If Daniel Prayed for America

Daniel, author of a book of the Bible bearing his name, prayed a prayer for his nation which can be found in chapter 9. Israel was in captivity because of the many sins they committed, including idolatry and child sacrifice. They were near the end of the foretold time that the captivity was to end and Daniel, a great man of God prayed for his nation. I was thinking that prayer applies today. Below is a modern version of the prayer found in Daniel 9.
“O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants who spoke in your name to our leaders, our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
“Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame because of our unfaithfulness to you. O LORD, we and our leaders are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through his Word. All America has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.
“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in your Word, are being poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done in America. All this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The LORD did not hesitate to bring disaster upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.
“Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from us. Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made America and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your us. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the people that bear your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your people bear your Name.”
And God said,”If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Amen.

America the Beautiful?

America, the Beautiful?

When I was a schoolgirl, we used to sing “America, the Beautiful.” Remember that song? I suspect it’s not sung in public schools anymore. The first stanza goes:

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

When I was a schoolgirl, we believed God had indeed shed His grace on America. We knew America was the best place to live, and we appreciated that fact. We learned American history and studied how the early settlers thanked God for making it through the hard times.

When I was a schoolgirl, the civil rights struggle was in full force. Thank God people finally realized how stupid it was to keep someone out of a place because of their race. To be sure, prejudice still exists, but no longer on a grand scale. Hello? We have a black president.

When I was a school girl, some people lived together before they were married, and they might have been friends of our parents, but it was still considered shameful, and not something people normally did. And it was not common to have a child “out of wedlock.” Now it’s totally commonplace to do both. 40% of babies are now born out of wedlock.

When I was a schoolgirl, they barely showed people kissing on TV, now they practically have sex right on prime time TV. And things shown in R rated movies today would not have been allowed in regular theaters back then. I remember the first time I saw a scene on TV where a woman was in just a bra and I was shocked. Now it doesn’t even phase me. We have been desensitized to such things.

To be sure, there are many things I’m glad are different today. I love the gadgets and the ease of communication, but I’m sad how low our morals have slipped. More and more couples live together without being married, they have babies out of wedlock, and it’s cool to be gay.

Our society has been transformed from a once primarily Judeo-Christian one, to one that is so accepting of anything that anyone who tries to speak sanely is considered to be hateful. No just wrong – hateful. Discourse is no longer allowed, we are to accept whatever society comes up with.

There is a tremendous amount of debate on both sides of the major issues. Will gay marriage destroy our society? Does it matter whether couples live together or not? Do children need a mother and a father?

But that brings us to the song I first mentioned. I believe God once did shed much grace on America. We were the city on the hill. Now, in our efforts to please everyone, and be politically correct, we have turned our backs on God.

And He has turned His back on us.

The Truth or Not The Truth

The church has existed for 2000 years and since day one we have been persecuted. It will be so until Jesus returns. Even so I will not stand idly by and watch it happen.

The church has stood for good since its beginning yet we are accused of being haters if we dare to speak the truth. There is something wrong with that mindset.

If we dare to suggest that homosexuality is wrong, as are other sexual sins, we are called haters.

How can be wrong to speak the truth in love? If someone is at heading toward a cliff would we not warn them? If we see a house on fire wouldn’t we call for help? Do we not have the right and yes the responsibility to speak up?

The hot button issue today is homosexuality. Do we not have the right to have a discourse on this or any subject? Yes the Bible says homosexuality is wrong; it says a lot of things are wrong. People like to bring up the that the Old Testament calls for the killing of homosexuals and other sinners. But when they brought an adulterous woman to Jesus to stone her, Jesus prevented it by pointing out that they were sinners too. This shows us that we are to treat all sinners with love. Christianity teaches us to love all people matter who they are or what they are or what they do. Unlike Islam which teaches to kill sinners especially homosexual but no one seems to bring that up.

Some call God a cosmic killjoy because he tells a certain things are sins. Is a parent a killjoy when he tries to prevent his child from doing something that will bring harm? God said one man and one woman married for life for a reason. It is a way to stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. If everyone was monogamous there would be no sexually transmitted disease. If you live a promiscuous life you will likely get an STD, possibly a fatal one. Even if you’re straight and have sex with multiple partners you will most likely end up with a sexually transmitted. Or an unwanted pregnancy.

You have the right to not believe in God or the Bible. You can decide to live your life any way you chose, but if you find there is a God you will have to answer for your actions. You will not be able to say that no one told you.

This is not the time for the church to be silent. We need to stand up for what we believe in. And God willing until Jesus returns we should do that till the day we die. Even if that means dying at the hands of someone who disagrees.

What If

What if ….

What if we were meant for more?

What if what we’ve settled for is not what we are supposed to be doing?

What if the reason we feel so discontent is because God wants us to be discontent?

What if God wants us to come find Him and discover what His plan for our lives is?

What if all the bad things and rotten experiences you’ve had in life have all led you to the place where now you can help others?

What if your trials were really you blazing a path for others?

