Equality?

So, Facebook just wished me a "Happy Women's Equality Day!"

from Facebook

Apparently, on this day in 1920 woman gained the right to vote.
However, I think the name of this day is wrong.
Perhaps, Happy Women's Right to Vote in the United States Day."
Or "Happy Equal Rights for Women Day."
Cause I believe I've been EQUAL to men since creation - day six. 

(proceed with caution, rant ahead)            
                               

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; 

male and female he created them.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, 

'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, 

and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens 

and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'

And God said, 

'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, 

and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 

And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens 

and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, 

I have given every green plant for food.' 

And it was so. 

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. 

And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day." 

Genesis 1:27-31

I'm not ungrateful!!! 

lovely picture to soften things up

I'm VERY grateful for the RIGHT to vote. 

I'm grateful to those ladies - and men - who boldly fought for that RIGHT. 

I'm also grateful that I have the RIGHT to do a lot of other civic RIGHTS stuff in the land of the free and home of the brave. 

I'm saddened, I grieve deeply (seriously), that women are not treated as equal to men by some people in some places. 

My past may have made me unequally yoked, or unequally able to find employment/pay. 

Physically I may be unequal to another at some task (better or worse). 

I may have been treated unequally or unfairly as compared to another, or how I thought I should be.  

I may submit to authority - but that makes me one under authority, not unequal. 

BUT never in the history of creation have I or any other female person been unequal to any male person in the eyes of the creator. 

Never have the two sexes been unequal in regards to dignity, and the need for love & acceptance, or room and board. 

ALL human life is precious. 

All HUMAN life is created in the image of God. 

All human LIFE is equal - regardless of age, sex, size, physical or cognitive ability or location. 

ALL HUMAN LIFE. 

(considers edge of soapbox) 

I've also learned from half the people, my friends, on Facebook that today is National Dog Day. 

Irony? 

(rant over, smiles lovingly, steps down)

Prayer

I've learned a lot this year about prayer.

Here's 10 of those things.

1) It takes practice. (Thanks for teaching me this Mrs. Elinor, and for modeling it)
Practice makes better. Our flesh can find MANY excuses NOT to come into the presence of God. Prayer, in our imperfection, is not natural. 
Practice Prayer.

2) It takes time.

"seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 

Rejoice always, 

pray without ceasing, 

give thanks in all circumstances; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5:15b-18

We can throw up a prayers anytime. But to really . . . get "on the line" with the Father . . .  SIT STILL! (or knell***). Take your time. Just be still and talk to God.

3) It's not always easy. We are waging war against evil. Asking God's provision and protection. And not always usually normally not physical provision or protection. Rather, spiritual. It's a great weapon against a very real enemy. 
Plus, there's this obedience thing. Easy to read. Hard to do/be consistently.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

John 14:15

4) It matters who you think your talking to.

If you've not excepted Jesus as your personal Savior, if your just praying to some deity, any deity, than your just throwing words at the ceiling. They don't stick up there. They don't go any higher. Your just speaking into the air. 

"'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”'

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and

 believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, 

you will be saved. 

For with the heart one believes and is justified, 

and with the mouth one confesses 

and is saved. "

Romans 10:8-10

5) Prayer makes a difference - BUT it's not the prayers that works, but God. He gets all the glory. Not anything that I've said. I'm just making a request. I'm requesting from/petitioning to the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords, the Creator of the universe, the Great I Am, the only Holy, omnipotent, omnipresence, just and righteous, God only wise. 

"do not be anxious about anything, 

but in everything by prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving 

let your requests be made known to God."

Philippians 4:6

6) If you aren't in the Word of God you've got a VERY one sided conversation. 

Get in the Word. Read the Word. Meditate/think about the Word you've read. Obey the Word. Share the Word with others. Pray the Word. Read more.

7) Prepare to be amazed.

Answered prayer, it's pretty Fantastic! 

Let the Holy Spirit do what He does - through you, in you, for you, around you.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, 

whom the Father will send in my name, 

He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance 

all that I have said to you."

John 14:26

Sometimes the answer is above and beyond all we could ever hope or ask for. 
Really BIG - He's got the whole world in His hands.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, 

according to the power at work within us, 

to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 

throughout all generations, forever and ever. 

Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21

8) Sometimes the answer is "no."

Deal with it. God knows best.

