Lent and Doing Battle Against Busy

"If you don't feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, 

it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. 

It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. 

Your soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great." 

~ John Piper

Compelled to slow things down again, I have eagerly anticipated Lent this year. In preparation I've been seeking the LORD about fasting, and among the pleasures I plan to forsake for a deeper knowing of Him, a few things can't be done discreetly because of their public nature, one; this blog, two; reading and commenting on blogs, etc. The irony is that I stumbled upon (ahem...clicked through a couple of links to) a gal's blog (who ended her blog permanently in early January). It never ceases to amaze me how the LORD directs our steps, even on the internet. Anyhoo...the gal I landed on expressed her heart and reasons for letting go of her blog so much better than I could ever hope to in relation to why I have chosen to "fast" mine for another season. Following is an extended quote from her farewell post, and this speaks almost perfectly of what's on my heart...

"There are just many, many benefits to taking life more slowly than most of the rest of the world does.

For one thing, it is spiritually important, and I think this is vastly undervalued. Pascal said that the whole problem with man is that he can’t sit alone in his own room. I think there is a lot of truth to this! When we stop moving around like crazy (even if we are doing good things), the dust from the swirl of busyness settles and we begin to see more clearly. “Be still and know that I am God.” Be still. In stillness, our hearts and minds are quiet, and we hear better. We see both ourselves and God more clearly: We begin to see ourselves as we are, we begin to understand our struggles, we begin to grasp the mercy and love of God, and we begin to discern the path we should be walking. Stillness and quietness are foundational for gaining knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Slowing things down helps us to stop spinning our wheels and gain some traction. We actually make more/deeper/better progress when we take our time.

Jesus didn’t seem to be hurrying about. Crowds were always demanding of him, always pressing against him, always pursuing him. Jesus met many (not all) of the needs of those around him, and he was tired, but with all of the demands on him (and his real ability to meet each one) he didn’t go into hyper-ministry. He took time out with his disciples (he cooked them fish!). He took time to pray at length—the Bible says that very early in the morning, Jesus went off alone to a solitary place to pray.  And when there were demands on him, he was in no hurry and under no sense of pressure to meet them now. He arrived at the home of Mary and Martha, three days after Lazarus died, and they were upset with him because they had called for him to come days ago! Jesus kept things simple. His pace was not frantic. He knew the importance of being quiet and being alone. We can learn from him, just as he says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

We live in a time when slowing down does not simply mean that we casually choose not to get caught in the speedy flow of our culture, but, increasingly, we must absolutely do battle against speed in order not to get caught up in the flow. And nowadays we have the added pressure placed on us by modern technology to be ever-available and always-distracted. But battling against this is very much worth the fight, in my opinion.

We have a huge, wonderful source of information right at our fingertips. This is amazing, and it can be extremely useful, but it can also really hinder the healthy flow of our real, everyday lives. I certainly wouldn’t tell anyone what amount of technology should be allowed in their lives, but I am constantly rethinking the role I will allow it to play in my life, and I like to keep it to a minimum (whatever that means, right?! and I don’t always succeed, but most of the time I think I do). I don’t want the flow of my physical life to be continually interrupted and disrupted by devices that can get to me, or capture my attention, 24 hours a day.

I will say that living “slowly,” or with margin, is not just about staying home or keeping too-much technology at bay, but it’s also about how we live at home and with finances and with everything! A super-cluttery, always-way-too-messy-out-of-control house and wildly undisciplined living do not make an environment that is conducive to creating a life of margin and peace and ministry.

And now I get to type my favorite Blake quote one last time (!): “All in order, sweet and lovely.” And I’ll quote the Bible, too: “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” And why not thrown in Anne Morrow Lindbergh who said that it is only framed in space that beauty blooms? And all of this goes for our whole life; order is not just about the arrangement of our stuff! A beautiful life of margin saves space—uncluttered and unhurried—for the unexpected, for surprise, for serendipity, for spontaneity, for compassion, for instant hospitality, for relationships, and for lots of good things to happen."

