Hey friends,
Just popping in to throw out a mess of stuff to you. For those of you not familiar with the ‘mess’ concept, it is probably a totally Southern thing. Here in the South we cook a mess of collard greens or we string and break a mess of green beans. I have no idea what quantity a mess actually represents, but it is definitely more than a few. Clear as mud, huh?
Ok, on to the ‘mess’ of things on my mind this morning.
First, I am mulling over (and will likely write more on it later) a portion of 1 Chronicles 12: 32. It talks about the ‘men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do’ Now, I know I’m not a man, but I believe that God desires all of us to understand the times in which we live and know what we need to do in the time we walk this earth. I want to be one who has her eyes and heart open to understanding the times and knowing what God desires for me to do in this generation. More about that later, perhaps.
Second, I am thinking a lot about Daniel’s prayer in Daniel chapter 9. I won’t write it out but in it Daniel is asking God to forgive the nation of Israel for their rebellion and disobedience. The nation of Israel was taken into Babylonian captivity and held there for 70 years. Daniel has walked with God for years in Babylon. We have no hint that there has been any disobedience in his life. None. However, the amazing thing about Daniel’s prayer is that no less than 21 times he lumps himself in with the nation as a whole as he confesses the sins of the people. We have sinned. Our sin has brought this captivity upon us.
Call me slow, but I really believe that there is a huge lesson here for Christians in America. I’m sensing that God is cupping His hand around His holy ear and listening intently for a confession from America….and you and I ARE AMERICA. I think it is time that we, as a people, take responsibility for the rebellion of our nation. No, I have not turned against God and probably neither have you, but we are part of a nation that has, just as Daniel was part of a rebellious and wicked nation. Will you join me in personally confessing to God our corporate sin as a nation? If you are not sure how to start, spend a few minutes checking out Daniel 9: 3-19.
I hope you will consider joining me at the Georgia Mountain Women’s Retreat, July 8-10 here in Blairsville. We are going to talk about perfumes and fragrances and how God really does not want us to go around smelling bad. Go here for more info.
Today I am a counter barista at the Internet Cafe’. Exemplify Online’s blog writers (of which I am one) have moved over to the Cafe’ in what is an exciting move for not only the writers, but also the Exemplify Online and Internet Cafe’ teams. Stop by and allow me to serve you up some thoughts on ministry. Click here.
I am working so hard on edits on the Legacy Bible study. Each edit brings the study that much closer to publication. I hope you have had a chance to check out the two excerpts from the Bible study that I posted over the past few weeks. I’ll share more excerpts in the coming weeks.
That is probably as much of my ‘mess’ as I should dump on you today. Thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes last week. You blessed me so much. Love you all.
