I’m not sure what you have on your kitchen countertops but there is one item on mine that has been there for a long time- my honey pot.  I bought it and its matching syrup pitcher at a craft fair early in our marriage.  I’d never really given much thought about honey for many years and assumed it was basically all the same.  But as I’ve gotten more in touch with a healthier lifestyle and the medicinal benefits of honey, I’ve learned that there are as many different kinds of honey as there are flowers from which the bees can make it! 
            The land of Israel has a "nickname" which is derived from Exodus 3:8.  It is called "The Land of Milk and Honey".  We often associate the phrase milk and honey with the things that are familiar to us.  We hear the word milk and think of cows.  We hear the word honey and think of the sweet bounty of bees.  But if you were to travel about Israel in the days when God spoke these words to the people of Israel (Dt. 11:8-9; 26: 9, 15), you would have a hard time finding cow farms and bee keepers.  Goats were (and in many cases still are) the primary source of milk in Israel and the word most of our translations call honey was a sweet jam-like liquid made from dates.  These two words poetically describe the two general environments in Israel.  The Land of Milk describes the way of life in the southern and eastern regions, and the Land of Honey describes the way of life in the north and west. 
            There are three main characteristics of the Land of Milk: shepherds with herds, wide open spaces with plenty of room for them to roam, and desert areas such as the Negev (Gen. 13:1), the Wilderness of Paran (Num. 12:16), and the Wilderness of Zin (Num. 27:12-14).  There are three main characteristics of the Land of Honey as well:  farmers, less or no space to roam, and mountains with lots of water.  Life in the Land of Milk is unpredictable because of its low rainfall and sparse population.  It is a silent and lonely place.  Life there is demanding but with the right know-how one can survive.  It drives home the need for community.  Life in the Land of Honey though is quite different.  The seasons and life-cycles are predictable.  Because there are many villages and cities in this area, it is noisy and congested.  Life here is manageable, busy and the community is at the center of it all.
            When you are reading Bible stories, it is always a good idea to keep in mind whether the story takes place in the Land of Milk or the Land of Honey.  Putting these stories within their regional context helps to drive home their meaning.  When you read about the Red Sea, wadis and cisterns (Gen. 37:18-24), Abraham, Isaac, Jacob or Moses and Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:1-2), think about the Land of Milk.  Relationships are critical here since the environment can be so severe, so relationships are usually a central factor in these stories.  When you read about The Sea of Galilee (Mt. 4:18), mountains, terrace gardens (Lk. 8:5), the prophets and Jesus, or Mount Zion (1 Ki. 8:1), think of the Land of Honey.  The busy way of life here can be stressful and distracting.  Many of the “honey” stories have to do with value, priorities and maintaining a steadfast faith.  Even though it is a modern country in every sense of the word, the land of the Israel brings the ancient world of the Bible to life.  It is still possible to see all the attributes of the Land of Milk and Honey in action today.  Bedouin still roam with their herds across the Negev in the Land of Milk.  The Land of Honey is still bustling in the cities of Tiberias, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem.
            “But Ann”, you may ask, “Is the land and its regions anything more than just a nice geography lesson?”  Yes!  The land is also a great metaphor for life.  We have days when our life feels as sparse and severe as the Land of Milk.  We have days when our life is as busy and productive as the Land of Honey.  Both attributes of the land were promised to the people of Israel and both attributes are to be found in life.  God is active in both of them and provides in every situation.  Though it is a harsh environment, the Land of Milk is successfully navigated by shepherds.  This aspect reminds us that the Lord is the Good Shepherd who guides us through our Land of Milk times (Ps. 23; Jn. 7:12; 10:14).  Though busy, the Land of Honey is well-watered and gardens are abundant there.  It teaches us that the Lord is our Gardener who manages the branches of His vine- that’s us! (Jn. 15:1-5) and determines if the fruit we are bearing is good (Lk. 6:43-45).  It is good for us to remember that God promised His people a land that included both of these environments so both will be a part of life and we will experience God working in both of them.  Which one do you find yourself in today?   Where do you see God at work?
