My house is full of little things; some are useful, some not so useful.  Some of those things are meaningful and some not so meaningful but this year I’ve discovered they all hold a lesson from the Lord if I’m willing to think about it for a while.  I must say that thankfully I think my home holds more meaningful “things” than meaningless things.  That would most certainly be true of a plaque that hangs in my bedroom.  It was a wedding gift from a good friend who decoupaged our wedding announcement on to a small wooden block with a hook on top.  (Yes, we were married in much simpler times!)  The announcement eloquently asks the recipient to join my parents in celebrating the upcoming marriage of their daughter (that’s me!) and my soon-to-be husband at the church I grew up in on June 17, 1978.  It was an announcement that I’m sure those who received it were pleased to get.
            The Bible is full of announcements.  Beginning in Genesis 1 where God announces that what He has created is “good”, and all the way to Revelation 22 where Christ’s return is promised as “coming quickly”, a variety of messages are announced to anyone “who has ears to hear”.  It is announced to Noah that there will be a great flood (Gen. 6:13-14) and how he should prepare for it.  Abraham is warned that destruction is coming upon Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 18:16-21).  Moses is told to go to Pharaoh and announce God’s message, “Let My people go” (Ex. 3:1-11).  It is announced to Joshua that his battle plan is to march around the walls of Jericho (Jos. 6:1-5).   Gideon is told that he will become a deliverer of Israel (Jud. 6:11-18).  Elijah announces to Ahab that it will not rain for 3 years (1 Kin. 17:1).  It is announced to Jonah that he is to go and preach to the Ninevites (Jon. 1:1-2).  An angel comes to Daniel and announces the time frame of God’s plan for salvation (Dan. 9:1-27).  While each one of these announcements carry their own distinct amount of surprise and often garner a strong reaction of protest, wonder or disbelief from those who receive them, they pale in comparison to the numerous times someone, usually a woman, received the good news that they would be having a baby.
            Why were birth announcements so amazing?  Because in most cases the prospect of having a child was deemed impossible!  Abraham and Sarah had lived well beyond the years when children were biologically possible (Gen. 17:15-19; 18:1-15).  Manoah and his wife had accepted a childless state when they received their special announcement (Jud. 13:2-3).  Hannah was also childless (1 Sam. 1:13-18) as was the Shunammite woman (2 Kin. 4:8-17).  In each of these stories there was a stigma attached to the woman for being unable to produce an heir.  But in each of these stories, God demonstrated that He was not only the One who brought forth the fruit of the earth for physical sustenance but the fruit of the womb as well.  Birth announcements are not limited to the Old Testament, but the two we have recorded in the New Testament are perhaps the most outstanding of them all.  The announcement the Elizabeth and Zacharias receive in Lk. 1:5-20 resonates with similar elements to that of Abraham and Sarah and each child was the fulfillment of a great promise made by God (Gen. 12:1-3; 21:1-8; Mal. 3:1-2; 4:5-6; Lk. 1:16-17).
            But perhaps the most spectacular and amazing birth announcement in all the pages of Scripture occurs in Lk. 1:26-38 when one of God’s most magnificent and impressive messengers visits a young but devout Galilean teen to tell her that she will become the mother of the promised Messiah.  Unlike all her predecessors who had earthly husbands to assist in the baby-making process, Mary “has not known a man” (Lk. 1:34) and her betrothal period has not been consummated.  But Gabriel explains, “Nothing is impossible with God” (v. 37).  After all He is the God who created the world out of nothing!  Mary’s response exhibits her extraordinary faith.  She refers to herself as a doulos, a servant whose will is bent on doing only the will of the master and affirms that this event (as we would say) is as good as done.
            During the final weeks of every year churches around the world celebrate the season of Advent which begins with reflections on the world’s greatest birth announcement which was continued in the grazing fields outside of Bethlehem 9 months later (Lk. 2: 8-14).  It is the perfect time to think about the special announcements you have received throughout your lifetime- a promotion, an award, an engagement, a wedding, a graduation, a child- all have carried some special significance.  But the greatest announcement that you and I will ever receive is embedded in the one Mary received from Gabriel.  “You will bear a son and you shall name him Jesus (Yahweh saves)” for that Child has made the greatest announcement of all (Lk. 4:16-21; 24:44-48; Jn. 11:25; 14:6 and more!).
