Together for Good - Fall Line Give Back

We are in full on planning mode to release our 2018 Fall Line. We finished our photoshoot this last Saturday which was amazing. You can catch a glimpse here. We set our date to launch for Tuesday, September 18th!! AND we started working with Together for Good! Together for Good will be the organization we give back to with this Fall Line.

To give you a better idea of who Together For Good is, we asked them a series of questions. See the interview below. We’ll also be sharing a few stories over the next few posts.

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What was your reason/passion behind starting this organization?

Vulnerable, socially isolated families often don’t have anywhere to turn in times of crisis or when facing chronic stress. Research tells us that without strong social networks, children can be left in unsafe situations, increasing the risk of abuse and neglect.

Together, along with the church, we provide practical help and relational support to struggling families. Our trained network of volunteers provide safe places for children to stay during crisis as well as offer respite care and ongoing friendship to ensure no parent has to walk alone.

How long have you been serving families?

We have been serving families for just over one year.

Do you have any Partnerships or Organizations that serve along side of you?

We work with MN Adult and Teen Challenge, Shakopee Women's Prison, Healing House, Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, area domestic violence shelters, local hospitals, schools and homeless shelters. We also partner with 35 churches across the Twin Cities Metro and Rochester.

Who do you care for?

Our services are offered to any struggling parents. Single moms are the largest group to access care but we also serve grandparents who are parenting grandchildren, couples experiencing crisis or addiction and even extended family or friends who are the legal guardians of children.

What is the biggest need you see?

The biggest needs we see are homeless single mothers who have nowhere for their children to stay while they look for stable housing. We also see medical crisis, mental health crises, addiction recovery, domestic violence, incarceration, chronic family stress and poverty.

Can you explain ways to get involved with Together For Good?

Advocate: We would love to introduce your church and/or friends to Together for Good.

Host: Also, we are continuing to grow our network of host families to care for children during crisis.

Volunteer: We also need volunteers to provide support such as meals, diapers and mentoring of parents as well as helping organize events for bio parents.

Give: We are completely privately funded and rely on the support of donors to operate and grow this network of care

What are some Together for Good Events you hold for kids and moms?

We hold monthly brunches as an opportunity for bio moms to connect with caring volunteers. We are looking to expand this in the coming year. We also offer workshops, classes and fun events like VBS to provide our moms with ongoing opportunities for growth, rest and even fun.

What’s your favorite part of Together for Good?

So often, the church only has opportunity to interact with those from a different socioeconomic or cultural demographic in transactional ways and from a distance. Backpack drives, food shelf donations, clothing drives, child sponsorships and fundraising are all wonderful. But there is no substitute for life on life ministry. It is incredible to watch barriers come down between volunteers and the bio parents as they work together to what is best for the children. The relationships that develop are life changing for everyone involved.

God vs Egyptian gods

Many of us have read the Exodus (Moses bringing the Israelite slaves our of Egypt) about a billion times. It's one of the most well-known Bible stories.  So well-known that as adults we often overlook this passage in the Bible thinking we have this story down.  I mean Moses, burning bush, Holy Ground, brother Aaron, "free my people",  hard-hearted Pharoah, ten plagues, etc...  

But have you stopped to really study it.  Study the meaning of each piece. Dive deep into this passage.  This story is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. and sheds so much light and reveals so much power!  For example,  God uses the ten plagues over a six month period to demonstrate His power to the Israelites and to show the Egyptian powerhouse at the time that He is the one true God. 

You ask, how so?  Well, let me share with you!

Each if the ten plagues represents an Egyptian god. Egyptians created supermen-a mix of half human and half sacred animal to be their gods.  They took everyday things and elevated them to the rank of deity. Each major aspect of Egyptian life was tied to a specific god.  So when God delivers each of the plagues, it’s demonstrating His superiority over their gods.  One by one, God unveils their false authority to ultimately show His superiority as but the True God that reigns over all the earth. (Ex.10:8)

Let me show you below as we play out a series of battles between our God and the god of the Egyptians

Round 1 - Nile River

God vs Hapi

In Exodus 7:14-25 we see God take on Hapi, the god of the Nile River.  Egypt existed only because the Nile existed.  It is said that there is no other country in the ancient or modern times that has been so dependent on its waterways.  Egypt was smack-dab in the middle of the desert.  There were deserts for miles surrounding it.  The Nile was literally its life-source.  They used it for ship port development, agriculture,  irrigation, hunting as wild game all lived around the Nile, and fishing.  So when God turned the Nile water to blood, he was declaring power over their water bearer god, Hapi.  The bacteria from the blood made it undrinkable and would have killed all fish.