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

     When my grandmother passed away there were many things from her home that I “inherited” mostly due to the fact that we were renting a home at the time and could use some of the less valuable items- like curtains.  Gramma had many windows draped with “sheers”- a soft flowing curtain made of fabric that let the light pass through into the home but obstructed a full view from outside.  I used some of them but many remained in a box until a friend of mine needed some sprucing up in her kitchen and Gramma’s curtains were just the style she wanted to hang there.  Unlike Gramma’sheers, the veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies obscured the view of those ministering in the Holy Place.  They knew behind that curtain, the light of God’s glory rested on the Ark of the Covenant, but they could not see it.
            The Veil (Ex. 26:31-35; 36: 35-38) acted as a barrier between God and man.  In Hebrew the word is paroketh and it means “to separate”.  Simply put, the veil shut God in and kept man out.  There was only one day when the two could come together (Yom Kippur), and then, only one man (the High Priest), was allowed to enter.  Skillfully woven, the veil hung from gold hooks supported by four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold, and resting in silver bases.  Figures of cherubim (angelic beings of the highest order) were woven into the veil.   They symbolized God’s protective presence over the Holy of Holies.  According to the Talmud (a written collection of Jewish tradition, history, and interpretations of the Torah) the veil was 60' long and 30' wide, 4-6" thick (that’s THICK!!!).  It was made of 72 square yards of wool sewn together.  According to Jewish tradition, it took 300 men to hang it.
            The veil signifies several great spiritual truths.  First and foremost it reminds us that sin once separated us from God, but Christ, as our High Priest, has brought us back into fellowship with God (Heb. 9:1-14).  Secondly, it represents the fact that Jesus’ glory was also veiled when He took on flesh (Jn. 1:14; Phil. 2:5-8) and was only briefly visible during His earthly ministry (Mt. 17:1-8).  Third, it reminds us that we did not have any access to God before the finished work of Christ on the cross.  Mt. 27:45-53 records that the veil was torn from the top to the bottom at the time of Jesus’ death.  Considering that the veil was 6" thick, 60' by 30' in size, and that it took a large amount of men to hang it, it was obvious no one could tear it in this manner.
            Lastly, there is still a veil between ourselves and God, but it is not the veil of sin that separates us.  It is the limitations of our earthly bodies that will be removed when we are reunited with our Creator and we shall be fully like Him (1 Cor. 13:9-12).  At that time we will enter the presence of God without fear, unlike the High Priest who entered the Holy of Holies once a year to offer atonement for the nation of Israel (Lev. 16:1-34).  History tells us that this became such a moment of fear among the priesthood that by Jesus’ day a long cord was tied around the priest’s ankle, just in case he entered inappropriately and was struck dead.  The cord would allow the priest’s body to be pulled out so that no one else would die!  But now because we are in Christ, we can draw near to God in confidence (Heb. 4: 14-16, 7:23-25).
            I often imagine what it might have been like to pass through that massive curtain and set foot inside the Holy of Holies; to see the Ark of the Covenant with the cherubim gazing down upon its cover with their wings spread out overhead.  It must have been both awesome and overwhelming to be in the presence of God’s glory.  It has been said that the angels stared down upon the Mercy Seat (the name for the top of the Ark) in wonder for they do not have the experience of salvation as we do.  And then I realize that for me the greater wonder is that I can pass through the curtain into God’s presence any time I desire and I don’t have to be a priest to do it.  The curtain has been parted for me through the atoning work of Christ.  The blood of sacrifice that was sprinkled on the Ark by priests in the past has been surpassed by the blood of Christ.  The sins represented by that fabricated division have been paid for by Him- ALL of them.  Even more so is the fact that the Lord no longer dwells in a building such as the Tabernacle or the Temple, but instead has taken up residence in me by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19; Eph. 1:13; 2 Tim. 1:14)!  Curtains may have both a decorative and functional purpose in my home, but now they are a reminder of a great spiritual truth: the veil is torn, the curtain is parted and I am welcome to enter the presence of God (Heb. 10:19-23).
