Whoa! It's been a while since I did any blogging. But then I have lots of good reasons and there's no reason I can't take all the "bloggy breaks" needed. :)
One of the main reasons I've not blogged is because our house has been a construction site again....or has been more of a construction site than usual. Ha.
This month the crew was back. Plastering, digging, digging, plastering, and pouring cement and tiling and in general making a very big mess but at the same time getting a lot done in a short amount of time! THAT has been the huge praise in all of this.
They dug a BIG DEEP hole at the corner of the house to see what is wrong with the foundation. We've had huge cracks in the walls all because something settled or moved (or both) on that corner of the house. They were thinking it was a giant rock that was under the foundation that maybe settled and caused things to move, but they never found the rock.
Here's Dane working one day while all the guys stood around watching. :)
Also, the one guy laid tile and put in a proper drain with a cover for our "plumbing room". So nice to have that main drain covered...it's basically where all the sewage goes. So yippee no more stink!
The guys also got this vent for the bathroom bricked and plastered. Little things that all needed to be done.
So that all sounded nice and easy to report. But it wasn't quite that way. Pretty much from the first day they had to wet down the walls and take the bedroom windows (and all the other windows) off in order to plaster. We lived for a good week without windows and really all ended up sleeping in the family room in order to be warm enough. Yeah, I know you are thinking it's South America! It's gotta be warm. Nope. It's the coldest time of the year here and even though it never gets below freezing, it has been a cooler year and some nights were down in the low 50s these past few weeks.
We all did end up with colds, which I think we also shared with friends. Rats. :{
And let's not even talk about the dirt, because, did I say it's windy this time of year? It is.
I know, complain, complain. But, something I've been learning lately is to use the word AND when talking about things sometimes. While it's good to think positively, I don't think it's good to "stuff" things and try to talk yourself into ignoring things that are going on. Sometimes even though there are hard things going on, there are ALSO great things going on. Even in just one situation. So....
It's been very windy and dirty with the windows off while the guys work on our house...AND...the house looks great all plastered!
It is amazing how Abba provided so we can get these projects done...AND...It's been stressful to have guys watching you cook, clean, homeschool, parent, etc while they work.
I'm pretty tired these days and ready for a break....AND....I am very thankful for all Abba has done to provide for our needs and EXTRA blessings.
AND I am thankful for all Abba is teaching me. I might not have learned these things any other way.
What "things"? Well, sometime I might share more but then again, I might not. But let's just say it's been an intense year or so (leaning more on the 'so" here) and that has also been another reason I've not blogged a lot lately.
But I'd like to if I can and I am looking forward to more studies we'll be doing. Right now we are mainly trying to wrap things up here before we head to the States for our "Home Assignment", aka "furlough". That is just around the corner!
A lot of excitement around here to see family and friends. A lot of excitement to do or see things they did last time we were in the "states". In Heidi and Liam's case there are things they don't remember or haven't seen that they are looking forward too. The two of them go around talking about "When we go to the 'nited States.....". A few days ago Heidi came in the room saying/singing "I want to go to Canada, I want to go to Canada.....What's Canada?"
They can't wait to see snow and make snowmen and snow forts. My mouth is practically watering just thinking about Fall apples and apple cider. Mmmmm. Salty peanuts still in the shell and just getting to be in the Plains where there's no mountains.
And these days I am thinking a LOT about seeing family members that I can't wait to hug and talk with.
I hope to post soon about how school is going for the two older boys. Some encouraging things there for me as their teacher.
Thanks to those who read and I hope to write more in the coming days as I can. All those other homeschoolers on HSB and The Homeschool Lounge, I am looking forward to reading your plans for the coming school year too.
Signing off for now. Have a good day!
About two weekends ago Heidi and I were invited to go with our pastor's family to watch the last evening of their daughter's folk dance competition. She is in 1st grade I think so she and her class were towards the beginning of the evening's dances. We spent much of our time doing this with the rest of the folks from our friend's school:
We stayed to watch a few more dances before Cesia's little brothers were just too cranky to stay awake and handle anymore of the crowd. And what you cannot experience in these pictures is the NOISE!! It was incredibly loud! Heidi even now when look at the pictures together mentions how noisy it was. But she really enjoyed watching all the girls and boys dancing and loved being able to see Cesia and her friends close up in all their pretty costumes. Besides, these two are already good friends.
