Prayer for a Weary Mom After a Long Day

Exodus 15:2 The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

A prayer for the weary mom who packs so much into a day, 10 PM finds her a wired ball of stress...too agitated for bedtime.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are an awesome God, abounding in love. We praise your holy name! We love you and we thank you for the gift of abundant life, for forgiveness, mercy, grace. We thank you for our families. Thank you for the ministry that is children. Thank you for the cuddles and the giggles and the silly jokes. Thank you for the healthy, growing bodies. May we stop and give thanks, we mothers, even on the hard days when everyone squabbles and the volume rises. May we run the race with grace and patience, knowing that the fruit of our labor is guaranteed by your partnership with us, and by our obedience to your will. May we model obedience and self-sacrifice, love and faith, mercy and wisdom. Fill us up now with your Holy Spirit, and give us a restful sleep, quieted by your love.

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

When You Have Questions: Walking in Peace

Psalm 119:125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!        

Psalm 119:144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.

I ordered a used copy in good condition of Understood Betsy, by Dorothy Canfield Fisher.



It's one of the greats in American Literature and I wanted to own a copy...an unabridged copy. When classics are published by curriculum companies--Bob Jones University Press or maybe Sonlight--they're often abridged. This isn't always clear to the buyer. Not all abridged copies are labled as such, clearly enough. 

According to Webster...To abridge is to shorten without sacrificing overall sense. In literary terms, an abridged book is one that has been condensed, but is relatively the same in content.

When I read something, especially a classic, I want it in the author's original words, thank you very much.

Anyway, the used, unabridged copy I received was in awful condition, after being sold to me as a copy in good used condition. For the first time I had to file a complaint with Amazon about their affilitate.

Books classified as "good used condition" are usually quite nice and often look new. They refunded me half my purchase price, and now, as I look for another original text copy, I find that Amazon's site is slow as a snail for some reason, which has been typical lately.

I have time to share a thought and scripture.

As I wrote before, homeschool curriculum can be expensive. I'm nearly done puchasing what we need for the upcoming school year, and what we needed to finish this one.

And several hundred dollars went out the window, which makes me nervous.

Oh, spending money never used to make me nervous, but God has changed me. He's shown me that He is enough...that spending is a distraction Satan uses to set our minds on the worldly, instead of on the spiritual. Self-denial sends us crying for God, who truly satisfies. Self-indulgence sends us crying for more things, which never satisfy. They're a mirage, leaving deceived people continually chasing the next mirage.

I need the homeschool materials, but to be truly thrifty, I could use the library and own no more books, or use what's available. Yes, it would be difficult to chase down exactly what we need through interlibrary loan, but it's possible. I just don't want the extra stress.

And I consider this: Books don't just sit on a shelf if you love words....they're read again and again. I personally remember three readings of Little Women before I finished the eighth grade, as well as Jane Erye and other Charlotte Bronte novels.

These good books I'm gathering will be read...to more than just my own children. I may provide daycare once my husband retires (he's eight years my senior). And once my children are gone, I'll reread them myself and maybe even sit down and write one of my own, God willing.

And I will certainly read them to my grandchildren again and again.

As I wait for the Amazon website to roll forward, I have two verses to share.

I don't know for certain God wants me spending so much on curriculum. It's not written about directly in the Bible, like so many daily questions we contemplate.

But the beauty is...we need not live in confusion. We can ask for wisdom and indeed, we're encouraged to do so.

As I peruse used curriculum, I can pray for wisdom...for the best prices, for the best products, for the best people to do business with. God will have me wait sometimes, and other times go forward with a purchase. His influence is there for my good, if I ask for it.

If I desire His wisdom and defer to it, instead of living in my own, I can walk in peace. If I'm filling my life with Him, and not with things, I can walk in peace.

Life isn't black and white, but the Holy Spirit will direct our path...especially if we understand that our hearts are deceitful. They can't be trusted, but He can.

