Rindy's Devotional Tidbits
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The Spiritual Cafe is pleased to share her daily facebook thoughts. It is our hope that her reflections will be a service to you on your spiritual growth journey.
Week 9 Archives
Year 5; Day 57 Nothing too Small
The other day I was wiping off the kitchen counter and checked the crumb tray in the toaster. It was pretty full so I emptied it. I shook the toaster as well because all the crumbs don't seem to drop down. As I shook it, I could here stuff rattling around in the bottom. So I shook it more vigorously and out dropped some little pieces of burned toast and some well-done raisins. I kept shaking and I was surprised at how much stuff came that wasn't in the crumb tray. There was a thin white item part way out and when I finished pulling it the rest of the way, my first impression was it was a very thin, small, nagged slice of bread. Part of it was burned and I put it with the other debris. As I went to throw the considerable pile of toaster crumbs in the trash, I realized the the white piece was actually a small corner of paper towel. How in the world did that get lodged into the bottom of the toaster?! I do not know but there it was---stiff and with burned edges. Suppose it had caught fire? I doubt the house would have burned down but it could have caused some damage...especially if I were doing something else while my bread was toasting and not paying attention to the toaster. I don't know. And that is what came into my mind. All the things that could happen that I don't even think of. Things I am not aware of. Things that I don't even know about. Maybe the toaster doesn't get hot enough to ignite paper towel. But it was burned. I found myself thanking the Lord that nothing happened. I thanked Him for His protection and couldn't help but wonder how many times in the run of a day or a month or a lifetime things could have happened but didn't...things I never knew or even thought about. Psalm 139 speaks to the attention to the details of our lives that the Lord pays. "O Lord...You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways...You hem me in---behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. (verses 1-5) And He even knows what goes in the toaster. Today is Sunday. A good day to gather with others and give thanks for all He has done...does...and will do. Even if I never know.
The other day I was wiping off the kitchen counter and checked the crumb tray in the toaster. It was pretty full so I emptied it. I shook the toaster as well because all the crumbs don't seem to drop down. As I shook it, I could here stuff rattling around in the bottom. So I shook it more vigorously and out dropped some little pieces of burned toast and some well-done raisins. I kept shaking and I was surprised at how much stuff came that wasn't in the crumb tray. There was a thin white item part way out and when I finished pulling it the rest of the way, my first impression was it was a very thin, small, nagged slice of bread. Part of it was burned and I put it with the other debris. As I went to throw the considerable pile of toaster crumbs in the trash, I realized the the white piece was actually a small corner of paper towel. How in the world did that get lodged into the bottom of the toaster?! I do not know but there it was---stiff and with burned edges. Suppose it had caught fire? I doubt the house would have burned down but it could have caused some damage...especially if I were doing something else while my bread was toasting and not paying attention to the toaster. I don't know. And that is what came into my mind. All the things that could happen that I don't even think of. Things I am not aware of. Things that I don't even know about. Maybe the toaster doesn't get hot enough to ignite paper towel. But it was burned. I found myself thanking the Lord that nothing happened. I thanked Him for His protection and couldn't help but wonder how many times in the run of a day or a month or a lifetime things could have happened but didn't...things I never knew or even thought about. Psalm 139 speaks to the attention to the details of our lives that the Lord pays. "O Lord...You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways...You hem me in---behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. (verses 1-5) And He even knows what goes in the toaster. Today is Sunday. A good day to gather with others and give thanks for all He has done...does...and will do. Even if I never know.
