Month: January 2021

Ram in the Thickets

Scripture

What we love the most, we hate most to lose. This is universal I am sure. Not up for debate or personal preference. It is just plain true.

I have found in my faith journey that God has sometimes called me to let go of someone I love or something I love. This has run the gamut. Letting go of people in my family in a seasonal and/or figurative sense. Letting go of a semi-lucrative career in education in order to work in educational ministry. Letting go of achievement and possible accolades in order to serve others. Letting go of a reputation in some cases. Letting go of comfort in order to do some uncomfortable, but right things. Letting go of my right to be right. Letting go of my need to be noticed. Letting go of foods and beverages that don’t do me any favors. Hands down, it is hardest to let go of people, especially family. Not ready to blog about that yet…

Genesis 22:1-2 says, “Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ‘Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love — Isaac- and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.’ ” Abraham may have asked questions, but it is not recorded. In scripture, Abraham simply obeyed. I can only imagine that his relationship with God had grown to the point where he didn’t question…

When God tests our faith, He brings us to a crossroads that absolutely contradicts our normal instincts. The story of Abraham and Isaac defies human reasoning and makes us wonder if God is good. We find in this story redemption, a timely ram in the thickets, and a foreshadowing of Jesus Who would come and be the slain Lamb Who takes away the sins of the world, Who would die in our place, conquer death and bring about our salvation. We see a merciful and compassionate God Who authenticates faith.

Genesis 22:9-14 says, “…He (Abraham) bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son.’ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’ “

I enjoy quilting and just recently started a Jesse Tree quilt. It consists of blocks that tell the story of the Bible in pictures. The block posted above symbolizes the ram in the thickets. Coincidentally or not, the construction of this quilt block occurred about the same time we were studying Genesis 22 in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). I do love it when God brings several things together like this to make His point in my life…

Anything that hijacks my heart and replaces God as the chief object of my affections needs to be sacrificed. I sincerely don’t want my faith to be weakened by idols, especially people or their expectations of me. If God is not number one, I remain confident that He loves me enough to free me from clinging to the things that I love, especially when I love them more than Him. He provided the ultimate ram in the thickets – Jesus Christ. I won’t soon forget that. Although it has taken me nearly a lifetime of tests of faith – some failed, some passed – I question what hijacks my heart right now, and then I must bind it and let it go.

Piano Whispers

Scripture

Much like faith, great gifts need to be passed on and passed down. Hebrews 11:1,6,20-21 says, “Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see… And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him… By faith Isaac blessed (his sons) Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” Faith was passed on and passed down as the gift of God…

It all started with a six-foot (actually 6′ 1”) baby grand piano that my husband gave to me for our 3rd wedding anniversary. Purchased at an affordable price at a local auction, my husband was only bidding against the auctioneer. So, it became ours. Amazing still after 40 years of marriage! A rosewood cabinet with three intricately carved cabriole legs. An instrument manufactured in 1893, restored in 1907.

The next challenge was to get this great gift not only to our house, but inside our house! A couple guys near the auction site were willing to make some quick cash to help with the moving detail. I will omit many excruciating details, but eventually this beautiful piano made it into our first house of ownership. Great gifts involve sacrifice and cost, of course.

Next, my husband embarked upon refinishing the piano. Again a challenging and tiresome process, but successful. And then I embarked upon teaching piano lessons in my home, even in the midst of having a second baby. A move to another town and a 3rd baby apparently did not dampen my interest in teaching piano lessons. A neighbor teenager provided some babysitting assistance to make this possible. The gift of music continued on.

Since we contracted to build our 2nd house, we added support to the living room floor expressly to undergird the grand piano (pictured in this post). As the years rolled by, we transferred the piano to another room for a few years, setting the wood floor planks on edge. Then we decided to try to sell the piano or donate it. There was a local church that was excited about the possible donation, but just in the realm of God’s perfect timing, my oldest daughter decided to have it. Because of the piano’s size, it now takes up considerable space in her house. But, my granddaughters encouraged the transfer, so it’s now in a 3rd house and it is being enjoyed.

This instrument has many more stories to tell in our family tree. What a great blessing to know that my oldest granddaughter is now continuing piano lessons and playing the keyboard as part of her church worship team. Just when you think an era is possibly over, a grandchild gives you hope that the heritage of music may continue. My mother was a fine arts major and church musician; I was a school chorus and church accompanist; my children followed and took piano lessons that branched into other kinds of instruments (voice included); and two of my granddaughters have proficiency in guitar, violin, and/or piano. The passing on and down has continued…

How like faith this piano was in the passing on and passing down. The interest in it ebbed and flowed over the years. The value of it was sometimes ignored. It sat idle for some years and seasons. But, the story of the piano has reminded me that it was an invaluable gift, never to be taken lightly. Like John 4:10 says, “Jesus answered her (the woman at the well), ‘If you knew the gift of God and Who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.’ “

Sometimes we didn’t know the greatness of the piano gift. But, having been lately reminded, I encourage us all to have eyes to see the gifts in our lives. And, not to ignore the greatest gift of all – faith in Jesus Christ.