12 sons…Gad…Asher…

 12 sons…Gad …Asher…

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant: Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

Genesis 35:22b-26

When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her servant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 

Then Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. And Leah said, “Good fortune has come!” so she called his name Gad. 

Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. And Leah said, “Happy am I! For women have called me happy.” So she called his name Asher.

Genesis 30:9-13

Jacob’s blessings…

“Raiders shall raid Gad, but he shall raid at their heels. 

Asher's food shall be rich, and he shall yield royal delicacies.

Genesis 49:19-20

Mose’s blessings … 

And of Gad he said, “Blessed be he who enlarges Gad! Gad crouches like a lion; he tears off arm and scalp. 

He chose the best of the land for himself, for there a commander's portion was reserved; and he came with the heads of the people, with Israel he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments for Israel.” 

And of Asher he said, “Most blessed of sons be Asher; let him be the favorite of his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil. Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be.

Deuteronomy 33:20-21,24-25 

Gad meaning…

“What does the name Gad mean?

• The name Gad indicates a fortune for which a troublesome, invasive effort is made. There are plenty of words to indicate treasure or felicity, but Leah who named the son of her maid, chose this painful word גד, Gad.”

•

The meaning of the name “Gad” is: “Fortune; happiness

From Name Meanings…

Asher meaning… 

“Asher is a Hebrew name meaning “happy” and “blessed.” It’s derived from the Hebrew word osher, meaning “happiness.” Asher is also a biblical name from the Old Testament.”

Several years ago, some friends named their son Asher…I really never paid any attention to it, but took it at face value..and rejoiced with her…now, having read through the meanings, “ happy” …I again rejoice in her choice of names…

It is interesting that Leah named these two boys after happiness…they were birthed by her maid, claimed by Leah as more sons of Jacob…she must have been thrilled with two more sons, even through  surrogacy…they added to her “value” as an “unloved” wife…

Later the tribe of Gad joined with the tribe of Reuben in not taking land in the promised land, but as they had much livestock, they kept  land in the territory of Gilead…with the promise that they fight with their brothers to,conquer the land…which they did, returning afterwards to their families…

“and to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the Valley of the Arnon, with the middle of the valley as a border, as far over as the river Jabbok, the border of the Ammonites;

Deuteronomy 3:16”

Joshua 22 speaks of their return…their wealth, promises…

The tribe was later named in David’s  mighty men, officers…

And they are again listed in Revelation…

Asher…

Asher is listed in the tribal lists, the dividing of the land, etc..

This chapter in 2 Chronicles speaks of the tribe as well… King Hezekiah’ call to a Passover…while some made fun of the event, some of the tribe of Asher heeded the request..

“Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel. For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the Passover in the second month— for they could not keep it at that time because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem— and the plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly. 

However, some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 30:1-4, 11”

Most notable to me was Anna in Luke..

And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. 

She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 

And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Luke 2:36-38

Imagine her “happiness” at this moment…giving thanks that she saw the redemption in this child…her heart must have soared at this gift from God…

Take away…faithfulness in keeping promises, happiness in 

God’s gifts through the ages…and in everyday life…

Thank YOU…

12 son…Dan…Naphtali…

 12 sons…Dan…Naphtali….

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant: Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

Genesis 35:22b-26

Dan and Naphtali’ s birth…

Then she (Rachel) said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.” So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. Rachel's servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.

Genesis 30:3-8 

Jacob’s blessings…

“Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward. I wait for your salvation, O Lord. 

Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns.

Genesis 49:16-18,21

When I went to Israel three years ago, one of the first places we visited was the northern area that the tribe of Dan claimed…while there we walked up a small knoll and there was the Northern border next to Lebanon, a United Nations camp, soldiers…”not much shelling today” was the comment..the diggings had unearthed a village with walls and a city gate seat, a worship center and an alter…

Dan’s name and history…= judge 

Artisans who worked on the tabernacle…

and with him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and designer and embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.

