250 Years

“Four score and seven years ago our Father brought forth upon this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

That’s all I have memorized.

When Abe Lincoln wrote this Gettysburg Address it had been 87 years since the birth of our new country.

That’s just one whole grandma.

I’m the grandma of these two little American girls dedicated to that proposition.

It’s now been 12 score and 10 years ago since the birth of our country.  That’s only 3 whole grandmas.

If you look at the average lifespan of a nation it turns out to be just 3 whole grandmas.

Since the beginning of grandmas, we have had a history of the Lord telling us how to live one nation under God to lengthen its lifespan.   None yet have.  God modeled and instructed how to build a nation.  And under the inspiration from the Holy Spirit, King David prayed for  such a nation under God.

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory and the majesty.  Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is Your kingdom.  We adore you as the one who is over all things.  Riches and honor come from You alone.  You rule over everything.  Power and might are in Your hand.  It is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength.  We thank You and praise Your glorious name.   But, who am I and who are my people that could give anything to You.  Everything we have comes from You and we give You only what You’ve given us.  We’re here only for a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us.  Our days on earth are like a shadow gone so soon without a trace.  Even materials we’ve gathered all belong to you.  I know my God that You examine our hearts and rejoice when You find integrity there.  O Lord, make Your people always want to obey You.  See to it their love for You never changes.”

This nation’s posture gave praise, bowed low, and knelt before the Lord.

We’re living here in this land.  It’s only for a moment, as our grandmas were before us.  The Lord examines the posture of our hearts.  Let’s give praise, bow low, and kneel before the Lord.

May He rejoice and extend our nation to another whole grandma and another whole grandma.

Under God.

1 Chronicles 29

To Do

The first time that I ever set out to read the Bible I had this bright idea to start a “To Do” list.  I got confused and thought the Bible was a self-help book listing things I ought to do.  So,  I began listing.  Number 1.  Number  2.  Number 3.  This turned into page 1.  Then page 2.

They were all good things.   So, I wanted to go on and on.

And, I did.

Well, I mean I did until the exhaustion of it all started leaving me so weary. I was feeling overcome with defeat.  But, as I kept reading I kept adding until the pressure of my bright idea was more than I could bear.

Shew!

Think Type A and fill my name in the blank.

You can hardly trust us “me, myself and I” types.  We easily fall prey to productivity no matter the cost.

But, there’s an opportunity cost to our decisions says every Economics class.

When in fact there is a process the good Lord uses to make us holy and set apart for His purpose, but it’s through a relationship of faith in Him.  It’s being offered as free and the opportunity cost is the list of my frenzy.

In Galatians, Paul has to explain to rule keepers they can’t hold fast to the lists of laws they pridefully master. He says, “You were running the race so well.  Who has held you back from following the truth?  It certainly isn’t God, for He called you into freedom.”

Christ came down to exemplify and extend His grace by putting to death our weak works and feeble efforts.

It’s what HE produces in you!   Underscore He.  Scratch out Me.

There is an opportunity cost to following Christ.

We have to give up our own exhausting yoke.

Jesus says, “Take my yoke.  Let me teach you.  I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

It’s His bright idea.

Galatians 5:4-8

Matthew 11:29

Listen

“Oh, that you would listen to His voice today.”

For years I taught students to write.  In all those years in education, I just loved reading budding authors.  Each one would develop their own distinct voice.  Some were so strong that by the end of the year I would know the writer without them even having to put their name at the top of their paper.

My “fiddle-fart” cousin always uses her comedic voice to write.  She tells me how she gussies herself up and swashbuckles over to Kroger.  How she tootles along most days, but when life gives her a Monday she dips in glitter and sparkles all day.  You get the picture.  She doesn’t have to sign her name to anything.  I know her.  This whimsical cuz says she’s a spectacle of superlative proportions.  She’s not wrong.

The Lord has a distinct voice, too.

Sometimes it is plainly clear. He’s the one who owns the depths of the earth.  He’s the one that made the sea and formed the dry land, too.  It’s very clear.  So, bow down and worship.  Kneel before the Lord our Maker.  He’s our God.

But, sometimes I’m not sure if it’s His voice.  And, I know others aren’t either because He says,  “They refuse to do what I say.”  I know His patience can be tried.  I mean, can you say, “Israelites?”   It’s comforting to know that even a prophet like Jeremiah commented,  “Then I knew it was from the Lord.”  Which has to mean that there was a time that he didn’t know.

The Lord is speaking to us all and I think that can be very powerful and majestic for all our benefit.

But, sometimes He is speaking to the benefit of one and I think that can be very gentle like a whisper.

There was a mighty wind.

The Lord was not in the wind.

There was an earthquake.

The Lord was not in the earthquake.

There was a fire.

The Lord was not in the fire.

There was the sound of a gentle whisper.

It was a still small voice.

Oh, that we would listen today.

Psalm 95:7

Jeremiah 32:8

1 Kings 19:11

Mountains

We often head to the mountains.

This year’s sighting of our first mountain brought to mind a funny story. My daughter’s 5-year-old son had been asked at school to list all he was thankful for in life. The teacher reading his thankfulness was quick to notice the absence of an important figure. She prompted him with the “mmm” sound to add one more. After great thought, he added “mountains” to his list.

This hurt his little momma’s feelings.

A lot had made the list.  Mountains made the list.

But, not Momma.

With little time for fun and getting off-schedule when operating a home, mommas can sure feel like the bad guy.  With little time for rollicking and frolicking, mommas can get zero recognition for this full-time job.  Mommas just aren’t typically the fun parent.

This momma fears her responsibility, organization and structure disguises her as a fuddy-duddy.

But that doesn’t fool any grown adult.  This little momma has a hidden superpower.

It’s called faith.

You want to know what faith can move?

Mmm.

Mountains.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible.”

Mommas have little time for molehills.

They’re doing the impossible.

Moving mountains.

Read: Matthew 17:20; Mark 11:23