All of a sudden my wheels fell off!!

Sometimes I think we get so caught up telling people to die for Christ, to reject yourself, to think only of others.............. Don't get me wrong all of that is so true.  Paramount in being a true follower of Christ.  But i also long for others to know that following Christ is a lot of fun.  Jesus is a blast.  Because I find such joy in being with Christ and following Him the latter things mentioned don't seem like such a drag - much like they are communicated at times.  So today I have a funny I found as I was studying Ex. 14.

Exodus 14 is the story in the Word about the Israelites crossing the Red Sea.  They were all complaining and Moses set them straight with a huge statement that really needs to be put to memory!!  As my buddy, Ryan Warren always say, that'll preach!

Ex. 14:13-14  ¹³ Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you're never going to see them again. 

 ¹⁴ God will fight the battle for you.
      And you? You keep your mouths shut!"

So then Moses, through the power of the Lord, parts the Red Sea.  So all the Israelites are crossing over on DRY ground as the Egyptians are still pursuing them.  As the night went on the Lord wanted to up the confusion of the Egyptians  and frustrate them all the more - i call it toying with them.  Destruction is on the way, but He is allowing them to get toyed with to make an even bigger statement - He is Jehovah God!!  

Verse 25 cracks me up - ²⁵ He made the wheels of their war-wagons come off, so it was hard for the wagons to be moved. So the Egyptians said, “Let us run away from Israel. For the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

I know I'm being sarcastic here - but yes, it would be very hard for any vehicle to move if all the wheels fell off!!!  Isn't it great that something so weird as all of a sudden wheels on wagons falling off made them have an "awe-ha" moment!  As they looked around and were not doing really well pushing the wagons on their own, one of the brighter warriors, must have been an wheel engineer, must have looked up and said, "Wait a minutes guys, this must be their God.  We gotta get out of here.  The wheels just fell of - who knows what is next...our heads!!!  Let's go".............but it was too late!!!  

Just having some fun today.  Some Leigh interjection there!  Have a great day and please keep your wheels on!  

886 - I'm Fighting - Nope I'm not - yes, I AM!!

Remember the verse in the NT (Eph. 6) about our fight not being against flesh and blood? Why do I so forget that? It sure feels like I am fighting against flesh and blood often. I mean when others are rolling their eyes at my joy or thinking my invitation to church is stupid or trying to stir up trouble with the kids or even cars that don't do the right thing - it sure feels like I am fighting with flesh and blood. After all, it is a human that rolls their eyes. It is a human that gets frustrated with my unrelenting invitations. It is a human driving the car. It is a human.....

It is a human and that is the main problem. But the problem is not with the other human, the problem is with me! I too often, like all the time, think my issue is with one person or another or the situation that arises with a person. No, my responsibility in everything is not to fix that person, but to respond correctly and in a manner that brings peace. "As much as it depends on me, live at peace with everyone."

But if I could just remember where I started - I am not fighting against flesh and blood. In my devotion this morning I was taken to Psalm 21:8 "Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes." Do you see how many times it mentions the Lord's possession (your). The enemies are HIS, not mine!! I am trying to take on battles that have nothing to do with me. It is all His to take care of and yet I think I have a roll.

That is the key - I am not fighting against flesh and blood! I am not fighting!!! It is His battle and His enemies! It is about Him and He is the Victor!!!! Yaaaahoooo!!

Oh Lord, help me to see with Your eyes. Help me to trust You to take care of all things instead of me having a hand in everything. Protect my feelings that usually leads to reactions! Oh God, I want to exude your love and mercy. I want to deal gracefully with people and I want others to be draw to me because of YOU!!! Oh God - help me to walk in your plan. Today!!! I love you!

812 - Fighting in the Fight

The Lord has convicted me about posting a few of my older blogposts. So I dug this one up. You will read at the end about a friend trying to adopt a foster child. This particular child did not "go thru". But God did eventually give her another child.......I believe because she fought in the fight!!!

I Chron. 5:20 They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.

