Look Up for the Battle is Truly the Lord's

I've always heard "God gives His hardest battles to His strongest warriors".  I believe that is true.  I'm sure that some of those warriors would not agree.  In fact I don't think those warriors felt like they were strong at all.

Let me back up and explain something first, actually a couple of things:

#1  Not every battle we face is because of God or because of our faith.  We bring some of our battles on ourselves.  i.e. bad choices, bad company, rebellion, neglect are just a few of the things that can get us into trouble.

#2  Our sole purpose on this earth is not to grow rich, grow famous, get married, have kids, have a career, etc.  Whatever prosperity we have is solely blessings from God, not what we deserve.  Our purpose is to bring honor and glory to God, our creator.
Shock!!!...  Do they tell you that in church.  Probably not.  Modern day churches preach as if God owes us something, when in fact it is just the opposite. We owe God EVERYTHING, literally.

Let's take a look back in history at some of God's warriors.  (These aren't in any particular order or if they happen to be it is purely accidental.  I am just listing them as they come to mind.)  

First, Job, he was a man dearly loved by God.  Did he do anything to cause the battles he endured?  One thing, he loved God.  He believed God.  His battles drew him even closer to God.  No matter what happened, he would not turn on God.  In fact, he said in Job 19:25-26, "As for me, I know my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on this earth.  Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God."

Can you imagine?  Job lost his children, all his livestock, his home, everything dear to him.  He had boils covering his body and yet HE DID NOT DENY GOD.
People tried to get him to admit he had done something to cause the curses that came on him.  They thought surely he had to have done something.  Job knew he hadn't but he knew God and he believed God.  He was a warrior, chosen by God.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being thrown into the fiery furnace, DID NOT DOUBT GOD.  They told the king even if God did not save them, He was still God and they would not bow to another.    Daniel 3:16-18, 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18“But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

God's only son, Jesus, chosen by God Himself to be the one to die on the cross for us.  

Every instance of every warrior, their faith did not waiver.  When little David went up against the giant Goliath, he trusted God.  When Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, he trusted God.

That is why God gives His toughest battles to His strongest warriors because through the battle their faith remains.  There may be  lapses of weakness but their faith does not waiver.

The war is not against death, infirmities, cancer, aids, autism, etc.  The war is against the powers of darkness that would separate us from God if they could.   To name a few: the parents who have lost a child to sickness, disease or accident, keeping the faith that God will reunite them someday.  The person who has fought cancer or has a family member or loved one that fought or is fighting cancer, keeping the faith that if not cured in this life, they will be cured in eternity.  The person who stares down the barrel of a gun being told to deny God, that says, I will not deny my God even in the face of death.  The missionaries over seas who are killed, beheaded etc for their faith in God.   I doubt any of these warriors would tell you they were strong.  I am sure most of them would have said they could never make it through something like that.  But they have.  How do they fight?  What keeps them going?  God.  Their faith in God, their insistence that God will get the glory regardless, their belief that no matter what happens,  God is still God.

The next time you face a battle, remember that even when things are hardest God is right there with you.  

Philipians 4:13 says, " 13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Not some things, but all things.  God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  

I wish I could say the battles would be easy but if they were we wouldn't lean so much on God and we would lean too much on ourselves.  What I can say, with certainty, is that God will never leave you or forsake you.  God does not lie, what He says in His word He means.

Ending with this:  Ephesians 6:10-17, " 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

How did they all fight those battles, look up!

God bless.