Amen, sister. 

And with that, I shall let go of this blog of mine for the next season and comments have been turned off. Facebook and Twitter will be crickets. I won't spend time reading any blogs. I will miss seeing my Three Amigos here and on your blogs especially! Please know that I thank the LORD for each of you when I remember you. And that is often. I ask that if you think of it and are compelled by the LORD to do so, that you would pray for me too. I pray especially if there is some urgent news, that you might do the old fashioned thing and email me. I welcome any emails just to say hello too! I will check emails.

After Lent, I'll seek the LORD about what to do next.

It's not Lent yet, you say? The LORD has laid this and several other similar things on my heart; who am I to say, "Yes, I'll do that, LORD. But first let me take care of...." The thing is, I'm real good at delaying (and how many times have I told my own children that delayed obedience is disobedience?), so I must say no to the flesh now, and yes to the Spirit now.

May the LORD bless each of you, kindest friends, with "grace and peace multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." I will miss seeing you here!

I leave you with a song, one good and appropriate for the approaching Lenten season. We were blessed for Fernando Ortega to lead worship last Wednesday night at our church and he sang this one (it's recorded on his Beginnings album). Before then, I had never heard it. Since then, it has not left my mind. I pray it blesses you the same.

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See him dying on the tree!
'Tis the Christ by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, 'tis he, 'tis he!
'Tis the long-expected Prophet,
David's Son, yet David's Lord
By his Son God now has spoken:
'Tis the true and faithful Word.


Tell me, ye who hear him groaning,
Was there ever grief like his?
Friends thro' fear his cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress;
Many hands were raised to wound him,
None would interpose to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced him
Was the stroke that Justice gave.


Ye who think of sin but lightly
Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the Sacrifice appointed,
See who bears the awful load;
'Tis the Word, the Lord's Annointed,
Son of Man and Son of God.


Here we have a firm foundation,
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ's the Rock of our salvation,
His name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on him their hope have built.
~Thomas Kelly, 1804

#1448 - #1468

January 23 - 3 gifts found in Christ

#1448. "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." 2 Corinthians 1:20

#1449. The Yes of His forgiveness. {Amen}

#1450. The Yes of His perseverance. {Amen}

January 24 - 3 things blue

#1451. Blue mountain.

#1452. Blue clouds.

#1453. Blue morning.

January 25 - one grace borrowed, one grace found, one grace inherited

#1454. The Last Sin Eater. I hope to start it soon!!

#1455. The destiny of blue jeans worn by a boy.

#1456. The blessing that people see any sweetness in me. So many people called my mom "sweet." My dad too. Thankful that anyone would see such kindness in me (obviously handed down), and that so many have called me by the name "Sweet Tami," even in the years before the LORD saved me (I marvel at how He was at work in my life even then)...and so much more so now! So undeserved and all honor be to the LORD for anything good seen in me.

January 26 - a gift before nine a.m., gift before noon, a gift after dark

#1457. A "Happy Thursday...I love you" text from the sweetest of friends.

#1458. Watching my daughter "get it" with a new concept in math.

#1459. A prayer of contrition and confession lifted from the lips of a six-year-old.

January 27 - 3 gifts that might never have been

#1460. Rethinking and pondering what I've encountered on Twitter since signing up. I might not have given it a second thought...but God...

#1461. Heart change...talking 180° change in a certain area for a dear loved one. Miraculous to witness up close!

#1462. Sometimes, the LORD let's me wallow in the things I shouldn't be wallowing and wasting time with, all to show to me how fruitless the floundering is, and I call that mercy. Praise His name that He saved me and He loves me enough to discipline me exactly the way I need it.

January 28 - 3 graces found in your friends

#1463. The sound of a precious friend's voice on the telephone. She is a friend who sharpens me and doesn't waste a single second talking about frivolous things in life. Few people are as intentional as she is...she is a woman who loves the Lord, and I'm blessed to call her my friend.

#1464. I've received a text from another sweet friend every morning this last week...she makes this one who is far away feel close.

