Pure Love... Through the battlefield

Everyone has a battle they face, we as Christians know the source of our battle... we know who the enemy is. The Bible is full of wisdom for us, given from God. Wisdom is referenced 222 times in the Bible and 46 of those references are in Proverbs alone. Wouldn't that lead you to believe that we may need some wisdom from God?
Ok so, LET'S GET REAL... Do you ever feel like you are out of a battlefield with arrows or bullets flying at you? As I type this, I close my eyes and feel as though I am out on a large green meadow, all alone, with what feels like skimpy armor, feeling the every arrow or bullet ... Every time an arrow hits, I jerk in reaction so that from afar it looks almost like the most ridiculous, awkward dance... Can you see it?  Or better yet... can you relate? 

This morning, like 5 mins ago, my precious David said, "Honey, I miss you singing... why aren't you singing?" When he refers to me singing... well I sing. I am passionate about singing. I am passionate about singing praises to God... my friends could attest that I am constantly humming or singing. It has been known to drive people crazy. Yes, I received A LOT direction growing-up for singing at in appropriate times i.e. the dinner table, during funerals or weddings, church services during sermons... singing expresses my heart. So yes, when I am quiet... it is noticeable. We are still getting to know the details of each other and I told him earlier this week, in reference to the kids, you know it's bad when I get really quiet. Well... I've been really quiet the past two weeks... I have been under attack. Serious attack. Everyone responds differently, but when things become overwhelming... I get quiet. Tearfully I say, "I AM READY TO BE SINGING AGAIN!" Apparently, so is my precious David.

The Bible mentions Armor 36 times. It is so important to be equipped as we are going into battle... realistically you NEED armor. As Christians, our armor is very vividly laid out on before us.

Ephesians 6:10-20 says...
¹⁰ Finally, let the Lord make you strong. Depend on his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God's armor. Then you can stand firm against the devil's evil plans. ¹² Our fight is not against human beings. It is against the rulers, the authorities and the powers of this dark world. It is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly world.
¹³ So put on all of God's armor. Evil days will come. But you will be able to stand up to anything. And after you have done everything you can, you will still be standing.
¹⁴ So stand firm. Put the belt of truth around your waist. Put the armor of godliness on your chest. ¹⁵ Wear on your feet what will prepare you to tell the good news of peace. ¹⁶ Also, pick up the shield of faith. With it you can put out all of the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Put on the helmet of salvation. And take the sword of the Holy Spirit. The sword is God's word.
¹⁸ At all times, pray by the power of the Spirit. Pray all kinds of prayers. Be watchful, so that you can pray. Always keep on praying for all of God's people.
¹⁹ Pray also for me. Pray that when I open my mouth, the right words will be given to me. Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the good news. ²⁰ Because of the good news, I am being held by chains as the Lord's messenger. So pray that I will be bold as I preach the good news. That's what I should do.

Our God is so amazing that he has poured into us what we can do to make this walk easier. It is guaranteed that we will come up against the enemy. Allow me to remind you of what David reminded me of Wednesday night as I cried to him after watching my precious middle daughter melt down... "The enemy will not attack when you aren't a threat to him and his plan. Be encouraged that you are on the right road, following God's path." Welcome to God's path... REJOICE!!!

Change



For me this usually means I am making changes in my life... Change is a process, change is hard, change can be overwhelming and sometimes it is so overwhelming that some of us may resist it and choose to stay where we are than to FIGHT through the change to a freedom you can not imagine. How do you resist change? Do you stay in situations that are painful because you are afraid of the unknown? Do you fear that what God has for you isn't as good as what you are in or is it that you don't feel like you deserve what God has for you because of the mistakes or choices you have made in the past? (I just heard some toes crunching... sorry, friends!) Ok, TRANSPARENCY WARNING... I felt the latter of the two. Yes, I struggle with moving forward in life because, I still struggle with all of the mistakes of the past. What is that? That is me not forgiving myself. I know that I have gone to God and He, the father of the child that all of my choices were put on, has forgiven me... so, who am I not to forgive me???? GRRRRR, WENDI!!!
choice of life or death. You can choose either blessings or curses. But I want you to choose life. Then you and your children will live. And you will love the Lord your God. You will obey him. You will remain true to him. The Lord is your very life. He will give you many years in the land. He took an oath. He promised to give that land to your fathers. He promised it to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." Listen to our Father, pleading with us to choose life, to choose Him. This may be new to you. He does that through out the Word. In Luke 15:11-32, there is vivid picture of Him holding his arms out, waiting for you to run to Him... no grudges held, no accounts being tallied....

RUN TO HIM...

my FIRST love... I am running to you, falling into your arms and resting while the changes take place. I know these days are by your design and I am happy to walk them out and into the plan you have for me and these precious children you have blessed us with. What an amazing day!

Let the singing commence... Oh how I have missed you!