This scripture hit me like a ton of bricks this morning and I had to just think on it all day!! We will have fights to fight!! We will not have an easy life. We will have to work for everything and nothing, really, will be given to us. We are required to put forth effort and we are required to sweat it out!! God delivered the "people" from their enemies, but why - because they cried out to Him - when - DURING the battle. How many times do I wait until the battle has conquered me to run to Him to get me out of it after the fact. I forget or don't make the time, let's be honest with myself, to get on my knees immediately when the battle approaches. God helped these people because they were fighting the good fight - effort - and they acknowledged Him during the midst of it all!! But wait - the last part is the best - why did He answered their prayers during the fight???? Because they trusted in Him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Believe, we have got to believe.

I have a sweet friend that is "fighting" for a foster child that she wants to adopt! She has named the baby, she has done everything to display her faith that this will be her child. And get this, during the battle she is praying and begging others to pray!!!! WOW - she is not just waiting for the test to be over and then pray for a healing of her heart!! She is believing!! But here is the neatest part. This past Sunday, April had the baby dedicated at the church. That is only done for your own kids. I mean I have never seen any one do it for a foster child though. But that is believing again!! She is praying during the battle and trusting Him to come through!!! She is mature enough to know that things may not turn out the way she is wanting, but she is acting and displaying a faith that her GOD will come through because she knows HE is able!!!

Please tell me about what you are fighting in the fight? Thanks, leigh

628 - Lose THE Power

Lord, my tennis team won its first match!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are now batting 500. I guess i do need to admit we have only played 2 matches, but they are doing so well. Now if i could only walk and actually get with it myself I think we could see some turn arounds! They have been real troopers dealing with me though!

I go for the MRI results today. I am doing so much better i just can hardly believe it. I do still wear those big boots, but hopefully I can get those off today and scale down to a different model. Sarahjane is also getting her stitches out from the biopsy. I pray that all goes well.

Lord Jesus, this morning I find myself in Mark, again! This is the account that I have come back to time and time again. The little boy that is demon possessed and the dad asked the disciples standing around arguing to heal him. They can not. At the end of the story we realize that they can't heal because of a lack of prayer.

My devotion brought attention to the facts of why it might have been impossible for them to heal. One explanation really hit home with me. The opposition was not just lurking around, but this time the disciples were in direct combat with them.

As I am preparing for this conference in Sept. 2009 I have met some combat. Most of it is not in real skin. It is a mind battle that I have to take to the Lord. (But my word, those can be the worst of all battles.) Nevertheless, there have been battles with the skin as well. God has revealed to me the concept of having both men and women there just like a regular church service. Just this will not be at a church, will have incredible worship, and will be at a very non-threatening location. And yet there have been a few to just not get it. Not get the concept of wanting to bring in both genders whom probably have not step foot in the church in a long time.

When the opposition arises I want to fight. I want to try to rationalize it out with the Pharisees - can you rationalize and justify and make clear a vision that has not all been revealed. Walking in faith will not make sense to many, well, actually very few. I can get so exhausted from trying to fight out the faith walk instead of just walking out the faith and allowing Him to put out the fires.

Father I realize very obviously that this is not my war - life in general i am speaking of. I am in it, but You are the Victor and Champion. I try to take on too much myself. I do that with just the generalities of life, but also in my walk with You as well. I have found that in a true walk of faith much of the walk is blind, one foot in front of the other, and a complete depletion of myself. That depletion of myself is not belittling me, it is a a relinquish of any authority I might think I have in my life and doing as He desires. Total surrender, palms open, and heart tender.

Oh Spirit - today my heart is excited. I am excited to see Your Word jump off the pages and be led by Your Spirit! Lord Jesus, I do ask for your Spirit to invade me to the fullest today. Make me aware of ways that I can be a blessing to so many around me. Help me to be patient with the tennis girls and my family to be patient with me during this trying time. Lord, may Your favor continue to embrace my days and my mind to be always turned to You. Jesus, reveal Your plans to me as I wait in expectation of what is ahead!! Oh Lord, show me Your Glory!! Fill me!

