Niki is apparently a hard name to spell. My own grandmother never got it right, but I kept her birthday cards anyway. 

The long-time leader of Libya has engendered a spelling nightmare for journalists, writers, bloggers, and the general public. The general public, of course, creates spelling nightmares all by themselves, but I digress. 

photo by quapan	via PhotoRee

Part of the trouble comes from transliterating Arabic—which has its own alphabet—into English. It's like trying to explain to a guitar player the notes on a piano. Not only are the notes presented differently on paper, they sound different.

Back in the late 1980's (the last time Libya made big headlines) their leader signed his name "Moammar El-Gadhafi" in a letter to Minnesota second-graders. (Why Mr. Gadhafi wrote to second-grade students in Minnesota is a whole 'nother subject.)

In 2009, ABC News posted 112 different spellings used by various media sources, print and online. Since the recent Libyan rebel uprising, I'm quite sure more versions have been created. Even the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times aren't in agreement. The WSJ uses a “g” and includes an "h," while the NYT uses a “q” without the "h."

Can you say "confusion"? C.O.N.F.U.S.I.O.N. 
In my job as a copyeditor at our small weekly paper, we aim for consistency. If you can't be consistently right (because there is no official "right" or "wrong") then at least be consistent with whatever you choose to use, even if it 's not correct. How painfully typical of English grammar ... and Christianity.

It's frustrating to admit that everything in the world around us isn't perfectly black and white. Whether we're talking about personal application of spiritual truth or how to spell the name of a foreign leader ... we want to know that we are "right" and we want everyone else to agree with our "rightness."

But editing, like life, is horrifically

photo by Bah Humbug	via PhotoRee

subjective. It's the infamous "tomato, to-mah-to" debate. Our individual perception—based on our personal history and experience—creates our reality and our sense of right and wrong. In your world the leader of Libya is Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi (the usage preferred by the CIA world fact book). In my world, it might be Moammar El Gadhafi or simply, "that guy in Libya who sounds as crazy as Charlie Sheen."

However you choose to spell the Libyan leader's name, it's important to remember God's law of love supercedes every other rule, every other guideline, every doctrine of man. And it is His law of love to which we are indebted in Christ. Have you prayed for the leader of Libya lately?

Lord, You said we should pray for those who are in authority. This man, whose name YOU know, has ruled the nation of Libya for many years. Now we pray, Lord, that Your divine will may be accomplished there, that righteousness would rule and reign, and that mercy would triumph over judgment. Lord, we believe according to Your Word that you place men in authority according to Your will, and so we pray for Your will to be done as it is done in heaven. In the name of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, amen. 

"Over the lips and past the gums, look out stomach, here it comes!"

No, not that kind of grace. And not the fancy words our grandparents, parents (or ourselves) pull out at Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter dinners because it's as traditional as the turkey, goose, and ham.
I'm talking about a few, simple words spoken over the food we ingest. To say a blessing. (To bless simply means "to speak well of something," it's not an exclusively religious word.)

If you read this blog regularly, you've probably surmised that I tend to buck tradition. Religious or secular. Why? Because if you don't know WHY you're doing something, it's not doing you any good. Explain the purpose of a tradition and I'll probably jump right in. No reason for that tradition? You might as well stop doing it.

Why would I advocate the old-fashioned tradition of saying grace before meals then? Because it's good for your body and good for your soul, and these days, when our food seems to be as dangerous (or more dangerous) than it was back in Bible times, doing things that are good for us is important!

• A new study revealed colonies of nasty, icky bacteria dwelling in the bottoms of those eco-friendly reusable grocery bags just waiting to get all over your food. (I'm wondering if the study was paid for by the plastic grocery bag manufacturers?)
• In the last few years thousands of Americans have become ill from contaminated peanut butter, lettuce and spinach, and eggs. (Which makes me wonder if anyone has ever gotten sick from contaminated Double Stuf Oreo cookies? Doubt it.)
• We really have no idea what's in our food. Pesticides, herbicides, hormones, antibiotics, preservatives. Not to mention the ugly rumors about things like fast food chili made from the burger patties that fell on the floor and expired deli sandwiches rewrapped and redated - after someone picks off the mold. Gross. 
• The farther away we get from our food sources (not just distance, but processing) the more likely we are to be eating things that aren't really good for our bodies.

What can we do? Be educated and read labels, for starters. Health food stores, local farmers' markets, and organic foods are another possibility. However, not everyone has access to those benefits. And what about those times when you go out to eat, or get invited to great-grandma Sue's house for dinner? There is still something you can do: say grace, or speak a blessing, over your meal.

