Shadow of Death

Sometime last year I bought a book entitled GRACE: an invitation to a way of life. Though I've been told all my life, don't judge a book by it's cover, I did. I bought the book because I liked the title... it so aptly described what grace is about!


Upon further investigation of the inside, I have found it to be just as good as its title. The book is somewhat like a devotional journal with questions mixed with readings that go through Psalm 23. I wanted to share something I was reading from it this week:

What is the "valley of the shadow of death"? In the original Hebrew, the words translated "shadow of death" are all actually just one word... The literal translation is "deep darkness."

It is used to describe the darkness people try to hide in when they cover evil actions (see context in Job 24:13-16 and 34:22), the feeling that accompanies rebellion against God (Psalm 107:10-14 ), and God's judgment (Jeremiah 13:16). It can describe confusion (Job 12:22), sadness (Job 16:16), or physical places like a lonely desert (Jer. 2:6) or a mine shaft (Job 28:3). It can signify the darkest moments of the night (Amos 5:8).

It is certainly no coincidence that the prophet Isaiah used this term when he predicted the coming of Jesus, the One who ultimately dispels spiritual darkness (Is. 9:2). "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned."

It's really amazing to think that this word is used in the Bible to describe the darkest things of life, the times when we feel cut off from God, even when it's the result of our own rebellion--God doesn't leave us alone. Psalms 23: 4 says that even there, in those dark valleys, God is with us! Wonderful, Merciful , Gracious God! And in those valleys we can walk, fearing no evil, because He is there.

Shades of Autumn

a broken picture...

We often think that when OUR picture of God breaks, then that means God is broken. But...

Until our picture of God is broken and we chose not to put it back together ourselves, to let it break...only then can we truly be humble, and let Him put it back together for us, in a way far more beautiful and amazing than we'd ever imagined.

When we think that we can hold God in our hand (and say I have Him all figured out), then He can't really hold us in His hand.

~byproducts of a conversation with Emily last Sabbath : )

The Same Peach

I had yet another enlightening conversation with a two-year old the other day:

Seth wasn't happy about the peach on his plate...It took me a minute to fiqure out what the problem was.

"You want Anaya's peach?"

"Yets."

"But I divided up the same peach!--it's on both of your plates..." I said in desperation.

God reminded me: Saralyn, don't you do that to me too sometimes...wishing for someone else's blessings...when my grace is the same for everyone. My Son has paid the price for all...He's the "same peach." Why do you want something else when I've already given you everything you need?

Tickling God?

The other day, Anaya, my 4-year-old friend, and I were talking about heaven...how wonderful it would be and what we were looking forward to about it.

"I'm going to tickle Jesus!" She excitedly told me. I laughed. Then smiled. Why anyone would enjoy such a thing is beyond my comprehension since I've always considered it to be merciless torture. Perhaps "tickling Jesus" would sound sounds sacrilegious to some. But context can make all the difference. To her, tickling is a wonderful thing, one of the greatest joys, and purest delights--why wouldn't Jesus want to be tickled too?!

I'm so glad that God knows our hearts. We've been told that Jesus knows everything we go through, everything we feel. His heart cries when we cry. He rejoices when we rejoice. So surely, He would understand a little child's gift of one of her favorite things.

After a brief pause, I said, "I'm sure Jesus would love to have you tickle him..." In my mind I pictured Jesus smiling and laughing with her, enjoyed her excitement. "You know, there's lots of ways we can tickle God?" I began..."there's lots of things we can do that make Him happy just like tickling makes you happy." I think I began to lose her attention here, but it got me thinking.

What do you do that tickles God's heart?