Feeling a Little Tension, Anyone?

In my chronological read (not book by book...but day by day, year by year) of the Bible (I had hoped to read the entire Bible in a year...am just going to complete the Old Testament...but what a blessing this journey has been.  Please consider such a read!)...

Let's begin again, shall we?!

In my chronological read of the Bible, I came across a grouping of Psalms that caught my attention for two reasons:

1. Angela Thomas' study Stronger focused on such a Psalm, a study we just completed a month or so ago, resulting in some powerful reminders from that study.
2. The word tension snagged at my soul, for there...right there...I am...

In the descriptor just above Psalm 120, there rested these words:

THEME:  A prayer for deliverance from false accusers.  All believers must live with the tension of being in the world but not belonging to it.

Now, within my workplace, so much tension resides.  Paper rationing.  Ever-changing expectations. Unclaimed mountains...yet mountains that must be climbed, which we are...yes, one step at a time...except...under the load, we often stumble backwards for every one forward, finding little success.

Tension.

In this world, we will feel tension, for our souls rival with the sin natures within ourselves, our peers, our families, myself.

As a seamstress, as a want-to-be crocheter, I know, though, that some tension is a very good thing.  Lines stay straighter; stitches remain concise...all because a bit of stress is placed on that thread.  Interesting, yes?

I do know this...that the times that I have experienced the most tension in my life, my relationship with God was never closer, lining me up, stitching me close.  Not always pleasant...yes, those punctures hurt!...always better put together, though, for what we...yes, God and I...have experienced.

In this series of Psalms, these pilgrims are on a journey to the Temple for the annual festivals.  I, too, am on a journey to the Great Temple...step by step, experiencing tension along the way, drawing me ever closer to Him.  I am a part of that remnant.

If you are experiencing "tension" today, this week in your spiritual walk, I encourage you to remember that if life is a thread, then He is the Guide that determines how much tension you need to keep those stitches together, binding you and Him into a garment that will not unravel.  For as Psalm 120:7 states, "I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to Him, and He answered my prayer."

Amen.

Praying for Paris...and Us...and You

The past few weeks in my English 12 classes, we have been asking questions in preparation for each selecting an Inquiry Project.  One question we  have asked regarding ISIS is...Why is violence a necessity to such groups?

Then, they attack Paris.  Such violence.

Our models are in the Bible, back to where we must go as a nation, for we have drifted...much too far from that Biblical shore, for as I have been reading the Bible in a chronological order, I have read of much violence, and, without fail, when God was sought, He intervened.

“The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His name … Your Right Hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces. And in the greatness of Your excellence you have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath which consumed them like stubble.” (Exodus 15:3,6)

Our model is the the Bible...may we pray that we don't just drift to that shore but that we rush with the tide of deliverance, knowing He is pushing those undercurrents?

Yes, let's pray....

Out of the Box...

This week, the kids, Mrs. Brenda, and I put together 15 boxes for Samaritan Shoeboxes.  This was a blessed time as I watched the kids pack the boxes and then literally lay hands on the boxes and pray that God touch of these receiving children in a mighty way.

As I work with the children, if I teach them nothing else, I hope they learn to pray.  My method is simple:  I say the words; they repeat them.  We pray praises; we lay requests at His feet; we lift one another up.

This is especially important in groups of kids such as we have...nearly 100% of them coming from broken homes, many coming without their parents.  They need us.  These kids need us more than the adults do.  I believe that.  Could that be one of the reasons Jesus Himself focused on the children so much?  "Let the little children come unto me." - Matthew 19:14

The older I get...yes, happening every day!...I ever learn the power of prayer.  Answered prayers are just a win-win...the answer is sweet, yet more importantly is the faith that He continues to build as these prayers are answered.  Yes, definitely, a win-win.

I want our children to experience the headiness of answered prayers.  I want them to experience the building of faith through answered prayers.  How else can that occur unless we teach them to pray?  We must teach them to pray.

How do you teach your children in church to pray?