There was a 2.5 hour rain delay at last night's Rangers game, and I stayed for the whole thing. Game over at 12:30, got home around 1:30 (made the mistake of stopping at Jack in the Box for something to eat...sloooooooow! Then had to get up to take Steph to school.
There will definitely be nappage today!
Pray for President Obama and for God's will to be done on his nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court Justice. Intercede for the upcoming confirmation process...
Pray for the nation and the Obama administration's response to North Korea after reports that it tested two more short-range missiles Tuesday, a day after detonating a nuclear bomb underground...
You pay a fair wage for a good day's work! (The Message)
"We can...rest assured, however severe our wrongs may be, though wicked men should account us the filth and the offscrourings of all things, that God is witness to what we suffer, will interpose in due time, and will not disappoint our patient expectations."
(Commentary from Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Calvin on the Psalms
"Godly and Dignified Lives"
1 Timothy 2:1-2
2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (ESV)
True Christianity seeks the well-being of all people. We do not share the gospel with only an elite few. We desire to see "all men" come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Paul commands Timothy to pray for "kings and all who are in high positions." How difficult is it for us to pray for leaders, especially when they are on the "wrong side" of issues? Yet God commands it of us. But check out the reason for this command. "...that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." We should, of course, be prepared to endure persecutiopn. But we don't need to be longing for persecution! We are to pray for conditions that enable us to live peaceably and quiet.
"Quality Obedience"
1 Peter 2:22
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. (ESV)
Sometimes our inward desires do not match our outward conduct. We act right outwardly, but sin in our hearts. But Jesus did not have this problem. He perfectly obeyed the law of God, and desired in his heart to do so.
"...obedience that isn't delighted in is not perfect obedience." That is worthy of reading again. "Obedience that isn't delighted in is not perfect obedience."
Jesus was able to say, "I always do what pleases [the Father]."
I ask for faithfulness in the command to pray for all people, especially for those who are in leadership positions over us. This means I have a responsibility (which I have been endeavoring to uphold) to pray for our President and his leadership team every day. And I do pray for conditions to be present so that your Church can live a peacefull, quiet, godly, and dignified life.
I ask you to place a desire for perfect obedience in my heart. Give me a delight for your ways and for your will. I confess that I don't always desire this.
Grace and peace, friends!