#1465. My roommate from college is also my sister-in-law. I've known her longer than I've known her brother (Dear Husband). She's a dear, dear friend, and we've both struggled for our faith and I love growing with her in Christ. She is the one who gave me Redeeming Love several years ago (which I just read at the beginning of the month), and she was THRILLED when I told her I finally read it and loved it. So imagine my pleasant surprise to receive the Mark of the Lion series from her in the mail!

January 29 - a song heard, a soft word, where you saw light

#1466. "Break my heart for what breaks Yours...Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause..."

#1467. "Good night, Mama. I love you."

#1468. The lamp that glows to shed light upon the light to my path.

Five Minute Friday: Tender

(what's gotten into me this week with the blog posting?)

Although I've enjoyed lurking through the Five Minute Friday posts on the Gypsy Mama's blog, I've never been compelled to chime in until today.

Oh Lord, help me to see ALL people how You do…tenderly.

Five minutes in 5...4...3...2...1...

GO

Relatively new to Twitter, I've already "blocked" several gals because it was clear they were women who were showing off their "wares" for solicitation, looking for someone to fill the empty place in their soul.

They. Do. This. On. Twitter.

It's been eye-opening for me (and that's not a heartless joke about what they weren't wearing).

After another one this morning I was fed up, and tweeted that I will block the ladies who scam-follow with their provocative pictures. But I wonder if I shouldn't block them after all. I don't care to see their half-naked profile photos, but what if they might catch a glimpse of the LORD because of their spam? What if by His mercy I might someday tweet or retweet something that gives them a tender pause?

Oh how I wish the women who do this sort of thing knew that the LORD notices them! They were made for so much more than the harsh, in-your-face, let-me-show-you-what-I'll-give-you-if-you-pay-attention-to-me world where they are so desperately trapped…harsh and sad.

Oh Lord, soften their hearts to You and help them to see that they were made for SO much more.

STOP

The Pulley by George Herbert

The Pulley

When God at first made man,
Having a glasse of blessings standing by;
Let us (said he) poure on him all we can:
Let the worlds riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.

So strength first made a way;
Then beautie flow’d, then wisdome, honour, pleasure:
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone, of all his treasure,
Rest in the bottome lay.

For if I should (said he)
Bestow this jewell also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts in stead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
So both should losers be.

Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlesnesse:
Let him be rich and wearie, that at least,
If goodnesse leade him not, yet wearinesse
May tosse him to my breast.

~ George Herbert

Drumroll Please...

It's my pleasure to announce that Constitution Girl will be the recipient of the CD Hymns and Sacred Songs by Leigh Nash! Congratulations! And this is a lesson to me not to be shy about entering for giveaways on blogs with which I'm unfamiliar. Love it! Once you email me your name, address and telephone number, Amazon will ship the CD to you in a whopping TWO days!

May the LORD, by His everlasting goodness, bless each one of you today with grace upon grace!

#1427-#1447

O Holy Father, you are higher than the heavens, and holy beyond comprehension. Utter heartbreak surrounds my soul as I weep for the wretch that I am, saddened beyond words by the chasm that just one sin creates between us and how I can't help but widen that chasm with more unfaithfulness. My mind gets twisted every which way by thoughts, hormones, emotions. And to be a woman, strong and sure yet gentle and quiet in spirit, is indeed beyond me. 


Yet as sure as the sun rises over that mountain, pouring its light on and in all that will receive it, so your love covers my many offenses, and not one can escape the Precious Blood that saved me from darkness and death. Over me, you see your Son who covers all my horrible ways. By your Spirit, you strengthen me and grow me and I'm no longer bound by the things that once held me captive. Help me to remember that. And rest in it. And trust in it. And grow in it.


I'm loved deeper by you than any other. Still, you display your love to me through loved ones in this world. I deserve nothing good, yet you do not relent in the flood of your lovingkindness. Heartache consumes me more quickly than I can bear and you collect each tear when I feel hopeless and give praise to my lips in return. What grace! The ways you love cannot be numbered, yet LORD, I want to try to capture some. May these thanksgivings be a sweet fragrance as I return them to you through your Son, O God, my everlasting, all-sufficient, loving and merciful Father.


