The War Chronicles IV

Here is the recent podcast from Christine Beadsworth:

The War Chronicles IV

The Importance of Rest

God knows how very important having a day of rest is, that He made it a commandment. To rest on the 7th day. The main reason the children of Israel were carried off to Babylon for 70 years was that they weren't letting the land rest. They were to sow their crops for six years and on the 7th year they were to let the land rest. Not only were they not letting the land rest the 7th year, but they were doing sneaky stuff like renting out their land to the pagans around them for the 7th year. “We aren't sowing the land.” was their attitude. How did that work out for them?

I was guilty of doing the same thing. I was not taking a day off, so God had to force me to. With no running water in the house, I pretty much couldn't do anything. But it was more than that. I was physically, emotionally and spiritually wiped out. I was empty. I had nothing more to give. 

God showed me that He would fill me back up again, but that I needed to do no work and really rest. I mean more than just taking a nap (I took three). But to not even think. Not to worry about what isn't getting done. Not think about what is going on at work, my husband's health, the dog, or what is going on in the world. Literally, my brain needed to rest as well. Especially to not feel guilty about it. The adversary loves to make us feel bad about really taking a day off when there is so much that needs to be done. It is God's will that we have that day of rest. Remember that the next time you feel bad about needing a break. 

So, I rested yesterday, for the first time in quite a while. It was very peaceful, and I really needed it. When I woke up this morning, I felt incredibly refreshed. Plus, my attitude had healed, and I did not feel so hopeless and overwhelmed like I had yesterday morning. The Lord had filled me back up so I could continue in my walk and be able to give to the needs of my family. Thank you, Lord!

On Being Martha

Sigh. It was really a crappy week. 

The app I use to clock in at work disappeared from my computer over the last weekend. Then I got in trouble for working with IT to get it fixed off the clock. Catch 22. I swear I am being sabotaged – and not by a person this time. 

The day I was going to take a shower (having already pushed it an extra day) we had no running water. Thankfully we have 2 extra cases of water. Which were in the car and frozen solid. I also had a sink full of dirty dishes, that I thought I would be able to wash that morning before work. I put a case of water by the heater so it could thaw. I guess I will need to start buying water and keeping it in the limited space I have in the house. 

The water came back on yesterday afternoon and I was so relieved. Then the neighbor came and knocked on the door to tell us we have a leak. (insert expletive here) He was nice and turned the water off for us. So again no running water. The new Chad won't be able to come fix it until Monday when everything thaws.

I got up this morning at 2:30am, hoping to have some actual time to myself. But my husband decided to get up with me. I made him some coffee and breakfast. Let the dog out and the icy air in. I resent the dog. Just one more responsibility I have on my shoulders. It is 1 degree out and it's been too cold to walk her so there are several piles of poop out the front door that I will have to go pick up later today. 

I had always hoped I was a Mary. Nope. I'm definitely a Martha. That sucks. Cumbered about much serving. Not that I would go narc to Jesus on someone else. Not really my style. But Martha's problem was she felt sorry for herself because there was all this work to be done, and she resented Mary for doing what she herself wanted to do. Sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His teaching. 

Maybe that is the solution for me. I can't do any of the things I would normally do today, take a shower, wash the dishes, make banana bread. But there is something I can do. Sit at the feet of Jesus and just listen. 

Recent Podcasts

I have received three newsletters from Christine Beadsworth in the last two days. Here are audios from the first two:

The Tip of the Spear 

Pressing into the Darkness

The 3rd newsletter did not have a corresponding audio to it, but it did include links to previous podcasts. They are listed below:

Judah Shall Go First

Deciding your Destination - part two

Mandela Effects: Canadian Style

Several years ago, before the current douche-baggery up north, the prime minister of Canada, pictured above, decided to make daily speeches smack talking America. 

At the time, he was the first openly gay prime minister ever. He had a husband and an adopted daughter. The reason that we know this is, my husband and I hated the guy. Every time he came on to make his speeches, we would yell at the tv and talk about how extremely gay he was (using much harsher, less politically correct terminology.)

Then one day, out of the blue, the blackface spell occurred. The scandal had everyone up in arms. How horrifying that the PM of Canada would have himself photographed in blackface. The tv would show a picture of him in black face, then a picture of his wife and 5 children. My husband was the one who noticed it. It was shown over and over on all the channels.

“Wasn't that guy gay?” my husband said as yet again the tv showed the black face picture and the nice family pic with all the kids.

“Yes!” I exclaimed. “He is the first openly gay prime minister of Canada with a husband and daughter.” 

“Well, not anymore.” my husband stated.

I went online to try to find any evidence of his once gayness, and all I could find were news articles about how he attended a gay pride parade. All evidence of ever being anything but a family man with 5 children were erased from the internet. If fact, I couldn't even find anyone else who noticed the change. A whole nation of Canadians did not notice such a profound metamorphosis. It must have been a powerful spell, one that my husband and I are apparently immune to.  

From gay, to family man to hard core dictator all in the space of a few years. What is next? I shudder to think about it.  

Golf Balls

My dad is out of the hospital and getting better every day. But he is on oxygen and may be for the rest of his life.

My father-in-law, who is current on all the pinpricks available, who mocked us and laughed at us for not taking the shot or trusting any medical people, has been in the hospital for over a week with three golf ball sized tumors on his face. He says they tell him it is not cancerous. I take no pleasure in this news. Just profound sadness. This is just the beginning of sorrows. Please pray for them. 

Baptism

My husband asked me what the standard is for baptism. I told him there were several schools of thought on the subject but that Jesus Himself went to get baptized. John the Baptist, baptized with water but told his followers that One would come after him that would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. John was surprised that Jesus came to be baptized, but Jesus knew that it was a necessary step in His walk. 

“I want to get baptized.” my husband said. 

I was very happy to hear that. 

My husband is essentially bed-ridden. There was no possibility of “going down to the river” or even the tub for that matter. So, I baptized him in his chair with the Lord's blessing. We decided that we should have communion as well. I told my husband that Paul had admonished the believers for not properly discerning the Lord's body (not respecting communion) and that was why many of them were sick. 

I told my husband that the bible talked about how when people were sick, they should call the elders to lay hands on them and anoint them with oil. So I prayed, saying, that we had no elders available, only me. When I was done pouring water on his head, I dried him off and prayed over him. Then I anointed his head with oil. 

It was a very solemn occasion and I'm not sure I am doing it justice writing about it. I asked my husband how he felt afterwards. He said he felt relieved. He had been thinking about getting baptized for months. I told him not to wait so long to say something next time. But, then again, maybe the timing was perfect.