The Lord Sees...

Just when you think the week looks a bit brighter amongst the grief and escalating uncertainty, the baton literally comes down on someones life…an African man in the African market not wearing a mask, an African American man in America robbed of his breath by a bent knee.

This morning...my dear friend in Africa is scared to go to the market alone to buy much needed resources for her family. My dear friend in America is afraid to walk the streets alone during the day. Are we really seeing into the depths of this injustice? Is anyone really seeing? Have we cast it all aside for the sake of politics? Will we ever acknowledge the strongholds in our lands from the bloodshed?

"For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land, to deny people their rights before the Most High, to reprove them of justice—would not the Lord see such things?" 

Lamentations 3:31-36

"My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees. What I see brings grief to my soul because of all the women of my city.” 

Lamentations 3:49-51

I had to catch my own breath again this morning and was very aware of the breath in my lungs, the tears in my eyes, the fire in my heart...very thankful for life. I paused to meditate on what is true, fight the urge to demand justice from the Father as it is really not fair to demand from Him when humanity is making these choices. 

So…today I know again the Lord sees. My dear friends are not alone. I lean into His heartbeat, listen for His voice. His voice is the voice for the voiceless. What next, Lord?

Artist: Marvin Halleraker

Lies in fragile times...

These days, there are many voices you can choose to listen to, and there are many voices you may not realize you are listening to. I was sharing with a good friend in the States this past week and the question came up…

“What lies are we believing?” 

We may think that question has everything to do with a pandemic virus, government conspiracies, and the idea that you may be losing a freedom you never truly had. I challenge us to meditate on His Word and look deeper. As citizens of Heaven, people of the Kingdom…

What rights do we really have? What benefits are really irrevocable? Where does our security really come from? What does justice really look like? 

Reflect on the words in Psalm 103…

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children-with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey His word. Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will. Praise the Lord, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul.