oppression

Awaken the Dawn

restoreroflostvoices

286A0665-0A35-4029-BB0D-78AF151EA2FA

 

Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Isaiah 1: 16, 17 NASB

 

Awaken the dawn.
Perfect love casts out fear.
Our glory flag waves with purpose.
Freedom comes with a cost and responsibility.
We cannot remain silent.
God is love. He sacrificed His only begotten  Son.

Jesus was crucified so that the captives may be set free, the hearts and voices of the oppressed restored, and the gospel proclaimed to all nations. Jesus spoke against injustice; He defended the weak and vulnerable, the widow, orphan, outcast, and stranger. Our beliefs and response matter. We cannot say we abide in Christ, and yet hate our brothers and sisters. Revival begins with us.

Long before there was a “Me too!” movement, I was a desperate cry in a parched land. I was deemed “emotional” and shamed for my passion. As if only sexually abused women shed tears. Still, I rose against the tide of violence in our homes, churches, and communities and spoke out.

Like many, my soul is bruised again this week. I am outraged. Heartbroken. Traumatized. Breathless. Numb. Speechless. Words seem inadequate. But this I know . . . God is love.

And perfect love casts out fear.

When injustice also rears its ugly head with a snarly comment, silent dismissal, or clamped boot, I am determined to interrupt, rebuke, and re-frame the lies of hate and discrimination with Truth. I will focus on what is pure, lovely, right, just, and honorable and choose excellence. Love does not require me to embrace every world view and movement. But it does require that I see others through the lens of Christ. He values life and grants forgiveness and dignity to sinners. And I am the least of these.

Awaken the dawn. Change starts when we admit our own hurtful and destructive thoughts. The broken ones bow in humility. We repent and turn from our wicked ways. Wash and cleanse. Likewise, we choose forgiveness and holiness.

We must learn to do good. Put it into practice.
Seek justice and correct oppression.
Defend the powerless.

God is love. He gives breath to His people. He alone is able to heal our land and disease. Justice will be established in the earth.

Lord, we wait on you. We pray for your mercy and courage to be different. Unify your people. May our love for you and others be a flicker of hope to all who are suffering.

Lily Mae

A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not be disheartened or crushed until He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.
Isaiah 42: 3, 4 NASB

 

Enough!

restoreroflostvoices

 

 

40E6A18B-EEC5-4184-9CED-D457756F1D64

                                                           

And the Lord spoke to me, saying, “You have circled this mountain long enough.”
Deuteronomy 2: 3 NASB

     The Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt, the house of bondage, with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He led them the long way so they wouldn’t be intimidated by a battle with the Philistines and want to return to their familiar way of living. God’s protection and care were evident. For forty years they wandered in the wilderness and they lacked nothing.

Although, the Lord satisfied their thirst and hunger, and their clothes didn’t wear out nor their feet swell, they grumbled and complained. Stubbornness and rebellion also marked their journey.  The Lord had delivered them from oppression, but fear and despair caused them to distrust Him. Israel was harassed and discouraged by their brothers; the ancestors of Esau called the Edomites.  They refused to let Israel pass through on their land. Nevertheless, God was on their side. Caleb and Joshua were unmoved by the giants that stood between them and the Promised Land.  So, they would cross the Jordon River and enter the land of milk and honey.

What mountain have you circled for too long? Does doubt or insecurity keep you couch-bound? Consider your skeptics, naysayers, and destructive self-doubt. Are you your worst enemy? There comes a time when the Lord says, “Enough!”  Set your journey and move ahead. God will help you conquer your hill country. Cross the river and take possession of the land. Don’t let the lies and labels of the enemy keep you from your calling. Your identity is found in Christ. Fix your eyes on Him. Know what distracts you, and don’t give your adversary an inch. One misstep and you could be circling again.

Before the Covid19 pandemic hit, I cared for my grandsons on a regular basis. I often saw myself in their obstinate and disobedient behavior. But I am not so cute, lovable, and tolerable. God teaches much-needed lessons through our next generations, the stiff chins and spit carrots and cauliflower. Mind you, my grandsons love their carrots and cauliflower with a dollop of dip. Pigheadedness happens, but I still love them. May we learn sooner than the defiant Israelites. God desires our undivided heart, mind, and soul and obedience to His Word and commands. When we search with our whole heart, we will find Him. God is love. He longs to be found. Known. It’s not about our doing, our clean hands, thoughts, and heart.

When will we learn that He is enough?

A quarantine often required forty days of isolation in the past. Forty days for change. Noah endured foul, cramped stalls and corners in an ark, and Jesus was tempted in the desert. Forty days dragged by with rain and hardship. Seclusion. Unfamiliar tasks and rest. Darkness. Temptation. Hunger and thirst. The Israelites were tested and tried in the desert for forty years. Will it take days or years? God is in control! If He is for us, who can stand against us?

We have circled this mountain long enough.

May we cross the river and never look back!

Take courage,

Lily Mae

For the Lord your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through his great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing. Deuteronomy 2: 7 NASB