Why? Because everything responds to words. God spoke the world into existence; Jesus spoke to the fig tree and it withered, He spoke to the wind and it stopped, He blessed the bread and fish and it multiplied to feed at least 5,000 people - with leftovers. The Hebrews marched around the walled city of Jericho for seven days, shouted once, and the walls fell down.

The blessings of God listed in Deuteronomy 28 say He will bless our bread and water and take all sickness away from our midst. The apostles said no food would be considered unclean if it was received with gratitude.

Saying "grace" or blessing your meal doesn't have to be a big, showy production, just a word of thanks to your Creator that what you are about to eat is nourishing and healthy for your body, and brings no sickness with it.

Good eatin'!
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Sometimes (especially when we're frustrated, upset, or angry) we need a little help getting our prayers to flow in the right direction. I received a copy of this prayer years ago (before the Internet, even!), and have retyped it, copied it, given it away, and now have this platform to share it with you!

"I believe that one of the privileges and responsibilities we have as wives is to pray for our husbands. In order for him to be the man, the father and the husband that God intended for him to be, we must pray for him according to God’s Word.
God’s Word is His perfect will for man. Therefore, as we pray His Word, we are praying God’s best for our husbands. As we faithfully pray this way, God’s power will be released within our husbands, making them the men of God they were created to be."

Father, I come to your throne of mercy in the precious name of Jesus. I desire for my husband to be the man of God You have created him to be. Therefore, I pray Your Word for him because Your Word is Your will.
My true heart’s desire is for both of us to manifest the character of Christ in our home, to walk in peace and love with You and with each other, and to continue to grow in our relationship with You, Lord.
As I pray, I believe by faith that the Holy Spirit is moving upon the Word of God and upon my husband.
Change me, Lord, that my life may glorify You. Help me, Lord, not to be anxious and fretful or to take
things into my own hands, but to trust You in all things. Thank You, Father, for answering these prayers. Amen.

Father, I pray that my husband:
“...lets no unwholesome words ever pass his lips but lets all of his words be good for benefitting others according to the need of the moment.” Ephesians 4:29 Weymouth Translation

“...is quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to lose his temper because man’s temper is never the means of achieving God’s true goodness.” James 1:19-20 Phillips Translation

“...let’s all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from him, with all malice (spite, ill-will or baseness of any kind).” Ephesians 4:31 Amplified

“...when angry, does not sin; does not ever let his wrath, exasperation, fury or indignation last until the sun goes down.” Ephesians 4:26 Amplified

“...knows that a soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels.” Proverbs 15:1 TAY

“...receives Your grace, favor, loving-kindness and mercy which are enough for him (that is, sufficient against any danger and enables him to bear the trouble manfully) for God’s strength and power are made perfect; fulfilled and completed and show themselves most effective in his weakness. Therefore, he will all the more gladly glory in his weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ the Messiah, may rest,
may pitch a tent over and dwell upon him.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 Amplified

“...has strength for all things in Christ who empowers him, he is ready for anything and equal to anything  through Christ who infuses inner strength into him.” Philippians 3:13 Amplified

“...waits upon the Lord, expects, looks for and hopes in Him, and so changes and renews his strength and power.” Isaiah 40:31 Amplified

“...is anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, lets his requests be made know to God, and Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard his heart and mind through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 KJV

“...does not fling away his fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For he has need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that he may perform and fully accomplish the will of God,
and thus receive and carry away and enjoy to the full what is promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 Amplified

“...does not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the  appointed season he shall reap, if he doesn’t loosen and relax his courage and faint.” Galatians 6:9 Amplified

“...he is confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in him will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 KJV

“...has not been given a spirit of timidity, cowardice, craven and cringing and fawning fear, but God has given him a spirit of power and of love and of a calm, disciplined and well-balanced mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 Amplified

“...thinks on whatsoever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, help
him to think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 KJV

“...that he and I will stand firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings of the Gospel.” Philippians 1:27 Amplified

“...and that he will know and understand what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of Your power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of Your mighty strength.” Ephesians 1:19 Amplified

“and this I pray, that his love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that he may approve the things that are excellent, that he may be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ,”
Philippians 1:9-10 NKJV

“I ask that he may be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that he may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the
knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;” Colossians 1:9-11 NKJV

“I thank you, Father, that my husband dwells with me with understanding, giving honor to me as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that our prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7 NKJV

"You, Lord, are his God and he hears your voice. You teach him to profit and lead him by the way he should go. Everything he sets his hand to shall prosper.” Isaiah 48:17, Psalm 1:3 NKJV

“...that he clothes himself as God’s own chosen one (His own picked representative) who is purified and holy and well-beloved by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of himself, gentle ways and patience which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper.” Colossians 3:12 Amplified

