Women of Faith: Lot's Wife

If you are familiar with the story of Lot's Wife you may be asking why I am including this in a series on Women of Faith...I think the lessons we can learn from her story are strong and worthwhile looking into. The book that I am working through is called "Women of the Bible" and they include Lot's Wife. I probably would not have thought twice about her story if I were not working through this book.

So let's dig into her story:

Lot's Wife is only mentioned as such, she is never given a name. Her story is short, only a few paragraphs. And even then it is told in the context of Lot's story. Lot and his wife lived in Sodom, known for its wickedness and corruption. They lived prosperously in this town despite it's wickedness. God learned of Sodom and Gomorrah's wicked ways and sent angel's to verify and report. Lot happened to come upon the angel's upon entering the town gates and invited them into his home. What happens next is hard to imagine unless you understand just how important hospitality was to the ancient Israelites and people of this time period. However, even knowing that I cannot imagine offering my young daughters to a mob of angry men instead of visitors that I knew nothing about and had just met. This is just what Lot did. But the mob would not be swayed and rushed the house. The angel's knowing that nothing could be done for Sodom and Gomorrah pulled Lot back into the house, informed him to gather his family and flee the city. Hesitation mounted, they were being told to leave the city the had lived in for years and leaving all their belongings behind, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" (Gen 19:17).

Now is where we enter the part of the story where Lot's Wife becomes the center. The family flees, Lot, his wife, and his two daughters run to a small town nearby that would be spared from the destruction. Lot and his daughters do not look back. Lot's Wife turns around and is turned into a pillar of salt...

What makes her turn around? We will never know, we can only guess? Was she overcome by curiosity? Destruction draws attention, whenever their is an accident or a fire everyone becomes engrossed with the destruction, curious about what is going on. Was Lot's Wife looking back longing for everything the family had left behind? They were told to flee without packing anything, only the clothes on their back and maybe a few small things they could carry in their hands. All other things were destroyed with the city. We are, perhaps a little too much, attached to our material items. Had Lot's Wife held on to her husband's hand and kept to running she would have had her family, instead she lost everything.

Jesus urges us remember Lot's Wife when speaking of the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven, "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On the day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot's Wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it" (Luke 17:30-33). When we follow Christ we must be ready to leave everything to follow Him.

On the side of a mountain just up from a huge open expanse of land where many experts believe Sodom and Gomorrah once stood, this rock formation stands apart from the rest. 

The people view this as symbol of Lot's Wife. 

Remember Lot's Wife when you can't seem to let go off material things in this life. While you probably will not turn into a pile of salt on the spot, you will start to poke holes in your faith and relationship with God.

Women of Faith: Hagar

Hagar was an Egyptian slave who became the maid servant for Sarah. As we read about in Sarah's story, Hagar became the mother to Abraham's first son, Ishmael. Sarah wanted to use Hagar as a surrogate, but when she was able to conceive Sarah became jealous and started to treat Hagar horribly.

It is interesting to think that the idea of a surrogate occurred in biblical times. In that time period, however, it was more a necessity than just a couple wanting a child (though I'm sure that was a part at times). In ancient times your livelihood and fortune were passed on through your offspring. And it was male children that received the inheritance, not the female.

But back to Hagar and her story...Once Hagar conceived her life with Sarah became very difficult. So difficult that Hagar fled into the desert while she was still pregnant. An angel of the Lord intervened and told her to return to Sarah. Hagar returned, gave birth and stayed for many years. But things would change for Hagar and Ishmael one more time, when Sarah gave birth to the son that she was promised. Not too long after Isaac was born Sarah wanted Hagar and Ishmael cast out from their homestead. Abraham did not want to throw his son out into the desert, but again an angel of the Lord intervened and told him not to worry about Ishmael. And so Abraham and Sarah sent Hagar and Ishmael away.

After only a short time in the desert the rations that they had been sent out with were expired. Hagar put Ishmael in one spot and she started to walk away because she could not watch her son die. She began to cry, her son was crying. Although Ishmael was not the chosen son of Abraham, he was still a son of Abraham and God provided for him. An angel of the Lord showed Hagar an oasis in the desert, both her and her son survived. 

Hagar was thrown into a situation she did not ask for. She was given to Sarah as a slave from Egypt. Once she gained Sarah's trust and became her maidservant she was told to sleep with her mistresses husband and become a surrogate. Once she did conceive, as Sarah had asked of her, she was greatly mistreated. The Lord heard her cries and told her to return to Sarah after she had runaway. When she was eventually turned away for good, the Lord again provided for her. 

How difficult is it to be thrust into a situation you didn't want or expect? Hagar did the best with what she was given, at one point it became to much and she ran. I often feel like running from situations when I get overwhelmed and am not sure how to proceed. As was custom, God actually spoke to Hagar through an angel. Once she knew that God was behind her she was able to face Sarah and Abraham, and to raise her son in their presence. We don't have the luxury of hearing the voice of an angel or the voice of God, though that would sure make things easy. Instead we have to rely on urges and feelings that God wants us to do one thing or another. 

"Lord, sometimes I feel abandoned, as though no one understands or cares about me. Please show me that you really are near and that you see and hear everything that happens. Refresh me with your presence even when I am walking through a desert experience. And help me, in turn, to comfort others when they feel hopeless and alone. In Jesus' name, Amen."

*prayer taken from "Women of the Bible" by Spangler & Syswerda

Women of Faith: Sarah

While Eve was the mother of all, Sarah was the mother of the promised nation. Her husband, Abraham, is often remembered as the father of the faith, but Sarah is sometimes forgotten. But Sarah was necessary in God's plan for Abraham to become the father of nations.

