It Breaks My Heart – or Does It?

It’s been a crazy news week in America.  But that in itself is not unusual.  There’s always something crazy the media can find to report. Each day as I watch the news I hear about shootings, robberies, missing kids, sports victories and losses, politics –  and if it’s a good day – some happy news.  It takes just a click of a mouse to find out what’s happening around the world. Most of the stuff I hear I just gloss over and worry about making sure I’ve seen the weather forecast (even that can be bad at times).

But this week, some stories came across by TV, News apps, and Facebook timeline that have made me stop and think. {They’re not necessary to name – won’t promote the stories.)

Is what I’m reading/seeing breaking my heart? Does it break my heart like it does God’s?

Sadly, I’m afraid not.  Sure, I get upset about what I read — senseless killings of innocent people, children abused and forgotten, animals neglected, financial downfall of certain companies, wars and rumors of wars, and something a government official has or has not done – the list doesn’t end.

However, several things this week have upset me – angered me. But still, is my heart really broken? Broken like God’s?

The honest answer is No.

No. It hasn’t broken my heart like it breaks God’s heart. How do I know this?

Sure I get mad. But what am I doing about it?

Do I start a petition?

Do I race out and try to help?

Do I send money to an agency already helping?

And here’s the kicker.

Do I pray about it? Am so heartbroken that I am brought to my knees in prayer – in repentance because of my indifference about things? Am I grieved because something that goes against common sense and God’s Word is done?  Am I brought to repentance because I have sinned and am no different from some of the things happening in the world that God hates?

No – Don’t. No – I’m not.

But I want to be.  I want my heart to hurt like His. To be able to see the injustice that is happening in the world. To care enough that even if I can’t physically do something about it – I can pray – to not sit back and do nothing.

King Solomon didn’t do “nothing” – he prayed.  He prayed for his nation – his people – for them to turn their hearts to God (I Kings 8:22-53). We see countless other times in Scripture when the people of God turn to Heaven because of the sin of the people. We see Moses interceding for Israel; Jeremiah weeping over the loss of his nation; We even see Jesus praying for His disciples to be kept from the evil one.

True, it’s going to get worse before Christ comes back.  It seems like injustice is here to stay but the time is coming for judgment day. {Are we ready?} What are we {God’s People} going to do in the mean time?

What are we going to allow to break our hearts? Are we going to allow ourselves to see the world as God sees it and grieve then pray? Are we going to see the Church as God sees it and grieve (Sadly, the church is not immune) then pray? How about this – allow God to use us – the Church – to show God’s love to others.

Are we – the Church – going to continue to do “nothing”? It’s time to Pray.

Pray that – When anyone sins against his neighbor . . .  then hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness. I Kings 8:31-32, NKJV, modified.

Pray that – When we – God’s people – are defeated before an enemy because we have sinned against You, and when we turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people . . .  I Kings 8:33-34, NKJV, modified.

Pray that – When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because we have sinned against You, when we pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from our sin because You afflict us, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people that You may teach us the good way in which we should walk; and send rain on Your land . . . I Kings 8:35-36, NKJV, modified.

Pray that –  “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near; yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness’; and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name: then hear in heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause, and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; and grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them  (for they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, out of the iron furnace), that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You. For You separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be Your inheritance, as You spoke by Your servant Moses, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.” I Kings 8:46 – 53, NKJV, unmodified.

Pray that the heart of this Nation would turn back to God and His Word.  Pray that the evil that plagues this Nation would be heard in Heaven and this His Hand would move. Pray that sinners would turn to Jesus. Pray that the Church would lead – and love – like Jesus.

Pray, and if told to do so, act.

~ Lorna

Sunday’s Coming!

I read that statement many times this week; along with “A lot can change in three days.” Nothing’s wrong with either of them for both are true.  A lot can change in three days but Sunday already came.

Sunday came over 2000 years ago but we still reference and honor the Day Christ rose from the Dead with yearly remembrances and celebrations of his Resurrection as we should be doing {every day}.

However, this year, my mind is focused on another “Sunday” {Sunday’s in quotes because I do not know the exact day}. And it could have been today with the loud thunder boom that shook my house at 7:03 a.m. this Easter Morning 2016.

The “Sunday” I’m speaking of is written about in Revelation 1:4-7, The Voice:

“May you experience God’s favor and rest in the peace that comes from the One who is, the One who was, and the One who is coming; from the seven Spirits, the Perfect Spirit, constantly before God’s throne; and from Jesus the Anointed, the Witness who is true and faithful, the first to emerge from death’s cold womb, the chosen Ruler over all the kings and rulers of the earth.