Year 5; Day 58 He Will Answer
Some people already heard me say this but I feel to repeat it in this post. I want to share some encouragement that I received last week at our Bible study. It has stayed with me and I have thought about it all week. Many of us have loved ones who are not serving the Lord. They could be close friends or family members. And so we pray for them....and pray for them. Nothing changes or seems to change. For some, the prayers can go on for years and it can get discouraging. Does God hear? Is He listening? Does He really care? Last week the subject came up and a member of the Bible study gave this encouraging word. She said when her husband was growing up, he had a praying mother but she passed away before she saw any of her sons come to know the Lord. The children went to live with their grandmother who also prayed diligently for their souls. She also passed away without seeing her prayers answered. However, later on, a number of these sons and grandsons (including the husband of the woman sharing ) did come to accept Christ as their Saviour. While the prayers of these women were not answered in their lifetimes, they were answered. James 5:16 says, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." That includes women too. Some of these sons and grandsons have passed on to eternity. Imagine the reunion with their loved ones who faithful prayed, seemingly without results. I have tucked this encouragement away in my heart. Perhaps you don't need it now...but maybe you will later on. Our prayers are heard. They are not wasted. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of him." (1 John 5:14,15) We would all like our prayers to be answered instantly or at least nearly immediately. But often they aren't. Often our prayers take perseverance and time.. And for some the answer is not received in their lifetimes. But the effectiveness and power of the prayers carry forward. It may be heaven before you see your answer. Today is Monday. We are called to be faithful in prayer and leave the results and timing to God. He hears.
Some people already heard me say this but I feel to repeat it in this post. I want to share some encouragement that I received last week at our Bible study. It has stayed with me and I have thought about it all week. Many of us have loved ones who are not serving the Lord. They could be close friends or family members. And so we pray for them....and pray for them. Nothing changes or seems to change. For some, the prayers can go on for years and it can get discouraging. Does God hear? Is He listening? Does He really care? Last week the subject came up and a member of the Bible study gave this encouraging word. She said when her husband was growing up, he had a praying mother but she passed away before she saw any of her sons come to know the Lord. The children went to live with their grandmother who also prayed diligently for their souls. She also passed away without seeing her prayers answered. However, later on, a number of these sons and grandsons (including the husband of the woman sharing ) did come to accept Christ as their Saviour. While the prayers of these women were not answered in their lifetimes, they were answered. James 5:16 says, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." That includes women too. Some of these sons and grandsons have passed on to eternity. Imagine the reunion with their loved ones who faithful prayed, seemingly without results. I have tucked this encouragement away in my heart. Perhaps you don't need it now...but maybe you will later on. Our prayers are heard. They are not wasted. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of him." (1 John 5:14,15) We would all like our prayers to be answered instantly or at least nearly immediately. But often they aren't. Often our prayers take perseverance and time.. And for some the answer is not received in their lifetimes. But the effectiveness and power of the prayers carry forward. It may be heaven before you see your answer. Today is Monday. We are called to be faithful in prayer and leave the results and timing to God. He hears.
Year 5; Day 59 I Am the Resurrection
I love how a Scripture you have heard and known all your life can be made real to you all over again. In our last lesson for the week in our "Breaking Free" workbook by Beth Moore, we had to read the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was close friends with two sisters, Mary and Martha, and their brother Lazarus. When Lazarus got sick, the sisters sent word for Jesus to come. Jesus delayed His coming knowing that Lazarus would die and He would raise Him from the dead in order to bring glory to God. When Jesus finally arrived, He comforted Martha by saying, "...Your brother will rise again." (John 11:23) She acknowledged her belief that at some future time she knew her brother would be resurrected from the dead. Then Jesus went on to say, "...I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die..." (verse 25) Beth made the comment that Jesus had called Himself by a new name..."I am the resurrection". Most of us will not see that power and aspect of Christ until He returns. But He demonstrated it for Mary, Martha, and those around so they would know He spoke truth. He resurrected Lazarus from physical death to life. As I was writing some thoughts down in the workbook it came to me strongly about Christ being the resurrection. That is part of who He is but I don't think it is only life He can resurrect. Christ can bring life and healing to anything that is dead...broken...ruined...lost. The binder of broken hearts, the releaser of captives, and the light in darkness, is also the resurrection and life to not only physical death, but death in whatever form it may take. He can bring life and healing to ruined lives. Even if we think our lives are over, Christ can make us new creations when we come to Him. Dead marriages and broken relationships can be resurrected to newness and life. So can crushed dreams and hopeless desires. Christ is the resurrection and the life of all that is dead...physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual! Is that not wonderful? Does that not stir your heart? All that Christ is and has and does is for us...for our benefit...for our freedom...for love of us. Christ has conquered death in all its forms. Today is Tuesday. Death, however it looks, is not bigger than our Lord. He is the resurrection!