The bananas were piling up.
They were looking awfully black.
I finally had baking soda.
And flour.
And all the other ingredients at the same time!
All this adds up to the perfect opportunity to show the kids how to make banana bread.
With my handy assistant Dane (who has made his share of banana bread on his own), we showed the younger kids how to crack eggs and beat them, how to measure dry and liquid ingredients, how to mash the bananas, and the rest of the process.
Hi all!
Even though it's technically Winter here in South America, Huanuco is still giving us that "Eternal Spring" weather that many use to describe it. Things ARE cooler right now, and especially in a cement house with lots of wind blowing through but the days are usually very sunny and warm.
So my garden is still alive and even with the dryer weather I have tomatoes growing!
I did have a ton more herbs that I started and a lot more lettuce planted but the ants got to them and maybe some other bugs and pretty much wiped them out. All that is left is a tiny sage plant. I just keep encouraging it to get bigger soon so the bugs don't get it. And a little fruit called Capuli (pronounced ca-pooh-LEE) that looks like it may yet live. Thanks to a great tip from a friend I have been able to combat the ants without poisoning my garden by just sprinkling cornmeal around! They take it to their nest, they eat it, they can't digest it and there are now piles of dead ants all over my garden. I just keep sprinkling it since there are still lots more around, but it is much better.
I've also been able to keep the bugs and white flies off my tomato and lettuce plants by just using some dish soap in water and spraying it all over the plants. It really keeps those little bugs off and as for the tomato eating caterpillars....God sent the wasps! There are an alarming amount of wasps in our yard, but they eat ALL..ALL of the caterpillars!! So I am now convinced, that I can grow a garden without a bunch of harmful chemicals. And I can't wait to try out those yummy tomatoes. I would still love to expand the garden. I may or may not yet this year but this little bit will begin to help the ground to improve and my compost piles are simmering away just waiting to be used too!
Because of composting all our scraps we have saved a ton of plastic on garbage bags and our garbage is half or less what it was before! (We eat a lot of fruits and veggies!)
These also popped up among the weeds.
As we've been working on the house here in the city, another house is being started in a Quechua village. The past couple of years we have been unable to spend time as a family in the Quechua village where we have decided to focus our language study and ministry due to the lack of a place to stay. We could stay a few days at a time possibly with some Quechua friends, but not for several weeks a month.
Our good friends from that village made the decision to let us use a piece of land they own to build a house for our family and one for our partners. Last year we had hoped to get that started but the deed to the land and other important papers were not in order. This was not good because it came to light that someone who had heard the news that houses were to be built on that land, was planning to claim the land when the houses were finished! (apparently he did have some sort of small right to do this) By the time the papers were in order it was well into the rainy season so we've all been trying to patiently wait until the rains ended and it was dry enough for the building to begin.
Last month things got underway and now the walls are going up on our partner's house! Shane and our partner went up a few weeks ago to check things out and take pictures. So here's what it looked like then.
You will notice the trench dug in a rectangle there. That's the start of our partner's house.
Things are done differently for a Quechua style house. It's all made of rammed earth. They first dig a foundation trench and put in rocks and maybe some cement for a solid base to work from. Then they used a rectangle form to make the big earth "blocks". (as we take pictures of the process I will post those so you can know what I'm talking about later).
As you can see this piece of land is on a major slope. This has caused some challenges in planning where the houses are to go and how to work with all the different levels. But I think we figured out something that should work out well for both families.
The houses at the top of the picture are the style of house that we are making too. Each house is two levels tall with a tin roof. Our house will be down below the dug up area off to the right of the picture where there's still grass and weeds.
I am sure it looks quite different now!
And speaking of looking different, here's our little friend who was born in July last year at our house! She's getting so big!