Psalm 119:125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!

Psalm 119:144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live

2 Things For Wives to Remember

He leaves our home at 7:00 AM and returns at 7:00 PM. A lifetime is lived in the hours he's gone, or so it seems.

I have a confession to make. Sometimes I forget my husband. Yes, you read that right.

I forget him.

I'm with him so little each day and so much life is lived without him, that it's easy to forget. I'm grateful for him and I love him fiercely, but I think I expect him to take care of himself, mostly.

Now don't get me wrong. I do make sure he has clean socks and underwear and something neat and clean to put on, and I cook every night for him, though he sometimes cooks on the weekends.

The Lord spoke to me recently about this forgetting my husband. It's a sin of omission. I'm supposed to be his helpmate, not take him for granted.

Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” 

Ecclesiastes 4:11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

God didn't want Adam to be alone. There are men like the Apostle Paul who have the gift of singleness, but this is rare. God decided Adam would need fellowship, help, and love, in addition to what God himself provides. A wife is the other half of her husband. Not the better half, but the missing half, and vice versa. 

Where your husband is weak, you are strong. Where you are weak, your husband is strong. He was uniquely chosen for you and you for him.

In the first years after marriage, couples usually remain close. But that season doesn't last forever and the married-with-children season presents multiple challenges to what God designed, especially in this modern culture with male and female roles terribly skewed.

Stress and hard work at home can pull us apart, especially in the absence of community and extended family. If we're somehow disappointed with our husband--every wife is at some point in a long marriage--we need to remember that a hardened heart is sin. It's a wife's responsibility to keep her heart soft toward her husband.

Love keeps no record of wrongs and it endures all things. It hopes. A hardened heart is not hope, but a sign of defeat. A sign that Satan is gaining ground.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

My marriage is not in shambles and yours probably isn't either, but in this new year, let's evaluate our role as wives. How are we doing? Do we take that role as seriously as our motherly role? Do we meet our children's needs but neglect our husband's? 

If you have a lot of children or if you have young, still-needy children, chances are there's not enough of you to go around, especially during cold and flu season.

It may seem like your husband only wants physical relations with you, but in truth, he wants more. That's just what gets voiced first. That's the need that screams loudest in his life.

Let's stop committing sins of omission in our role as wife. Let's remember our husbands starting with two simple steps. 

1. Pray for Him

Let's pray for our husbands throughout the day, using a sticky note as reminder if necessary. Praying is a powerful way to mend a broken relationship and strengthen a healthy one. 

Most importantly, when we pray our own sins surface. Our hardened heart is revealed. God first wants us right with Him, and then with our fellow man. We don't pray for people just because they need it. This heart stance lacks humility and goes before our fall. Pride goeth before the fall. 

We pray first because we need it, and then because everyone else needs it. We are first a child of God, then a wife and mother, etc.

Pray that your husband:

~  will grow closer to God by studying the Bible and praying.

~ will have a mature Christian male influence in his life for accountability.

~ will take his role as spiritual leader seriously (if he didn't have a father like this himself, he especially needs a Christian male in his life to teach him and encourage him).

~ will love you as Christ loved the church.

~ will recognize spiritual and emotional emptiness in his soul and fill it up with God, not with the world.

~ will recognize the Satanic snare of pornography and other sexual sin. This is rampant in our culture and without our prayers, our husbands will fall. This article describes how this is sin, not disorder, and that it must be recognized as sin for deliverance to come. Our culture accepts that men are visual and makes excuses for them, but the truth is, if sexual sin is not confessed and no repentance (turning away) comes, the Kingdom of heaven is not available for these men. Continued sin is a sign of an unrepentant, unsaved heart. Satan tells men, "This is normal!" "You are just being normal." The truth is, it's deadly.

2. Be Available

Let's be there for him physically so that sexual need doesn't scream so loudly in his life. Doing this even once a week can be difficult with little children around, but if we commit to remembering our husbands, we can avoid a sin of omission here. Start with a once-a-week commitment to be there.

