Idols

I have been reading from the beginning of the Bible since I arrived in Bulgaria 8 months ago and I am in Isaiah now.  After reading through the Old Testament and how they would turn to idols and other gods so easily, I began to pray about the word "idol" and make it relevant to me.  I wanted to understand in my easy 3rd grade teacher mind, how this word would apply to my life.  I prayed and asked God to reveal this to me.
The other day as we were driving through the Thracian valley in the middle of Bulgaria in the most furtile parts of the country, I was talking and the answer just came out of my mouth.  I was talking about how we as humans put value on things.  Earthly things only are valuable in regards to how much value we place on it.  If we pay alot for something, we deem it valuable.  If it is a family heirloom, we may value it.  This is why we love to watch shows like "Antique Roadshow", because we see value in things we may not have valued before.
We, as humans, have this power of value that we can place onto things and also onto other people (or lack of value, however).
It causes me to think about the things and people that I value in my life.  As far as people go, of course, my faith, my family (my husband and our four AMAZING kids) and friends are the most valuable to me.  People I would die for...
As far as things/possessions, well, I've already let go of most things I valued already (like the Keiurig coffee maker and the Dyson vacuum cleaner).  You might say my laptop or some other thing of monetary value might rank at the top, but  I really would say my Bible.  I know, how cliche, a missionary loves her Bible....but I really do.  It is the most valuable thing to me...I really like it.  I lost it (or left it at the mission house we were staying at in the hussle and bussle of moving) and had to begin in a new Bible.  I like it ok, but the team brought mine back to me last week.  I liked the Dukes and the hot sauce, even the M & Ms, and the beef jerky they brought to us, but my Bible was back home with me.
Anyway, back to idols and the value we put on things.
This was just my assessment of the things I value.  We should all ask ourselves, what we value most...
I believe an idol becomes anything that we OVERvalue.  The idols of the Old Testament were old skulls put on a mantle and worshipped.  Graven images that became as gods.  They took ordinary things and overvalued them.  Made them worth more than they really were.
What have you overvalued?  If everyone else says, that's not really worth much, but in your eyes it's worth more than money could buy, has it become an idol to you?
Can you not sell your house because you have overvalued it?  Can you not let go of something because it is worth too much to you?  Has it then become an idol?  This, for me, is now my "idol test".  Have I OVERvalued an object, a person, or even a tradition?

Off Our Feet

Our theme at church for many years has been about the river spoken of in Ezek. 47, and Pastor Keith has been talking in depth about the river for the last two Sundays.  Last Sunday, God really spoke to my heart about where I was in my walk into the river.  You might think...,"They are selling or giving all they own, leaving all of their family and friends, an amazing church family, good jobs, and a school family we have been a big part of for 12 years to follow the calling on their lives.  How much more in the river can you get?"
Well.... God is always calling us deeper isn't He?
He brought me back to last year when Jessie, Mitch, and I went white water rafting on the Nantahala River.  He showed me how I thought I knew what I was doing so decided not to go with a guide or a group, but instead took a small boat with Jessie.  Of course, Mitch knew how to do it and went in a boat on his own.  Which goes back to his independent spirit from the beginning as he told us before he began first grade, "I really don't need to go to first grade, Mom.  I already know how to read."
So Jessie and I had to work together without getting frustrated at one another, nor blaming one another for our constant mistakes.  We noticed after not too long how incredibly COLD the water was and how hard we had to work at paddling together.  We also noticed soon after that, that the closer we stayed to the edges of the river, the more we went round and round in circles and ended up not getting any progress done.  The more we stayed in the middle of the river, the deeper the water and the more progress we could make.  (See the spiritual stuff already?)
Anyway... we were making quite the progress and stride and feeling quite the experts WHEN we saw a large log stretched out across the river.  Tried as we might, we could not get to either side to avoid the log.  We hit it at the far right edge, the boat's backside turned and we were now stuck up against and alongside the log.  Because of the force of the river, the boat then began to tilt and fill with water.  Before I knew it we were dumped out!  As I tried to get to my feet (this seemed to be at a place in the river that was about thigh deep) and go against all training I had just had about "if you find yourself capsized, DO NOT TRY TO STAND UP, but let the river take you and find a way to get to the side."  But they did not understand, as I looked to the side, my Jessie was out of the boat and the river's strength had pushed her under the log and all I saw was her head sticking up and the look of panic on her face.  I had to be strong and save my child.
I used all the strength (probably that mama adrenaline that they talk about) and jerked that girl up from under the log.  Yay, right?  Well, yes and then we were left with the dilemma of our boat stuck now under this log and standing in rapids.  This is when I cried, "Jesus!"
Out of nowhere, comes this long blonde haired guy on a surf board.  We push the boat out from under the log, he jumps in to the boat and paddles up to us and we jump in.  He was my surfer angel "dude".  We were safe!
Now, back to the river analogy that God whispered to my heart Sunday after church.  "Dee Dee, where are you in the river?"  I replied, "In the middle of the rapids, Lord, but I'm on my feet."
He said so gently, "It's time to let go."  Wow how the tears flowed!
My prayer since that moment every morning is "Lord, I'm off my feet today.  Let the river take me.  I will enjoy the river ride.  Life is an adventure with you."
Every day since Sunday this week has been one amazing story after another.  I just wish I had the time t share them all.  I will/must share one!
Yesterday, we had our physicals and then were heading up to Atlanta to take care of opening an account that will be beneficial since we will be doing things internationally.  On the way to Atlanta I heard in my heart Marietta Diner.  I dismissed it and thought strange and moved on.  Again, Marietta Diner...I thought, "I've never been there but I've heard it's good...strange."
We got to Peachtree St. to do our business and there are lots of great restaurants around.  We were looking for a place to have lunch, but nothing looked good.  Again, I hear, "Marietta Diner."
So we got back in the car, punched Marietta Diner into the GPS and headed the 20 minutes out of the way to Marietta Diner.
When we get there, the host takes us to a booth, but at the last minutes swerves and places us at a different booth.  No big deal....
Our waitress takes our order and we notice that she has an accent.  I tell Chance, "Ask where she's from."
So as she comes back, we ask her and she says, "Bulgaria."  We proceeded to have the most amazing conversation about Bulgaria, the language, the culture, the do's and don'ts, the places to go, websites to help, etc. etc etc.  We exchange emails and she invites us to the coast on the Black Sea where her family lives and would like for us to stay in her apartment in Burgas when we visit.
We have met now a friend for life in one afternoon all because God whispered, "Get off your feet."
He may ask something of us and it may seem like a huge sacrifice, but the adventure He wants to take us on is sooooo much better!
God Bless and have an OFF YOUR FEET DAY!