My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 79

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Monday, July 15th, Day 79

Father God, we are in trouble as a nation.

A young man, just 20 years of age, was influenced to hate another so intensely that he attempted to murder him. He was unsuccessful but his actions resulted in two others being wounded, and another killed. The man he killed was not his original target but a man in the crowd. He was a husband, a father, a friend, a neighbor, and a first responder. So many lives were impacted by this young man’s reckless behavior.

He was obviously a troubled young man but we as a nation must make some changes in our morals. We have grown more accepting of violent behavior, choosing to make excuses, blaming social conditions, lack of education, lack of resources – but it is time to say ENOUGH!

People need to be held accountable for their actions. We need to praise those who make wise choices and call to account those who cause harm to others, those who threaten, those who encourage violence. After this attack there were actually posts on social media saying “Don’t miss next time.” How can anyone desire to see anyone’s life taken?

Lord, I don’t have the answer, but You do. Only You can change the heart.

I pray for the family of the shooter. This has changed their lives.

I pray for the family of the man who was killed, and for all those who are affected by his death.

Their lives will never be the same.

I pray for those who were injured.

I pray for all those on that service detail that day.

I pray for President Trump.

I pray for our nation, for people to speak the truth and to seek peace.

I pray Lord, that You would show me my part in this.

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 68

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Thursday, July 4th

Day 68

The Constitution of the United States of America was ratified in 1788, went into effect on March 4, 1789, and has held for 235 years and 4 months and lest we forget, it was not an easy process. There was disagreement then just as there is disagreement now. Life is messy and people are people. We make mistakes but hopefully we learn from those mistakes and go forward to use the lessons learned.

Let us remember the words of Benjamin Franklin as he spoke of the work that went into forming this document. He didn’t claim it was perfect but believed it was necessary to the government of this new nation that God had brought forth.

I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that, the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others.

In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people is well administered; and believe further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government.

-Benjamin Franklin, September 17, 1787

The Constitutional Convention: A Day By Day Account For September 1787

On this day when we celebrate our nation and all it stands for let us remember that the work continues and we are called to pray for our country and choose leaders who stand for what is honest, good and true. And in the end each of us will be held responsible for our own actions – did we follow God or follow the culture?

Lord, I pray for this nation, a nation like no other, where people come seeking freedom, freedom to work for a better life, freedom to worship as they choose, freedom to live up to their potential. I have been praying for this nation for a ling time because I have been worried for the future of America. But Lord I have learned to trust You, to trust in Your plan. You brought this nation into being. You will preserve it or You will allow it to destroy itself. You will not force us to choose Your way but You will not bless us when we go our own way. Whatever the outcome – I choose to serve You, to trust You.

I still remain faithful in prayer for my country. I pray that her people will recognize what a gift freedom is. I pray that they will come to know the “SOURCE” of our freedom – for to be free in Christ is to be free indeed.

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 22

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Day 22

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death,

neither sorrow, nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain:

for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:4

Lots of tears today.

It started as I was driving into church.

I passed Jason on his church bus route and the tears came.

Then in church every time someone would hug me, the tears came.

Effie sat beside me and cried with me.

Thank You Lord, for this dear friend.

When I came home Ms. Pepper and I took a ride on the Gator back to the woods, the tears came.

But I also had such a sense of peace in the woods.

Olin and I enjoyed riding through the woods in Missouri.

He wasn’t there today Lord, but You were there.

Learn the Divine skill of making God all things to thee.

He can supple thee with all; or, better still, He can be to thee instead of all.

Let me urge thee, then, to make use of thy God.

Make use of Him in prayer; go to Him often, because He is thy God.

Oh, wilt thou fail to use so great a privilege?

Fly to Him; tell Him all thy wants.

Use Him constantly by faith at all times.

If some dark providence has beclouded thee, use thy God as a “sun”;

if some strong enemy has beset thee, find in Jehovah a “shield”;

for He is a sun and a shield to His people.

If thou hast lost thy way in the mazes of life, use Him as a “guide”;

for He will direct thee.