Physical relations help keep our hearts soft--both ours toward him and his toward us. Neglecting this is the beginning of trouble.

Two things to do as wives in 2013, faithfully. We can remember two things, yes? 

Pray for him. 

Be available.

Note: If things are going poorly in your marriage right now, don't think of these two things as gifts to your husband, as much as acts of worship before God. Acts of obedience are acts of worship. You may feel that your husband doesn't deserve much right now, but God does deserve much. In time you will be doing these things both for God and for your husband, because God will heal the brokenness in your marriage. 

Remember, love hopes. 

image here

David's Sin With Bathsheba: A Broken, Contrite Spirt, Part 2

Yesterday in Part 1 we found King David covering up his sin with Bathsheba by eventually ordering the death of her husband, Uriah, on the battlefield.

It's worth noting that the sins committed here were David's alone. The beautiful Bathsheba had every reason to expect that as she bathed on the balcony of her home, she had privacy. The King was supposed to be on the battlefield at the time. Moreover, when Bathsheba was summoned by lust-driven King David, she had no choice but to go, or risk death for refusing.

As we closed yesterday, we noted that our hearts are never hidden from God. The foolhardy King should have known better than to think he'd gotten away with these grievous sins.

The first time I read this story years ago, I thought, "What happened to the David from the Psalms!" 

David was a man after God's own heart, and now this? How did he get so far from God? Once he was free from Saul's wrath and no longer had to flee, did he need God less and spend less time praising and loving Him? 

Every life has seasons and in every season, He must reign.

Are we closest to God when we're suffering and furthest from him when things go smoothly? And when we're closest to His heart, do we sin less often and less seriously? Not that any sin is acceptable to God, but some sins involve many people, rendering the consequences farther reaching.

Having two special-needs children and other daily difficulties forces me in and out of prayer all day. Would I be so connected to God in the absence of daily struggle? I will continue to give thanks for hard hallelujahs, for I never want to stray from my Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The Lord, exceedingly displeased at David's transgressions, sent Nathan to see the King.

2 Samuel 12: 1-12

12 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 

4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 

5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” 

⁷ Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. ⁸ And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 

⁹ Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight?You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 

¹⁰ Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’

¹¹ Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. ¹² For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’” scripture source here

Next up, we will study the defining moment in David's life. How will he respond? Will he pull the King card and have Nathan killed? Will he deny? 

When we're hurt by someone and let our pain give rise to coldness, resentment, or hate, will we justify our sin, citing the heart breaker's sin first? Will we deny it? Or cover it up?

How we respond to our sin--any sin in our life--represents a defining moment in our life too. The Bible is clear regarding forgiveness. We received it and we must extend it. 

Not so easy to do, is it, when the wounds go deep? When they span years?

If there are no current heart breakers in your life, what about your past? Are there people you've hardened your heart against? It can be a subtle hardening, such as not writing as much on the Christmas card, or not writing on it at all except a signature. Or it can be blatant, such as avoiding a family get-together your heart breaker may be at.

We all have someone, somewhere. Let us watch what David does and learn of him.

Connecticut Shooting: The Christmas Answer

My mother recently informed me that our TV's aren't modern.

Really? What's a modern TV? Do you mean a big screen?

Turns out that most TV's are digital now; you can get a signal even without having cable, or something like that. They wanted to send us a modern TV for Christmas so my husband and my son Paul could watch sports.

Thank you for your kindness, I ended up saying a few days later, but how about a microwave instead? Ours died and our kids really like baked potatoes and microwave popcorn.

I'm always reminded that we're behind the times and my inner response is...really? Good. My heart belongs in the mid- to late-1800's. That era would have suited me fine, and my son Peter as well.

You've been viewing horrific images of the tragedy in Connecticut for days, while I've only read three articles about it via the Internet, with few pictures and no video, since my Internet speed is terrible and my computers are too old to bring me high-tech news.

