Let Me Be Like Aaron and Hur...

In Exodus 17 we read of a wonderful miracle in the account of the battle with the Amalekites. Amalek came to fight against Israel and so Moses said to his trusty sidekick, Joshua,"Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” Joshua was to lead the men in battle, while Moses stood on the hill with his staff held up on high.
"Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed." As it would be, his arms became tired! He became tired! He had to set down. But, alas, the Amalekites began to prevail when Moses was no longer holding up his hands! "But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. ¹³And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword."
Here we have a wonderful lesson of how God's man, while blessed by God and living in obedience to what God had asked of Him, still needed the aid of others to be victorious in this particular battle. I have personally thought of this account recently as my brother Michael has been going through the most difficult time of his life. Michael has lived an exemplary life and has served the Lord faithfully since a child. This has become the fight of his life!
The past two months have brought not only excruciating physical pain and side effects from the chemotherapy to Michael, but also mental anguish, uncertainty and discouragement. The Lord has allowed me as Michael's sister to come along side him and try to be of assistance. I do want to be a vessel that God can use to "lift up his hands" so that he can come through victoriously.
Other people have been used in this capacity as well in amazing ways. The cards, letters, phone calls, Facebook messages, visits, financial gifts, etc. have all been a part of this effort to assist and help him in this most difficult time. There have been numerous people who have helped them move, mowed their yard and provided meals. As Michael's sister, I appreciate those who have come to encourage Michael and "lift up his hands." Thank you so much! Let's join together to be like Aaron and Hur to help Michael and Shawna through this to a victorious finish!

A Woman Who Made a Difference

In 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 23 and chapter 24:1-18, we read of the courage of an amazing women, with an unusual name! Aunt Jehosheba was used along with her husband Jehoida, who was a priest in the temple, to preserve a baby, named Joash. Not only did they preserve his life from his wicked grandmother, but they also preserved a child who would become one of the more righteous kings in Judah. What courage it must have taken to hide this child when all of the other children were slaughtered to satisfy the wicked heart of Athaliah, his grandmother! But, Jehosheba prevailed and a few years later, Joash was crowned king at age seven!
God still uses anyone who is willing to be used of Him. Perhaps, like myself, you are not a mother...this may bring tears and sadness to your heart as it has mine on many occasions. But, we need not feel useless or left out! As an aunt, I have a tremendous opportunity to influence the lives of four precious little people, Luanna, Esther, Juli and Karson! I can choose each day to follow Jesus and be an example to them, or I can choose otherwise. I can choose to conduct myself in their presence with a Christlike spirit or not. I can be available to cheer them on as they grow and to be a listening ear if they so desire. There are many other ways for me to do good to them and many others. My life need not be in vain...
In Proverbs 31, we are reminded that "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." May each of us women focus first and foremost on the beauty that need not fade, that of the beauty of Jesus in our lives...

Rest in the Lord

This evening, I sang a song that Steve Green made popular years ago..."Rest."
"Rest, the Lord is near, refuse to fear, enjoy His love.
Trust, His mighty power fills every hour of all your days...
There is no need for needless worry, with such a Savior,
we have no cause to ever doubt, His perfect Word still reassures
in every trial.
Call Him if you grow frightened...call Him, with loving care,
He'll lift your burden and you'll rest, the Lord is near,
Refuse to fear, enjoy His love."

Oh, if only I could really grasp what this means! All, literally, ALL that I need is found in Jesus, alone! Oh, to rest in Him...freed from reaching for earthly pleasures and things that are passing away...oh, to rest in Him, safe from fear and dread...oh, to rest in Him, like a little child, knowing that all will be well while I'm in my Father's arms...
How often, we run around, searching for what we think we need or want, when all the time, it is found in Him!
"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." (Ps 37:7)