Fortress safe and secure

Proverbs 14:26
Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.

This verse is on a tattered index card taped behind the sugar bowl.  I saw it again this morning as I scooped mine into coffee.  Yesterday I had fever and aches and cough - like all the other people in my county - so I sat on the couch.  My children schooled themselves and fed themselves and we waited for Daddy to finally come home from school to take care of us.  He texted me to say "don't watch the news, don't let the kids see."  As the cold chill struck me, I answered "uh, we're doing science not news, what??"

So, after Daddy came home and sent me to nap, I got to pray and think.  We're safe.  The same safe we've been.  We live in the same wretched world that we did last week.  There has never been any security for us in the guns Daddy keeps near or the country home or the Ohio address.  Our security comes from a Sovereign God.  He is our secure fortress.

Last week our Voice of the Martyrs magazine came and before I could tuck it away from little eyes, my 3-yr-old asked why the little girl had a hurt arm - and why was it short - and was she sad?  Oh yes, I told her, she is very sad.  But look, she's a precious girl just like you!  Little and soft and see her pretty brown eyes, do they look like Mommy's brown eyes?  And that satisfied my Anna.  But not my 8-yr-old Ruby.

For Ruby there must be answers.  And the answer is that sin and evil live in the hearts of men, in each of our hearts.   Without the Christ, to clean our hearts, the sin and the evil rule - and this precious little girl in the picture lives in a village where bad people came - they came to hurt the people there because they didn't want to be Muslims.  So we prayed for the little girl to be healed and not afraid and to have a strong heart.  And we prayed for all the children in the world who have fear and hurt.

And later last night, while dinner cooked (oh thank you, dear husband), we 6 cuddled on the couch.  Daddy gave the terrible report and my kiddos eyes got very wide.  They have almost no school experience - except that every day their Daddy goes there to "teach the kids".  Schools, to them, are dinner conversation and a fun place to visit Daddy.

We had the conversation again - sin and evil rule in the hearts of men - but there is hope.  Where horror and fear rise up, the hope is still greater.  Here is the question I ask my children when they tell me their terrible fears:  "what if that did happen, then what?"  And the answer is Jesus.  Jesus would take me to heaven.  Jesus would take you to heaven.  Jesus would give me courage.  Jesus loves me and so if I was hurt, he would help me not be too afraid.  I asked Jesus to clean my heart, so I know He did, so I know I could be brave and I would not be a bad guy.

That is our secure fortress, for surely the sin and evil are real, but our King has a fortress in which we can hide.  We have a future with Him, no matter what horror today brings.  And we have hope for tomorrow - there is always, always redemption.  What is meant for evil, is turned miraculously into good.  We are safe.

When my kids are afraid, they cuddle closer.  They whisper, I love you, Mommy.  And that is what I do with my King, in His fortress, I cuddle closer, I whisper "I love you, I need to be closer, thank you for tucking me in" and I draw my children close into His fortress.

pray like our forefathers

My sister-in-law sent me some great encouragement today. Enjoy (italics mine):

This past week I have heard many people give their thoughts on the how the election turned out. And I feel a strong urge that we need to pray for our Nation, no matter how we voted. I am committed to praying for our Nation no matter who sits in the White House. My mentor mom, whose husband is active in national politics, really was urged to pray for our nation and it's leaders. She really encouraged me to get involved with politics as much as my life as a mother allowed. Such as praying for our nation, calling congressmen and senators when I wanted to let them know how our family felt about certain bills being considered etc...
Also with my experience being an Air Force wife I just really have a heart for military families and what they go through. As you can see I am very passionate about this great nation we live in. I believe that our Forefathers built this as a Christian nation, and I just don¹t want our country to forget that.
There are some great books out there on this topic. Two that I have are:
* If My People... A 40-Day Prayer Guide for Our Nation
* Battlefields and Blessings This book shows how God "shed his grace" on the birth of our nation
* Another one that I haven't read yet but would like to is The Faith of America's First Ladies

Below are a few quotes from some of our past great presidents.
George Washington: A Prayer for Guidance
O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul....
Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the gospel; give me repentance from dead works; pardon my wanderings, and direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation; teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments; make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber, but daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life bless my family, friends, and kindred.
--An undated prayer from Washington's prayer journal, Mount Vernon

Thomas Jefferson: A Prayer for the Nation
Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people, the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
--Washington D.C., March 4, 1801

Abraham Lincoln: A Prayer for Peace
Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet if God wills that it continues... until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid another drawn with the sword...so still it must be said that the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and for his orphans, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.
--Second Inaugural address, March 4, 1865

