Just before 2 p.m. on a cloudy, "rain-ish" Sunday afternoon. Lots of news today!! First of all, Mike had his latest surgery consultation on Friday, closing out a 10 day visit with me. When considering the latest scans in combination with the fact that Mike has had a problem with one ear leaking for the past few months, they are talking about being sure of the right approach, because this could mean that brain fluid is leaking out. That would mean that treating the Chiari pressure would only result in making more room for leakage. However, they are putting him on the schedule for surgery, pending a consultation with the Anesthesiologist. It's been a long road this year, especially for Mike, but we are FINALLY seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, so Praise God!! Continued prayers for the doctors' wisdom and guidance, of course, along with a relief of Mike's pain, even if it means increasing his medication.

The second thing also relates to Mike. He has decided to move in with me here in Concord!! There's just too much drama in Brattleboro for him these days, especially on top of dealing with the severe pain over the course of the year since March. We're going to trust that the paperwork will flow smoothly since God is so clearly leading him east rather than moving me west. He initially said November first, but may be here sooner, depending on how everything else goes. Prayers for a smooth transition, in both logistics and living arrangements. My one bedroom apartment is only 400' sq. ft., so it's going to require a bit of weeding out and readjustment!! I had asked about a two bedroom, but, unfortunately, when you're on benefits, couples don't qualify. Meanwhile, I'm looking into NH Housing to see what may work down the road.

Next, the situation with my parents is looking better. The volunteer group that helps Veterans receive the aid they need has found a Senior Living, income based community about a mile or 2 away, but far enough, and up a road that I will not be easily able to walk to visit anymore. But there are cabs or Carissa for rides at moments. Although, at the same time, Mike and I still want to get another car for me at some point. Pray that everything can go relatively quickly for them in this. Of course, that means their "house mates" will be homeless again, but at least they will no longer be a burden on my parents. I mean, to a certain degree, I suppose having someone else around may be helping them in terms of the social aspect, but I can't even guarantee that for sure.

Another thing that's happened is that my ex-boyfriend Jeremy tried to call Thursday evening. I was in another room, and didn't hear or see my phone going off, and, apparently, Mike didn't either, although he was sitting near it. Anyway, I texted him that I may be available to talk on Tuesday night... which brings me to the last bit of news for the day, as I haven't heard from Andrea in a bit.

Tomorrow evening, I will be returning to the Suncook Valley Chorale. I had to leave a few weeks into the 2021 Session because I refused to get a Covid vaccine. Then Mike reappeared and I've been back and forth to Brattleboro ever since, which doesn't go well with concert rehearsals, so this is the first real chance I've had to get back to my music. It will be good for me, both physically and emotionally. Also, it will be a "built-in" break for me and Mike once he moves in here. He's totally supportive, and we'll just change our Food Pantry night to Tuesday, so that's not a big deal, either. It's close enough so I can walk to get there and then find a ride home after, or ride both ways in colder/stormy weather. I'm excited to get back to the group, and can't wait to see the director's face when he sees me!! LOL Jaws will drop and hugs will ensue!! ☺️

God is good, Amen!!??

Until I reviewed my notes for this message, it didn't have a title. I chose "Legacy of God" because it best encompasses the overall theme. That being said, I was also reminded of a recent conversation on Quora where this woman was talking about how she didn't think God was really doing anything "miraculous" these days. I encouraged her to remember that each one of us is a miracle of God, and even something as simple as a flower growing up through a crack in the sidewalk is miraculous. The point is, the more we look for them, the more miraculous things we find, even in everyday life. It doesn't have to be "big" to be a miracle.

Today's message embodies that concept as we take a look at the simple meal of Passover being part of God's legacy to His People, and by extension, to us, as well as other practical ways of living in faith.

Our Scripture is from Exodus 13 --

Exodus 13:1-16

New International Version

Consecration of the Firstborn

13 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”

³ Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. ⁴ Today, in the month of Aviv, you are leaving. ⁵ When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month: ⁶ For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord. ⁷ Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. ⁸ On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ ⁹ This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. ¹⁰ You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.

¹¹ “After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your ancestors, ¹² you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. ¹³ Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.

¹⁴ “In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ¹⁵ When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’ ¹⁶ And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”

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Pastor Matt's opening thought last week was of how we may seek for the "next big thing" (like in my story above), and the fact that this can cause doubt and confusion in our faith. The truth is that God more usually meets us in the mundane moments of life. We can actually anchor ourselves in the spectacular love of God while living out the regular rhythms of our daily lives.

Next, he mentioned how the reference of milk and honey in verse 5, recalibrated the Israelites to the abundance and provision of Eden, as it should us.

Pastor Matt then went on to talk about how the Consecration of the Firstborn, both human and animal, transformed the mundane into something special. This is the legacy of God, as my chosen title indicates. He paused at this time to share about something that has become a tradition in his own family to illustrate this point. As Matt and Heidi's 3 kids were growing up, they began to call themselves, "The Furr 5". In light of this, Heidi chose a regular white, ceramic plate at a local artisan shop, and proceeded to decorate it as a family birthday plate. Since that time, the person being celebrated eats their cake from it. A simple item, transformed into an object of special tradition.

He also mentioned that the Consecration of the Firstborn would be the subject of the Wednesday podcast, "Dive in with Matt and Joe".

At this time, Pastor Matt gave us the takeaway thought for the day --

"Grateful remembering draws us more fully into God's love."

This can relate to a variety of faith practices in our daily lives.

• Passover - While some confusion may be found in studying this alongside the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pastor Matt clarified that the Passover Meal is actually PART of the whole celebration. It's not two separate things. The act of remembrance is an embodiment of the presence of God. (Not to say that Transubstantiation is valid, but it's SYMBOLIC of His presence in our lives as we take time to focus on Jesus' Sacrifice.)* The meal shows the tenderness of God in transforming our lives, as food sustains us. He then spent a few minutes illustrating this point by mentioning how, in the Disney movie "Ratatouille", the feared Food Critic is transported back to his mother's kitchen in his childhood when presented with the comforting ratatouille for the review. As Pastor Matt phrased it, the presence of God can also be compared to fire. Where a campfire is cozy and comforting, a house fire may be devastating.

• Baptism and Communion are two of the most prevalent faith practices of the Church in general, although there are various views on each, depending on where you go.*

• Worship -- These songs and/or hymns remind us of Who God is and who we are in relation to Him.

• Prayer is the most mundane faith practice of God there is, either communally or individually. (Time taken to focus our hearts and minds on Him is a key element of daily faith. As Jesus tells us in Matt. 6:33, "Seek first the Kingdom of God, and these things will be added to you.")*

• Hugging others in greeting and/or encouragement tells them they are not alone.

• Postures of gratitude such as obedience provide us with a reminder of our identity in Christ as we show our trust in Him. This also reaffirms that our Salvation is not earned; but freely given to all who accept it.

The bottom line is that these practices of faith in daily life free us from seeking the spectacular because God's love IS spectacular!! Amen!!??

-- God Bless!!

Footnote:

1. As always, parenthetical commentary is mine.

Music -- never any rights!!

This isn't the same one, but I don't always get titles right...