THIS ISN'T "LET'S MAKE A DEAL"

Contrary to popular opinion, (both in AND out of the church), God does not play, "Let's Make a Deal", nor is HE Burger King.  He doesn't trade one thing for another and HE doesn't serve everything up "our" way.  
If you have gone to God begging for one thing or another, health, job, money, etc. and have been blessed enough to get that prayer answered. It is NOT because you promised God you would go to church, or promised Him you would read your Bible more or pray more.  It could be for a number of reasons but it is NOT through anything you did that God blessed your life or someone else's life other than you prayed and hopefully you believed.  But even if you had a few doubts and God came through for you, that's just God.  More than likely He answered that prayer for you already knowing that you only meant what you said because you were desperate or scared.  More than likely He answered that prayer for you to let you know how faithful HE is, even if you aren't.  To show you how much HE loves you even if you don't show Him.
How many "deals" have you made with God lately?  How many of your bargains have you kept?  I don't just mean a day or couple of days, I mean diligently trying to do what you told Him you would do. I know about this "Let's make a Deal" game, I played it in the past myself.  Until one day God spoke to my heart and convicted my Spirit and I totally gave my life to Him.  I realized that He had done far more for me than I could ever repay even IF He DID play the game.  

There is NOTHING I can exchange for Jesus giving His life for me.  NO deal I can make sweeter than the gift of Salvation that God gives.  NOTHING to compare to living in Eternity with God the Father and Jesus the Son.  NOTHING.

If you've made some bargains with God lately, now is the time to say, "Father, please forgive me for I truly did not know what I was doing".  Now is the time to say, "God is able to save us but, no matter what, I will serve Him".  As Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo said before walking into the fiery furnace.  "Even if God doesn't save us, we will NOT deny Him, we will not serve other gods". (paraphrase)
Daniel 3:16-18
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17 [a]If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; [b]and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

What has God done for you lately?  Things you haven't even asked for: 1) let you wake up this morning, 2) A roof over your head, 3) food on your table, 4) the internet if you are reading this right now, even if it is free internet at the library.  

I'm just trying to show that God blesses us each and every day but it won't always be this way.  Now we get to the serious business.  Many of you, especially if you are my age, have heard parents, grandparents talk about the tribulation and the second coming of the Lord.  Unfortunately OUR children have not heard it enough and their children?? Their children probably haven't heard it at all.  Unless it's from you or they are blessed enough to be in a good God fearing, Bible believing church with a Pastor that preaches the truth of God's Word.  

This to my children's generation:  If you do not raise your children in church and to believe, worship and honor God, do not expect them to do those things when they grow up.
Proverbs 22:6 (NASB) has this to say:  6 Train up a child [a]in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Notice it says, "train up a child in the way he should go" first.  They have to have something to go back to or not depart from.  You are not doing them a favor by not teaching them about God when they are young.  Another thing you must keep in mind is that children learn more by observing than by being told.  In other words, they mimic what you do whether you want them to or not.  When they are grown their thoughts will be, well it wasn't important to my parents so it must not be that big of a deal.  
Remember that while they are small YOU are responsible for their teaching.  YOU will be held accountable on judgement day for your part in teaching them about God.  If you did not make God a priority in their childhood, HE won't be a priority in their adult life.

Here we are back to playing "Let's Make a Deal" again.  God please save my child, please heal them.  I'll do anything, I'll pray more, I'll read my Bible more, I'll go to church more, I'll take them to church".  Sound familiar?  We have probably all done it at one time or another. We have responsibility, Salvation is free but we can't take it and run, it isn't a one time thing, it's a lifelong process.  I'm not saying God won't bless you, I'm just saying we need to quit playing "christian", quit playing church and start living for God, before it's too late.  Quit playing the "Let's Make A Deal" game and start truly serving and loving God, then even though we are not promised an easy life, you WILL see constant evidence of God in your life, you won't have to go to Him with empty promises, you will go to Him in complete faith and watch His faithfulness unfold.

Isaiah 29:13 (NASB)
13 Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their [a]words
And honor Me with their [b]lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me,
And their [c]reverence for Me [d]consists of [e]tradition learned by rote,
(PARAPHRASED:  Because people say they love Him and say they will do anything for Him but it's only lip service and doesn't come from the heart because the heart is far removed from Him.  Their reverence and honor consists of the traditions they have been taught and not for true love and worship of God.)

