211 Strength in Weakness

 

7/30/2026

"To say prayers in a decent, delicate way is not heavy work. But

to pray really, to pray till hell feels the ponderous stroke, 

to pray till the iron gates of difficulty are opened, till the mountains

of obstacles are removed, till the mists are exhaled and the clouds

are lifted, and the sunshine of a cloudless day brightens - 

this is hard work, but it is God's work and man's best labor."

 

Some days, most days here lately, my journal is full of ramblings about a world gone mad, pastors and their flock going another way, and once stronger Christians losing faith, weary from the lateness of the hour and the ignorance of those who watch it happen. So where do I fit in the list? 

It's disconcerting to hear my once strong neighbor speak about everyone being corrupt, not being able to trust anyone, and wanting to escape where there's no news. Sadly, there's no such place. Technology has even reached the backwoods of my securest hiding places, so we have to determine to shut devices off and learn to relax. Many are being told that God is in control, so we don't have to be concerned, but we do need to be aware and pray. I won't repeat myself about being a doer of the word, but more action is required if we want to resist the devil and be a voice against the evil in this lawless society. 

My neighbor is much younger than I am, still working, but the office has its own drama. Recently she lost her precious puppy of nineteen years, and this has had a devastating effect on her. Her heart is broken, and rightly so, as pets are so innocent and dependent on their humans that it's like having another child and a best friend. Dogs listen when we're sad, and they cheer us up when nothing else can. It's their unconditional love. Shortly after Fido's death, she learned that a close friend, who had been diagnosed with cancer, had passed away. She admitted that she just didn't think she could handle much more.

Each day I receive numerous emails and text messages asking for prayer for someone with a new diagnosis of cancer. One mention of that diagnosis, and a person flies into a panic. Then the next thing is to ask for prayer, and although they are asking many times for healing, the undertones of doubt are evident. A sense of hopelessness fills the church.

So where do I stand, or fit, in the list above? I haven't changed my point of view, because I know my Redeemer lives, and I know that He conquered death, hell, and the grave, because He said He did. I believe His word, and I stand on it. With all my heart I try to think on the "good, the pure, the lovely, the things of a good report; if there's any virtue, if there is any praise, I think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

Many things are happening in our world, in our country, but we must keep our focus fixed on Jesus Christ, and be in the word of God. If we are going to walk in faith, we must know why we believe in Christ and put our trust in God in the first place. It's very important to be part of a local church, the body of Christ, with a pastor who teaches the uncompromising word of God. We can't pick and choose scriptures, so when we read and study the Bible, study the scriptures in context. Unless we are grounded in scripture, it becomes increasingly easy to become confused when the enemy brings doubts into our minds and to deviate from the plan of God for our lives. 

Things are happening that I never thought possible, although scripture said it would happen. It's easy to become discouraged when we see well-known men and women of God become ensnared in unholy actions. But rather than become involved in gossip and criticism, use it as an opportunity to pray for others and for restoration. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. Each day I ask God to set a guard over my thoughts and mouth. If we are to be salt and light in this world, representing Christ to those who do not know Him, then we must examine our hearts daily. We are called to be His hands and feet, reaching out to others. 

In order to do our jobs we have to be rested up and ready to move when God said "Go!"  

Day 210 The Language of Faith

 

7/29/2026 

"A great leader never sets himself above his followers

except in carrying responsibilities."

Daily Walk

 

"Jeg gør det på min måde, og det er okay" is a Danish phrase that means "I do it my way, and that is okay." It expresses personal freedom, self-acceptance, and confidence in one's own choices."

I stumbled across this photo, and I thought that it expressed my idea of freedom - one who is content in their own skin, someone who doesn't conform to social norms, someone who feels free enough to be who she or he truly is - unique. Although liberated in style, this lady is modest, just casual and comfortable. Personally I love her boots and socks. It reminds me of my wardrobe when I lived in New Mexico. Now that I'm older, I haven't really changed who I am or my style, I just don't have the opportunity to go many places, and my wardrobe has gotten limited and extremely old, but not too tattered to continue to wear. One of my dreams is to create fashion with a creative flair, just like this lady, but the textiles are not readily available. I have been wearing my hiking boots to work in the yard and cut the grass. Walking over mole-infested earth is like taking a trek up a muddy slope, only more sinking than slipping. Fortunately, the little varmints have moved on to the neighbor's house up the street since we got our new earth-friendly pest control. Now I just have to contend with the irregular lay of the land. My boots make it easier and so much fun!  