Last month we were able to have the bricklayer and his crew come and get the perimeter walls raised on the second floor of our house.
Getting things going.
One more step towards a finished house. At this point we will not be working on the second floor until we have the money to finish all the inner walls support beams and ceiling/roof.
Our next project will be to work on things in the back yard to help water drain away from the foundation of the house. As we save up money for that we will work on it in the next few months. Thankfully it's dry season now so we don't have to worry much about too much water.
I read this a couple days ago from a daily devotional I receive from Lifetime Guarantee Ministries. Such a good reminder to me of things I've been learning these past few months.
My True Identity
I have an identity that cannot be marred
By the circumstances of life.
It does not fade, nor age, nor fail,
No matter how great the strife.
It grows! It becomes more beautiful!
It defies all the world can give!
For it has its roots in Him who died
Who was raised
And through whom I live.
But how to live without worldly acceptance?
Without recognition or fame?
How to live with the patterns I've built
And not be a "winner" in the game?
How?
By knowing who I am,
By accepting His truth about me.
By grasping, clutching, tenaciously clinging
To the truth I have come to see.
Sweet victory--sweet trumphal fragrance,
Confident, persuaded, content to be.
No longer controlled by who I was
But to live!
Accepted!
In my true identity.
Hello again!
I decided to break the silence today and get back to blogging a little. We went away as a family for a few days of R&R towards the end of April and when we came back I just realized it would be nice to take a "bloggy break" as well.
We are back into school, house building, Shane doing some Quechua language study, me doing a little sewing and knitting (I can't NOT knit now in my spare moments), gardening (tomatoes are popping out and there's a little lettuce and dill!) and just the normal everyday things here.
Well, I WAS going to add a picture or two but I have some work to do with the photo album before I can. So pictures and more posts to come.
Have a wonderful day!
5. The water was going out just before I made supper. This was filling up at the lowest point....in the garage. I was glad to be able to fill a few buckets and pitchers full before it went off completely.
Memory Verse: Genesis 20:13 and it came about, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said to her, ‘This is the kindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.’”"
Introduction: Trusted Everywhere (Duracell Batteries) Easy Week. It was supposed to be Nancy’s week, she had planned on posting a simple assignment, but she’s gone, and her assignment isn’t here. So.. Because Nancy is traveling, I thought we’d talk about Everywhere, or Anywhere.
Assignment: Where have you been? Where have you traveled? What was the purpose of your trip?
I am combining two things here today and doing this assignment with the "Things about me" twist.
So here is my list of Places I've been:
1. When I was 4 I went on a month long trip with my Grandparents in the southern United States. At one point we were all the way down by the Florida Keys. It was a just for fun trip I believe and to visit my Aunt too. I remember much of it and loved it, except when Grandpa made me try Grits. "Do I have to eat it Grandpa?"
2. I went to Bolivia two summers in a row when I was a teenager for a missions work trip. The first one I helped re-do a brick building, the second I helped make a crowned airstrip...digging all day long.
3. When Dane was 9 months old, he, Shane and I and a good friend of mine along with another good friend of ours went to Indonesia to visit Shane's family and Shane's friend's family who lived and worked there as missionaries. It was my chance to get to see and experience where Shane grew up and meet the people from the tribe that now has Believers! We got to stay 4 months and it was amazing!
4. When Arel was 11 months old we traveled together to Papua New Guinea to go to my sister's wedding.(See Arel with the very white head?)
5. 6 1/2 years ago Shane and I first traveled together with our kids to Peru. It's hard to believe it's been almost 7 years since we first arrived! (this is me and my first Spanish teacher during my first month of Spanish study)
Here's another thing about me: I love to knit!
I've become quite addicted to it over the past 3-4 years and it's starting to rub off.
About a week ago a friend came over who wanted some help learning to knit. The next day Shane told me he wanted to learn. He watched a few YouTube videos and then he and I spent the evening on it. He caught on fast! Here he is trying his hand:
The next day Shane went to the yarn store for fatter needles and Dane went along. They came home with needles and yarn. Dane wanted to learn too! This is what our bedroom looked like that afternoon.