Winner - God

Round 2 - Frogs

God vs Heket

In Exodus 8:1-15, we are introduced to frogs and a whole lot of them coming from the Nile.  Heket was the frog headed goddess of fertility, water and renewal. In December, the Nile river receded from its flooding stage leaving behind lots of ponds and marshes.  The sound of frogs would fill the air as they claimed the waters again.  To the farmer, this sound indicated that Hapi who controlled the Nile was active and made the land fertile with soil deposits fertilizing the land guaranteeing harvest was coming.  Frogs represented fruitfulness and blessing

But when God brought in these frogs from the Nile he quickly turned what was pleasant and desirable into loathsome and overwhelming!  I mean, Frogs where everywhere.  In your house, in your food, in your hair, in your bed!  (ps... Moses declares the frogs would go into his bedroom and even hop on Pharaoh's bed.  Heket also was seen as the god of fertility and assisted in childbirth...  I see a little God humor here as Moses was quick to point that out in Exodus 8:3...hehe.)    Beyond His humor though, God showed power over Heket as the frog was one of the numerous animals that must not be intentionally killed.  It could have been punishable by death!  So not only would the plague be seen as the gods against them.  But the people were forced to kill the embodiment of Heket because the sheer number that would have been underfoot. 

Winner: God

Round 3 - Dust and Gnats

God vs Geb  

This plague in Exodus 8:16-19 was directed towards Geb - the great god of the earth.  The Egyptians gave offerings to Geb for the bounty of soil... yet it was the soil that this plague originated from.  He struck the dust of the earth and it because like gnats on man and beast.  I envision the staff literally hitting the ground, creating a dust that blew up and that dust became a never ending sheet of gnats. It was said that this species of gnats were so small it was hardly visible to the human eye but had a sting that would cause the most painful irritation of the skin.  They'd even creep into the eyes and nose.  yuck.  

This plague also struck the heart of Egyptian worship.  The Egyptian priests were extremely careful about hygiene and ritual cleansing.  The gnats investing their body made them unable to worship before their gods or enter the temples to pray for deliverance. The plague was also upon every animal thus leaving them defiled stopping their sacrificial system before the gods.

Winner: God

Round 4 - Swarm of Flies

God vs Uatchit

Uatchit was the fly god of Egypt.  She is seen as the Lady of the marshes where papyrus grows and insects live.  She guards all life of the Nile Delta.  This plague tormented the Egyptians.  The Ichneumon fly was regarded as the manifestation of the god Uatchut, the blood sucking gad fly or dog fly.  Which in elementary terms, "sounds disgusting!"  

The swarm of flies that were sent by god were more than likely a swarm of various biting insects that would feast upon the Egyptians body.  And how do we know they feasted, Psalm 78:45 says it devoured them.  This plague had the same affect on the land as the gnats did;  it disrupted the worship of the gods amidst their uncleanliness. 

Winner: God

Round 5 - Death of Livestock

God vs Hathor

Moses again stood before Pharaoh and declares if he did not let his people go all the animals in the field would die.  Horses, donkeys, camels, sheep, goats, and cows.  These animals helped in their everyday, were their food, transportation and even their sacrifices before their gods.  But there was one animal that stood out for the Egyptians and that was the cow.  They saw the cow as sacred and a manifestation of the goddess Hathor.    Hathor was a mother goddess in form of a cow who represented love, protection and fertility. 

Round 6 - Boils

God vs Imhotep

In Exodus 9 Moses took handfuls of soot from the furnace, tossed it in the air before Pharaoh and it became like fine dust over all the land in Egypt, and festering boils broke out on all the people and animals.  The Hebrew word for boil is to burn.  The ashes from the furnace became a boil that would swell and become extremely painful. To really gross you out, it was an abscess filled with pus upon the body, especially the hands and feet.  This was a direct attack against the god of medicine, Imhotep.  The magicians were also unclean and couldn't even stand before Pharaoh or perform rituals.  

Winner: God

So God is about to send the 7th plague. Hail.  And it is going to be one doozy of a storm.  But take note of what He says to Moses to say to Pharaoh.  Exodus 9:14-17 "Let my people go... or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.  For by now I could have struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth.  But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that i might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.  You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go. 

