My soul was crushed on Friday when the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that gay marriage was the law of the land. I felt the same grief and evil foreboding I felt when our current president was elected. I felt it again when he was re-elected. The grief was the same, but the burden of that grief was much heavier. My very soul was bowed down. I am still grieving for our country.
This president has ushered in changes so rapidly that it astounds me, and these changes are destroying the very fabric of our nation. The decision about gay marriage is America's final slap in G-d's face, and will have far-reaching implications in the days ahead. I wrote about those effects in my previous post HERE.
I spent Shabbat pouring out my heart to Him and seeking His face. This is the poem I wrote that morning:
You've allowed it...You let it be.
Evil reigns...people die...sickness cripples...You let it be.
It makes no sense to me...
My soul is crushed...my heart cries...You let it be.
And yet, my hand still clings to THEE.
I sat still on my porch to LISTEN to His voice.
Adonai said, "I AM with you. I will guide you and provide for you in the days ahead, just as I led Israel through the desert. Just LISTEN."
Oh, how His voice comforts and calms my heart. I opened my Bible and He led me to these verses:
I have sent strength for you. (Psalm 68:28)
Put your hope in Adonai from now on and forever. (Psalm 131:3)
Lift your hands toward the sanctuary and bless Adonai. (Psalm 134:2)
Adonai does whatever pleases Him. (Psalm 134:8)
I wait longingly for Adonai.
I put my hope in His Word.
Everything in me waits for Adonai
More than guards on watch for morning.
More than guards on watch for morning. (Psalm 130:7-8)
And then I painted the picture at the beginning of this post. It reminds me that as surely as the sun rises each morning, Adonai will work in this situation. All is well. He is in control. Blessed be His Name forever.
LISTEN is my word for 2015. I believe something big is coming. A great sifting has already begun. The sheep are being separated from the goats. Those who hold to G-d's Word will be called to suffer. The apostate church will go on as before, without pause.
This decision will affect churches and synagogues because it will require rabbis and ministers to perform same-sex marriages. There are some who will go along with this, and some who will not. We will stand on the side of G-d's Word. Legislators have already begun to work on laws to protect our religious freedom. G-d bless those people.
We were born for such a time as this. Those who cling to Him and His Word are the "remnant". I pray for my faith to fail not. I pray that for you, too, my Gail-friends.
I'm sharing this post with some of my friends at :
Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
Janis with Sunday Stillness
Kathy’s Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life
GRAND Social
All Things Bright and Beautiful Link-Up
GRAND Social
All Things Bright and Beautiful Link-Up
Jennifer Dukes Lee Tell His Story
Thursday
Favorite Things
Friendship Friday
Faith Filled Friday at Missional Women
Fellowship Fridays at Christian Mommy Blogger
My Fresh Brewed Life with Barbie – Weekend Brew
You are not alone in your grief, my friend. Blessings to you for this post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement, Nancy. It means a lot.
DeleteBlessings,
GG
Your poem is so heart-felted and such a beautiful lament. I grieve with my neighbors in the U.S. as here in Canada this has been legal for over 10 years and is slowly taking our freedom of speech away. I love what you said here: "Those who cling to Him and His Word are the "remnant." So true. Those who finish the race faithfully are His.
ReplyDeleteGod bless. I'm visiting from the 'Spiritual Sunday's' link-up.
Thank you, Cathy. It is hard to write a post like this. We all want to be liked by others, and saying the hard things can make one unpopular. But I choose the favor of G-d over the favor of men. The truth sets people free, and G-d is mercy AND truth. I appreciate your encouragement.
DeleteBlessings,
GG
You are so right. There has been a shift. I know that God is still on the throne. And he is still in control. My spirit grieves for my love ones that don't know Christ and the persecution of the faithful that is taking place and to come. I also grieve for the ones that think that this is business as usual. This is an attack on the very fiber of God's creation... Yet, some feel that it is business as usual. We as Christians have allowed this to happen. This nation is know as the largest Christian nation in the world. If this is so, then how could this have happened? Where was the many Christians? This unfolded right before our eyes. It is my understanding that the majority of the people of this nation supports gay marriage. If this is true...then majority has ruled. God said that many will suffer persecution. Thanks for sharing this and your beautiful poem. God hears our cry,
ReplyDeleteTrish, many of us (me included) have been silent. I remember when prayer was taken out of public schools and there was not public outcry. We have reaped what we've sown in the past. The crop coming in is depravity. I used to sit back and not take part in politics, but now I do. We live in a representative government and must take part. Let your voice be heard. Speak out on these moral issues. The dark world needs our light. Thank you for your encouragement.
DeleteBlessings,
GG
The enemy wants us to be quiet. I am experiencing that right now. I will speak when God says speak. I have to stand for righteousness. I can't worry about being popular. That has never happen and I am pretty sure it never will. However, I am known for speaking the truth in my little town. I am sadden right now because I put other things before God. I was so caught up with my problems and other things I had left my first love. My spirit is grieved about that as well. I am so thankful that Abba is so loving and so forgiving. People are not so forgiving. Thanks for allowing me to share on your blog.
DeleteAmen. Thanks for sharing at Thursday Favorite Things! Hope to see you again this week. Blessings!
ReplyDelete