I love how a Scripture you have heard and known all your life can be made real to you all over again. In our last lesson for the week in our "Breaking Free" workbook by Beth Moore, we had to read the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was close friends with two sisters, Mary and Martha, and their brother Lazarus. When Lazarus got sick, the sisters sent word for Jesus to come. Jesus delayed His coming knowing that Lazarus would die and He would raise Him from the dead in order to bring glory to God. When Jesus finally arrived, He comforted Martha by saying, "...Your brother will rise again." (John 11:23) She acknowledged her belief that at some future time she knew her brother would be resurrected from the dead. Then Jesus went on to say, "...I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die..." (verse 25) Beth made the comment that Jesus had called Himself by a new name..."I am the resurrection". Most of us will not see that power and aspect of Christ until He returns. But He demonstrated it for Mary, Martha, and those around so they would know He spoke truth. He resurrected Lazarus from physical death to life. As I was writing some thoughts down in the workbook it came to me strongly about Christ being the resurrection. That is part of who He is but I don't think it is only life He can resurrect. Christ can bring life and healing to anything that is dead...broken...ruined...lost. The binder of broken hearts, the releaser of captives, and the light in darkness, is also the resurrection and life to not only physical death, but death in whatever form it may take. He can bring life and healing to ruined lives. Even if we think our lives are over, Christ can make us new creations when we come to Him. Dead marriages and broken relationships can be resurrected to newness and life. So can crushed dreams and hopeless desires. Christ is the resurrection and the life of all that is dead...physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual! Is that not wonderful? Does that not stir your heart? All that Christ is and has and does is for us...for our benefit...for our freedom...for love of us. Christ has conquered death in all its forms. Today is Tuesday. Death, however it looks, is not bigger than our Lord. He is the resurrection!
Year 5; Day 60 Ears to Hear
I have been trying to read Scripture more slowly and with greater contemplation to allow for the Holy Spirit to apply the words to my heart. Last night I read the words of Christ who said, "...Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand." (Matthew 13:13) When I read those words about hearing, I immediately thought about a series I watched over a year ago on Netflix called "The Moon Embracing the Sun". It was a South Korean production with sub-titles. It took place several hundred years ago and it was lavish and colourful with most of the story taking place in an imaginary royal court. There were the good guys, the bad guys, court politics and intrigue, love lost and then found. I really had to pay attention to reading the sub-titles and it took time before I could keep all the characters straight. I watched the series several times until I was quite familiar with the story. One time I had it on as I was working around the house. I could hear the Korean words being spoken but wasn't reading the sub-title translations. I did not have a clue what was being said. I could hear sound but had absolutely no understanding of its meaning. I did not know where one word ended and another started. Without the tool of sub-titles the story would have been mostly incomprehensible. I heard but I didn't understand. Jesus said some of us have ears but they don't hear with understanding. What tool(s) do we need to have ears that hear? Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (KJV) Our ears will begin to hear as we spend time in the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will help with understanding and applying God's Word to our hearts and lives. As we do this, our faith will increase which helps us to "hear" even better. Just as my "hearing" improved greatly as I read the sub-titles, our "hearing" the things of God will improve greatly as we read His word. Today is Wednesday. We have ears...what are they hearing?