“...I pray that __________ and I will endure long and be patient and kind, that our love will never be envious nor boil over with jealousy; it will not be vainglorious nor will it display itself haughtily. __________ and I will
not be conceited, arrogant or inflated with pride; we will not be rude or unmannerly and will not act  unbecomingly. God’s love in us does not insist on its own way or own rights, for we are not self-seeking, we are not touchy or fretful or resentful, we take no account and pay no attention to a suffered wrong. I pray that ________ and I will not rejoice in injustice or unrighteousness but rejoice when right and truth prevail. Our love shall believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and will endure everything without weakening. Love never fails, and God’s love in us will never fade out, or become obsolete, or come to an end.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Amplified

“And may the God of peace Himself sanctify him through and through (separate him from profane things, make him pure and wholly consecrated to God) and may his spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete and found blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Amplified

“This is the confidence, (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which I have in You; I am sure that if I ask anything (make any request) according to Your will (in agreement with Your own plan), You listen to and hear me, and since I positively know that You listen to me in whatever I ask, I also know with settled and absolute knowledge, that I have granted me as my present possessions, the requests made of You.” 1 John 5:14-15 Amplified

Naturally, these prayers could be prayed for anyone, male or female, young or old. They could even be prayed for oneself.  I hope you find them beneficial, that they build hope and faith in you for the future God has planned! If you'd like a PDF copy, please leave a comment or e-mail me and I'll send you one.

The Blame Game may well be the longest running reality show in history. It started way back when ("back in the day" as folks like to say) with the first man and woman, and their Creator God. They made a big boo-boo. God showed up and asked them a typically parental question. Can't you picture God, hands on hips, arms crossed, tapping one foot as He asks:
(God) "Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?"
(Adam) "That woman YOU gave me, she gave me the fruit."
And like all reality shows, the Blame Game has been dragging mankind deeper into the muck ever since.

It reminds of the day my husband decided to fix the dripping bathtub faucet. Having no plumbing experience to speak of, he proceeded to dismantle the faucet. When the valve opened, a fire hose-worthy jet of water shot out of the pipe, across the tub, struck the opposite wall, and splashed back.
He hollered for me. I found him standing in the tub, holding his hands over the spray in a futile attempt to stop the water.
"Turn off the water! Go downstairs and turn off the water!" He yelled.
"What did you do? What happened?" I demanded. When he hollered again, I ran for the basement and searched in vain for the water shut-off from the cistern. Unable to find it, I raced back upstairs.
"I can't find it."
"You don't know where the shut-off is? Get in here and hold this!" My husband, my dear, darling husband shouted at me. "I'll go find it." (He didn't know where it was, either.)
To this day I don't know what we were thinking. I stepped into that freezing flow and stuck my hands over the hole in the wall. While we squabbled over being unable to find the shut-off valve, and I was mad about him taking the faucet apart to begin with, the water (we were what, trying to force back down the pipe?) was running between the walls into the basement, creating a lovely waterfall where no waterfall should be: in the door frame of the downstairs bathroom.

Can you see the similarities? While we were casting blame and finding fault we weren't thinking clearly. We were unable to find the simplest solution to the very real problem, and we were getting angrier and angrier (and colder and wetter) the whole time, while the damage expanded.


The way I see it, it's not time to figure out who is at fault while the earth is bleeding a gusher into the sea. Fault and responsibility can be resolved later. For now, we need to help. How? Well, for most of us going to the coast to sing "Dawn takes grease out of the way" while we scrub birds is not an option. But we aren't helpless. There are two very important things we can do.


2. Refuse to participate in the Blame Game. Water cooler finger pointing, griping about BP's whiny CEO, or armchair quarterbacking President Obama's actions or inactions (depending on which side you've taken), are not doing anybody any good. What if the next time someone started to blame and find fault (about the oil spill or anything else), you grabbed his or her hand and said, "Let's pray about it, right now." Radical, huh?

Lord, please speak to the men and women in positions of authority and responsibility over this situation. Open their eyes to comprehend and understand solutions to the problem. Bind strife and selfish ambition that bring confusion and every evil work. Release peace to the parties involved, that they may be able to hear Your voice in their ears saying "this is the way, walk in it." 
Have mercy upon your creation, Father God. All belongs to You, and You are good, abounding in mercy and love. Father, You who are the source of all wisdom and knowledge, show people how best to clean up the oil in the water, on the shores, and under the water. Give witty inventions, plans, and methods to those whose eyes and ears are open for solutions. 
In Jesus' name, amen.

Pray button: http://saviorssouvenir.wordpress.com/

God, grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

The courage to change the things that I can;

And the wisdom to know the difference.  ~The Serenity Prayer