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

            It is one of the more unusual items on my bookshelf.  It’s twisted but smooth on the outside and bears a bright gold sticker that says, “Made in Israel” (although that’s not where I bought it).  Its streaked pattern covers the polished surface in brown, tan and creamy white.  I have used it many times when teaching and one of my more talented students was actually able to produce sound with it even though I never could.  You are probably thinking, “Well, what is it?”  It is a shofar.  And now you are probably saying, “And what is a shofar?!”  A shofar is a ram’s horn which has been boiled until the cartilage can be removed.  A hole is then drilled in the end to form a mouthpiece by cutting off the tip.  Shofars vary in length and size (the largest almost 3 feet in length).  In Biblical times the smaller ones were used in battle and the larger, longer ones were used at the Tabernacle and Temple when the people of Israel were gathered to worship the Lord.  Though an unusual item to be found in a home, my shofar has become a great reminder of God’s faithfulness to me.
            Most often translated as the word “trumpet” in our English translations the shofar plays an important role in several well-known Bible stories.  Perhaps the most well-known of these is Joshua’s epic march around the walls of Jericho (Jos. 6:1-27) but the shofar also factored into a decisive victory by Gideon as well (Jud. 7:15-25).  And although the word trumpet brings to mind a shiny metal instrument with valves and tubing on its top and sides, the horn of a ram is generally what is being spoken of when mentioned throughout the Psalms (47:5; 81:3; 98:6; 150:3) and in several New Testament passages too (1 Cor. 15: 25, 50-52; 1 Thes. 4:13-18; Rev. 8:1-6).  Most importantly the shofar takes center stage in one of Israel’s festival days but you would never know that since it was renamed during the Exile.  That festival is listed in Lev. 23:23-25 and Num. 29:1-6 as “a day for blowing trumpets” (Yom Teruah) but is now known as Rosh HaShannah.  The latter name means “the head or beginning of the year” but it’s clear from the layout of Lev. 23 that Passover holds that chronological distinction.  The name switch was an easy solution for the exiles to continue following the festival calendar without drawing attention to themselves since their Babylonian and Persian neighbors were holding their New Year celebrations at the same time.  After the Exile the new name for this holy day stuck and it has remained in place ever since.
            The celebration of trumpets in Biblical times was commanded to be “a holy convocation”, a day of rest from work, and a time for offering sacrifices.  Modern day observances are somewhat similar- no work, no school and a gathering of local congregations to hear the sounding of the shofar and to hear the stories of Abraham and Isaac (a ram whose horns were caught in a thicket spared the sacrifice of Isaac on an altar- Gen. 22:1-19), Joshua and Gideon.  The theme of each story reflects the way God has provided for His people and is a reminder that He will continue to provide in the year to come.  In Orthodox synagogues the shofar is sounded 100 times, while Reformed congregations sound 30 blasts.  Apples dipped in honey are also a tasty addition to the celebration symbolizing the wish for a “good and sweet New Year”.  The shofar blasts also announce a 10 day period of repentance which culminates on the next festival day, Yom Kippur.
            Bruce Scott wrote in regards to some of the modern observances, “There is no reason given in Scripture for blowing the trumpets other than as a “memorial” or reminder (Lev. 23:24).  But who needs to be reminded and of what?  Jewish tradition views blowing the shofar as more of a reminder to Israel than to God”.   In that way, the blowing of the shofar is like the ringing of an alarm clock.  Awake!  Reflect!  Be ready!  Of course we ALWAYS remember how faithful God is, don’t we?  No, we do not!  Devout Jews are not the only ones who need to be reminded of what God has done for them.  It is beneficial for us to do the same!  Just think about this: He is the God who destroyed a fortified city with seven shofars.  He is the God who routed an army of 10,000 soldiers with an army of 300 men using only torches and shofars.  He is the God who provided a ram caught in a thicket just when Abraham was about to make the ultimate sacrifice.  Is there anything that is impossible for Him (Lk. 1:37)?  That ram is a reminder that He also reconciled His wayward creation with another sacrifice of far greater value (Jn. 3:16-17).  Your own personal stories include times when God has faithfully been by your side.  Do you have “shofars” on your shelves that remind you of that?  I hope you do!
