Kitchen Table Talk

I am at Maine Bean, in my favorite booth, with a fire burning in the fireplace, sipping on a large cup of my favorite coffee, Cabin Comfort, and munching on a chocolate Croissant. As I waited for my laptop to boot up, I found myself reflecting on last night and my time with Joy at the kitchen table. She was sharing with me her report on Moses. This has been a several week project that required her to read Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Dueteronomy in order to do her report. As I read through her report, we would often comment and sometimes discuss her findings or discoveries about Moses. Often mixed into our conversation were other things outside of her project that were more on the personal side. She also shared with me her school schedule and other projects that were due before Christmas break.

It was an amazing and enjoyable four hours together. What made it amazing? What made it enjoyable? The spiritual tone and discussion. It was quality time. The Word of God is a powerful and positive tool in the life of family and friends. I'm proud of Joy. God is doing an awesome work in her life. She is also allowing God to do an awesome work in her.

After having reviewed Joy's work, I am almost tempted to change one of my biblical examples of a leader to Moses, for my graduate work. He had an incredible privilege and calling - to lead the children out of bondage in Egypt and into the Promised Land. It was not an easy task as the children of Israel on several occasions rebelled against him and God. Moses was not perfect either. His passion got him into trouble; he murdered an Egyptian, struck a rock when he was only to speak to it, even wanted God to wipe the children out on one occasion in his frustration with them. But ultimately, he was a great prophet, leader and intercessor. Listen to this testimony of Moses in his final days and hours. What will mine sound like? What will your testimony be?

Dt 34: 1-12 NIV
Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land — from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it." And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over. Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses. Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt — to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

You can learn a lot at the kitchen table when God is there with you.