Canaan's Fare

Since I don't seem to be finding much time to write complete blogs, I enjoy sharing quotes from my current studies. Here is another from Kelly Minter's No Other Gods (p. 175):

The Lord will not allow us to be in the desert forever. Manna is only for a season. If you are going through a lean time of wafers on your tongue and burning sand beneath your feet, this too shall pass.

Corressponding Scripture is found in Joshua 5:11-12 (NIV):

The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.

In not leaving us in the desert forever, I must remind myself that God allowed the Israelites to wander in the desert for 40 years! Personally, I get a little impatient with 40 minutes of waiting.... I am thankful for this reminder of God's perfect timing and provision. I KNOW eating Canaan's fare will be worth the wait!!

Love it - Hate it

Control.... I love having it; I hate needing it. I love being in the midst of lacking control because I know God works mightily in these circumstances. I dislike the feeling of discomfort, but the feeling of hopeful expectancy, while I wait on God, is a good place to be, isn't it? I hate to admit it, but I do stupid things in this state of life: I try to control the uncontrollable, and this never works for long. *Sigh*

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, 

and your ways are not my ways.... 

As heaven is higher than earth, 

so My ways are higher than your ways" 

(Isaiah 55:8-9, HCSB).

Might a House be an Idol?

Kelly Minter’s (2007) No Other Gods is challenging me to uncover my idols – my functional idols, people-gods, any kind of idols. My idols are not necessarily out in the open; it is not easy for me to identify my idols, though I know that I have them. During this season of change, a possible idol I am focusing on is our house. I am not certain this is the idol that God is asking me to focus on; I am processing. Because we are in limbo with our housing, it is a natural area of life for me to consider (or maybe even obsess over).

When we moved to Mount Vernon, Ohio seven years ago, I sensed a promise from the Lord. I believe He led us to spend conservatively on our home, and in return, He promised me contentment. I have never felt as comfortable in a house than at 4 N. Edgewood Road. It was not a perfect house, but it represented the fulfillment of God’s promise to me. From there, we moved to a larger home, in a neighborhood with sidewalks, on a cul-de-sac. It was a pretty house, but I never felt the same level of contentment as with the previous house. Now, we are trying to sell the second house….

Selling is coupled with buying in Nampa. When we buy, we have choices. Do we stretch our budget a bit? Do we buy conservatively? Do we buy with the short-term or the long-term in mind? I don’t want to move again for a long, long time!!!

Minter (2007) parallels giving up our idols with Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22: 1-18. She points out that Abraham did not withhold Isaac; Abraham freely offered Isaac. She says, there is a “difference between letting something go and making it an offering” (p. 116). In the Abraham and Isaac passage, God showed up. As a result, He is known as Jehovah-Jireh, or the Lord who provides. “Provision is part of His nature…. God brought huge blessings on Abraham as a result of his obedience” (p. 117).

As I consider Abraham, I am challenged by Minter (2007) to let go of my expectations; to freely offer my idols related to housing in this transition. In considering this, I am comforted by God’s response to Abraham: He provided for Abraham, and He blessed Abraham. I know this to be true from previous personal experiences, but it is still so un-natural for the human part of me. Lord, I believe; help my unbelief….

Another functional idol: People-gods

Truth, with a capital “T,” and idols are polar opposites. I love pondering Truth, and I often fall into idolatry. Idolatry is so much easier than Truth, you know? Kelly Minter (2007) challenges me to consider functional idols (or gods) in my life. These are areas of life that consume me; yet, these areas are not necessarily bad. They are certainly not "big sins" on the worldly sin scale.

I have listed some of my functional gods in previous posts: materialism, perfectionism…. Today Minter (2007) pulled out another dozy: “people-gods.” Oh dear, do we have to go there? Is it necessary?? I love relationships! I love deep, trusting relationships. I LOVE to laugh in relationship. What could be wrong with relationships? How do people become gods?

I remember a significant period in my life when I found great security in friendship, and particularly in having a boyfriend. It was a L-O-N-G time ago, but it is quite fresh in my memory. During that life season, if I was dating, then I felt secure. Similarly, if I held an important position, then I felt secure – particularly if the position signified that I had been chosen. In short, PEOPLE qualified my security level, and I relied on God to fill in the gaps, and/or clean up the messes.

While convenient, addictive, and sometimes fun, people-gods are also a source of insecurity, jealousy, and deep hurt. On the other hand, Godly relationships are a source of maturity, fulfillment, love, provision, and, yes, pain. As Minter (2007) describes, to have both people-gods and Godly relationships is to be double-minded. People-gods are idols, and idols leave less room for God. The ultimate point of life is to know God more fully, and to allow His transformative Truth complete authority within us, so that our lives may reflect His glory, and draw others to Him. In attempting to live double-minded lives, we are diluting His Truth, and His transformative power. The result is a powerless religion that turns people away from God and into themselves.

