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I just spoke with one of my dear friends. She’s just barely recovered from open heart surgery and called to tell me that now she’s being sent to a surgeon for a tumor. I had just gotten off the phone when I heard another friend on a local radio station. She was talking about the struggles and rejection her family has endured because of the color of her children’s skin. That was it!
The personal struggles of those close to me coupled with images of weeping mothers in China and tornado victims in the midwest was enough to make me want to rend my clothes, throw ashes on my head and wail. That’s not exactly socially acceptable in 21st century America, though. So, I am resorting to our cultural equivalent; blogging. I am crying out to God and anyone else who will listen. My heart breaks over the suffering and injustice and I weep for the Body of Christ to come together in mercy and power for those in need of water, food, shelter, healing, comfort and hope.
My plea is for God to so change my heart that I carry the very presence of God to the needy people all around us. I want His love to pour out of me onto their wounds and for them to know that they have been touched by the Living Messiah. I pray that all Believers will be moved to action by the things that move Jesus to tears.
- James 1:27 (Whole Chapter)
Pure religionand undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. - Matthew 25:35-36
35For I was a hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
What can I say? These are days of war for me. I am in the final stages of getting my book published and there has been all kinds of attack against me and my family. I know that anytime we step out to accomplish something the Lord has given us to do, there is bound to be resistance.
Still, when the attacks come, especially when they are one after another, I still am shaken a little. OK, sometimes a lot. Like tonight. I got hit with a few bombs at once. Shell shocked, I started to cry and think fearful thoughts. I was getting my backmatter kicked, in other words.
Thankfully my friend and proofreader prayed with me. I agreed with her prayers, but still, all I could feel was fear and worry. Finally, I made a very feeble attempt to pray. Eventually I started feeling the nearness of the Lord. It was so good I didn’t want to stop! Then I became aware of the joy of the Lord and I and I just started laughing. It felt so good not to be dwelling on negative thoughts.
My son, Josiah, says that worship is God’s air freshener. Laughter must be his mind clearer. It’s hard to worry and laugh at the same time. I was reminded of this scripture, Psalm 2:4 He Who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision [and in supreme contempt He mocks them].
God laughs at the enemies attempts to thwart His will. He laughs at his plans.I have this image of God’s laughter reverberating throughout the Heavenlies, scattering His enemies like dust in the wind. We serve an awesome God! I was all bound up in the sin of fear, dread, and worry He and let me join in His laughter! We should laugh at the enemy and His plans more often.
Passage Ephesians 6:13:
13Therefore 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.
When my husband and I first got married, his favorite teacher was Dean Sherman. We listened to him every time we got in the car. He taught a lot on Ephesians 6 and I rember him saying that some days are just evil. Unfortunately, the enemy still has some power on this earth and I don’t think that’s hard to realize with the things that go on these days. It seems that many Americans have lived in a “not in my backyard” mentality, or maybe I should say denial, because everything that the enemy does “there”, he does here. We just don’t like to look at it.
1 Peter 5:8:
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.Many Christians like to think that because Christ overcame the enemy, we never have to engage him in battle. Some have even been deceived to the point that they believe if they engage in the war, they will bring on more warfare! The truth is, as soon as you bow your knee and name the name of Jesus, you are considered a traitor to the enemy and you are already in the war. If you don’t learn how or just refuse to fight you’re a sitting duck. Satan is not polite. He will not leave you alone if you leave him alone. He doesn’t play fair, either.
So how do we handle such a tricky and ruthless enemy? There are three main ways that God has revealed in His Word.
1. The Word of God itself -
Ephesians 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
- Worship Psalm 149:6 (Whole Chapter)
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; Often the Lord commnded the worshippers to precede the warriors in battle. Worship is the safest place to be in a battle. Once in a particuularly tough battle I asked the Lord when I could put my sword down and just relax. His answer was, “Only when you worship.” - The most powerful weapon we have is the blood of Jesus. It gives us access to His presence, cleanses of all sin, and protects us. The enemy has NO answer and NO weapon aginst The Blood of Jesus!
Revelation 12:11 (Whole Chapter)
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
I had a wonderful trip to California. I had one God connection after another, enjoyed beyond blessed times with my sisters and brothers, and partnered with God as He poured out on His people.
I am remindeed that there is always a blessing in the “going”. It seems that we need to get away from what is familiar sometimes so that we can step into the things God has for us. The going away helps us get out of ourselves and and our focus is shiffted from “us” to “them”.
If we stay in what is familiar we tend to become egocentric (selfish). This is especially true in the church. Sometimes even when we do get away we hold on so tightly to what is familiar that we can’t recieve what God has for us in different places and from different people. It is so refreshing to get out of our comfort zone and give and recieve.
I particularly like airports. It’s a great place to just open up and see what God does. I had three “God appointments” going out and three coming in. God was so good!
I met two women, one on each end of the trip. These were older, wiser moms who had loads of love and encouragement to share. One of the reasons I went on the tip was to get a break and refuel in the “mothering department”. I feel like He sandwiched this trip with these two beautiful women as a Mother’s Day gift to me!
One man who pushed me through the airport spoke The Word to me the whole time! I sat next to a Ukrainian believer on one flight and another man just overheard part of my testimony and he came over to get more information about my book so he could pass it on to his clients!
God was so good and now that I’m back home in the familiar struggles of every day life, I have fresh testimonies and encounters with which to encourage myself and others. So, whether you go across the country or to the grocery store, go with an openness to give and receive and watch what God does!
I’m off on another adventure! My husband very generously offered to hang with the kids so I could get a break from them for Mother’s Day. I know that sounds very “un-maternal”, but I am with them every day all day and what I really needed for Mother’s Day was a day off.
So, I’m flying to California to see some of my very favorite people who happen to be gathering in one spot to worship this weekend. Most of them don’t know that I’m coming since I only decided to do this yesterday. It’ll be like a big surprise party!
It’s really funny because I’ve been praying for these meetings, never dreaming that I’d be there. I can’t wait to see what God will do! I’m thankful for the opportunity to be spontaneous. That’s hard to do with three kids and a wheelchair, so I know that God is in this!!
I’ll check back after the weekend with all that God has done!
