Monday, February 26, 2018

What God can use



This year, I've been doing an online Bible study of 1 and 2 Kings offered by Proverbs 31 ministries. 

The lesson on 2 Kings 4 was particularly powerful to me and continues to resonate. 

It includes accounts of Elisha and two very different women. One was a widow who didn't know how she would feed her children when a debt came due after her husband died. The other woman was married and financially secure, but she was childless. Both women come to Elisha with needs. In each case, he asks what they have. One woman had a small jar of olive oil.  The other woman had faith. In each case, the woman had to follow Elisha's instructions to bring what she had and offer it to God. And God used that offering to supply the need. 

I know there are similar stories of faith and obedience throughout the Bible. But for some reason, these two examples involving two women and a prophet, tucked within the pages of 2 Kings, stirred my spirit. 

As the study's writer, Karen Ehman,  asked: "Do you too have a grim situation you're facing? Gather your resources and fetch your faith. Expect God to act and don't be surprised if He uses one or more of His people in the process. God is best positioned to act when we take what we have, tuck it in an envelope of trust and offer it back to Him — our provider and the author and perfecter of our faith."

No wonder I'm confused!

It finally registered with me why I've never really warmed up to the Contemporary English Bible that is now used by the Upper Room daily devotional: It removes the familiar phrasing with its rhythms and imagery, and at least for me, doesn’t replace it with anything clearer, more meaningful or more resonant.

Here's the familiar 23rd Psalm in the Revised Standard Version:
 

The Divine Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
    he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;[a]
    he restores my soul.[b]
He leads me in paths of righteousness[c]
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[d]
    I fear no evil;
for thou art with me;
    thy rod and thy staff,
    they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil,
    my cup overflows.
Surely[e] goodness and mercy[f] shall follow me
    all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    for ever.[g]

Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

But here's how it reads in the CEB: 

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd.
    I lack nothing.
He lets me rest in grassy meadows;
    he leads me to restful waters;
        he keeps me [a] alive.
He guides me in proper paths
    for the sake of his good name.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
    I fear no danger because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff—
    they protect me.
You set a table for me
    right in front of my enemies.
You bathe my head in oil;
    my cup is so full it spills over!
Yes, goodness and faithful love
    will pursue me all the days of my life,
    and I will live[b] in the Lord’s house
    as long as I live.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible


And I had this thought this morning: having so many different versions of the Bible isn’t conducive to committing passages to memory. 

Now it makes me think of how, for much of my career as a professional journalist, I knew the key parts of the AP Stylebook by heart. As new things were added, I learned those. 

But somewhere along the way, a couple of key things happened. One, additions started to come much more quickly, making it harder to remember them all. Two, besides adding new things, the editors seemed to be revising more guidelines, so that many of the things I had committed to memory were no longer the rules. 

(Further complicating this was my company’s own changing, often seemingly quirky and arbitrary guidelines; and a suspected decline in my capacity for remembering as I aged.)

This makes me think about how songs are one of my best memory tools, but even that is fading due to aging. And I'm aware that revisions have been made in hymnals, so that some of the familiar songs of the church are now gender neutral or changed to describe a gentler God.

Fortunately for me, I'm not afraid to adapt songs to fit my own style for grammar and expression. So music will continue to be a way for me to exercise my mind as well as my spirit and my memory.


Monday, February 19, 2018

Nothing to sneeze at

I'm recovering from my first-time flu diagnosis. As is often true with my medical experiences, I'm grateful my case likely was milder than a lot of what was going around, and the worst of my symptoms only lasted a day or two. But as is also often true with me and my health, that didn't make it any easier for me to deal with being sick and now making the transition back into wellness.

I had plenty of plans for the week, highlighted by Wednesday with Valentine's and Ash Wednesday and a church meeting on Thursday where I had volunteered to present the program.

A great weekend that included time with extended family in Stillwater on Saturday, then special time with my husband on Sunday, gave way to a busy and productive Monday and Tuesday.

Sometime Tuesday, I was aware of a bit of a dry cough, which I attributed to a lingering effect of a cold from the previous weekend. But between 4 and 6 p.m., something changed in how I felt. My throat tightened and my head ached. My nose wasn't running, but my eyes were watering. And looking back, I realize I felt tired. I went into attack mode, preparing to win if faced with a battle against another cold.

By bedtime, though, I was less optimistic. I posted on Facebook: I seem to be losing the battle against a new round of cold symptoms, just in time for Valentine’s and Ash Wednesday. I hope and pray I’m wrong. Took all the meds and precautions I could think of. Maybe I’ll wake feeling great again!

I didn't, and this was my next post:  I was feeling pretty miserable, waking up on Valentine’s and Ash Wednesday morning after an unsuccessful night battling cold symptoms. Then I saw this! How can I not smile and share! My sweetie knows me well. Fruit, veggies, figgy pops and no-sugar angel food cake. Perfect for me!!

Meanwhile, I updated the previous night's post, in light of so many expressed concerns, with this positive outlook: My symptoms are more cold than flu. No fever or aches other than head and throat. I think my flu risk right now would be greater at a clinic than staying home. But I am staying aware of my temperature, aches and any other symptoms.

Unfortunately, my temperature eventually started to rise. By suppertime, I told my husband I should probably go to the minor emergency clinic. But then my temp went down a bit, so I decided to wait until morning.

It ended up being after lunch before I made it to the clinic, but the diagnosis was fairly quick.

There’s a first time for everything. Today’s first for me: Flu diagnosis. I know some people who are really glad I stayed home from church services and other meetings yesterday and today. Decided to get it checked out when my temperature started rising, which hardly ever happens. Hoping I will feel much better soon. And praying Gene’s flu shot and other precautions protect him.

Finally, at 5:12 a.m. Sunday: I feel immensely better. Yes, I tire easily, but the only reason I won’t be at church is the risk that I might still be contagious after Thursday’s flu diagnosis. (My symptoms started Tuesday, with possibly a little dry cough/throat clearing Monday.) I’m grateful for the prayers, well-wishes and helpful advice from friends and family members. And I’m extremely grateful for Gene’s patient, loving care, and I pray God will continue to protect him from the flu. And now, selfish as it seems to me, I feel tired again so I guess I’ll go back to sleep.

Turns out the transition back hasn't been easy, but I continue to make progress. I am grateful.

Monday, February 5, 2018

(Untitled)

Another deadline and still no words. Life goes on.