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 valuable, some not so valuable, but the valuable things have been itemized and placed on our insurance policy.  The paper on which the policy is written is not valuable but it designates the things which are.  Some of those things have even greater value than their monetary worth because they have been handed down through our family.  Hopefully we will never need the money from our insurance to replace them because, truth be told, they are irreplaceable as far as our family is concerned.  Some people place a great deal of value on the “stuff” that they own.  I came across a sad confession some years ago as I read through the postings of my friends on Facebook.  A young father wrote of his feelings of failure in this life.  I sensed that they were due to that measuring stick we call "The American Dream".   A man is supposed to find himself a good job that pays well and allows him to acquire all the material pleasures of the good life- a home, a car, and of course, a big screen TV.  It is a common way of assigning worth these days.  People are valuable if they own things of value. 
            What things are considered valuable today?  The most valuable athlete in the world is Floyd Mayweather who recently took home $275 million in a boxing match against Conor McGregor.  The most valuable home, dubbed “The One”, is a mansion in the posh Bel Air hills overlooking L. A. and is selling for $500 million upon its completion.  It boasts 20 bedrooms, 5 elevators, 7 pools, a private night club with its own VIP lounge whose walls and ceiling are made of jellyfish aquariums, and a full-scale in-house beauty salon.   The most valuable gem, a red diamond (there are less than 30 in the entire world), sold in 2011 for $8 million.  The most valuable car is a 1963 Ferrari GTO, one of only 36 made, which sold for $70 million dollars to a private collector this past June.  I often wonder how the astronomical monetary value of the items on this list were established.  How can a boxing match be worth $275 million or a house $500 million?  I don’t see how an event, a house, a gem or a car could be worth THAT much!
            The psalmist warns us in Psalm 49 (vv. 16-20) to remember that wealth accumulated on this earth cannot be taken with us when we die.  Our sense of value and accomplishment must be taken from a different set of criteria than that of the world.  Oddly enough, the story of Cinderella illustrates what the Bible teaches.  Cinderella's father had married a proud and haughty woman, who relegated Cinderella to servitude after he died.  The "wicked" stepmother repeatedly told Cinderella that she was "common" and of little value but when the prince enters the story all that changes.  The extent of the prince's love for Cinderella compels him to search the kingdom high and low until he finds her.  His persistent love demonstrates her value and he goes to great lengths to be reunited with her.  Jesus told a parable about the same kind of love in Luke 15 (vv.3-7).  A shepherd with a large flock has lost one of his sheep.  Rather than leave it in the wilderness to succumb to the elements, the shepherd searches out the lost sheep and brings the little wanderer back to the fold.   This is a picture of God's love.  He has gone to great lengths in expressing His love for us and demonstrating our value to Him (see Phil. 2:5-8). 
            The greatest pitfall to emphasizing the monetary value of things (or people) is that it truly distracts us from what really matters in life.  Jesus challenged His followers to consider two examples from the world around us- the flowers of the field and the birds in the air (Mt. 6:25-29).  While each needs the basic necessities of food and shelter, neither stresses over those needs the way we do.  Jesus reminds us that God sees to the needs of His creation, and therefore He sees to ours as well.  Instead of striving to achieve value in society’s eyes, it is more important to strive for those things God values (Mt. 6:30-33).  In light of His love for us and the extent to which He expressed it, our perspective on earthly value should be drastically changed.  The author of Ecclesiastes understood that labor and the things we gain from it are only valuable if we keep our focus on the Lord (Ecc. 3:9-13) and Jesus also stressed that if we lose sight of our spiritual goals because of our need for profit and value, we lose something far greater (Mk. 8:36).
            In times of economic uncertainty it becomes easy to fall prey to calculating our value in terms of our earthly possessions and accomplishments as my friend on Facebook did.  Maybe you have been having similar feelings.  When those doubts come up, remember, God so loved you, that He sent His Son to save you (Jn. 3:16-17).   The world and its value system may lead you to believe that you are common.  That is not true!  The Prince has traveled throughout the kingdom to find you.  The Shepherd has searched the wilderness to bring you home.  There is no greater value than that.
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…it’s also full of necessary things, such as bread.  A loaf of freshly baked bread brings up a lot of good memories for me.  While some young couples go to the movies, eat dinner out, or spend a date dancing the night away, Jeff and I usually went on walks with field guides in hand to identify wildflowers and birds or hung out at my house and baked bread.  Most of the time we made the traditional whole wheat or white bread but sometimes we’d experiment and make potato bread or molasses bread.  We always made two loaves:  one for us to enjoy as a reward for our labor and one for my family.  Needless to say, not much of our loaf made it to the next day!  After smelling that delicious bread baking in the oven our taste buds couldn’t wait to enjoy whatever kind we’d mixed up. 
