::this week::

praying:  for safe travel for Jeremy, Dave, and Jeff as they return from India.  that the things they experienced in India would become the new normal for their ministry here. 

praising:  the amazing things that occurred during the guys trip in India... lots of people healed and/ or delivered... lots of prophesies and visions... a major theme of unity bringing together the formerly "rival" Christians in that area.

reading:  Psalms, Nehemiah, Ezekiel, Dare to Discipline

thankful for:  that Jeremy comes back tomorrow!!!!  all the friends who prayed for, loved on, and encouraged me while Jeremy was away... the body of Christ is amazing!

cooking:  BBQ and buffalo chicken pizzas, chicken enchiladas, salad with cilantro lime dressing, refried beans, migas casserole, chai bars

 doing:  ladies Bible study.  lunch with a friend.  some play dates with friends.  community group.  dinner with a sweet couple.  not making many plans, hoping to enjoy some sweet downtime with our little family after J gets back on Tuesday.

pondering:  

Exodus 19:5-6  Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.  And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

God's initial plan was for a "kingdom of priests"... He told them that up front, pre-Christ.  He didn't want one tribe interceding, He wanted them ALL. 

BUT THEN

Exodus 20:18-19 When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the ram’s horn, and when they saw the flashes of lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!”

the Israelites responded that they did not want a personal relationship with God... they wanted a mediator, and sold themselves short on what God had planned for them.  they chose to do things for God, and put themselves under the law and rules rather than just listening to His voice and following Him.

He wanted them to "be" His people... they wanted to "do" things for Him.  God gave them so many rules that they couldn't "do" without "being".

Been thinking about this concept of "doing" vs "being" a lot lately.  Of service, activities, Bible reading, etc. that I try to do for God (not that these aren't good things... a relationship with God just isn't about these things... it is so much more!)... of how to stop "doing", and how to just "be".  and this all ties back into everything God has been teaching me about worship this month. I think that for some, worship could be about doing, but for me, it is definitely about being rather than doing.  encouraged as I read through the Psalms by all of the verses (too many to name) that talk about waiting for God, about rest, about being still in His presence.

also, been pondering Psalm 40:6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.  Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings... thinking about how this is common truth is today, but in the time and context when David wrote this Psalm, this would have been a profound revelation from the heart of God... it would have been contradictory to the only Bible that David had at the time... it would have been considered heresy by the religious.

and I can't help but ask... What revelations is God giving me and those around me that may sound like heresy, but that is equally profound and in tune with the heart of God as David's revelation here in Psalm 40?