Recently I heard someone say that he had a holy discomfort because what he was doing wasn’t really God’s plan for his life.

What if that’s why I feel so miserable?

What if we really believed God?

That’s believe Him, not just believe in Him.

Ephesians 3:20 (MSG)
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!

What if we really believed that?

John 11:40 (NIV)
Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

If God wants you to do something, He will provide a way for you to accomplish it. Even if by human standards it seems impossible. In fact, when it’s impossible is when God can shine through the most!

Can you imagine a self-serving, proud, murderer becoming a missionary? That’s what Paul was before he evangelized the known world. God specializes in the impossible.

Luke 18:27 (NIV)
What is impossible with men is possible with God.

Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

So what has God put before you? Does it seem like there’s an opportunity? Does it seem quite impossible? Maybe God is waiting to act on your behalf in a way that will blow your mind. After all, He didn’t part the Red Sea until the Israelites were totally out of options.

Something to think about, isn’t it?

God is in Control

These last few days have been fraught with unpleasant news. In Japan: the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear woes. The total unrest in the middle east. Soaring gas and food prices.

Some have asked if we are in the end times that the Bible mentioned. Jesus told His disciples that when it’s near the time for His return that there would be “wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in various places,” among other signs.

So maybe this is nearly the end. Maybe it isn’t.

All I know is no matter what, God is still in control. Nothing has happened that has taken Him by surprise. Can you imagine God on His throne saying, “Well I never saw that one coming?” No, even though we may fear, He knows what’s going on and what’s going to happen. Nothing surprises Him.

I admit recent events have left me a little frightened, but I know it’s all in His hands, as unpleasant as the circumstances are. Everything is going according to His plan.

Meanwhile, He’s called us to go and make disciples until He returns, as long as I can I’ll keep doing what He’s called me to do.

Go and do likewise.

Father Abraham Had Many Sons

I was preparing a Sunday School lesson about Abraham. When we first meet Abraham in Genesis 11, he’s introduced as Abram, but when we talk about him, we always refer to him as Abraham. Abraham is the fathers of all the Jews (and Arabs), and is also the father of all who have faith in God, because he “believed the Lord, and he credited to him as righteousness.”

Abraham is always held up as an example of faith, a lover of God, and a righteous man.

Yet, as I study him, I’m struck by the things he did that don’t appear to be examples of faith.

Not once, but twice, he lied and said that his beautiful wife was his sister in order to protect his own skin. (See Genesis 12 and 20.) As a wife, I would expect my husband to protect me, but Abraham was more worried, it seems, about his own skin. These situations all worked out, but Abraham caused problems for others and as we Christians would put it, ruined his testimony.

Additionally, God promised Abraham that he would be the father of nations and that his descendants would be able to be counted like you can count the stars in the sky, even though he was quite advanced in years, as was his wife – and she was barren. In order to “help God along” Sarah came up with the plan that Abraham should have a child with her maid and that would be his heir. In those days that was perfectly acceptable. That didn’t work out so well, and you only have to read any current news in the middle east to see how we’re still paying for that. Eventually, God cause Sarah to have a child herself, as promised.

These actions are not ones you would expect a man of faith to take. But nonetheless, Abraham was a man of faith. Just read Hebrews 11.

As I was thinking about Abraham, I was kind of judging him. I was thinking, how could he have such faith in God but yet act in ways that didn’t seem as if he did have faith?

Oh wait, I have faith in God, but I don;’t always act like I do. I believe God’s promises, that my sins are forgiven, that He’ll take me to heaven, but I have trouble with believing He can help with my problems, my finances, my daily issues.

What?

So I’m no better than Abraham. I lie and say something is not what it is for my own benefit, so to speak. I “help” God with His plans. I am so not perfect. I have ruined my testimony.

But Abraham was a man of faith. And that is how he is remembered.

So why are we told of his mistakes. The Bible says that everything in the past was written to teach us so we might have hope (Romans 15:4). So it’s no mistake that these stories are there for us.

Could it be that God wants us to know that He knows we’re not perfect, that He accepts our meager offerings of faith, warts and all? (Another example would be David, the apple of God’s eye, who was a murderer and adulterer.) God said Abraham was his friend – He talked to Abraham as a man talks to a friend!

Not that I’m making a case for deliberately sinning or wrong-doing, but that fact is we are going to royally screw up at times. But – get this now – God still loves us!

Sometimes I worry that when I stand before my Lord, He’ll have a laundry list of things I’ve done wrong. Maybe He will, but I think He will choose to not bring them up and instead, as a loving Father say, “I know you believed Me, and for that I credit you with righteousness. Welcome to the promised land. I’ve been waiting for you. I love you.”

Thank you God.

Review of Ted Dekker’s Immanuel’s Veins

Another thrilling novel from Ted Dekker. And indeed it was, although it started a bit slowly.

Immanuel’s Veins has been touted as a great love story, as so it was. Like no other love story you’ve ever read. The story’s hero is Toma, a great warrior for Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia. Immediately we learn that not only is Toma brave, he is loyal and honorable.

