We Will Not Stop: A Prayer of Thanksgiving

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Dear Father of Creation and our Hearts and our Salvation,

We bless Your Name for all You have done. For forming the world – from enormous unexplored outer space and underwater mysteries, to the intricate stripes of a caterpillar and amazing atoms and cells. For providing food from Your bounty and rest from Your peace. For Your expansive mercy and Your encompassing love to each one whether or not they know it. And all of that creation and mercy and love doesn’t stop. It continues minute by minute and century to century. We love that about You!

                             

We praise You for the knowledge of Your great power in parting the Red Sea and in making a path for us to navigate through the trouble and evil of this current world; in walking in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo and in standing firm with us despite the fires of sickness, threats, and political unrest. We are grateful for our nation’s founders and their discernment that without You any nation would fall, but with You our nation would know freedom not otherwise found. You were with us then and have not stopped. You are with us as long as we acknowledge You and invite You. We do! We are so very grateful for the ability to examine history of every era and see Your hand there. Always there.

We thank You today, this day set apart to give thanks, for freedom from want. Though times have been better, You provide what we need. We give thanks for family and, if we have no family, for friends; and if we are friendless, for a friendly smile. We thank you that though we might not know safety, we know Your protection and deliverance when it is most needed. It never stops. It never goes away. We know the promise of heaven.

There is so much to be grateful for, Dearest Father. And today we give thanks, but we will not stop. No, tomorrow we will give thanks. And all the year through. And all our lives because You – You are the source of all that is good and light and beautiful and hopeful.

In Jesus’ Wonderful Name,

Amen.

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ENOUGH

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She spread her hands over the festive tablecloth, smoothing it. Now for the china! It had been her grandmother’s, passed down to her mother, and now to her. Tiny flowers and vines in varying shades of pink and green graced each plate’s surface. She arranged a centerpiece of flowers, pinecones, and pumpkins in the middle of the table; carefully placed a crystal goblet at each place, the silverware – just so, and cloth (cloth!) napkins folded into the shape of a rose. A slight smile crossed her face as she stepped back and admired her work.

The scent of baked turkey and dressing, sweet potatoes, cranberry relish, and a plethora of side dishes wafted through the house. Her faithful dog, Cam, trotted up and stood beside her, and she scratched the top of his head as they stood together taking it all in.

She walked slowly to her bedroom and, after some time, came out dressed in her Thanksgiving best. Cam joined her as she gazed out the front window for a long time. She shook herself, and got busy dishing up the feast and placing it all on the beautiful table.

She glanced at the clock and took her place at the head of the table. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at each empty chair in turn. Then she bowed her head and prayed. She prayed for each dear soul who should be at the table with her; for their fears and their trials and the way they blessed the world. She thanked the Good Lord for so many good things despite privations of job loss, loss of friends, and confusion. For there was much for which to be grateful – for food and shelter, well-being and contentment, faith and hope.

Then she paused, and thought of the governors who restricted families from gathering; the very ones who were probably gathered with loved ones at groaning tables and in lovely homes or, perhaps, mansions. She did not pray for them, though she thought she should. She just considered them. Considered who they had started out to be and who they had intended to be and who they had become.

She patted Cam’s head, and reached for the turkey.

Image: pexels-karolina-grabowska-5718097.jpg; pexels-photo-619422.jpeg

 

Thanks for Nothing

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I would like a simple large sign to lean against my house just outside my door. I want it to say something like “Thanksgiving” or “Give Thanks” or something similar. I don’t feel like I’m asking too much. Apparently I am.

Michaels? JoAnne Fabrics? JC Penney? Kohls? Von Maur? Macy’s? HOBBY LOBBY? Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. And, yes, I looked at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, too. I just didn’t want to admit it. There are still markdowns from Halloween, mind you. And Christmas decor is exhibiting some splendor this year if you can ignore the black and white buffalo check (black and white?) and red trucks. Okay. The red pickup trucks can stay, but they don’t get top billing.

For those of you who quietly think to yourselves that this year is honestly a battle between heaven and hell, the Halloween decorations next to Christmas decorations might just send you running out the door in search of a pumpkin latte to calm your nerves. I’ll be right behind you.

If life has taught me anything, though, it’s taught me when the going gets tough, the tough . . . well you know the rest. I’m oh so well aware my cheerleader outfit would not fit me now and I’ll leave that cheer for your to finish – if you can talk yourself into it after the year from – nope. Not gonna say it. I would have to make my own sign. Who needs a rustic artisan? (Well, okay, actually I’m someone who does.) Who needs shiplap? Who needs to spend money?