I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

I was talking to my youngest daughter today about feelings, more specifically about being afraid of making people mad, getting in trouble, etc.  She had some very wise words for a young woman.  She said, "I used to be like that, I wanted to make everyone happy, and do everything right.  I could never even take up for myself.  I started thinking about end times and how Christians will be killed for being Christians and (I) DECIDED that I needed to get a backbone.  I didn't want to be 'afraid' to be who I am and have to go to the fiery pits because I was 'afraid' to stand up for myself and the God that loves me."
There was more to our conversation and who knows, the rest of it might end up being another blog lol.  What my mind has been on this evening is we need to DECIDE, we need to CHOOSE how we want to be.  She took action in her life to make sure she did not deny God.
We all need to take action in our lives.  We need to be prayed up and battle ready because we DO NOT know what we will have to face.  I see a lot of going back and forth Pre-trib, Mid-trib, Post-trib.  I'm not going to argue that in this blog post.  What I am going to say is no matter when Jesus comes back, NO ONE said we would not have trials.  NO ONE promised that bad things wouldn't happen to us just because we are Christian.  What God did promise is that HE would be with us.
Look at Daniel, look at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo, Jesus, Peter, Paul, etc. etc. etc.  They were following God, they were true believers and yet they suffered.  I hear a lot of people say, we are going to be raptured out and not feel the wrath of God.  What about the wrath of satan?  and who says we won't be in a battle?  We are in one everyday, that's why we have to put on our armor every single day.
The Bible says in Ephesians 6:10-13,  ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² 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. ¹³ Therefore 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.
We are in the battle of our lives, for our souls.  We are fighting the powers already of this dark world.
There may come a day when you have to stand up for God, will you be able to?  Think of the shootings that have been going on.  We are precious children of God, however, look at Job in Job 1:1, 1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.  He was also a precious child of God and in the end God restored everything to Job, because He stood.  When the day of evil came upon him, he stood his ground and when he had done all he could, he just stood.  BUT, he went through a battle, one most of us would not be able to withstand.
We have to decide today for each daily battle that we are going through.  The Bible says, "choose this day who you will serve" in the book of Joshua.  Don't wait around until a fiery trial comes upon you.  Decide today.  So if you end up in the lion's den, or walking in the fiery furnace, looking down a gun barrel with someone saying deny Jesus or die you can stand knowing that He died for you and He will be there to bring you home. Things are wrapping up, I've never seen or heard of so many prophecies coming to pass as there are in our life time but it doesn't mean it's over.  It's the beginning of birth pains.  (I'll let you look that up :-)
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
God bless you and love to all. 

The Story of Edith Easter

Happy Easter all. I hope everyone has a blessed Easter and is able to spend it with those you love. My children and grandchildren are all spending this Easter with other family and I miss them but I know that God has His hand on them and will bless their day. My next to oldest daughter is taking her children to church this morning for the first time by herself, (we usually go together). God has been working on her heart and I pray this morning that He touches her in a way she can't refuse and that this will be the beginning of a new walk for her. The Bible says train up a child in the way they should go and I did that with her. I pray today is the day she "returns". Since we will be moving away it will be completely up to her to nourish the grandbabies spiritual life and I believe that full responsibility has finally sunk in to her. Help me pray for her and my grandbabies that today she will rededicate her life to God and this will be the first day of the rest of her life walking with God. :) My other girls, thank God, have been walking with the Lord and trying hard to follow His Word and I'm very proud of them. That isn't easy for young people in today's world. My prayers are with them also that He gives them strength to continue fighting the good fight.

Today I'm cheating again, I want to share a story I've read many times on the internet. The story has a lot of meaning but is especially poignant today. I hope you enjoy.

The Story of Edith Easter
Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.

One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.

Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure Edith began by saying, "My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"
Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Dr. Phillips said, " Beverly , don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room. After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?"
Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient." With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long."
Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!" Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!"
Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter."