This is where I want to just stand up and interrupt the story by saying... "Got that point! I see your power, your sovereignty. No need to see your FULL FORCE. #comeonpharoah!!

Back to the God vs gods...

Round 7 - Hail

God vs Nut

God sails a Hail storm unlike any other.  Thunder and lightning were so intense that fire ran alongside the ground.  This crazy storm took on the Egyptian god, Nut.  Nut was the sky goddess.  Up until this God sent storm, Upper Egypt very rarely received rain.  In fact, only 2" annually.   So this storm was truly unlike any other.  It had devastating affects to the crops at that time of season, flax and barley which were staples in their diet, used for clothing and given as an offering poured out to a god.  The hail would have also affected their homes and damaged the many monuments they were obsessed with building honoring their gods.

One commentary wrote, this storm fire mingled with hail was perhaps the most frightening plague so far.  The Egyptians must have believed the wrath of God was pouring down from the Heavens in all serenity. 

Winner: God

Round 8 - Locusts

God vs Set

God takes on the Egyptian god Set who is the protector of crops in Exodus 10 when He sends the 8th plague of Locusts.  And not just a few locusts.  Locusts that were so numerous that the land darkened and all the crops that were left after the hail were destroyed along with the trees, and fruit of the land.  The Egyptian god Set was certainly defeated after the Locusts devoured their food supply.  Crops were a source of life for the Egyptians.  In Psalm 105:34-35 we read that this plague threatened the food supply of the nation.  This second wave of destruction following the hail consumed the crops completely, showing Set as powerless.

Winner: God

Round 9 - Darkness

God vs Ra

Ra was the sun god and the most worshiped god in Egypt other than Pharaoh himself.  When God cast darkness over Egypt for the 9th Plague it had immense impact on the Egyptians.  In the Egyptian culture Darkness was a representation of death, judgment and hopelessness proving that God had complete control over life and death. And it is said that the darkness was so great that it could be felt physically.  Verse 21 said it had a supernatural element.  In fact, some commentators wrote that God did not even allow artificial light sources to work like candles or oil lamps.  Thus a dramatic showing to God's greatness over Ra.

I imagine this plague to create just a lonely, somber, and depressing mood for the Egyptians.  It was as if it was a prelude to the future fate of the empire.  

Winner: God

Round 10 - Death of Firstborn

God and all His sovereignty knew that Pharaoh would harden his heart and not let His people go over the last nine plagues.  In Exodus 4:21-23, when Moses was traveling back to Egypt after speaking with God as a burning bush heard :

"This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son, and I told you,"Let my son go, so he may worship me." But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.'" 

God knew it would come to this devastating plague.  But it was this plague that would certainly prove His ultimate superiority over all other gods.  This was the plague that would let His people free.  Free from chains, free from darkness, free from hopelessness.  It was this plague that points to our deliverance as Christians.  The death of God's firstborn son Jesus on the cross, who freed us from our slavery to sin and delivered us from evil bringing us into the light of eternal life.  This plague is jam-packed with so much biblical information, so much foretelling of the Gospel account.  But for this blog post purpose we'll keep to God taking on the gods. 

God vs Pharaoh

Pharaoh is considered to be the greatest god in Egypt and believed to be the son of Ra manifested in the flesh. The tenth plague demonstrated complete power over Pharaoh and all other gods in Egypt as they had the inability to protect their subjects in the face of unparalleled tragedy.  This plague also undermined Pharaoh's immortality and his inability to unite and protect his nation.  

This plague was the last and more devastating of all other plagues.  Killing the first born of each family from the lowest slave who grinds the millstone to Pharaoh's first born.  The death of the first born cripples a family's legacy as they took double portion of their father's inheritance and represented special qualities in life.

When you read the account of this tenth plague you read that "not a dog will snarl." - verse 7.  One commentator wrote, Despite the calamity to come, God would grant the Egyptians the ability to see the situation as it really was: the fault of their own Pharaoh, not the fault of Moses or the Israelites.  We even read back in Exodus 10:7 Pharaoh's official's pleading with Pharaoh to let the people go as they see their fate is dim and Egypt will soon lie in ruins.  The people saw God's might.  Pharaoh's officials witnessed his sovereignty yet Pharaoh missed it because of his heart.

Where is your heart?