            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 has always fascinated me 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 picture God's kingdom- a lump of yeast!  It is a picture from everyday life, but this time, it has a twist.  Scripture almost always uses yeast as a negative image.  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 is placed into a ball of dough, the Gospel has been placed into the world.  It has been deliberately placed there by God.  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.  Yeast does at least four things:  1) it makes bread soft, no longer hard.  The Gospel does the same.  It penetrates hearts and softens the hardness of life.  As a result we become softened toward God too (Col. 1:21-23).  We become a more caring and giving person.  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 (1 Thes. 2:7-9).  The Gospel moistens our hearts so that we can grow into a moist or fruitful person (Col. 1:3-6).  3)  Yeast makes bread satisfying.  The Gospel changes a life with no purpose or meaning and gives a person purpose, joy and hope (Eph. 1:13-14; 1 Pet. 4:6).  4)  Yeast makes bread nourishing.  The Gospel not only gives purpose, but it inspires, commissions, and cultivates (Mt. 28:19-20; Rom. 7:4; Eph. 2:10).  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 (Eph. 4:25).
            It should be noted that yeast works quietly and silently.  You don't hear it fizzing or crackling like 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 (Lk. 13:18-19; 1 Cor. 10:31).
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… but it’s also got some larger more significant things too!  One of those items is my camera which can generally be found near the sliding doors which look out into our backyard.  I like having it handy there because you never know what’s going to wander in for viewing.  This past week we had a bear visit the bird feeder!  But I photograph more than animals.  In fact, when we’ve had a lot of rain, we get some pretty interesting mushrooms popping up all over the yard and they’re fun to photograph too.  In 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 in a creative and unique way.  The idea 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 do this.  All you need is eyes to see and my camera has certainly developed my ability to do that.
            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".  Seeing God in your everyday routine is much like developing the eyes to see a photograph each day.  I read about one young mom who used the walk to the school bus with her children as a way to see God at work in the world around them.  They looked at the birds and saw God's creativity.  They said hello and smiled at people they knew and saw His love.  What a wonderful way to inspire children to recognize that God is with His creation!  This woman is instilling a wonderful habit in her children- spiritual eyesight.
            Developing your spiritual eyes is a must on the walk of Christian maturity.   The author of Hebrews proclaimed spiritual eyesight to be the tell-tale sign that one has faith (Heb. 11:1-6 and following).  It's a challenge to see life through a spiritual lens, because as adults, we've been conditioned to be concrete and practical.  But 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.
            The Scriptures are full of people like you and me who experienced God-sightings.  Sometimes they we glorious (Ex. 33:18-23; Is. 6:1-4; Mt. 17:1-8; Acts 7:54-56).  Sometimes “seeing” was the result of determined individuals who were seeking Truth (Lk. 19:1-10; Jn. 12:20-23) or healing (Mk. 10:46-52; 2:1-12).  And on other occasions it was an invitation from someone who had “seen” (Jn. 1: 40-41, 44-46; 4:29).  Some people saw but did not understand what they were seeing at first (Dan. 3:24-28) while others knew right away that what they were seeing was the Lord Himself (Rev. 1:9-18).  While we may not physically see the Lord (Father or Son) as they did, we have the Indwelling Spirit who enables us to see Him at work in everything He has created (1 Cor. 2:10-13).
            Hebrews 11 has often been called the “Heroes of the Faith” chapter.  But I would contend it is not only a record of some amazing people in amazing circumstances who demonstrated and amazing faith.  Many of them had quite a few not-so-amazing moments.  Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and Moses all had major failures in their journey of faith.  But in spite of these disasters, they still had the ability to see beyond their immediate circumstances and believed that ultimately God would be faithful to keep His promises (Heb. 11:13).  Their faith was evidence of their spiritual eyesight.  They could see ahead to what God was going to accomplish through them even though they could enjoy the end result in the present time.  They were convinced God’s blessings were for more than just themselves (Heb. 11:39-40).
