Living in Exile. Is it good or bad?

FAITH:
2 Chronicles 36:2-23

The final four evil kings of Judah reigned and fell into sin. Babylon conquered Jerusalem, looted, and burned the temple. The Babylonians carried God's people into exile. But in the end, Judah returned from exile in Babylon, to rebuild.

God used the exile to cause the people to repent, and he used a pagan king to rebuild Jerusalem's temple.

The exile was the "crucible of Israel's faith." They were pushed to the edge of existence where they thought they were hanging on by the skin of their teeth and they found that in fact they had been pushed to the center, where God was. They experienced not bare survival but abundant life. Now they saw their previous life as subsistence living, a marginal existence absorbed in consumption and fashion, empty ritual and insensitive exploitation. Exile pushed them from the margins of life to the vortex where all the issues of life and death, love and meaning, purpose and value formed the dynamic everyday participation-demanding realities of God's future with them.

It keeps on happening. Exile is the worst that reveals the best. "It's hard believing." says Faulkner, "but disaster seems to be good for people.

All of us are given moments, days, months, years of exile. What will we do with them. Wish we were someplace else" co plain? Escape into fantasies? Drug ourselves into oblivion? Or build and plant and marry and seek the shalom of place we inhabit and the people we are with. Exile reveals what really matters and frees us to pursue what really matters, which is to seek the Lord with all our hearts.
(From Run with the Horses by Eugene Peterson.)

Applying it: Do you feel as if you are in exile? Let disaster develop your character. Do not spend all your time seeking relief but reflect on what God wants to teach you.Ask him to show you what is really important.
Exploring it: Restoration--2 Chronicles7:13-14; Psalms 23:3; Jeremiah 30:10-11; Galatians 6:1-2

FRIENDS:

Father, We don't look like we're afraid, but we often have hidden fears. You know them. We're afraid of being alone. We're afraid of being jobless. We're afraid of pain. Father, we offer these fears to you and ask you to give us more courage as we look at you, the One who knows no fear. In Jesus' name, Amen.

DAILY BIBLE CHALLENGE
MAY 19
Mark 14:53-65; Galatians 3:1-14; Psalms 112; 2 Samuel 13
MAY 20
Mark 14:66-72; Galatians 3:15-29; Psalms 113; 2 Samuel 14-15

10 Things To Be Thankful For
1. Small town parades
2. Cold water on a hot day
3. A slow walk in the cool of the evening
4. Back up Moms
5. Potlucks
6. Knowing where people stand
7. A husband who misses you when you are gone
8. Exploring unfamiliar places
9. Looking to the future with anticipation
10. Looking to the past with pleasure

FOOD:
My very favorite coleslaw recipe

KFC Coleslaw.....copycat but as good as if not better

Resting time of two hours needs to be done for sure....

8 cups very finely chopped cabbage (1 medium head)
1/4 cup shredded carrot (1 medium carrot)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Cut the cabbage and carrot into very fine pieces about the size of rice kernels.
In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients; whisk until smooth. Add cabbage and carrots; mix well, cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Serves 8.

FUN: