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Morning Devotional...


Favor Upon Leah

"When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren"  (Gen. 29:31).

Genesis 29:31–35


As we read the history of our forefathers in the faith, we cannot help but feel sorry for Leah, Jacob's first wife (Gen. 29:23). In the first place we read that her "eyes were weak" (v. 17), probably meaning they lacked the sparkle or glint that was highly prized in that culture. In any case, it is clear she is not as physically attractive as her sister. Second, her own father uses her as a pawn to coax more years of service out of Jacob, and her own week-long wedding reception is thus tainted by being also a celebration of Laban's craftiness (v. 22). Then her indignities are only compounded by having to suffer through another seven days where "the pretty sister" is the center of attention after marrying her husband as well (vv. 27–28). Of course, she would also bear the burden of living with the knowledge that she was not all that desirable to Jacob (v. 30).

Jacob's lack of love for Leah is even clearer in today's passage. We read in verse 31 that she was "hated," a word that in context means "loved less" (v. 30), not that Jacob maliciously detested her. Still, this is a sad situation for Leah. However, the Lord loves Leah even when Jacob does not. He "saw" her (v. 31), a verb Scripture often uses right before God acts on behalf of the oppressed. For example, the Lord "saw" His people Israel just before He liberated them from Egyptian slavery (Ex. 2:25). Here God opens Leah's womb and makes her a mother before Rachel (Gen. 29:31), giving her the greatest status a woman in that society could have. Nevertheless, her longing for her husband to love her remains foremost in her mind. Her first three sons, Reuben, Simeon, and Levi are all named in hopes that her affection will not remain unrequited (vv. 29:31–34).

God ordinarily chooses to exalt what men have rejected (1 Sam. 16:6–13; Acts 4:11; James 4:10), and this is what He does for Leah. She bears many of the sons God will make into the twelve tribes of Israel. Most notable of these boys, of course, is Judah, for whom Leah offers praise to the Lord (Gen. 29:35). This looks to the day thousands of years later when Judah's greatest Son opened the way for all peoples to praise the Creator (Matt. 1:2; 5:16; Heb. 6:19–20).

Coram Deo

Not only would Leah have the honor of mothering the priestly (Levi) and royal (Judah) tribes of Israel, she is also ultimately the mother of the Savior who Himself embodies both of these roles (Heb. 7:11–22). If this supreme honor was given to Leah, how can we doubt that God will exalt us in His own timing? If you are in Christ and feel unloved and unwanted, know that God loves you and will raise you up in His good time.

Passages for Further Study

Ps. 103:6
Ezek. 21:26
Luke 4:16–21
Rev. 5:1–5; 20:4–6


From Ligonier Ministries, the teaching fellowship of R.C. Sproul. http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/favor-upon-leah/

Hi everyone on a beautiful sunny afternoon.  I attended church this morning and on the way back and forth saw so many blooming dogwood trees and other flowers that have bloomed out.  Pat was feeling very good so didn't go to church.  Our son was over early to set up our new Vizio TV and it is just right for the room. I am ready for a rest period this afternoon and will watch the championship games for the SEC and the Big Ten.  I also expect to be working with someone via the Facetime app on the iPad later this afternoon.  It is like being in the room with the person.  That will be enough for one day for me.

Janet, the new pickup sounds great and you all will have fun with the bells and whistles.  You will appreciated the air-conditioned seats in the hot summer time.  I hadn't heard of those, just the heated seats, which we have in our Hyundai.  Glad I asked about your painting.  I am sure your reputation as a bird painter is well deserved.

Buddy, thanks for the devotional thoughts for this week.   

Buddy, thanks for this morning's devotional.  An interesting study of Leah.

Thank you, Buddy, for devotions.  I am thinking of and praying for the Twelve Tribes of Israel today as it is their election.  May the people choose the leader who will protect them from harm. 

How nice to have Pat and Paul visiting, Larry.  good that they could sleep a good night's rest before they continue on their journey.  We cannot use our iPhone until April 17th. or our son would have to pay a couple of hundred dollars fine on his phone plan - we are on his plan and dropping out then going on a basic plan that will cost us about $5 more per month.  Meanwhile, so happy to get some training and I wrote everything down to keep handy. 