            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?  In a moment of inspiration I began a game of "I Spy".  Cloe loved finding the different colors and objects and I was amazed at her powers of observation!  The same is true in seeing God.  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 or that we will even see immediate gratification at “seeing” Him in our circumstances.  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 o see (Ps. 66:5).
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            My house is full of little things.  Some are meaningful; some not so meaningful.  Some are useful, but some are losing their usefulness.  That would be true of the drawer full of maps I’ve collected from different travels over the years.  Some of those maps were specifically designed by AAA to get me to and from places I was going to visit (They called them Triptiks).  Some maps are in atlases which were up-to-date when I purchased them but are totally out-dated now.  One of these days, I’ll remember to clear out that drawer but today, its contents are reminding me of another “little” thing I have in my house.
            There is a picture hanging above my desk that I found in an issue of Life magazine back in the 1970’s.  It depicts a hapless couple in a sporty convertible stopped at a T intersection.  Spread across their dashboard is a map and the driver appears to be scratching his head.  Why?  Because across from them is a literal wall of signs indicating roads and highways, destinations and traffic instructions; but apparently they do not match the map.  Since this picture was taken long before the advent of Photoshop or digital cameras, I have every reason to believe this intersection existed at some time (although I’m sure it’s been improved by now!).  Even though I’m not sure exactly where it is/was, I’ve had many people tell me it could be somewhere on Long Island.  It doesn’t matter to me what the exact location was, it’s the caption on top that grabs my attention: “Life just isn’t that simple anymore.”
            Life certainly can seem like an intersection with too many signs and a map that doesn’t match.  You set out to travel along a road, feeling like you’re following the GPS directions without a hitch, when suddenly the journey comes to a screeching halt and you have no clue where you are!  Wouldn’t it be nice to always know where you are and where you must go?
            Real life Triptiks, GPS and Mapquest can be faulty and laden with mistakes.  They are only as good as the human hands that typed them into the computer or satellite system.  The best directions you can get, of course, are given those by someone who has been “there” (that is wherever you are going).  Jeff and I still get a chuckle over the time his brother was coming to visit us.  We’d warned him that GPS systems did not work well in the Poconos, but he insisted on using it rather than the directions I’d given him.  About 30 minutes after his expected arrival time we received a phone call from him stating the GPS had brought him to an entirely different location.  “Why did you use that when we told you it wouldn’t work?” Jeff asked.  Followers of Christ do not have to worry about faulty directions.  The writer of Hebrews put it this way, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  (Heb. 4:14-16)
            Life throws us a lot of roads to navigate.  However we have several “tools” at our disposal to use as a navigation system.  First we have God’s Word and God Himself (Ps. 119:105; Pr. 3:1-6).  We also have the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:25-26).  We have other believers who set an example for us (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thes. 3:6-9).  But most importantly, as the author of Hebrews noted, we have Jesus.  He has been where we are and He knows where we should be going.  Just as He called His disciples, He calls us to follow Him too (Mt. 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; Mk. 1:7; 2:14; Lk. 5:27; Jn. 1:43; Rev. 3:20) so that we can arrive at our destination.  The cost of discipleship (that is following Jesus) may appear to be difficult or demanding (Jn. 18:22; Phil. 3:7-8), but the destination and rewards are far greater (Jn. 1:50; 14: 1-6, 11-12; Rev. 3:21).
            As disciples of Jesus, we do not have to wander aimlessly on the road of life or end up at a T intersection with no clue as to which way we should turn.  We can look to Jesus for direction and guidance.  He can show us the way to go, because He Himself has been where we are and He knows which path to take.  Unlike those human resources we use for our daily travels, His information and guidance is perfect.  When you come upon an intersection in your life that makes you feel like the poor folks in that old picture, remember Jesus is waiting for you to turn to Him.  He will give you the right directions to your destination (1 Thes. 5:9-10) and make you more than ready for the road ahead (Phil. 3:12-14; Heb. 12:1-2).
