Veneer = Fake, Guest blogger: Superpurple Girl JUNE

Veneer - cheap wood that is covered with a thin layer of better wood
so as to make it appear that is entire piece is made of the better
grade wood.

I remember learning about veneer and being intrigued, seeing tables
and other pieces of furniture, always looking for the signs that would
expose it as a veneer, the fake or impostor that it was.

Yesterday, as I listed pieces of furniture we are selling, I felt that
same sense of mystery as I wrote the word again. Of the few veneer
pieces I included, Paul said "Don't even bother with those, they're
junk."

This morning, I saw it again:

Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that
had gathered with them. "The religion scholars and Pharisees are
competent teachers in God's Law. You won't go wrong in following their
teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a
good line, but they don't live it. They don't take it into their
hearts and live it out in their behavior. It's all spit-and-polish
veneer." Matthew 1-3

It goes on to describe their detestable behavior as frauds and the
hopelessness - or woe - they incite. All their teachings and efforts
to impress are in vain! Their hearts and minds are set on making
themselves look good, not God. Jesus really lays into them for this,
too. And rightly so! They are the leaders, the teachers. But they
are fakes, not living what they preach.

So, again, I feel a sense of wonder and truth. I want to be solid,
through and through! Real and living - outwardly and inwardly - the
truth I believe and share with others. If I'm in a scrape or bumped
around or dinged like a piece of furniture, I don't want cheap fake
insides to be exposed - I want to be found solid through and through!

So, Lord, create in me a pure heart, renew a right Spirit within me.
I need this daily. For I know, God, it is only by Your power and
Spirit that I am fully restored and cleansed. I want to be solid for
You, God, standing firm in Your Truth and sharing the Good News of
your Kingdom for Your Glory!!

Elo- who? Elo-HIM! Guest Blogger: Cara

I have been doing a daily Devotion book that teaches us the many names
of God. I am learning how each name teaches us about his Character,
his attributes, his nature - and his ultimate love. I have been
learning so much about my Father's limitless power and glorious name.
Lord is more than a word; it indicates a relationship. This teaches me the Lordship of God means His total possession of me and my total submission to Him as Lord and Master. Some people who don't
understand this might say this idea of a relationship to be unhealthy
- being possessed and submitted - but I can honestly say this is
truly healthy and like nothing else!
Last night I learned about 1 of Gods names - Elohim "El" means mighty or "strong" and is used for any reference to gods including Almighty God. Elohim is the primary Hebrew word translated "God" in the Old Testament. Elohim is the name for God as Creator. It is used in Genesis 1:1 and could be
translated, "In the beginning Gods created the heavens and the
earth". I wondered by reading this above - does the use of Gods mean
more than 1 God?! I later understood No it doesn't! "The Lord (meaning
Jehovah) is our God (meaning Elohim), the Lord is one" Deut 6:4. God
is the Father, God is the Son, and God the Holy Spirit - the blessed
Trinity - created the heavens and the earth. One in essence, in
character, yet three persons united as one. I understood this to be
true before (the holy trinity) but sometimes I need things broken down
in layman's terms before I truly grasp the significance of Our God the
creator of all. God is the creator of all things, he has given us life! Why are we created?! For Him! We are a unique creation of God, one of a kind, created for his glory . He "didst form my inward
parts." He didst weave me in my mothers womb....I am fearfully and
wonderfully made!

My devotion goes on to tell a short story of someone beautifully made
that is not of normal size (to our human standards), a dwarfed women
named Julie. She stood 3 feet tall, her head was of normal size, but
a dwarfed body. Julie spends all her days in a sling, much like a
babys walker. In order to move anywhere, her legs must propel the
rolling frame. Julie is radiant, a delight to all who meet her. She
knows her Elohim, and she realizes that he created her just the way
she is for a purpose. Now please don't tell me God had nothing to do
with her physical condition. If I were to believe that, I'd have to
deny His sovereignty, His Word, and His name. I loved this story of
Julie because it reminded me that God has a purpose for all of us,
short, tall, fat, skinny, blind, deaf, or ugly (per our human
standards). He created each of us in his image to fulfill his purpose!
Rememberwhen the disciples saw a man blind from birth, "and His disciples asked Him, saying Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?" (John 9:2) How did Jesus
answer? "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him" (John 9:3). God is Awesome and I praise the creator of all the universe. I
will glorify his mighty names' and trust in His power and divine will
for my life!

Thank you God for this revelation today - I will seek beauty in all
your created things!