Cabin Fever

Most of us in the east are more than ready for spring to break. I was visiting with a family the other day and they said they were about to kill each other. My daughters are "bored out of their mind", my wife is going stir crazy and even the family dog is going through "grass withdraw". There is nothing like feeling trapped in the house and longing for warm summer breezes and feet in the grass.

I was reading in Galations 4 and 5 this evening about the one who seeks righteousness by keeping the law verses the one who lives by faith. Paul does an awesome job comparing it to slavery and the two covenants of Sarah and Hagar. As I read, my mind wandered (yeah, it happens) to the parallel of cabin fever. I can't imagine living trapped in a house all my life, looking out the window at flowers blossoming and birds making nests; at lilies breaking through the soil and sunbeams dancing through the leaves of the trees and yet feeling as though I'm only getting a one dimensional experience. I want the REAL thing! That's righteousness by faith. That's grace, mercy and the free gift of God.

Well, the Weather Channel says cold again tomorrow, but I know that I'll be out of the "cabin" soon enough. Thank you Jesus that I'm already "out" of the law.

Grandma's obscene image

I love when I come across scriptures I had not noticed before, especially ones that are "different", if you know what I mean. I read one today that is not only odd, but has a great lesson in it. It's found in 1 Kings 15:13. It's worth including just as written. "He (King Asa) also removed his grandmother Maacah from being queen mother because she had made an obscene image of Asherah." Does this verse strike you as funny as it does me? This is one of those times when I'm glad the bible doesn't have pictures. This was one wild grandma. I imagine her tattooed up in her leather queen suit traveling around setting up obscene images of false gods. Most of us have a wild relative (some of us more), but she was the queen mother! Asa is doing his best to serve the Lord and lead his kingdom to do the same and right in his own house, grandma is subverting his authority.

I love that Asa had the courage and the integrity to remove gramma and cut down that nasty image. It's never easy when we've got to stand against family or friends for something we know is right. It's only in those times when we may feel alone, or betrayed, or mis-understood, that our desire to live righteous (notice, not "self-righteous") before God is what gives us strength and the determination to make the hard decisions as well as carry them out.

So, next time Grandma wants to erect an "obscene image", take heart - you're not the only one with black sheep in the family.