I went outdoors to scout around. Near our fire pit wood stack, I found something that might work. I grabbed it. Then I stepped back to assess a pallet we’d saved, thinking it could be used for a rustic wedding picture thingy. My husband and I (really just me) were the only ones with that idea, however, and there it still rested against the garage. It’s a bit larger than I’d imagined using for my thanks sign, but there were possibilities. I hauled them both into the kitchen. Then I went back out and grabbed a block of wood we use for a back door doorstop, and stopped in the storage room for some Sharpie Paint pens. Who cares that they’re not my chosen colors? I wouldn’t have to spend a dime!

Then some icy snowflakes started falling, which led to plenty of time raking and bagging our maple leaves (the tree always dilly dallys about letting the leaves go until the very last minute). But it was fortuitous. For as I was looking for something in the garage, I stumbled on the answer to my situation. Yes, I really did stumble. Sometimes the Lord has to do that with me. Or maybe it’s my long-suffering guardian angel with a sense of humor. It’s fine. I’m actually kind of used to it by now.

And that’s the story behind the pallet in my kitchen, a doorstop on my counter, and a dear little signpost by my front door, a beacon of direction to us all.

                                       

 

STAND

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Appeal to Heaven

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In the early stages of the Revolutionary War – a war fought by American colonists in response to England stripping away their rights and following not a few peaceful petitions to the throne, the fledgling nation was without a flag. They knew a war with their mother country, a leading global power, was a David and Goliath contest.

During that tumultuous and history-changing time, the writings of John Locke peppered the discussion and direction of our young country. Those writings included an explanation of the right to just revolution, and asserted that when all appeals were exhausted, men could appeal to Heaven, itself, in order to reclaim their unalienable rights.

“When the early militiamen and naval officers flew the Pinetree Flag emblazoned with its motto “An Appeal for Heaven,” it was not some random act with little significance or meaning. Instead, they sought to march into battle with a recognition of God’s Providence and their reliance on the King of Kings to right the wrongs which they had suffered. The Pinetree Flag represents a vital part of America’s history and an important step on the journey to reaching a national flag during the early days of the War for Independence.”

“The Americans’ thinking and philosophy was so grounded on a Biblical perspective that even a British parliamentary report in 1774 acknowledged that, “If you ask an American, ‘Who is his master?’ He will tell you he has none—nor any governor but Jesus Christ.””

Faced with a seemingly hopeless situation, after “months of intense fighting with several significant defeats and no major victories”, George Washington was “compelled to appeal to Heaven and rest the defense of our liberties and privileges upon the favor and protection of Divine Providence.” The Appeal to Heaven flag was the flag he raised.

We face extremely serious threats today. Our nation has been under the authoritarian rule of smooth-talking politicians who patted our heads with one hand while stealing, killing, and destroying with the other. I do not say that lightly. Abhorrent things have gone on without our knowledge or consent. Our country has been sold to the highest bidder. We’ve been infiltrated, and those who would overthrow our nation have control of nearly every part of our society. Media we trusted has been a tool for deception. We must appeal to Heaven, making sure as we do so that such an appeal must be worth the trouble and cost, for God cannot be mocked.

On the cusp of this important election, pray God He will come to our rescue. Pray we will not be overtaken by the tyrannical plans of the NWO or CCP or any other efforts to overthrow this great nation. Plead for restoration of Godliness in every area of our society. Ask for righteous leaders. Appeal to Heaven!

Research: Wallbuilders.com; mountvernon.org

Before Winter

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The first time I saw it was as I walked past the small woods on my way back from the corner Quick Stop. Its entrance slightly covered with leaves, it was hidden in plain sight; a cozy little home of dried grass and the detritus of summer past. I paused, peering from my spot on the street, my hands jammed into my pockets against the increasing cold of late autumn.

The leaves suddenly rustled a little, and from my spot on the cold concrete of the street I saw its tiny nose poke out, followed by the rest of its striped, furry self, sniffing and scuffing around in the leaves. It spied me in a second, sat momentarily still, then scurried up the rough trunk of the tree. I turned back to the Quick Stop, though by now my toes were beginning to burn. I should’ve worn thicker socks.

That night as I watched the first snowflakes fall – first tentatively, then in increasing numbers until they infused the dark with their icy sparkle – I distractedly peeled an orange into little bits of peel and fruit. Then I sucked on a sunflower shell, split it, and ate the seed.

The next day I returned to the little spot, knelt down, and placed my gift of fruit and seeds at its door. I stepped back and waited. Nothing happened, so I left.

A few days later, I passed the spot again and felt its eyes follow me as I continued on.

I made my final visit that evening. Squatting on the crunchy leaves, I dropped some peanuts and popcorn on the ground. I glanced up in time to see it staring at me from just outside its cozy hole. Our eyes met; I winked, it blinked, and winter began.

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Friday Prayer Thoughts: The Battle Belongs to the Lord

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“You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” Well there you go. Sometimes we don’t need to fight a battle. But we still need to show up.

Then again there are battles that scare the wits out of us, but God didn’t put us here to run away. When we face something we’re uncertain of, it’s a good thing to know we don’t face it alone. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

What a ragtag bunch we are, but we’re not backing down. We can see there’s a battle to be waged all around us. The battle is for truth and righteousness, souls, and freedom.

Our nation is infiltrated with communism. Our main news has become propaganda and we don’t even know when that happened. Other reporters are now censored by technology we’ve become dependent on. Our morals slid so far down, we’re now fighting for a baby not to be killed at birth rather than at conception, a battle for life that should never have been lost in the first place. Sexual promiscuity and perversion is rampant and people don’t even recognize it. Innocents are trafficked. Little is regarded as holy. The list – oh dear Lord – the list is endless! Like Hezekiah did, we lay that terrible list before you. We plead for Your intervention!

Use us however you see fit to reveal good in its beauty and to unveil evil in its horror. To not shrink back from truth-telling, but to do so with as much gentleness as we can manage. But it’s awful, isn’t it? And awful isn’t often well-handled with a gentle hand. So give us discernment as we tell the truth which sets us free.

We decree and declare by the purifying blood of Jesus and in His mighty Name that chaos in all forms will dissipate into nothing and order will prevail, that devastation will be set right, and that righteousness will spread across this one nation under God. We ask You to crush evil completely. In ourselves. In family. In church. In government. In academia. In media. In entertainment. In business. We don’t want even a corner or crumb left of what dishonors Your Name.

We call down angels from heaven to work and fight alongside us. We ask for wisdom, discernment, and insight. We thank You that in our weakness, You are our strength.

You fought the battles of Israel alongside their mighty men and their quick-thinking women. Sometimes You threw the enemy into confusion and they didn’t need to fight at all; only be still. We’d prefer that of course. Ha. But we’re here. We want to be useful. Tell us go and we’ll go. Stay and we’ll stay. Speak and we’ll speak. And we’ll talk with You and listen for You the whole time, knowing that this battle truly belongs to You.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name and for Your glory, Amen

II Chronicles 20:17; Ephesians 6:12; II Kings 19:14-15; Image: Ethan Jones from Pexels

Friday Prayer Thoughts: Forgiveness

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Someone should make a movie called Forgiveness: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. We’ve all encountered it: Having to face the ugliness of hurt, pushing through the pain, and exerting the discipline of forgiving someone who did us wrong – bad, if you will. And when we come to the place of letting go, cutting the cord, handing it all to the Lord, it really can be something very good. Jesus reminds us to forgive others so that we will be forgiven.

We know all about feeling we’ve been wronged. But we need to be truthful about being on the other end of it: of having wronged someone. Somehow it often doesn’t seem as serious to us when we’re on the other side of the story; but our excuses are a security blanket. As we continue in the shaking of our nation, we need to acknowledge a shaking in ourselves, as well. We look within and wade through every single sin, small or great against another. It’s not comfortable and can even be bad and ugly. And we repent, which leads to goodness.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We hate any damage that comes between us and another. We’ve cried, we’ve carried gut sadness and anger, we’ve spent too much time reviewing something that happened or was said or done. We know the hurt. But we also know how much You have forgiven – so much more than we are faced with. Maybe they haven’t or will never ask forgiveness. Maybe they don’t care. Maybe they still intend the hurt. But we don’t want the chain that comes with unforgiveness. We’ll leave that for them to deal with, and choose to walk into the beautiful light of forgiveness. Here and now we truly and completely forgive ________ and we wipe that slate clean. And should that hurt reappear we resolve to wipe it clean again. And again. Until it dissolves. Because Satan is the great accuser, but we don’t want to be like him. We want to be like You.

And we look inside ourselves and we confess every single thing. We list them here. ____________ And we are so sorry for the sadness or hurt or harm we have done. Please forgive us. We ask for healing for the person we have offended. We ask for help and blessing for them. As far as the east is from the west please remove our sins from us. We resolve to be better.