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 was on a mission.  I was in a toy store in Boston searching for a souvenir to bring home for my granddaughter.  There was a colorful array of stuffed animals, games and assorted toys and gadgets to delight any child of any age.  My eyes landed on a display bin full of bath tub toys.  There were little yellow ducks, green frogs, blue sharks and a little pink pig with a tube around her tummy.  I found some glitter stickers for Leigh, but I kept looking back at the little pink pig.  I finally went over, plucked her out of the display and bought her- not for Leigh, but for me!  In my mind I could see she’d be fun to photograph and that proved to be true.  She has appeared in countless photographs as part of my on-line photo club and since her purchase, has been joined by several other companions.  My photo friends always look forward to seeing what “Piggy and the Critters” are up to.  Some have even contributed to my “collection”!  And I confess, I do enjoy the excuse to play with toys once in a while!  Finding a playful outlet for oneself can be a good thing, even as an adult, but when adults behave more like children and are obsessed with playing more than taking on adult responsibilities, it’s a sign of immaturity- and that’s NOT a good thing!
            All living things are meant to grow and mature, especially people.  For example, the Book of Proverbs is full of admonitions and instructions on how to raise children (Prov. 22:6) and what a mature person should act like (Prov. 11: 19, 25, 27).  This is true in our walk of faith as well.  The Apostle Paul was perhaps one of the most passionate people to see faith come to maturity and there was no church he was more interested in seeing this take place in than the church at Corinth.  Corinth was a virtual playpen of earthly delights.  Its prosperity afforded the residents the resources and leisure time to take advantage of that too.  In 1 Cor. 3:1-3 Paul lets the church know he is disappointed to still be feeding them “milk”.  Their obvious favoritism, immoral behavior and over-emphasis on certain spiritual gifts has revealed their level of immaturity.  In writing to the Corinthians, Paul used the adult/child analogy to explain what Christian maturity looked like.  He commands them to “not be children in their thinking” but to be “mature” (1 Cor. 14:20).  This word, teleios is an adjective based on the noun which means goal or purpose and  in this passage it basically means “something that is finished, come to an end, reached its goal or finished its term”, in other words, meaning something that is complete.  In 1 Cor. 14:20 it specifically means a person who has reached adulthood and is full-grown in mind and in knowledge of the truth (see also 1 Cor. 2:6; Phil. 3:15; Heb. 5:14) and in Christian faith and virtue (Eph. 4:13) set over against those who are “babes in Christ” (1 Cor. 2:6; Heb. 5:14).
            Some would argue that maturity is a relative rather than absolute concept in the New Testament.  Perhaps this is because maturity is something that occurs in stages (just like a child who first crawls, then stands and holds on to the edge of a couch, and finally lets go and takes a few steps) and it will appear to be slightly different from person to person.  Or it could be that no individual will actually achieve sinless perfection in this life (1 Jn. 1:8-10).  But there are some characteristics that even though they will vary in appearance from individual to individual, will identify the mature/maturing Christian to someone who is not.  Lawrence Richards wrote, “The mature Christian is one who by obedience to God has trained him/herself to distinguish good from evil (Heb. 5:14), presses on toward the goal of knowing Christ and becoming more like Him (Phil. 3:10-15), and makes a full commitment to do the will of God (Col. 4:22)”.  Simply put like the child who says, “I want to be like _____ when I grow up!”, believers pursuing maturity say, “I want to be like Jesus when I grow up!”. 
            But it’s not just the Corinthians who need to be reminded that faith is not a stagnant thing; it is meant to grow and flourish.  One look at the church at large today and you can easily see we face the same maturity issues they did.  Indulging in disputes (I’m with Paul!  Well, I’m with Apollos!  1 Cor. 3:4) and other un-Christlike behavior, such as the immoral relationship described in 1 Cor. 5 demonstrated the Corinthians were infants in Christ.  Paul commanded that they put their childish behavior behind them (1 Cor. 13:11) and practice a higher love to build one another up (1 Cor. 13:7).  Why should that be any different for us?  Maturity is possible for all believers, but it is not a given (compare Heb. 5:11-6:1).  To grow Christians must be involved in the church (Eph. 4:12-13), persevere in their faith despite trials (Jas. 1:4), and apply Scripture obediently to daily life (Col. 1:9-11; Heb. 5:14).  An active prayer life, regularly giving to God’s work, and serving others in the body of Christ are also signs of a mature/maturing Christian.  So now it’s up to you.  When you grow up, who do you want to be like (1 Cor. 13:11-12)?