Over the next few days any free time we were all knitting and Arel even learned too. Liam and Heidi each had me help them crochet a little also. Shane has made two scarves now and looking for more yarn.
I guess knitting is contagious.
This week I am joining a week-long list exchange of "Things about me" at Coffeegirl Confessions. We are starting off with 5 Things About Me.
Here they are:
1. I am SCARED of snakes! I can hardly stand to even look at one in a book or on tv without later having nightmares about them. (shiver)
2. I love to get nice and dirty digging in the garden or working on a home-improvement project, but I also love to dress up for something special and be very girly.
3. I love corn...in just about any form.
4. Finding patterns or pictures in things is something a do a lot. In the clouds, chipped paint on the wall, stains, scribbles,etc.
5. Joshua 1:9 is my favorite verse!
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged; for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Shane has made a bathroom door and now two bedroom doors! It sure has cut down on the dust flying into our rooms and the mosquitoes eating us alive at night.
Memory Verse: Genesis 2: 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam[g] there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a(U) deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made[h] into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,
“This at last is(V) bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was(W) taken out of Man.”[i]
Introduction: Does She or Doesn’t She (Clairol Shampoo)The world sees Christianity as a male dominant religion. It’s seen as a religion dominated by men, for men. But we know that God loves women - God created woman, and has used women to bring about His plan for the world.
Assignment: Tell the world about your favourite woman in the Bible. Who is she? How did the world judge her? How does God see her? How did God use her? How has this woman affected your life? How does she inspire you to walk out your relationship with God?
Ruth
She was a Moabite. She had married a Jewish man who had come to her country to live with his parents and brother. His father and then he and his brother all died in Moab, leaving their wives all widows. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law wanted to return home and so Ruth and Orpah (the other brother’s wife) chose to go with her. As most know the Bible tells us that Naomi told the girls to return to their families but Ruth said she would not leave her: “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” (Ruth 1:16-17)
She was a foreigner and we know that she is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. Yet she was not a very likely candidate for being a part of the genealogy of Christ being a foreigner and all. But she was. What does that say about how God saw her! Just like Abraham believed and had faith in something he could not see, Ruth did the same. She clung to and cared for her mother-in-law and did all that she said to do as she interacted with Boaz. She was submissive and obedient to trust Naomi and God and place herself at Boaz’s mercy. And at the same time she was bold, daring and courageous to step out in faith and do something that maybe other foreigners in her situation would never do.
God protected her and gave Boaz the compassion and love to do the same and be her kinsman redeemer. A picture and a type of what Jesus Christ was for us. He is our kinsman redeemer as well.
How has this woman affected my life, how does she inspire me in my relationship with God?
I relate to Ruth’s inclination to “latch on” to others even if they aren’t from her culture and people.
She is inspiring to me. So many characteristics come out as I read the book of Ruth. She was selfless, caring, loving and compassionate. She was bold, courageous and daring. Loyal and honorable, obedient and submissive and at the same time strong, beautiful and a hard worker who served others.
I was just reading some of the “faith chapter” – Hebrews 11. It talks about Able, Enoch, Noah and Abraham and many others.
Hebrews 11:13-16 says: “All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth. And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God. For he has prepared a heavenly city for them.”
It’s possible Ruth did not realize all of this. I mean, I doubt she knew she would be King David’s great-grandma! But I think she was trusting God to care for her no matter where she was. Her expectation was in HIM and not in a plan she had that God would follow. She was “looking for a better place” and not worried that she had to be near family and familiar places in order to be “home” and safe.
That’s encouraging to me! Especially living far away from family and where I grew up. Sure, I miss it! And I’m sure Ruth did too. But it’s encouraging to read of others who lived “like foreigners and nomads” and how God sustained them, took care of them and caused them to live content in HIM, knowing that he is in control and he is their strength and their everything.
