To Beeeeeeee

It turns out that it was a wise decision for me to take a blogger break, for May was a very happenin’ month! It started out great with me hosting the women in my family at our home Mother’s Day Weekend. At the end of our weekend gathering, my sister Kim asked me to go to her home in Georgia. I spent the next two weeks trying to catch my breath as I followed her around and ‘helped’. Like me, she is fifty-something but has the schedule and energy of a woman decades younger!

Anyway, weeks earlier Kim had had a vision of me being at her house for her annual garden tea party that she hosted for the women of her church and their guests. At the time, I did not see how it would be possible for me to be there (we have only one vehicle), but Yahweh made a way.

Kim shared with me that the theme of the party was centered around bees. She showed me interesting facts she had collected about bees and compared them to characteristics we as followers of Christ should emulate. As we conversed, The Spirit of the Lord showed us how it was important first TO BE in order TO BEE. By this He meant we must first practice being in the presence of the Almighty before becoming busy as a bee.

A couple of days later while brushing my teeth, The Holy Spirit brought something to my remembrance (has that ever happened to you?). He reminded me of a study I had done years ago on Deborah, a judge of Israel as recorded in the Old Testament, whose name means ‘bee’. When I shared this with Kim, she realized that I was to share about Deborah at the tea party and I was honored to do so.

And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. - Judges 4:4-5 KJV

A biblical judge differs from a modern-day judge in that they served as military leaders of their tribe and as Godly counselors knowing Yahweh’s laws and commandments. I like that the Word of God gives a picture of where Deborah lived…under the palm tree of Deborah. Her tent was probably pitched there, but I see her sitting under its shade and perhaps praying—simply BE-ing in God’s presence. Out of this place of being in His presence, she was prepared when a dispute arose and a tribesman sought out her wisdom for ‘the children of Israel came up to her for judgment’.

Deborah is described as the ‘wife of Lapidoth’. This phrase can be translated more literally as ‘woman of torches/lightenings’ or ‘woman of fiery spirit'.

Like a bee that can see ultraviolet rays (which humans cannot), I believe Deborah saw with spiritual eyes leading Israel with confidence and a fiery spirit!

Deborah was a mother to Israel and like a protective mother she flew at the enemies of her people and her sting was fatal! She must have been highly esteemed as a military leader; for in the clash with the Canaanites, her general, Barak, would not go into battle without her (Judges 4:8)!

When I shared all this with the women who gathered in my sister's home, I exhorted them to seek the Lord’s face daily—even if only for several minutes before beginning their day—and to do so throughout the day bringing their thoughts captive to Christ. We should remember Deborah and simply--

Practice bee-ing...