Rest

Satan says, You'll get so much accomplished if you don't rest.

God says, Your biggest accomplishment is to rest in Me.

Expectations

If I really believe and agree with God, then I should not be surprised by my sin.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Satan says, it's not so bad.

The flesh says, just try harder.

The world says, sin is not in the urban dictionary.

But God says, "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

And "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 3:2

Also, we're supposed to have bad stuff happening to us...

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." I Peter 4:12

"...In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

If I am consumed by a passion for God's glory--His fame, His pleasure, His honor--I will welcome these humblings as opportunities.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves..." II Corinthians 4:7

"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is being perfected [is completed and shows itself most effectively] in your weakness.'" II Corinthians 12:9

Wow...........

Power

It's not that I'm praying that's so important, it's that God is listening.

"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry." Psalm 34:15

God, the Source of ALL power, ALL authority, ALL creativity, ALL beauty, ALL love, ALL justice, ALL virtue and righteous judgment, ALL goodness and everything our hearts desire...

Selah.

...desires to partner with His children to do His work in the world.

...and has thus commanded us to pray. Commanded us (because we are unwilling? distracted? unbelieving? busy? fearful?) to come boldly before His throne of grace for help in time of need, to ask for things in Jesus' name, to give us our daily bread and make His will be done on earth as readily and cheerfully and worshipfully as it is in heaven, to intercede for kings, nations, and our brothers. To pour out our hearts before Him, our refuge.

It's not that God is unwilling, unable, or too busy to act unless I pray. It's that I am readied for His work through prayer. So often I have to make my kids "ask nicely" before I can give them what they want. "For the Lord waits expectantly and longs to be gracious to you; and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you, for the Lord is a God of justice..." Isaiah 30:18.

"Our God is in the heavens, He does whatever He pleases." He doesn't need our prayers in order to act. But He invites us--He actually sent us a formal invitation in the Person of His Son and the indwelling of His Spirit--to be "fellow workers" (I Corinthians 3:9) with Him in His redemptive work in the world, the calling of all things back to their Creator, the making of all things new. A formal invitation to the party He has every day in His Own character, in being Who He is, and in all the transforming power that radiates out of this Trinitarian synergy.

And I'm too tired to get out of bed in the morning to fall on my knees?

Give, receive, love!

God loves to give. "For God so loved...that He gave..." John 3:16

And God loves to receive. Namely, glory, thanks, and praise. "Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name, give to Him glorious praise." Psalm 66:1-2

So He gives to us. And gives and gives and gives to us, all things. "What do you have that you did not receive?" I Corinthians 4:7

So that we have something to give back to Him. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice...which is your...worship." Romans 12:1 "Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name." Hebrews 13:15

Meanwhile, we humans love to receive. "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24

And we love to give. "'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35

This is the beautiful cycle of love that He made possible in Christ Jesus!

(And even this insight, this glimpse, is itself a gift from Him, and I offer it back to Him and to you, and praise Him for it! Ha, what joy!)

Broken cisterns

My kids are God's Textbook on Life for me, filled with lessons and analogies. And I've heard other parents say the same. God is constantly prying my eyes open through them and saying, "See, that's you. That's how you're treating Me when you're bent on your own way. That's how I feel when you're ungrateful for My many blessings...for even giving you life. See, that's how my heart sings when you obey Me cheerfully."

My Textbook is chock full, but I want to try to capture more of these valuable lessons on "paper" (so I don't have to relearn them...again!). And because they are truly beautiful and precious to me.

Just now I was disciplining Cora for wrecking Annelise's block structure. Cora was fighting me and passionate about returning to the table because Annelise was going to take all her blocks. I told her, "Who can take care of that? Can Mommy make Annelise give you back the blocks you need?" Whimpery "yes."

Cora's goals were wrong, or rather, out of order. It was not wrong for her to be worried about her blocks, of course. But her primary goal should have been to make things right with Mommy and Annelise, and to make sure her heart was right with God.

But instead she was focused on justice for herself.

So, she could disobey Mommy, and run back to the table to wrest some kind of skewed justice for herself...which incidentally would result in further discord and injustice, with either Cora not actually getting all the blocks she needed to play with or Annelise having too many of hers grabbed away.

