"To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the LORD..." Proverbs 1:7 (GNB)Mt. Sinai
Have you ever read Exodus chapter 19 and 20? Have you ever pictured in your mind what that would have been like?
God decides to “have church.” So, he tells his buddy Moses who tells the Israelites. They have three days to take a bath, wash their clothes, and get clean (inside and out). This had to be a massive undertaking – picture a million or so bodies with three months of dirt and grime clinging to them rushing to the nearest water source to cleanse themselves (I once shared a house with 4 other women and I thought that bathroom was crowded!).
Three days after the pronouncement, the Israelites, with Moses in the lead, show up in mass at the base of Mt. Sinai. As they approach the mount a thick cloud descends, surrounding it, and trumpet sounds are heard on the air but none are seen being blown. Thunder shakes the ground; lightening flashes across the sky, the landscape, the mountain; and fire is everywhere - things are ablaze and the smoke spirals eerily up into the sky instead of spreading across the horizon with the breeze.
The call to worship starts with the sound of a trumpet that grows increasingly louder and louder and louder. Then Moses calls out to God and God responds with a thundering voice. The story continues with God using the crag as an altar, a lectern where he spells out the 10 commandments.
Needless to say the Israelites freaked out. In fact they backed away from the mountain and stood at a distance and commented to Moses “Um, you do the talking to God - we really don’t want much interaction with the fire/smoke/cloudy thing – we are afraid we may die.”
My favorite part of the story is in verse 20 when Moses responds to their fear by saying "Don't be afraid! God has come only to test you, so that you will be in awe of him and won't sin."
This leads to the question, “Are you in awe of God?” Are you in enough awe of his power, his might, his authority, his dominion, his love…to keep you from sin?
I can’t say that I live in constant awe of God. Unfortunately I can be cavalier in my attitude and take God for granted. I forget his supremacy. I take things on myself that I should let God handle. I tackle things best left for him to solve. I take God’s place in my life.
And I don’t think I am alone. I think I hold good company with many well meaning Christians – who want to do it God’s way but don’t take the time to find out what that way is. Proverbs proclaims that to gain wisdom we must first fear/awe/reverence God. It is a direct correlation.
Again, I ask, “How in awe of God are you?”
Updates:
Living – at my relative’s house until God puts me in my own cute little place.
Work – Busy! Training continues, it is less than two months to our HUGE retreat (I am finding people to help me!), we are pursuing income generating leads, we are looking at a new training platform, creating more marketing materials, beefing up our training curriculum and…
Relationships – making new ones, deepening old ones
Family – my dad had left foot surgery on Friday and it went well
Health – I missed a step at work on Wednesday and sprained my left ankle, now my left looks worse than my right chronically arthritic ankle! It is much better now but still very stiff in the morning - I have a very interesting waddle gait for the first hour or so!
Computer – doing much better – thanks for praying!
Requests:
Housing – I am with my relatives for the time being but will move when the time is right into my own little space.
Work – I am presenting on Saturday the 9th during training, The Big Weekend retreat (March 28-30) and international leader’s conference (March 24-28) are fast approaching, and administratively I am learning new things and being stretched constantly…pray against fatigue and acceptance of the ordinary!
Relationships - deepening of present ones, start of new ones and that God will be present.
Husband – I don’t know who he is /where he is, but I am sure he would appreciate prayer!
Financing - If you are interested in contributing, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.
Dena
P.S. Congratulations to Al Gerona and his new fiancée Laura…also, congrats to Mr. & Mrs. AJ Johnson as of Saturday, February 2nd!
God decides to “have church.” So, he tells his buddy Moses who tells the Israelites. They have three days to take a bath, wash their clothes, and get clean (inside and out). This had to be a massive undertaking – picture a million or so bodies with three months of dirt and grime clinging to them rushing to the nearest water source to cleanse themselves (I once shared a house with 4 other women and I thought that bathroom was crowded!).
Three days after the pronouncement, the Israelites, with Moses in the lead, show up in mass at the base of Mt. Sinai. As they approach the mount a thick cloud descends, surrounding it, and trumpet sounds are heard on the air but none are seen being blown. Thunder shakes the ground; lightening flashes across the sky, the landscape, the mountain; and fire is everywhere - things are ablaze and the smoke spirals eerily up into the sky instead of spreading across the horizon with the breeze.
The call to worship starts with the sound of a trumpet that grows increasingly louder and louder and louder. Then Moses calls out to God and God responds with a thundering voice. The story continues with God using the crag as an altar, a lectern where he spells out the 10 commandments.
Needless to say the Israelites freaked out. In fact they backed away from the mountain and stood at a distance and commented to Moses “Um, you do the talking to God - we really don’t want much interaction with the fire/smoke/cloudy thing – we are afraid we may die.”
My favorite part of the story is in verse 20 when Moses responds to their fear by saying "Don't be afraid! God has come only to test you, so that you will be in awe of him and won't sin."
This leads to the question, “Are you in awe of God?” Are you in enough awe of his power, his might, his authority, his dominion, his love…to keep you from sin?
I can’t say that I live in constant awe of God. Unfortunately I can be cavalier in my attitude and take God for granted. I forget his supremacy. I take things on myself that I should let God handle. I tackle things best left for him to solve. I take God’s place in my life.
And I don’t think I am alone. I think I hold good company with many well meaning Christians – who want to do it God’s way but don’t take the time to find out what that way is. Proverbs proclaims that to gain wisdom we must first fear/awe/reverence God. It is a direct correlation.
Again, I ask, “How in awe of God are you?”
Updates:
Living – at my relative’s house until God puts me in my own cute little place.
Work – Busy! Training continues, it is less than two months to our HUGE retreat (I am finding people to help me!), we are pursuing income generating leads, we are looking at a new training platform, creating more marketing materials, beefing up our training curriculum and…
Relationships – making new ones, deepening old ones
Family – my dad had left foot surgery on Friday and it went well
Health – I missed a step at work on Wednesday and sprained my left ankle, now my left looks worse than my right chronically arthritic ankle! It is much better now but still very stiff in the morning - I have a very interesting waddle gait for the first hour or so!
Computer – doing much better – thanks for praying!
Requests:
Housing – I am with my relatives for the time being but will move when the time is right into my own little space.
Work – I am presenting on Saturday the 9th during training, The Big Weekend retreat (March 28-30) and international leader’s conference (March 24-28) are fast approaching, and administratively I am learning new things and being stretched constantly…pray against fatigue and acceptance of the ordinary!
Relationships - deepening of present ones, start of new ones and that God will be present.
Husband – I don’t know who he is /where he is, but I am sure he would appreciate prayer!
Financing - If you are interested in contributing, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.
Dena
P.S. Congratulations to Al Gerona and his new fiancée Laura…also, congrats to Mr. & Mrs. AJ Johnson as of Saturday, February 2nd!
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