My first response was probably similar to that of most homeschoolers: Thank God we homeschool.

But as I thought about the state of our world, my response broadened. After the national election I happened to read that fewer and fewer people under 40 years of age go to church or claim any religious affiliation. We are losing the young people in this country to Satan. The killings in malls and movie theaters and schools are just a symptom of the main problem: Godlessness

The only way to win our country back for God is to cling tighter to God ourselves. We can't have one foot in the world and hope to impact our kids, our neighborhood, and our communities for Christ.

Radical heart change. That what's needed. We must go through our hearts and minds and dump everything that isn't of God. Let's love Him radically and let Him use us radically. He has overcome this world. 

He can overcome the world in us, if we let him.

John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

He has overcome every single aspect of Friday's tragedy. Don't accept that it's about the lack of gun control or about unsafe school buildings. It's about God and his absence in the hearts of our people.

Each Christian needs to go and make disciples. Declare the Gospel with our very lives. We must live the gospel to win our country back. 

Pray. Pray much for all the brokenhearted. And prevent. Prevent a repeat by showing these United States of America and beyond, that God rules your heart and life. That God orders your steps. Declare to everyone you know that from the beginning of time, God planned a rescue for every tragedy we'll ever face.

Our personal rescue, our national rescue, the rescue of every grieving parent, grandparent, neighbor, and friend in Connecticut is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christmas. It brings us God's Rescue Plan. Let's read these beautiful Christmas verses with awe and reverence. Let's give thanks for the Rescuer and make our very lives about rescuing others in His name. What other purpose could our redeemed lives possibly serve? 

Say it loud and strong and with your whole heart: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:10-14
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Acts 5:31
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

Tuesday Devotions: Comfort From Isaiah 40:1-11

source

Study with me today, friend? I'm looking at comfort from Isaiah. Whatever your sorrow, whatever your hardship, whatever has cast down your spirit, Scripture and prayer are your answer. We waste so much time looking for comfort elsewhere, when really, the first thing we should have done is get that Bible in our hands. If you don't have a study Bible, look up your desired verses on Bible Gateway and click on "show references". A few Bible commentaries should appear at your right.

Isaiah 40:1-11
Judah's time of judgment has come to an end (vv. 1-2), the exiles will return home via the desert highway (vv. 3-5), the hated kingdom (Babylon) will wither (vv. 6-8), Jerusalem will prepare for the return (vv. 9-10), and God will accomplish it (v. 11). While these words were meant for sixth-century Jewish exiles, like all prophetic words, their meaning is expansive. This scene was reenacted with paradigmatic force in the preparation by John the Baptist for the coming of the Christ, who continues to lead his people into freedom. (These notes from Asbury Bible Commentary)

1 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

6 A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”

9 You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.

Copy the last verse and put in on your bathroom mirror:

11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.

When I read this last verse especially, I'm reminded that all is well with my soul, with my life, with my today and my tomorrow. Scripture reminds us of God's infinite love and infinite power. It reminds us that "the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God endures forever." It reminds us that our peace comes when we shift our focus from the temporal back to the eternal.

The peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding, it goes away when we take our eyes off of Him. Turmoil in our hearts doesn't feel like a choice, but it is. When we choose to neglect Bible and prayer, we choose turmoil. If our minds are so troubled we can't form coherent sentences, we can pray in spirit and groans. He will understand.

A very good reason, besides our own comfort, to pursue God daily is to aid our witness. We are supposed to be a people at peace, a people of God--not perfect, but redeemed and grateful for it, like the bold, broken woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, and like the leper who threw himself at Jesus' feet in thankfulness and worship. We need this same heart. This same humility. And it's the Word and prayer that restore us to these humble positions.

We need the Bible friend. We need it.

Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

Something About Jonah, Part 2

 If you missed it or have forgotten it, see Something About Jonah, Part 1

We left Jonah being swallowed by a big fish after being thrown overboard by merciful pagan sailors who tried but failed to deliver him to dry land. Jonah had run away from God in an attempt to avoid preaching repentance to the Ninevites, who were guilty of atrocities against the Israelites. 

In his heart Jonah was afraid the Ninevites would repent after being preached to and that God would spare them--something the hate in Jonah's heart couldn't allow. In running away he had given up his ministry, his family...everything. The mercy shown to Jonah by the pagan sailors stands out in sharp contrast to the lack of mercy in Jonah's heart.

Now, in chapter 2, we have Jonah's prayer. Scripture in red, my commentary words in blue.

1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said:

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.

Notice this is not a prayer for deliverance. Instead, Jonah gives thanks to the Lord for His mercy, for Jonah has not drowned! He understands the magnitude of his sin and that death is a fair punishment. He's overwhelmed by the Lord's mercy. 

No matter what's going on in our own lives, we can have this same magnitude of feeling about our own deliverance from death. The Lord's mercy is overwhelming! Take a moment and contemplate that today. Escaping hell and eternal suffering is mercy. Getting heaven instead of hell? That is wild, radical grace. 

A spirit of thanksgiving should permeate our lives, setting the tone for all our interactions and reactions. We've already been given so much! 

From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
4 I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’
5 The engulfing waters threatened me,[b]
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
brought my life up from the pit.
7 “When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.

Let this sentence in verse 7 not be us. We must not "remember the Lord" only when life overwhelms--when it's ebbing away--but every day. A solid, on-going relationship with the Lord grounds us in righteousness and allows peace to flood our hearts. We can choose God or choose Satan, for Satan always wins when God doesn't--life is a spiritual battle. A new or immature Christian doesn't always understand this sober reality, but the longer we walk faithfully with the Lord, the more we comprehend the battle that makes up our daily lives.
Remember that the full fix doesn't come until heaven. Until then, we must daily choose God over Satan as the ruler of our hearts. Our salvation means we will triumph in the end, but we can be used by God and have greater peace today, if we will engage in the battle, putting on the full armor of God. (see Ephesians below)

When we lack peace, let us ask ourselves why. Who is winning in the battle for our attention and devotion?

Ephesians 6:10-18 The Armor of God 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Matthew 12:30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters."
Back to Jonah's prayer, in chapter 2 verse 8:

8 “Those who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God’s love for them.

When we choose idols instead of God--too much time spent on hobbies, electronics, a career, acquiring riches, whatever it is that steals our time away from God--we give up so much that is precious and sustaining and renewing. When we fail to choose God, we give up his mercy.

9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

Jonah repents and promises to obey God--to make good on his ministerial vow. How easily do we obey God? Is a yes always ready on our lips? Do we wake up in the morning asking, "What do you want to do today, God?"

10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

In chapter 3 we learn that although Jonah repented and did as God commanded--he preached repentance to the Ninevites--his heart still burned with hate.

Prayer Time: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your mercy and grace toward us. May we live our lives clothed in thankfulness, never forgetting or minimizing your sacrifice. May we say yes to you and put on the full armor of God, so we can daily do battle with the enemy, to bring you your due glory. Let us live to bring you glory, in all we do. Open our hearts to what you have to say about mercy in the next chapter of Jonah, especially as our country mourns a tragedy in Colorado. Your desire is that all shall repent and receive mercy--even the villains ( the Ninevites of our world). May our hearts be filled with mercy for the perpetrator and his family, even as we mourn the loss of innocent life. May the country look to you for peace, for truth.

In your Son's name I pray, Amen

Where Your Heart Is

My heart broke with Ann's as she recapped her feelings following a week in Haiti.

Anger, shame, disbelief.

When you see, smell, and hug abject poverty first hand, all these emotions spill.

God wants you changed and he drags you through the worst slums so you can come closer to choosing Him over your own comfort.

That is the choice, really.

