Rachel: Beauty is only skin deep

Thanks again to Rachel Olsen for hosting the Women of the Bible series! Today's featured woman is another Rachel, and her sister, Leah. Rachel was beautiful, while Leah was "weak in the eyes". But watching the happenings of Genesis 30, you wonder who was beautiful to God...their rivalry and competition had to sadden God, and the long run consequences...well, one point of hope is that despite their ugliness, God used their competition and rivalry (which was passed to the next generation) to send Joseph to Egypt, to ensure the safety of the Israelites. But that's getting ahead of the story :)

The other thing I hadn't ever realized was that Jesus decended from Leah, not Rachel--although Benjamin and Joseph were the favored children, Jesus was from the tribe of Judah.

Rebecca: I love you the purplest

If you're not playing along with the Women of the Bible discussion, I challenge you to check it out! I think Rebecca should have read the story "I love you the Purplest" by Barbara Joosse.

In the story, the mother goes fishing with her two, very differently gifted boys. As she tucks them in at the end of the day, they both ask her: Mama, who do you love the most? Mamma explains to exuberant Max that she loves him the reddest, and to thoughtful Julian that she loves him the bluest. Both boys fall asleep happy, confident in their mother's love.

It couldn't have been easy, raising twins away from her family, especially since they started fighting before they were even born. Yet a dose of "purple love" might have done the twins some good. I know they were born into a culture where the eldest got everything, but the long term effects of favoritism are so evident.

What I do love about this story (and ones that follow) is that God doesn't always choose who society chooses--he chooses the younger, booky, overlooked brother to bring forth the line of the Messiah.

Thanks, God, that you love us the purplest--you love each of us for exactly who you made us to be, and there is nothing we can do to earn more of Your love.

Thankful Thursday meets Women of the Bible

Rachel Olsen is guiding us through the women of the Bible, and today's feature is Sarah. Our children's church just finished learning about Abraham, Sarah and Issaac too, so it's a good time to be thankful for Sarah!

The verse that strikes me the most in Sarah's story is Genesis 21:1-2:

The Lord was gracious to Sarah, just as he had said he would be. He did for Sarah what he had promised to do.

I am so thankful that God is not only gracious when we doubt him, but that he keeps His word!

We've also been listening to a lot of Justin Robert's Why Not Sea Monsters, and my favorite song is about Abraham and Sarah:
Lord, Sarah is ninety years
And I'm no spring chicken either
And you know ther've been tons of tears
So please be gentle with your words
Cause when I see those stars you made
I can't help notice how they fall and fade...

Abraham, you must have faith
That your whole line won't be erased
And I know there've been many trials
And roads are dark for miles and miles
But just beyond your line of sight
This rumbled road is paved and bathed in light

I'm thankful that God knows the outcome of the story--that he knows what's around the bend and the trials we've been through. Even though we'd like the easy path, the rough road shows that it really is all due to Him, no work on our part.

I'm thankful that God is gentle and full of compassion, even when we're not.

I'm thankful that even when we doubt and laugh at his promises, He is faithful to complete them--he doesn't give up on us.

I'm thankful that God gives examples of how women have dealt with jealousy and the consequences of taking things into your own hands to force God's will in your timing, so that we can learn from the example and (hopefully) not repeat it.

I'm thankful for spring break and the rejuvenation it brought, and the opportunity to visit my mom and dad.

I'm thankful for our friends in Christ--that God can use us to serve each other even when we don't know about the other's need.

I'm thankful for the time change and for light in the evening--it's been great to play outside with the kids after school and in the evening!

And thanks to Iris for hosting Thankful Thursday and to Rachel for hosting the Women of the Bible study!