Hmmm, interesting stuff to ponder....

Freedom is more satisfying than snacks and sweets!

"It's easy to kid ourselves

 and justify our behavior

 when our hearts

aren't really committed to God"

(Minter, 2009, p. 26).

I am using food as an example of life issues with which I wrestle these days. It is not that food is my only life issue, but it is an appropriate one to share in public. Believe me, I have other areas to apply God's work in my life!

Here is another Minter quote that stopped me short:

"When we grasp His love and the truth that obedience is for our freedom, we will change our circumstances to protect our environment to obey" (p. 26).

I can relate this idea to several areas of life right now.... For me to eat healthy, I can not even have one bite of snack food and dessert. For me, one bite shoots me down a road that I have very hard time controlling. I have to keep a distance in order to obey.... Might that appear legalistic to some? Yes. Do I understand myself better than they do? Yes. Do those people have the power to rescue me when I feel gross and my pants don't fit? No.

Freedom is much more satisfying than snacks and sweets!

Minter, K. (2009). Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy. Nashville: Lifeway.

Food & Function, Hmm....

I am going back and forth between my previous Bible study and my current one.... Makes me feel schizophrenic! Today I am reflecting on Ruth: Loss, Love, & Legacy, but also including elements of No Other Gods (both by Kelly Minter). I read the following during Lent 2010:

Obedience to God is often wrought with a slew of obstacles that persuade us to change our minds.... Obedience might mean having to make the same choice several times in a week, month, or year (p. 24, emphasis mine).

Wow! Isn't that the Truth? This hit particularly close to home during Lent because of the tradition in giving something up for the season. Honestly, I have never been really serious about giving things up for Lent. My hesitance comes from my desire to avoid spiritualizing food; however, my heart is changing as I better understand addictions and functional gods.

Food for me is a functional god. I need it to sustain me, and it is inherently a good thing, but I use it to fill needs beyond what is healthy. When I refuse to say, "No." to more than I need, then I am plagued with either guilt, or discomfort. From there, my physical and emotional health is in jeopardy. Satan loves this god within me, darn it!

Ruth's response defines "the art of prolonged obedience" (p. 24) - a great example to follow in the midst of addressing addictions and functional gods. Naomi attempted to persuade Ruth to stay home. Ruth faced a decision involving obedience that necessitated persistence - not an easy place to be in life! God is showing me that food is the functional god to address with Him right now. It is in my face nearly 24/7. It is a typical life issue that requires persistent decisions over time. As I give it God, I am in a great position to mature in terms of obedience. In facing this idol, I am depending on God for guidance and strength more than any other area in my life.

Another functional god of mine, for another blog day, is CONTROL! Yikes!

Functional & False

Question to myself that you might be interested in: Why do I blog?

Answer to myself that you might be interested in: First, writing is my preferred mode of personal processing, and I enjoy leaving a "trail of words" to reflect upon later. Second, there in a some level of fulfillment in sharing my thoughts with others (though it is much more fulfilling to share F2F). And, if God uses my thoughts to assist anyone in pursuing Him, then there is great purpose in my sharing.

Did I tell you how excited I am about my new Bible study??? Today's QT did not disappoint. Kelly Minter's No Other Gods (2007) is touching my core, and I am only through Session 1/Day 1! Today I considered my false gods by defining them as functional.

Functional gods are those areas of life that I pursue in order to fulfill a deep craving. Many functional gods are not inherently evil. For example, I say that I believe God will provide for me, but I spend lots of time providing for myself beyond my actual needs. There is a fine line between wisdom and "over-attachment to something that is, in itself, perfectly good" (p. 15). Working is good and Godly, but working to have more and more stuff may very easily become an addiction. Eating is necessary to live, right? Unhealthy eating may very easily become an addiction that I use to meet a need within me that only God can meet. Money and food are examples of functional gods, and so are comfort, the pursuit of happiness, and the need for love and respect. All of these examples are good - to a point....

As Minter says, "A professed god is who or what we say our god is; a functional god is who or what actually operates as our god" (p. 15).

Good stuff - check our Kelly's Bible studies!

NOG: This is going to be Great!!

My new Bible study came in the mail this weekend It is another one authored by Kelly Minter. The title is No Other Gods: Confronting Our Modern-Day Idols. Minter's personal reflections quickly caught my attention:

"For so much of my life I worshiped God: singing hymns, reading my Bible, confessing my belief in Him. Yet, if you could have witnessed what controlled me, you would have seen that in many cases it was my idols. Not carved images, but people, career paths, materialism, acceptance, and more" (p. 12).

The key scripture for this study is 2 Kings 17:33 and 41 (New International Version):

³³ They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought. 

⁴¹ Even while these people were worshiping the LORD, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.

Oh, this is going to be a great journey!!