To the One who loves us and liberated us from the grip of our evil deeds through His very own blood  and who established us to be His kingdom and priests for God, His Father. May glory and power be His throughout all the ages. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds, in glory.
He will capture every eye,
Even of those who pierced Him through.
All the nations of the earth will be pierced with grief when He appears.

Yes, may all this be done according to His plan. Amen.”

This “Sunday” is one I long for.  It’s a longing that keeps me seeking the Lord and His Truth.  It’s a longing that wants the evil in the world to go away (it will, but all in God’s timing).  It’s a longing to see loved ones come to know Christ and follow Him.  It’s a longing for the world to recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior.  It’s a longing to see my grandparents and aunt again along with others who have gone before me.  It’s a longing to rest in God’s love and eat at the Wedding Feast.

It’s a “Sunday” that no one will fail to see. “Look!! There He is – in the Clouds in all His glory.”  At this point, every eye – even those who pierced Him will see Him coming again. It’s a day that no one will fail to recognize.

John speaks of His coming like this – (Revelation 19:11-16, NKJV)

^“ Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.  Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.”

It’s this “Sunday” I am longing for – To see Christ riding on a White Horse in all His Glory and Power – destroying the evil of the world.

“Sunday’s Coming!”

It will come. Christ will reign. Evil will be destroyed.

“Sunday’s Coming” – Do you long for this day as I do? Do you know Christ?  I pray you do. If you don’t, confess your sins, believe in Jesus, as confess Him as your Lord and Savior. (Then find a local church who can help you know more about Jesus and grow with Him.)

But while we wait for His Return, be like those on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-25, NKJV):  Walk with Him, Learn the Scriptures, Believe in Him, tell others about Him.

Because, even though today is “Friday” — “Sunday’s Coming!!!”

May you and yours have a Blessed Easter – Celebrate – for He is Alive!

 

Disobeying Jesus

Now before you get upset with me – hear me out – I am not advocating Disobeying Jesus – quite the opposite; however, in this one instance – a woman who disobeyed Jesus got more than she bargained for.

I’m pretty sure she didn’t intentionally want to disobey a man – just didn’t happen in those days but it happened.

The disobedience begins when Jesus tells a Samaritan woman to “Give Me a Drink”.

Now, for those who don’t know the story (John 4:5-42) read it here, but here’s a quick synopsis:

Jesus is standing at one of Jacob’s wells when this Samaritan woman comes to draw water. Not only is she a Samaritan (Jews and Samaritans did not get along), she is a woman. So when Jesus asks her for a drink of water she questions why He, a Jew, is asking her, a Samaritan woman, for a drink of water.

This is where it gets interesting.

It’s at this point her disobedience begins. After He tells her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink’, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

What – Living Water?! – how can you give me water when it’s You who asked for a drink. Besides, you have nothing to get the water from the well with – it’s a deep well you know? Is there something I don’t know about you that allows you to get this water from my ancestor’s well.

But, speaking to the woman, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of this water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into ‘everlasting life’.”

Give me this water!!!! I never want to thirst again. Go, and get your husband and come back, He said.

But I don’t have a husband.

By this time she as not figured out who He is but Jesus knows who she is. Jesus tells her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband;”

Ah, I know who You are – You are a prophet. By this time, she feels as though she’s been caught so she changes the subject.

She asks Him about worship – do we worship here on this mountain or in Jerusalem?

Jesus again turns it around – “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.”

I can just here her brain spinning – what Not Worship?

Jesus continues, “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Again, she changes the subject again still not quite believing Him.

“I know that Messiah is coming” she tells Him, “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

Well, just so you know, “I who speak to you am He.”

Imagine her thoughts – her actions – her disobedience.

She leaves her water pot back at the well – and runs to tell the men of her city all about this Man who told her everything about herself. Is this really the Christ?

To make a long story short, the men come see who she is speaking about. Along the way she tells them what was said at the well – about the living water – the truth about her past – who to worship.

Her life had been so changed by a simple act of disobedience that the Samaritan men came to believe in Christ. They came to know the Savior of the World because of her testimony.

Here lately God has been speaking to me about sharing my life story with others.  One day I will but for now I will continue to let Him fill me with living water – tell me about my past – and – teach me to worship in spirit and in truth.

From one simple act of obedience – the Samaritan woman’s life had changed and the lives of many others. It’s that kind of fearlessness I want – to be able to question Jesus and have Him answer me in a way that will change my life. How about you?

Oh, and if you’re wondering about that one simple act of disobedience that started this whole thing – she never did give Him a drink of Water! But look what she got in return.

Be Blesssed, Be a Witness, and Be Fearless

Love, Lorna

The Battle

It’s one week into the New Year – how are your resolutions/goals coming along? Mine – so far so good.  The one I always manage to keep (at least for the past few years) is reading through my Bible at least once. This year, I am off to a great start. I’m mixing it up by reading 10 chapters a day using different lists (Professor Horner’s Bible plan). Of course I’m a big fan of reading the Bible – doesn’t matter if it’s just one verse or many. Read the Word.

