Favor

I am happy to share a bit of sunshine today, given all of the bad reports in the news lately (100 and how many tornados in the South yesterday?!!) Please be encouraged, God is still good in the midst of the struggle.

Yesterday, I found out that God has stayed the hand of the executioner and our homeownership is no longer in peril. I called to find out what we needed to do to prevent the bank from proceeding with their plan to auction off our property, and was told that the auction has been cancelled. Perhaps this long, rough, storm is finally subsiding. Hallelujah, bring on the sunscreen!

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

Downpour

The downpour continues, both outside and here in crazyville. In both cases, there are occassional sunbreaks that remind me that there are other weather options and that before long, warmer days and sunshine will be the norm. I am so very ready.

The plot of this play that is my life thickened further this weekend. My daddy, who is not yet 66, had a stroke after church on Easter Sunday. He is recovering in ICU. This follows a string of funerals that I have attended over the past few weeks; Like I said, there's been no shortage of rain.

But, this same rain that is causing me to continue wearing scarves, hats, and gloves much later in the season than I would have hoped, is also nourishing all of the pretty things that are planted in the yard. My tulips are almost "ripe" and my Persian buttercups look ready to pop open at any time. I have to believe that once again the natural is mirroring the spiritual and that the garden that is being watered by adversity will also be splendid. I have great faith in the Master gardener.

"For we know that all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28

Warrior

I had an interesting conversation with someone today that got me thinking about how the world perceives Jesus. While opinions differ as to whether he was merely a prophet or divine (maybe even the son of God, as alleged) the general consensus seems to be that Jesus was a gregarious, do-gooder whose life's mission was to embrace everyone, make them feel good about themselves, and bring social harmony. That is a palatable Jesus. One who, having been flesh himself, will in the end surely have compassion on fellow do-gooders, whether they chose to accept him as Lord and saviour or not.

This not a new development. People have always had misconceptions about Jesus and his purpose. In fact, in Mathew 16, Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" To that inquiry he then, as now received a variety of answers.

Jesus himself disputes the notion that he came to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony by growing apple trees and honeybees and snow white turtle doves. Instead he says,

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."" Mathew 10:34

Those are not the words of a cuddly community organizer. They are fighting words. Jesus was not here to win a popularity contest. He came to strike a death blow to his enemy in the war for his beloved: mankind. His death on the cross was the ultimate act of kamikaze. Jesus is a warrior.

Not only does he clarify his agenda, but he calls out to the rest of us to choose a team,

"For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law-- a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Mathew 10:35-36

He is not asking us to kinda-like-him-be-okay-with-him, he demands all or nothing. He is the love of our lives, or he is nothing at all. Though he defeated his (and our) foe, we still get to choose. As POWs, we can allow our loving saviour to untangle us from the the things that continue to wage war against our souls and will eventually destroy us, or we can choose to go it alone. As unpopular as it is, if we to want the freedom that Christ offers, we must be willing to submit to his authority to obtain it.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30

11:00 pm

The Situation: We seem to have reached critical mass: our income is still down roughly 80% if not more, my husband's unemployment extension is set to run out this month, the bank has promised to end our tenure as homeowners early next month, and the government program to assist homeowners in our situation has gone into a coma. It is 11:00. The sea water is up to our necks. Something's gotta give.

The Facts:
(1.) God has promised that He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5)

(2.) God has further promised that He will supply all of our needs according to His riches and glory (Philippians 4:19) which are detailed in His financial portfolio as "the Earth and everything in it" (Psalm 24:1) not to mention the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10)

The Fine Print:
(1.) He told us to ask (James 1:6-8) ("check")

(2.) He asked that we trust in Him with all of our hearts, not try to figure this out with our limited logic, but that we instead acknowledge Him and let him lead out (Proverbs 3:5-6) ("check")

(3.)He told us to wait (Psalm 27:14) ("check")

I trust that our time in this crucible will soon be ending. I don't believe that He will let us drown.

"Let me not be put to shame O Lord, for I have cried out to you" Psalm 31:17