Defense of Marriage Act repealed by Obama and Eric Holder

Once again we see a blatant disregard for federal law instituted by Congress and signed by President Clinton a decade ago. The Dept of Justice is supposed to defend the Laws on our books, but Eric Holder has now donned the robes of Judge and DOMA will no longer be defended.

Practically, this won't ultimately be a problem because Congress does have an obligation to uphold its own laws or to repeal the laws, the President does not have the power to declare any law unconstitutional, however this just shows the problem of arrogance that is exuding from the White House.

Loose lips of Obama admin are a dangerous liability

Back in Jefferson's day, or even back in Eisenhower's day if someone were to leak state secrets they were considered traitors and what they did was treason. Plain and simple. Anyone found guilty of treason was executed. Today it's only an oopsie, or perhaps if it's really bad, they get a slap on the wrist.

Bradley gets in a twit of anger and leaks all kinds of state secrets and what's happened to him? Now two lamebrains from the White House blab out loud to the AP about some secrets and want to remain anonymous because they aren't authorized to talk about that particular secret. Self-preservation only applies to their own hides and either for love of money or love of the press casting them goo goo eyes, they eagerly share all rumors whether fact or fiction.

It's the kind of thing that is happening regularly in the Obama admin. From Obama  advertising full-page in every newspaper in the country what day U.S. troops are pulling out of Iraq to Secretary of State letting fly with some other military strategies in another country (was it Argentina?) somewhere in South America, to White House aids who heard one of our own is, was, maybe a CIA agent. The White House shoots back that Pakistan had already accepted the man into the diplomatic corps at the US Embassy.

This proves beyond any doubt those in control of our highest office don't care one whit for the lives of our citizens who are risking life and limb in service to our country.

Why can't they clap a trap over their protruding flappers when it comes to the safety of our own over seas?

It seems no government personnel who is above pay grade 12 can slap a muzzle on their tongue to keep all the juicy tidbits to themselves. They are so hungry for attention and for, oh let me just be blunt, hungry for the temporary rush spilling their guts to the press gives them. Or is it they aren't making enough money and need to go on the AP's payroll, or pitch a post to the Washington Post, or Huff a song to Huffington?

I am beyond indignant. I am furious that traitors are not tried and convicted of treason and as convicted traitors are not executed. In my estimation, capital punishment is the only just punishment for anyone who puts American families in the line of fire.

The Circle of Light

Luke 15:8  Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and look carefully until she finds it? 9  And finding it, she calls together the friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I lost.

The drachmas, in Jesus time, was equivalent to the Roman denarii and was worth about 18 cents, so ten coins was worth about $2 or approximately ten days wages. James Merritt told his congregation back in March of 2002 that these ten coins this woman possessed were her engagement ring and that losing one was equal to declaring herself a prostitute. I could not find a source that stated that. However, I found a wealth of information concerning the Jewish wedding traditions… some of which give me chills and thrills when put into Christian context.

The first tradition is the matchmaking. Our first indication of matchmaking is when God created Eve for Adam. Now, hold that thought a moment. Abraham sent his servant to search out a bride for his son Isaac (Gen. 24:2-4), for he had no desire for Isaac to have a Canaanite woman as bride, thus Rebecca came to Isaac’s side, went into his tent and became his wife. All very simple, but there are some wonderful Christian truths here.

Our matchmaker is the Holy Spirit.  John 14:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit teaches us all things and reminds us of all we learn about our Father and our Bridegroom. But, Act 1:2  until the day He was taken up, having given directions to the apostles whom He elected, through the Holy Spirit, indicates who we come to Jesus through. Peter points out in Acts 2, the prediction that God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh (Then being exalted to the right of God, and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He poured out this which you now see and hear.) It is only through the Holy Spirit that we are able to understand, are drawn to, and through the Holy Spirit we are chosen by God. God is the Great Matchmaker, for He desires all to come to Him and none to perish (2 Peter 3:9). By His design, we are made perfect through the Bride Price.

