Something New-"C" & "D" & "E"
Took us awhile to figure out how to make this baby bathtub work in the kitchen sink.
Reading the directions helped!
July 18-19The standard of measure below sounds like the way I measure ingredients when I cook (a pinch here and a smidgeon there). It obviously got the job done in Old Testament Days and is good enough for a heavenly construction reference, but would probably drive our builder son nuts! I guess you'd have to be sure all your workers arms measured out to equal cubits! The three glossary words I have chosen today remind us whether related to our work, our way of life or what we wear, God is into details. If we take the time to seek Him, He will direct our path.
“You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That's right—you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me.” Psalm 119:7 MSG
Cubit- "a unit of measure 18-21 inches in length-from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger."
The Angel speaking with me had a gold measuring stick to measure the City, its gates, and its wall. The City was laid out in a perfect square. He measured the City with the measuring stick: twelve thousand stadia, its length, width, and height all equal. Using the standard measure, the Angel measured the thickness of its wall: 144 cubits. The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. The foundations of the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl. Revelation 21:15-21
Dissipation- "Living only for your own pleasure, wasting your life on foolish or evil pleasures."
But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about! Romans 13:11-14
Ephod-"One of six articles of clothing specified for Israelite priests' uniforms. A sleeveless garment made of fine twisted linen."
"Have the Ephod made from gold; blue, purple, and scarlet material; and fine twisted linen by a skilled craftsman. Give it two shoulder pieces at two of the corners so it can be fastened. The decorated band on it is to be just like it and of one piece with it: made of gold; blue, purple, and scarlet material; and of fine twisted linen. Next take two onyx stones and engrave the names of the sons of Israel on them in the order of their birth, six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a jeweler engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in settings of filigreed gold. Fasten the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the Ephod—they are memorial stones for the Israelites. Aaron will wear these names on his shoulders as a memorial before God. Make the settings of gold filigree. Make two chains of pure gold and braid them like cords, then attach the corded chains to the settings. Exodus 28:6-14
Lord, daily we need direction to experience your best for our lives. May we not toss Your Word aside (as we do instruction manuals) and try to figure out how to put life together on our own. May we be found faithful to seek You and desire for You to instruct us and teach us in the ways we should go. In Jesus' Name, Amen
