Patient Affliction//Vicky Hodson

Habakkuk was a prophet in Judah, during a time when Judah was taken over by sin. They were worshiping idols, sacrificing their children to pagan gods and completely ignoring God.

King Jehoiakim refused to listen to God’s prophets and even went to the extreme of burning their writings.

As you have learned so far, Habakkuk cried out to God, not understanding why they had to endure so much sin and evil. As hard as it was for him to wait on God’s answer, he chose to be faithful to God and answers God with:

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to his complaint.” Habakkuk 2:1

What do we know about these ancient cities? They were built with a wall for protection. The ramparts were outside the city walls and were the first line of defense.

Habakkuk was saying that he’ll be like a watchman whose purpose was to stand on the towers and watch for invasions or messengers. He would stand outside the walls, ready and waiting for God to answer his question.

We often give up on God if He doesn’t answer right away or in our time. God’s timing is not equivalent to our timing. That is hard for us since we are accustomed to “instant gratification”.

Like Veruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, “I want it and I want it now". We expect answers when we want them and we want them now. Habakkuk, though, was willing to wait.

Wait on the Lord.

Psalms 27:14 “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

What situation are you currently facing that you have asked over and over for God to intervene? Maybe its a situation where you work, a marriage, or a family situation. How do we stand firm in our faith and wait for God’s answers?

Can we be like Habakkuk? Can we be like watchmen and wait? Can we get outside our situation and look at it from a different perspective? There is no one answer for how to do this. It will look different for each person, however, there are some principles to consider;

Actively seek God.

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

Give your situation to God, He will bear your burdens.

Psalms 55: 22 “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.”

Be patient.

Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Have faith.

Matthew 21:22 “and whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Look at Romans 12:12. Patient in affliction. This is exactly what Habakkuk was doing. Being patient and watching for the Lord.

What are you struggling with today? What trouble do you have in your life that you are anxious about? We often react in fear when facing trials. Are you willing to EXCHANGE your fear for PATIENCE?

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to his complaint.” Habakkuk 2:1

Pray these verses as often as you need to. Write them down and keep them in front of you to help you be patient and to wait and watch for the Lord.

Vicky Hodson

Love Letters//Mary Swafford

When I was growing up, my best friend in the whole world was Mercedes.  We were in school together from early elementary, all the way through graduation.  We didn’t remain close that entire time, but from about 5th grade through 10th grade we were inseparable.

Back in the day, cell phones didn’t exist yet (How did we ever survive?) and it was common to write letters.  Even when I would go to Mississippi to visit my grandmother, she would have me write a letter to my parents telling them of my experiences while with her.  I would spend one morning writing them a letter and then we would stick it in the mail that afternoon.  These letters never required a response, because I was returning home a few days later.

But Mercedes and I.  We could write some letters.  Our letters ALWAYS required a response.  We wrote to each other so often, that we quit using different pieces of paper and would just write our responses on the same letter, fold it up into a triangle and pass it back.  We did this for the entirety of our friendship.  

One summer Mercedes gave me a journal.  Instead of writing little notes back and forth, we would write whole pages or two in the journal and then pass the journal back and forth to each other.  

I remember waiting with eager anticipation to receive the journal back from Mercedes and hear all about her adventures that summer.  We shared everything with each other.  Our hopes and dreams for the future.  Our thoughts and feelings about every situation.  Our joys and happiness, as well as our hurt and confusion.  Every outward expression and experience we shared together.  Every hidden, quiet secret as well.  

There was such intimacy to our relationship.  I could hear her voice in the distance and immediately know it was her.  I could see a figure in the distance and call her out because I was familiar with how she carried herself.  I could read something and know she wrote it.  Not just because I recognized her writing but I also knew the way she wrote and the way she phrased things.  We could finish each other’s sentences.  It was like we had our own language.  A love language, and these were our love letters.

This is how I see Habakkuk.  

In case I didn’t share with you last time, Habakkuk is not like any other book in the bible.  If you’ve read it for yourself, you know this already.  It is unique in that it is not so much an account of what’s happening in Habakkuk’s time as it is a prayer journaling experience with God.

Habakkuk cries out to the Lord, “Lord, how long must I cry for help?”. 

His cry doesn’t make the book unique.  Many authors in the bible record similar such cries.  Especially in the Psalms.  

