Tonight just before bed, there was a "zrbtt war." Mommy had not heard this phrase before, and this may be something you don't know either. Daddy remembers it from a television show, "The Cosby Show."
A good definition I just found online, where we add a couple of vowels to make it easier to pronounce: "A zerbert is the sound that comes from placing your lips on skin and blowing (like when you blow on a baby's belly). A zerbert can be made on any part of the body." This word was first coined by Bill Cosby's character, Heathcliff Huxtable, just before giving - and receiving - a zrbtt with his daughter.
So Madison and daddy had ourselves a bit of a zrbtt battle before bedtime. And it was epic! Mommy was laughing quite a bit, but Madison was rolling with laughter. She told herself, "I need to calm down!"
Today Madison had her recital rehearsal, where she played piano for the class and played piano with the class. Mommy said she did rather well, although a little behind on the class performance. Madison will be working on that some more, because she wants to do the best she can. It may have been a case of nerves, too. We think she knows the song just fine, but there's a bit of stage fright sometimes visiting all of us.
Afterwards, we went home together (Mommy picked Daddy up from church). It was a busy day planning for Summer Xtreme, as we're getting closer and closer to that deadline. Daddy will be very busy the next few weeks - if you notice this blog leading up to the days of Summer Xtreme each year, the blog entries seem to get shorter and shorter!
One thing that may help is the copy-and-paste of some of the messages that I've come up with for the Tribes series. Last time, we posted about Reuben. Today's post will be about the Tribe of Gad. That's what they say in Boston when they're surprised by something: "Oh my gad!"
Lucky number seven – Leah was so happy to have another child! She named him
Gad, because she had seen great fortune!
But this tribe wasn’t content to sit idle. Moses compared them to lions, fierce and dominating. Joshua complimented them for their loyalty and dedication to the missions God gave. David called them swift as gazelles in the mountains. And their reward was great: a large part of Israel to call their own, filled with pastureland. The Tribe of Gad were soldiers of fortune!
Both Moses and Joshua had a lot of respect for Gad. But more importantly, so did God, so let’s take a look at this impressive tribe, and see what we too can learn.
Right at the beginning, when Israel was speaking over his children, he turned to Gad and said something unusual: “Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels.” Fast-forward many years: the Tribe of Gad picked their own land, right there on the border of Israel. And it was there that they wound up being the first line of defense. But that wasn’t much of a problem for these soldiers of fortune. Fierce warriors, they lived like a lion!
As God’s people, we must be fierce about what we allow past our borders, and into our lives. We must be like lions, ready to drive away sin and temptation!
Another thing about Gad: they were loyal. Tribe members from Gad obeyed Moses and Joshua, and were quick to support David, the one who God made as leader of all tribes. Likewise, regardless of how we feel at times, we must be quick to support those who God puts over us. When we respect them, we show respect to God Himself.
Finally, they were builders. The Tribe of Gad constructed a large replica of God’s altar to remind everyone who they served. Sure, they were blessed with fortune – but they didn’t forget where it came from, and were quick to let everyone else know as well.
Years later, a man named Cornelius built a monument before God, but not with bricks or stone. It was his giving and good nature that caught God’s attention. So here’s the big question: like Gad, and like Cornelius, what kind of monument are you building?
This Tribe had a swagger and a boldness, and yet they knew their place and who they served. No wonder Joshua had them march across the Jordan River first! Follow their example: build a monument, stay loyal, and chase the raiders – and you too can become a soldier of fortune!
So Madison and daddy had ourselves a bit of a zrbtt battle before bedtime. And it was epic! Mommy was laughing quite a bit, but Madison was rolling with laughter. She told herself, "I need to calm down!"
Today Madison had her recital rehearsal, where she played piano for the class and played piano with the class. Mommy said she did rather well, although a little behind on the class performance. Madison will be working on that some more, because she wants to do the best she can. It may have been a case of nerves, too. We think she knows the song just fine, but there's a bit of stage fright sometimes visiting all of us.
Afterwards, we went home together (Mommy picked Daddy up from church). It was a busy day planning for Summer Xtreme, as we're getting closer and closer to that deadline. Daddy will be very busy the next few weeks - if you notice this blog leading up to the days of Summer Xtreme each year, the blog entries seem to get shorter and shorter!
One thing that may help is the copy-and-paste of some of the messages that I've come up with for the Tribes series. Last time, we posted about Reuben. Today's post will be about the Tribe of Gad. That's what they say in Boston when they're surprised by something: "Oh my gad!"
Soldiers of Fortune
But this tribe wasn’t content to sit idle. Moses compared them to lions, fierce and dominating. Joshua complimented them for their loyalty and dedication to the missions God gave. David called them swift as gazelles in the mountains. And their reward was great: a large part of Israel to call their own, filled with pastureland. The Tribe of Gad were soldiers of fortune!
Both Moses and Joshua had a lot of respect for Gad. But more importantly, so did God, so let’s take a look at this impressive tribe, and see what we too can learn.
Right at the beginning, when Israel was speaking over his children, he turned to Gad and said something unusual: “Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels.” Fast-forward many years: the Tribe of Gad picked their own land, right there on the border of Israel. And it was there that they wound up being the first line of defense. But that wasn’t much of a problem for these soldiers of fortune. Fierce warriors, they lived like a lion!
As God’s people, we must be fierce about what we allow past our borders, and into our lives. We must be like lions, ready to drive away sin and temptation!
Another thing about Gad: they were loyal. Tribe members from Gad obeyed Moses and Joshua, and were quick to support David, the one who God made as leader of all tribes. Likewise, regardless of how we feel at times, we must be quick to support those who God puts over us. When we respect them, we show respect to God Himself.
Finally, they were builders. The Tribe of Gad constructed a large replica of God’s altar to remind everyone who they served. Sure, they were blessed with fortune – but they didn’t forget where it came from, and were quick to let everyone else know as well.
Years later, a man named Cornelius built a monument before God, but not with bricks or stone. It was his giving and good nature that caught God’s attention. So here’s the big question: like Gad, and like Cornelius, what kind of monument are you building?
This Tribe had a swagger and a boldness, and yet they knew their place and who they served. No wonder Joshua had them march across the Jordan River first! Follow their example: build a monument, stay loyal, and chase the raiders – and you too can become a soldier of fortune!
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