SPIRITUAL INTEREST | Norma L. Brumbaugh

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Matthew 21:22

God Answers Prayer

My experiences with prayer are many and diverse, but all my prayers have something in common. The prayers flow from my heart to my Heavenly Father. Some prayers are brief sentences, others are long and heart-wrenching. Lately, I’ve spent much time praying for my grown children, my dad, my friends, our nation and world’s leaders, and asking Him to protect, guide and help them according to their needs, and His will.

God Loves Us

God loves us. God helps us. God responds to our prayers. He comforts us. God takes an interest in our beings. Nothing is beneath or beyond His love. One thing I have learned over the years is that no prayer is wasted. God is not deaf! But He does wait for the right time to deliver. And the answer usually looks different than expected. Some prayers are simply expressions of faith.

God Understands

I’ve had a heavy heart lately. My earthly father is struggling and his body is failing. Life becomes harder with age. Even small tasks take greater effort. It is hard to watch this decline. I’m a little more emotional. My happiness-factor has lessened. My dad asks about his parents, his wife, his sister and her husband, his mother- and father-in-law. He forgets that they have passed on. He longs to see them. Heaven will be a joyous reunion for him.

We Carry Burdens

My prayers are simple these days. I haven’t the energy for long, complicated prayers. I sense God’s pleasure and compassion when I share my heart with Him. He carries my burdens and lifts my spirit. I’m so glad for this. Frankly, I don’t know what I’d do without Him. God be praised. He’s a hands-on God.

God Is Able

I pray for the world more than I used to. I’m not ready to give up on it. There is more work to be done. I ask God for Him to soften souls, to redeem lives, to heal and fortify, to change and make holy. At times I feel the weight of the world. Sometimes these prayers require heavy-lifting. But God is able and willing to receive them.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 1:5-6

. . .

Father God, You are so close that I sense Your living presence. Thank you for hearing my prayers and enfolding me in Your love. I treasure Your goodness, faithfulness, and graciousness. You give me strength when I am weak. You are so good to me. Be with my friends who read this. I love you. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

. . .

I wish you well on your spiritual journey.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” -Ephesians 4:1

It’s about what we are “Called” to do

As Christians, we all have a calling. We go forth as lights and give as we would give to Jesus. No task is too small. We do all things for Christ. I think back to my teaching days and those trying times with difficult students. Hard-to-work-with students were my calling as much as the other students. Our calling goes with us everywhere we go.

I write from a spiritual perspective. My worldview influences everything I believe and do. God is love. He compels me to love others including those who disagree with me and hate my beliefs. Their insults hurt and are undeserved. They know not the truth so they speak in ignorance.

I speak the truth in love, as Christ tells me to. I choose my words carefully. I speak gently. But still, the haters hate and vilify the messenger and message (example below). A true believer, who lives out of love, wears armor that repels the drawn sword. God is our shield, rock, and defense.

Christ followers march to a different drummer. Our core essence is light–the light of Christ. We still stumble. We fail. We get it wrong, sometimes. We admit that we can’t do it without Christ. He is our Anchor and Keeper, the Author and Finisher of our resilient, living, audacious faith. Christ overcomes evil with love and truth.

An example of this

I saw a Twitter thread about the recent SCOTUS ruling on the repealing of Roe v. Wade. There it was staring at me. Should I engage or not? I left it and then came back. I had to say something. I already knew I would be slammed. I owed it to the invisible children whom have never seen the light of day. I needed to speak the truth. I voiced my opinion even though I was in the minority.

Original tweet:

“The hypocrisy is raging, but the harm is endless”: Speaker Pelosi compares Supreme Court’s decision on New York’s gun law to its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. (a video was posted with this tweet)

My reply to the tweet:

“Preborn humans are finally protected in the womb. Their right to live is what this is about, not women’s rights.”

4 out of 21 replies to my tweet:

“Forcing victims of rape and incest to gestate a fertilized embryo is evil and inhumane.”

“When life outside the womb gets the same level of protection and concern as your ilk only seem to provide while it’s in the womb, spare us the theocratic platitudes, @nlbrumbaugh”

“Yeah you are probably one of those females that can’t have a baby and want to adopt one! That makes you lower than snake shit! I hope you never get to adopt just like the rest of the scum that believe this is right! Down with the republican party!”

“Just wait until they come for you my dear…”

* * *

I don’t usually engage, but I do when I’m impressed that I should. However, I never spew hate when I disagree. I may circle back and explain my thinking, which I did to one of these. And, of course, the person replied with more venom.

We’re seed planters as Christians. Every day no matter where we go we are taking our Lord with us. This is our calling. Every angry person, every minute, we are following the great compelling which is Christ in us the hope of glory. We are offering cups of cool water throughout our daily encounters. We may be the only bible some people read. Our actions preach. Like Mother Teresa said,

No, I wouldn’t touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God.

I leave you with a video which I listened to in the middle of the night. Peter Scazzero wrapped many of these thoughts into one bundle that says it well. His words prompted this post. By the way, he wrote the book I featured in my last book review, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. I often listen to him on YouTube when I can’t sleep.