The Bride Price. Abraham sent ten camels to the house of his brother, Nahor, to pay the Bride Price for one of his daughters. Abraham had no notion who God would give to Isaac, but he gave as much as he deemed the bride to be worth—which was a considerable amount even by today’s standards. He also sent bride gifts of bracelets weighing ten shekels and a nose ring for the Bride. The servant asked for God to show by sign who would be Isaac’s bride. The tradition continued with Isaac’s son, Jacob who gave something of considerable value—his time in hard labor. In all, Jacob spent about twenty years in service to Rebekah’s brother, Laban. Something of value was exchanged for something of value, the Bride. The traditional Jewish reason was for the provision of the woman in case something befell the husband, or in case of divorce.

Our Bride Price was the life of the most perfect man ever to be born on earth. Jesus our Savior and Lord, paid the price the Father set for us. His blood was of such great worth, it paid for all (1 John 2:2). Oh, what price that was.

In Jewish tradition and literature, the Marriage is called kiddushin which means sanctification or dedication. Our kiddushin begins with our acceptance of the Bride Price and the bestowing of the Seal of Promise. Often the bridal contract or ketubah are found the words “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. Set me as a seal upon your heart.” How sweet is that promise sealed with Christ’s commitment. We celebrate the cycle of the seasons as we are sanctified in our walk with Christ. May we be ever sitting at His feet, drinking in His word which is so powerful that it brings an army to its knees. May we spread His Circle of Light and bring hope to the perishing. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.

Keeping God First

This is precisely how I feel sometimes: the depths of despair, as Lucy Montegomery has Anne Shirley sigh in Anne of Green Gables.

It feels like forever. The constant waiting and waiting. When, Lord? When will You go to my defense? When will You fix this problem? When will I see daylight? When will I feel normal again? When will I be able to look up from this problem and focus on others again? When will You release me from this prayer vigil? When can I stop and rest?

That's just it. We must rest or we burn out. God knows just how long we need because it was He that issued the 6 day work week and the 1 Day of Rest. Only that day of rest is supposed to be completely devoted to God and the worship of Him.

Huh?

Isa 58:13 "If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, GOD's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,' making money, running here and there-- 14 Then you'll be free to enjoy GOD! Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob." Yes! GOD says so!

I am not preaching "no football" on Sunday afternoon. What I am saying is that I have to sit down with God everyday or the anxiety takes over. I have to practice giving it all to Him or I'll take it back and try to "fix it" all the while making the matter worse. Some problems fix themselves, other problems need the hand of God. I have a lot of the latter kind of problems, yet I get in God's way while He's trying to fix them... or teach a lesson. You can go ahead and admit you are like that, too, because I know I'm not in the boat alone. We are skimming over the water far too fast, I can't row that fast so I know I'm not the only one rowing.

Keeping God first is a DAILY thing, not just a Sunday thing. Peter sank when he took his eyes off Jesus. The disciples couldn't remove the demon from the boy because they didn't have the faith of a mustard seed. David was lollygagging at the palace when he should have been at the war front with his men and that's when he lounged on the roof and caught sight of Bathsheba. The Bible is full of all kinds of examples of life situations that went awry when folks quit putting God first and that was the first step down their path to trouble.

Not so, Joseph. He got up in the middle of the night and went to get his bride who was pregnant and brought her home with him, effectively silencing any recriminations against her. The likelihood of Mary being stoned was almost certain. I think about my life and I don’t see one problem that has that kind of likelihood of an end result. So why am I so anxious? Was Mary anxious? How did Joseph feel when he looked upon his swollen bride?

It is one thing to read about an event, to imagine the sweat, the dust, the cold, the animal smells, but it is something different to live through it.

And that is just the beginning of trials and tribulations. God never promised easy living. What would we ever learn if life's most pressing decision was which bon bon to eat next? Job had an easy life until God allowed Satan to put his foot in it. So, guess who's messing with us now?

Did God allow Job to be harmed past endurance?

Did God share with Job that Satan was the one playing havoc in his life?

Were any of us around when God laid the foundations of the world and when He hung the stars in place?

The correct short answer is, “No.” Although, I’m quite sure that if I had been there, I would have given Him a suggestion or two about how to hang the world. I would have completely not known that it hanging crooked in space is a good thing, not a bad thing. If it didn’t hang crooked, then we wouldn’t have our seasons, and I love the changes as the year progresses.

My new book...

I have the final galley proofs of my new book Refreshment in Refuge, published by Westbow Press.

It is exciting to know that God will be touching lives through this book.

I visited Michael Hyatt's blog this morning and his post about Temptations has been something I've been praying about for a long time. It isn't that I think since my book is published that I'm some kind of female Elvis or the like. Fame scares me.