Our God is a powerful God.  A God greater than all other gods. So often we think of God as a loving and merciful God which He certainly is.  But let us not forget to tremble in fear at the power of His glory.  For it is this power that should shake our insides yet give us complete confidence that we serve and worship a God unlike any other.  For He is mightier than the waves of the see raising the dead to life.  And yet this power that is so absolutely great, lives in you.  

Tremble at the feet of His glory.  Draw upon His strength and might.

*note:  There are about a billion and one gods that the Egyptians worshiped.  There are differing opinions in which Egyptian god God demonstrated his power over.  We chose one to simplify and make clear.  However, we believe there were many gods He took on which just adds to His overall demonstration of might and His sovereignty as the one true God. 

sources: She Reads Truth Bible,  Blue Letter Bible - David Guzik Commentary, Village Schools of The Bible, Knowing The Bible

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The Meaning of Salt In The Bible

Salt.  Let’s talk about salt.  

The Bible makes a lot of references to salt; more than I even realized!! I went diving for a deeper understanding of salt and I kept diving deeper and deeper and finally I had to stop because I was literally in salt up to my knees in the Bible.  For example in;

• Leviticus we learn why salt is added to grain offerings

• Numbers we are told of the covenant of salt made with the priests,

• 2 Chronicles shares a covenant of salt reference to king David,

• Ezekiel throws salt as a covenant relationship reminder,

• Lots wife in Genesis turns into a pillar of salt,

• Matthew the Sermon of the Mount makes reference to the disciples being the salt of the earth,

• Mark 9 the preserving qualities of salt during tribulations and

• Colossians compares salt and our speech....

 I mean whoa!! But don’t let all of that scare you.  The idea of Salt being used in the Bible is super cool and very symbolic.

Did you know in ancient Roman times the soldiers were sometimes paid in salt?  (That’s a whole other rabbit trail for you to google)

Point being, salt was a valued commodity. Which is one of the reasons God requires it in an Old Testament sacrifice. It was of importance to the people and seen as a great sacrifice to give up.  In fact, salt was a necessity of life in the ancient times used by many cultures as a seasoning, preservation, disinfectant, for ceremonial offerings and unit of exchange. 

Readings: Old Testament References

Let’s dive into salt starting in the exciting book of Leviticus. Moses is telling the Israelites the Laws for the Grain Offerings.

Read Leviticus 2:13 below

“You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of your covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.”

Got it.  Salt in the grain. It’s important.  But why?

For several reasons.   Salt was an important part of the offering because it spoke of purity, of preservation, and of expense.  Every sacrifice offered to God should be pure, should be enduring, and should cost something (David Guzik)

Salt was used to preserve and slow decay.  

Here is a quick 101 on salt... salt is an aseptic meaning free from contamination and harmful bacteria.  Basically salt prevents infection. Cannot cure but can stop the spread.  So in ancient times they used salt to keep items from spoiling. And think about it. In ancient times there was no electricity which meant no refrigeration system so salt was how they kept their food from going bad whether it be their grains or meats. 

Salt also spoke of friendship or to deep relationships.

According to ancient customs, a bond of friendship was established through the eating of salt. It was said that once you had eaten a man's salt, you were his friend for life. God wanted every sacrifice to be a reminder of this desired relationship with us.

The idea of this salt covenant is also repeated in Numbers 18  when Moses speaks to the priests about the covenant God made with them. Numbers 18:19 – “Whatever is set aside from the holy offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord for both you and your offspring.”

 And then again in 2 Chronicles 13:5 which makes reference to King David and the covenant of salt God made with him. – “ Don’t you know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?”

Both of these promises or covenants were seen as lasting covenants made by God because the sacrifice included salt.              

Ezekiel’s 43:23 also makes reference to the symbolism of salt.  “When you have finished purifying it, you are to offer a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect. You are to offer them before the Lord, and the priests are to sprinkle salt on them and sacrifice them as a burnt offering to the Lord.”  This was a reminder to Ezekiel and the priests of God’s lasting commitment to his people.

So when God required salt to be a part of their grain offering, it wasn’t just for a random reason.  It was symbolic. - it showed the relationship God wanted with his people and how God wanted his people to be the preservative of the earth. 

Which brings us to the New Testament. There are three passages that reference salt.  

