Dora, my adorable and favorite four-legged sweetheart, has a persistent habit. At 3 pm every day she faces off with me. Sitting as close to my nose as she can, she stares into my face, waiting for me to notice her and move to her request. I reach for her at some point, pulling her onto my lap while I love on her with a head rub. Finally, I will shift in my chair. Or move towards the kitchen. She runs ahead of me while I dish out the food that is the same blah flavor it has been for years. Lamb and rice. You would think she would be bored. The ritual begins again about 9 pm while she is ready to go to bed and I provide a good sized scoop of plain yogurt for a bedtime snack.

I love this dog!

Lately I feel as though I am asking God for the same thing, over and over. I continue to ask him, staying close by to him, staying nose to nose with him, while I ask for his provision. His best. His manna.

It is a need that has sent me behind the veil, into the throne room, continually bowing before Him in my need and then being brought up on His lap with His love. Lavished with His love. Much better than a head rub!

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Yesterday Steve mentioned Sandi Patty’s “Oh Lord Oh Lord How Majestic is Your Name” song in his message. I came home and dug through GodTube.com and Youtube.com trying to find it. I used to have all her albums on tape which over the years have fallen apart. I found this one and while it isn’t exactly as on her awesome album from the 80’s (dates me, eh? Remember I’m fabulous fifty!) this is a wonderful reminder.

Psalm 8

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.

1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.

9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

I love it when I find a theme that repeats itself in my life over a short period of time that I notice it. So it is with rocks. Or I should clarify. Stones.

Steve mentioned our value before God as indicated in Revelation 2:17. A newly carved name on a white stone given to believers. A mystery indeed.

And this afternoon in my reading and homework for Beth Moore, the garments of the high priest as God outlined the details for Aaron. On the ephod were two onyx stones with the 12 names of the tribes engraved. Six on each one. And on the breastplate, worn over the heart were 12 stones:

“You shall mount on it four rows of stones; the first row shall be a row of ruby, topaz and emerald; and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond; and the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree.The stones shall be according to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, according to their names; they shall be like the engravings of a seal, each according to his name for the twelve tribes.” Exodus 28:17-21

Aaron shall carry the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment over his heart when he enters the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. Exodus 28:29

It is no coincidence.

The study of the tabernacle has been a thrill to me. An absolute joy! When I read of God’s provision to His people to bring them out of slavery, to provide guidance to them with His presence as a cloud by day and a fire by night, to provide food daily that never gave out nor spoiled, to provide water from a rock, to provide specific instructions for a tabernacle with a table of bread, a lampstand with almond leaves, blossoms, buds, the alter of burnt offering, the clothes of the priest, the glory of the mercy seat….

The entire history.

Points to Christ.

And his pure offering.

To take my place.

For sin I can not pay.

With my name written in His book. With His name written on my heart. And mine on His.

A new theme in my life. My ears are perked up at the repetition.

Trees.

Today in Beth Moore’s study “A Woman’s Heart” which is a study of the tabernacle - God’s dwelling place - I was totally blown away with many things, all revolving around the almond tree.

Fancy that. The gold lampstand with seven lamps with almond branches, buds and blossoms. Genesis. Exodus. Jeremiah. Zechariah. Revelation. God’s pattern of heaven. On earth.

Illuminating the life of Christ. Ultimate sacrifice.

My head is spinning with the heavenly glimpse. I’m overwhelmed in gratitude.

I am considering planting an almond tree. Do they grow in Texas?

Jeremiah 17:
7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.

8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”

Life, for me, is full and busy with a share of heartache. In times like this I am reminded that sitting by the water and putting my roots down for nourishment is the absolutely essential life ingredient.