We visited Green Valley, Arizona yesterday with former Colorado neighbors - they had to move to the lower altitude.  She looked so much healthier than when we last saw her in the spring this year.  They are quickly adapting to the move and chose some wonderful colors for paint, etc. in the house.  They want to come up here one day for lunch so this looks like a yearly visit.

I am going to stop talking about visitors - it is every week and the hardest thing is to decide what to fix for meals and making the trundle bed.  Just happy to be able to move enough to keep on keeping on. 

Interesting Buddy.  I never read that passage the way you have laid it out.  Thank you!

Hi, friends,

It's good to be able to enter the discussion today.

I'm thankful to have been able to go to church, then eat with friends.

It's a lovely day here - temps got just above 70 degrees. How nice after the recent ice storms.

Y'all have a good rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

We have had a nice warm day here, but also windy.  After church, we just stayed around here and took it easy, kind of nice for a change.  Friends from church brought out a chicken he had cooked in their new Treger grill for us, so we have been eating that.  We bought two big chickens and took to him after he offered to do this, one for them and one for us.  We really enjoy this young couple.

Tomorrow it's back to the usual activities, but I do want to start doing some de-cluttering and cleaning out each day.  Today I discarded a lot of magazines and stuff like that.  Those piles seem to take on a life of their own!

I'm reading a great Christian book on my Kindle, would like to finish it tonight, so am going to get into my pajamas and see how far my eyes let me get before they insist on closing!

Thanks for the nice devotional, Buddy.  I always feel sorry for Leah when I read that section of the Word.

Great devotional, Buddy!  Very good reading at the end of the day here in Winchester, VA.  We had a lovely afternoon and evening meal and an evening of singing with Jim and Marla (Paul's son and family).  My goodness it's so nice to hear 8 children all singing in harmony.

We just got home here and Paul is putting on the wood stove in the basement and then we'll be in bed very soon.

Hi everyone.  We are expecting to hit 83 degrees on this sunny Monday.  Not much on the agenda today although I need to work up our taxes for last year as finally got the final papers I need.  I have several smaller tasks I need to attend do as well such as a trip to the credit union and a quick stop at Walmart. 

Hope it is a fine day for each and everyone visiting here today. 

Whew!  I am exhausted!  Kristi really worked me hard this morning, and after that I have been working al day getting rid of more clutter.  I think mail and magazines multiply while I'm sleeping!    I did get in to see Beth this afternoon, she said John wants me to start looking for a place for him to live.  There aren't many available to rent that are nice at all.  (But she says he is a slob anyway!)    I know of a nice one over in Johnson, but that would make him do a lot of driving, as Johnson is 20 miles away from Ulysses.  I guess she could move to the care home in Johnson, but that would make it more miles for me to drive to visit her.  I'm sure God has a plan!

It was 90 degrees here today, and windy!  And they say it will be cold tomorrow!  Even snow is being predicted in the next week!    Well, that is Springtime in Kansas

Pat and Paul, glad you made it home safely again!

For sure I am going to bed EARLY this evening!  I have been up since 5:30.

Hi everyone.  It was 64 degrees here when I woke up this morning and is to again be sunny and in the 80s.  I felt yesterday was a pretty productive day (for me) in that I organized my garage, including my tools and other items we keep in the garage.  I have a little alcove at the head of the garage that the small metal cabinet fit perfectly and allowed for a set of shelves that we had used in our other garage to fit without interfering with the car.  I cleared up some paperwork and Pat and I went out to dinner at our favorite restaurant after a quick stop at Lowe's to return some casters that would not work. 

My goal today is to get up into my attic before it gets warm and at least get started organizing it and unpacking a few boxes and putting things on metal shelving that I brought with me from my shed.  Then I want to start on my income tax, which won't be hard as I use a tax software and have nothing complicated this year. 

Janet, Pat gets a couple of quilting related magazines and I don't currently subscribe to any magazines.  We were getting a lot of catalogs but most of those went immediately into the trash.  Hope John can find a suitable place to rent without having to be far away or that would require Beth to move.  I just looked up the population of Ulysses and see it is about the size of the town where I went to college, exclusive of the college kids.  Surely something would be available for him.  Does he want a house or an apartment? 