556 - I' m Fighting!

Lord Jesus - Praise you Father!! Thank you thank you thank you for the work you did in and through me while i was in Tenn. at the True Love Waits conference and Easter Celebration. It was incredible! I could not believe how organized everything was and how smoothly it ran! Friday night with the teens was a tough group. 5 - 12 graders, boys and girls, and parents. But You, Lord, gave me awesome words to speak and I think they came out with much passion and enthusiasm. It was interesting - no matter how bad you do with women there is always people pleaser in the group that will come and reassure you that you did well and spoke to her - or at least the general group - "you really blessed us". ha ha! But youth are tough. They stare and sometimes glare at you. They will laugh and crack up, but then they go right back into that stare - you are not so cool - come on now - enough already - kind of looks. I know this because I already get it at home too. But it was awesome and really inspiring! The preacher was there to help with everything and was so supportive. I do not always see that - and that is the key to making any event a sucess! Preacher's support and endorsement!

A lady stopped by my house - Julie - and we just got to talking about my weekend - it was coming up at this time - and she passionately expressed to me that rebellion in a teen does not have to have happen. It was a lie from the pit of hell that every teen had to go through a rough and wild time. She told me to make sure I told the parents they have to be ready, but not necessarily for the worst. Not every kid has to take the worst road. I think that was very wise advice. But on the flip side - another one of my friends that I spoke with briefly concerning this event told me to tell the parents to not trust their good kid so much. She was a really good kid that got pregnant - her parents gave her so much freedom because they just trusted her too much. I thought that was great advice too. Parents commented on that as well.

I have a conference this weekend in my old little town - Norris City. It is at Crossroads Church and I will be speaking about Fighting the good fight! Want to come? - just email me and I give you specifics. This group has made the cutest little shirts ever - brown long sleeve with a pink embroidered girl with a pony tail with armor on. It is so cute!! I can not wait to get one!

So today - Lord Jesus you sent me to 1 Tim. 6:12, but it was actually one verse before that really struck a cord in me. "But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness." That was verse 11. The part that really stumped me was the pursue endurance. I can understand the righteousness, godliness, faith, love, and gentleness, but the endurance. I was not thinking so much about pursuing it, but just that you must have it. Like you grab it as if grabbing it before the fight happens, before you take off to fight and keep going it. But this is more like your pursue it, run after it, chase after it - chase after something that will help you to keep chasing...

So I had to go to the special books and find out more. This endurance is like patience, or bearing up under, persevere. I so think about being patient with people, but that actually is a different Greek word. This endurance is specifically the word for endurance or patience as to things or circumstances. Now I love this. There is no doubt we are called to be patient with people and endure them - holy cow do we have to endure them at times and others enduring me. But in Eph. 6 the Word reminds us that we are not fighting against flesh and blood - people - but against the evil world and its team and schemes. When we remember that and put things in perspective that is real endurance. While the evil one may use people to seemingly be against us or you or me - it is actually the scheme, plan, circumstance, or things that we need to have endurance with.

So how do i pursue this endurance? How do I chase after something that seems like I should already possess? I think the key to it all is making sure we have on the Armor of God each and everyday - making sure during the day we don't change clothes - at critical moments we don't forget to pick up the sword - if we take a nap we make sure it is appropriate and not in selfishness - making sure we know who we are fighting and that it is not flesh and blood even though it may so appear to be that way. Oh Lord - help me to be mindful of all this. Lord I want to pursue the things of You. I want you! I know there is a good fight to fight, but that also means that there is probably fights or battles not worth fighting. Help me to discern the Truth and to walk in that. Help me to know when to fight and when to hold off. Along the way help me to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, gentleness, and endurance. Lord, you are my all and all. I want you you so desperately in my life, breath, down to the marrow of my bones. Fill me to the brim with your Spirit today and may I walk worthy of the calling! I love you!

452 - I Watch, YOU Fight!

