Today is Mike’s 11th last day at the place he has spent the last 27 years working. I have this fluttery kind of feeling – underlying excitement – anticipation of something good about to happen….11 more working days before Mike will wake up to his body clock and not to his alarm clock!
How blessed we feel.
The next two weeks will fly by. In fact, God willing, the next time I wake up next to Mike on a Sunday morning will be Sunday 6th March! This coming Sunday, I wake up in Johannesburg and the following Sunday, it will be Durban. This is part of my job. Every couple of months, I will have to beetle off to Jo’burg and Durban. Both these 
weekends are absolute whistle stops. I’m only in the cities for literally 24 hours. But, perhaps, with the trips from March onwards, Mike will tag along. That will be NICE!
Meantime, my compulsory 3 point to-do list keeps ticking by.
- 15 minutes in the Bible.
- Whatever time it takes in writing this blog.
- And an unusually high amount of time burning 2200 calories a day.
This certainly keeps me focussed and active! Read, write and walk.
The reading has bought me to the end of Exodus. I was quite interested to find a statement repeated 6 times from Exodus 35 to 36:2.
It is an unexpected statement, one that way back in the early writings, emphasizes God’s gift to us of freedom of choice. God gave commands (this is how you do it) on making everything needed for the tabernacle. To make the tabernacle, He gifted people with ability in different areas and He provided many others will resources to make all that was necessary. He provided, but they had a choice to be involved.
6 times God says,
- Exodus 35:5 “Everyone who is willing….”
- Exodus 35:21 “Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the Tent of meeting…”
- Exodus 35:22 “All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewellery of all kinds….”
- Exodus 35:26 “And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair…”
- Exodus 35;29 “All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings…”
Exodus 36:2
“Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work…”
“….given ability and who was willing…”
It was quite an eye opener for me. The New Testament lesson of the talents is well known. Here in the early history of the nation of Israel, while they were still in the desert God gave ability and talent, but only wanted it used for His service if those gifted, were willing.
It bought into focus what my talents/gifts are and whether I am willing to use them or have them used for God’s work.
When I read these words in my 15 minutes of daily Bible reading, again I am reminded of the power of the Word of God. It gives wisdom to those who need it….and that’s each of us.
I have been given ability – I must be willing!
Keep the smile going!
God bless you!n His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