Hello everybody at noon!  I have been cleaning like a white tornado!  Have made a dent in it, but so much to do.  I want to get it really uncluttered and really clean!  I had a philodrendron plant that I had trained to climb about ten feet from its pot, over the grandfather clock and on the chain the light above my desk hangs on.  It was getting pretty straggly, losing lots of debris, and I was tired of it.  So it got a very severe pruning and Darrel is going to re-pot it.  I may find it another home after that, as I am getting rid of the little table it's been on and replacing that table with another that was Darrel's Mom's, that I found in the garage and cleaned.  And isn't this just SO exciting?       Sorry.  I stopped for a while to have a cup of tea and see what all of you are up to today. 

Larry, Beth said John thinks he wants to rent an apartment.  I told her I will keep an eye on the ads in the local paper, and maybe go look at a few.  There really aren't any nice ones that I know of, but then there is a LOT I don't know!    It sounds like you are a very organized person, Larry.  I am trying to become a lot more organized, but as "Flylady" says, "You cannot organize clutter!  You can only get rid of it!"  So that's what I am attempting to do.  If I weren't steeped from the start in the philosophy of "waste not, want not" and not throwing anything away that someone else could use, it would be a lot easier!    But the fact that our Senior Center has monthly garage sales is a big help--I can haul a lot of stuff down there!

Abby called and said she finally found that perfect prom dress!  She asked if I wanted to go to Garden with her today to take it to a lady for it to be altered (it is too big) but I told her I need to keep plugging away on this house.  I am going to the photographer's with her tomorrow as she is getting her Senior portraits taken, and Diane can't go.  That should be fun.  I have really missed spending time with Abby.  (The photographer is in Sublette, not Hugoton or Ulysses.)

I'd best finish my tea, think about eating a bite before the house cleaning gal gets here--and yes, there is still more than plenty for her to do!

Sorry that I have not stopped in to post for a while, It seems like a never=ending series of Dr and other appointments for  last week and this week.  Keith's surgery went  well. he is still on the 3 different drops for times a day, two more days of the antibiotic drops one more for the pain drops then another week for the Prednisolone drops.  So anyway I am taking good care of him.

Sunday we had a Baked Potato feed  to celebrate St. Patricks. That is where  people bring toppings for the potatoes, salads and desserts.  Pastor Don and his wife cooked all the potatoes. I really like this little church we've been attending. Although it wasn't my first choice since it isn't AG. But I love the small congregation and the Pastor is  so funny. He is 80 something yrs old, very short and is always  telling us  stories of his  life  that fit right into the sermon .  He is the same one who married Keith to his first wife and the only church that  Keith wanted to attend. So that's where we are. There are  one or two others there who come from the same  AG background as  I do and we have quite a time  praying for people. The gifts are  happening very obviously. So I just smile to myself and Praise God.

Janet you posted while I was typing, Oh the clutter in this house, Keith doesn't even throw away old mail, I just pack itin boxes. he doesn't even open most of his mail I am the one who will open some of his mail like the household bills.

Marilyn, dealing with all the mail is my most difficult household task.  Since we did own two businesses, we still get a lot of business-related mail, almost all of which goes directly into the trash.  But the other stuff, no matter how good my intentions, there are always a few pieces I feel need to be checked over, thus it piles up.  I am doing better, though.  I really try to to process the mail as soon as we bring it in, but......I know you know what I mean. 

And when I get through in the house, there is still the garage, my studio, and TWO upstairs to tackle! 

Hi, friends,

I'm thankful to be able to come here and read. Yesterday was a rest-up kind of day.

I've enjoyed  on things here at the apartment, too. First comes the kitchen. Not too messed up, but just needs a good straightening up. Then, the stuff accumulated, such as those magazines and mail, in the living room.

Oh, well, when we retired we didn't retire from responsibilities, did we!

Y'all have a great rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

Hi Everyone!

I'm still in Virginia.  Will be leaving in a few days on Day 30 in the USA or 29.  Not sure completely yet.

