Are We Doing What We Are Called To Do?

I read an amazing post by a local pastor this morning, and I have to share it with you.

PLEASE go and read this article by Pastor Chuck Balsamo:

“Drinking Down the Cup of Anarchy”

Over the past week, I have been so burdened for President Obama.  Not angered at him; burdened for him.  There is a big difference between the two.  Do you understand what I’m saying? 

Now, when Obama gets up in the morning, he may not feel a thing.  He may tell anyone that asks, “how are you, sir?” that he’s fine, that things are progressing, etc.  He may not know or even feel that anything is wrong.

But Obama, and our government, and this nation, are all under attack.

Alongside all that, the church, the family of God, is also under attack.  If you read the statistics that Pastor Chuck mentions in his article, the numbers are staggering and the news is grave.

And if we Christians don’t step up and accept our “marching orders” everything that we hold dear is going to vaporize before our very eyes.

And what are those marching orders? 

Not what you think.

Read the following:

“If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and turn from their wicked ways…”  II Chronicles 7:14

THAT, Christian friend, is your marching orders.  THAT is what is supposed to be foremost in your daily activity.  Top on the list.  The first thing you do.  And as one person commented on Pastor Chuck’s site, most of the time all we give to our pastors and our leaders is a half-hearted “bless them, Lord” and we don’t do anything else. 

YOU are the only one that will know if you’re really praying deep prayers over your leaders.  Only you will know if your prayers are half-hearted, lacking conviction and passion and true concern.

So… are you praying?  And if not, then I have to ask… WHY NOT?

Why would you turn your back on the one thing God has asked of you?  Praying for your fellow man is the highest act of love you can offer.  You are sacrificing yourself by giving up YOUR time to pray for someone else, who desperately needs your prayer covering.

And if you don’t think the pastors of this country, the leaders of this country, and the president of this country, need your prayers, then you need to rethink your thinking.

And how dare any of us look at God and say, “well, it won’t matter if I pray or not.  Things are too far gone.”  How dare we do such a thing! Because when we do that, we are telling God that He can’t help.  Do we honestly believe that God can’t save our nation???

I know my words sounds passionate, and even biting.  But if you’re offended, you will just have to be offended.  This is important.  We as Christians are allowing ourselves to be deluded into thinking that we can criticize and talk and berate and judge those that lead, and those that shepherd us, and we are not realizing that we are playing into the schemes of the devil himself when we do these things.  As Paul said in some of his letters in the New Testament, “brethren, these things ought not to be.” 

I know that our government leaders, President Obama included, are not doing things the way I would like.  I know that things have happened that I disagree with.  But in all of that, these are still my leaders!  He is STILL my president! And I am bound by God’s Word to pray for the man!  It is what we are ALL called to do.  We are called to pray for ALL in authority, not just those who are members of the political party we agree with.  We are called to pray for ALL of our shepherds, not just those that preach sermons we want to hear.

And if we allow ourselves to ignore that calling, then we have no one else to blame but ourselves, when this nation’s pastors and this nation’s leaders follow a path that is unhealthy for the future of this nation, this land that we love.

The call is out, the marching orders have been posted.

Are YOU doing what you are CALLED to do, Christian friend?

Today’s Cookie Crumb:

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”  I Timothy 2:1-4

And So… I Wait…

Well, the decision has been made.

The lighthouse run is postponed until the Spring.

Yes, I am a little discouraged, but not to the point that I am giving up.

Upon evaluating where I’m at, and what’s been happening, the wise thing to do is put it off until warm weather comes again.

SO….

I continue to train, and prepare myself even more so mentally (I’m already prepared and pumped!), and continue to be more fit than what I am now.

This is the crisis point, you know?  Do I allow myself to get so discouraged that I give up?  Or do I look to the future, and trust God that there is a reason as to why the spring would be better than now?

I choose the latter.  When things don’t work out for now, that doesn’t mean they won’t ever work out. 

It’s like prayer; just because you don’t get “yes” right now, doesn’t mean that “yes” isn’t ever going to come.  God has His reasons for saying, “Wait.”

So I wait.  But I actively wait.

And by “actively waiting” I don’t mean just keeping myself busy.  The hard part about walking out a plan is keeping yourself on course when the goal seems out of reach.  That’s where “staying power” really has to be strong.  It’s not the last 500 yards of a NASCAR race that are hard.  It’s running lap after lap after lap after lap after lap…. left turn, left turn, left turn… you get my point.  Can you continue, be constant, be consistent, during the long stretches when it all looks the same?

Yes, you can.  And so can I.

So no excuses, no reasons to quit.  It’s not over yet, and I don’t plan on giving up.

And you shouldn’t either.  For whatever reason, your plans may have to change.  Don’t give up on your dreams, your visions, your goals.  They’re still out there, even if right now they look like they’re out of reach.  Push toward them, in faith, and don’t give up!

 

Today’s Cookie Crumb:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”  II Timothy 4:7

Throwing Off the Blanket

It feels a little chilly in here… does it feel chilly where you’re at?  Think a blanket would feel good right now?

When the weather starts to turn cold, that’s the first thing you think of, isn’t it?  You want to get warm, so you can feel better.

I’m the same way.  To me there’s nothing better than a nice cup of warm tea, and a nice, soft blanket on a chilly day.

 There are other things, though, that can be “chilly,”

Still Preparing…

I’m still preparing for the lighthouse run.

Even though…

I’ve been six weeks without exercise, and had six weeks of stressful situations on my plate, and it was all things I either couldn’t help or couldn’t avoid. 

I’ve been looking at the end result of six weeks without any forward progress.  And you know as well as I do, when you’re not moving forward, you’re actually moving backward instead of standing still.  So now doubt is trying to set in.  I’m thinking, Should I still do this thing?

Saying “Farewell” — Part One

This is one of three posts that I don’t want to write.

But I feel I must.