9) The Holy Spirit intercedes on my behalf - so we should earnestly intercede for others. Even if it takes all night. Even if it cost us.

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. 

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, 

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 

And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, 

because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

Romans 8:26-27

10) I need more practice. 
I'm forgetful. I'm lazy. I'm full of excuses.
I'm still learning. This list is not exhaustive.
Keep practicing.

"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. 

The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 26:41

Recently, I heard about a poll* that was done about how much people pray. I was astounded. Not because of how much "regular people" DON'T pray but by how much Pastors DON'T pray. 

On average pastors only pray 15 MINUTES a week. 

WHAT?!?!? Are you kidding?

I know there have to be some that pray a LOT. But seems there are many more that pray WAY less or not at all in order to make the average only 15 minutes. Mere minutes.

No wonder churches suffer, their shepherd isn't praying for them. Isn't praying for their trials, their joys . . . not even praying for the words to speak to them. 

I've been teaching this year**. I've been called a shepherd over a lovely group of ladies. 

I've prayed more. For words. For those who will hear those words. For God to use me as His vessel - that I'm just a willing open mouth. 

On my knees.*** Praying for the sweet ladies looking at me to hear what God says, to be an encouragement. To teach so that their lives are being transformed as they study God's Word, the Bible. 

It's a big deal. It's weighty. It's hard. It takes time. 

And I'm having a ball. - I am amazed!

I've learned to pray harder for those who teach me.

There's a method to my madness (usually).

One in-particular way that helps in keeping me focused in prayers is to pray ACTS.

A.C.T.S

Adoration

call on God and glorify His name. Lift Him up. Praise. 

Think "God, You are . . . " and speak all those things He is.

Sometimes I wind up singing.

Confession

He is SO HOLY. You are not. 

Confess your sins. All of them. Ask for forgiveness. "Get right with God."

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 

and the truth is not in us. 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:8-9

Thanksgiving

Thank Him. For everything. For little things. For forgiveness. For who He is. For what He has done. For what He will do. (sometimes I pray thanksgiving before Confession -  God is so good!)

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!

Sing to him, sing praises to him;

tell of all his wondrous works!

Glory in his holy name;

    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

Seek the Lord and his strength;

    seek his presence continually!

Remember the wondrous works that he has done,

his miracles and the judgments he uttered"

1 Chronicles 16:8-12

Supplication

This is where you make your petition know to God. 

(See #5 & Philippians 4:6 above)

What/who should we pray for? Look at your hand. 

Here's the 5 finger prayer:

Thumb

Pray for those closest to us.

(family & friends)

Pointer Finger

Pray for those who lead us or teach us about God

(pastor, church leaders, Bible teachers)

Parents, would you be on your child's pointer finger?

Husbands, would you be on your wife's pointer finger?

Middle Finger

Pray for those in authority over us. 

(police, political leaders - they sure need it)

Parents & Husbands, would you be here?

Ring Finger

Pray for those who are weak. 

The hurting, the sick, the lonely, the poor, the orphan, the widow, 

those being persecuted, those who cannot speak for themselves, the least of these. 

(Ring Finger is the weakest finger)

Parents, husbands, are we sharing our weaknesses with our family?

Are we teaching them to pray for and serve others in need?

Little Finger

Pray for yourself. 

When you've prayed for everyone else your own needs will be put in perspective. 

Don't neglect to pray for YOU - He loves you. 

He knows you. He wants to make His will, your will. 

Pray for you.

(Just had a thought. We, wives, could be praying for our Husbands on every finger. My relationship him, his leadership, his authority in our home, his struggles, and how I respond to him).

Just keep practicing. Practice Prayer. 

(right now - practice right now, while your thinking about it.)

The greatest battle stance kneeling in prayer. 

* I don't know where this poll came from. I think Gene told me about it.

** toccoalavonia.cbsclass.org

*** I don't always pray on my knees. Sometimes I just sit. Sitting with my Father. But sometimes I feel I need to kneel before the King.

+ AllBible quotes taken from the English Standard Version (ESV)

That is NOT a conversation!

"Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; 

anything more than this comes from evil."

~ Matthew 5:37 ~

I'm feeling a little touchy today. 

At first I was offended. 

Then I felt I had been the offensive one. 

Then I was unsure weather to apologize, explain or ignore the whole thing.

