The faithfulness of God

My all time favorite hymn is "Great is thy faithfulness". Lately, I 've been listening to Sarah Groves and I love this song about faithfulness too!

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Morning by morning I wake up to find

The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine

Season by season I watch Him, amazed

In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways

All I’m in need of, His hand will provide

He’s always been faithful to me

I can’t remember a trial or a pain

He did not recycle to bring me gain

I can’t remember one single regret

In serving God only, and trusting His hand

All I’m in need of, His hand will provide

He’s always been faithful to me

This is my anthem, this is my song

The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long

God has been faithful, He will be again

His loving compassion, it knows no end

All I’m in need of, His hand will provide

He’s always been faithful,

He’s always been faithful

He’s always been faithful to me

This has definitely been an anthem for me this past week. We got some very difficult news regarding my father (in fact, if you want to pray at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, he will be having a biopsy). I love my dad. He's the best dad a girl could every want. He is a human (yep, flawed and imperfect) picture of what I think my Heavenly Father is like. Oh, how I wish every child could have this picture...I think the world would be a different place.

Anyway, it's hard...you know? However, in the midst of how hard this is I do not for one minute doubt God's faithfulness. He has been, is even in this, and will be faithful. Faithful to what? Faithful to comfort, to protect, to heal, to provide, to come along side, to love and to hear our prayers. THAT'S FAITHFULNESS!

How I feel:

This is one of my most very favorite songs...I love the melody, but more than that I love the lyrics: they so capture how I feel...

Wonderful, Merciful Saviour (Selah)

Wonderful mericiful Savior

Precious redeemer and friend

Who would have thought that a lamb could

Rescue the souls of men,

Oh You rescue the souls of men

Counselor, comforter, keeper

Spirit we long to embrace

You offer hope when our hearts have

Hopelessly lost the way,

Oh we hopelessly lost the way

You are the One that we praise

You are the One we adore

You give the healing and grace

our Hearts always hunger for,

Oh our hearts always hunger for

Almighty infinite father

Faithfully loving Your own

Here in our weakness You find us

Falling before Your throne,

Oh we're falling before Your throne

You are the One that we praise

You are the One we adore

You give the healing and grace

our Hearts always hunger for,

Oh our hearts always hunger for

I am hungry for God, and guess what? The Almighty, infinite father will give me healing, grace and will rescue and redeem me. How could I not want to fall before His throne and adore Him?

Red Letter Christians:

I just started reading this book by Tony Campolo. The sub-title is "A Citizen's Guide to Faith & Politics". It's so interesting. I have to admit, I get really interested in the political process, but it equally fascinates and frustrates me.

I get particularly "riled" (yup, I'm a Hoosier) when the religious right speaks out and then is taken by the "average American" to be representative of all "Christians"...makes me NUTTY! And yet, Christians should be the very ones who have wise solutions to offer about the poor, the immigrants, education, WAR, etc. It seems though, that all that can be focused on is abortion...abortion...and oh yeah, abortion.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm in favor of abortion, it's just that seems to be the singular "sin issue" that gets focused on by the radical right....and in doing so, followers of Christ have been "side lined".

SO, I'm loving this book and am hoping to get some good insight about how to think about these things and how to be the right kind of advocate/activist based on the teachings of Jesus: you know the things that get put in red print in some Bibles.

My prayer: Father, teach me how to be a Red Letter Christian, to follow the words and ways of the very One you sent to teach me. Give me the wisdom and discernment to make wise decisions based on Jesus' values, and not the worldly interpretation that we have. Help all of us that believe to remember that You are neither Democrat or Republican! Help us to respectfully bring to mind that these are human organizations and You cannot be reduced to such a "membership". Forgive us when we do that, it is so patently wrong. Oh yeah, and please help us to live at peace, even when we disagree with others or others disagree with us. Jesus wouldn't have it any other way!
AMEN :-)

System at risk:

that's what I had today. At least, that's the message my computer received. I believe it's due to some "cookies" that are attacking me...and who said the cookie monster was cute?

Anyway, as I understand it, there are people, companies, ads, etc. trying to get into my system and my system is trying to fight them off. My system's "anti-virus" thingee has apparently been working very hard lately.

So, I scanned...it hunted...I waited...it found things...I read the notes....it revealed that I had "suspect components"...it made suggestions...I took them...and so on..

I got to thinking that this is so like every new year. I feel like there are parts of me that have been under attack, and I've tried to fight them off. My anti-virus thingee is the Holy Spirit: so prayer, time in God's word and fellow shipping with other believers have very likely protected me more than I will ever know. It makes me think of good ole Psalm 139: you know the one, "search me and know me" (ie perform a scan!)

