“You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” -Jeremiah 29:10-11
Sitting here in traffic after a long day, missing a soccer game I sorely want to play in, and praying to find the good in this moment.
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Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. -Psalm 37:4-5
When we align ourselves with God, our desires align with our most loved Self. We take better care of ourselves and desire good for every man, woman, and child.
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Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you, so you must forgive others. -Colossians 3:13
I am struggling with this one. I am trying to understand the supporters of Lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and masks. I want to forgive them, but it feels important to stop them first. They must be stopped from harming my family, vulnerable populations, and the very cooperative nature of our success as a species.
I will fight to protect the people I love and I will strive to always expand that circle to include as many as I can. I will keep forgiveness in my heart and welcome the authoritarians to my table, once they are defeated.
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Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” -Hebrews 13:5
When you know you are loved, you need nothing else.
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The church where my sons were baptized and attended youth groups for years has been aggressively pushing a fear narrative.
A church leader led an outdoor service that included no Scripture that I could recall immediately after (I may have missed something). She then required masks and distancing for future outdoor meetings.
Recently, they closed their doors again and went entirely “virtual.” Although youth groups are now meeting again, they are enforcing masks and social distancing and pushing vaccines, measures that have shown to be ineffective in making anyone healthier in spirit or body.
I asked the youth leader to remove us from that email list, as these restrictions violate my sons’ freedom to follow Christ as their hearts call them to. I stated that we feel abandoned by the church and copied the lead pastor, who was already aware of my feelings, on the email.
His response shocked me a little.
A member of his church feels abandoned, so he volunteers to erase me from the rolls?
Before Lockdown, we were in this building multiple times a week between services, Bible studies, volunteer work, and many other meetings and events. My late wife’s cremains rest in the inner courtyard. It was our spiritual home, the place we were Baptized into the Body of Christ.
There is relief in me as I see it as an unveiling of the true nature of this congregation. There is also deeply hurtful pain and a fear that there are other wolves in sheep’s clothing in my life.
We are blessed by those who exclude us, especially when they preach inclusion. It is the villianous Doublespeak of the devils of Orwell’s 1984: Freedom is Slavery, War is Peace, Ignorance is Strength…Exclusion is Inclusion.
I have new spiritual homes and I know that my relationship with Christ is in my heart, it needs no building, nor pastor.
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The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. -1 Corinthians 1:25
I don’t know what to do with these boys. I haven’t felt this lost as a single dad in four years. I’m asking God for answers as I feel abandoned by too many humans.
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Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! -Psalm 105:1
Lord, thank you for the infinite blessings in my life and thank you for a voice loud enough to share your blessings with the world.
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Man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. -Timothy 6:11-12
Focusing on the eternal life ahead gives me peace in this transient form. The body is corrupted and destined for death. I do not fear that as I understand that my soul is eternal and has a room waiting in Heaven.
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Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. -Philippians 4:4-5
Paul wrote these words when he was in jail.
I’ve been blessed with irrational optimism, but Paul’s encouragement is an inspiration.
Lord, I pray to rejoice in you through all my days, the dark and the light.
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As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. -Ephesians 4:1-3
Three years ago I was sitting on the kitchen floor every morning. I was sober for the first time in forever, I was approaching my first anniversary as a widow, and a woman I loved had just ended a secret affair. I started my days with affirmations, prayers, and stretching.
It was a low time and the hard floor seemed like the right place. The kitchen is also the only room I seem to keep somewhat clean and functional.
The floor is a good place to get humble. It was the right place for me to begin rediscovering my self worth. I’m still on that journey of rediscovery, but I am in a better place now. The floor feels like a grounding place more than a metaphor for my life. It is the solid ground of Christ’s love that supports me.
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