Hurts abound but God is good

I got up early this Saturday morning.  The hubby is out of town and there are two sleeping kids upstairs.  All is quiet at least for now.  I am extra thankful for my man this morning.  I strolled outside to get the paper, in the cold!  I made my own pot of coffee!  Those are two things Eddie always does and I missed it.  Sounds like little things, they are, but it's the little things that I usually take for granted and rarely thank him for.  It's those little things I realize that make me the happiest.  I don't need expensive gifts or trips, just my paper and coffee and someone sitting there to start the day with.  Not just anyone of course!!

I had a horrible nightmare last night.  I hate nightmares!  Details of it aren't important and I'm not  big on analyzing dreams but that one left me thinking. It did involve a church on one side, a small run down neighborhood on the other, our students from church, gunshots, protection for us all.  Kinda wierd I know but in light of a lot of stuff not only for us but others, some we know, some we just read about, it makes sense to me if only me.
I'm reminded so often of the story of Stephen and his persecutors.  I love to compare their angry faces and gnashing of teeth with Stephen's face that glowed and his sense of calm in the storm.  I follow a lot of ministers and ministries on twitter.  They're kind of like mini devotions throughout the day and they also show me how there are plenty of people suffering all around us...some in ministry, some not.  We see the suffering of those in Japan, Haiti and around the world with natural disasters, wars, economic woes.  Anonymous emails to us are so trivial.  It is hard to believe a person hates us that much or that we have that much power over their emotions.  However Jesus warned us all that we would be hated because of Him so I'm not sure why we are so surprised by it.  I read of those being shot at on a daily basis by friendly "christian" fire and sit across the table from others as they talk about it and it's hard to think of anything other than Lord come quickly.  Can I just take a moment to encourage anyone who will let me on this Saturday morning?  My Dad always said God takes care of His own.  That's not a specific verse but it's definitely a principle that runs throughout the Word. He will bring judgment and justice in His time for whatever you are going through.  My heart aches for those with health issues and those whose children are not living how they were raised.  It aches for kids who talk of parents who are living in rebellion and living according to the desires of the flesh.  What a broken world but what a great God.  Nothing goes unnoticed by Him and nothing will go unjudged.  I love Him so.  He really is our only hope, our only strength, our only source of peace and thankfully He really is all we need.
My Saturday plans have done a 360 but that's ok.  He is Lord of our schedules as well.  This day takes me to Sumter and that's not so bad.  Praying for friends and their wedding today, praying for another fighting illness and some kids having a blast at Carowinds.  Love to all.

Monday Morning Perspective

As we conclude the series on spiritual warfare, I find the comment so true that someone said...when you preach on spiritual warfare all hell can break loose.  One of the questions I'm left with afterwards is, do we really get it? Do we understand how Satan works and how he uses us so often to accomplish his tasks?  Do we get how we can be the ones used to bring about distractions and diversions to get us off the main road which should be to get the gospel out there, to encourage our family in Christ, to win the lost?
To say much of anything about this sermon I would just have to write every note I took and every thought that went through my mind as I've pondered it.  I can only say that the whole thing was my favorite and I'm praying God will use it to grow us up into mature believers who refuse to allow Satan to use them, develop a powerful prayer life that is more about getting to know the heart of God rather than focusing on our own selfish desires.  May we be a people who refuse to bow to idols and instead stand firm not willing to retreat.
We dive into the book of James next week.  I CAN'T WAIT!!  I have a feeling James is going to tell us which way is up and he's not going to pull any punches with us.  What comes to mind as I think about James' teaching...
Christians make great claims but don't always back them up with their actions.
God's people cling tightly at times to this world and its values.
We so often contradict the gospel with our lives.
James tells us to live the Christian faith, not just talk it.
Proof of faith is a changed life.
And on, and on, and on...

Monday Morning Perspective

I cannot imagine how anyone left the service yesterday without having been overwhelmed by the presence of the Lord all over themselves.  Incredible is not a good enough word to describe the music.  Soloists were fabulous and the choir was unbelieveable.  So great seeing so many packed into the choir loft.  Thank you to all of you for your commitment and faithfulness.  Awesome hearing you all sing, but also being able to watch you worship!!  It was one of those goosebump, hair standing on my arms, want to jump up and shout before my insides burst asunder kind of services.  I'm determined no rock is going to cry out on my behalf, I hope you are too.
I meant it when I told Eddie he ought to nail the message after the worship time but I had no worries.  He nails it every time!  As we continued looking at spiritual warfare, we were reminded that our enemies are not our brothers and sisters in Christ.  The battle is in the spiritual realm and Satan is working every angle to destroy lives, homes, and relationships.  We don't have to be unbelievers for Satan to use us as people often think.  Satan can use believers to wreck havoc and cause confusion and problems.  We need to constantly keep that in mind and make sure we are not allowing him to do that in our own life.
I love how Eddie took the armour piece by piece describing how a real soldier used it and then what it means in our Christian walk.  I love how the belt of truth is first.  How necessary the truth is in life...knowing it, believing it, speaking it and living it.  Then I love how it all ends with the Sword of the Spirit.  It's so much more than a book.  It is God's living, active Word to us.  It's interesting that it's the only offensive weapon in this list.  Maybe because it's the only thing that really can defeat the Enemy.  We can't do it on our own or in our own strength.  We need the power of Christ in us to defeat him and there is power in His Word.
How interesting that we ended with the challenge that there is nothing in this list that covers our back.  We are not called to run or retreat.  We are called to be on the move, moving ahead in His might to further His kingdom.  Not cowering to criticism, fear, hateful and selfish people, not trivial matters or those who are not kingdom-minded.  We keep pushing ahead.  Sharing the gospel with the lost, encouraging the weak, growing and maturing in our faith.  This is a great reminder for me on days when I'd rather pull the covers over my head or stay in the bubble of my home and hide from the world.  God never calls us to do that!!