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

          Health care professionals from a wide variety of disciplines readily agree on the benefits of drinking water every day.  Therefore my water bottle is often within eyesight reminding me I need to keep hydrated.  It was given to me as a gift a couple years ago and I particularly like its wider mouth and the handy-dandy flip top and handle.  Our home is blessed with its own well, so we have great tasting water.  Others prefer the bottled kind over their tap water and there are plenty of brands to choose from.  Recently the world of bottled water was all abuzz when a class action suit filed against one of its most prominent companies claimed that its “pure 100% natural spring water” did not actually come from a spring hidden somewhere in the Maine woods.  The claim went on to say that Nestle, the parent company of Poland Springs, was actually using common ground water which didn’t meet USDA standards in their product.  This is not the first time Poland Springs and Nestle have been sued in this fashion.  A complaint filed in 2003 claimed Poland Springs was not sourced from deep in the Maine woods as their advertising claimed.  That lawsuit was settled leading the industry to wonder what will happen with this latest litigation.
            We tend to think of water as a daily commodity.  The only time we really recognize it for the necessity that it is comes when we are encountered with a storm that takes out the electricity and our ability to get it.  But in the world of the Bible that understanding of water was constantly on peoples’ minds.  In the northern regions of Israel water was more available.  The mountains of Upper Galilee had springs which fed into several rivers; the Jordan River being the most prominent of them.  The Sea of Galilee was also (and still is) a major source of fresh water and the geography allowed a significant enough amount of rainfall for agriculture.  But in the southern portion of the land, water was (and still is!) harder to come by.  The Dead Sea offered no help here so water was collected in cisterns and those who lived in the wilderness learned how to “read the rocks” that had porous capacities which could cause pockets of water to form just under their surface.  Wadiis, deep gouges on the earth’s surface could also be water source if they had a spring within them like En Gedi.
            The cycle of seasons in the ancient world truly forced those living in it to recognize their dependence on the God who set it all in motion.  In ancient Israel, there were two crucial “rainy seasons” which contributed to a bountiful harvest and a continued growing season.  Rainfall was critical to collecting water for basic needs.  It filled cisterns and wells from above but it also had an effect on natural water sources raising the water level of rivers, the Sea of Galilee and springs.  Water thus became “labeled”.  The water collected and stored in a cistern for example was called “common”.  But water from a spring or river was considered “living”.  When Jesus walked upon the earth the source of one’s water was very important.  It was taken just as seriously as the advertising claims of modern bottled water companies.  In fact the oral tradition of the rabbis (the Mishnah) even graded water on its religious value!  Most importantly “living water” was considered to be water whose direct source was God Himself unlike the water of a cistern that was transported by human hands.  With all this in mind one can easily see why Jesus’ claim in Jn. 7:37-38 was so shocking to those who’d come to the Temple to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or why His discussion with the woman at the well in Samaria was a bit confusing to her at first (Jn. 4:1-30).  In each instance water is at the center of the event.  The worshippers at the Temple were recognizing God as their source of the life giving entity; the woman focused on the tradition of Jacob establishing a well there for the preservation of future generations.  In each case Jesus claimed He was a better source of water.  Jesus declared He was better because He was both the “living water” and its source.
            I confess that when I go to my water faucet each day and pour its cold and refreshing liquid into my handy-dandy water bottle that I do not think about where that water is coming from.  I don’t thank God for the water table 1500 feet below my house that supplies me with some of the best water I’ve ever had.  And while it is good to thank God for these daily provisions my thoughts this week have made me examine where I’m getting the water for my spiritual nourishment.  Am I tapping into the “Living Water” or drawing it from a cistern produced by someone else’s hands?  One of those sources is going to eventually leave me high and dry so I’m reminded to drink wisely.  How about you?  Does your water source live up to its advertising?