It's beautiful weather here.  Judy has been keeping me up to date with the weather in Canada and it's going to be a little chilly there for awhile.  (Thanks Judy)

Hi Ruth Ann, Janet, Larry, Marilyn, Carol and all.

Here's a nice little check list from Dr. David Jeremiah today:

Spiritual warfare is real
— and it is not a battle into which we go unprotected.

Ephesians 6:14-17 describes the "whole armor of God" designed to give you victory!


1.  The Girdle of Truth — Satan is a liar! Our "tool belt" of truth equips us to defeat his deceptions by living a life of truthfulness.
2.  The Breastplate of Righteousness — Apart from righteousness, we have no defense against Satan's accusations. But because of it, we have victory.
3.  The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace — This Gospel stabilizes our hearts because we know God is working all things together for our good.
4.  The Shield of Faith — The fiery darts of the devil are meant to demoralize and discourage us, but faith in God's power defeats those darts.
5.  The Helmet of Salvation — The enemy works to corrupt our minds, but the Helmet of Salvation protects our thoughts.
6.  The Sword of the Spirit — Your one weapon is the Bible, a complete armory of Scripture to defeat every attack.

This armor of God is your protection and your arsenal as you go into spiritual battle, but it is only effective when you put it on!

I got back online to see if I could find out how elections in Israel are going.  And I'm delighted to read that it looks as if Netanyahu is winning big!  Praise God!  I'm not going to stop praying over this until I know for sure, though!

Welcome home, Pat, and have a safe drive back to Guelph.  Love you! 

Right, Ruth Ann...we never retire from responsibilities.  Just paychecks, I guess. 

Great news from the Israel elections - a man who wants to protect his country from surrounding terrorists has been reelected - yes, indeed Janet! 

Today is only half over and I am pretty well on game for tomorrow's visitors.  Cousin & wife will stay two nights and we go out for one supper over the next 3 days.  A bowl of chicken, celery, grapes and some cranberries is mixed as a salad for tomorrow - it needs to "marry" the ingredients.  Apple crisp will do for one of the desserts - we like the green and almost sour apples with a little sweetness.  Grilling meat one meal.  We will probably go out for pizza for one supper. 

I made a double batch of hummingbird nectar so the little darlings won't be without.  We have been spotting a larger bird, a Flicker (sorts Woodpecker) drinking at the tiny holes in the hummingbird feeder.  Interesting.  It is raining this afternoon and always welcome in the desert.  Cacti is beginning to bloom and horrors to me is that snakes have been spotted out and about.  We have walking sticks and had better start using them.   Think I will stay on concrete paths. 

Cousin is always using opportunities to evangelize and we welcome his visit.   

Hi everyone.  Very busy day as have been to Atlanta and back.  Fortunately my son drove me and we had only a couple of short times where we got caught in traffic.  I had good news on the check of my pacemaker/defibrillator as the wire I have is OK.  They did give me a monitor to use here at home, although still have to go every six months for a check with a technician but will do that here rather than in Atlanta.  Needless to say I am tired tonight.

Larry, glad your son was available to drive you today, and good news on your check-up!

Amen, Carol!  I shouted out loud and thanked God when I heard the news of Netanyahu's re-election!  Your meals you have planned sound great!  Yep, carry that stick--you can always hit a snake with it, or use it to flip the snake off your path!

I'm just in the door.  I went with Abby to the photographer's and it took all afternoon!  She wasn't getting Senior portraits, after all, as I thought; she had a modeling job!  Ellen had asked her to come over, bringing lots of changes of clothes and accessories, so she could take photos of her to use in her advertising.  They both had some really nice, pretty, cute, etc. ideas, and those photos should really be something!  It was fun watching the process.  I asked Abby why she wanted me to come and she said, "Because it's no fun to go alone!"  I'm just happy she wanted me.  Ellen will waive Abby's sitting fee for her Sr. pics in return for this, and that is $300.  Not bad for one afternoon!

