I received a funny birthday card picturing three cartoon cows. There were two lean cows and one fattened cow having a chat. They were standing on their back legs with their front legs (appearing as arms) leaning against the fence. The fattened cow was bragging, “There’s a big party tonight. The master’s lost son has returned home, and he specifically requested for the fattest calf to be there.”₁ If you are familiar with the story of the prodigal son, you know the future of the fattened calf is connected to the firepit that is pictured in the background.
We rented a pontoon for our family gathering. When the anchor was thrown overboard, we realized the anchor was not actually attached to the long rope. The anchor went flying into the deep waters never to be seen again. I’m feeling weary by my sinful heart these days and there is an ongoing need for repentance. Thankfully, God’s promises are not anchored in my righteousness, they are attached to the One who placed them in my heart! God’s promises are anchored in God!
Here are a few points that have greatly encouraged me about David’s story lately!
I personally like the idea of reaping and sowing. That is, when it is working in my favor as opposed to working against me. My winter of laxed exercise and increased carb intake certainly proved this principle to be true in the negative. I like to dig in and work hard at a task or goal relying on the principle that I will reap what I have sown.
My theme verse for my ministry this year is Genesis 26:12a: “And Isaac sowed in the land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold.”
I count on this principle working in my favor, yet we are all aware of exceptions: That wicked person who prospers; That person who takes great care of their health, yet their life is wrecked battling disease; The wise person who hits hard times and financially loses it all.
The context of the above verse is very interesting. It immediately follows an incident where Isaac, out of fear for his life, lied that his wife was his sister (just like his father Abram had lied about Sarai).
When Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, catches Isaac and beautiful Rebekah in the act of marital intimacy, the pagan king reprimanded Isaac for his lie which would bring guilt upon them. The irony should not fail us.
The second interesting point concerning the context is that this was during a famine! Yet, God “blessed him, and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy.” Gen. 26:12b
God’s grace is an exception to the principle of reaping and sowing that brings me to my knees! God’s grace catches me in the act and extends what I cannot earn and what I do not deserve.
God’s grace ensures that we get absolutely what we don’t deserve!
I was put on HOLD for an extended time, only to be told by someone who could care less about my need, my insurance did not cover the expense. I hung up feeling infuriated by the experience and the fact that I was responsible for an expense I was certain was covered by my insurance.
My elevated anger burned within me. I felt out of control and concerned I may wrongfully misplace my anger on my family, so I grabbed my keys and purse to flee from my home to allow a few minutes to cool down. I called my husband to let him know everything was fine, I just need a few minutes to get control of my emotions.
