not listening

^{Luke 15:22 -24}"But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time.

^{25 -27}"All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day's work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, 'Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.'

^{28 -30}"The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!'

^{31 -32}"His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!'"

The father wasn't listening, because he had already heard his son's plea by his action of coming home. The son wouldn't listen because he couldn't see.

stumbling oxen

^{2 Sam. 6:3 -7} They placed the Chest of God on a brand-new oxcart and removed it from Abinadab's house on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab's sons, were driving the new cart loaded with the Chest of God, Ahio in the lead and Uzzah alongside the Chest. David and the whole company of Israel were in the parade, singing at the top of their lungs and playing mandolins, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, so Uzzah reached out and grabbed the Chest of God. God blazed in anger against Uzzah and struck him hard because he had profaned the Chest. Uzzah died on the spot, right alongside the Chest."

They carried the chest on a brand spanking new cart. They were parading down the street, singing and playing instruments. The oxen stumbled. Maybe the oxen was weary. Maybe the oxen was old. Maybe the oxen just miss stepped. But the oxen stumbled. The man Uzzah reached out, perhaps to steady it. He died right there in the streets on the parade route.

leaking on the inside

just when you think no more pitfalls can come your way, the new (2year old) roof leaks and not just in one place, I might add, but 4. yep, leaking in the inside. things look fine on the outside. new architectural shin. and curb appeal. go in and things look fine.... look up. there's a leak in there, and not just in one spot. you are leaking on the inside... ceiling has turned brown with a ring and a water mark runs down the side of your walls... a simple paint job could hide, but in time it would appear again. the roofer is called back and hopeful amends remedy the problem.

David the leader

1 Samuel 22

Saul Murders the Priests of God

^{1 -2} So David got away and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. When his brothers and others associated with his family heard where he was, they came down and joined him. Not only that, but all who were down on their luck came around—losers and vagrants and misfits of all sorts. David became their leader. There were about four hundred in all...

^{14 -15} Ahimelech answered the king, "There's not an official in your administration as true to you as David, your own son-in-law and captain of your bodyguard. None more honorable either. Do you think that was the first time I prayed with him for God's guidance? Hardly! But don't accuse me of any wrongdoing, me or my family. I have no idea what you're trying to get at with this 'outlaw' talk."

pj day

Sore throat today and ear hurting again.... laundry to do and so much around the house that I am trying not to over look. Feeling bad today and it is Saturday. Jon and Nathan have run off to Statesboro and you know I am just not motivated to get around here if they left without me. A honk of a car horn and I pretend no one is home. I peak out the window as soon as "he" is gone only to find a package on the patio table from my best friend. Glad I stayed home today!

Thanks and I am going to shower, put a clean set of pj's on and curl up on the bed with the book of my friend.

judges 10

¹⁵ The People of Israel said to God: "We've sinned. Do to us whatever you think best, but please, get us out of this!"

¹⁶ Then they cleaned house of the foreign gods and worshiped only God. And God took Israel's troubles to heart.

(ever said a prayer like this? they didn't just pray, they put prayer in action and cleaned house. then God took their troubles to heart.)

yet to receive

Joshua 18

The Shiloh Survey

^{1 -2} Then the entire congregation of the People of Israel got together at Shiloh. They put up the Tent of Meeting. The land was under their control but there were still seven Israelite tribes who had yet to receive their inheritance.

^{3 -5} Joshua addressed the People of Israel: "How long are you going to sit around on your hands, putting off taking possession of the land that God, the God of your ancestors, has given you?