You mortals, how long?

Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; you set me free when I am hard-pressed; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. “You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; how long will you worship dumb idols and run after false gods?” Know that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; when I call upon the LORD, He will hear me. Tremble, then, and do not sin; speak to your heart in silence upon your bed. Offer the appointed sacrifices and put your trust in the LORD. Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see better times!” Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD. You have put gladness in my heart, more than when grain and wine and oil increase. I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; for only You, LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4

Dumb idols.

It is pretty clear from reading and rereading this text that dumb idols is anything or anyone or any circumstance from which I seek gladness other than the light of His face. As in May the LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.

And I have fistfuls of dumb idols. So many things that I allow to disappoint or discourage or dis-anything that divides my heart. Anything else than only You.

Dumb idols.

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee.

You alone.

You alone hear me.

You alone make me glad.

You alone give me peace.

You alone are my heart’s desire.

And I watch sorrowing angst all day long in my little middle schoolers. And the cutters and the head bangers and the facers-down-on-the-table-and-weeping. All day long.

And yesterday I remembered all of those longing-to-gather-into-His-arms-and-comfort-His-lambs verses. All day long. Including me.

 Christy, beloved Christy, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.

The good portion.

The one thing.

Have mercy on me, a sinner, and set me free.

Hear my prayer.

Never ever ever ever get into a political discussion on Facebook. Ever.

In Your righteousness, deliver and set me free. Psalm 71:2

I am Your servant and the child of Your handmaid; You have freed me from my bonds. Psalm 116:14

In the course of their journey he came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha, who was distracted with serving, came to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do all the serving by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered, ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said, ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part, and it is not to be taken from her. Luke 10:38-42

The distracted fretting of Martha. The contrasted freedom of Mary.

The one thing.

Incline my heart, O God, to Your ways. Turn my eyes from longing after vanities. Psalm 119:36-37

And yesterday’s verses included my pilgrimage verse.

Blessed are those whose strength is in You,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Bitterness,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion.

And what a gift it was from God my St. James pilgrimage, twice, so I could really get what it is about. One thing, really.

And I am part of this almost silly Facebook group, American Pilgrims. Silly because the whole bunch of them really get it. Over and over, it is about this one thing. Over and over again, it doesn’t matter about the blisters. It doesn’t matter about the type of jacket. It doesn’t matter about the snoring. Even if they haven’t wrapped the words “Lord God Almighty” around the Presence, He is there.

The Way of the Wall, Gary Stokes: The Middle of the Oreo

Often when we seek His will, His purpose, we are attacked from all sides and from within.

Nehemiah 5 is all about hard times. The very hard times being suffered by the Israelites as they labored to rebuild the wall. And they cried for mercy.

The cry for mercy is always answered by God.

Nehemiah reacted with anger, anger that led to godly action. He paused and pondered. And he ruled his heart within himself.  He noticed the root problem and gathered the leaders and contended with them over a very actionable step: you are charging interest from your own people. The leaders minimalized the consequences of their actions, slavery of children. (Exodus 22:21-27) If you lend money, do not treat it as a business deal; charge no interest. When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. 

Israel’s national identity is “We were slaves, and when we cried out, He redeemed us.” We are not The People Who are Better, but We are the Redeemed People. This is all about, Will we be redemptive or will we be blind?

All men and women are created equal in the eyes of God. We, the Church, need to step into actively protect each and every child, our flesh and blood.

It is different to be religious rather than reverent. Let us not buy into doing what our culture does. The Way of the Wall means living a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Jesus taught us, saying: “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Get yourselves purses that do not wear out, treasure that will not fail you, in heaven where no thief can reach it and no moth destroy it. For wherever your treasure is, that is where your heart will be too.” Luke 12:33-34

Jar of alabaster

She has done all she could— Mark 14:7

Be still and before the LORD and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7

Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you. James 4:8

See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; I have loved you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42

One thing. To kneel at His feet. And receive the love You have for me.