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 meaningful, some not so meaningful.  Some are useful and some more useful than others… which brings me to the subject of scissors- one of the more useful items in my home.  However in the inexperienced hands of a child scissors can be a precarious tool.  I have one beloved doll from my childhood who was victim to a “trim” I gave her.  Thankfully my mother discovered me in the act before I cut off too much hair.  My granddaughter Lucy thought she could be just like Grandma (the other one who was a professional hairdresser at one time, not me) and cut her own hair with the kitchen scissors.  Thankfully real-life hair grows back and Grandma was able to fix it so that Lucy’s haircut didn’t look too strange!
            The Bible has its own scissor story.  I’m sure you know which one I’m referring to!  We are introduced to the story in Judges 13:1-3 with the appearance of “The Angel of the Lord” visiting the “wife of Manoah” a woman who is barren.  The angel brings surprising news.  Mrs. Manoah is about to conceive a son and he will be dedicated to the service of the Lord.  The Bible briefly mentions Samson’s birth and his upbringing (v. 24) and heads right into his adulthood where one would expect then to see a young man seeking after God’s will and leading the people in a righteous manner.  But Samson is anything but that!
            We learn in 13:5 that Samson was to be a “Nazirite” to God.  Nazarites are first mentioned in Num. 6:1-21 as a person who undertook a special vow to be “separated for the Lord”.  During the timeframe of the vow that person was not to cut their hair, touch a dead body, drink any fermented beverages or consume any product from the grapevine.  Most vows of this nature were for a limited time but the angel tells Mrs. Manoah to abstain from these as well because Samson was to be a Nazirite “from birth” (Jud. 13:4).  However it seems that Samson never took his dedication seriously.  We see this in the impulsive and over the top way he lives (Jud. 14:8-14; 15:4-5, 14-16; 16:1-3).  But Samson’s greatest mistake and downfall was his relationship with Delilah (Jud. 16:1-22) which resulted in the world’s most infamous scissor story.
            While Samson’s choices and behavior were highly questionable, Scripture makes it clear that many times his behavior became a catalyst for God’s judgment on the Philistines who were oppressing the Israelites (Jud. 13:4, 6, 19; 15: 14-20; 16:28-31).   God did not condone Samson’s behavior nor tell him to do these actions.  Things like mixed marriage were forbidden (Dt. 7:3) because sooner or later one value system and faith will override the other (Solomon is another great example of this principle- 1Ki. 11:4) and Samson’s first marriage certainly was the beginning of his undoing .  God did not force Samson into his ill-conceived decisions but even though they were not right, God was still able to accomplish His will in spite of the lack of wisdom in Samson.  Thankfully God can work through even our worst mistakes!
            But why compromise?  Why do we insist on following a path we know is wrong when there is a better choice?  One author wrote, “Even with the blessings of God in his life, Samson gave in to his own physical desires.  His life was ultimately ruined because of his insistence upon having whatever he wanted”.  Ironically what Samson wanted was often due to what he SAW at the time (mostly women!) and the first thing the Philistines did to him was gouge out his eyes.  But Samson’s blindness finally got him to see what the Lord wanted for him and in the end he repented and literally gave his life to vindicate God before his pagan captors.  This act earned him recognition as a man of faith in Heb. 11:32 in spite of the reckless life he lived beforehand.  Thankfully when we suffer the consequences of our ill-conceived choices, God can use them to shape and mold us into a better witness for Him (Heb. 12:9-11).
            Jesus warned against succumbing to compromise (Mt. 5:27-30) saying that even if one body part causes even the slightest hint of sin one should destroy it.  Was He really advocating mutilation?  No, of course not, but His use of hyperbole shows us that compromise sneaks up so quietly and stealthly that drastic measures have to be taken to get rid of it and it’s not surprising He uses the two senses which were Samson’s downfall.  If you and I think we are above that, we should think again!   Do we compromise in the area of entertainment?  I think we do.  Do we take care of our needs first and then give what’s left of our time to the Lord?  I think we do.  It’s easy to compromise.  It’s not easy to “clean house” after the effects of that compromise have taken their toll.  So when you’re tempted to compromise this week, ask yourself if you’re about to pick up a pair of scissors for “just a little trim”.