I have been trying to read Scripture more slowly and with greater contemplation to allow for the Holy Spirit to apply the words to my heart. Last night I read the words of Christ who said, "...Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand." (Matthew 13:13) When I read those words about hearing, I immediately thought about a series I watched over a year ago on Netflix called "The Moon Embracing the Sun". It was a South Korean production with sub-titles. It took place several hundred years ago and it was lavish and colourful with most of the story taking place in an imaginary royal court. There were the good guys, the bad guys, court politics and intrigue, love lost and then found. I really had to pay attention to reading the sub-titles and it took time before I could keep all the characters straight. I watched the series several times until I was quite familiar with the story. One time I had it on as I was working around the house. I could hear the Korean words being spoken but wasn't reading the sub-title translations. I did not have a clue what was being said. I could hear sound but had absolutely no understanding of its meaning. I did not know where one word ended and another started. Without the tool of sub-titles the story would have been mostly incomprehensible. I heard but I didn't understand. Jesus said some of us have ears but they don't hear with understanding. What tool(s) do we need to have ears that hear? Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (KJV) Our ears will begin to hear as we spend time in the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will help with understanding and applying God's Word to our hearts and lives. As we do this, our faith will increase which helps us to "hear" even better. Just as my "hearing" improved greatly as I read the sub-titles, our "hearing" the things of God will improve greatly as we read His word. Today is Wednesday. We have ears...what are they hearing?
Year 5; Day 61 He Told Me Everything
I was talking some things over with the Lord the other day. I found myself having difficulty putting some of my feelings into words and I ended up saying, "You know, Lord. You know what I am trying to say. You know it all." There is a freedom in praying that is found in few, if any, other conversations. It is one place where absolute honesty is easier because He knows everything anyway. There is nothing we need to withhold, slant, omit, or alter because He already knows the exact, real, unvarnished truth. So unless I am deceiving myself, I can come with complete honesty and transparency because God knows it all and loves me anyway. I have some close friends that know me quite well. Over the years we have shared experiences and confidences. However, not one of them knows everything. But God does. This point was driven home in our Bible study DVD lesson from the Beth Moore series "Breaking Free". Jesus was passing through Samaria and He stopped at a well to rest. A Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus asked her for a drink. Jews did not associate with Samaritans and the woman was quite surprised at the request. Jesus went on to tell her that if she knew who was talking to her, she would be asking Him for the "living water" that only He could give. Still not realizing Christ was offering to satisfy her spiritual thirst, she asked for this "living water" so she wouldn't have to come to the well daily. Jesus then told her to go and fetch her husband. She replied that she had no husband. And that was the truth...sort of...mainly...technically. But Jesus knew the whole truth. The woman had had five husbands and was living with a sixth man. As the conversation continued, the woman wasn't condemned, but was instead offered hope. With news too good not to share, "Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did." (John 4:28,29) That same Christ who knows everything we ever did, and thought, and wanted to do, comes to offer to us that same "living water" that cleanses and refreshes and renews. Today is Thursday. He can tell us everything we ever did and still desire to give us His "living water". What freedom!
I was talking some things over with the Lord the other day. I found myself having difficulty putting some of my feelings into words and I ended up saying, "You know, Lord. You know what I am trying to say. You know it all." There is a freedom in praying that is found in few, if any, other conversations. It is one place where absolute honesty is easier because He knows everything anyway. There is nothing we need to withhold, slant, omit, or alter because He already knows the exact, real, unvarnished truth. So unless I am deceiving myself, I can come with complete honesty and transparency because God knows it all and loves me anyway. I have some close friends that know me quite well. Over the years we have shared experiences and confidences. However, not one of them knows everything. But God does. This point was driven home in our Bible study DVD lesson from the Beth Moore series "Breaking Free". Jesus was passing through Samaria and He stopped at a well to rest. A Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus asked her for a drink. Jews did not associate with Samaritans and the woman was quite surprised at the request. Jesus went on to tell her that if she knew who was talking to her, she would be asking Him for the "living water" that only He could give. Still not realizing Christ was offering to satisfy her spiritual thirst, she asked for this "living water" so she wouldn't have to come to the well daily. Jesus then told her to go and fetch her husband. She replied that she had no husband. And that was the truth...sort of...mainly...technically. But Jesus knew the whole truth. The woman had had five husbands and was living with a sixth man. As the conversation continued, the woman wasn't condemned, but was instead offered hope. With news too good not to share, "Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did." (John 4:28,29) That same Christ who knows everything we ever did, and thought, and wanted to do, comes to offer to us that same "living water" that cleanses and refreshes and renews. Today is Thursday. He can tell us everything we ever did and still desire to give us His "living water". What freedom!
