For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ~ Isaiah 55: 8-9

I went to bed last night with a post outlined in my head only to wake up to the words for this post – and the words started, “Standing, believing, trusting – and among all things – loving.”

2010 was The Year of Standing for me. I described in like this in my post:

“I learned that standing in faith, standing on truth, maybe tripping a little on righteousness but standing still, ready with gospel in my quiver, my chin strap of Salvation tightened though worn, and the Sword of the Spirit gripped tightly in my hand – yeah – I had all those things available – but all I could do was stand. Mind-numbing stand.

I understood more why you need to read and remember those promises of God. Because on those days when all I could do was stand – I couldn’t read. I couldn’t think. All I could do was remember. and. stand. whispering. promise Words my Father gave me. . .

Unable to reason with the world around me – Mind-numbing paralyzed – no words to respond. Reason like a vapor – But standing, knowing that He was responding. He knew the solution. He knew the machinations. leaving me just to. . . stand. . . .” (Blue Cotton Memory, The Year of Standing, 2010.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” ~~Ephesians 6:12-14)

Many have had their expectations turned upside down – expectations of justice, rule of law, presidential outcomes, how our country should behave and respond, expectations based on over 250 years of history, expectations of God’s favor and censure.

Marriage has taught me a lot about the expectations. I’ve spent 37 years learning appropriate expectations of my husband’s role in our marriage. I had to stop expecting my husband to be God and just let him be my husband, my best friend. He isn’t my redeemer, my healer, the fixer of broken things in my soul. That meant I had to let God be God.

Right now, I need to let God be God in my country.

At this moment in our history, let us not be like Israel at the birth of Christ, whose expectations visualized a warrior Christ coming to rebuild David’s Jerusalem and keep God in a box. Let us let God be God and let us stand with faith while He orchestrates His plan, though we cannot fathom how that plan will work its ways out.

The laws of man may fail man when hearts let go of God, and though many who lead may let go of God and the reigns of justice, let us not let go of God, let us not lose heart and despair.

While we wait on God, let us wait with the faith of a child who knows how He is loved and valued by his Father, who fights for him, champions him, protects and provides for him. Let us wait assured doing the following:

Believe

“For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him
should not perish but have eternal life.”
~ John 3:16

“May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit
you may abound in hope.”
~ Romans 15:13

And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’!
All things are possible for one who believes.”
~ Mark 9:23

Stand

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand firm”
~ Ephesians 6:13b

Be Still

“Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
~ Psalm 46: 10

In the Stillness of your Soul,
Trust God

“Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed,
for I am your God;
I will strengthen you,
I will help you,
I will uphold you
with my righteous right hand.”
~ Isaiah 41:10

Wait and Watch
with anticipation

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” ~ 1 Peter 5: 7-11

Above all, Love God,
and in the loving of God,
love to save His Lost Lambs

“. . .love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your mind
and with all your strength.”
~ Mark 12:30

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” ~ Ephesians 3: 14-21

Continue the Mission God has given you

“Whatever you are doing, let your hearts be in your work, as a thing done for the Lord and not for men.” ~ Colossians 3:23

We need to strengthen the weak,
heal the sick,
bind up the injured,
bring back the strays
and search for the lost. ~ (paraphrased) Ezekiel 34:4

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost,” Luke 19:10

When doubts come,
when confusion strikes,
ask Him to Stand with you!

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God,
the faithful God
who keeps covenant and steadfast love
with those who love him
and keep his commandments,
to a thousand generations,”
~ Deuteronomy 7:9

“Be strong and courageous.
Do not fear or be in dread of them,
for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.
He will not leave you or forsake you.”
~ Deuteronomy 31:6

“The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you
by his love;
he will exult over you
with loud singing.”
~ Zephaniah 3:17

Who am I to reason out God’s maneuvers in the battle for His people and the world! He writes the story. He creates the strategy. He leads The Army of Angels. He does all that and still provides the saving ending to your story and mine. I am just called to believe, to stand, to be still, trust, watch, love God and love His lambs – both lost and found, to continue the work He would have me do, and to continue standing! Our God’s got this, though we may not know how!

“Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:” ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

Remember Me Monday: #30 & Linky

“I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings,
    all the things God has done that need praising,
All the generous bounties of God,
    his great goodness to the family of Israel—
Compassion lavished,
    love extravagant.”
~ Isaiah 63:7, The Message

In the Old Testament, God repeatedly, quietly and loudly, tells his children, “You have forgotten me!”  (Jeremiah 3:32, Ezekiel 22:12, to name a few). It’s a heart cry from a father to a child who has forgotten all the love, all the saving, helping, little and big blessings – and it leaves me stunned when I realize our Father, the creator of the universe, who knows things I cannot begin to fathom, who authors storylines that leave me amazed, delights in all of us so much, He cries out, “Remember Me.”

While every day is a Remember God Day, I am inviting you to join me on Monday mornings to come by and remember what God has done for you, for your family. Maybe God sent a cardinal darting out in front of you, as if to tell you, “I’m here,” or broke a child’s fever after you laid it all down at His feet in a 2 a.m. bedside vigil. Maybe He stood with you in the wait of a prayer sent out, or brought someone you loved to Christ. Maybe He healed your broken heart, gave your courage, or you gave Him your dreams as a love offering only to have Him give them back in an unimaginable way. Maybe God helped you survive to bedtime after a crazy Monday, or forgive yourself for missing it with your kiddos –– Whatever it is, let’s Remember Him. . . in a “Remember Me Monday” love letter.

“My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
Of your salvation all the day long,
Though I know not its measure.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord”
~ Psalm 71:15-16.

Let us delight in Him by telling the  stories of what He’s done!  If you wrote a blog post remembering what He’s done for you, join the linky. If you didn’t but still want to praise Him for what He’s done – write it in the comment section. Then visit a comment before or after yours! One of the beautiful things about the blogging community is the relationships it builds!

Rules?  Write long or short, a list or a story, include photos or not. Just Remember Him and what He has done, and let the gratitude of your heart guide you. Let’s make Monday so Rejoice, that the goodness of God spills into the rest of the week!

Places I’m Linking at This Week:
 Inspire Me Monday,  
https://welcomeheart.com/blog, Worth Beyond Rubies,
Share a Link Wednesday, 
Grace and Truth, Faith on Fire, Tell His Story

***All photos marked with Muddy Photography or © Blue Cotton Memory or used within Blue Cotton Memory blog(s) belong Blue Cotton Memory. Going forward, photos will be marked with Muddy Photography.