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 sentimental and some surprising.  If you took one glance around my living room you’d probably never expect to find a lava lamp in my home, but I have one!  Lava lamps were invented by Edward Craven Walker, a British accountant, in 1963.  The glass lamps contain a special colored wax mixture floating inside a translucent liquid which is heated from below by an incandescent light bulb.  The heat from the bulb causes the wax to rise, but once away from the heat source it cools and floats back down to the bottom of the lamp.  The bulb then heats the wax again and it floats back to the top.  The process repeats over and over as long as the lamp is on.  When they are off, lava lamps are not much to look at, but when the heat is on you can watch those floating shapes for hours!  Without the heat, the beauty of the lava lamp is unperceivable, but when the heat is on, its beauty is noticeable to all.
            Beauty produced by heat is not exclusive to lava lamps.  Most precious gems are produced by massive amounts of heat below the earth’s surface.  Sand is turned into glass by the heat of a furnace and glass-blowers will heat and reheat it until they’ve created a piece of beauty.  Steel and other forged metals are shaped into decorative items in the same way.  Ceramic glazes look down-right ugly until the fire of a kiln brings out the hidden colors from the minerals and elements that were mixed in order to produce it.  But according to the Bible the most beautiful thing produced by “heat” is our faith. 
            There is a mind-set among some believers that once you accept Christ as your Savior nothing bad will ever happen to you again.  Apparently Peter knew some folks who felt the same way for in 1 Pet. 4:12-14 he admonishes them, “Don’t be surprised when you encounter trials” echoing the very words He heard Jesus say (Mt. 5:10-12).  Not all trials have to be catastrophic or monumental, but we shouldn’t be surprised by them.  According to Jesus they are a natural part of faith-based living.
            But why do they come?  What is their purpose?          James reveals the answer in his letter written to believers scattered across the Roman Empire in Js. 1:2-4.  There are several key words here.  First, the word “testing” (dokimion) refers to a criteria or process that demonstrates whether or not something is genuine.  In NT times it was used of metals that were without alloy.  In a similar fashion, it’s like the folks who “thump” a melon to see whether or not it’s ripe.  The second word is “produces” which is based on the verb “to work” and it carries the idea of something being carried out until a task is complete or finished.  The third word, endurance, can also be translated as perseverance and it is the same word Paul uses in Rom. 5:3-5 to describe the effect of tribulations we encounter while living out our faith.    Both James and Paul state that the “result” (a word that can also mean objective or purpose) of this testing is that our faith reaches its desired goal.  This word combined with “perfect” paints a picture of something which is finished and complete- that is the process has come to an end and the work is done much like a product which has reached the end of the production line in a factory.
            Faith under fire or faith which has encountered various struggles is faith which brings out the beauty of what we believe.  Or perhaps it is better to say WHO we believe.    If we have placed our faith in material possessions our faith will come under fire when they slip away (Mt. 6:19-21).  If we have placed our faith in human institutions or one particular person our faith will come under fire when they fail us.  But when we face a trial as a result of misplaced faith or any other reason and we understand that it is part of the process of refining our faith and bringing out its beauty then our struggles take on a whole new meaning.  It doesn’t mean we will look forward to going through them!  But it does mean we will appreciate their purpose because they will teach us more about Jesus and His suffering (1 Pet. 4:13) and help us to be more like Him (Rom. 8:16-18; 1 Pet. 2:21; 3:13-17).
            Like a lava lamp whose wax remains lifeless until the warmth of the incandescent bulb reaches the right temperature, our faith will remain unnoticeable until a struggle or trial causes us to stretch our faith muscles and rely on no one else but Jesus (Mt. 5:14-16).  But accepting a trial as a “proof-test” of our faith helps us to see that struggles are a thing of beauty and the end result of them brings glory and praise to Jesus (1 Pet. 1:6-8).