It scares me because of what it has done to so many people. Then I recall what Jim Roan said in one of his motivational speeches. "Fame and fortune only bring out what's already in the soul to begin with. It magnifies generosity or stinginess." I also remember the illustration of one of my favorite authors shared with me, that the only thing separating us from the garbage is the garbage can lid. Amazing how that brings one down to earth rather quickly.

Psalm 46

1  To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song For Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2  Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3  Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4  There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5  God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6  The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8  Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.
9  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
10  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
11  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

 The Sons of Korah who stood in all their pride in front of the Tabernacle and Moses and dared to point fingers saying, "You take too much upon yourself, you and Aaron. The whole congregation is holy and the LORD is among them." Numbers 16:1

How presumptuous, and how arrogant, and how wrong they were. The ground fell out from under them and they went into the pit, two hundred and fifty of them along with all their belongings and all their households with them. All because of pride. They wanted more than what God had set for them to do, they wanted to be priests, but were not of Aaron.

I rejoice that we live today under grace and though we are held to a higher standard, we are given so much strength to live to that standard. We are not alone, we have God with us, indwelling us so that we are not of baser things, but new creations to bring God glory. Praise His holy name, Amen.

He doesn't take sides

Jos 5:13 And it happened, when Joshua was beside Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked. And, behold! A Man stood in front of him, and His drawn sword was in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, Are You for us, or for our foes?
Jos 5:14 And He said, No, for I now come as the Commander of the army of Jehovah. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped. And he said to Him, What does my Lord speak to His slave?
Jos 5:15 And the Commander of the army of Jehovah said to Joshua, Take your shoe off your foot, for the place on which you are standing is holy. And Joshua did so.

With sword in hand, Jesus was ready for battle. But, He said "No," to Joshua's question.

No, He doesn't take sides. He is the God of Republicans and of Democrats. He is the God of Northerners and of Southerners, of blacks and of whites, of rich and of poor.

Why don't people see this?

He doesn't take sides, He is ready to take over if only we would move over and let Him take over. We are not in control, no matter how much we'd like to be in control, we are not. It's that simple, but not simple to understand or accept. It rather boggles the mind.

Joshua fell to his face. He knew. Without God humans can do nothing. Joshua was facing a daunting task...take over of a country. The Canaanites had weak stomachs for they had heard about God parting the waters for the Israelites. Rahab told them this. But when God parted the Jordan for them to cross over, the people of Canaan lost all hope and their stomachs melted!

When God takes over, things just go right. Joshua and the Israelites stomped around Jericho for a few days and the walls came tumbling down. Cool. They ate well, and all was right with the world until Ai.

Look what happened there. It is much more than one tiny town defeating the huge army. That defeat put some of the heart back into the Canaanites. All for a purple robe and a gold bar. A family was lost into the depths of the earth.

When we take the sword back, we not only hurt ourselves but hurt those around us. Yes, it is best to let God take over. He's much better at it than we are and, besides, He can see the whole picture while we only see a few pixels.

Why do we argue?

I love to bounce thoughts off brothers and sisters in Christ. I have to be so very careful which discussions I enter though because some of them go into phaser blast mode where no one  learns anything.

Now, it seems that everyone has an agenda.

Why is that?

Why can't everyone have patience with their siblings in Christ? I do not understand where some people get their interpretations, either. I know we are reading the same Book, but I do not think we are reading the Whole Book and taking into consideration the Whole of Scripture. That must be the case and why we have such a difficult time agreeing. I find agendas exhausting.

Some want just the OT without the inconvenience of obeying the commands of Jesus-all 1001 of them.
Some want just the warm fuzzy God, who will let everyone into Heaven just because He is so good and loving.
Some insist that only a very few will get into Heaven because God predestined them.
Some do not know what the resurrection means.
Some do not believe in the Triune God, even though Jesus speaks of the Triune.
Some are content with half-truths.
Some are content with half-lies.
Some would judge rather than love.

I find it very exhausting.

Come Lord Jesus, come quickly and settle this unsettlement

Outlawing Bully Talk

I have written a lot about bullying, and I still find it appalling that children are still doing it. What I do not find surprising is that the LGBT proponents have tucked that verbiage into their bag of tricks to twist the arm of America into believing homosexual lifestyle is normal. How you ask?