And then Matthew 5:37 came to me. Only I didn't know it was Matthew 5:37 when it came to me - thank goodness for online concordances (and spell check). 

The situation in a nutshell: Somebody made a "HaHa" true statement on Facebook (the newest root of all evil). 

Several others made comments. 

One Person asked a questions/made a recommendation. 

I made a "HaHa" comment back and "informed One Person about why their sincere, innocent, question/recommendation was just not quite up to snuff (just the truth - neither hot nor cold).

One Person apologized. 

Original statement-maker commented with thanks to One Person for their thoughtfulness.

I felt bad.

Then I felt offended. Belittled.

But then, was I just being offensive?

Then I'm confused about MY feelings.

And WOW that HaHa got personal awfully quick. 

And no one has said a word.

"Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’"

Job 8:2 ask, “How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?"

A great wind! Yep! That's me. And most other commenters on social media.

Talking just to hear ourselves talk. Full of hot air. Know-it-alls. 

Only, we aren't actually talking. 

Photo Credit

We can't inflect or show emotions (save strange, vague, mind-numbing, useless emotioncons). 

There is no mood. (Except for the one your in).

And when your feeling touchy. . . 

So, who's at fault?

me.

I took my eyes off the prize.

And I forgot the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid).

And that's when the devil won.

"anything more than this comes from evil."

Get thee behind me Satan!

I informed. I butted it. 

Had that been an actual conversation between a friend and a friend of theirs, would I have stuck in my two cents? Would I have bothered to explain something to someone who probably doesn't care just thought they'd throw their own two cents into that non-existent conversation?

Maybe. Politely. In person. 

(Smiling) "Pardon me, I couldn't help but overhear, I think blah blah blah . . . and further more, witty reply. (giggle, small snort)." 

And the voiced conversation continues to rolls merrily along.  

But "talking" on Facebook isn't really talking. 

It's typing (or pecking - depending on your ability).

You aren't having a conversation.

You are replying to the random thoughts of others. 

You aren't sharing life with them. 

You are glancing at specific moments that they feel like sharing. (some share more than others).

You might be praying FOR someone or semi-simultaneously with them but you are NOT praying WITH them. 

There is no connection to other humans.

Not talking as never been a conversation.

And it still isn't. 

No touch. No looks. No. . .

Facebook is: 

1) a great place to find-out stuff (often too much stuff) about other people (known and unknown to you).  

2) a great place to gather opinions (in abundance). 

3) a wonderful place find out there are other people on the planet. 

But:

4) a horrible place to MEET those opinionated people. 

You can see their face, but you can't see them make a face.

You can "say" hello to a "friend," but you can't through an arm around them or give them a friendly pat, or an understanding look. 

So, to quote Jesus, "GO!"

Meet these friends in person. Have coffee. Join a group of real life people who gather in person to eat, discuss, study, read, converse and otherwise get to know one another. 

You can't win friends and TRULY influence people from Facebook.

That is NOT where real conversation happens.

Photo credit

Now, I'm stepping off my soap-box, putting on my big girl panties, and calling people on the phone (cause it's day 4 of schooling I'm keeping my pj pants on).

What to do?

What does God want for me? How do I know? Is He speaking?

That's what on my mind. Right this minute. And it's all because somebody said something to me on Facebook.
Good questions.

Here's the low down on a snippet of life recently:

There's this Bible Study for Mama's (or any lady) that I would LOVE to lead. I put out a little "feeler" to gauge interest. I was planning to begin the study with a small group this summer. BUT!!!
Then I remembered to pray. Hard. And seek my husbands counsel. And the answer I was getting was something to the effect of, "you can if you want to but you ought not to. Look at what is being neglected." And I look around and see my home and discover that first things MUST come first.

So I posted on Facebook:
As much as I would LOVE to do the Gatekeepers of Our Home Study with a bunch of ladies, I've been convinced/convicted that my focus right now needs to be on my OWN home. (and not everyones)
As much as I want to pour into others, my first priority MUST be to my own family. (I still LOVE yours and am only a phone call away)
As much as we all LOVE to be with other, like-minded families to learn and fellowship (especially fellowship) I just can not commit more time away from my home. (still have plans to fellowship and play - often)
As much as I want to do this one more thing, I need to "be still" (which looks nothing like "still") and allow God to continue to prepare my mind and heart for the service(s) He's already called me to. (like God's child, wife, mom, and FCRTL & CBS)
All that to say that I don't always get what I want (and I really want it) but in obedience to my Father (and my husband) I'll focus on what He's already made me for. (And think about this study again later - way later).

