerpts from a book of the same name which should be published (Lord willing) later this year.
 
            Sometimes when I find myself in a photographic slump I’ll play a little “game” I call, “One Year Ago Today”.  I find a picture I’ve taken the year before and dabble with it, changing colors, adding textures or layers, or both and see what I come up with.  On one particular day I landed on a shot I’d taken of some wildflowers and grasses on a small hill by our church.  It was a truly boring picture and I wondered why I saved it even though the sky was a very nice blue.  I began to play with the color and ended up turning the sunny day into an overcast one.  After playing with some textures, merging two more shots with the first I ended up with an image of a little girl walking along a beach ready to collect shells.  It reminded me of Andrew Wyeth’s painting “Christina’s World” although it was not anything near the caliber of the master!  When I look at that picture now, I know it has individual layers, but the overall image has a unity to it that makes them one.  And that is how I see the Lord working in both the layers of Isaiah’s prophecy and the layers of my life.

            Isaiah’s ministry takes place at a critical juncture in the national life of Israel.  King Uzziah has died after sitting on the throne for 52 years.  In spite of some personal missteps, Uzziah had been a great leader.  Who would succeed him and would they continue to serve the people wisely by following the ways of the Lord?  A new layer was about to be added to the history of Israel.  Sadly, Ahaz was the exact opposite of Uzziah.  Isaiah arrives on the scene to declare that judgment is certain for the wayward king (Is. 7:17) but that there is also hope for the faithful because a future king will serve in faithfulness and with justice (Is. 11:1-5).  These two themes of judgment and a restored kingdom under a descendant of David are viewed like slides in a projector.  In many ways they appear to be in order but sometimes they seem mixed.  At times they seem to have been fulfilled (such as when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B. C.), but at other times (such as under the godly leadership of Hezekiah, Ahaz’s successor) the fulfillment seems to fall a little bit short.  Hezekiah, like all the other kings before him died, which is a far cry from the eternal descendant of David who is promised in Is. 9:2-11. Not only did the prophet live during the reigns of three of Israel’s better-known kings (Is. 1:1; Uzziah-Is. 6:1, Ahaz- Is. 7:1-12, and Hezekiah- Is. 37:1-7), the Lord also revealed to him three distinct “servants” (Cyrus- Is. 44:28; 45:1, the nation of Israel- Is. 41:8-9; 44:1-3; 49:3, and the Servant of the Lord- 42:18-22; 49:5-6; 53:11) and the previously mentioned messages of judgment (Is. 2:12; 3:13, etc.) and restoration (Is. 40:1-2; 54:4-8; 61:1-9, etc.) given to the people of his day (which in turn is meant for us too).  Like the phases we pass through in life, Isaiah notes that history, individuals or nations, and God’s unfailing character also pass through phases.  Life, and particularly time, writes Isaiah, is layered.

            Isaiah saw his world as a composite.  It was made up of layers from the present, the not so distant future and a future farther off than he could imagine.  Some of his layers we can see as we look over the course of Israel’s history.  From the nation’s humble beginnings as a small family of wandering shepherds to a massive group of people who became a more unified nation while they wandered through the wilderness looking for a Promised Land, Isaiah sees each phase as a point along a journey which has a glorious end and whose purpose is to bring glory to the Lord (Is. 4:2; 60-62).  While my photographic composite of “The Shell Seeker” is fictional, Israel’s is not.

            It is not hard to see life in layers the older you get.  It’s not so easy to see them when you’re younger.  Like my “Shell Seeker” image, I consist of layers shaped and worked by my Creator to make a picture which brings Him glory just as Israel’s composite was meant to bring God glory (Is. 2:1-4).  In fact every life, not just mine, is a composite with its own layers that tell a story (Eph. 2:8-10).  Faith involves seeing all of those layers in your composite with a glorious end in view in the same fashion it was revealed to Isaiah regarding Israel (1 Cor. 13:12).  So, while I may not be able to  see all the layers at work in my life just yet, knowing the Lord is shaping my life that way is one of the best lessons I’ve learned about photography, faith and the art of seeing.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.

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