7/18/2025
Today, when I was trying to look back over my blogs, I realized that I had never posted the one for the 7/13/2025 Embrace Silence. I attempted to read back over it to make sure it sounded right, but my efforts were fruitless, as I couldn't remember the point, until I looked back through my minimal notes and added a closing remark. Hopefully, it makes sense, but then, there are those times when I wonder if anything I write makes sense. I've been trying so hard to get posts written daily, but it seems that all my best efforts are not cutting it. One day, when my book is written, or perhaps a few of them, I will laugh when I remember how frantic I was just trying to be obedient in my "day of small beginnings." Somehow, knowing the Lord, as I believe I do, I don't think He's nearly as concerned with my messing up as much as He is about my obedience. He sees the desires of my heart, and He knows my intentions are pure, so I guess I just need to breathe, and keep writing.
The scriptural reference for today was one I had on my mind, then, as is God's way, the same verse was in my 60 Days of Prayer devotional and in a message I heard. That's the way many of these posts begin, with nudging from God. It seems to open up the "theme of the day," so to speak, as my days always begin with a briefing in my quiet times with the Lord. Everything eventually ties in and wraps itself around what I need to know or to pay attention to for the day, or maybe just for a moment, a phone call, or a text message. It's about being ready to give the reason of hope within me (1 Peter 3:15).
This morning Dutch Sheets in Give Him 15, presented a short message called "God's 'Kiss' for Suffering Humanity." Dutch began by sharing about his and a friend's attempts to climb Pike's Peak, with an elevation of 14, 114 feet, a major feat, attempted by many, as it is a popular tourist destination. He shifted to Mount Calvary, and Jesus' amazing "climb" while bearing our burdens on His back, the weight of every "sin, sickness, suffering, despair, rejection" strapped to His back as He hung on the cross and died, sacrificing His life for ours. As Christians we come to Christ, recognizing our sin, seeking forgiveness, accepting His sacrifice, surrendering our lives to a life hidden in Christ, forever changed, transformed! When someone makes a profession of faith, deciding to put off the old life and be born again, the price is high, the sacrifice costly. Jesus does not promise us an easy life. In fact He says that they (the world) hated Him, so they would hate us all the more. That can be a chilling thought, I guess, but somehow, it never registered with me. I never thought about someone hating me, because I chose to follow Jesus, but this reality seems to be more obvious every day, all over this world, and even on the streets of America.
In sharing the suffering of Christ, the laying of our burdens on Him, Dutch shared that the Hebrew word for "laid upon" is the Old Testament word for "intercession." As intercessors we stand in the gap for others, we "bear the burdens" of another in prayer. We share in their suffering, taking their place in prayer. I've mentioned before how Moses and Daniel stood in the gap for the people of Israel, taking on the sins of the nation, even though they were not personally involved. We approach the throne of God humbly seeking forgiveness, first for ourselves before we offer one prayer. Each day, I ask God to search me, try me, see if there is anything wicked, wrong in any way, and if so to clean me up. I don't want anything between God and me. I need that relationship unhindered by personal sin. So, we examine ourselves daily.
Recently in a discipleship community we were asked how our lives had changed since becoming a follower of Christ Jesus. Each day has always been a new adventure for me. I've been a Christian for a very long time, but as a child I talked with Jesus about everything! And I still do that. From start to finish of a day, and each time I wake up in the night. Sometimes, when asked to pray, I just start talking to Abba as if I'm finishing up an ongoing conversation. Once I started out like that after reading a few Bible verses, and all of a sudden, I stopped praying, and said, "Oh, Father, forgive me, I didn't even praise You," and then I began to thank Him and praise Him as I do when I begin to pray. I guess they thought, "what is this ole lady doing?!" I can laugh about it now, but at the time, after the call, the enemy came tip toeing in, bringing it back to mind, suggesting I made myself look foolish in front of seasoned intercessors. I must say he had me going for a very brief moment, but then, it really doesn't matter, does it? I'm not praying so anyone can check out my style, or see how "holy" I am. Intercessory prayer is like all prayer for me, because I'm talking to my Father. I don't need to pretend anything. It's from the heart.
What has changed in my life is the compassion and mercy I feel towards others who desperately long to live their lives for Christ, those who are seeking, and even those who don't have a clue! They know they're in trouble, but they need help we know only Jesus can give. When Jesus died on the cross, and when Stephen was stoned, they both said the same thing, "Father, please don't hold this against them! They don't know what they're doing!" And the lost do not understand, they cannot see. The enemy of this world blinds the world from the truth, the truth that can set them free. I've mentioned before that I asked God to break my heart for what breaks His, and He answered that prayer. But again, it is a costly sacrifice.
While Dutch was talking, I was thinking about my heroes of the faith, who gave up their lives to answer the call of God. I always wanted to go into full time ministry work, a desire since childhood. Reading was one of my favorite hobbies, and reading about missionaries was a regular pastime. In my mental travels I have been on more adventures, even into more hostile countries, but I have always had a heart for the continent of Africa, the small country of Kenya. I love to watch movies set in Africa. There are so many heroes of the faith, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. That's really what we're called to do, isn't it? Serve?
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