You know what I have some "suspect components"...things I've allowed in, even with all the protection I've tried to practise with the best Virus Protection of all: The Holy Spirit! Even so, there's some things that have to get removed. OH MAN! if only I could simply choose: "select all" and DELETE", and it would be over. Not so simple!

For me, my suspect components will need to be removed and replaced with something better. Let's say some "HOLY FIREWALLS"...here's what I'm thinking

Suspect Component Holy Firewall
1. Bitterness 1. Forgiveness and Restoration
2. Anger 2. Prayer and practising the peace of God
3. Self-righteousness 3. Graciousness and mercy
4. Pride 4. Humility and modeling Jesus Christ
5. Doubt 5. Faith of the Unseen (Hebrews 11)

Father: thanks for being my ultimate SECURITY CENTER. Thanks that I never have re-install you, because you never, ever fail. Thanks for your protection. Thanks for notifying me when I am at risk, and most of all: THANKS for helping me put some things in to place, so that I can run free, with out danger.

I love you,
S

PEACE:

that's what I am hungry for in 2008. That's what I've thought about so much in the last few weeks.

It really has been on my mind a lot. I think there have been a few "markers" along the road that have particularly caught my attention:

1. Visiting the Holocaust museum (I'm not kidding, it really was life-changing and a real "stop, think, and consider..." type of experience)
2. Experiencing personally, the affect of not being at peace in a relationship, not being forgiven by someone, even when asking for that forgiveness. Realizing the effect some one's lack of forgiveness has on me, and is surely having on them, and those around them.
3. Observing how a lack of personal peace has almost destroyed someone I love very much: there is anxiety, depression and such deep, deep sadness for them right now.
4. Witnessing how not being at peace has literally killed the hearts, souls and bodies of people both near and far...whether it be Indianapolis, Iraq, Afghanistan, Darfur, etc.
5. Understanding the PEACE is not an abstract idea, but a very concrete, daily reality. It's not about "them": it's about me. I'm supposed to make it personal: I'm called to make it my responsibility and weave it into the very fabric of who I am and how I live.

So, what does that mean for me?
1. I'm praying for the peace of God to dwell in my heart, my mind, my words and actions, so that I am living this out...not just pondering it!
2. I'm praying for others who are not at peace...with me, with others, with God...

Romans 5:1: "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"

There's absolutely no way to be at peace with others when we are not at peace with God Himself...and He has totally made that possible. YEAH!!!

Colossians 3:15: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

We have been called to peace, and peace is what must be the major and priority goal of our hearts. It must literally "rule or make us subservient to it". Peace is connected to thankfulness and gratitude. If I am not grateful or thankful, I will hardly be able to be at peace.

Galatians 5:22: "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

It's no mistake that in this "fruit bowl" of living in the spirit, peace sits between joy and patience. Joy precedes peace, for how can I live in peace when I have no concept of experience of giving or receiving joy (whether it be from God or others!); also, peace will not only require patience, but lead me to be more patient...with myself and others.

James 3:17 & 18: "But the wisdom that comes from heaven ifs first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."

Wisdom is demonstrated by loving peace and what that means to others: consideration, submission, merciful actions, impartiality, sincerity. Sowing in peace means reaping righteousness. In other words, I have to plant peace, and believe that the crop will result in a sense of "rightness" with others, myself...etc. Mind you, not of "being right", but being "right" with others: being at peace.

Hebrews 12:14/15: "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."

I am supposed to take all my time, energy, resources (EVERY EFFORT), to live at peace: to be holy. I am called to do this, so that I can help others not miss out on God's grace (now there's an awesome responsibility given to each of us!)...this leads to making sure that in no way am I ever a part of bitterness. Bitterness takes root, grows, causes trouble and ultimately makes peace and holiness both impossible!


Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

May we all be peacemakers and experience the very blessings of God Himself, the God who will call us his children because we are like him most when we are peacemakers (kind of like sharing His spiritual genes!)


So, in 2008, I'm pursuing the path of peace: with God, with others, and with myself. I pray you too will also live in peace and know the blessing of being called one of God's own!

Peace on Earth, by Chris Rice

Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Did the angels waste their words?
Everywhere, raise this prayer
Let there be peace on earth
Let there be peace on earth

Peace with God, Peace with God
Offered through one lowly child
Even when this life is hard
There can be peace with God
There can be peace with God

Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Did the angels waste their words?
Everywhere, raise this prayer
Let there be peace on earth
Let there be peace on earth

Peace within, Peace within
Where true peace on earth begins
Every heart finding Him
Has perfect peace within
Finds perfect peace within

Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Did the angels waste their words?
Everywhere, raise this prayer
Let there be peace on earth
Let there be peace on earth

Peace, Sher