Thursday, November 6, 2008

oh, Papa...

i want to trust you, i do! you give us reason after reason to praise you for your faithfulness. you truly hold us in the palm of your hand!
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
so why, oh why, is it so hard to rest there?

why do i so easily forget your provision, your comfort, and your strength? why, when the world is as the world will be until you return, do i act surprised?
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
my husband and i have often said, almost jokingly, that if our homeland became "unsafe" for our children, we would move to where we could raise them at peace. yet as our dear country careens on a path toward darkness and ever-increasingly-evil choices, i hear Him gently remind me that we know of countless young parents who have answered His call to take their children where it is "unsafe" in order to carry the message of God's love to his people worldwide. i know that He mourns with me as we choose leaders who will not honor Him with their decisions. i know that He calls me to honor them second to my obeying Him. and i know without doubt that He has called us to raise our precious children as sharpened arrows, prepared with wisdom, and knowledge, and strength, to fire His grace into the world around them. who knows where He will call us - and them? perhaps He says to dig deep and be as trees planted by still water - a source of strenth in a faltering land. but it will be His call we will heed. and God help us, it will be with the faith that He will strengthen our feeble arms for the task at hand.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life...

5 comments:

For Such A Time As This said...

Amen, friend....We have often said the same about moving to a "New World" as our ancestors did a few hundred years ago. Yet, as we wait and watch, we feel that we are here, now "for such a time as this" and as we are praying for direction, what we are hearing so far is "train your warriors well." Praise God that even though we are obviously few in number, our Daddy doesn't need numbers, He only needs willing hearts and sharp arrows!! And we know that He worketh together good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. You and your family are in our prayers. Much love to you.

Vicki said...

Very well said. It has been so encouraging to see so many Christian responses to the election.

Laura Lu said...

Amen, Amen, and Amen!!! I got some heat from another adoptive dad on my blog that i should be so excited for my black son that we now have a black president-elect. I explained my stance and that we strive to raise our children to have their identity found in Christ alone! God is putting a fire in Godly parents to step away from complacency and put a fervor in them to stand up for what is right. I pray that I can be obedient to my Jesus! :) all across this land may we have sons and daughters who will be armed to fight in the name of Jesus.

Tiffany said...

So well put. Wow!

I pray that I am raising my children to be strong in the darkness, to put on the armor of God, to fear only God, to stand for what they believe in -- No Matter What!

. . . Your words are beautiful.

Amy said...

This week has been such a reminder to me that it is the very near presence of the Shepherd that I cling to. We may be sheep amongst wolves but He knows His flock and will gently lead us and our young. It will surely not be easy but present and future trials are an opportunity to cling all the harder. Thank you for this post!