In spite of bureacracy...

Since Snowmageddon, I have been struggling to get things back on track.  I had a full 10 days of loafing.  One would think that would be enjoyable, and it was for a while.  But soon, I wanted to get back to some sort of routine.  God wired us to be productive.  What that means for me may be different for others.  But I know God wired my to work and produce results.  So imagine my frustration as I sit in my office day in and day out working to get things done, only to take a step backward instead of forward!  The government bureaucracy and inability to accomplish the simplest of tasks is astounding, and it has progressively worsened over the last 5 yrs.  I have been praying on this a lot lately.  I guess I was hoping for the sea of bureaucracy to part and allow things to pass thru to fruition.  Instead, it has been more of the same.  Still, today, for the first time in a while, instead of questioning why I was there, I found myself just content to do the best I can do.  I like to think of Daniel, and Joseph.  How did they manage their frustration?  Daniel had to serve a pagan king, while Joseph was enslaved to pagans.  I'm sure both gave counsel that was ignored at one point or another.  I'm sure in that situation, it definitely felt like backwards progress.  But they remained faithful.  And that is what I pray for.

Everything I Need

I've been meaning to write on this blog. In fact, I've written several things, but nothing I've written has been sufficient for me. But I want to at least make the habit of writing. So, until otherwise done, I'll post Bible verses and songs with a (possible) explanation at the end. Here's my first one...

When every step is so hard to take - all of my hope is fading away - when life is a mountain that I can not climb You carry me, Jesus carry me. You are strength in my weakness - the refuge I seek. You are everything in my time of need. You are everything I need. When every moment is more than I can take and all of my strength is slipping away; When every breath gets harder to breathe, You carry me, Jesus carry me. You Are strength in my weakness, You are the refuge I seek, You are everything in my time of need, You are everything I need. I need You - You are everything I need; I love everything about You, cause You are strength in my weakness; the refuge I seek. You are everything in my time of need. You are everything, You are everything I need!
hag 1:5-9 And then a little later, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies spoke out again: "Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over. You have spent a lot of money, but you haven't much to show for it. You keep filling your plates, but you never get filled up. You keep drinking and drinking and drinking, but you're always thirsty. You put on layer after layer of clothes, but you can't get warm. And the people who work for you, what are they getting out of it? Not much-- a leaky, rusted-out bucket, that's what. That's why GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies said: "Take a good, hard look at your life. Think it over." Then GOD said: "Here's what I want you to do: Climb into the hills and cut some timber. Bring it down and rebuild the Temple. Do it just for me. Honor me. You've had great ambitions for yourselves, but nothing has come of it. The little you have brought to my Temple I've blown away--there was nothing to it. "And why?" (This is a Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, remember.) "Because while you've run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home is in ruins."

Often times in our lives, we come upon a moment that is too much for us to bear. A child facing a deadly disease, decisions as to what college to go to or what move we should take to advance our career, who to marry, etc. All of them summed up in the question, "What now?" In America, we constantly run after success. Usually, we find it in one form or another, but what do we have to show for it? I know those who are the most righteous people I've met who've lost children. Others did all they could to save their buddies in war, only to see them get torn in two at the most desperate hour. The Jews in the verses above had reestablished themselves in Jerusalem and made quite a name for themselves, but they just couldn't figure out that next step to success. Instead of constantly finding a solution to our problems, let's take comfort in the Lord's sanctuary. Build a moment of your time every day to worship him in his prescence. Then we'll be full, then we'll find meaning. He's everything we need. Our future rests in him. Our children rest in him. Our fight rests in him. Our loves rest in him. And the key word here is rest. If every aspect of our life, from the mundane (like our careers) to the important (our families and friends) rest in the hands of God, why can't we?

Psa 55:22 Pile your troubles on GOD's shoulders-- he'll carry your load, he'll help you out. He'll never let good people topple into ruin.

Owning Climate Change

I'm amazed at God's sense of humor.  After our climate conscious president talks about the validity of "climate change", God sends a week of snow to DC.  God is so cool like that.  I'm so glad, too.  After spending the day dealing with sneaky businessmen and their politics, the giggle is much needed.  Its also reaffirming.   God is in control.  No policy, no state of the union speech, no president's charm or attempt at wit, no bowing, no selling carbon credits--nothing--can wrest control away from my God most high.  As I ponder my day and thank the Lord for His grace over my ingratitude, I am in awe that He cares about all things...including people trying to claim control over His climate!

On an entirely different note, a lovely woman from work has been diagnosed with breast cancer, surgery tomorrow I just found out.  Prayers requested for her. 

Bring on the Reeses!

It was a Fast day today, when I skip breakfast and lunch in favor of a couple of nuts (to keep away nausea from meds) and V-8s, and focus on specific petitions and my love for God.  It was ALSO Muffin Monday, the first Monday of every month when I bring Costco muffins into the office.  By the end of the day the muffins were mostly gone except for about 2 and 1/2.  I gathered them up and put them in a bag to take home.  I sat it on my desk.  In front of me.  It smelled realllllly good.  Thankfully, I had made a cheat post-it on James 1.  "Temptation--->my lust"; short for "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust."  James 1:14.  In the Greek interlinear, the word is desire.  Still, you get the idea.  As silly as it may sound, that "Temptation--->lust" staring at me on a flourescent green post it is just what I needed.  Isn't it silly?  I knew I was fasting, yet here I was drooling and thinking of finishing my fast early to dive into the muffins.  I had predetermined to keep my fast until I got home--but it wouldn't be that bad, would it?  The only thing keeping me from eating those muffins wasn't my will of steel, but my scribble of scripture on a post it.  So, does God view these silly little things as insignificant?  Luke 16:10 says “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much..."  Well!  Bring on the Reeses!