The sun was still on break as we rose this morning, Mary and I, to a dark sky. The humidity was as high as the moon was low as we latched two antzy dogs to leashes and opened the door to a dark world. We are back, back walking, back fighting for life and/or breath.
After a quick walk that was only interrupted I guess by 30 stops each as the dogs explored each and every new smell on the block, we returned for coffee and newspapers (I-pad and Nook versions).
And as the sun got the alarm turned off and rose for another day of October heat, we prayed together, for each other, for God's will for us, for the opportunities to help others with the power of the Holy Spirit. We asked to be a blessing, and to have God's blessings fall upon us. These prayers were a continuation of prayers I had begun while walking the streets on a starry, starry morn.
Our God is not dead; he's surely alive. He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion. (Whew, that's some tasty, lifting, antzy-producing honey on those Eggos)
After sitting here, I opened the New Testament to Paul's second letter to his student, Timothy, and I found this flashing in neon at me: "I give thanks to God, for whom I serve with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did. I thank him as I remember you always in my prayers night and day. I remember your tears, and I want to see you very much, so that I may be filled with joy. I remember the sincere faith you ave, the kind of faith that your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice also had. I am sure that you have kept it also. For this reason I remind you that to keep alive the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control."
What a wonderful word from God, to Timothy, then to us. Let's break it down briefly.
Paul thanks God for, well, everything.
Paul thanks God for Timothy, praying for him (and others) day and night.
Paul loves the emotion Timothy has shown, particularly after being set aside for service by Paul's laying on of hands. (Wish we could hear more about that right here, but we're left to wonder)
Paul loves Timothy's family, and assures us that the path to faith begins in a home. Any notion of Paul not thinking women worthy of helping that path is swept away.
Paul again asserts that the Spirit of God lives in us, and lifts us from timidity into a life filled with power, love, and self-control.
For every self-help book you could offer as proof that lives can change on their own, I offer Paul's advice/letter to Timothy.
The plan: Prayers -- often without ceasing; being set aside (but not out of) the world; having loving, caring parents who will help guide the child (including a Biblical, Spirit-led mentor); surrendering to the Spirit of God.
You fire back with whatever. The Spirit trumps I'm Okay, You're Okay.
This day I pray for each of you, admittedly collectively. I've felt your prayers of intercession for my health in recent days. I've felt the power of the Spirit lifting me back into the Spiritual battles that are ahead. After assuring someone that things were going so well spiritually in our church that we would soon face attack, I faced attack and crumpled physically.
I'm back, raring to put the armor of God back on, raring to get well, raring to road.
Each day is a new battle. Each day the darkness of the world tries to overcome the pots of light.
But with prayer, the love of praying people around us, the love of friends facing the same battles, and with the Spirit leading the troops, the battle is not only NOT an impossible thing to win, it is faced with love and a lack of timidity.
Paul adds next, "Do not be ashamed, then, of witnessing for our Lord ..."
Why do we do this, all of this, for as long as we can, in as many ways as we can?
So we will be prepared for the battle.
Bring it on, then (cough, cough). I'm fit and fine. (Although Mary saying, "You're really doing this" as I rose 20 minutes till 6 this morning isn't the most confidence building statement about what tomorrow might bring.)
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