Read: Matthew 5:13

The most well known being his Salt and Light reference during Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:13

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Jesus is saying to his disciples and followers, you are the salt.  I see you and God sees you as precious.  You are valued. You are also what will preserve this world.  You should be a preserving influence on your culture.  Without your Godly influence, this world would be spoiled.  Evil, disease, bacteria, whatever you may call it would conquer but because with God and His people being the salt, we will preserve and bring goodness.

This passage also talks about flavor.  “But if salt has lost its taste, how shall it’s saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled.”  

Back in Jesus day if they saw that salt lost its flavor or preserving qualities they would just throw it out on the streets and it would be trampled in the ground by passerby’s.  It was not good to them anymore.

This passage should be a warning to us as Christians.  If we are the salt but we lose our flavor, or better said our influence, actions, preserving qualities for this world, we are no longer of value for the Kingdom of God.  It might seem harsh, but this is God’s warning to us.  He wants us to live as people on mission for him.  

Read: Genesis 19:23-26 and Luke 17:32

The story of Lot’s wife is a perfect example (Genesis 19:23-26). She turned into a pillar of salt.  Why salt? She looked back on leaving her life of sin and decay with sorrow.  She lost her preserving qualities and became one with the world.  She is a warning to us.

Jesus warns us not to be like Lot’s wife  in Luke 17:32 as he speaks of the coming Kingdom.  “Remember lots wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.”  

We are to look forward to our deliverance and new life with Jesus and not back on old life of sin and miss it.

Read: Mark 9:42-50

To understand this verse you need to back up and read the whole passage as harsh as the passage may read.  The passage talks about the temptation of sin and warning from Jesus to stay away.  In 9:49 it states that everyone will be salted with fire.  What does that mean?  Well, a lot.  But let’s simplify. Most believe it to mean that fire represents trials and tribulations.  So we as God’s people will be salted or given trials in our life.  Those trials are our sacrifice and if we are the salt and our flavor is still good, we will be preserved during those trials. And it’s those trials that we seem to grow the most in our faith, giving it all to God, thus reaching that deep relations God desires to have with us.

Lastly, Read: Colossians 4:2-6

This passage isn’t too hard to figure out after we just studied what salt symbolizes in the Bible.  Our speech when talking to God and others should be free of corruption and full of flavor.  What kind of flavor? I imagine words full of spiritual wisdom that speak truth and love. 

Do I still have you with me in this post?!  I think it’s the longest I’ve ever written! But in short.  Salt symbolizes a deep relationship God wants with us and how He wants us to preserve the earth and flavor it like crazy.

The Challenge

So how are you going to be the salt?  Jesus called his disciples to be the salt of the earth.  Just as they were called, we are called. 

 So... how are you going to “leave a taste in someone’s mouth” after your conversation with them.  Will it be pleasant and flavorful or bland and will you have lost your Godly flavor?  Will they even know where you stand with Jesus?  What are you doing to “purify” our world? Are you conforming to this world or preserving the Word of God?

Make an impact.

Be the salt...

#dontgettrampledon

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Corinthians 10:24

Photo: She Reads Truth

Be Kind Tee

Our New Tees our in!  We have a new style with a new verse.  

First let's talk style.  This tee has a scoop neckline and shirttail.  Meaning it goes a little lower on the *caboose for those who love to wear with leggings.  But please note.  This is a cotton blend so it will shrink.  I tested it out and everything. So wash cold and hang dry or lay flat.  

BUT we kept with the super soft feel.  That's one thing you guys love about our shirts so this is not an ordinary 100% cotton tee.  It's a blend and it certainly has a cozy soft feel.  We posted on Facebook about the fit these tees.

Now for the verse... I LOVE this verse.

“And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” - Ephesians 4:32

In the second half of Ephesians chapter 4 Paul is instructing the church of Ephesus how to live their new life.  To break away from their past and live in the light of God. To be renewed in the Spirit as redeemed people set apart - righteous and pure living in the truth.  He gives examples upon examples of things to do and not to do, and then he comes to our verse and explains what to be.  

To be.
 
Be kindness. Be compassionate and be forgiveness.

Sometimes I wonder if we just focused on the “be,” we wouldn’t have to worry about the don’ts.  What if everything we did, say, and thought was to live in kindness or to show compassion to others.  Boy, our hearts, family, community and world would look a whole lot different.

So start the movement.  Be determined to show kindness at all times.  Dig deep and allow God to move within your heart, soul, and mind.  Live your renewed life in the likeness of Christ.

And let this tee serve as a small reminder to be kind.

*also available in black-strength and dignity