A Quick Minute

 "But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;

I had nearly lost my foothold.

For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."  

(Psalms 73:1)

"Therefore pride is their necklace;

They clothe themselves with violence.

From their callous hearts comes iniquity;

their evil imaginations have no limits.

They scoff, and speak with malice;

with arrogance they threaten oppression."

(Psalms 73:7-8)

Ouch.

Saul like Trump, Trump like Saul

Father, I have a few rapid-response items that I have wanted and still want to address with You. Sometimes, I get going and forget to return to some of them.

• Decision to go to Parlee and Emily's wedding
• Amy and Christopher and the serious threat to his immigration status
• My own marriage and simmering discontent and resentment
• (This one brought me to tears.)
• Frustration around my husband's shallowness and disinterest in what I consider very important things (I am saying this bluntly and not carefully)
• Not understanding the complex political, economic, and spiritual forces at work in the world right now.

Abba, Grammarly evaluated this writing as sounding "sad and gloomy."  They are probably right.

So, I titled this post "Saul like Trump." In some ways, mainly looking at Saul's later reign, they are remarkably similar, although Saul's early experiences were better than Trump's.  DJT has been a scoundrel for all of his recorded life.  I have to remind myself often (but not often enough) that You nonetheless love him and grieve...I am pausing here because this word choice surprises me and reminds me of TBR's point in the commentary today...his sinfulness.  There, I said it.  It may sound judgmental.  Is it?  Alternatively, it might be exactly right -- he is grievously sinful.

But we--I--know that You are God and Yours is the victory.  The only place I want to be, whether it is "safe" in the traditional definition of the word, is with You, in You, around You (now real tears).  Back to Saul's kingship, I note with some chagrin that despite Your grief over his sinfulness and Your anger at him, You allowed him to remain in place for a while.

Eesh.

I am also angry with the corrupt enablers of this man.  Some of them even claim to be Your followers.  My head wants to explode with this realization.  I also want to remain humble and to be receptive to Your correction, being certain that it does come from You and not from some hypocritical people who claim to speak for You.  (Dang, I sound bad.  I don't know how not to sound bad, and mad, given how I feel.)

Come, Lord Jesus!  Teach me in the meantime how to be a good ambassador for You in this hostile world.

You know I love You, right?

A Psalm of Lament

 O LORD, my foundation and my salvation, why are You allowing such wickedness to continue and even to grow?

We know that You are God; Yours is the victory.

Why, then, may I ask timidly, are You allowing so many battles to be lost?

What do You want me, and Your faithful people, to do?

I cry out in the depths of my spirit for revival and for repentance.

I struggle with anger and outrage and deeply profound grief and sadness.

I fear--yes, I fear--for the future of my beloveds and for the future of this country.

I feel hopeless and helpless in the face of this onslaught of lies, defiance, hatefulness, and upside-downism.

I know that there is always hope when You are present and working.  I remind myself of this blessed truth often because the overwhelming darkness threatens this spark of light.

Abba LORD, I am privileged to call You my Father and my God.  I do not understand Your ways.  

I will, however, put all my trust and hope in You.

There is no one else.