I'm getting tired of being cold! I generally like winter, but it sure has been cold for a long time now... at least more than I'm used to. Being a transplant to Michigan in recent years (July will be 3 years) I think I'm still adjusting. I'm sitting here wrapped in my flannel PJ's and jacket. And my son is wearing short sleeve's and barefoot. He asks "Why are you so cold Dad?" with a half smirk on his face. Oh, to have young blood again! Okay... I'm finished whining now!
I was blessed last night as I began to facilitate a men's parenting class. It was a group of about 10 men, each with a different story about why they were there. One of the neat things we get to do in this group is to tell our stories of what it was like when our children entered into our lives (at birth, through adoption, in a blended family). Men generally don't have opportunity to tell their side of the story. In all the times I've facilitated this class I've never had anyone not share.
My devotional reading this morning was about the Great Storyteller (that would be Jesus). The final statement of the devotional reads, "We too can use our faith-stories to point others to the ultimate Storyteller and Teacher, whose own life is the greatest story ever told."
My Scripture reading this morning took me to Exodus 20 (the Ten Commandments). The last verse of the chapter (verse 26) talks about not going up to the altar of God on steps, because by doing so 'your nakedness' will be exposed. Obviously the attire of the day was robes, not Levi's jeans. A few verses up God instructs the people that when they build an altar not to use 'dressed stones' or use tools on it. By doing so the altar becomes more of the object of worship than does God. The steps honor man not God. The steps become a way to gain honor for ourselves... and our hearts are exposed to God. Worship... it's a matter of the heart! Always has been... always will.
MEPASTORMIKE
