Politcally Correct or God Corrected

Prayer may be the most humble act of dependence we’ll ever experience.

            I watched an independent three-year-old tie his shoelaces -- “all by myself.” I offered help but he refused. He knotted the two laces, over looped, under looped, twisted, and tucked. Satisfied with his work, the laces perched in two tangled masses on top of his shoes. I knew the strings wouldn’t do their job after five steps.  

            Unfortunately, the I-can-do-it myself spirit never completely goes away. At mid-age, we remain enamored with ourselves, thinking we can “handle” whatever comes our way. By our senior years, we don’t want to bother others, and we wish to take care of ourselves. We like our independence. I like mine, and I imagine you like yours.

            I’m oversimplifying what has happened in our nation, but I think dependence on self has caused most of our woes. When we think that we know better than Almighty God how to live our personal lives and govern a nation of peoples, we fall into the decline of idolatry. Self becomes god.

            More laws would not help. We know that morality cannot be legislated. Laws exist against driving while under influence of mind-numbing substances. However, the law on paper doesn’t keep those drivers off the roads and endangering the lives of others. Only personal convictions of the heart can do that.

            Our choices have caused a downward spiral. Personal worlds inflated with self as god turns to illegal drugs (prescription drugs, too) to numb their senses. One drug cartel in Mexico reaps one and half billion dollars because we are addicted to pleasing self. Thousands have died from drug overdoses, and thousands more have died in the drug wars as cartels maneuver to ship drugs into the United States. We have their blood on our hands because of our insatiable desire to escape our undone lives. Independence from God has a high price tag.

            While some in government seek the counsel of God, others tout blatant sins -- the opposite of Judeo and Christian values. It’s no secret that we allow the killing of unborn babies for the sake of convenience. The general media seeks to influence and “entertain” us with stories of sex outside of traditional marriage, of men marrying men and women marrying women, throwing humor into the mix so we’ll swallow the ungodliness.

            Those who cling to God and traditional values (that God put in place for the good and safety of humankind) experience the ridicule and labeling of “old fashioned” and “out of touch with the postmodern world.”

             The surmounting problems of not only our lives, our nation, and the world seem overwhelming. Questions come to mind: When did we become politically correct, instead of God corrected? What can I do? How can one person do anything to influence change for a better world, a better nation?

            The answer remains simple. We can depend upon God, exercising the privilege of prayer and voting. We can stop spouting political views, arguing, and forwarding nasty emails about candidates or our president. How many have equaled their prayers with the forwards of derogatory emails? This is what I’m praying these days: “Lord, I give up. I have no wisdom about this. Please place in office the one who will bring us back to you.”  

            We’re an old nation that has lost its bearings, and we need a Caretaker, someone besides our politicians. Join nearly 50,000, already praying Sept. 28 – Nov. 6 using Max Lucado’s prayer guide. It’s not politically slanted prayers. They admit dependence upon sovereign God. The acronym USA aids in remembering to pray three things: Unite us, Strengthen us, and Anoint and Appoint our next president.

            One verse always seems popular during election times, as a guide to a past straying nation, it hinged on the word “if.” Read it afresh today. The outcome of our nation depends on how you will comply with that word “if.” “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).  

            Hunger for Humility (week 41):“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

            Cathy Messecar welcomes comments at www.cathymessecar.com

Three Good "Nevers"

A wise person told me to avoid using the words “never” and “always” in negative ways when talking to family members. That worthy advice has served me well. Those damaging words “never” and “always” if used in the heat of a word-tussle can inflict harm because they leave no wiggle room for exceptions.

            An angry mom might address a tweener’s failure to put away her wet towels, “You never pick up your towels.” The almost teen has probably put them on the towel rack a few times. If the exception had occurred, that daughter may think poorly of her mom’s word choice. A dad might correct a son’s bad table manners and exaggerate, “You always chew with your mouth open.” You get the drift. If the son had even ONCE chewed with his mouth closed, he’d remember and feel hurt by the overall labeling of him as an open-mouthed muncher.

            Conversely, I read three excellent uses of “never” in the Bible. They astounded me. I’d read them before, but here I am at a different time in life, and they mean more. I love the absolutes that these “nevers” represent: Jesus declared himself the bread of life, and whoever comes to him will “never go hungry,” “never be thirsty,” and he “will never drive them away” (John 6: 35-37).

             The feeding of the 5,000 preceded Jesus speaking these unconditional “nevers.”  A miracle outlined in John 6 (and the three Gospels) reveals the power behind Jesus’ “never” promises: The setting was when Jesus fed 5,000 people (that count didn’t include the women or children). The late afternoon sun glowed. Suppertime neared. Stomachs rumbled and yet, there were too many mouths and not enough food.

            Then, Jesus asked Phillip “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” Philip didn’t have deep pockets, and replied, “Eight months’ wages would not even buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” (v 5-7). He clearly saw that needs far outreached the resources.

            That’s when the Creator of wheat and all the little fishes in the deep blue sea speeded up processes to bypass the usual seasons of growing and harvesting and baking. God sidestepped around fishing, cleaning, smoking, and drying of seafood. The disciples had found a lad with five meager barley loaves and two small fish, and when Jesus prayed over the skimpy meal, he created fast food that was good for them.

            What a fish story! If kids today eat alphabet soup, the kids that day ate a numerical meal. How can five plus two add up to over 5,000 meals? Pay attention to the crowning glory of that story found in Matthew’s closing remarks, “They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish” (Matthew 14:20). After those leftovers were stored away is when Jesus spoke three “nevers.”

            The supernatural growth of bread and fish displayed God’s power that backed up  all of Jesus’ claims and promises.  Imagine yourself in that crowd with a family of eight to feed. Remember, family chefs, your entire family had eaten supper, and you did no shopping, no cooking, no dishes, no cleanup. Besides that, no whines were uttered, “I don’t like miracle bread and fish,” because “all ate and were satisfied.”

            Then Jesus spoke three breath-taking promises: never hungry, never thirsty, or never driven away. The temporary gift of bread fed the hungry for that day. However, Jesus offered more than casual dining; he offered to feed them for an entire lifetime. He could become to each a lifelong feast instead of a supplement. He wanted the position of chef and life-healer to individuals and nations.   

            Needs often stretch beyond resources. That’s when humble people look to gracious Jesus because he takes care of physical needs and offers soul-deep sustenance. We can’t do it on our own, no matter how much we stress, worry, or try to make things happen. He alone nurtures nations and souls as they trust in his power-backed three “nevers”: never hunger, never thirst, and never driven away (John 6:35-37).

            Comments welcome at www.cathymessecar.com

            Hunger for Humility (22): “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).