The junk is going around and our oldest caught at least some of it.  When his fever didn’t break during the night, we made the necessary plans to rearrange the day.

I called the carpool friend.

I called our friend who hangs with little one while I teach my seniors.

I called a sub for said class.

I called my boss and alerted her of the changes.

 

Around 10:30 I get a call…

 

Your child has an unexcused absence.

 

I knew I forgot something.

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/1450/

Have you ever heard of prayer walking?  If you have, this might be old hat.  If not, I’d love to chat!

 

 

I had the privilege of learning alongside a fellow student in college in matters of prayer.  We had used Praying God’s Word in our personal lives.  We both loved the concept of praying His Words back to Him.  So we decided to use it in prayer walks as well.

 

Prayer walking was all so new to me when I first heard of it.  The best description is that it’s praying “on site with insight.”

 

So we started on our college campus.  What would it look like to pray on site with insight there?

 

For us, it meant many things.  As we would walk by the school of business, we would pray for professors we’d had there.  For students to know Him and use their future professions for His glory and others’ good.

 

When we passed a group of international students, we would ask they would know Jesus in an intimate way.  And if they were only studying here and would return to their home country, that they would be influential for the Kingdom in their families and relationships.

 

See what I mean?  We were on the campus site and could therefore pray for what was immediately in front of us. And if there was nothing in particular, we would pray a verse and ask for the Truth of it to be true in the people of our university.

 

What does that sound like to you?  A little crazy?  The nice thing is, it just looked like she and I were chatting.

Eyes were open as we walked.  No laying on of hands to complete strangers.  Just the two of us walking and talking.  To Jesus.

 

Have you ever prayer walked before?  I’d love to hear where and any stories.

 

If this is kinda new, what do you think?  Would you ever try it?

Sing to the LORD a new song;

Sing to the LORD, praise His name;

Proclaim His salvation day after day.

Declare His glory among the nations,

His marvelous deeds among all peoples…

 

Splendor and majesty are before Him;

Strength and glory are in His sanctuary…

 

 

Welp.  Here’s where I would like to remind you this book is killing me.  And at times I would prefer to move on to a nicer one.

 

However, obedience seems to be pretty important to God.

 

So…let’s dive in together.

 

“Hear the word of the LORD, O people of Israel!

The LORD has brought charges against you, saying:

 

‘There is no faithfulness, no kindness,

No knowledge of God in your land.

 

You make vows and break them;

You kill and steal and commit adultery.

There is violence everywhere –

one murder after another.”

(Hosea 4:1-2 NLT)

 

We are now moving from Gomer’s story line to Israel’s.

 

And God begins with heart conditions and spiritual violations in His people.

 

In other words?  Demolition from the inside out.

 

You are not faithful.

You are not kind.

You don’t know Me.

 

Jesus often talked about fruit.  The fruit indicates the type of tree (Luke 6), if we fall to the ground and die, we will produce much fruit (John 12), and we can produce no fruit without being connected to the Vine (John 15).

 

And Paul tells us the Fruit of the Spirit consists of character beauties, fruit of our internal life with Him (Galatians 5).

 

What we do flows from who we are.  If we are not connected to God, not faithful to Him or others, and not kind…other sins are not going to seem like that big of a deal.

 

We have a heart that is hardened to sin.

 

Just a few days ago I shared with some ladies an area where the people I love are regularly bringing me back to truth.  My history in this area does not allow me the luxury of trusting my heart.  I need others.

 

How bout you?  Any areas like this in your heart?

 

Okay.  Deep breath.  Let’s dig into what happens when we have sin-hardened hearts:

 

“You make vows and break them;

You kill and steal and commit adultery.

There is violence everywhere –

one murder after another.”

 

Looking at this list, I keep coming back to trust.  When we cannot trust another’s word, their vow, we naturally protect ourselves from them.

 

When we kill or steal or commit adultery, others are violated.  Taking someone’s life or possessions or spouse completely dishonors them.  There is no room for trust.

 

“Violence everywhere –  one murder after another.”

 

Remember Jesus talking about murder?

 

“You know that our ancestors were told, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘A murderer must be brought to trial.’

 

But I promise you that if you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial.

If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court.

And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell.

 

So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God.”  (Matthew 5:21-24 CEV)

 

Jesus meant it when He said we are to love one another.

 

We are Image Bearers.  All of us.  Even that person who disagrees with you.  Especially the one who is your enemy.

 

We will not truly love each other from the heart on our own strength.  We’re all far too selfish.  His agape love in us must take over.  In order for that to happen, we must train.

 

We yield.

 

We clothe ourselves intentionally with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

 

We ask Him to help us love our neighbor as ourselves in His strength.

 

 

We make room in our lives for that inside out demolition.

 

The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;

The LORD is robed in majesty

And is armed with strength.

 

Your throne was established long ago;

You are from all eternity.

 

Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,

Mightier than the breakers of the sea –

The LORD on high is mighty.

 

Modern Mrs Darcy is sharing Winter Survival Strategies.  I’m jumping in!

 

Things making me happy right now…

 

My space heater.  Knowing this and my Bible are waiting for me at my chair helps me get up when it’s dark.