Or she could obey Mommy, make things right with Mommy, and then let Mommy go back with her to the table and exact true justice. (Well, or a close approximation in human terms. ; )) And actually, I would be far more motivated to take up her cause and fight for her, the more obedient and submissive she was to me, and the more she looked to me to do so.

God has been drawing me to Himself this year, as I emerge from the "baby cave." Motivating me to spend time with Him. Showing me the importance of obedience and making Him my first priority. "Martha, Martha, thou are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen the better part."

If I'm running around, busy with what I think is important, trying to effect justice or righteousness in this world, apart from Him, nay in disobedience to Him if He's told me to seek Him first, then it's only causing more problems and not solving anything. But if I "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, all these things [that I think are so important] will be added unto" me. Because GOD is the Source of everything I think is important. Justice, rightness, goodness, health, help for people, truth, money and provision, even (and esp) the building up of the Body of Christ. He is the Source of beauty, rest, answers, peace, happiness, strength, and harmonious relationships.

Lord, help me to seek You first! And then direct and go with me as I get my orders from You and leave the sanctum (or "war room") to follow them.

"...for My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." Jeremiah 2.13

How much more will your Father...?!

He gives us gifts that He knows are going to compete with His place in our hearts. But He just can't help Himself...He's that generous of a Father, Who loves to lavish good gifts on His beloved children. What kind of a God is this?!

[Matthew 7.11]

My response to Ted Cruz's endorsement of Donald Trump

"Well, I'd better tell you now so you don't hear later and lose sleep over it," Steve said to me at dinner that Friday night. "Ted endorsed Trump."

Boom. Thud. Ugh. went my stomach. 

But I kept eating, because I was running out the door to a prayer meeting for women around the country, crying out for our nation. Well, I suddenly felt the urgency of prayer. And interestingly enough, that's where my thoughts on the issue turned.

I felt a little sick that weekend every time I remember that he had caved. This man who'd been a rock throughout his life, standing for Biblical truth, defending our Constitutional liberties, fighting for the oppressed and the unborn.

This man who'd been a rock throughout the primary elections, unashamed to associate himself with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and with Christian Americans. Apologizing (in a true, manly, Godly way) to Ben Carson at the debate when he didn't have to. But not apologizing to Trump for accusing him of having "New York values." (I love how he turned that situation on its head and apologized to the people of New York for their inept leaders instead!) And of course, his greatest moment, when he spoke at the Republican Convention, stood tall and unbending, bold and true, charging Republicans to vote their conscience. 

Only to cave? 

And so anticlimactically?

Sigh.

While he remained silent, while he refused to compromise his beliefs, while he stood beside his own words and actions...while he remained silent (with a silence that spoke a thousand words), he had power. But as soon as he spoke, and cast in his lot with his enemy, America's enemy...as soon as he moved a muscle even, and didn't just STAND firm, as he had always done, he became just another mere mortal, going the way of all flesh. And worse, for the higher one's standards, the farther his relative fall.

But that's ok. Because guess who was exalted in my mind when Ted fell? Jesus Christ. ....WOW, Jesus Christ. The only Man Who never caved. Who obeyed the Father in all things, even unto death. Who remained faithful to His mission--in times of exalted popularity, and even when even His best friends abandoned Him. Who set His face like flint to obey every jot and tittle of His Father's will, and refused to be lured by the end-justifying means offered by His worst enemy (Satan), or placated by false sympathy from His best friend (Peter), or intimidated by the dread in His Own heart (Gethsemane).

Of course, I am all admiration that Ted, or any other true Conservative or strong Christian in public service, has made it this far. I was amazed during the primary elections, at how much they travel, all the speeches and public appearances, having to be nice to people all the time, the interviews...the media! I'm thinking I could handle it for maybe a week, before I had a total public meltdown or slunk away to a cave in Outer Schlabovia, never to be seen again.

My other fresh reminder from all this is the reality of Washington DC. The power of the system. Of the establishment. And of the principalities and powers over that 10-square-mile diamond of a city. My city. [Reflective smile.]

The spiritual forces at work must be very strong indeed. They were when I was there, and it must be even worse now. I saw something of what Washington did to people. And experienced intense spiritual warfare myself. That's where I lost my first job--when I worked on the Hill for a year--yup, that's a story! A story of how power can corrupt even strong Christian leaders. And there's a host of Hill staffers who have their own stories to tell.