If my hiking boots were clean, and not green from grass stain, I'd probably wear them to church. I enjoy walking to church, even on hot days, so I wear tennis shoes most days. My "earth shoes" feel like walking barefoot, but sadly they fell apart after twenty years - imagine that! Nothing lasts forever anymore! I've always worn long skirts, and most of those are still hanging on after thirty-five years. Rayon is hard to find these days, but the fabric holds up and looks well for years. My home sewn skirts can attest to that! My tennis shoes may clash with my Sunday best, especially the red ones, but they cushion my feet for the walk and are still acceptable.

Personality is very important, and we are each unique in God's eyes. He created us in His image to represent Him to the world. Right now the world has veered so far off the straight and narrow road that old-fashioned ways I grew up with - like respecting God's house  - have been compromised to make people feel "comfortable" which somehow makes them feel more accepted. I didn't realize that it took a cup of coffee and a bagel to do that. Silly me! I thought I thought a friendly "welcome" and a hug made people feel good. I thought our food and drink was the word of God. I don't eat in church, unless I'm having a meal in the fellowship hall. I feel this is respect for God's house where He meets with us. Also,  our body is the temple of Holy Spirit, so we should always be concerned with our appearance and the manner in which we conduct ourselves and live our lives. Jesus welcomed all just as they are, but once we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, we give of the best to our Master, and our appearance chances - inside to outside. We are called to be salt and light to this world lost in darkness, and our celebration of the Lord's Supper is not a eat all you want time, rather it is a time to remember His sacrifice for us. Children need to understand this observance.

I'm not here to criticize or dog on anyone. I am attempting to convey the thought that while individuality is a good thing, when it becomes compromise, even if it begins with the purest of intentions, can turn things away from what God intended. In churches, church growth is necessary on a practical sense to keep the lights on and the doors open. As I attempted to say in an earlier blog, God wants us focused on building His kingdom than adding numbers to our individual churches. The book of Acts is the clearest example of the church God ordained, even to the flow of the gifts of the Spirit, but that is another subject, perhaps for another day.

God's desire is to see His kingdom come. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, His first words were: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven." God's desire from the beginning was to dwell in relationship with us, but man had his own ideas. They wanted a king like the heathen nations, so God chose Saul, whose pride was his downfall, as is often a detriment today. There are two scriptures that clearly speak of leadership:

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." (Romans 13:1)

"And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding." (Daniel 2:21)

The scripture in Romans is often misinterpreted as meaning we are obligated to agree with whomever is in leadership, regardless of what they are saying, doing, or legislating. But this is not totally accurate. We are to be law-abiding and live in peace, and we respect and pray for our leaders, but we obey God rather than man when things are contrary to His will and direction. So when there is a choice to be made, as believers in Christ, we follow God. This is not to say we are rebellious, it only means that we stand on the side of righteousness. As followers of Christ, we must be bold and courageous and never fear man, but we are to respect positions of authority. Colossians 4:5-6 says: "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." 

Our language should always be the language of faith in God's word, and our actions should represent our trust and hope in Him as the Author and Finisher of our faith. One way we make a difference and have a positive voice in our world is to become involved in the working of our government, whether in leadership or volunteer service, but we do not base our decisions on a party or political thought, but on Biblical statutes. What does the Word of God say. One way we have a positive voice in our nation is to vote, and it is a freedom and civic duty afforded us as citizens. Rather than complain, we can participate and engage. This is being a doer of the word and not a hearer only. 

I just read in Daily Walk that "God specializes in using the obscure to accomplish the awesome." We don't always have to be wealthy, or know the right people, or have endorsements of others in leadership to be chosen by God to do His work. He asks for surrender, obedience, and faith. Confidence in being who He has called us to be, even when we may feel foolish in the eyes of the world. But the Lord feels differently:

"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29) 

Let us walk in the confidence He has given us and do the things that are pleasing in His sight - in faith!