Can it get any louder?

      For the past few months I've been "hearing" and doing what yells the loudest.  The results can be stressful and tiresome, like on a treadmill walking or running - going no where.   So this morning, in the early hours that I cannot sleep, I thought I would write.  The house is quiet.  However outside, the thunder sounds its deep, crashing voice while lightning dances around it.  It has my attention as it heralds in the pounding rain.  In between the intermittent sounds, I hear quiet, almost a "silence".  

      I love times like this away from clamoring where I can just stop and refresh.  I had been reading about Elijah where he ran to the cave to hide.  He hid for his life, he was exhausted and he was tired.  Sound familiar?  This probably wasn't a very comfortable place to hide, darkness, bats, animal poop, snakes, the dreaded spider, scorpions..(ew!) Where we hide may not be much better, but I love what God says, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" This says two things to me, God always knows where we are and the condition we are in and because God called Elijah by name, what/who else was in the cave that would have answered the Almighty God of the Universe!

       I love these next verses - Behold, the Lord passed by!  There were great/strong winds that tore mountains and rocks, then a horrible earthquake, then a fire, but God was not in any of these attention getting, fearful occurances.  Let's face it, God is Spectacular and he can DO the spectacular, but at this time God reveals Himself in quietness, a low whisper.   Elijah heard it, then went out and stood at the entrance where God gave him instruction and encouragement.

      These past few weeks and months have not been God doing the spectacular, it has been my allowing the noise to take precedence of my attention.  But at this time, in the early morning hours, the storm is over and the birds are heralding another day, I think I will go out, stand and meet the only One who knows I need His quietness, strength and encouragement.

      So, if you will excuse me....thank you for reading my thoughts turned into words.  Have a good morning and a blessed day. 

A GARDEN LIKE NO OTHER!

I love how the Bible describes the Garden of Eden in Genesis.  The mystery of it always made me think of the why and where it is now, and how awesome is the cherubim He placed at the east of the garden  and that amazing flaming sword which magically turned every way to “keep (block) the way to the tree of life”!  No magician or cartoon animator could  ever compare to this real life and strange sight.  There are so many questions and sights in my imagination.  However, I don’t want answers just yet.  I love a good mystery and there isn’t anyone who can give the true answers – just speculation.

The two trees God put in the middle of the Garden are the center of one mystery.  Side by side, in the center is the Tree of Life(TL) and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen 2:9). The Tree of Life is again written about in Revelation 22 where it bears 12 different types of fruit, yielding every month.

The second, Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (TKGT), like most forbidden things was pleasing to the eye, offered food and something new – excitement or that was the way it was presented.  In my searching, this tree is not spoken of again in the Bible – what happened to it?

I have an opinion about the fruit of the TKGT – it no longer exists.  It isn’t our present-day apple, tomato or pear.  When the Garden was closed, the TKGT was taken care of never to be seen or eaten from since.

Also, where is the Garden? Where is the sword? Where is the cherubim?  Perhaps it was wiped away when the flood came?  Could it be hidden in plain sight! Or......what do you think? 

Thank you for reading my thoughts….

Cave of Despair/Cave of Hope

I’ll bet you have been in a cave.  When I was much younger, my Uncle Jack and Aunt Addie took my cousin, Cindy, and I to Old Man’s Cave.  It was a nice and big – nothing scary there!  Then Eddie and I stopped with our three little girls at Ruby Falls.  This was more like a cave!  Even scary because they turned out the lights to show you how dark it was.  The walkway of twists and turns were very uncomfortable only to come upon a waterfall someone had the idea to put a light on with colored bulbs and charge you to go “ahh, ohhh” and all I could think of was the walk back “ugh”!

In reading the story of David, I came upon several places where circumstances of his life caused him to hide in a cave.  I compared his cave with the ones I visited and  in doing so, the Lord laid it on my heart that these weren’t the comfy caves I had visited.  My imagination takes over and I think perhaps David’s cave was dark with damp dirt or mud, sharp rocks, bone cold and a home for bats, rats and snakes, but nothing compared to David’s personal despair that he felt – being alone and lonely – the darkness reached his soul.  This cave was not only a hiding place, but a “cave of despair” and sometimes I can relate to this cave. 

   The Concordance in my Bible says that despair means “without hope”, but David was not without hope and it was through these times that some of the best Psalms were written. The Psalms he wrote are full of prayerful questions, praise and acknowledgement of God’s love, refuge, goodness, love, mercies and so much more.  I have used these same Scriptures to help me get through the murkiness of my own degree of despair to instill hope, comfort and acknowledge God through praise. 

               God inhabits praise, so I am not alone.  The darkness of the cave is a blessing as it helps me focus on Him and I feel His presence and personal love for me.  As I mentally walk out of my cave, circumstances haven’t changed, but my cave like David’s has.  It is now a Cave of Hope because I trust and have confidence in the One who can change the circumstances I am in.  Psalm 3.

               Thanks for reading my thoughts….    

What is in a name?

     I've never blogged before and following in my daughter's footsteps, I find it rather daunting.  However, I think that my type of "blogging" will be different as these are my thoughts on blog instead of paper, sort of like a diary, only one that can be shared.  THEN comes the hard part...a name that sounds fun, witty and inviting. 

     In reading the Bible, names and their meanings were very important which many lived up to whether they meant good or bad.  When I was much younger, I always felt sorry for the biblical man called Peleg (I pronounced it Pee-leg).  Was his diaper too loose, did he wet the bed, was his bladder injured?  I don't know, I just felt sorry for him.  So, I can see why God changed some of their given names in Bible times.  Also, the Bible says God will give us His name for us in Heaven.  I wonder sometimes what mine will be, at the present time, mine means "house".  Elizabeth means "House of God", but no, mine is just "house".  (sigh) 

     So why "Bread Krumz"?   It reminds me of little sparrows on a wintry, snow covered day and their looking for just something small to satisfy them.  I guess that is what this blog is for me - my tiny thoughts that I want to share with you.  Your taking the time to read my blog would satisfy me.

    Have a good day today and share a thought with me.