January 16 - 3 ways you witnessed happiness today

#1427. Laundry done. And by "done," I mean DONE. Washed, dried, folded, ironed, hung up, put away. All in the SAME DAY.

#1428. That light in her eyes as she awaits our cuddling on the couch as we read together.

#1429. When I answered, "yes" that they could play the Wii.

January 17 - one gift that made you laugh, one gift that made you pray, one gift that made you quiet

#1430. The way my sweet children totally ATE UP our new chore chart system! I've procrastinated on an official system for a LONG time. Finally found one that seemed easy enough to get going, and motivating for them. Today was the first day I revealed "Round 1" to them in the implementation process, and they are EAGER. So is this mama!

#1431. The consistent stirring in my soul lately that enough is enough, and the resolve to obey the LORD and establish some new boundaries.

#1432. Waking up this morning with a migraine, and the gradual subsiding of said pain as I read through the scriptures with coffee in hand.

January 18 - 3 gifts from God's Word

#1433. "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." Matthew 18:22

#1434. "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

#1435. "This God -- his way is perfect, the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him." Psalm 18:30

January 19 - a grace in the kitchen, a grace in the weather, a grace that might never have been

#1436. My boy when it's his turn to rinse the dishes.

#1437. Mild afternoons for just a little outdoor play for the children.

#1438. Our firstborn child. It was only after a death-brought-to-life heart did I finally conceive.

January 20 - 3 gifts you saw only when you got close up

#1439. The softness of his kiss.

#1440. The squeeze of her hug.

#1441. Another loose tooth! Ah the YEARS I dreamed of a child and how quickly the stages come upon us parents who just strive to savor such sweet moments in these precious babes that we waited on for so long.

January 21 - one thing in the sky, one thing from your memory, one thing that's ugly-beautiful

#1442. A mixture of snow and rain falling on a late-night drive home.

#1443. "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations." Deuteronomy 7:9

#1444. The desert.

January 22 - on grace wrinkled, one grace smooth, one grace unfolded

#1445. Laugh lines.

#1446. Ahava Body Lotion - a Christmas gift from Dear Husband.

#1447. The tissue I've learned to keep in my pocket, the one that's ready to catch the tears that inevitably fall during worship on Sunday mornings.

Birthday Love, Hymns and Sacred Songs

Today is my birthday, and I'm taken over with joy about all the people in my life there are to love. And I never would have imagined a day when I could get on the computer on a thing called Facebook and find over 80 friends I've known and loved over the years taking the time to wish me a happy birthday. Who cares if it's because my name pops up in the right-hand corner of their screen and that might be the only way most remembered it? For them to take the time to wish me such beautiful blessings gets me all choked up. I'm humbled by words that not one fiber of my being deserves. To God be the glory for ANYTHING that ANYONE sees in my life as a blessing.

And then there's my friend and neighbor (by 50 miles) who treats me to a birthday lunch with gift in hand. Why? Because she loves me too. I've spoken of her before. *wink* She has been a beautiful and refreshing stream in this desert called New Mexico. The LORD introduced us through this bloggy world, and eventually, lovingly brought us to live within 50 miles of one another. And stingy me wishes there weren't so many of those miles between us. I have been blessed with lots of friends over the years and I thank God that I can be 41 years old and God is still blessing me with unexpected girlfriends like her whom I can love every bit as much as those I've had for most of my life. God IS amazing that way, and I am convinced more and more that the capacity to love people increases dramatically with my capacity to love Him. The place in my heart this dear sister in Christ has taken is...lovely.

