In the Trenches

Imagine if you will, a bird's eye view to a battle. You watch as an army solemnly adorns themselves in their armor and equips themselves with their weaponry (swords, spears, daggers). Then you follow them as they march in perfect formation onto the battlefield to face their opponents who have been awaiting their arrival. The army stands at attention, stoic and still, ready to fulfill their orders. The commander yells, "ready yourselves," and every man brandishes his sword. When the time is just right the commander let's out the war cry, "ATTACK!" The opposing team charges forward, and the army raises their swords only to turn on each other, rather than attack the pursuing enemy. It is within mere minutes that the army is obliterated; what they didn't destroy themselves the opposing army helped them finish off. Now as senseless and tragic as this scene is, it happens frequently in the spiritual realm.

We live in the natural world surrounded by the supernatural. So many of the struggles we face are smoke-screened. Meaning, who and what we think is the source of our struggle is merely a tool or distraction to keep us from seeing who our real enemy is. We as christians are always going to be fighting a spiritual war and the fighting won't stop until we get to see our Savior face to face. We're fighting the enemy of the cross and every wicked thing that comes against the knowledge of God (sometimes even our own flesh). We are not and we should not by any means be fighting one another. And yet, so often we expend our energy and resources, given to combat our enemy, on attacking each other. It could easily be likened to throwing grenades into the very foxhole you're hiding in - very stupid.
Somehow we've gotten the idea that we're only fighting together with those who are in our inner circles, but the truth is we're fighting this battle with people we may never even meet.
Can you imagine how much more effective we could be against the enemy if we banned together and quit fighting each other? Yes, I know we do horrendous things to one another, and yes, I know that awful things get said about each other. To retaliate is to fall right into the enemies tactics. What a shame and horrible expenditure of our time and resources. We must focus on the battle at hand, the true enemy, and cease from tearing one another apart. We must fight in the power and unity of Christ and endeavor to forgive one another completely, which at times can be the crux of the battle itself. Above all "put on love, which is the bond of perfection" and remember "a house divided can not stand." Let's not be the bloody mess in the middle of the battlefield, an easy target for our enemy. But let us put on Christ and fight together in unity against a very detrimental foe.

Epiphany

Today when I was getting ready for work, before the sun was even rising, I had a thought. It was pretty profound, which is pretty good because it's quite an accomplishment to think so clearly that early in the morning. I really can't take much credit though, it came from way out of nowhere, and that kinda speaks to me that it's from God:)

Jesus Christ is the only way to God. If He wasn't than God is as cruel as some would say and caused His only son to die in vain.

It would have been pointless for God to sacrifice His Son's life if there was another way. Christ died to make a way where there was no way...Remember that.

Something I knew, but didn't really think about before.

What God is Doing in My Life

I'm not too sure exactly how to capitalize that title.

So recently I was prayed over by my younger sisters and ultimately the LORD has used this in a mighty way. The way that God has grown them is unbelievable and I am so blessed by the spiritual depth that is being produced in their lives. They flat out LOVE JESUS and it's catching:) One of the things that Ellie said was that God was going to give me the prayer life I've been seeking. At the time I didn't remember the prayers I had been praying, but since then God has removed scales from my heart and mind and reminded me of those prayers for a more effective, intensive prayer life. It was in May I believe that the twins prayed for me. Well they both spent some time doing the Lord's work and I began to pray for them along with some boys Ellie knows that jogged all the way from Mexico to Canada for Jesus. What I started doing was writing out my prayers in a journal, whatever came to me I'd pray. This has kept up and I have a steno pad half full now of prayers. Now I have a permanent list of names stapled to my journal and as the Lord leads I pray. It's amazing and so powerful. I love talking to my God all day long. This weekend I was confronted with so many hurts, pains and problems that others face I just knew that I had to spend my time lifting these people up to the Lord and stop worrying about myself so much. See I'll pray for their needs and let God worry about mine (Matthew 6:33). It's amazing the joy and freedom that is found in all of this. What's even more awesome is as I pray here and there I hear the voice of God speaking to me. I feel like my eyes are opening and my ears are hearing more and more daily. God is good.