Exodus 38:23

Samson was from the tribe of Dan…

Judges 18 tells of their taking of an area…

“A new home

The tribe, who received land populated by the powerful Amorites (Judges 1:33) and close to the war-like Philistines, were unable to fully secure their inheritance.

In desperate need for more territory, the tribe decided to attack the northern city of Leshem (Joshua 19:47), which was also called Laish (Judges 18:7). The name Leshem means "precious stone" (Strong's #H3959) while Laish means "lion" (Strong's #H3919).



The city the Danites want, however, is in the territory given to the tribe of Naphtali. As Dan was the older brother of Naphtali, the tribe likely felt their incursion would be tolerated and free from any reprisals by their younger brother's descendants. After slaughtering the city's inhabitants, they rename the town in honor of the tribe's founder. The city is soon used as an Old Testament reference to designate the northern-most point of Israel.

Later history

In 930 B.C., Israel splits into two separate nations. The new Kingdom of Israel (the northern ten tribes), and its new King Jeroboam, considers the city of Dan to be an important spiritual and strategic location. The city is fortified as a border fortress and has idols representing Yahweh placed within in to discourage visits to Jerusalem.

The city's isolated location makes it vulnerable to attacks (see 1Kings 15:20). The city is one of the first areas conquered by the Assyrian Empire when the people in the land are taken into captivity (2Kings 15:29).

Dan is also the only Israelite tribe not listed in Revelation 7.”

From Bible study organization…

“One quite common speculation as to why the tribe of Dan is not listed in Revelation comes from the fact that they had an enormous difficulty with idolatry. Their worship of idols began right after they fought for and secured their inheritance in the Promised Land (Judges 18:1 - 2, 29 - 31).” From Bible Study Questions

“• Dan’s historical embrace of idolatry and immorality leads to a disqualification for service during the end times.

• The Antichrist will come from the tribe of Dan (based on certain readings of Genesis 49:17; Deuteronomy 33:22; and Jeremiah 8:16).

• By the time of Solomon, the tribe of Dan had assimilated with the neighboring Phoenicians (as 2 Chronicles 2:14 may hint at) and so lost their national identity.

• The tribe of Dan, once the second-most populous tribe, declined in numbers and influence until, by Ezra’s time, it had been totally wiped out. This would explain why Dan is not listed among the tribes in 1 Chronicles 4—7 or in Revelation 7.” From Got Questions

Naphtali =wrestling 

“In the land of Naphtali Jesus spent a great part of his public life, the land of Gennesaret, Bethsaida, Capernaum and Chorazin all lying within its boundaries (compare Matthew 4:15).” From Bible Study tools…there is a long explanation of Naphtali at this site…

Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.

Judges 5:18 

He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work.

1 Kings 7:14+ tells of the work he did for the temple…

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

Matthew 4:12-16

Takeaway….it is so interesting to follow through these tribes…and this is by no means a thorough study, I will be the first to admit…so much information …but, for the time of their  birth, each son was on a path…their father blessed each…

The Tribe of Dan disappeared after having great times/men and then fell …not to be even named at the end…how sad…their independence and idol worship were their undoing…

Naphtali settled in beautiful country and they later housed Peter and his family, Jesus…

What contrasts between brothers…

We have those same decisions…thank YOU….

Enemies….p

 

Enemies…..

Yesterday, out of the blue, someone came up to me and asked if I would pray for her…I really don’t know this person, but she trusted me to pray…”I am trying to take a stand for my faith, set some boundaries, be strong and the enemy is attacking.”

We talked about Joshua…

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9”

We went our separate ways…but it got me to thinking…did the tribes Joshua was sent to conquer symbolize enemies we face now…? So of course, I had to look it up…and there are several articles written about it from a Christian perspective as well as a Jewish one..

“When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction.  

You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. 

But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire. 

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. 

