In the Name of God, Set Up Your Banners

Dear Sons andSunshine,

Many different thoughts and feelings running through my mind, especially when I can’t send them to you more often than I am able during this week, “at sea”. But I was reading to Mom the Psalms and came across this one, “May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans. May we shout for joy over Your salvation and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.” Psalm 2:4-5

You are all in aplace of knowing your heart’s desires and making and chasing plans, perhaps wonderinga bit, “what does all of this mean…what will come of these days?”  I think the middle part of David’swords are the most important: “…May we shout for joy over Your Salvation…”Regardless of the plans, regardless of the day’s circumstances and even regardless of all that we don’t know, that we can’t figure out, we can rejoice over the salvation of our God! We can rejoice that we know that all things are working for and toward that end, rejoicing! Being glad, for our God has known us, He has come to us and made us lovely. I was thinking about that time when the disciples all came back so excited because the demons had to obey them whenthey speak in the name of Jesus. Jesus tells them in effect, yea, yea, that is great, but what you  should be rejoicing in this; that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. Those other things change, life changes, and it is not all so rosy, but this never changes; the Lord our God has claimed us. Our hearts can desire…we can make our plans, but all are in the shadows of God’s great salvation. That is why you can pray your petitions as David says with confidence.

Sons and Sunshine, I pray the Lord will fulfill all your petitions. But more than that, that you will set up your banner, the flag that defines who you are, Whose you are and what your purpose is, in the name of our God.  I love you all and miss you deeply.

May your father’s God bless you and keep you.

Dad