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 are meaningful; some not so meaningful.  And some are just part and parcel to the more functional aspects of life.  Such is the state of all those wires and cords running through my home.  They attach smaller necessities such as lamps, small appliances, computers and hair dryers as well as the BIG stuff, like the oven and the washing machine to the source of power running through all those wires in my walls. Without all those wires and cords none of those household items would function unless there was a battery-powered option on them.  But even if the electricity is running and no storm has downed the power lines in our area, unless those wires and cords are plugged into the power source, they’re totally useless!  That thought has reminded me of an image from nature that Jesus used to describe our need to be connected to Him- vines.
            While a tangled mass of cords and wires may not be very pretty (and pose a safety hazard too!), vines, on the other hand, are quite appealing when their tangled branches grace a trellis or the edges of a garden.  Vines are really quite beautiful in my opinion.  The graceful way they curl and twist about their host has such an artistic appeal.  Cultivated vines, like the ones you see in a vineyard, are elegant and picturesque.  But some vines, although visually appealing, rob both nutrients and oxygen from their host until they completely kill it.  Covered with a massive and invasive vine the host appears to be full of life, but in reality, life is long gone.  Good or bad, there is one common element in all vines.  Unless the smaller branches are connected to the main branch, they will not produce fruit.
            In John 15:1-11 Jesus uses imagery from the vineyard and proclaims, “I am the True Vine and My Father is the Vine-dresser” and, “I am the Vine and you are the branches”.   As the “true” vine, Jesus is opposite of that which is false.  Some vines may produce beautiful berries, but if they’re not edible, you’d better not eat them!  As the Vine-dresser, God the Father cultivates the vine by pruning away dead branches when they cease to bear fruit.  As the branches of Jesus’ vine, His disciples are to remain connected to Him.  For some this passage may evoke concern over the permanence of salvation, but it’s very important to keep the principles you draw out of a passage within the context.  The point here is not which branches will stay and which branches will be burned; the point is that fruitless branches are, well…without fruit!  As any vintner knows, branches which don’t produce fruit deplete nutrients and water from the branches that do.  So the branches which are healthy are therefore the ones the farmer wants to invest his time and energy on.  Simply put, Jesus is conveying the idea that we should stay connected to Him because that is the way our lives will be fruitful.  And not only will we be fruitful, we will also bring glory (doe-kah-zo) that is, recognition, honor and praise, to the One who tends our branch.
            Jesus says it is a far greater accomplishment to bring God glory by producing fruit that He is pleased with (Gal. 5:22-23).  It is obvious when you look at a natural vine to see the smaller branches connected to the larger and the larger connected to the root system.  But we are speaking of a spiritual connection when we talk of Jesus as the Vine and we being His branches.  What are the ways we stay connected to Him?  There are three ways that come to mind.  First, we stay connected to Him by communicating with Him in prayer (Mt. 6:5-13; Lk. 18:1-8; 1 Thes. 5:17; Js. 5:13-18).  Secondly, we stay connected to the Vine when we are in His Word (Ps. 119:11-16, 105-106; Col. 3:16-17; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 4:12; 1 Pet. 2:1-2).  And thirdly we stay connected to the Vine when we are connected to His people (Ac. 2:43-47; 1 Cor. 11:33; Eph. 2: 14-21; 5:15-21; Heb. 10:24-25).  Each one of these connections brings nutrients into our faith that help us to grow and mature as Christ wants us to (Lk. 8:11-15; Eph. 4:11-16; Heb. 5:13-14; 6:1) and enables us to produce the kind of fruit He desires.
             Are you connected to the True Vine?  If yes, then you will be producing the kind of fruit which makes others recognize Who is tending to your branch (Mt. 5:14-16 with a slightly different metaphor).  But if you are not connected to The Vine, perhaps it is time to reconnect with Jesus, for by remaining separated from Him, you will not be able to produce the fruit He is looking for (Jn. 15:5).  I don’t know about you, but I do not want to be a vine that has no grapes!  Therefore I’m staying connected to THE Vine.  How about you?
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