The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 

It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,

Deuteronomy 7:1-2,5-7,9



http://www.biblefellowshipunion.co.uk/2014/Sep_Oct/7Enemies.htm

Hittites: Sons of terror, Subliminal torments, phobias, terror, depression.

Girgashites: Clay dwellers, focus on earthliness, unbelief.

Amorites: bitter; a rebel; a babbler..

Canaanites: Addiction to earthly wealth.

Perizzites: Limited vision, laziness, low self-esteem.

Hivites: Vision limited to enjoying an earthly inheritance, anything goes as long as you enjoy it!

Jebusites: Threshers, suppression of spiritual authority in others, legalism.

From…

http://chchurch.weebly.com/uploads/5/2/7/8/5278676/7_enemies_in_the_promised_land_keith_w_3_jan_am.pdf

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:19-23 

Those “enemies” listed are ones we can face currently, those that strip us of victory…even when we have been given victory over them….fears, rebellion, laziness, earthy vision over heavenly….

God gives the victory…thank YOU….

Angel…2…

 Angel…2…

There are distinct times in our lives that bear remembering …this was one of them for me…a time of comfort that came as a gift at the right moment, with the right words….this woman whom I had never met, nor seen before or seen since…she sat there on the bench with few words, but with gentle presence…

Thank YOU…

“Angel on the bluff......

 



"The Lord told me to come and make sure you were okay", she said as she tenderly walked across the lane to where I sat watching the sunset on Pacific Ocean.   She sat down next to me after giving me a hug.......I had never met the woman before and probably won't see her again...here...

It was after a day of lawyerise, bankerise, sitting , paperworker, estateise......and all the instructions, discussions, questions of estate stuff....I wanted to watch something simple and profound, beautiful, constant, different every time, the sunset.....



This bluff is not stranger...years ago, in 1964, I had stood in this place watching down on the then raging Eel river flood. the  whole valley was covered with rushing gray water, carrying whole houses, whole businesses, millions of redwood logs to the sea or moving them all to another location, another field, ramming them into stands of trees along the way, powerfully splintering house after house into rubble.....



Before that the bluff was an empty field where we could ride our horses...in the long grass, and then it was transformed into a senior housing area.   

Later, my parents moved there,   I walked miles over and over at varying speeds as my mother healed from her stroke, my dad from his kidney ailments, then with him again after the death of  my mother....and the slowing down of his walk......I had walked this walk with my children, grandchildren…we sat at this spot and overlooked the valley, sometimes warm, sometimes breezy, watching the dairyman below, the sunset over the ocean......



Now, here I was waiting for a glimpse again of the sunset, praying, reminiscing.....and the lady came to make sure I was okay....was I? This was letting go...now my father is there no more...we have come to bury him...no more walks and talks with him...no more of my mom or my husband......we had all walked that walk, watching the sun, the valley, the beauty.....
She shared that she, too, had been down this path....it will be okay...it will be okay…

Thank YOU, for sending those strangers,  those unexpected hugs, words of encouragements.....those angels... Those sunsets.....you are ever loving, ever caring...comforting in all you do....on the bluffs of life, overlooking  us all....



Psalm 91:11
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;



Zechariah 1:13
So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who ltalked with me.



2 Corinthians 7:6
But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,



Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
   through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
   forever.




Each day there is just enough…”

....

12 sons…Issachar…Zebulun…

 12 sons…Issachar….Zebulun…

Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant: Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.

Genesis 35:22b-26

And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. Leah said, “God has given me my wages because I gave my servant to my husband.” So she called his name Issachar. 

And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son. Then Leah said, “God has endowed me with a good endowment; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” So she called his name Zebulun.

Genesis 30:17-20 

Jacob’s blessings at the end of his life… to Zebulun and Issachar…

“Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon.

“Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds. He saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant, so he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant at forced labor.

Genesis 49:13-15

Issachar (hired)

“God hath given me," said Leah, "my hire (Heb. sekhari)...and she called his name Issachar." He was Jacob's ninth son, and was born in Padan-aram (comp 28:2 ). He had four sons at the going down into Egypt ( 46:13 ; Numbers 26:23 Numbers 26:25 ).

