Resting…

     Turning from wrestling to resting started off with struggle but is now resulting in assurance…

Conflict is not something many of us enjoy – and though we may not seek it out, it is brought to us just the same. The enemy of our souls is at war and he knows his time is short. He delights in robbing us of all that is good – peace, joy, contentment. We have been told “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.” (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

Finding myself in that wrestling place, believing the condemning self-thoughts, bogged down with worry, and wondering how I could fix something, anything – I lost sight of who the enemy is and who my Defender is. You and I cannot fight alone against this dark world, but praise be to God we are never alone and “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2Corinthians 10:4 NIV)

Divine power? The Spirit of Jesus living in us. The Word of God teaching, correcting, and encouraging us. The Father who makes all things work for the good of those who love Him. These are our weapons.

The enemy absolutely delights in us losing sight of the One who never leaves our side. Even in the agony of what seems the worst possible outcome, the hurt burning so deep we feel we may melt away, the fear causing us to tremble – never lose sight, He is there. Yes, this world is full of the result of sin, but this is not all there is…

This temporary earth suit we’re in, this temporary loss of all that seems right – it’s part of the battle. There is great news indeed! At just the right time Jesus will return, we will be with Him, all that refuse Him will be no more, and all our stuff that bogs us down daily won’t even be a memory. This then is resting – in the everlasting arms that carry me now and someday will welcome me to eternity. He has promised, read it over and over again in His Word “The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” (1Thessalonians 5:24 NIV)

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October 13, 2014 Thought Life…

     One day a family with two handsome sons moved into Ruth’s neighborhood. She heard that the farmland where the family used to live had dried up and they were starving. Over the years Ruth and her good friend came to know the boys and their family well. When all of them were grown the two young men took Ruth and her friend to be their wives. Not long into their marriages each of the young men became ill and within a short time died, as did their father. The girls had come to dearly love their mother-in-law, knowing she was heartbroken and was talking of moving back to her homeland, they offered to go with her. Although the mother-in-law was able to dissuade one of the girls, she could not convince Ruth to stay. They began the long, dangerous journey…

My mother always said “Into each life a little rain must fall” – but into some lives torrents drench. In our story today, when everything fell apart in Ruth’s life, despite her fears of the unknown and the dangers lying ahead, she committed to be there for another. What enabled her to do that? The simple answer: her thought life. Instead of looking for troubles that were not yet happening,  she focused on being there for someone else.

So it is with us, our thought life can get us into the doldrums of trepidation – if we let it.  Right now I know of a little 6 year old boy diagnosed with Leukemia. Lots of big needles, and painful treatments have already happened and the years ahead are full of the same. But, through the wisdom of his God loving parents, his thought life has been directed outward. He is focusing on how he can raise money for orphans in India. He came up with the idea of getting friends and family to donate a little bit of money for each of the 65 shots he will receive between now and January. (Go to:   http://teamquiverfull.com if you would like to read more about him or donate.)

 “…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2Cor. 10:5 NIV) Live braver in your thought life…