Lord Jesus, thank you for a great weekend. More than anything thank you for all the friends that took the time to pray for me. Thank you for bringing to mind my exhaustive state and prompting them to pray. Thank you that they also took the time to send me a note of encouragement and love. Oh Lord - thank you for blessing me in that way. I hope it is not any time soon, but I hope when the time comes I can do and be the same for all my friends! Praise you Lord - that was You in skin!! Oh Lord, thank you!! And I got to talk with my mom for a long time too! yeah!!!

Lord, many times i view problems in my life as something that I am to fight, but with your power and strength. I am still not sure that is not the truth, but I have also seen a different scenario as well. Exodus 15:3 says, "The Lord is a warrior; the LORD is his name." When I first dissected that it was quite confusing. Warrior just translates into an individual man or being of war, fighting, battles, etc. as opposed to a mankind in battle. And then of course the capital LORD is the Yahweh, covenant God. I still was not getting anywhere until i looked up the relating verse of Ex. 14:14 -"The Lord will fight for you, you need to only be still."

So as I sat there with the Lord at my hearth I was just pondering waiting for Him to reveal what He is saying to me today. Then it came - he reminded me of an internal battle I am constantly at war with, a thought process that seems to rule me at times, a place my brain goes that I seem to have no control over. This weekend I was asking Him over and over, how Lord, how can I ever have victory in this? How can my mind ever be one that immediately pleases You instead of taking the rough road? It seems to be nothing that I can do and He said RIGHT!!!

IN THIS SITUATION - the Lord is my warrior, he is the one that is going to fight this battle for me! He is in covenant with me and that can never be broken. He will keep His covenant because He is God and perfect and pure and righteous! There are certain times that He requires nothing of us in the war except to be still. "The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still." That "still" means to be silent, to be quiet, to say nothing. I think you are saying to me this morning Lord that this one is one that You got covered. You are my mighty warrior and you need me to sit back and do nothing, say nothing...................just watch. Oh Lord, even in that it takes great trust. I want to help out. I want to do something to speed along the healing. I want to give you a hand because I feel such responsibility for my sin and such! Oh Lord, is there not just one thing I can do - Yes, I hear you say - Nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your healing and victory will come in due time and like my knight in shining armor. You will ride in at just the perfect time to claim me as your prize. You will come to my rescue and scoop me up. You will be valiant and radiant!! You ARE!! It is finished!!

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war." Rev. 19:11.

Lord praise you!! Thank you!!! Help me to be still, silent, and just watch!! Do nothing!! I am going to close to St. Louis today to speak to a group of women. Fill me to the brim - may I only speak Your Words!! May they be ready to receive!! I love you!! Thank you for this opportunity, please bring more! Thank you for Your Word!

327 - Tired of Fighting?

Can we lift our hands and praise the Lord? - well certainly, but not type at the same time. Oh Lord Jesus, how wonderfully awesome You are! On Friday night where I spoke at my home church, Crossroads Bible Church, You showed up in such a precious way. Your Spirit was so evident throughout the place. We had a completely scrumptious meal fixed and served by the men of the church. A man by the name of Tom Oxford cooked FRESH lasagna noodles with Alfredo/mushroom sauce, shrimp scampi, salad Rafferty's style with croissants, and cooked carrots. I mean it was gourmet - unreal... I had never had fresh, homemade noodles. Wonderful!!

Then we moved into the sanctuary and had some praise music - awesome. Those ladies are so talented. The really young piano player/singer was there too. She is incredible. Loved it! Then Dawn introduced me and it was my time. As i walked up to the mic I could feel like a rush of the Holy Spirit invade me and knew HE had showed up to do some great things! He spoke through me and took me down some tangents I did not have prepared. Oh it was awesome. Not me, but what He poured out of me! My passion for His word and love for speaking out and praising Him was there - it was just a wonderful night!!! Many ladies made decision of recommitment and/or acknowledgement of change needed in their lives. Father - praise You. You did it all! Thank you for allowing me to be part of Your night!!! Thank you thank you!!

