Decided...

Just thought I'd share a piece of correspondence I sent to some friends and family on election day, 2008:

Tuesday 11/4
We had a line of 20 people at 7am in our tiny little town of Mitchell!

I was #2, my husband was #3 - I voted using the electronic machine - first one of the day - and it didn't work. At least it malfunctioned on the first vote of the day so no other voters were effected! Praise God! They let me vote again on a paper ballot. And I got my "I Voted!" sticker so, if I were so inclined I could get my free Starbucks and my free crispy creme!

My husband is very disappointed that I voted Republican ... he is hoping my electronic voting debacle will somehow cause my vote to be invalid. He'll have to get over it. I'm asking God to reveal Himself and His truth to him so that he will not despair if McCain wins. Despair is not too strong a word for this. It is a literal emotion and state of mind that many have regarding the outcome of the election. He has his hope in Obama's economic policy promises and is convinced that without him our nation will sink into deep economic depression. (Is that something that one particular presidential candidate can ward off?) He does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ yet so, he has nothing to base his faith on but a vague Unitarian type of higher power. I would not want to be in his shoes during times like these.

Normally, fasting is thought of as a private thing but, we are in a time and season that corporate fasting is necessary. We need to communicate this to one another, spurring one another on to love and good deeds! I've been on a "Daniel fast" for the past 40 days (no rich foods, I abstained from meat, sugar/sweets, yeast breads, eating only veggies, fruit and dairy products, limiting beverage choices to water or green tea, while seeking Christ's heart, mind and direction). I broke my fast this morning after I voted with a cup of strong black coffee and 2 home made chocolate chip cookies. (I think I've shocked my system! That will be it for today ... back to vegetables, fruit and cottage cheese for me... I'll reintroduce meat in a couple of days.) If you do not already practice the discipline of fasting, I'd like to encourage you to set aside blocks of time to fast and seek the Lord personally. I'd also like to encourage you to suggest a corporate fast together with your prayer partners or Bible study groups. This is a significant discipline that was practiced regularly in both the old and new testaments. It is still widely practiced in many cultures other than our affluent American one. It's about humility, overcoming the flesh and aligning yourself with our Lord's will. It is a form of prayer that will individually and/or corporately strengthen your spiritual muscles, accelerate your spiritual growth, and clarify your heavenly perspective.

Today I have confident peace regarding the vote I cast and a continuing sense of the need to pray throughout the next 2 weeks as the vote is being counted and indefinitely for those who have their hope anywhere other than in Christ.

Regardless of the results of today's election, God is in charge. Our hope is in Him alone - not a president or a party or a policy - and He is able to keep His own. He wants us to be ambassadors for Him in the darkness of our times and seasons. He will provide what we need to bring Him glory in the eyes of those who have yet to be introduced to Him and be given the opportunity to humble themselves before Him while it is still DAY.

The following scriptures have become very significant to me as I've prayed over the past weeks. I'm impressed more and more that our focus and trust need to be in Christ and His purposes for us in this earth and that He desires to use us as salt and light and as a witness to the wicked who will have no peace or provision or hope and will be eternally lost without Him.
(Look at these verses in different translations to get a broader understanding of what is being said.)
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

2 Corinthians 9:6 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.

Just thought I'd share these with you as well. Be encouraged! Keep the faith!

Undecided...

This continues to be a very trying election season.

I don't trust political rhetoric or advertisements.

Don't even get me started on the email forwards.

Research (discovering the facts and their correct context) is difficult and time consuming.

The worst thing about it is trying to talk with those whom you know about why they are going to choose a particular candidate or not. It seems a great many people don't know what they believe or why they believe it, let alone being able to express themselves logically and respectfully. I keep running in to these disappointing scenarios that end up being a stress on the relationship because I keep pressing the why, and how, and what is the source of your info questions.

I want to be convinced.

I'm a willing listener not a captive audience. Convince me. Here's your chance to make a difference, to influence the outcome of an election.

Just think about this before you get on your soapbox; do you think describing your listener as an "idiot" will help convince them of your point of view? Do you think expressing contemptuous remarks about a particular candidate without a factual, intelligent argument as to why you believe they deserve such disrespect will help your listener align with your point of view? (Although, I suppose "birds of a feather, flock together" could apply in positive and negative ways.)

For those of you who are working hard at getting the best info for making the best decision in this election, here are a couple of links that have been helpful to me. It's nice to know that there are those who understand the need.

http://www.factcheck.org/

http://congress.org/

Criticism (Did I spell that right??)

I was recently invited to write a product review. I was given a list of suggestions on "How to write a good review". That was an interesting choice of words. The power of suggestion carries quite a bit of weight. I went ahead and wrote the review - it was favorable - I like the product! It was flattering to be asked my opinion.

"Everyone's a critic."

Agree or disagree?

I agree. We all have an opinion on everything we experience whether we choose to share it or not.