He, and his second in command and friend, Alek, are charged with the protection of the Cantemir family, a mother, and her two grown daughters. In spite of his vow to protect, he quickly falls in love with one of the daughters, Lucine.

Lucine is also being courted by Vlad van Valerik, a duke and newcomer to the scene. Tensions begin when Toma’s man, Alek, and Lucine’s sister, Natasha, are constantly drawn to the Duke’s castle. They return … different.

The quest for love begins when Toma realizes he must rescue his beloved Lucine, who doesn’t even know how Toma feels about her, and when I got to this part of the book, I found it hard to put it down.

It is an epic good versus evil story, with Toma representing Christ, Vlad the devil, and the sisters as God’s children.

Now two things, Ted seems obsessed with the theme of brides, as the last three books, including this one, are filled with the themes of brides. And I find myself wondering why?

Also, the latest rage is vampires. After the success of Twilight we found everyone cashing in on movies, TV shows, and more books about vampires. It seems we are filled with lust for them. Ted never actually uses the word vampire but yet, there they are in this book. Only Ted Dekker could find a way to incorporate vampires into a book with a Christian theme, and make it believable.

I was given a copy of this by Thomas Nelson Publishers to review.

Maybe There are Still Dreams to Dream

A couple weeks ago I posted a blog about how my dreams had become my disappointments because after years of trying to get published it just hadn’t happened. And I said that I believed in God and his workings in our lives.

Well, God has a sense of humor.

Last Sunday I received an email from the last publisher who rejected my manuscript saying that now he would like to publish it!

Wow, what a surprise!

So now I’m signing a contract, writing a blurb, getting photos taken for the back cover. It’s almost a whirlwind.

So truly God does work in mysterious and humorous ways and I’m so thankful to be given this chance.
I’m a published author! Almost.

Storm Warning by Billy Graham

I just finished Storm Warning by Billy Graham. Billy Graham is probably  one of the most revered persons in the world. Most people, even those who don’t consider themselves religious, respect him. And for good reason.

Storm Warning is an exact look at the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible. It is intended to show us that the events foretold in Revelation are already beginning to happen.

This book  explains in great detail that the world is a complete mess, as if one couldn’t tell that. However, the hope we have is that Jesus will return and set up His kingdom and thereby vanquishing all enemies, mortal and Satanic. He emphases that the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are coming and may be already here, bringing death and disaster with them.

I found this book to be accurate from a Biblical standpoint. However, it was rather dry, and read like a sermon. I found it difficult to keep my interest even though prophecy ahs always been an interest of mine. It was downright boring. It pains me to write this, because I have so much respect for Mr. Graham,  but the book fell rather flat to me.

I was given a complementary copy of this book to review by Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Life is Not Fair, Get Used to It

I always thought by the time I got to the age I am now – nevermind what that is – I’d be comfortable. That my life would be satisfying. But somewhere something went wrong.

Our financial straits are worse than when we first married. It seems like our house is falling down around us. Every time I try to do something good, it explodes in my face. The smallest of my dreams are dead. I feel unappreciated on so many levels. My job, while I like it, feels unsatisfying.

I realize it could be worse – it could always be worse. And lots of people are worse off than I am. I have a niece nearly the same age as me – she’s in prison. Others are divorced, abused,  have sick children. But as one person said to me “this is your journey.” So each of us has a path – some more rocky than others – to walk. And our path is our path.

Or as my pastor once said, “what’s not so bad to you, may be horrible to someone else.”

So I’m trying hard not to be bitter. And believe there are things that could make me be. But life’s not fair. I’m always saying that to my daughters. “Life’s not fair, get used to it.”

My mother was very bitter. The older she got, the more bitter she was. I’m trying hard not to be like that. I suppose she had a right to be bitter too. She was basically destitute – she had to live with someone. I think she was bitter because my father died and “left her,” even though they were miserable together. When I was a kid she received regular beatings from him, and he did worse things too, but still she stayed. I couldn’t understand that. I think she was afraid she couldn’t make it on her own.

So what’s my problem? I’d like to spend my time doing other things for one, instead of having to work. I’d like to have a few bucks in the bank and have a vacation to look forward to. I love my husband even though he is far from perfect and fell off his white horse long ago. But I wish he could just be the breadwinner. I wish my friends were loyal and there for me, and wanted to spend time with me.

My daughters are both good girls – one just graduated from high school and will soon be off to college, but I feel like a failure because they seem to be drifting from the beliefs I’ve tried to instill in them since birth. Maybe it’s just them testing the waters, trying to find their own path. I pray so, but it seems that the things that are important to me aren’t important to them.

And my prayers feel like they’re just bouncing off the ceiling. It seems like everyone around me gets just what they want or need. Their kids get the scholarships, they get the vacations, and everything else. Trust me, I believe in God, and I believe Him too, but it seems like, for whatever reason, He is choosing not to answer my prayers. I realize “no” is an answer, but all the time?

I guess when I feel the Weight of Glory, I’ll understand. But until then, I’ll just keep trudging on.