This morning Father - I am up and at 'em, but still very tired. I read in 2 Samuel 21:15-21 where David went out to fight, but became very exhausted. There are some really great things I see about that passage and am very encouraged. David was up in age and still doing what he thought was his kingly duties. He, up to this point, was not afraid to get out and do battle. How often do you see a preacher of a church willing to get up front and do the preachin', but as far as getting out in the battle and fighting, nope, save that for the others. Even though David was probably too old be out there and acting like his young army men, He felt a responsibility to his people, to his army, and to the Lord. The Philistines were at it again and David wanted to make sure he was part of that slaying through the power of the Lord.

Oh Lord, may i never view myself as washed up and unusable. In fact that is something You have had come out of my mouth the past 2 times i have spoke. "If you are still on the earth and breathing, then He is not done with you. If you think your usefulness is done and you are just here to coast through the rest of life, then you better be making your burial plans. He does not call us to coast and if you think He is done with you like you think you are done being used then beware. Your days are numbered and He is coming to get your "perfected" self." All of course said in love, but the point is that as long as we are here on this earth then He is not done with us so there is no need to throw in the towel. Our "job" might change and we can no longer fight on the field, but we can never not fight on our knees.

It encourages me, especially after this past 3 weeks of sickness, that even David got tired and exhausted. He had to rely on the help of others to survive, literally. Oh Lord, thank you for all those that have been fighting for me on their knees and other means as well. Lord, help me to be faithful to fight for the next person and to be encouraging to others around. I want to be a strong link in the body of believers, not one that takes too much from others. Thank you Jesus - thank you for working in my life and for making such a difference in my everyday walk. Thank you for loving me and for keeping me close. Thank you for your patience and your sacrifice. Lord, thank you for opportunities and I pray more will come!! Help me to never tire of fighting!!! Thank you Father - I love you!

272 - Easy Change

Oh Lord - i am worn out. My Elleigh is still sick and running a terrible fever. Her cough has gotten much worse, i think, and just feeling so puny. She wants to be really close, either me holding her or sleeping with me. Holding her is wonderful because she is quite the "on the go" little girl and so that doesn't come as often as i would like. But i don't know if you will meet anyone more against kids sleeping in momma's bed. So her crawling into my bed burning up with fever and coughing her head off doesn't make for a peaceful rest since she wants to touch the whole night. One side of me is freezing while the other side of me is like a sunburn!!! We have got to take her in today. The rain outside matches my attitude!

I read my scripture this morning in 2 Samuel 3:1-39. It was like the short version of the tides turning and David being accepted as King all over Israel. Even though he was anointed and God had clearly laid out His plan, it did not come without great struggle and force. Isn't that interesting. This is like the very thing we talked about the other day. Paul received a Word as to what he was suppose to do or was going to do and he did not give up through much trials. Snake bit, ship wreck, lap of luxury, etc.......... He never quit or dismissed what he knew God had said was going to happen. He fought the good fight until fruition.

We see in chapter of 2 Samuel the same thing. David knew he was to be king. He knew "the plan". He knew who was the winner. He knew because he was connected. That is the bottom line for our lives. We can only fight and fight for what we know is right when we know what is right. How do we do that - we have to spend time with Him everyday. We can't just read a blog, listen to christian music, or even read a Christian book. We must come to Him with our WORD open and spend time with Him. We can't continue to fight if we don't know what we are fighting for or if He even wants us there.

Lord, guide me. I am running on low this week. It has been a good 3 years since i have not had full nights of sleep. It hurts - i never did well the first 12 weeks of my kids life. I don't know anything that hurts me more than lack of uninterrupted sleep. Don't have to have a lot of sleep, just has to be uninterrupted. Help me to hear from you. Thank you for the most recent blessing of speaking on a cruise. That was a dream #1, but #2 something that i thought would only come along in many many years. Oh thank you Lord for choosing me. I am pumped!!! Come friends, lets go away!!!

267 - Don't you give in!!

Oh Father - this time change about got me this morning. I wanted to crawl right back in the bed and not even it the snooze - just turn off the alarm. But thank you for getting me up and meeting with you. I studied about how we discern God's will for our lives - 4 easy step process - but this morning i want to praise you for a great weekend with my parents and the wonderful church we had. I mean incredible.