“Hear me as I pray, O Lord.  Be merciful and answer me!” – Psalm 27:7

What really stands out to me is that Habakkuk continues.  Not only with his prayers, but with God’s responses.  It’s his love letter.  Habakkuk’s heart’s cry to God and God’s heart in return.  

“The Lord replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed!  For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.”  Habakkuk 1:5

Aaaaaaahhhhhh….  Goosebumps!  What I would give to receive such a letter from God.

My immediate response is that above, but my spirit corrects me.  I already HAVE a love letter from God.  YOU already have a love letter from God.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made."  John 1:1-3

Not only is our love letter in Jesus Christ himself, but it’s in His word.  All we have to do is read it.  When our heart cries out to him in prayer, he responds;

“Look, you mockers, be amazed . . .  For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.”  Acts 13:41

When our prayers seem to go unanswered, and things aren’t going our way, He responds;

“For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”  Isaiah 43:19

Jesus wants us to seek the One who answers our prayers and not the answer itself.  

We need to…. I NEED to wait for his response with eager anticipation.  He longs for us to share everything with each other.  Our hopes and dreams for the future.  Our thoughts and feelings about every situation.  Our joys and happiness, as well as our hurt and confusion.  Every outward expression and experience we share together.  Every hidden, quiet secret as well.  

He longs for this kind of intimacy in our relationship.  So that I can hear His voice in the distance and immediately know it is him.  I can see a figure in the distance and call Him out because I’m familiar with how He carries himself.  I can read something and know He wrote it.  Not just because I recognize his writing but also because I know the way He writes in my heart and in His word.  We can finish each other’s sentences.  

We have our own language.  A love language, and these are our love letters.

Exchange your desire for an answer to your prayers for the One who answers prayers.  Imprint His words on your heart, write them on your doorposts and in your journals!

Grace with Covid // Heather Dillingham

As I am writing this I am on day four of Covid…Yay. Something about being sick though is that it makes you realize how much you need grace.

You need grace because you aren’t able to play with your kids. You need grace because you can’t be intimate with your partner or even be around them. Grace for the laundry and dishes piling up, grace for the groceries that need to be ordered, and grace for having to hide when the rest of the family is enjoying family time. Not to mention the grace you need for yourself for feeling guilty about all the above.

But I noticed something when reading Psalms 119. A simple line that I could have sworn I read already in Psalms.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    as is your way with those who love your name.

Psalm 119:132

Here is why…

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.

Psalm 25:16

I entreat your favor with all my heart;
    be gracious to me according to your promise.

Psalm 119:58

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
    our God is merciful.

Psalm 116:5

There are so many more verses like this, but you can already see how the Psalmists were constantly reaching for and begging for God’s grace.

Personally, I’m thankful for it! Passages like this point out to me that the Psalmists were flawed. That they NEEDED grace just as much as I need grace. That they argued with their spouses, allowed tasks to fall behind, lied, failed, and had FLAWS. And yet, they constantly point to how gracious God is because they understood the significance of the grace they had been given.

It’s not human nature to be gracious. We tend to want justice and even vengeance sometimes over grace. But God shows time and time again that He is full of grace and mercy. He can handle when we aren’t are best and can help us find the grace to give others and ourselves to become better through Him.

God, I love that no matter how messy I am, you are always full of grace. Your grace is seen so clearly throughout scripture. It’s in the requests of Your Psalmists, the praise of their words, and even in the way you constantly saved your people even when they didn’t deserve it. God please never give up on saving me. Never give up on saving us as a body. Grow us, God, with each failure, and help us to worship you more and to give you more. God thank you for accepting us, flawed and all. In Jesus Name. Amen.

I challenge each of you to find a verse about grace and write it somewhere for you to see this week. Add it to the bathroom mirror, your planner, anywhere. Then comment below what verse you chose.

Heather is a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a believer, a wife, and a mother to a wonderful (and sometimes crazy) toddler. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and listening to podcasts. She can usually be taking care of the home and playing on the floor with her daughter.

Photo by Tracey Hocking on Unsplash

How Lovely // Mary Swafford

I’m late.  I’m late in writing this blog.  I totally spaced that my blog was due to post on Monday this week.  I never thought about it until I laid down to sleep last night and then it hit me!

I’m late.  But God is always right on time.  Our theme this month for our blog is praying through the Psalms.  I randomly chose a Psalm that I remembered enjoying during our recent study of the Psalms but knew ultimately that God would direct me to another when it came time to write.  