Thing is, not everyone receives criticism well. I'm one of those who does my very best to make as many happy as possible and to get it done right the first time. Receiving criticism well is something I've had to learn how to do. It's been a costly investment yet it has held some of the highest returns. Today I'm of the opinion that with a discerning ear and the security found in my Jesus, 9 times out of 10 there is at least a bit of helpful input to be gained from any critic.

This article is one of the best I've read on the subject. What's your opinion?

Resurrection Day... the 2nd time around!

Has it really been 10 weeks since I last posted?! Time flys!

As glorious as the first Resurrection Day was, the second will be even more glorious! I've been thinking about it so much lately. Haven't you? It almost seems as if there is an anticipation and excitement about it that is akin to what you feel the day or two before your wedding, or some other huge function that you've waited a long time for, prepared for carefully, extensively... do you sense it, too?

I feel drawn to the Lord. I have a desire to interceed more and more.

Look folks, this one thing we each need to settle in our hearts: Is He God or is He not?

If He is then we need to let go of fear, doubt, and unbelief and get serious about KNOWING Him because He said He will separate the sheep from the goats. We will either hear, "Go away, I never KNEW you." Or, "Well done good and faithful servant! Come and enter my rest!" I know what I want to hear.

On the first Resurrection Day, He kept His Word to His disciples. He will keep His Word about coming again to bring us to be with Him where He is, in the place that He has been preparing for us all this time.

John 14:1-3 "Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am there you may be also."

You are AMAZING God!

Have you ever received a gift from Jesus? The kind that is undeniably from Him?

Totally unexpected. Absolutely perfect. Just at the right moment. You know?

The kind where you are COMPELLED to worship Him in response?

Yea, that kind.

Would you care to glorify Him here by sharing your experience with us?

Bittersweet

I was to a funeral this week. The daughter of some friends. Her name is Libby. She went to be with Jesus on December 16th. She would have turned 5 on the 17th.

I didn't know what to expect... a child... a young child... an adopted child... just before her birthday... just before Christmas... the child of friends... I'd never been to a child's funeral before. Here in America, this is no longer a regular occurance.

Much to my surprise, there was a tangible sense of peace and celebration as I walked through the doors of the church. More reverant conversation than tears, even occasional laughter. There were in the area of 300 in attendance for the service alone, all ages represented and many different nationalities as well. All united by this precious one's life.

Libby had fought tenaciously for her life ever since she had be diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at age 2. We were told she would not recover time and again. She defied the expert's predicitons time and again. Until this time...

As I stood in the receiving line, watching the power point slide show record of her life, the Lord whispered to me, "Libby fought this long because I asked her to, and she loves me. I told her she could come be with Me for her birthday this year."

I had no words for her mother. A hug, a smile... that's all I had. I stumbled uncomfortably making myself say something, "She's precious."

"Yes." her mother said, smiling, looking again at her daughter's body. Her eyes were dry. She exuded peace and contentment.

After a long pause I added, "What a wonderful birthday present."

Not skipping a beat she replied, "Absolutely! She's playing with Jesus now!"

I hugged her again and blessed her, moving on to her father.

When my turn to greet him came he pulled me into a hug saying, "It's good to see you! It has to be more than a year since we last saw you!" Hugging him back I agreed thinking, has it really been that long? Reflecting on it now, I imagine parents of a child with a terminal illness are probably very aware of the passage of time. Each day is probably carefully attended to and when complete, stored away in a treasury. It was evident that he was very tender in heart right then. I had been impressed to interceed very specifically for him over the last 6 weeks in particular. I shared with him how the Lord had lead me to pray for him and assured him of continued support. He received it heartily, holding back tears. I blessed him and moved on.

The service concluded with each of us hugging a balloon and sending it off to Jesus and Libby as our final farewell, that is, until we should meet again.

To recap what Libby's great auntie had to say:

Libby's life taught us 3 things...

1. fight for life
2. persevere - never give up, and
3. come together in unity

and this is true. These are the good works that God had prepared in advance for Libby to do. And just like Jesus, whom she loved (this fact reflected in her preference for the men in her life), she finished her work and even now is beginning to receive her reward as a good and faithful servant. Oh, to have the view that Father God has of the fruit this will bear!

Precious! ... Yes!

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of those faithful to Him. Truly I am your servant, LORD, I am your servant, as was my mother before me; you have loosed my bonds of affliction." Psalm 116:15-16

Thinking about discipleship...

I've been doing a great deal of thinking (and research, and talking with Jesus) about discipleship over the last several months. Recently, I've begun to "see" discipleship from a view that is varied and textured, not unlike a topographic map or one of those 3-D pictures you stare at and eventually a recognizable form emerges from what appeared to be only a chaotic mess of colors at first glance.

Lord willing, to aid me in the assimilation of all this new input I hope to be posting on the different aspects, elements, and categories of thought I've found particularly significant. Writing and journaling are often dynamic components to the learning and thought processes for me.

This link is to one of my main sources to aid in the rumination and digestion of all this "food for thought": http://forums.ag.org/discipleship/ .

Yes, this is good. I'm looking forward to the processing!