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

            You’ve probably got this phrase memorized by now, “my house is full of little things”… but instead of the useful and meaningful contrasts this week, I’ll start by saying that some of those little things would be considered “unusual”.  Take for instance the smooth, round stone that sits on one of my bookshelves.  It’s rather non-descript except for the fact that it’s very smooth and fits nicely in the palm of your hand.  While unusual, it is significant because it came home with me after my second trip to Israel.  I picked it up in the same location where David would have searched for the stones to use in his slingshot before he met the giant Goliath on the battlefield.  According to the professor who was guiding us on this particular tour, David’s stone would have been roughly the size of a baseball. 
            We don’t really think of a sling shot as being a life-threatening weapon because the picture we have of them comes from TV shows like Dennis the Menace and Mayberry RFD.  The toy versions were just that- toys.  But the kind of sling shot David would have used to protect his father’s sheep and those used by ancient armies were much more lethal.  In fact, before spears, swords and daggers became a part of ancient warfare, a man who was adept with a sling shot was the most prized soldier.  It took two years of training to become a skilled “slinger” and even now, those who use them are quite impressive.  Stones hurled from slingshots have been clocked at speeds equivalent to a pitch thrown in a major league baseball game, up to 90 mph!
            But why keep a stone which appears to be more of a souvenir than a tool of destruction on my bookshelf?  It’s not just a nice piece of memorabilia for show and tell.  It’s what it reminds me of.  We are all familiar with the story (1 Sam. 17:1-54).  King Saul and his soldiers are camped near the Philistine city of Azekah.  The Philistine army is camped across from them.  The battle is at a stand-still.  The Philistines have put forth a challenge.  Their champion warrior, Goliath of Gath (another Philistine stronghold) will battle against a soldier from the Israelite army- winner take all.  Goliath is a monstrous height and has a pompous attitude to match it.  He stands at the edge of his camp every day and taunts the Israelites waiting for a man to meet him on the battlefield.  King Saul, who was noted to be an excellent warrior in his own right (1 Sam. 11:1-14) and tall compared to his fellow countrymen (1 Sam. 10:23) should have been the one to answer this challenge, but he is reluctant to fight.  This is nothing new for Saul.  He is often found hiding (1 Sam. 10: 20-22)!  David arrives on the scene with supplies for his brothers who are serving in the army and is incensed that this arrogant Philistine has been allowed to literally thumb his nose at the Lord (1 Sam. 17:26) day after day.  What follows is rather comical as Saul tries to offer the conventional armor of the day to assist David when David volunteers to take on Goliath (1 Sam. 17:32, 38).  The armor was too cumbersome for David.  He was used to and skilled with a sling shot.  So, the armor is shed, his sling shot is taken in hand and five stones are collected and placed in his pouch.  But only one was needed to do the job (1 Sam. 17:49).
            David’s “battle” against Goliath is not the only epic battle in the Bible.  Perhaps the most epic battle occurred on a lonely, barren mountaintop just outside of the New Testament city of Jericho.  Only that battle was not fought with weapons.  Jesus has been fasting in solitude for 40 days and now at the conclusion of this time, Satan approaches with 3 “offers” but each time Jesus declines citing Scripture (Mt. 4: 1-11).  Why?  Satan has offered food, fame, and power.  Who wouldn’t want those?  But Jesus knows full-well that Satan’s offers are lies and the best way to battle a lie, as tempting as it may be, is with the Truth.  You and I are faced with battles every day.  We may not be fighting the same battles, but no matter what kind of battle we face, our weaponry is as effective as a stone in a sling shot, if we use it.
            Justain, our group leader, stood before us one evening during Bible study and said, “I was reading in Ephesians today and it reminded me of this”.  He proceeded to put on his helmet and vest from his days in the army.  His (disabled) rifle leaned up against the fireplace.  His gear was an illustration of Paul’s words.  We are not left unequipped for the battles we face (1 Cor. 10:13).  Like Jesus, we have powerful weapons at our disposal, the most potent being God’s Word (Eph. 6:10-17).  When the battles you face present you with lies you are tempted to believe, use God’s Word to combat them.  You will be amazed at what happens when you do (Jas. 4:7).
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