I am reminded of one of my favorite verses. God is giving Joshua his commissioning and again he and the Israelites were “nomads” but God says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
I don’t have to be afraid or discouraged about anything. It doesn’t matter where I am or what God has me doing. I can lean totally on my Father’s strength and courage and know that HE will be all I need him to be for me and in me. I could try my hardest to be like Ruth and be caring, loving, courageous, serving, loyal, obedient…all those things, but it’s in the Father’s strength and power and not my own that I can ever do or be those things. So I am reminding myself here as I write this today that I want to lean totally on HIM to do this for me and in me and KNOW that he is faithful and WILL do it.
These days we've been trying to turn this messy yard into something productive. Here we are trying to get all the big rocks out. Dane waiting, and waiting to plant seeds. (He helped get rocks out too)
Heidi..."I wanna help too"
Did I mention Dane is growing like a weed? er, tomato plant? :)
Arel was the photographer on that day, he's 9.
Liam (who is 5 1/2 now) was off with Dad on a field trip...really...to a field! But he came back from digging around in the field with a caterpillar sting on the finger. It hurt really bad but he's really brave and woke up the next morning feeling much better.
Memory verse:
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32
Introduction:
This is a spin-off of last week as we went searching for what “Hear” means. This is a hunt for the Truth about who we are as believers, how God views us and how we can rest in that Truth.
As before, use any Bible or Bible study tools to help you in your search. Sometimes it can be intimidating to do these kinds of studies. I was a little nervous about the last two assignments. But these assignments can be a way to learn how to do this kind of Bible study. Don’t feel you have to know it all in order to do this. We aren’t Bible professors here, but we are all in need of learning and understanding God’s message to us. God, our Abba, our Daddy, wrote this Book, the Bible, to us! Let’s see what He wants to share with us about all the wealth that is ours as His children.
Assignment: Dig around in the Word and share what you find about any or all of the following:
Who is Jesus Christ? (Yes, the obvious, but dig around, what are some of His names?) What God has given us in Christ, what benefits are ours right now? Because of Christ’s work on the cross on our behalf, what can we count on from Him in our daily lives?
If you need some ideas of where to get started check out these chapters in the New Testament and see where they take you:
John 15, Romans chapters 6, 7 and 8, Galatians chapters 2 and 5, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Corinthians and 1 Peter are also great. I can’t wait to see what everyone finds!
Happy Digging.
1. Jesus Christ is:
Messiah – “Then he asked them, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” – Matthew 16:15-16
Lamb of God – “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look! There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!’ “ – John 1:29
The Word – “In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make.” – John 1:1-3
2. Benefits that are mine right now:
I have been freed from sin’s power over me. – Romans 6:7 – “For we died with Christ and we were set free from the power of sin.”
I am forever free from condemnation – Romans 8:1 – “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”
I have been placed in Christ by God’s doing; Christ is now my wisdom from God, my righteousness, my sanctification, and my redemption. – 1 Corinthians 1:30 – “God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit god made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to gof. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom.”
I am blessed with every spiritual blessing. – “How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ.” - Ephesians 1:3
I have been brought near to God. – “But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ. – Ephesians 2:13
Christ Himself is in me. – “For it has pleased God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory.” - Colossians 1:27
Because I am made holy, and am one with Christ, He is not ashamed to call me His. – “So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.” – Hebrews 2:11
3. Because of Christ’s work on the cross on our behalf, what can we count on from Him in our daily lives?
Able to live for the glory of God - “So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.” – Romans 6:11
Live and Peace -“If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6
Overwhelming victory and nothing can keep us from His love –
“No, despite all these thing, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:37-39
On Sunday we took a drive out of the city to check out a mini "resort". The day was just gorgeous!
The place was so nice. Quiet, and very relaxing.
The view on the ride home was great too.
28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Intro: When Jesus starts his response with “Hear O Israel”, he’s referencing back to the Shema - from Deuteronomy 6-4 - Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One and Only, Blessed Be his Glorious Sovereign Name for ever and ever. Jesus says this is His greatest commandment. Like.. if you asked your child(ren) to clean a room.. and it wasn’t done.. they responded to you and said.. I heard you. What good is it if they heard you.. but didn’t DO it. So for us to say, we heard God.. but ignored his instructions.. that’s not good enough.