My wonderful husband took off work early today. We had nothing planned other than eating out for supper tonight. Still, he just wanted to be with me on my birthday. There aren't enough words to share what having him just want to be with me means to my soul. This man and I have been through some of the darkest of times in our marriage, and after having been delivered from and standing firm on the other side of such a deep and dark valley, I am daily amazed at how God redeemed our life together. And when it is God who is in the redemption and resurrection business, He ALWAYS comes through with what we don't deserve and with what we could never fathom. Nine years into my new life in Christ, and lo and behold, I have a new life with my husband too. It's NOTHING like it was before, just as my life in Christ is NOTHING like it was before He redeemed me. Praise His holy name! Thank you, Jesus! Just hanging out with my husband and precious children this afternoon made for a LOVELY birthday.

Soooooo...

Since it's been such a beautiful birthday, I MUST share it! I discovered the CD Hymns and Sacred Songs by Leigh Nash during the Christmas holiday and cannot keep it to myself. She sang with Six Pence None the Richer several years back, and this album is sweet, folksy, and God-honoring. Leave a comment for a drawing, and I'll announce the winner, oh let's say next Wednesday, the 25th. I figure since I can count on one hand how many people read and comment on this here blog (even sporadically), your odds of winning are FABULOUS. *wink*

#1406-1426

January 9 - a gift in your hand, a gift you walked by, a gift you sat with

#1406. Fingers intertwined.

#1407. His well-made bed. He's four.

#1408. My husband during the football game tonight and giggling with him about hearing enough about honey badgers and how the Bama player after the game said that his team "out physicaled" their opponent. As in, "They're a physical team, but we out physicaled them tonight." I think that's my new favorite word. :o)

January 10 - a gift that's sour, a gift that's sweet, a gift that's just. right.

#1409. The alarm clock that wakes me in the wee hours of the morning...

#1410. ...early enough that I can get a solid hour and more alone...

#1411. ...reading, studying, meditating, memorizing, and praying.

January 11 - 3 yellow things that strike you fresh as mercy

#1412. Happy sunshine

#1413. The yellow stripe on the bridge that my eyes could remain focused on as white knuckles gripped the wheel and steered the car over and onto another freeway. I can't stand that bridge, but so thankful for that yellow line.

#1414. Yellow birthday cake for the husband who still makes it his aim to outdo me in love.

January 12 - something above you, something below you, something beside you

#1415. Wispy, winter, desert clouds.

#1416. Radiant floor heating.

#1417. That sweet child who rests her head on my shoulder as we read.

January 13 - 3 sounds you hear

#1418. "Since you're already here, would you want to stay for dinner too?"

#1419. A bread machine.

#1420. 10 children.

January 14 - 3 ways you glimpsed the startling grace of God

#1421. "The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves...For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." Romans 14:22-23

#1422. "And that night [the dark night of the soul] will come for almost every Christian. And when it comes we must wait for the LORD, cry out to him, and know that our own self-indictment rendered in the darkness is not as sure as God's Word spoken in the light." John Piper, When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy

#1423. "In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge." Proverbs 14:26

January 15 - one thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared

#1424. My mom's wedding band.

#1425. My pride, when the LORD helped me to humble myself and ask for forgiveness from my sweet baby boy for such quick anger.

#1426. A kiss.

New Year, New Dare, New Thousand - #1374-#1405

Beginning anew for another thousand in 2012...I saw the dare and took the bait because I can't resist a good dare! Ha! No really, counting the ways the LORD has graced my life only leads to more and more seeing of His mercies. It's a lovely, God-honoring habit. I like this new dare because of the challenge to seek in places we might not otherwise look.

May those of us who enjoy naming our blessings remember that joy, TRUE JOY, the lasting kind, is found in the hope of our LORD Jesus Christ. May the blessings we count in this new year point us directly to the Giver of every good and perfect gift! Let the joy we take in these blessings be pointers to the God of our salvation and so give Him glory! May we DELIGHT in the Giver of the gifts.

January 1 - 3 things about yourself you are grateful for

#1374. I love that the LORD has given me JOY, and excitement and expectancy for the time in His Word every day.

#1375. I love that I get to have the privilege to be my children's teacher at home!

#1376. I love to laugh.

