bible story – The (Not-So) Newlywed Lefebvres

Happy Monday!

What did y’all do this weekend? Anything exciting?

We kicked things off on Saturday with a matinee showing of “Noah”. And after reading all of the hellacious reviews about it, I was not expecting much…

However, we were pleasantly surprised!

While this movie did NOT follow the story of Noah, Biblically, word-for-word, scene-for-scene, it did a few other things I speculate were completely unintentional of Hollywood in their making of this epic film:

It showed the infinite power of God. Within the storyline of Faux-ah (Fake Noah 🙂 ), we see Noah realizes he is to build an ark, but the world is dead. There are no trees around. Nothing at all to build a vessel of any kind with is in sight. Once Noah turns and follows God’s instruction regardless of the lack of HOW to accomplish His will, God provides a forest for Noah. With the quickness of the snap of a finger. There, in the blink of an eye, is every piece of wood Noah could ever possibly need to build his ark. All because he had FAITH in the power of God. Did it happen exactly this way in the Bible story of Noah? Perhaps not, but it could have. Without meaning to, Hollywood showed the infinite, insurmountable power of the God we serve.
It showed that God provides. Perhaps this one and the preceding point are interchangeable, they are both noteworthy! In the movie **spoiler alert**, only 1 of Noah’s 3 sons has a wife. The other two are single and very concerned for how they will replenish the earth without wives of their own. The answer given them? God will provide. And boy, does He! That’s all I’ll say!
It showed the deep flaw we have to doubt and to misunderstand as humans. Throughout much of the film, Noah misunderstands God’s direction, and even prior to that, he seems to doubt that God could have called him. He isn’t possibly good enough to take on such a task. And while many critics of this movie have pointed out that the Bible never says Noah doubted or misunderstood anything, (and they are correct) take yourself into account, in this situation. If God called you to build a boat. In the middle of what was basically a drought-ridden desert. Would you have to think on it for a moment or would you simply pick up your toolbox and get to work? Has He ever asked you to do something you just felt you weren’t good enough for? Has He ever spoken to you, and you thought, Wellllll…..maybe what He actually meant was…. ?

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

I suppose it’s up to you, ultimately. We felt that, while the movie was by no means Biblically literal, the film certainly presented a good story with a lot of Christian themes. If you go into the theatre with that in mind, perhaps you won’t leave disappointed. We definitely didn’t.

Have you seen ~~Faux-ah~~ Noah? What were your thoughts?

Wait, before I go today, I wanted to share this with you. I was reading my New Yorker at lunch and came across this column/article… It gave me a laugh so I thought it might bring a smile to your face, as well. 🙂 All about a girl’s “conversations” with her mobile banking app… Enjoy!

New Yorker: Mobile Banking App

Have a beautiful night, y’all!

Good Evening Everyone (Or Early Morning, Depending On How You Look At It),

So during our Bible Study a week or so ago, the chapter we are studying in “Experiencing God” mentioned that the Bible, as a whole, isn’t an account of the people in the Bible – like John, Peter, Ruth, Noah or Abraham, but rather is a story of God working through the lives of these people. The Bible is then an autobiography of the Lord, and the other characters throughout were vehicles through whom He worked.

This got me to thinking. Suppose Noah hadn’t built the ark, as God instructed. Suppose Noah heard God’s instruction and thought, “Ugh. It’s too hot to build an ark. I don’t even know HOW anyway! I’m not a boat builder! Plus, I have plans! I don’t have time to do this.” Or what if Mary had not said YES to God’s invitation to carry His Son?

The Bible would be a very different book if those who accepted God’s instruction had lived according to THEIR will, rather than HIS will. So, what would a Bible story of YOUR life look like? Would the book be full of detail as you followed Christ and carried out His plans, or would it be a short account in which Jesus asked you to do something, and you told Him you were too busy and let YOUR plans get in the way?

In considering this, Craig and my ‘Mission Statement’ for our marriage had to be re-examined. And so, even though he was off work all last week, and I usually enjoy the luxury of not having to be at work until 11AM, we followed God’s call and rose early each morning to lead the music together for our church’s summer program for middle and high school students – who were less than thrilled to be at church at 8AM when on summer vacation. This week, even though I am working a 9-5 schedule with the sweet children I nanny, I am rushing off to help lead the music for VBS each evening after work from 6-8:30PM.

We certainly aren’t asking for medals or accolades here. Not in the least. BUT the whole idea of considering what your story in the Bible would resemble certainly made us realize that following God’s Will and putting Him first in our life was absolutely the MOST important thing. Even though 12-13 hour days are NOT fun, and getting up early on your day off is NOT typically anyone’s cup of tea, living life for Christ is our mission, and as we have learned, His ways are not always OUR ways.

I thank God He brought me my soulmate, who stands right by my side as we endeavor to lead our lives for Him. The Lord doesn’t always guide us down the newly paved road, but more often than not, the bumpy, gravelly, dirt path most people try to avoid.

We pray He will continue to guide us, and we ask for your prayers for our journey, as well. We would love to pray for you, too, and many of you we already do! If you have a special request you would like us to pray for you or with you, please e-mail Craig and I at newlywedlefebvres@gmail.com

Well, it’s now time for bed, as there is another full day of nannying and VBS and puppies…Yes, we have multiple doggies in the Lefebvre household now! Don’t worry, our next post will include more on recent events and if we are diligent, even some pictures!

Take Care and God Bless,

Pier & Craig