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.

What Does A Man Gain

I recently read an article of a "young" man, (barely 90), who had passed away. I was impressed with what I was reading and though I didn't know him I was caught up reading about all the wonderful things he had done in his lifetime for his community and other people. He was moderately famous and had helped many people in his lifetime, had won prestigious awards for energy conservation, was an inventor and a highly intelligent man. He was concerned with not only himself and his family but America and our planet as well. He had been credited with several life saving inventions as well as energy conservation plans and inventions of all sorts, as I said he was highly intelligent and not just book smart. The article talked about what a loving person he was to his family and towards all mankind and animals as well. While he could have used his intellect to better himself and probably have been a multimillionaire, he was more concerned with helping our country and the earth. He used the knowledge "God" gave him for the good of all, not just himself.
I love to read about people like this and wish I had the intelligence and money to help people. But am content to do what the Lord gives me to do and what I can.
However, as I was reading this article it went on to say he was a devoted family man and devoted and proud American, somewhat liberal, scholar, intellectual, etc. etc. and an atheist. When I read the last word my heart literally sank. My first thought was, how can a man save the world and yet lose his own soul. Mark 8:36-38, 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
The Bible tells us we cannot be saved by works alone. Titus 3:5-9, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
My second thought was dear Lord, please let him have had a believing praying wife so that he at least had a chance at coming to know the Lord before he left this world. 1 Corinthians 7:13-14, 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
How sad if this man did so much good and yet missed Heaven because he not accept Jesus Christ. There may be a lot of things published and we might be famous for a time but once we are gone and the people that knew us well are gone there is not much recognition and then what have we gained if we spend eternity in hell. So what if he gained the world for a short time, he lost his soul for eternity. It didn't mention much about his wife but I pray she was a christian and beseeched the Lord on his behalf. If not, the sorrow of losing her life's partner would also be compounded by the knowledge that he was lost, what an awful pain to feel. My heart breaks for this man and his wife if he left this world lost.
I pray that this was the case, that his wife sought the Lord daily on his behalf and that when he stepped out of this life he stepped into the arms of our loving, forgiving, merciful Lord, who can call us out in the twinkling of an eye but who also can and will forgive us even in our ignorance and unbelief when we come to that instant in our lives that we confess Him as our Lord and Savior and ask Him into our lives. Even on our death bed.
I pray no one reading this has to worry where they or their loved ones will spend eternity but if you are, I lift up my prayers in agreement with you for your loved ones. I hope you will do the same for me. I pray for all the lost and lost loved ones and pray that God richly blesses those and gives those contentment who stand strong in their faith and their belief that through their prayers God will save their loved ones.
What does a man gain?
God bless
tawanab

Leave them with love

I've only got a minute as my husband and I are headed to Texas. His mom is in ICU and it doesn't look good BUT, we have a wondrous God and we are praying, not necessarily for healing but for His will for her. She has had a long battle with diabetes, Congestive Heart failure, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and a few other problems that have had her in and out of the hospital continuously. She and God knows what she wants and what He wants. We just have to wait and see.

That's the hard part. Giving up a loved one when they are ready to go. I've been there with my mom, my dad and my husband before. It's never easy. It doesn't get easier but knowing they are ready, knowing they want to see Jesus and they are just plain tired gives you a sense of peace, not at first sometimes when the grief is so strong but later when you think of them and remember them. My dad actually told me before he died that he saw Jesus and that Jesus had told him he would be coming home soon. Within two days he did go home, peacefully. What joy to know that he is in Heaven waiting. My mom did the same thing. My husband at the time had slipped into a coma but we talked some before and he accepted Jesus before he went. My point I guess is that for the believer, it's just as hard to let go of a loved one but when you know that loved one is looking forward to stepping from this life into the next to live with Jesus, you can't begrudge their leaving you behind.

For my mother-in-law, I hope it isn't her time but again that is up to God. I haven't gotten to know her very well since she lives so far away so I can only hope that her life is right with God, (I know at one time it was), and that she is ready because she is heavily sedated and we can't talk to her. So my prayer for her is that she is ready and of course we all hope this isn't the time but only time will tell.

We will be gone a few days so I won't be posting, hopefully all will be well and we will be back on Monday. God bless all.

Don't forget when you leave your love ones, no matter for how short a time, leave them with love, you never know when you will get the chance or IF you will get the chance to tell you that you love them again. We are none of us promised that last breath.