Rapture Anime: Will you be ready?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lURJ9B4k9Y

Retrospect and Examination

I'm really glad to be where I'm at now. I don't regret my past one bit and I'm glad for the memories, but I'm really glad to be where I am in the present and I look forward to the future. There are friends I miss terribly and love it when I get to see them, but I'm really glad for all the new relationships I've made this year. I'm also glad for the relationships that have been made stronger. Through the last year I have seen the blessing of obedience, I only wish I would have listened sooner. God knows that I didn't want to move without knowing it was completely His will. And now I see it was:) Through it all He has taught me so much and He continues to show me more daily. I pray that we as christians will consecrate our lives to honor Him and show Him we love Him by doing what pleases Him (His commands). That we would lay aside the sins that hold us back and cleave to the life He died to give us. It is never to late to mortify sin (lay it down and repent) and resurrect into new life. He doesn't care how far you've strayed or to what lengths you've gone to continue in your sin He just wants YOU; mind, soul and body. Does not His sacrifice deserve this as recompense?? The hour is at hand, do we want to help in the cause of Christ or hurt it by living unto ourself?

Short and Sweet

No I'm not talking about myself. Okay sorry for the cheesiness.


This is quite perfect after my last post. Sometimes our desires can weigh us down and make us feel like it's a weight that can never be lifted. Then God lifts it so easily and gently we hardly even know it's gone until we realize how easy it is to breathe and move again. After talking to a very sweet friend last night I contemplated this verse today (Psalm 37:4) and I wondered why many of my desires haven't been fulfilled and below is what I believe God spoke to me. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows, lollipops and hair bows, but God does love us and He has blessed us (and will bless us again and again). Sometimes when we don't see those blessings it's because we're looking right past them at something else that probably doesn't really deserve our attention. I can't help but believe that when God's plan does come to completion it's amazingly better than we could ever imagine.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself also in the LORD,And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

There's no time frame given, but a promise. God is not bound by time or our human constraints. When He makes a promise He keeps it.

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Hebrews 6:18
that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

If what you desire is the Lord's will and it hasn't happened yet, that means it will happen. We just have to hold on to Him that promised for strength.

Galatians 6:8-10
⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

His timing, His plan and His love is perfect. Wait and trust and remember...

2 Corinthians 1:20
For all the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

The fallacy within me

I know that God is good and He wants good things for His children. I also know that the things I think are good in my human mind are not really good in comparison to what God sees as good. Luckily He blesses us with what is truly the best for us, aka His standard of good (if we're willing to submit).
I know that I'm single because God sees that as fitting for me right now. It's too bad my head can't translate that to my heart. The phrase "two appetites in me, which one do I feed" comes into my mind right now. (That could very well be from the bible or it could be a paraphrase of what Paul has written.) The one says be practical and wait on the Lord while the other says I'm lonely and I want love right now. I've always thought that God had someone amazing picked out for me, (although some interests contradicted that belief, some did not) now I wonder if I've been self-deceived.
What seems to be the hardest thing right now is having this desire, praying for this desire to come to pass, and then watching it happen for so many others constantly. Time is slipping through my fingers I feel, and I think the gap is closing in year by year on my options. Yet I desperately don't want to settle, and I don't think I will. The other thing that I find hard is watching others do the very things they shouldn't to be in a relationship and I feel like I suffer for putting God first (trying to operate in a way that's pleasing to Him). I'm not about to date anyone unless they're saved, (share my faith and belief in Christ Jesus) I wouldn't even go out once with someone unless I knew that for a fact. God says not to be unequally yoked and you cannot take fire to your bosom without getting burned. To me if I did this I feel like I would be telling God that my desires are more important than my relationship with Him and they're not.
I guess maybe I feel like "hey God I'm playing the game by Your rules can you help me out here?" I know I shouldn't envy others, especially those that don't honor God in their conduct, but at times it's extremely hard not to wonder "what if" and do whatever it takes to gain my own happiness. I also know that's not how God's economy of grace works. (Although I could really understand the mentality of the harvesters who worked all day and got paid the same as the harvesters who only worked an hour.) God doesn't repay us for our works, but He is a GOOD father who gives what His child needs and I've got to hold on to that. I've got to hold on to the numerous promises that if you diligently seek God and wait on Him He will bless you for it. It wouldn't make me stronger or teach me anything if it wasn't difficult.