Issachar, Tribe of, during the journey through the wilderness, along with Judah and Zebulun ( Numbers 2:5 ), marched on the east of the tabernacle. This tribe contained 54,400 fighting men when the census was taken at Sinai. After the entrance into the Promised Land, this tribe was one of the six which stood on Gerizim during the ceremony of the blessing and cursing ( Deuteronomy 27:12 ). The allotment of Issachar is described in Joshua 19:17-23 . It included the plain of Esdraelon (=Jezreel), which was and still is the richest portion of Palestine ( Deuteronomy 33:18 Deuteronomy 33:19 ; 1 Chronicles 12:40 ).

The prophetic blessing pronounced by Jacob on Issachar corresponds with that of Moses ( Genesis 49:14 Genesis 49:15 ; 

18 About Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents. Deuteronomy 33:18

“Zebulun (a habitation ), 

the tenth of the sons of Jacob, according to the order in which their births are enumerated, the sixth and last of Leah.His birth is mentioned in ( Genesis 30:19 Genesis 30:20 ) Of the individual Zebulun nothing is recorded. The list of Genesis 46 ascribes to him three sons, founders of the chief families of the tribe (comp.) ( Numbers 26:26 ) at the time of the migration to Egypt. The tribe is not recorded to have taken part, for evil or good, in any of the events of the wandering or the conquest. The statement of Josephus is probably in the main correct, that it reached on the one side to the Lake of Gennesareth and on the other to Carmel and the Mediterranean. On the south it was bounded by Issachar, who lay in the great plain or valley of the Kishon; on the north it had Naphtali and Asher. Thus remote from the centre of government, Zebulun remains throughout the history with one exception, in the obscurity which envelops the whole of the northern tribes. That exception, however, is a remarkable one. The conduct of the tribe during the struggle with Sisera, when they fought with desperate valor side by side with their brethren of Naphtali, was such as to draw down the special praise of Deborah, who singles them out from all the other tribes. 

18 The people of Zebulun risked their very lives; so did Naphtali on the terraced fields.( Judges 5:18 ) 

Bible Study Tools…

I thought it interesting that Jacob’s blessing for Zebulun was having to do with the sea, but for all the maps I could find, the tribe appears to be landlocked…but later Josephus talks of them reaching from the Sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean…

When we went to Israel three years ago, we crisscrossed where Issachar’s allotment was and the agricultural production was plentiful…just as Jacob blessed…

 

Drive through History, YouTube, jezreel Valley…interesting…



Take away…for me…Leah was unloved but her part in the history of Israel is secure…with her sons from Reuben to Zebulun…she started with pain, she praised through Judah…thanked with an “endowment “ with Zebulun….

It made me think of various Psalms written by David…he started in pain and ended with praise…God changed the direction of his thinking…as He does with ours…leading us to thankfulness and praise of who He is…thank YOU….

Finances…

 Finances….

I heard the other day that schools are reinstating “consumer math” into their curriculum….when it was eliminated years ago, I thought, “what a bad idea!”, but of course no one asked my opinion. We use “consumer math” everyday! 

In the 1970’s, when we were newly married, we had a  lesson on finances by the then popular Larry Burkett and his organization, Christian Financial concepts which later changed to Crown Financial…now we hear more from Dave Ramsey or Ron Blue…

We judiciously studied through the various books, budgeting, and finally teaching and facilitating small groups over time…helping others to get their finances in order or under control…we tried to pass some of that knowledge on to our children to be responsible money managers. Statistics report that in marriage problems and divorce, the cause is 60% due to money management or mismanagement. So it can be a big part of our lives…

The principles taught remain the same from generation to generation and money, it’s use or misuse is addressed in Scriptures a multitude of times…it will continue to play a role in the future…wars are fought over wealth and the love of money….