January 2 - a gift outside, inside, on a plate

#1377. Sunny skies.

#1378. Two precious children playing together, lovingly and sweetly.

#1379. Leftovers.

January 3 - 3 lines you overheard that were graces

#1380. "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee."

#1381. "Mama, I gonna get one more hug of you."

#1382. "I miss you."

January 4 - one gift old, new, & blue

#1383. "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. I'm probably the last woman on the face of the earth to have read it. It was given to me by my sweet sister-in-law several years ago and I've never read it. But as I compiled a list of books I'd like to read this year, I was compelled to add that to the top of my list. I FINALLY read it. I closed the book, and praised the LORD for His unconditional, irresistible, redeeming love!

#1384. Jenga! We were given it as a Christmas gift by the family we've grown close to out here in NM. Little did they know how perfect a gift that was because we had been quite intentional about games this year for Christmas and started an official family game shelf in our media cabinet! It's a great start!

#1385. My favorite coffee mug. I got it at the arts and crafts fair when my sister was here visiting in the fall.

January 5 - something you're reading, you're making, you're seeing

#1386. Living by the Book - The Art and Science of Reading the Bible.

#1387. A chart based on Wise Words for Moms. Adding a little here and there, spelling it out for myself everywhere, all so that I can post it in my closet and keep a copy in the kitchen too.

#1388. The papers rustling on the kitchen counter from the fresh breeze flowing through the open window. YES, I have the window open in the kitchen on January 5th. Lovely!

January 6 - one thing in your bag, your fridge, your heart

#1389. Migraine medication

#1390. My first attempt at bruschetta. Not bad! (But I think I know which recipe I'll try next time!)

#1391. The way he smiled at me as he left for work this morning.

January 7 - 3 graces from people you love

#1392. A sweet friend who has been insistent on setting up a weekly phone call for the new year. Oh how I miss her and oh how this does my heart and soul wonders. I know I haven't been forgotten about since moving out here to NM because I hear from my closest friends frequent enough. Still, we're all busy, and when our paths don't cross in real life, outta-sight/outta-mind becomes more real than I'd wish for (for all parties). It's things like this that ease the ache.

#1393. My sweet son who is still young enough that a few times each day he presents himself right in front of me and lifts up his arms so I'll pick him up and love on him a bit.

#1394. I can see out of the corner of my eye my sweet daughter watching me as I read aloud to her, and how she tucks my hair behind my ear for me.

January 8 - light that caught you, a reflection that surprised you, a shadow that fell lovely
(it was a cloudy day with a few snow flurries...no sun for shining or reflections or shadows...still these sort of graces weren't hard to find)

#1395. The fresh illumination of what can be observed and gleaned from one simple verse in God's Word as I learn how to study better and dig deeper.

#1396. The woman staring back at me in the mirror...she's got A LOT of white hair showing.

#1397. The shadow of His wing always falls lovely when I run to Him for refuge.

A few more graces that I can't help but count...

#1398. Another lost tooth and a cute-as-all-get-out lisp as a result.

#1399. My friends and family on Facebook who love seeing pictures like this every bit as much as I love posting them.

#1400. Comforting words from a friend when I reveal more about how I'm wired than I'm accustomed to...idiosyncrasies and all, she loves me.

#1401. My husband doesn't think twice about helping clean up the kitchen after a meal. Or vacuuming. *swoon*

#1402. Church.

#1403. How Little Man crawls in my lap and melts into my arms proclaiming, "You sooooo comfy!"

#1404. How Sweet Girl uses total, rock solid "strategery" during Go Fish, and Little Man loves to tell us all the new cards he gets.

#1405. Fighting the quiet, but the LORD blesses it still.

"Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?"

The words I read in Joshua 7 made me shudder this morning. God had just made the walls of Jericho tumble, and told the Israelites to plunder the city, and completely destroy everything He had devoted to destruction, which was every person, every animal and every possession, except the silver and gold and vessels of bronze and iron which were to be devoted for the treasury in the house of the LORD. (So therefore, everything was devoted to either destruction or the LORD.) And Joshua had specifically warned the Israelites to stay away from all the things devoted because keeping any devoted things from this city that God had righteously devoted to destruction because of their abominable sins would bring trouble to the house of Israel.