Read the Word. That’s how I came about a battle I had not thought about before. One of the lists has me reading in the book of Joshua this week. It’s here I came across the Battle of Ai {you thought I was going to say Jericho, right?}.

I know I’ve read about this battle before but this week, since I’m reading a bit slower, some life lessons came to me and I thought I’d share them.

{To read about the Battle of Ai, click here; it’s found in Joshua 7 and 8}

Joshua and Israel are fresh off their “win” at Jericho and thought they could “win” at Ai but what Joshua didn’t know is that someone within the camp sinned. When Joshua goes before the Lord to inquire as to why, if God was giving them Ai, didn’t they win. He falls on his face before the Lord.

God says, “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them . . . Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies. Joshua 7:10-12.

I had thought about some battles I’ve been in and have lost. Could I have lost them because I had sinned? Only God knows but when one has unconfessed sin in one’s life, it’s quite possible one does not pray or even read the Word. In this case, Israel was defeated because of sin.

After finding out who sinned, and having taken care of the offense, Joshua and Israel, again go to fight Ai. This time they use a different strategy and come out victorious! Yay God!

However, it was what Joshua and Israel did after the victory that God impressed upon my heart. Joshua erected an altar and wrote the Law of Moses on it. He then read it to the people of Israel (men, women, and children).  It’s this act that is just as important – if not more important. They didn’t celebrate their victory.  They gave thanks to God for the victory then they went to the Word of God and renewed their mind and soul.

We can take a lesson from these two battles:  During times of defeat, maybe sin is the issue and if so, ask the Lord to show you the sin. Confess it, ask for forgiveness, and repent. If it’s a battle to be won, the Lord will bring it up again. If victorious, don’t celebrate your part, Give thanks to the Lord. Take some time to read the Word, renew your mind and soul for we all know, another battle will come.

Take comfort in His Word and keep reading.

~Lorna

Fearless

Goodbye 2015.

I wish it was that easy to say.  Sure the calendar will change tonight at midnight to read January 1, 2016 but I’m not sure the year 2015 will leave my memory any time soon.  It was a year filled with stress and grief. It was also a year filled with happiness and fun. To say it was crazy is crazy.

Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to 2016. 2016 will bring changes to my life once again.  My youngest son will graduate in May and will begin college in September. There will be no more school events to attend – no more football games, no more concession stand work, and no more worrying about his grades. It’s been a long four years. Excitement is in the air!

My oldest is doing well – he’s working and was able to buy a truck that he wanted.  Not much more to say about him except I’m proud of the man he is turning into.

But, with the old of 2015 turning into the new of 2016 it brings apprehension of what lies ahead. During the last week of the year I start thinking about a new word to focus on during the next year.  This year is no different – however, the way I came about it was a bit different.

I was listening to one of Spotify’s Praise and Worship playlists and a song by Mia Fieldes came on. It was one of those songs – specifically a lyric – that stopped me from doing what I was doing.

“I am fearless in Your Presence” Mia sang.  Fearless.  Fear-less. And then I knew – that was my word for 2016. So I asked God for confirmation, and he confirmed – with a book titled “Fearless” that I bought at Lifeway.

Fearless.

As I re-listened to the song and looked at the content of the book, one thing was in common. Water. Within the song there’s the line – “No fear in the crashing waves” and the book has pictures of surfers in oceans. Being one that is afraid to go over bridges and being out on the open water, I really had to think about this.

And, as usual, He is faithful to explain.

Fearless. With all the craziness of 2015, I am fully aware that 2016 will bring changes to my life. With Caleb’s graduation and impeding college years, I am finding myself as a mom having two boys beginning their life on their own. My husband is close to retiring and I am looking forward to returning to the workforce. These things bring a fear of the unknown. Then, even with those changes, there’s a longing to become closer to God – to go where He leads me since both boys are somewhat capable of taking care of themselves.

It’s that fear – the fear of the unknown – that God says – Be Fearless! When you’re in My presence, there is no fear – no fear in the crashing waves. The waves that will bring me to places I’ve not know before – either with Him or in the world.

Fearless. It’s what I’m going to be in 2016 because I’m putting my trust in Him. Where ever the water currents take me – I know I will be safe because He is with me.

You’re welcome to be Fearless with me. And if your word is different, I’d like to know – Leave a comment and share it if you will. Also, take a listen to “Fearless” by Mia Fieldes (video below).

With Love and Blessings, Have a Wonderful – Fearless – 2016.

“The  Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

Happy New Year!!

~Lorna