Attacked...

It seems, sometimes, that when we are at our highest and best in our Christian walk, that we are attacked. Our family is under many such times these days.  I have resolved that, though I am annoyed, even upset, that I will not cave. I claim verses from the Word of God that get me through those moments when I feel nearly overcome. "The Lord is my strength and shield ",  "A very present help in time of trouble." "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms".   

If I did not have the Word of God to remind me that my God is always watching over me with His love and protection, to encourage me to keep going, to enlighten me when I've seen the darkness fall upon our lives, I don't know what I'd do. 

Yes, this is all a spiritual battle. These attacks come from the enemy. He's hoping to destroy our walk with Jesus, his intent is to weaken our witness for our Savior.  But, knowing that this is not flesh and blood that we contend with, no matter who it is that appears to bring the torment, is a help in being able to deal with it!   If family members or friends stir up difficulties, even if they disown us, it has been foretold in the Word.  They are not the attackers, but are being used by one who truly causes the trouble or discention. 

No matter what, God is greater.  And again I say, 'It's not too big for God.' 

Not Too Big...

Sometimes something or someone will come along, and I feel a bit overwhelmed. It is my natural inclination to jump up and fix whatever the problem is, but boy! I learned a long time ago that some things are not fixable, and most things are not my job to fix.  So I bring them to the Lord.

I have adopted a line which I say to myself when someone is living in a way that I know is displeasing to God. "He's not too big for God to handle."   I pray for them...and whenever the person's name pops into my head, I do it again. 

Similarly, when a problem shows itself, and it's a biggie, I turn it over to the Lord to unravel, or to show me how to work it through. But, while it's irritating me, instead of fussing and fuming, I say to myself..."It might be too big for you, but it's not too big for GOD!"

It's  a real comfort to know that burdens can become lighter when we have help to carry them!
Thank you, Lord for always being available to lift the weight from me...and for knowing how to deal with everything from small to great. Thank you for reminding me at just the right time that NOTHING is too big for YOU!

Building Blocks

Lord, there is so much in my life that was not pleasing in your sight. You know what those things were, and when I asked, you forgave me for them all. That has not been overlooked. I am so grateful for forgiveness and for your guidance and instruction that will make me a better Christian.

This morning I pray that you will search me and know my heart. If there are things or thoughts that displease you, please reveal them to me, that I might confess them and find forgiveness. Then, Father, I ask that you would replace these stumbling blocks with building blocks!

For every negative in life, you hold within yourself, a positive. As you build me upon your strong foundation, it is my desire that you would show me which are the strong blocks of faith. Build me, oh Lord, into the best and strongest follower that I can be. Let my own walls tumble down, but replace those walls, I pray, with a tower of strength in you!

Thank you, Lord God!  For all that YOU are, for all that I can grow to be in YOU, thank you!
Amen

No Time Like The Present...

It is Doomsday, according to some. It is the day of Judgment according to others. It is the day the world will end according to still others.  Of course, they are all entitled to their own opinions, beliefs and thoughts. As for me, I say, "Hogwash."  Today is Saturday, May 21, 2011...and it as special a day as any other is....no more, no less (unless of course, you have a family event happening today.)

If the world truly ends today, a lot of people are going to be surprised.  Those without any spiritual beliefs at all may find that they should have had some. Those with beliefs in gods other than the only true and wise God may wish that they'd listened when they were told about worshipping false gods.  Those with beliefs that they've lived for as long as they've known their Savior will be the ones who reap the benefits of living a life for Him. I happen to believe that I'll be one of the latter. Whether I'm gifted with rewards or not, according to my works, is my least concern. Being with my Lord Jesus will be my greatest reward, whenever that occurs and however it does.

All this talk of 'the end of the world' on any specific date, is in my opinion, false teaching. My Bible, which I believe to be the perfect and infallible Word of God, tells me to turn a deaf ear when told to go this way or that, but to keep my eye on the goal.  My eyes are ever upon Jesus, and if they stay there, I won't be swayed by false teachers or untruths. 

For those who do not yet know the truth of Jesus Christ, I pray that they will come to know Him and all that He stands for. I pray that they will yield to Him and His teachings, that they will be ready to meet Him when that day comes. It may be morning, maybe noon, maybe in the evening. We will know, when we see Jesus, whether our beliefs were truths or falsehoods.  I just hope that we're all ready to meet Him. If you aren't, and you know you aren't,  please make it a priority. There's no time like the present to get things right with God.
  

The Right Words...

My daughter is feeling sadness during this time when a member of her husband's family is going through a stressful time of ill health. They live many states apart, and when the reports come from family in Pennsylvania, they are often conflicting. Their words tend to take my daughter's household on a rollercoaster ride, because they aren't there to see for themselves what the truth is.

This morning I offered all the comfort that I could, but my words have no real wisdom or comfort to offer, try as I might.  However, I also gave her the scripture, Phil 4:6-7.  Later she wrote to say thank you for that, and that she would pass the words along to the Pennsylvania folk, for she was sure they'd find comfort in the scripture too.

It gave me pause for thought.  When our hearts are hurting for someone else in their situation, we want so much to say the 'right' thing.....something that will cause their stresses to ease and their pain to lessen.  We feel compassion, and yet there are times when there's absolutely nothing one can say that will help.  The Lord, however, knows how to reach down and give His ultimate soothing.  His voice will speak to the depths of hearts and minds, and His words will speak "Peace, be still" to those whose lives are being battered by life's storms. 