The praise music was just a tad too loud, but it didn't bother me. We sang the News Boys (or maybe it was Newsong group) song Rescue. It was wonderful and just beautiful. Chad our preacher is a great singer and the piano player is out of this world. There is another lady on keyboard that is awesome too. I could not hear the piano player as well as i would have liked to yesterday. Maybe they were having some sound troubles - they had a video that didn't quite work. Anyway - they brought us to the Throne of Grace for sure!

Chad did an awesome job on the sermon yesterday. We were talking about the power of a word - that would be the inspired Word of God. When God lays something on your heart and then confirms it in scripture - that is your Word. You hold on to that Word until You see Him releases you from that or He works it into fruition. He will, but sometimes we have to be patient. Patience is one of those things that is the prelude to many blessings. But i think too often i go right on passed that blessing because i take things into my own hands or never wait to see it through. Forgive me Lord.

We found ourselves in Acts 27 - the account of Paul going to appeal Caesar. He had been accused of something and they really couldn't find a crime to peg him with, but nevertheless they wanted to have him killed. So as a Roman citizen, Paul had the right to appeal before Caesar to get the decision reversed. This is much like someone appearing before our Supreme Court. Before I go on about all the Paul endured, I was kind of astonished at the Word we received in I Thes. 2:17-18, specifically vs. 18, "Satan hindered". In the Greek that means to make slow, difficult, or prevent action. It is as if a person is going on a trip and they are hindered such that either the trip must be stopped or the trip has to go in a totally different direction.

This is where I and many of us throw in the towel. We get one obstacle and quit. Not willing to fight any longer, not willing to rough it out, not willing to give it our all. It is easier to assume that God did not will that for our life and just give up. But following Him takes work. First we have to know that the situation is worth fighting for. We have to have received a Word, that take patience, from Him knowing we are to proceed through. Then we have to be willing to fight and wait and fight and wait.............and then wait some more. Just because we don't see it happen immediately doesn't mean that God changed His mind.

In Acts 27 - this is where Chad was tremendous and so anointed. We went through the ship wreck story of Paul. He received his Word that he was to appear before Caesar. His real goal was to preach the gospel to Caesar. He knew this was his purpose in life from this point forward. So they set sail in a bad storm. "Unite your faith in the midst of the storm, not lose your faith" - Chad. Angel of the Lord confirmed Paul's purpose, but the storm continued for 11 days. They finally reach land - long time - and he loses all his stuff and lands on a island of Barbarians. He then is cold and makes fire. As he is making the fire he gets bit by a poisonous snake. They are ready to watch him die, but God prevents that. He then gets hailed as a god and taken to a palace - he has yet to see the Caesar, but is holding tight to his Word. Many months have gone by. Paul gives up......... not!!!!!!!!!!! When we have a promise or Word from the Lord, we must fight, we must be patient, and we must prevail - only Him through us! Prayer must be the foundation.

Lord, thank you for this word yesterday. There are many ways i can apply it. Lord, help me to reach deep within and hold onto the patience You have given me. I have received a Word that I am willing to fight and wait for. In the mean time don't let my worst, or nearly my worst, enemy ruin everything. That would be me!!!!!!!!!!! Dawn Everette and Tracy Berta are both waiting to have their babies. May that be soon for both. Thank you for today, already. Thank you for mom and dad coming and the great time we all had. Please heal my dad's back or allow him great relief from a cortisone shot. However you can heal him!! I love you, Lord.

259 - The War Within

Lord Jesus- a few of my friends and I are waging war against fleshly desires. We are challenging each other to give up a few things for an extended time. It means war. Why, because to be truly committed and actually follow through it will be harsh at best, rough, and at times excruciating! But Lord, I am praying Phil. 4:13 - one of my favorite childhood verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Anything!!