Long story short, the very next battle wasn't  successful and several Israelites were killed. Joshua fell on his face and pleaded with the LORD as to why He brought this destruction on His people after the victory in Jericho. God's response? "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?" Oh my heart, the utter fear Joshua must have felt at that response to his pleas. The LORD proceeded to tell Joshua that Israel had sinned and taken some of the devoted things for the treasury and kept them for themselves.

"I will be with you no more, 
unless you destroy the devoted things from among you."

Joshua must have still been on his knees because, again, the LORD told him, "Get up!"

"There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. 

You cannot stand before your enemies 
until you take away the devoted things from among you."

Then God proceeded to tell Joshua how He would reveal the guilty. Joshua did as he was told, and God revealed that Achan - one man - had brought this trouble upon the entire house of Israel because of his sin. Joshua commanded him to "give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done, do not hide it from me." Achan confessed that he had sinned against the LORD and told them he saw a beautiful cloak, silver and gold (some say it enough to last a lifetime) and coveted them, so he hid them in the ground under his tent. As if the silver and gold weren't enough, he took a cloak.

He, his family and all of his belongings were taken outside the camp and stoned and burned. "Then the LORD turned from his burning anger."

In this account, Achan had taken for himself the cloak, which (it seems) should have been among the things devoted to destruction, and the gold and silver, which were to be devoted to the LORD. This sin brought guilt and punishment upon himself, his immediate family and the entire family of Israel.

What struck me so much about this story is how often those of us who have been redeemed hold on to things from our former way of life that should have been destroyed.

Have we completely destroyed gossip (which isn't that really slander?), or have we buried it under the guise of a prayer request and revealed our heart's true condition? Have we completely destroyed haughtiness, or do we justify our self-righteousness because of our superior (or inferior) theological beliefs and condemn those who aren't at the same place in their journey to Heaven? Have we completely destroyed clothing that dishonors the LORD and our bodies, or do we hang onto them because it's "just different" at the beach or pool and concern ourselves not for the men and boys we are causing to stumble into lust?

And how many things do we keep for ourselves that should have been handed over to the LORD?

Have we given over our treasures (money, possessions, first fruits) to the LORD, or do we hoard them and pronounce debt on ourselves? Have we given Him our time, or have we kept it for ourselves and our own pursuits at the expense of regular Bible study, our family, our service to others in the name of Jesus? Have we given Him our thoughts, or are we tossed to and fro by every passing whim of covetousness, lust, wishfulness and take pains to keep up with the Joneses? Have we forgiven those who have wronged us, or do we hold back that forgiveness because we think it gives us protection from vulnerability all the while we are being eaten at from the inside out?

We would do well to remember that our sins we hold onto, whatever they may be, not only bring guilt upon our own heads, but we are not the only ones who suffer when the condemnation comes. Our families and our church families suffer when we keep for ourselves the things that should have been long forgotten in our old body of death, the way of life we lived before He saved us. Our beloved ones suffer the consequences with us when we hold on to what rightfully belongs to the LORD. We are all one body, and what one member does affects the other members more than we'd like to admit. We cannot expect to stand victorious against our enemies, both physical and spiritual, if we hang on to the devoted things, whether they be for destruction or for God.

My prayer is to remember that when I am being disciplined, it's because the LORD loves me, and I should never wonder why it is that I am being "unjustly" punished. It's actually quite easy to examine my own life against the mirror of God's Word and see my sin. Instead, I pray to "give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him," confess what I've done (admitting my sins to Him and others brings glory to the LORD), repent, and rely on the just punishment that my Jesus suffered on my behalf. I pray that the LORD gives me the grace to discern all that needs to be purged from my life and submit joyfully as He refines me. I pray this for the whole body of believers and the ones who have yet to be called.