Aren't we blessed to know a Savior who cares for us with the deepest love? Isn't it wonderful to have the knowledge that He knows every single detail of every single situation, and that not one speck of our emotion goes unnoticed?  Isn't it a tremendous relief to know that the God of all creation has time to speak just the right thing at the right time?  And, what joy it is to know that He has given us a Book full of His comfort, and all we need to do is to pick it up in order to hear Him speak?!

Though we may flounder in our efforts, God always has just the Right Word!

Following Directions....

God leads, always. I follow...mostly.  I'm learning to do that, more and more, rather than to turn and run in another direction, as a rebellious child might do.  Life is not a  game of Risk. It is serious stuff, and I've come to learn a few lessons along the way. One of them is that there is much danger in taking the wrong route.

One very practical lesson was given to me one evening. I was fairly new to the area and was learning my way around. One evening, I had to attend a meeting in a neighboring city. I took the wrong route, thinking that it was the correct road. After a quick phone call to a church member who also would be attending, she met me along the way, and I followed behind her to the meeting place. At the end of the evening, she asked if I knew the way home, if she got me to Hwy 8, and I told her that if she got me to Main St, I'd be just fine.  So, I followed her to the light at Main St, a four  way intersection. She went left, over the railroad tracks, and I thought she was taking another way home, so I turned right, thinking I was going toward Hwy 8.

Within a few minutes, I realized I was not where I should have been. This road was narrow and very dark, and seemed to be heading into a rural area. rather than a business district. As I passed a school, in the dim street light, I could see some young men in a group on the sidewalk.  At the next turn, I steered the car into the lane, and then into the driveway at a rundown house. The road was so narrow, with a drainage ditch on the other side, so I had to do multiple maneuvers to get the car turned around.  By the time I was able to drive the 50 or 60 feet to the corner, one of the young men was standing on the dark corner. He began to yell at me, and walked in front of my van in the light of my headlights. He then turned and began to walk toward my drivers side door. Fear gripped me. My doors were locked, but still, I was aware that if he wanted to, he could break the glass and I would be at his mercy.  Knowing that he was not in line for me to mow him down, I turned the wheel and sped the car as fast as I could, back toward  Main Street.

About then, my cell phone rang. I couldn't get to it, as I hurried away from a potentially dangerous situation. When I got back to the intersection where I'd made the wrong turn, the phone rang again. It was Becky asking if I'd turned right, when she turned left.  "Yes" I answered. She gave me the correct instructions, and I followed them, getting myself back on the right path toward home.

I'd prayed from the moment I realized I was not where I was meant to be, and all the way back to my own neighborhood. God was with me through the whole thing, but anxiety causes my heart to race when I think of what might have happened that night.

When the Lord tells us to go a specific way, He is telling us that for a reason. He is directing us in safety. He is sending us where He knows we belong. When we head off on our own, there is no telling the danger that we might encounter. Yes, He will be there with us, but disobedience always has it's consequences, and would I be rescued from danger if I've not followed the direction?  I can only hope so, but why take the chance. 

My lesson has been learned. He leads. I will follow.

Lessons from Children's Thoughts

There is a saying, "out of the mouths of babes". I don't know what the actual finish is of that quote, but the gist of it is that children tell it as they see it. We can learn much from them if we listen.

Spiritually speaking, there are none as innocent as children, and so their belief in God and the lessons they speak are purely from their innocent minds and accepting hearts. They mull things over in their heads when we have no idea of it, and they bring it out when they feel that it is appropriate.

The other day my daughter reported that her seven year old made an announcement during their evening meal. She said something to the affect that when we pray, the every word adds power and energy and when we say Amen, the prayer shoots up to God. I believe she's right. Our power and strength are increased through our conversations with God, the Father. Our lessons come from Him as we listen to His voice.

When one of my children was about the same age, she looked very pensive, and then asked, "Mommy, does God have a wife?" Her sister, who is nearly three years old, answered before I could. "God doesn't have time for a wife." That is true as far as we know about wives. Human wives take a good deal of time and effort for men. But, God is not man, thankfully! He is God, and He has all time in His hands to do with as He chooses. In His time, He will come for His Bride, the church, and we will live eternally together with Him.

Another of my daughters, at the age of ten or twelve years, was in a basement room when she caught sight of a little frog on the other side of the window glass. He was in the window well, a walled 'hole' that allowed access through the window. There was a garden snake that had slithered down into the well and was hungrily looking to have the frog for lunch. The little frog kept hopping and hoping escape being the menu special of the day. He tried and tried, with all his might, to escape from that hole and find his salvation. Eventually his perseverance paid off and he hopped away leaving a disappointed predator. When the ordeal was finished, my daughter came upstairs and told me about the drama she'd just watched. She thought it was like the devil who was always trying to 'get' us. She finished up by saying to me, "Mom, do you know what the moral of the story is?" I had no idea what to expect, but asked, "What is it?" Her answer? "Good always overcomes evil." Amen!

Don't you love the way that children see things? Perhaps they have things exactly right, but their thoughts provoke our own, as evidenced by my remembering of these stories. They also give us opportunity to give God's lessons to them, that their thinking as they grow would be in spirit and in truth.