Quiet

I think I’m going through a quiet time, now, in a variety of areas.

Politics always bring turmoil to my mind and spirit and it’s impossible to avoid them with facebook and 24-hr. news on tv, the internet, etc. So I’m learning to avoid them when I can and to practice extending grace to others as they share their political viewpoint. I honestly don’t feel a need to “force” people to agree with me, but I sure do bristle at they way others paint my viewpoint.

Lori, be still.

I came across something this weekend that made me stop and recognize that I’ve grown spiritually in a way that I hadn’t recognized. I used to argue with God all the time. And I do mean argue – my mind would race as I’d quarrel with Him. And He was very, very patient … sometimes it was almost funny how He would let me rant and then very gently bring me full-circle to knowing it was I who needed to surrender to Him, not the other way around.

And I realized that I no longer do that. Trials are still painful, but I don’t try to talk my way out of them. Oh, I beg Him in prayer for the sake of others … but I don’t argue with Him.

Lori, be still … wait and watch.

I was reading Genesis 26 this weekend, and read about how Isaac and his “enemies” made an agreement to simply leave each other alone. That sounds like a good strategy to me; I envy Isaac and I wish I was out on the plain by my self, being left alone.

From Genesis 26: ²⁸ They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, ²⁹ that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’” ³⁰ Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. ³¹ In the morning they arose early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away and they departed from him in peace.

Lori, if I am with you, people will plainly see; you don’t have to be forceful toward them. Be still.

Thank you, LORD, for the quiet; for your peace; for your patience with me.

 

 

Read Full Post »

Gay Rights

I had an interesting discussion over the weekend with other Christians about the current move in society toward gay rights. I took time to look up the official teaching from the Catholic Church on homosexuality was a little surprised by what I saw. It is basically what I believe and have been taught, but seeing it in black & white made me kind of … proud of my church, I guess.

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

People may disagree on whether it is a disorder or not, but I think it is in the same way that depression, addiction, gluttony, pedophilia, and other very human conditions are “disordered.”

In other words, we’re all sinners.

And I keep coming back to 1 Corinthians 5:

1Co 5:9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people,
1Co 5:10 not at all referring to the immoral of this world or the greedy and robbers or idolaters; for you would then have to leave the world.
1Co 5:11 But I now write to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, if he is immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a robber, not even to eat with such a person.
1Co 5:12 For why should I be judging outsiders? Is it not your business to judge those within?
1Co 5:13 God will judge those outside. Purge the evil person from your midst.

 It’s still a tough subject and I find it sad that the extremists on both sides seem to be controlling the conversation.

I guess I go back to the blog I posted just before this one … our world desparately needs the mercy of Christ outpoured. That is my heartfelt prayer.

Read Full Post »

Lord, have mercy

I don’t mean to cheat by posting a link to someone else’s blog.

But this blog spoke so much of what has been grieving my heart for quite a while … the avalanche of immorality-called-good that is threatening to smother this country, this world … and our complete inability to “do” anything about it.

But mourn, and pray for all people. Lord, have mercy.

Blog post

 

Read Full Post »

Exceeding Great Reward

Gen 15:1  Some time after these events, this word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:

Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

I love this promise! I looked up the words “shield,” “exceeding,” “great” and “reward.” Another layer of Truth and beauty are woven in to this promise for me.

Shield H4043
מגנּה    מגן
mâgên  meginnâh
maw-gane’, meg-in-naw’
From H1598; a shield (that is, the small one or buckler); figuratively a protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile: –  X armed, buckler, defence, ruler, + scale, shield.

Exceeding H3966
מאד
me’ôd
meh-ode’
From the same as H181; properly vehemence, that is, (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated): – diligently, especially, exceeding (-ly), far, fast, good, great (-ly), X louder and louder, might (-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very (+ much, sore), well.

Great H7235
רבה
râbâh
raw-baw’
A primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect): – [bring in] abundance (X -antly), + archer [by mistake for H7232], be in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding (-ly), be full of, (be, make) great (-er, -ly), X -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty (-eous), X process [of time], sore, store, thoroughly, very.

Reward H7939
שׂכר
śâkâr
saw-kawr’
From H7986; payment of contract; concretely salary, fare, maintenance; by implication compensation, benefit: – hire, price, reward [-ed], wages, worth.

 

 

Read Full Post »