That's where I first experienced depression while working and living alone, that I believe was spiritual warfare. That's where I went places and did things I never thought I would, as I experienced the world I'd always been so sheltered from. It was a good experience in many ways, and God has redeemed much, but probably because my parents and others were praying me through.

And I watched others experience Vanity Fair as well. It's not that DC is all bad...I love that city and always will! My city, as I call it. But the temptations are manifold, the relationships can be shallow and conditional (thankfully mine were not), the pace is relentless, and there's a reason the turnover is two years.

I'm not trying to spill my guts here. I just want to remind myself and others who haven't lived there that our leaders are under incredible pressure from all sides.

And...there's something we can do for them. And for ourselves! Something more powerful than all the lobbyists on K Street. Something more powerful than letters and emails and personal visits, than marches and rallies and speeches, than praising or criticizing...though we should still do all these things. ; )

And that is to intercede for them before the King of kings and Lord of lords. The One Who puts down one and exalts another (Psalm 75:7). The One who appoints the authorities of the earth (Romans 13:1). The One in Whose hand is the king's heart, and as rivers of water He turns it wherever He will (Prov 21:1). The One who hardened Pharaoh's heart to show His power, and Who is "able to humble those who walk in pride" (Daniel 4:37). The One Who scoffs at the nations of the earth, their rage and vain plotting (Psalm 2).

Incidentally, praying for our government leaders is the best things we can do for ourselves. Want to lead a quiet and peaceful life, godly and dignified in every way? What is the very first instruction Paul gives his mentee Timothy on what he should do with his church?

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." I Timothy 2:1-4

I started praying for our government leaders this year--the ones already there, the ones I don't like or agree with--just praying for them out of obedience to God. [Shaking of head, fluttering of eyelids, open mouth, trying to find words, duhh.....no, not while I was praying, but right now.] I was amazed. How. Quickly. Things. Changed.

LOL. No silly, not in the world. In ME!! My hard, unforgiving, stubborn, always-right heart melted for these leaders. Well, maybe melted is a little too dramatic and sappy. But my attitude did a 180. I was free! Free to see them as people and lift them up to God. And of course I have a long way to go (in regular prayer, and in my heart attitude). But there was a definite shift, a blessing of God as a result of sheer obedience. (Motivated, by the way, by God's promise of a peaceful life, which I definitely want for myself, my family, and my nation.)

Thank you, Ted Cruz, and ALL you public servants out there, for trying your best to lead us well, deluded as some of you must be, and human as we all are. God has you in your position for a reason, and I honor you for His sake. I know from experience that "leadership is a fire" and I am trying to add your name in my unique voice to the chorus resounding before the Throne.

What would happen if churches and Christians everywhere were really begging God to help and guide and bless and enlighten our leaders?!

Keeping up with the counterfeits

It's just too confusing. There are too many. Too many false gospels. Too many inferior products. Too many knock-offs and posers. Too many choices.

I love the illustration (and maybe one of my friends working in the government can verify this for me) of how the law enforcement personnel who track down counterfeit money do not bother to study every possible tweaking of the US dollar bill. How could they? God gave mankind boundless creativity, which fallen humans (me, us) may employ to bend and twist the truth in infinite directions. And the slightest bend or twist, if followed along its course, can project us far from the original. Rather, those personnel study and pour over and memorize and engrave in their minds the real thing. The official authoritative dollar bill, printed by the US government and bearing its seal, which alone has worth (um, a little at least...sigh).

What is my job as parent? What is our job as citizen, pastor, Bible study leader, friend? To exhaust myself with putting out endless fires, to be constantly shouting at my children for doing the wrong thing, to contort our minds with situational ethics til we don't know which end is up? To make a rule for every circumstance, to come out dogmatically on every issue based on my own understanding of what's right at that moment, to declare my soapbox passions clouded by reactions to my upbringing or past?

Or is it to study and pour over and engrave the Real Thing, God's revealed Word--the written expression of His decrees, stipulations, opinions, tastes, and ways of thinking and acting--into the pathways of our minds. To anchor our minds and hearts to the Rock of truth, so we won't be treading water adrift, sinking, grasping, clinging to anything that floats and pulling it down with us. To be so fixed on the gold standard that every aberrant religion, philosophy, message, and agenda immediately looks as fake and bankrupt as it is.

This is security. This is sanity. This is transformation (Romans 12:2).