Broken Ones
Father of the broken hearts,
Healer of my soul
Come to me now, I do pray,
come and make me whole.
The broken heart is hard to mend,
my heart is filled with grief. Read the rest of this entry »
Rescinded Grace
I have this tendency that I am largely unaware of, one that lies dormant within me for the vast majority of the time. I live and breathe with it, but its presence is not felt. I am in blissful ignorance.
Then something happens to stir it within me. Read the rest of this entry »
Unwavering at the Promise
“No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” -Romans 4:20-21
This verse struck me because I often feel as though I doubt God’s goodness in my life. He has given me so much, blessed me so much, endured with me through so much, proved His love and faithfulness to me time and time again, and yet… Read the rest of this entry »
Settling.
There are two primary issues that impact every area of my life:
1) self-reliance
2) lack of faith
I rely on myself far too often. Why? ‘Cause usually I can get by. I know what people want/need to hear, I know how to assuage others anxieties. It leaves me with an impression of, “Hm, I can get it done!”
“What’s wrong with that?” you may ask. Read the rest of this entry »
The Lesser Known Wrath
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” – Romans 1:18
(PREFACE: People don’t often speak of the wrath of God, but it is in the Bible and ought to be spoken of. However, in this writing I am simply highlighting that in every occurrence in your life – even wrath – God is drawing you to Himself.)
This wrath that is revealed by God in this passage, if I understand it correctly, is quite interesting and not at all what our perceived understanding of “wrath” tells us it should be. Knowing Romans chapter 1, God’s wrath isn’t always a fire, earthquake, physical devastation, opening-the-ground-up-and-swallowing-the-sinful kind of wrath – it can be something much worse. Read the rest of this entry »
The Heart’s Response to Life
I have recently been overwhelmed.
My circumstances have changed in ways small to the outside world, but large in my perception. Some changes are positive, and some are more challenging, yet something strange has been happening to me in the last two weeks. Each stress, challenge, discouragement and change in my life has been met with a reaction unanticipated, unexpected and unnatural. Read the rest of this entry »
A Touch of Death
When I was 15 years old, 3 students I went to high school with died within 4 days of each other. I attended funerals and memorials and grieved with my classmates. It wasn’t that they were close friends. I knew them through loose associations at school, but I cried because that week myself along with 1,600 other students were forced to acknowledge that death didn’t just come knocking for the old. Read the rest of this entry »
How Did I Get Here?
My Reflection
Bartender. Teacher. Painter. Pantomime. Accountant. Sign language expert. Salesperson. Candle lady. Math tutor. DIS aide. Job coach.
She is all of these things and more. She has an adventurous spirit and a love for people that causes her to do well in every profession she seeks.
She is my mother. Read the rest of this entry »
The Sasquatch Soul: wandering, searching deeply, and avoiding photos. 
Law of Love.
December 24, 2020 at 9:40 pm (2020, American church, Body of Christ, Culture, Devotional, Love your neighbor, Pandemic, Philosophy, Protests, Religious Commentary, Social Change, wearing masks)
Enough.
We have taken leave of our senses long enough.
As the body of Christ, we are to lead the way in reconciliation, kindness, love.
Much of the American church is failing in this.
I am an American citizen. With that citizenship comes many privileges and responsibilities. I am also a child of the kingdom of God. With that citizenship comes many privileges and responsibilities and that citizenship supersedes all other allegiances.
These days I often fail to recognize the church. So many American Christians are placing their rights as American citizens far above their obligations as citizens of the kingdom of God.
It seems that instead of holding rallies and protests maybe we should be demonstrating our faith by loving our neighbors. Traditionally, the most basic demonstrations are to bring food to those who need it. Gifts to those who may go without due to the devastating effects that 2020 has had on so many in our nation (not to mention, world). Regardless of personal beliefs about coronavirus, this year there is an even MORE basic way to show love to those around us. It is a demonstration of love to your neighbor, your coworker, your family member, to wear a mask. To socially distance from one another. I am baffled that for many Christians these things are instead considered “radical,” “unconstitutional,” and a “violation” of our rights as Americans. These are simple acts of love for our neighbor that we as a church body are struggling to meet.
Instead, we are exercising our right to gather and protest during the height of a global pandemic. Until this year, I have never wept or so fervently prayed for the body of Christ in America, so obsessed with our rights, that we disregard the safety of others, and worse yet, it seems as though we often toss out the Law of Love (Romans 13:10) in favor of our rights as American citizens.
Most people recover from COVID19. Great. Both my brothers are highly trained and experienced nurses (one works in the ER and one in ICU). They have both been pulled into the COVID ICU unit during this extended crisis. COVID units are maxed out. ERs are full. And it’s not even Christmas yet. There are too many that don’t recover.
Instead of protesting for our rights, perhaps it’s time to set aside our blind nationalism and embrace our responsibilities as the children of God to love others more than we love ourselves. In doing that, we will be a far better example of the selfless, sacrificial love of God that as Christians we claim to be celebrating tomorrow. What a marvelous gift that would be this year.
Rate this:
Permalink Leave a Comment