Lord, I am so encouraged by many small details in my life right now because I feel like you have ordained this time of war. I read in I Samuel this morning chapter 27. This is where David set up camp right in the midst of the enemy and then began to irrationally attack various camps for no obvious reason, so the commentary says. He was just living in fear, frustration, paranoia, and panic for so long - killing and defending became second nature to him. He was in constant war. Similarly, our war never ends either. If you think it has, then you have probably let up and given into the pressure.

So as were asked to move to Psalm 10 - how they know this i don't know, but it is so cool - where David is writing out his feelings as a result of I Samuel 27. But in that Psalm one can hear such disgust for the enemy, fear that God is not going to come through, frustration with how things seem to be going (the bad guy is always winning), etc. He is really expressing to the Lord feelings that seem too honest at times, but I think ones God can really work with and prepare David for great things. Having a heart that is not real with God, even though He knows, and a heart that is hiding or being superficial i think only brings God disgust and "pass her by" kind of results.

But quickly in David fashion, he comes around at the end of the Psalm verse 17, and this is why I know God is in the details of my war against fleshly desires. "You hear, O Lord, the desires of the afflicted; you encourage them and you listen to their cry." David concludes that God may have him in a tough situation and actually at war, but David is confident that God responds with actions - He hears, encourages, and listens. And yes, the first and last are different. In my own war(s) the Lord Jesus hears how i want things to be different and my dreams for another day. The Lord Jesus encourages me in many different ways and I must be open to receive those Holy hugs. And the Lord Jesus listens to my cries on defeated days or days that i am tired and feel as if i can not fight any longer. He is always there to pick me up and deliver me away from the enemy. I just have to call on Him and claim the victory!

Verse 16 - The Lord is King for ever and ever. Enough said!! Amen!

249 - Holding up the Church

Dear Lord, thank you for a great weekend of sledding and playing. We also had our preacher and his family over to the house. They have 3 girls almost our girls' ages and have another on the way, but they don't know what it is. Lord Jesus - please give them a boy. Church was incredible yesterday. Clay had to stay home with Emmajoy as she was sickly, but not really sick i don't think. She is fine today. But the rest of us went. I will have to write about the sermon later. Wow!!!

Today I find myself in I Samuel 23:1-6. This is where David is told by the Lord to go down and fight the Philistines. David's guys were scared to do this just because it was dangerous enough to be fighting against the Philistines, but also with those that have been looking for them to kill. So really God is telling them to put themselves in major harms way, but because it is for the good of the whole - Israel!

It sadly reminds me of a time when a ton of churches down in the southeast were getting burned down over and over again and other churches were not too willing to stand up and help them. They were scared of getting their own churches torched for speaking out and helping. Disgraceful, i know! I heard things like, "This is why we have insurance" or "this is why we are members of a particular denomination so that they can help them". I know - the body of Christ was in trouble like right here in the Word and the Body did not pinch in a help. Another example is the when New Orleans flooded. I know I was not one to go down there and help. Yes, giving money is great, but sometimes that is too easy. Sometimes we need to go to war and fight!

David once again did the right thing - he prayed. He was told the situation and quickly went to the Lord. He did not respond and then check with the Lord to see if that was ok. He prayed. It doesn't say if it was a long drawn out prayer or if he even fasted, it just says He inquired of the Lord. He told his men it was time to fight, stand up for the body of Christ, and they had major reservations to say the least. Then our man of the year(s) inquired of the Lord again just to get clarification. My study made a point to make sure we knew it was not that David was questioning God, he was just making sure this was what He wanted Him to do. "Big difference in doubting God and doubting what you may have understood He told you to do."

Boy oh boy - do i love the Word. Thank you for the power, encouragement, the hope, the conviction, the strength, and love!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for the inquiries for speaking that are coming in. Recent ones to Hutto, Texas (near Austin) and one to Green Bay, WI. (Think i will get to see Brett Farve - ha ha) That would be so awesome if those panned out. Lord, please direct those leaders as to know exactly who is to lead those retreats - I would love the opportunity. Thank you Lord, it has greatly blessed and encouraged me just by being considered. Please sell our house!! I love you!