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Daily quote from Real Simple

"If everything went the way it was supposed to, I'd be happy." Many of us approach school, marriage, and other parts of life with the blind optimism of the inexperienced.

"Real life" is a shock! We hurt and get hurt. We hunger and thirst. Our families suffer. Our finances become undercut or in disarray.

"What happened?" we cry. "Life wasn't supposed to be this way."

In light of last week's shooting of youngsters, I agree. We are created for so much more. God made us to be moral, upright, and kind. He set us in family units where we find safety and peace. He designed human communities that are supposed to love and nurture us.

But we have chosen our own way. We decide each day whether or not to live within God's boundaries. The tides of our minds tug us here and there, yet each person must define how obedience or disobedience will affect self and others.

Our struggle against God takes many forms: anger that God allows free will of others which destroys and tears down. Sometimes we rage when He hedges us in and doesn't let us rampage through life in purse selfishness and greed. Often, we're confused when He doesn't give us a checklist of "do this, do that" and we feel like we're muddling through our options in the dead of night.

Jesus showed us how to live in relationship with God. He came as our Wonderful Counselor to demonstrate the flexibility, gracefulness, and justice of his Father. When friends betrayed him, he forgave. When disciples sought power, he empowered them with the Spirit not political clout. As he walked the roads of Israel, he lived every moment to the full.

We treat the Beatitudes and similar teachings of Jesus as metaphorical and impossible to live up to. Yet Jesus doesn't say that turning the other cheek, not worrying about tomorrow, or being meek are ideals that we can't achieve. In dying to self, he brought us new life. That's the abundant life we bring to others through self-denial, godly living, and alignment with God's truth.

Jesus calls us to do the radical. The unthinkable. The holy. In the middle of horror, grief, and despair, he pulls us into his Presence (if we'll let him) to transform us with his Goodness and Mercy. How will you make time for your transformation today?

Read more:
*For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

*I have loved you, says the Lord. Malachi 1:2

*May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Moravian Prayer: O faithful and steadfast God, you are unmoved. You are rooted to us and bound to us by a divine love and we humbly offer you our worship and praise. Amen.

The hazards of God's "Yes"

Have you ever wanted something so badly that you begged God for it? Kept asking, perhaps even trying to blackmail God into a response using the parable of the widow and the unrighteous judge (who gave in to her request because of her nagging)?

Be careful what you ask for.

Jesus promised that His followers that if they lived in truth, doing the work of the Father, that they could ask anything in His name and it would be given.

That's a lot different from things we really really want because they sound good to have, move us forward in ambitions, or seem to prove to us that God likes us. We don't want to be ill. We don't want to lose our jobs. We want a bigger house (or to keep the one we have). Don't we deserve a good life if we are Christ-followers?

The Israelites thought they knew what would help them stay on track. They asked Samuel to find them a king like the nations had around them. Samuel prayed about their request and listened to God's response:

So Samuel passed on the LORD's warning to the people who were asking him for a king. …

But the people refused to listen to Samuel's warning. 'Even so, we still want a king,' they said. 'We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.'

So Samuel repeated to the LORD what the people had said, and the LORD replied, 'Do as they say, and give them a king.' Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home." 1 Samuel 8:10, 19–22

Even though God warned the nation about what would happen if He gave permission, they recklessly persisted in their request. So God said, "Yes." Subsequently, Israel's kings turned the nation to idolatry and war. Within 3 generations, the tribes split into two countries. After a few centuries, both were dragged into captivity and the Promised Land lay in ruins.

He also allowed Lot to become the father of two enemy nations of Israel through his daughters: we're talking about Lot, the nephew of Abraham (who was promised great blessings.) Moabites and Ammonites were Lot's descendents. 

God also let Hagar become the mother of Abraham's son Ishmael. And what a mess that's made of Middle East peace!

God allowed Hosea's wife to be a prostitute. He let Judas betray Jesus. He let well-intentioned Pharisees kill Stephen. And let churches choose to be lukewarm and indifferent. 

He warned against all of these things but didn't' prevent people from making choices that had severe consequences. 

Are we insisting God give us something (or allow us to indulge in behavior) that may bring more harm than good? Let's be careful what we ask for this Christmas season!

Read more:

*Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. Psalm 25:8

*Yet how quickly they forgot what he had done! They wouldn't wait for his counsel! In the wilderness their desires ran wild, testing God's patience in that dry wasteland. So he gave them what they asked for, but he sent a plague along with it" Psalm 106:13–15

*“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Isaiah 1:18-20 NIV

*Through Jesus forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38

Moravian Prayer: O God, we sin, we speak too quickly, we give in to anger, we hold hate in our hearts, but you stand calm. May we feel the calmness of sin forgiven and may we be made clean now, today. Amen.