Whatever thou art, and wherever thou art,

remember God is just what thou wantest,

and just where thou wantest

and that He can do all thou wantest!

-Charles H. Spurgeon

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 19

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Day 19

Go . . .  have I not sent you?  Judges 6:14

When God sent Gideon it seemed an impossible task

yet because Gideon was obedient it was accomplished.

Lord, if You lead me I will follow and watch to see Your plan unfold.

Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit. – God

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

Philippians 4:13

In the evening my wife died.

The next morning I did as I had been commanded.  

Ezekiel 24:18

The great God wants our conspicuous crises to be occasions of conspicuous testimony;

our seasons of darkness to be opportunities for the unveiling of the Divine.

He wants duty to shine more resplendently because of the environing shadows.

He wants tribulation only to furbish and burnish our signs.

He wants us to manifest the sweet grace of continuance

amid all the sudden and saddening upheavals of our intensely varied life.

This was the prophet’s triumph.

He made his calamity a witness to the eternal.

He made his very loneliness minister to his God.

He made his very bereavement intensify his calling.

He took up the old task, and in taking it up he glorified it.

“In the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.”

The evening sorrow will come to all of us:

What shall we be found doing in the morning?

We shall have to dig graves; have burials:

How shall it be with us when the funeral is over?

J. H. Jowett

Make a pulpit of every circumstance.

Springs In The Valley

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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.

Ephesians 6:10-12

The battles not mine, said little David,

Lord, its thine

I’m in Your favor,

I’m giving it all to You,

I knew not what to do,

I’m so glad You let me see

That You’re really all that I need,

For the battles not mine

I give it to You

Lord its Thine.

Roderick Windham

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 15

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Day 15

I was glad when they said unto me,

Let us go into the house of the Lord.

Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:

whither the tribes go up,

the tribes of the Lord,

unto the testimony of Israel,

to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.

For there are set thrones of judgment,

the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

they shall prosper that love thee.

Peace within thy walls,

and prosperity within thy palaces.

For my brethren and companion’s sake,

I will now say,

Peace be within thee.

Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.

Psalm 122

KJV

Lord, Sunday seems to be my most difficult day.

I miss him all the time, but especially so on Sunday.

Sitting in our regular space without him by my side brings the loss home to me.

The tears usually begin to fall during the singing.

 I am not alone for family and friends have sat with me,

held my hand, and sometimes cried with me.

Thank You for the support system that surrounds me.

Thank You for Your mercy and Your grace.

I will praise You through my tears.

My Journey Through The Dark Valley – Day 8

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Day 8

God’s song for me this day – I made a slight change to personalize it.

Sweet Holy Spirit, Sweet heavenly Dove,

Stay right here with me, filling me with Your love.

And for these blessings I lift my heart in praise.

Without a doubt I’ll know that I have been revived,

When I shall leave this place.

Thank You, God, for the celebration of Olin’s life; for the experience of having the sanctuary filled with the Holy Spirit; for the love and support of so many family and friends; for those who watched remotely; and for each and every prayer lifted for us.

Thank You for walking with me through this past week; for smoothing the rough road; for holding me close; for Your Holy Spirit which strengthens me and keeps me.

This morning I walked back into that sanctuary to worship and praise You. I sat in our regular pew with Emma and Charlotte on one side of me and Jacob on my other side. I was surrounded by a church family who are with me in this most difficult time. Thank You Father – I am not alone.

Thank You, only two little words, but my heart is full of praise and thanksgiving, even to this day when the sense of loss is so deep. So I say THANK YOU GOD! I pray that in all of this You would receive honor, glory and praise.

And the God of all grace,

who called you to His eternal glory in Christ,

after you have suffered a little while,

will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.

I Peter 5:10

There is a peace, which is not the peace of the Son of God.

Be not that our peace, O God!

We cannot know Thy stillness until it is broken.

There is no music in the silence until we have heard the roar of battle!

We cannot see Thy beauty until it is shaded.

After the shadows, the sunlight will come.

– Springs In The Valley