PROVERBS FOR TODAY

 Perfection: No person can achieve perfection. Rather, we receive perfection in God's love.

 

Rebuilding The Temple

We have been in quarantine for a year now.

In the beginning I made long overdue repairs to my home, I cleaned out closets and drawers, and I redecorated some rooms. I even cleared out many of my books – the hardest job of all. Finally, summer was upon us and I worked in my garden, went for long walks, met friends for outdoor dining and had backyard visits with my extended family.

After gerrymandering the holidays, the winter was upon us once again. It snowed and it snowed and snowed again. I watched television, ate ice cream and chocolate. I cooked comfort foods eating heartily.

I gained nine pounds, my hair needs a serious hair cut and my nails haven’t seen a salon since December 2019. My bras sit in a drawer wondering where I went and I no longer fit into my jeans.

Today I sat with God and complained. I complained about all of the above asking his help. When I opened the Bible – it was to Ezra 6 – Rebuilding the Temple. King Darius issued a degree to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem – you know the one that was destroyed by the Babylonians when they sacked Israel. But he didn’t want the Babylonians taking part. Only the exiled Israelites were allowed to rebuild.

King Darius decreed that his treasuries would pay the costs of rebuilding and provide all the sacrificial animals if the returning Israelites would pray for his kingdom.

So, at this one-year mark of exile, I will be rebuilding my temple with better food choices, exercise and less television. I will shower, dress and yes-wear make-up every day again. I may even become reacquainted with my bras. And, I will ask the Lord to help me every step of the way. May he bless me indeed.

Thy Will Be Done

Father – I no longer know what to pray. When we first began this relationship forty plus years ago, you promised me that whatever I asked, you would give.  Even then I realized my problems with trust and your desire to have me mature to trusting you no matter what. It’s called faith.

Lately, I have given up praying for what I want. I feel my prayers are vacuous and powerless. Am I that devoid of Spirit these days, or are you bringing me into a new dimension of maturity and wisdom?

You prayed – “Thy will be done” – and it’s that phrase that has been rattling around in my brain for the past few weeks. But you always directed me to pray with power and conviction when “Thy will be done” is a prayer of surrender – a true prayer of faith and trust.

I don’t know what your will is for my life. It’s the not knowing and praying for it anyway that is the true test of my faith and trust in you. Do I have the courage? Does your will fit my agenda, the world’s agenda or heaven’s agenda?  Is your will for the saving of the unsaved, healing the sick, warning the world, teaching the foolish, leading the wise or providing for the poor? I know it’s all these things and my heart has been set on these as well.

So, I pray Lord – Thy Will Be Done. Amen.

Joel 3

WHITE AS SNOW

 

It snowed last night – not much – just enough to cover our bleak January in white. White as snow we sing with Elvina Hall’s song, Jesus Paid It All. His blood covers us in white as His mercy covers our guilt, His kindness covers our pain, His wisdom covers our folly, and His peace covers our fear.

I’ll never be perfect under my own thoughts, feelings or actions, but when I claim what Jesus paid – I am made as white as snow - here on earth until I Spring from this world to His world and live in His flowering perfection.

ENDING NOVEMBER

Included but remote – at arm’s length, my comfort zone.

Don’t we all take comfort in arm’s length?

Approached – but not touched

locked in our muffed prisons

where we believe we are safe from

prickles and scars. 

We breathe shallow, silently so no one knows

our hiding places. And eye contact

is a whimper of light which escapes

and is recaptured to be used again. 

We are wound tight in movement – sensory intercourse

with flat faces and choreographed voices.

These are our reality – characters

who manufacture life

so we can ignore our own.