I’m so thankful for His timing.  Had I written my blog on time, I would’ve missed the beauty of listening to the ladies at the tall table at Boulder Coffee today as they wrapped up their final bible study gathering for the summer.  They have been studying Psalm 23 for the last 8 weeks.  I have enjoyed hearing bits and pieces here and there of their conversations of how God has spoken to them through the word.  Today was no different.  There was a lull in activity at the coffee shop which allowed me to hear one of them beautifully describing how God had pointed her to Psalm 84.

I stopped listening to her and started reading the Psalm for myself.  And I knew.  I knew God ordained this moment and this is the Psalm I’m going to pray with you.

As I pray, I hope that you will pray with me too.  Listen to the words of the Psalmist.  The words of God.  Allow them to penetrate your spirit and share with me in the comments how God spoke to you through Psalm 84.

…

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.  With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.

God, I love you Lord.  I want to be with you, Lord.  I want to feel your presence here with me now.  God I thank you for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and the intimacy that knowing Him brings.  God let your presence wash over me.

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your alter, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!  What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.

God you take care of even the sparrows needs, Lord how much more will you care for mine?  With your tender love you provide for all of creation.  My King and my God!  What joy you give me.  Lord, I worship you with all that I am.

What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs.  The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.  They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

God, you are my strength.  When I am weak, you are strong.  I give my burdens to you and when I lay them down, you will pick them up and carry them for me.  You will be my strength when I have none.  When I am thirsty, you will be my refreshment.  When I am hungry, you will be my nourishment.  

O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.  Listen oh God of Jacob.  O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!  Show favor to the one you have anointed.  

God, listen when I pray.  Don’t let my cry go unheard.  God you know what is on my heart.  Sometimes it is more than I can even speak.  But you know my thoughts before I have them and my words before I say them.  

A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!  I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.

God, I want to be in your presence.  More than anything else, Lord, I want to serve you.  I surrender myself to you.  I give you everything.  My life, my marriage, my family, my home, my possessions, my relationships.  They all come from you and I surrender them to you.  

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.

Just like when you lead the Israelites out of Egypt and you were their cloud and their fire, God you are my light.  You show me the way to go, which path to follow.  And you are my shield, protecting me from the enemy.

He gives us grace and glory.  The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

Thank you for your goodness Lord.

O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.

I trust in you Lord Jesus.  I love you Lord.  Amen.

Mary Swafford is the founder of Shaken & Stirred, Meals that Matter, Coffee Talk, and a Co-Owner of Boulder Coffee in downtown Sand Springs. She is a wife, a mother of 3 beautiful children, but most importantly a daughter of the most high God. You are likely to find her chugging or serving coffee, sitting in a tattooist’s chair, or making friends out of strangers.

Photo by Cédric VT on Unsplash

Pray Through Psalms

For the month of August, my inspiration for the blog was that we need to pray through the Psalms. I believe there are many of you that are familiar with this concept and that is perfect.  But for those that aren’t I just wanted to share why I love doing this:

1.      Focuses Prayer

2.      Allows God to speak

3.      Easily repeated

My ultimate prayer is that by going through the next 5 weeks you will be inspired to do this in your own quite time.

…

Psalm 119:129-136

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Lord thank you for your Word. Thank you for giving us reminder after reminder of your faithfulness and love. Your words create light where darkness lived previously. God, I pray that you help us to not only remember your words but to help us to understand them. We thank you for the insight that we’ve received already in reading your word and wait anxiously for more.  

I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.

God, I pray that you give us an insatiable craving for you and your presence. Father, help us to understand that we only need you. When we search and search for peace, it can only be found in your arms. Make your presence known in both the purposeful times and in the busy moments.   

Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.

Lord, please just guide us in these troublesome times. Keep us safe from the enemy as he prowls around looking for openings in our lives. Set your angels around us and guard our minds from the lies of the deceiver. Jesus thank you for your sacrifice in dying for our sins and redeeming those who choose you, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.

Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.

Father, please allow us to feel your presence. God help us to be like David and give us a longing to share your love with the people around us. Soften our hearts for those that are suffering and give us the courage and nudging to help.

Bethany Thomas is the Publicity Coordinator and a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a daughter of God, a wife, and a dog mom. When not writing for the blog, you are most likely to find her reading a fantasy novel or crafting at her home in Sapulpa, OK.

 Photo by Jasmin Ne on Unsplash

Fearing the Snow // by Heather Dillingham

I recently listened to a podcast about the different types of fear involved when talking about God.