Ronald Reagan: A Prayer for Healing
To preserve our blessed land we must look to God... It is time to realize that we need God more than He needs us... We also have His promise that we could take to heart with regard to our country, that "If my people, which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress, in the first step, in humble heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always.
The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America... Our country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal. Today, we utter no prayer more fervently than the ancient prayer for peace on Earth.
If I had a prayer for you today, among those that have all been uttered, it is that one we're so familiar with: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace...." And God bless you all.
--From a speech to the American people, February 6, 1986

God Bless you all and please join me in praying for our nation.
Suzanna

last thoughts

Do you think the German's wish they could have glimpsed the holocaust before they cheered Hitler into power. They probably didn't cheer because he sounded like a murderer, probably because of jobs, the economy, etc. Before you vote, be certain you know what you're voting for. Be certain that you know the reality of abortion before you vote to completely unleash it on our country.

My brother is a firefighter. If he came to a burning-down house, with 3 little children trapped in one room, and Mom trapped in another, he has no good "choice" to make. It's not a choice for him - it's all horror. "I think I'll choose the Mom - she can rebuild her life and she'll get over this loss. Those kids, they'd just be a burden to society without their Mom." Or "I'll choose the kids, that Mom had her chance." NO WAY! There is no good choice. All the lives are valuable - you'd be horrified to be in a position to choose! Voting for Obama to avoid threatening Roe v Wade - b/c you don't want to "punish" a woman with a back-alley illegal abortion? That is ludicrous. If you present me with a scenario in which one person must die to save another, the only one who merits the power of choice in that scenario is the mother - will she be a hero and lay down her life (her reputation, her safety, her future) for another? The baby doesn't get a choice. And if we, as a society, rally our resources behind funding and promoting baby-death - that's unconscionable.

When 50% of African-American pregnancies are ending in abortion, how can Barack Obama say that he will work to strip state's rights to outlaw partial-birth abortion, strip their parental consent laws (so that a 15 yr-old pregant by her uncle can be taken for an abortion without her mother every knowing? Wretched.), aaaaagh!!! He sat under Rev. Wright for 20 years! Doesn't he remember how valuable black lives are? He should be crusading to destroy the evil white institutions that are working to decimate his "brothers and sisters".

My mom said, "well what about me?" Any time now I'm going to be a burden to society - what will they do to me? And what of the people who vote Tuesday for Obama because the idea of more welfare (that's what it is when you don't pay taxes, it's not a tax-cut if you don't pay taxes) sounds very good to them - when will the tables turn and our pro-abortion society decides that the poor and those who can't work should not be kept around?

My Ukrainian friend shudders at the possibility of socialized health care. She fled (yes, fled, as in flee for your life) her country. The land of no opportunity. If you have cancer, you must find bribes to get your tests and treatments fast enough to heal you. Welcome to the land of bureacracy and bribes and big government. Goodbye American Dream?

This all seems so absurd. Who is your King? Is it self, convenience and feel's-good? Or is it the Maker of heaven and earth?

John 10:10 NASB
The thief (that's Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

in this fray

What I'm finding, as I process all this too-big stuff of elections and politics? I grasp only the outside edges. My heart aches at the desperation I hear - and feel inside me, too. What if it goes wrong?! Well, I still know what I'm doing, who I'm for (no politician claims my heart and life). What if everything does go wrong? Who is it on the throne? It is the King of Kings! Will there be reverberations in my life, in my family, in my town - well, how much worse can they be - I ignore the ache and horrors all about me in this world every day, anyway. And how much better can they be? My hope is built on the solid rock of Jesus Christ.

Jesus, show me my place in this fray. Thank you for being the same, in the calm and the storm. Speak to me in a language I can hear and understand - I want a tender heart - quick to obey. While I pray for truth to be known and for my countrymen to cling to mercy and vote to protect the helpless and call the able to accountability - in all this, show your glory.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteous;
No merit of my own I claim
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. -James 4:14 NIV

And anyone who gives up his home, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or property, to follow me, shall receive a hundred times as much in return, and shall have eternal life. -Matt 19:29 TLB

If you trust me,

then read this. Click HERE. Because you mustn't, mustn't say that you haven't been warned, that you didn't realize, that you didn't know. It's much too important.

My sweet little friend, Bree, she's almost 4 and she spends many days at my house. We do our best to love her and pretend she's a sister until her Momma finishes work and sweeps her back home again. She said, at a foot photo (aha! you didn't open it yet! or you'd know what I mean!) "is that me? are those my feet??" Hmmm, no question in her mind "what" that is. Do you get my drift?

Comments?

Yes, I have some comments to make. Incidently, I added the comments feature to my blog. But they are super-secret - only for me to read (I think, if I did it right) - in fact, so secret that I can't even figure out if I did it. Help me if you can.

