Post #500 and a GIVEAWAY!!!

Here I am. Post #500. I don't think it is ironic that I started this blog about a month before Kiley died. I believe God knew I would need some sort of therapeutic venue to get out my thoughts, frustrations, and confusion. God knew I wouldn't speak of these things out loud, but I might be able to write of these things, and so the blog became a written look into my heart these past 21 months.

In the Bible, all numbers have significance. I don't understand the ramifications of each number and what it portrays, but it gives me comfort knowing that our God is perfect and that everything He does has meaning and order. Nothing is born out of chaos or thrown together in a random fashion when God is the orchestrator. While each number has significance, multiples of that number will bear the same meaning. For example, when we hear the number "490", we probably think of "70 x 7." So, in dealing with the number "5," it is OK to assume that "500" will have a similar meaning. Have I lost you? Please don't leave yet, I promise there is a giveaway! (Is that bribery? That is pathetic!)

"5" is a fun number to study because it is all about the grace of God! Most of the information I learned is from the book, "The Biblical Significance of Numbers," by Roger Hicks. He says that "when God is released to work in our lives, the boundaries on earth and heaven are removed by His grace." He says, "Five can be considered man's weaknesses perfected in God's strength and power, which is nothing less and nothing more than His grace."

There are some amazing examples with the number "5" that show "God manifested on earth because of grace." When God graciously calls out Abram to be the start of his chosen people, he breathes the Hebrew letter "h" into his name, changing "Abram" to "Abraham." Cool fact: the Hebrew letter "h" is the 5th letter of the alphabet!

Moses penned the first five books of the bible referred to as the Pentateuch. If God hadn't revealed Himself and the way He desires to be known in these first 5 books, then we would be forever without the grace to know Him. (His grace was manifest later in Christ, but His essence was on display in these first 5 books.)

In Leviticus 26:8, God tells the Israelites that "5 of you will chase 100." Sounds like our human weakness supernaturally goes out the door when God's grace visits us.

David took with him 5 stones to slay a giant. With grace, the small boy snatched up the victory.

When God was giving instructions on how to build the Tabernacle, almost all dimensions are multiples of 5. The very fact that He would want to dwell among us is the epitome of grace.

At Calvary, Jesus Christ had 5 wounds (back, hands, feet, head, and side) so that we might experience freedom from death and sin. By his stripes, grace was able to visit us in our weakness.

I think "5" and multiples of "5" can represent God's favor shown to the weak and unworthy.

In this 500th post, I praise Him for his grace on my life that has been a roller coaster of weakness and unworthiness. I praise Him for giving me an outlet to release some angst. I praise Him for giving me the grace to continue getting up each morning and for the grace to praise Him in the storm. I praise Him for His favor in allowing Testament Focused to become a reality. I praise Him for grace. Period.

His grace allows us to trade in our ashes for beauty. His grace clothes us with praise instead of a spirit of despair. His grace declares that everlasting joy is our inheritance. His grace proclaims freedom and sets us free from captivity. His grace plants us as "oaks of righteousness", to display His glory and splendor.

I wanted to have a giveaway that celebrates His grace and favor on our lives. I chose the Testament Focused picture, "Beauty for Ashes." I am so excited! I ordered notecards that have the below image imprinted on the front of the cards. The bottom of the inside of the cards say "Beauty for Ashes" along with the Isaiah reference.

I think the cards will minister to a wide range of people: from those grieving to those who just need an encouraging word. Even if you aren't the "sending cards" type, or you are a male (ha!), go ahead and enter the giveaway because if you win, you will have one (free and unique) Christmas present for someone special already taken care of! If you don't win and are interested in purchasing your own set (for yourself or a unique Christmas present), let me know.

So, here is the giveaway! A set of 10 "Beauty for Ashes" custom made notecards!! Giveaway will end on Tuesday, November 10th at 10 pm. Random.org will assist me with the winner! Praise God for his favor and thank you for reading this to the end; you are the best blog readers ever!