All Things Work Together

It is no secret that this life is hard.  People die, business fail, relationships end... the list of human misery is exhaustive.  I have always prided myself on being an optimist, my Mother calls me "Pollyanna", but I must confess I find myself cynical these days.  At least when it comes to anything of this world being just, righteous, and fair.  I have become skeptical of any snake oil this world has to offer, even the great American Dream has died in my mind.

This comes as no surprise to God and it is that assurance that makes us look deeper.  We must become more comfortable not knowing and understanding the "why's" of life.  Our faith tells us that we will not always have the answers but to trust God and recognize that all things work for the good of those who are called by God and do according to His purpose.  All things... health, financial, relational, all things....

The Kingdom of Earth vs. the Kingdom of Heaven

As the love for this world fades, believers look to the Kingdom of Heaven, where we are told to store up our treasures, where thief can not steal and rust does not destroy.  Most of us will never have our rewards here on Earth, in this lifetime, so it is with eyes to eternity that we serve a King that knows and sees all.  We write blogs that no one reads, we start businesses that fail, we pray for others for years with no results, we evangelize to the deaf and the hardhearted, we toil in soil that produces only weeds and thistles and that deer trample and eat to the ground... we sever our ties with this place and recognize that all things work together for our good.

Maranantha.

Where Are the Political Posts?

Some of my long term readers will recognize that the Abigail and Dolley of today bears little resemblance to the blog of 2009/2010.  Born out of the Tea Party, Dolley was actually launched on a collaborative site founded by several conservative friends.  That blog was literally stolen and this site was born.  So you may wonder, "Why don't you write political posts any longer?"

The short answer is that I no longer believe that it makes a difference.  I began to cool off considerably after the rally of 2010 failed to produce a halt to the destruction of the country.  2011 was an extremely trying and difficult time for me personally and I had enough ageda of my own without rallying around the flag.  I engaged for the 2012 election and fought hard for my candidate, Newt Gingrich.  Toward the end, I even got on board the Romney train and supported his candidacy.

Two major occurrences soured me on politics forever.  The first was about a week before the election when I posed the question to my fb friends if anyone was actually still undecided.  The answers were amazing... I realized that all of my writing, all of my persuading, all of my educated had been for naught.  I had dozens of friends who had not been positively influenced by my four years of crusading.  The second occurred about 2 am on election morning, I wept for my lost country but have never looked back.

You see, I believe that the only hope for this lost world is found in the salvation of Jesus Christ.  The 24 hour news cycle is not going to save us, the turning of the tides is not going to happen because we are simply too close to the end of the church age for that to occur.  Daily we are seeing the fulfillment of prophecy and the foundations and systems for the last kingdom are being laid before our eyes.

I now view world events through the lens of a Watcher.  I stand on the wall and call warnings but even these are now quieter.  My prophetic zeal changed no one's minds either, it was simply just more noise to my friends and family.  So I simply write about my journey, about our business, about my life walking with the Lord.  At the end, it is Christ and Him crucified that has the power to save, I am merely a humble servant trying to make it through the day.

How Do They Make It Through?

Abigail and Dolley readers I have been much less introspective these days.  The lost days of 2010 are retreating into the past and the rebuilding and renewal days of 2011 are coming to a close.  I have turned outward to my country, my friends, and my work.  I am passionate about the up coming electoral season and will work to play my part as a citizen.  Lest I become too absorbed in the world, I am disciplined in my prayer time.

I find myself increasingly burdened for those who are without Christ.  They play across the landscape of my mind, I see their faces, I weep for them in their lost state.  I pray earnestly that they come into a relationship with the Living God.  I wonder how they make it through this hard life without the blessed assurance that they are love, saved, and not alone.  How do the deal with sickness, death, or unemployment?  How indeed?

I pray, "Lord, if you would have me witness, give me the words and the opportunity."  From my human perspective, I want to argue with them, I want to convince them of the truth.  I want to use reason and logic, I want to use history and prophecy.  I want to prove to them the validity of faith and in the end I feel totally ill equipped for the task.  I have been a Christian since I was a child.  I do not believe I have ever helped lead anyone to the Lord.

My husband, on the other hand, has been privileged to lead hundreds to faith and help guide hundreds more along their journey.  Perhaps these folks will be credited to me in Heaven because I have worked very hard to enable my hubby to have that opportunity.  Regardless, the burden for souls does not abate with large successes, you either have it or you don't.  I feel it intensely.

Blogger has added the analytics tab to the settings for easy access to their analysis.  When the blog was first launched, I was very intent to promote it and bring traffic to the site.  Today, I am just thankful that I have this small forum and that I have faithful readers who stop by and have a cup of tea with me every now and then.  Perhaps there are some, who have stumbled upon this blog and been encouraged.  Perhaps there are some, who have been directed here and enjoyed their stay and even learned a thing or two.  I hope I have been a light, I hope that the love I feel for the Lord has come through.  I hope the love I have for our Country has been represented well.  In short, I hope I have been a good and faithful servant,

Bless you all, my Friends.
Dolley

Holding Pattern

Abigail and Dolley readers I feel like I am in the hospital.  Everyday I wake up, stretch, take inventory and determine today is the day I will get to go back to life as normal.  I anxiously await the daily visit from the doctor and pray He tells me I can be discharged.  Up until now, everyday the answer has been, not yet you aren't strong enough.  I argue and fight and try to show that I am indeed strong enough but the wise physician will not be swayed and I am forced to wait.

I look back over these weeks and realize I have needed this time.  I know I have caught up on about 200 hours of missing sleep.  I don't have black circles under my eyes anymore.  I don't appear drawn and haggard.  I've lost weight, gotten back into shape, quit smoking, and am closer to God than I have ever been.  So while I have fought this "hospital" season tooth and nail, it has been good for me. 

I find myself pondering this Scripture: Romans 5:3-4 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character and character produces hope.

I am working on the rejoicing part.  I don't think it means we are masochists about suffering but that we realize when we are going through trials and tribulations that God uses that to do good works in us.  In the case of this verse to give us perseverance, character, and hope.  It is worth noting that hope comes last.  I guess if we had an abundance of hope at the beginning we would not develop perseverance and character as we aught.  That does not keep me from praying for it though.