what's the best thing in the bible?
A few weeks ago I wrote about the worst thing in the bible. It's a fun topic of discussion for sure, but leaving it on its own gives the bible short shrift. Surely it bears notice that there are good things in the bible as well. Lots of them, I hope. Otherwise what on earth is the point of reading it cover to cover? My current favorite bit is the letter of Jeremiah to the exiled Jews in Babylon. (Jeremiah 29) You may have heard the pull-quote before:
"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
It makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, doesn't it? Lots of people feel this way it seems, because we have a mass-produced magnet on our fridge bearing those words. (We put it next to the magnet that says "Jesus was a Jewish liberal.")
Anyway, that's not the part I like. I like the part that comes before that:
"Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce... seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile... When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place."
Jeremiah had a harsh word for the exiles. They weren't getting back home for seventy years. That meant some of them weren't getting back home at all. But it's this knowledge that was supposed to bring them hope. "I know the plans I have for you..." says the Lord. YOU may not know them. YOU may not like them. But you're not the plan-maker.
Now stop being a dick to your neighbors.
We've had too many nights without sleep around here. Harvey needs changed at 2am for some reason. Zion needs to be awake at 4:30 so he can poop. I want to go to sleep every night at 8pm, but Harvey's sweet voice calls from the back of my mind saying "Mama you make my backpack?" It's not difficult to recall the sound; he asks about every five minutes when he's awake. Seriously, if he were asking me to buy something I'd probably smack him, but for some reason the nag to get sewing is endearing.
Plant gardens and eat what they produce. Don't worry about WHEN the big problems are gonna be solved. Maybe it'll be hard for a long time. It's not my business to worry about it. The hope and the future are part of God's plan, not mine.
Harvey at one day old
Harvey at 1 day old. When I had no idea what I was getting into.