Sarah's story can be found throughout Genesis 12-21. There are certain portions of her story that are very interesting, not least of which is the fact that she had her first child at 90.

Sarah was quite the adventurer, and I look to her a source of biblical inspiration in my life. Mostly for her willingness to pack up her entire life and follow her husband to a land she knew nothing about. Being a military wife I have to do this often. I married my husband and within 2 weeks of marriage had to move from AZ and leave my family and moved to the other side of the country, to Florida. I knew no one but my husband when I went there, just as Sarah knew no one but her husband. Yet she trusted in him and trusted in God that all would work out. And that is exactly what I did, and what I have had to do every time we move somewhere new.

Sarah and Abraham's travels brought them to Egypt during a time of famine. Knowing Sarah's beauty would attract the attention of the leaders she encouraged her to say that she was his sister, not his wife. (She was in fact Abraham's half-sister) Trusting in her husband's judgement she did so and was immediately taken into Pharaoh's harem. When it came to light that she was in fact Abraham's wife they were immediately sent from Egypt with wealth beyond their imagining. It's hard for me to imagine my husband saying that I wasn't his wife, I understand that times were different then but it is still difficult to put myself in her position.

Sarah is most known as the mother of Isaac. The son she was told she would have but did not believe that she would have because of her age. I mean, at 65 she was told to pack her belonging and leave her homeland, years later she was informed that she would bear a son. She of course did not believe that at her age it would happen. After years of trying and no luck she offered Abraham her maidservant, Hagar. Hagar conceived and bore a son, Ishmael. Again, I cannot honestly put myself in Sarah's position. I cannot imagine offering my husband another woman to bear a child for him. Again, I know this was commonplace back then but I cannot fully wrap my brain around it.

We all know that Hagar conceiving was not the way God planned for Abraham's descendant's to inherit that land, it was through Sarah's descendant's that God's plan was for. "It is heartening to realize that God accomplishes his purposes despite our frailties, our little faith, out entrenched self-reliance." This quote hit me like a ton of bricks. I am not always trusting of God's plan, I always want to try and do things my own way. I need to learn to be more trusting. Sarah tried to take things into her own hand and that did not work out. She eventually trusted in God's plan and at the age of 90 was blessed with a child. As I look forward to starting my own family I am putting my trust in God that when the timing is right for Him, He will bless my husband and myself with a child. "Remember that God has his own timetable, and rest in the assurance that he loves you and will fulfill his promises to you."

"God hints at his purpose for you by planting dreams within your heart. Ask yourself what dreams you've been too busy, too afraid, or too disappointed to pursue."

*All quotes are from Spangler & Syswerda's Women of the Bible

Newseum in D.C.

The Newseum in D.C. was incredible! It was a little pricey ($20 a ticket) but it was well worth it. And the ticket is good for two days if you need it. Essentially this museum shows and covers the major newsworthy stories throughout history. 

They had a section of the Berlin Wall. This is the largest section outside of Germany.

 They had an amazing 9/11 exhibit. This is the radio tower that sat atop the north tower.

They had a wall with the front page headlines from around the world discussing the events of 9/11.

Other exhibits that they had were an entire section on Hurricane Katrina and the death of Elvis. My favorite room was the major exhibit on the history of news. The entire museum showed the development and history of news from print to radio to tv to internet. The room I had the most fun in was the history of print news. They had select front pages from 1400 to present day. They didn't have one from every year but did have one from major event such as George Washington's death, the assassination of JFK, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth I & II. It was incredibly neat to see that much history the way they announced, before it was history. Of course this was the room you could not take pics in, so you'll have to go check it our for yourself.

Back home from all the Holiday Hooplah

After just over two weeks away from home seeing family over the holidays we are finally back at our own home and sleeping in our own bed!!

The Christmas holidays are usually a little hectic, but with Mike and I trying to see everybody we could before he deploys we were driving and flying more than we normally would have. First we drove 9 hours to AZ and did a quick gift exchange with my brothers on Dec 23. Then on Christmas Eve we flew to VA to have Christmas with Mike's family.

We even got a little bit of snow on Xmas morning

On Dec 26 Mike and I drove 4.5 hours to Norfolk to visit our good friends Tim & Claire, and then drove  the 4 hours back on Dec 27.

Norfolk had almost 12" of snow when we got there!!
Pretty, but not so fun to drive in.

We had a great time playing Dance Central on Xbox Kinect!!!

THe last time we had seen Rowan he was only about 2 weeks old!
Now he is almost 15 months old!

On Dec 30 we drove 5.5 hours to Grove City, PA to visit Mike's grandma.

On Dec 31 we drove a little over an hour up to Erie, PA to see Mike's aunts and uncles and some of his cousins.

Who needs a cooler when you have snow?

Have you ever played the game Quelf?? HILARIOUS!!

Dan had to be a ballerina for a minute

Ginger had to be a rockette for a minute

Blake was a dummy and Dan was a ventriloquist

When you shared a space on the board you had to hold hands with the other players

Blake had to wear something with a chinstrap for the remainder of the game

Chuck had to be a "mummy" until someone rolled a four

On Jan 1 we drove back to Grove City, PA and did some bowling

Then on Jan 2 we drove the 5 hours back to Mike's parents in VA. We did have a few days in VA before we flew back to AZ on Jan 5 to spend just a few short days with my family. On Jan 7 Mom had a big spaghetti dinner and invited friends and family alike so we would have to do no more driving because on Jan 8 we drove the 9 hours back to our house in CA. A lot of driving and traveling!!

We had a great time with family and are glad that we were able to see as many people as we did.