Year 5; Day 62 Beauty For Ashes
I love how a Bible study can ask you to reread stories you think you know only for you to find new truths or more truths or hidden truths applicable to life. The story of Tamar found in 2 Samuel 13 is a tragic one. King David had two sons who were half brothers. Amnon was the crown prince and heir to the throne. Absalom was younger and Tamar was Absalom's full sister and Amnon's half sister. Scripture says that Tamar was beautiful and wore, "...a richly ornamented robe, for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore.". (verse 18) Amnon loved (lusted, really) Tamar to the point of making himself ill. A cousin helped Amnon devise a plan to seduce Tamar. Feigning sickness, Amnon had Tamar come to his house and ultimately bedroom to give him food. There he grabbed Tamar and despite her pleas, raped her. Almost immediately Amnon's violent love (?) turned to violent hatred and he couldn't stand the sight of her. She was thrown out the door, violated, victimized, and degraded. "Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went." (verse 19) She went to live in Absalom's house, "a desolate woman". (verse 20) Her brother told her not to take it to heart (although he plotted revenge in his heart for two years) and her father, the king, was furious but did nothing. The Hebrew for desolate means: to stun, grow numb, devastate, destroy, make waste, ravage, ruin. Tamar lived out her life a "desolate" woman...numb, devastated, ruined. Violently betrayed by one brother, insensitively treated by another, accountability and justice denied by her father, she never recovered. Maybe, like Tamar, some of us feel "desolate". The reasons may be different or even the same...that of being used, abused, violated, dismissed, degraded, devastated, ravaged, ruined. Our lives, our emotions, our dreams, our hopes are nothing but ashes. And if we don't wear them outwardly with weeping, the ashes cover us inwardly and the wailing just has the volume turned down. But we have a Saviour who has come, "...to comfort those who mourn,...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isaiah 61:2,3) It will take time but our heavenly Father promises that we don't have to stay "desolate". Today is Friday. Only He can truly give us "beauty for ashes".
I love how a Bible study can ask you to reread stories you think you know only for you to find new truths or more truths or hidden truths applicable to life. The story of Tamar found in 2 Samuel 13 is a tragic one. King David had two sons who were half brothers. Amnon was the crown prince and heir to the throne. Absalom was younger and Tamar was Absalom's full sister and Amnon's half sister. Scripture says that Tamar was beautiful and wore, "...a richly ornamented robe, for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore.". (verse 18) Amnon loved (lusted, really) Tamar to the point of making himself ill. A cousin helped Amnon devise a plan to seduce Tamar. Feigning sickness, Amnon had Tamar come to his house and ultimately bedroom to give him food. There he grabbed Tamar and despite her pleas, raped her. Almost immediately Amnon's violent love (?) turned to violent hatred and he couldn't stand the sight of her. She was thrown out the door, violated, victimized, and degraded. "Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went." (verse 19) She went to live in Absalom's house, "a desolate woman". (verse 20) Her brother told her not to take it to heart (although he plotted revenge in his heart for two years) and her father, the king, was furious but did nothing. The Hebrew for desolate means: to stun, grow numb, devastate, destroy, make waste, ravage, ruin. Tamar lived out her life a "desolate" woman...numb, devastated, ruined. Violently betrayed by one brother, insensitively treated by another, accountability and justice denied by her father, she never recovered. Maybe, like Tamar, some of us feel "desolate". The reasons may be different or even the same...that of being used, abused, violated, dismissed, degraded, devastated, ravaged, ruined. Our lives, our emotions, our dreams, our hopes are nothing but ashes. And if we don't wear them outwardly with weeping, the ashes cover us inwardly and the wailing just has the volume turned down. But we have a Saviour who has come, "...to comfort those who mourn,...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isaiah 61:2,3) It will take time but our heavenly Father promises that we don't have to stay "desolate". Today is Friday. Only He can truly give us "beauty for ashes".