And.....drum roll, please.....I had a big surprise (and thrill) today myself!  Several years ago, I painted a picture of Charlie Binney's old grocery store, which was a fixture in Ulysses from the early twenties.   One of the guys at the Sr. center asked me on Monday if I still had it, and I said yes.  He said the Main ARTery would like to display it, as they have been doing a thing on Facebook called Ulysses-Back in the Day, and it would fit in really well.  So at noon I took it to them, told them a price to put on it in case someone wanted to buy it, and went home, then on to Hugoton to meet Abby.  As we were driving to Sublette, Darrel called me and said one of the Binneys (Relative of the owner of the store, Charlie Binney) came in and wants to buy the painting.  I priced it higher than I ever priced one before, because Darrel wanted me to!  So I'm a happy camper!!  Woo Hoo!

Oh, that's wonderful Janet!!!  (about the painting)    I love your work so it's worth the high price!  I'm just so happy I have a painting of yours hanging in my front hallway!!! 

Have you seen the entries in the latest photo challenge?  This one is "WATER" and there are some great selections.  Check them out HERE and vote for your five favorites.  There are two pages of photos - and you don't need to have entered in order to vote!

Not sure how to find the second page?  At the bottom of the page you will see a place to click in order to see the entries on another page:

[attachimg=1]

Then go back to the top of the page in order to vote. 

Yes, Jeanne, it's sad.  Not one of the 12 photos on the second page has received a single vote!!!

Hi everyone.  It is a rainy, chilly and a bit of a windy day here so far.  I had to get out in the rain the first thing this morning and attend to some business involving our checking account.  Last evening I got notice of a problem and thought that our account may have been compromised.  However, this morning in tracking things down I found I was the problem as had taken too much money from one checking account to the other credit union savings account.  So I quickly went to one credit union and withdrew a sum of money and then went to the other credit union and deposited.  I got it in cash so there would be a hold put on it.  Hopefully everything is now OK and I was happy that it was me that was at fault.  I did have a good nights sleep.  I plan to stay in the rest of the day.  It was be a good day to work on the attic and perhaps finish up the organization up there as it won't be hot.  The NCAA basketball tourney starts this afternoon so will try to catch some of the games this afternoon and evening. 

Janet, congratulations on the sale of your fine painting.  Glad you followed Darrel's advice on pricing.  Glad you had a good time with Abbey yesterday. 

Buddy and Pat, I will go vote on the pictures, including viewing the second page.

Hi, friends,

It's been a rest-up kind of day. Yesterday was busy, but productive.

Y'all have a great day.

Ruth Ann

Hi everyone.  Hopefully the rain is over for a day or so but we are to just have cloudy skies and temperatures in the 50's today.  Glad to see winter over and at least we are officially into Spring.  I am getting off to a slow start today as stayed in bed awhile this morning and read my email and message boards on my smart phone before getting us and getting the day started.  Pat's sewing room is completely furnished now with the vinyl 4 foot table we got from Amazon yesterday.  It was a bit heavy but was able to lay it on its side and slide it up the steps while using the chair lift to get me up there at the same time.  Nothing on the agenda for today so we will just play it by ear.  I enjoyed several of the very good basketball games that were on yesterday and there is another round of games this afternoon and evening. 

Jeanne and Pat--I think I know why none of the photos on the second page has any votes yet.  It won't load for me!  I have tried three times.  So I will wait until tomorrow or later to vote, as I do want to see all of the entries before voting.  Some wonderful shots there, proving the universal appeal of water.

The painting isn't sold yet.    They said they have had three calls, all from Binneys; but felt they were put off by the price.  However, she told me today she thinks the Binneys are wanting to get together to buy it.  Darrel says it's worth more than the price I'm asking.  So I guess I will just wait and see! 

Tomorrow is our health fair, so we are fasting from supper tonight until after the blood tests tomorrow. 

I got to see Diane, Abby and Beth all at Dr. Saxon's this morning!  We had a mini family reunion there in his waiting room! 

I got a bit more done on the house today, but ran out of steam.......

Okay, I found page two and cast my votes!  It is a bit confusing, though.

I have no idea what Page 2 doesn't load for you, Janet.  It loads every time for me.

CLICK HERE TO SEE PAGE 2

I voted