Assignment: What does God mean when he says HEAR.. he says it often.. if we don’t have an auditory reception of His voice. why is he saying HEAR.. what does it mean, what are we losing in translation? The word Shema doesn’t just mean Hear.. like what your ear receives.. it means more. Tell in your assignment what you think Shema means whether it’s active hearing or auditory hearing. I’m very anxious to read your thoughts on this. I hope you will all enjoy doing this assignment, as we are trying to dig deeper into the Word and have a better understanding of what the Bible really is about.
Wow! Interesting assignment.
I clicked right away to the handy Blue Letter Bible site and looked up Deuteronomy 6:4 in the Strong’s. The actual word from Deut.6:4 – “hear” is “shama” (strong’s number 8085) and the next one is “shema” (Strong’s number 8086)
It seems like they go together.
So here’s some of what I found from their definitions: (Bear with me, I just want to share all of this because it’s cool to see all together like this.
shama –
1) to hear, listen to, obey
a) (Qal)
1) to hear (perceive by ear)
2) to hear of or concerning
3) to hear (have power to hear)
4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
5) to understand (language)
6) to hear (of judicial cases)
7) to listen, give heed
a) to consent, agree
b) to grant request
8) to listen to, yield to
9) to obey, be obedient
shema –
1) to hear
a) (P'al) to hear, have a sense of hearing
b) (Ithpael) to show oneself obedient
So both really focus on obedience. I could go into a whole word study on obedience too but I want to just stick to “hear” and since I get what is meant by obedience just from these definitions above I want to focus on that.
The Mark verses here are quoting from Deut.6:4 but it’s not just “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.” Jesus quotes the whole thing. It is the beginning of:
30” And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” “
Luke 10:27 also is a similar account and then Jesus goes on to tell the story of the Good Samaritan.
Ok, so I have all these things swirling around in my head, let me get it out here. I was thinking about how all this connects with the main question in this assignment “Is Shema active hearing or auditory hearing?”
I believe based on what I have seen from the Hebrew definition of the word that it is active hearing. It’s connected with obedience. And I believe that is what Jesus showed the questioners in both Mark and Luke too. Really he showed it in his life, in everything he did and said. He hears and obeys his Father and loves him with all his heart, soul, mind and strength and loves his neighbor as he loves himself.
Now, here’s the cool thing for us as believers…when we trusted Christ as Savior He came to live in us and He changed us. We are new creations and no longer disobedient ones. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Our life is totally in Christ. Because of this, HE can do all things in us. Not because we are great, but because of what Christ has done we are now made perfect IN HIM.
Because we are still tied to the earth in our body satan, through the power of sin tries to lie to us and get us to sin. He tries to get us to believe the opposite of what God thinks of us because of Jesus (His child, holy, blameless, etc.). But really because of Christ in us we can let go of trying to do everything on our own, believing whatever lie satan throws our way, beliving we are scum and don’t deserve anything…we can let go of all that and instead let Christ live through us and do what we are incapable of doing. He does it all! (Please note that I am talking about believers)
So where does “hear” and “obey” come in? I can HEAR God’s truth and OBEY by doing what he asked me to do and letting HIM live through me. I am then hearing, listening, obeying him and then he also is actively at work in me obeying the Father perfectly; loving God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength and perfectly loving others. And if it’s true of Jesus it’s true of me. If I am resting in Him and have stopped trying to do all this on my own then He’s doing it and He never does anything wrong.
I challenge you to think about this in reference to these verses below and see what God might want to show you.
John 15 – “I am the True Vine”
Romans chapters 6, 7 and 8 – We died in Christ, we are dead to sin (6), I sin but Jesus is the answer (7), There is no condemnation for those in Christ, the Spirit leads and lives in me (8).
Galatians 2 – I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me
chapter 5 – Christ has really set us free, don’t do things to make God pleased with you, live by the Spirit’s power.
Ephesians – Who we are in Christ
Colossians 3 – you died when Christ died and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Our brand new nature is continually being renewed as we learn more about Christ.
These are just a few but there are so many more. Happy digging in the Word!