Year 5; Day 63 Our Defining Moment
I have been thinking about Tamar and yesterday's post. Even though she was the beautiful daughter of King David, that did not protect her from a horrible, violent act. She was lured into her half-brother's home where he raped her. She tried to talk him out of it but he would not listen to her. After the deed was done, there was no remorse from Amnon. He did not beg forgiveness or repent in any way. His so called love almost instantly changed to hate and he couldn't get rid of her fast enough. Amnon had his personal servant throw her out the door. No one came to her aid. When her brother Absalom saw her outward demonstration of grief with her torn robe, ashes on her head, and wailing, he said, "Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet now, my sister; he is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart." (2 Samuel 13:20) One brother raped her and another brother basically told her it was no big deal and not to make such a fuss. When King David found out, he was furious and...that was it. He was furious and nothing more. Surely as king, and even more as a father, he could have come to the comfort and aid of Tamar. He could have exiled Amnon, demanded some kind of restitution, or at least stripped him of his position as crown prince. The failure of those around her to love and protect her left Tamar a "desolate woman". And we have no evidence that it changed. She moved in with Absalom and he named one of his daughters Tamar but Absalom's life was not happy and he eventually met his own untimely death. Tamar's beauty and royal position did not spare her from a violent, violating event. And it defined the rest of her life. I so wish someone would have helped her...reassured her of her worth and value...listened, cried, and grieved with her...and then brought some joy and laughter back into her life. I wish some farmer or craftsman or distant relative had come along and looked beyond an event to the person and loved her as Tamar. Maybe today some of us can identify with Tamar. We feel "desolate", ruined, degraded, and without hope. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we can have a new defining moment. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Christ will redefine us, regardless of our past. We become children of the King. We are guaranteed justice in the end. We are given a new hope, a new purpose, and new resources to live a new life. Today is Saturday. In Christ, the old desolation can be replaced. Our choice.
I have been thinking about Tamar and yesterday's post. Even though she was the beautiful daughter of King David, that did not protect her from a horrible, violent act. She was lured into her half-brother's home where he raped her. She tried to talk him out of it but he would not listen to her. After the deed was done, there was no remorse from Amnon. He did not beg forgiveness or repent in any way. His so called love almost instantly changed to hate and he couldn't get rid of her fast enough. Amnon had his personal servant throw her out the door. No one came to her aid. When her brother Absalom saw her outward demonstration of grief with her torn robe, ashes on her head, and wailing, he said, "Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet now, my sister; he is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart." (2 Samuel 13:20) One brother raped her and another brother basically told her it was no big deal and not to make such a fuss. When King David found out, he was furious and...that was it. He was furious and nothing more. Surely as king, and even more as a father, he could have come to the comfort and aid of Tamar. He could have exiled Amnon, demanded some kind of restitution, or at least stripped him of his position as crown prince. The failure of those around her to love and protect her left Tamar a "desolate woman". And we have no evidence that it changed. She moved in with Absalom and he named one of his daughters Tamar but Absalom's life was not happy and he eventually met his own untimely death. Tamar's beauty and royal position did not spare her from a violent, violating event. And it defined the rest of her life. I so wish someone would have helped her...reassured her of her worth and value...listened, cried, and grieved with her...and then brought some joy and laughter back into her life. I wish some farmer or craftsman or distant relative had come along and looked beyond an event to the person and loved her as Tamar. Maybe today some of us can identify with Tamar. We feel "desolate", ruined, degraded, and without hope. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we can have a new defining moment. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Christ will redefine us, regardless of our past. We become children of the King. We are guaranteed justice in the end. We are given a new hope, a new purpose, and new resources to live a new life. Today is Saturday. In Christ, the old desolation can be replaced. Our choice.