We know that in Your justice is mercy, the mercy for which we are all so very grateful. We pray that in our intention to show mercy, we will not get in bed with the devil. We will not agree with his intentions in order to make ourselves feel open-hearted. We will not pretend wrong is okay as long as we love. We will not dismiss holiness as outdated. We will be defensive of Your honor. We don’t want to hurt You or cause offense to Your Name. And we need Your insight, discernment, and wisdom in this. We ask for Your mind in these matters so that we don’t make light of the sin You died for just to make ourselves feel generous.

Thank You, Lord, for forgiving us. You are the Author and Finisher of our faith. We love You so much. So very much.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, 1966, story by Sergio Leone and Luciano Vincenzoni. Screenwriters: Sergio Leone, Luciano Vincenzoni, Furio Scarpell, Agenore Incrocci. Movie directed by Sergio Leone; Scripture: Matthew 5; Image: Fair Use.

If You Can Keep It

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In the notes of Dr. James McHenry, one of Maryland’s delegates to the Constitutional Convention, a lady asked Dr. Benjamin Franklin as he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation, “Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”  Franklin replied, “A republic . . . if you can keep it.” That was in 1787. Two hundred and thirty-three years later, Benjamin Franklin watches through heaven’s veil, his eyes blazing with intensity, as the citizens of America debate over social media.

John Locke lifts the fabric of time to watch how governors, police departments, and citizens respond to domestic terrorism of every kind in the year 2020, and says, “Where law ends, tyranny begins.” William Penn moves next to him as the terrorists, many of them citizens, act in moral aberration, and mutters, “Passion is a sort of fever in the mind, which ever leaves us weaker than it found us.“

Picking up the recent 86 page encyclical of Pope Francis, John Adams reads these words: “The right to private property can only be considered a secondary natural right, derived from the principle of the universal destination of created goods.” Adams moves closer to his fireplace, his irritated voice echoing loudly in the room, “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.” He pulls out a knife and begins cutting the paper written with the short-sighted words. James Otis sits across from him and holds out his hand to receive the bits; then throws them into the fire. He agrees, “One of the most essential branches of English liberty is the freedom of one’s house. A man’s house is his castle.”


An unknown citizen of days gone by picks up the Boston Gazette. It reads: Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual – or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.

Two university students, one from Harvard and one from Yale walk together down the road. “And it is the best part of the day, don’t you agree?” The other nods. “Our universities would be in true error if the requirement to read the Bible twice per day was stripped from our curriculum. All knowledge without God is vain. There’s a reason God was quoted more than any other in the Founding Documents.” They peer into the fog of a distant time with alarm.

George Washington pulls back time’s curtain to observe the current state of the country for which he sacrificed so much. “The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.” Nearby, Abraham Lincoln says, “The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” But I hope – hope and pray – that “the government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth“.

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John Adams on Property rights: A Defence of the Constitutions of the Government of the United States of America, 1787; James Otis on Property rights: Writs of Assistance, 1761; Boston Gazette, 1781; Images: Kids Discover; Fair Use; Unsplash Kelly Sikkema; Pexels.com

Friday Prayer Thoughts: First Love

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Remember your first love? That heart palpitating experience of seeing, talking with, or even thinking of that special person? Your mind is focused on the lovely person of your affection, you find their quirks amusing, and you see that person as they can be rather than as they are in their current very ordinary state. Ain’t love grand?

Revelation 2 reminds us of another first love. It cautions us to not forsake the love we had at first; both love for Christ and for each other. As we work our way through these tumultuous days, let’s help each other remember love.

Our Dear Heavenly Father,

When we sit in Your presence and just rest in it; sensing Your Spirit, knowing Your love in a palpable way, all is well. And we know that is the way You meant it to be: for us to be in You and You in us and love permeating the atmosphere. We want it always.

Help us to hold on to that, Father. During days of frustration and discouragement and whatever else, whether good or bad, we want to first spend time with You. We do not want to lose that precious time when Your presence is very near. It is breath to us. It is life to us.

And when we’re with fellow Christians during those times when we are all in one accord, it’s a taste of heaven. We all know it. We can feel it. We care about what’s going going each other’s lives and we share our own. We raise our voices in song to You in a beautiful offering of praise, and it fills us with indescribable joy.

Despite disagreements we find ourselves in these days, help us, oh dear Lord help us to not lose our love for each other. Help us to live out our love for You. You are love; but we are weak, and we find ourselves swimming in a lake of disagreement. It’s easy to lose our love for each other – that sweet love You teach us when we’re in Your presence. So please help us during these days to discipline ourselves to love despite the pull of disunity from disagreement. Help our love to cover a multitude of wrongs. Before we do anything else, help us to first – love!

In Jesus Name

Amen

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