The first fear is fear because you don’t believe, trust, or know Him. The second fear is like the fear of snow.

I don’t fear the snow. In fact, I love the snow. It makes me feel like a kid again. But, while I sit there sinking my hands into the powdery mix, feeling the bite of the cold as a smile spreads across my face, I also know that this snow has the power to kill me if not treated with respect.

So the question then becomes, which form of fear do you view God with?

Rahab had both.

Now, one big thing I want to mention is that although I will discuss one form of fear inside Rahab today, that is not the end of her story. But in our story today, we see a Rahab afraid as a foreigner to God.

“Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.”
Joshua 2: 8-9

“When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”
Joshua 2:11

Notice that she says “has fallen on us” and “our hearts melted.” She was not exempt from the fear that was in the air, nor was she viewing it as a believer.

This is a flip from the norm of the women we have been studying. We have seen obedience, bravery, strength, and fear in the world, but not this type of fear in God.

Regardless of her fear, Rahab continues to push forward and follow through with her word. She protects the spies and then marks her window so her and her family will be protected. The beauty is that God used this fear of Him, to bring her to the right kind of fear of Him.

Spoiler, Rahab doesn’t end her story as a foreigner and in fear. She ends fearing God in reverence and in joy and is blessed by her sacrifices by being in Jesus’s lineage.

My encouragement for each of you ladies today is that just because you feel like an outsider now, just because you feel you are going through the motions of what is needed, doesn’t mean God doesn’t see you and doesn’t mean he hasn’t called you into His family.

We are all sacred to Him. So fear Him yes, but fear Him like I fear the snow. With the heart of a child, full of joy and reverence for the beauty to be seen.

Heather is a contributing writer for Shaken & Stirred. She is a believer, a wife, and a mother to a wonderful (and sometimes crazy) one-year-old. She enjoys reading, playing video games, and listening to podcasts. She can usually be taking care of the home and playing on the floor with her daughter.

Photo by Tamara Bellis on Unsplash

If I Perish // Sheila Dorris

“It all started when the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.”
Esther 3:2

Esther’s Uncle Mordecai would not bow to Haman (a King’s official) and this infuriated the man. How dare anyone, let alone a Jew, snub him in such a way. Haman devised a plan to have all of the Jews be killed because of Mordecai’s slight.   

When Mordecai learned of this he reached out to Esther urging her to talk to the King to save the Jews.  Esther reminded Mordecai, the only way to speak to the King was to be called upon. If you were to even approach the King without being called upon it was certain death.   

Mordecai reminded Esther this position may be exactly why she was made to be Queen. Not to turn her back on her family, her people.

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 

“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Esther 4:15-‬16 NIV

Esther was DARING in this action. For she had not been called on by the King in 30 days. Even if the King had seen her, he had to point his golden scepter toward her in order to speak. The odds were against her. But if she did not try her people would be slaughtered. Through her uncle Mordecai she called her people to FAST. To get right with God, to be granted favor, to pray that the King would be receptive since she, Esther, was obedient.

She was willing to risk her life for her people, and the only preparation she had was not eating or drinking for 3 days and praying. And yet nowhere do we see God replying to Esther’s prayer. The FAITH that it took to be able to risk everything, relying only on the promises of God passed down through the generations. That is truly amazing. 

Do you feel like Esther at times? Like your prayers have gone out into a void but you don’t know if they have been heard or will be answered? I bet you can think of many examples, but I bet if you look back on your prayers you will see where God was guiding you. Like Esther, we have to have a faith that we are willing to die for. 

As Christians we have one advantage that Esther did not. We have the honor of having the Holy Spirit live within us and helping to guide us in the direction that God wants us to go. I encourage you all, to start pursuing what has been put on your heart, start pursuing what you have fasted and prayed over and listen to the Holy Spirit’s nudges. Have a DARING faith like Esther. 

Sheila Dorris is the adoptive mother of three (now) adult children and is now enjoying being an empty nester. Sheila shares co-ownership of Mojo Merchandise, in downtown Sand Springs, with her best friend. Sheila has served and continues to serve in many areas at Church that Matters. Including: House Church, KTM, Access, Guest Services, and on the production team as a Live Stream Host. Sheila is famous for her sermon notes, taken each week as a guide for others on Facebook. This often starts conversations between those who may have questions about church or may just need to hear the sermon. She loves being silly and making people smile. If you see her, stop her and say "Hello".

Photo by Fa Barboza on Unsplash