A few principles we learned over time…

1. You can’t take it (money) with you…

2. For  some, there is never enough…

3. True wealth is …19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:19-21

4. It all belongs to God…

5. It is a gift…to be stewarded…used wisely…

6. Attitude counts…29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:29-31,34.                                           But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 1 Timothy 6:9-10

7. Waiting may be part of the lesson…Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Psalm 37:7

8. Tithing is key…Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;  Proverbs 3:9.                            

 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.  2 Corinthians 9:6-12

9. Budgeting may be a pain, but it teaches Restraint, self-control….

We made huge mistakes, we didn’t wait at times, we learned, our attitude wasn’t right all the time…we didn’t like budgeting…or reeling in our spending or making a penny by penny accounting of money spent or going out…oh, but the benefits of those lessons were more than I can count…

God comforted, He blessed, He provided, He consoled, He counseled, He loves…thank YOU….

 

Pendleton shirts ….2….

 Pendleton shirts…2…

Shirts again…holding clothing dear… the smell of a person who is gone…there is something comforting about that…our animals know, our souls know…that familiar look or feel or waft …it is hard to part with…and we don’t have to until it feels right and we are at peace with it…

Some families make memory quilts, some make memory teddy bears using scraps from various clothing articles that represent the loved one…or find a good home ….in my family, everything was so usable that I didn’t have to heart to cut things into pieces…we are still wearing those shirts, coats, jeans, jewelry…whatever…and thank those who wore them before…a good memory…

Don’t rush cleaning out the closets…you have to be ready to face it…each person/family has a different timeline….it is cleansing, healing , can bring fun and laughter, anger, tears, many emotions…but it is part of the journey…

Pendleton shirts.......

.

I was sitting church on Sunday behind a man wearing a Pendleton woolen shirt...now, this may not mean much to most, but to our family, Pendleton woolen shirts are big deals.  My father-in-law wore Pendleton shirts, my father wore them and my husband wore them...On our first date, my husband was wearing one,....he wore one when we were released from the hospital  with our first born son...


When we were first married, my husband had a few shirts,  they were less expensive then, but over the years he accumulated more, not wanting to part with his first ones...I even went so far as taking off the collars and turning them over so the threadbare necks wouldn't show...
                         


In college, I had to sew a plaid shirt, so I chose Pendleton fabric to create a shirt for my father...he wore it until it was totally thread bare, finally giving it up to one of his faithful dogs for its bed...but he called it is $12,000 shirt...his payback for college expenses.  


We toured the woolen mills in Pendleton, OR and Washugal, WA., purchasing fabric for shirts, woolen scraps for rugs at one time...I sewed several shirts and made many rugs from their scraps, even teaching classes on their construction...my husband's favorite rug under feet near his recliner was Pendleton wool...my father's favorite lap blanket was as well, constructed by my daughter-in-law...
 

It seemed fitting at the end, that my husband was buried in a Pendleton shirt...I know he didn't need it to keep him warm, but, I needed it for him...those faithful Pendleton shirts....

Those shirts of both my father and husband were divided between sons, sons-in-law and grandsons...they may or may not wear them, but they are memories of people we all loved, their colors, their texture, their smell...their faithful warmth....

Watching the Griefshare videos reminds me of things we hold on to...those pieces of our loved ones...those favorites we look at, handle, cry over...such a part of the past now...but still part of us....sometimes flooding us with memories, other times gentle touches....of times past....they have left their mark on us...

God is faithful..., touching our lives mightily at times, gently at others....He is always there, reminding us of His care, warming our spirits with His infinite love....He doesn't wear out...He never leaves us or forsake us....wrapping us with His protection....He is there from the beginning and will always be there without end....faithful .....

Thank YOU for Your faithfulness, wrapping us like these Pendleton shirts, only much better.....


Psalm 102:26-27 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end. 

Psalm 33:4 For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. 

Psalm 40:11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord; may your love and faithfulness always protect me. 

Psalm 57:10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 

Psalm 86:11, 15 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.