I have some comments to make. I am a political girl. It irritates me when people complain but do nothing. I like words like fervent and radical. Properly applied, those are powerful words. Read an interesting email about Sarah Palin today (source is http://www.agreeinprayer.com/) - made me shiver. Don't know what you are doing, God, but I know that when you move me to action (like volunteering at the Ohio Republican Party phone bank today with a dear friend and our boys), it is just the iceberg tip. The rest of that iceberg is far more daunting in the power of my fervent effectual prayer for God's will to be done in our country as people mobilize to vote. Whew. How very daunting.

My friend emailed me a wise one today after I complained that McCain doesn't entirely match me!!! She said something big: The most important thing we must do is save our country from Barack Obama. whoa.

Yep. So, some of my dear blog-readers might prefer the sweet child pictures and posts (mine are lovely little ones, aren't they). But this is my blog. So I get to write what I really think - unlike most of my life where I have to filter it so people who claim to "tolerant and open-minded" won't be offended. How absurd. We all get offended - the question is whether we choose to love like the King of Love: acknowledge the horrors of sin and lead people to freedom in the truth. He is the Truth. He is Life!! I need to shout and sing. There, I did.

politics and birthdays

I'm overwhelmed with political fervor. Can't stand to have all this information and not do anything about it. With knowledge comes responsibility!! Someone said that. Many people actually say that - but the doers are the ones I'm interested in.

James 1:22 Be ye doers of the word, not just hearers.
James 4:17 Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins.

What am I supposed to do? I know that I must tell people why they must vote and why they must care!! But how must I go about it? Well, Lord?? Ack.

Dad, you started this all over again today with that Hype Movie - and now I can't even link to the full movie, that's annoying. But here's a useful thing to forward along BarackObamaTest.com to test whether you agree or not with LOTS of specific assertions he has made on many different topics. Cool.

And the birthday season is nearly over. Shouldn't photos be scheduled, or at least digital ones be made into framed?? Ack. Everyone's bigger. I'm proud and rather melancholy about my big, bigger kids.

When you've lived in a box

Did you hear those last lines of the quote from the John McCain video? When you've lived in a box, you will fight so that no one else will have to. Makes me cry.

Because I've lived in a box. I've lived in the darkness of my own sin and others - and I've seen a great light!!!! I understand this analogy. I was certainly never tortured in Hanoi. But I've seen the darkness, the lure of sin and death and I've chosen to walk in the light instead. And now, isn't that right? Isn't it right that the PURPOSE of life is to give glory to the Light - to the Maker of light!?! Yes! And the light is sweet and brilliant because I remember.

I love that this RNC is framed within the focused memory of where John McCain has been. A hero is something you choose to be. Faithful is something you choose to be. And his practice in these areas gives me confidence.

Sarah Palin fan club

I'm a fan. Tracy leaves the shouting message on my ans. machine "Palin for President! Palin for President!" Good job, Tracy - my kids now know why we will vote for McCain/Palin. Isaac said, "because Obama is the bad guy - like the enemy." Oh no. Well, it's not like that, sweetie. It's that we believe in some things.

• If I could sit on our couch, healthy and strong, and just sit there, but expect to get money and food and care, is that a good plan? No. So we won't vote for Obama.
• Obama doesn't have experiences to lead a city, a state or a country. So we won't vote for Obama.
• Obama doesn't believe that every person God creates is on purpose -
• Obama chooses people to be his friends who make bad choices and who do not tell the truth to our country.
• John McCain is a hero - he was captured by "the bad guys" - they took him home with him and he didn't give up there - he was hurt horribly and he didn't give up. He's a hero - like you will be heroes.
• John McCain chose a mommy to help him be president (followed by the big "what is a vice president" conversation including how RVP in Arbonne figures in there!)

"Mommy, does John McCain love Jesus, because I think he needs to love Jesus if he is a president." (Isaac) Well, I don't know if he does - but he mostly acts like he does - but I don't know.

"But Mommy, if Obama could come to Christ, then would we vote for him?" (Peter) Well, until he showed us that he loved Jesus and decided to obey Him and we could see him making good choices, no.

My kids don't care much about this Sarah Palin mommy - except finding it cool that she'd hunt Moose - we know about Moose, you know, from Maine. But I'm excited. Heck, I might have to even go door-to-door.

Peter wanted to know more about getting "pay" for sitting on the couch - I asked him, "if you have to choose between sitting on the couch with a snack and going every day to work, which would you pick?" And he said - "oh well, I would just work" I'm thinking - what!?! "you would? because that's the right thing to do?" "Yes, mommy, because I just like to work" Goodness. I think I made my point - I know Peter made his. We do what's right because it's right.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.