That post got "liked" right away. And encouraging comments showed below. Then my sweet sister-in-love posted a comment and reminded me of me. So, this is my comment back to her.

Hey Sister,
I love you.
We are all pulled in so many directions. As wives and mothers and daughters and sisters and all the other hats we wear. Learning to say "no", or "not right now" is HARD! Saying "yes" to the right things can be just as hard. It's a battle of our will. Life is NOT easy. It's HARD! The Bible confirms to us that we are NOT promised easy.
But He will make our paths straight. What are you doing to "listen" to God?
Are you disciplining yourself to daily spend time with Him in prayer - praise, thanks, seeking His strength? 
Are you disciplining yourself to  daily spend time reading/studying His Word - His love letter to YOU - EVERY DAY? (His Word is how He "speaks" to us. Just as I am communicating to you now through the written word - but I make mistakes - He brings understanding and wisdom).
Are you meditating/thinking about His Words during the day? 
Are you truly seeking Godly counsel? Are you shunning false teachers? 
Are you currently attempting to 'train up" my sweet nephew 'in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?" 
Are you an encouragement to Daniel as the leader of your family? Are you praying for your husband? 
Or are you, like many mothers (like I was and still am on too many days), just trying to make it through each day? In your own strength? Missing out and overlooking daily blessings, provisions, help, answers? 
Remember, IF you have believed Jesus as your Savior, as the Lord of your life,  He has given you the Holy Spirit to lead guide and direct you in all things. Submit to Him.
Do what you know you should do and the works of the flesh will slowly become the fruits of the Spirit - and you'll realize one day that God is still in the business of miracles - cause you are one. 
You are His incredible creation and He has a perfect plan for you.
Get in the Word! And the Word will get in You!

The Lost Sheep by Alfred Soord

P.S.
Here are some verses (that I can remember) that came to mind as I was writing - in no particular order. (And that I do NOT have memorized but looked up on BibleGateway.com - English Standard Version)
I'm sure you'll think of others.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 

John 14:15

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, 

we lie and do not practice the truth. 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, 

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

1 John 1:6-8

If anyone's will is to do God's will, 

he will know whether the teaching is from God 

or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 

The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; 

but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, 

and in him there is no falsehood. 

John 7:17-18

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, 

and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, 

for these are opposed to each other, 

to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 

But if you are led by the Spirit,you are not under the law. 

Now the works of the flesh are evident: 

sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, 

fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, 

and things like these. 

I warn you, as I warned you before, 

that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is 

love, joy, peace, patience,kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;

against such things there is no law. 

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 

Galatians 5:16-26

Only be strong and very courageous, 

being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. 

Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, 

that you may have good success wherever you go. 

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, 

but you shall meditate on it day and night, 

so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. 

For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, 

for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 

Joshua 1:7-9

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, 

that we should be called children of God; 

and so we are. 

The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 

Beloved, we are God's children now,

 and what we will be has not yet appeared; 

but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, 

because we shall see him as he is. 

1 John 3:1-2

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, 

so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts 

and flog you in their synagogues,  

and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, 

to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 

When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak 

or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 

For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 

Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 

and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. 

But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 

When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, 

for truly, I say to you, 

you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 

It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. 

If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, 

how much more will they malign those of his household. 

Matthew 10:16-25

As a side note - for further study:

• Get some paper and keep it with your Bible and write down prayer request and what your reading and what your learning. (a practice I struggle with)
• use a concordance or biblegateway.com or blueletterbible.org to search out words like "but God"  "meditate"  "straight paths"  "obedience"  "wife"  
• study Matthew 6:19-13 and learn more about "how" to pray - search out other prayers in the Bible. (we are currently doing this as a family about once a week) 
• Read or retell Bible stories to kids - be sure to have your Bible open.
• Remember the Bible is truth - nothing this world dreams up compares.
• If you fall off the horse, GET UP! and get back on. (meaning - if you try to have a personal and/or family devotional time each day and you just don't - try, try again). Don't give up.

And I'm only a phone call away if ya need me.

The Prodigal Daughter by Charlie Mackesy