The Chronicles

Monday, January 23, 2012

an earnest appeal for guidance and deliverance

¹ Hear my prayer, O LORD,
         Give ear to my supplications!
         In Your faithfulness answer me,
         And in Your righteousness.
² Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
         For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

³ For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
         He has crushed my life to the ground;
         He has made me dwell in darkness,
         Like those who have long been dead.
⁴ Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
         My heart within me is distressed.

⁵ I remember the days of old;
         I meditate on all Your works;
         I muse on the work of Your hands.
⁶ I spread out my hands to You;
         My soul longs for You like a thirsty land.  Selah

⁷ Answer me speedily, O LORD;
         My spirit fails!
         Do not hide Your face from me,
         Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
⁸ Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
         For in You do I trust;
         Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
         For I lift up my soul to You.

⁹ Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies;
         In You I take shelter.^[a]
¹⁰ Teach me to do Your will,
         For You are my God;
         Your Spirit is good.
         Lead me in the land of uprightness.

¹¹ Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake!
         For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
¹² In Your mercy cut off my enemies,
         And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
         For I am Your servant.
Psalm 143

Thursday, January 19, 2012

robbed

**** Update: Apparently, the boys rode their Ripstiks up to the bus stop this AM and hid them in the bushes for their ride home. Unbelievable. These boys are aging me, for sure!

According to Websters 1928 Dictionary:
ROB'BED, pp. Deprived feloniously and by violence; plundered; seized and carried away by violence.

Not sure if there was any violence involved in taking our boys Rip Stiks (fancy pants modern skate boards) off our porch in the dark of the night, but the boys were definitely deprived of the joy in riding them each day, every day. The police think it was probably city kids coming out to the burbs taking what they can for the thrill and desire of it all.

The whole situation is sad. Sad that kids are being raised without values and principles.

So yet again, I find myself faced with adversity in my situation. Who I am going to honor? Me and my flesh? Yes, that would feel good and did for a moment when I first discovered the missing Rip Stiks. But I know better. I'd be violating the one who came to die and save me. Jesus. I'm no better than the thieves if I murder in my own heart. So I pray and ask God to take my anger, my injustice, my frustrating over adapting to a new area and throw it into the ocean. Take my heart of stone, oh God, and give me a heart of flesh. One that loves and shows mercy to the unlovable. One that forgives easily and extends grace to the offender.

Here is where the boys' Ripstiks used to reside.

I must tell them when they come home from school. I pray my attitude is honoring and I'm able to lead them into forgiveness of their enemies. Please pray with me and for me, won't you. Thanks.

Friday, January 13, 2012

more on friends

The boys have made friends too.
Seriously, the police drive up and down the streets a few times a day here.
They are so great with the kids. Always stopping to talk and ask questions about how they're doing in school and sports. The boys love it. If they ask a police officer for a card, they'll get a real live "baseball" card photo of the cop. Cool, huh? I thought so.
Anyway, can't hurt to have the police in the neighborhood. A lot. Often. I feel like I should make them cookies or something. They probably don't have a lot of extra time to stop in at Dunkin Donuts.