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse. Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.
One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you."
Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work. I'm not interested." Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family." Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room.
Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you."
One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day"

Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, "Do you believe in Easter but you have never asked me."
Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked." Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?"
Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life "Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.
Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday."
Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!"
Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter.

When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have
passed away."

Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!"

Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?"

I pray that today as we celebrate the resurrection, you will renew your relationship with Jesus. Make a new commitment to love, share and serve Him today, then share the Easter message with as many as possible. If you already have a relationship with Jesus then I pray today He will strengthen that relationship. If you have family that you have been praying for then I lift them up in agreement with you that the Lord will show them what He has done for them and that they too will accept this most precious of all gifts, God's amazing grace.

God bless you all.

Writer's Block

I apologize for not adding anything new. I guess I'm going through a slight case of writer's block. That and just being tired. Not that I don't have anything to Praise God for, that is certainly not the case. He controls my every day and I'm leaning on Him more and more. I claim God's promise that He will supply all our needs. He will give me the words He wants me to write in His time. In the meantime I have been filling my time (between keeping grandkids) with trying to read more of His word and find the peace I need within the pages of the Bible.

I think I'm just brain tired right now, I guess that happens to all of us at one time or another. I am blessed beyond measure, just thinking of my kids and grandkids reminds me of that, then add in the wonderful family and friends I have. I will be back soon with another blog, in the meantime, keep the faith, keep looking up and above all keep trusting God to supply your every need.

God bless

Judge not

I actually began this post on Feb. 17 but left it in draft because I wasn't sure where God was taking me with this. Today I read a friend's blog (for the 2nd time), about being judged unfairly by others, and decided to finish this. We can do so much harm to others by our words, I pray this is a timely message.

The Bible says in Luke 6:37-38 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

The dictionary defines judge (informal) as: To form an opinion or estimation of after careful consideration; To act as one appointed to decide; To act or decide as a judge.

The Bible says in Romans 14:12-13 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Does this put judging others in another category for you? It did for me. This means to me that my "opinion" is equivalent to passing judgment!! And if my "opinion" (judgment) should be a stumbling block for others, "I" have sinned!

Going back to the dictionary description, it says to form an opinion or estimation of "after careful consideration", ever thought about "first impressions", ever make a first impression of someone only to find out later how wrong you were? That's judgment and its not even "after" careful consideration, its immediate!

Again, Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at naught thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. As Christians sometimes we feel it is our right or our duty to point out flaws in others. Now the Bible does tell us if we know someone is committing sin to rebuke that person, (Luke 17:3), however, that isn't what I'm talking about. I'm talking about passing judgment and to go a step farther, even gossip because we are all guilty of it even in the smallest form. How many times have you heard someone say, "just look at him, or just look at her, blah blah blah"? Or, did you see/hear about so and so yesterday?

My main point is that we all judge in some way or another but God is the final judge, He is the one that "all" will answer too. Sometimes it only takes a second to step back, take a deep breath and keep our opinions (judgments) to ourselves. If we slip, which we sometimes do, God is willing to forgive us if we ask. Sometimes it's the smallest of things that hinder our walk with God. "Judge not, lest ye be judged."

If you happen to be sitting in the "judgment seat" of others, remember that although words can hurt, Jesus CAN heal. The only one we can change is ourselves. If you can't get that person to quit judging you or trying to change your mind, then ask God to give you strength and help you during those times to remember what a precious soul you are to Him. Then ask yourself, does it really matter? Just because they say it, doesn't make it true.
Remember that "earthly" judging is just another tool of satan to try and weaken your will and your walk. Remember Matthew 5:10-12, 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. but it also tells us in Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

May God give you strength for these battles, remember we are engaged in a battle everyday for our walk with the Lord, but we WILL be triumphant :)

I'll leave you with this: Matthew 5: 14-16, 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Until next time God bless