 

Memorizing God’s Word.  I’m having my small group hold me accountable and also linking up twice a month at the Living Proof Blog.

 

Vitamins B and D.  Friends, no joke.  Try them.  Life changer.  Or at least energy changer.

 

New multi-purpose journal.  It goes pretty much everywhere with me these days.  I’m using it for goals, meeting notes, brain dumps and, well, a bunch of other stuff.  It’s not my planner but it’s pretty much everything else.

 

Under Kid Stuff:

Our new Kids’ Devotional.  It’s deep.

 

 

When these two spontaneously do this.

 

Big One’s story.  He even took the photo himself.

 

New games from Christmas.  Sequence and Doodle Dice.  Both have their charms.

 

Our favorite Kid Snippets video.  The boys quote it all the time.  “And one more…”

 

Under the category of Complete Vanity:

They say the brush matters.  It really does.  e.l.f. is a-mazing and super cheap, too!

I wrote about this CC Cream before.  Well, the right amount of un-budgeted money fell in my lap.  To say that it has changed my life would be…well…a gross exaggeration.  But I do love it and my skin feels much softer!

 

This little display in our room.  It includes a selfie from our first official date (like the bangs?), a wedding, graduation and recent picture.  Plus pressed flowers from our wedding, courtesy of a sweet friend.  It makes me smile to think on our years when I glance at it.

 

The bottom line is, of course, the same: Jesus, my family, and my community.  They keep me sane and make me happy.  Winter or summer.

 

Anything making you happy or helping you cope with the cold?  We’re halfway through winter, friends!

 

I’ve gotten to share with others quite a bit recently some verses that mean so much to me.  When our hearts betray us or circumstances make us doubt, particularly at weak times or at the beginning stages of our journey with Him, we can struggle to wonder…

…if He cares

…if we aren’t doing things “right”

…if we are truly His

 

 

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

 

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…”

(John 1:12)

 

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”  (Jesus in John 5:24)

 

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (Jesus in John 10:27-29)

 

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13, 14)

 

He is so beautiful.

 

He has done it all.

 

We believe.  He makes us His.  We stumble.  He holds on.  Others attack.  He won’t let us be snatched.  We repent.  He seals us.

 

He is our Salvation.

 

These are my go-to verses on this subject.  Do you have any?  Have you ever struggled with doubt?  In what ways have His Word and His Spirit reassured you?

The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD,

Your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.

 

 

“Then I told her,

‘You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you.'”

Remember, this love Hosea is showing Gomer is “as the LORD loves the Israelites…” (3:1b)

Exodus 20:2&3 is a commandment.

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

You shall have no other gods before me.”

As Gomer is to not be intimate with anyone, so Israel is not to worship anyone else.

And just as Hosea wants Gomer to be repentant, God doesn’t seem to just want the same old Israel back.  He wants a people whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.

Has He disciplined you like this?  Was the result a heart more fully devoted to Him?  One that worships Him alone…not just because you “should” but because you know nothing else will satisfy?

But hey.  Something else.  Can I address some others who may be reading this?  Especially if you feel like this isn’t your story.  If you’ve been committed to Him without pride or legalism.  If it hasn’t taken many hard lessons for you to be faithful.  If, when you’re honest, you’ve wondered at those who seem to not have your steadiness.

I think He would want you to know you don’t have to feel bad about your story.  Especially if your heart isn’t full of pride and your “goodness” isn’t what you trust in.  But from a deep place within, He has always been enough and you haven’t been lured by the rest.

Can I say to you one more thing?  The rest of us need you.  Those of us who in our heart of hearts are trusting in our rightness before Him.  And those of us who keep wandering off.  Or those of us who swing from one to the other, depending on the day.

I truly believe God is doing something in our time on this planet.  I think He is drawing the Good Ones back to a place where they’re just beggars in need of grace.  And I think He is using His Bride to show those who feel so far from Him that they, too, can come near – because it’s not about what they’ve done but what He’s done.

We need you, Steady Ones.  Can you help us?  Can you love the lot of us?

The final part of this short but meaty chapter ends, once again, in a prophetic word:

“For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or idol.  Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king.  They will come trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.”

Israel as a nation was to go into captivity.  They would have no king, no government, no temple in which to sacrifice to Yahweh.  But “afterward” they will return to Him.  The mention of David refers to the coming Messiah from his royal line.

In other words?  This final section is not ultimately about Israel as a kingdom.  It is about those who will be drawn to the wonder and beauty of Jesus.

He is the Ultimate King.  We come trembling before Him – not just because He can discipline and chastise, but because of His incredible mercy.

We’ve been bought back.  All of us.  Unlike the lowly slave price Hosea paid for Gomer, Jesus paid the highest, most costly price for us.

And when we see Him in His beauty, we don’t come before Him the same.

We have been going through Jesus Calling for Kids at breakfast.

This morning, big one was clearly not paying attention.  So I decided to test him on what I had just read out loud.

 

I go, “So what’s it like to walk with Him?” with a specific answer from the text in my mind.

 

He looked at me a bit startled, then got thoughtful.  Instead of scrambling for the “right” answer, he goes,

 

“It’s like lying on a bed with no one else around…and He’s your Dad.”