Sure, you can start out with $38 a month--an amount to sponsor one child. An amount you barely notice.

But then, if you so dare, God will change you at the core. He will mold your heart so your very beats match His...for nothing gives the God of the Universe more pleasure. This is happening to our dear Ann.

Do you want the same heart? Or is it too scary?

Luke 12:48
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Ann is angry that she still has a desire to pin the latest pretty thing on Pinterest, after all she's seen. Angry that she still loves comforts.

And yet she sees her choice clearly and there's no turning back. More and more, she and her family are choosing God over comfort. Giving over receiving. Being the blessing, instead of spending the blessing.

The first step in saying yes to God's heart is to allow yourself to drink in abject poverty. Absorb it with your eyes, your intellect. Don't avoid that story, that image...anything that jerks you awake. Let yourself wake up to God and His will.


God didn't allow rich and poor so that some go hungry and others grow fat. He allows the disparity to give us a chance. A chance to love radically, like He did on the tree.

That is His desire for every believer's life. That we would love radically. Love is our destiny.

And yet, He doesn't want us to share out of guilt, but with a cheerful heart. A heart that pumps gratitude, along with blood. A daily thanks-living for the gift of Grace.

As much as Ann's post broke me, my heart loved getting this photo in the mail from Raphael, our correspondent child from Burkina Faso. It pictures his mother, his baby brother, and food supplies they bought, along with details about roofs for their room and some clothes. We had some money given to us in February and now, Raphael has a roof that doesn't leak!  (He also has another sibling and his father in his home, but they must have been unavailable for the photo). 

It takes so little to change so much. Won't you be a part of the change? Won't you free yourself from comfort, so that God becomes really, really enough?

Luke 12:34
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Tuesday Devotions 4/24

Sunday in the Backwoods
Thomas Faed

<sup>Today's Text: Ephesians 5:1-21


1</sup> Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Lord, you teach me that love is a verb. What Christ did on the cross? That was action--a giving up, a sacrifice of will, a deed. Help me to worship you with my actions. Please Father, may loving acts come out of me this day, reflecting you. And out of my husband and children as well.

 ³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 

Lord, you give me everything I have, and you own everything. I can be generous with confidence, knowing that your stores do not run out. Help me to grow in faith, trusting you so that I can be exceedingly generous.

Lord, cleanse my heart and my home of anything that will give the enemy a stronghold in the area of impurity or sexual immorality. Protect me, my husband, and my children, wherever we are. May we be ever-watchful, protecting our children's innocence and purity. May you reign in our hearts and in our home, forevermore.

⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them.

Lord, may our tongues act in obedience to you. May they reflect your presence in our hearts. Help us to choose friends wisely, staying away from those who seek to deceive our hearts. Give us daily discernment.

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. 

Lord, may I seek your truth and know what pleases you. Help me to stay in prayer throughout the day, and help me to seek your wisdom through the Word. May your Word wash me and replace my will with goodness, righteousness and truth. May my prayers give me strength and peace. Help me to choose you and please you.

¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴ This is why it is said:

   “Wake up, sleeper,
   rise from the dead,
   and Christ will shine on you.”

Lord, search my heart. What deeds or thoughts of mine reflect darkness, rather than light? Expose me to myself. May I reflect your light in all I do. 

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 

Lord, I know you give me opportunities to shine...to do good. May I make the most of them, worshiping you with my life. May I help my children, as well, understand what your will is. May we pause to talk about you, however busy the day seems. Help me to guide them in righteousness, never missing an opportunity. Help my husband and children, as well, to pray without ceasing, to read their Bibles, hungry for wisdom and a washing. Hungry to live for you, Lord.

¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, your spirit is all I need...all we need. You are always there for me, ready to help me shine your light. May I seek you, and allow you to transform my speech into "psalms, hymns, and songs from the spirit." May we worship you in this house, always giving thanks in the name of Jesus.

In your Son's holy name I pray,  Amen.

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