He Fixed the Fight!

Why do we worry? Don't we trust God? Don't we know He fixed the fight???

This morning it resounds in my spirit that whatever we're fighting, whatever we're facing, whatever we're believing for - the enemy does NOT want us to be victorious over! Sometimes I think we need to realize that facing the enemy is a good thing. Maybe, just maybe you need to check yourself if you're not facing him every now and then - if everything is just smooth sailing it could mean you're going in the same direction he is! Jus' sayin'. Maybe you need to start doing some things that upset him a bit and not be intimidated by the enemy coming against you. I know ... that's easier said than done!

Have you ever just totally freaked out over what was going on in your life? I mean a time when everything seemed to be getting out of hand ... your daughter's dancing with the devil with her red dress on ... your son's riding with the bikers that look and act like Hell's angels ... your husband's not supporting you ... there's an epidemic of stupid going around at work ... and you just FREAK OUT! I've been there, done that, got a bag of t-shirts for it. It's easy to do. We just let ourselves get overwhelmed with all that's going on around us and we forget ... He's already fixed the fight.

Take a look at King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. Sometimes God positions us in a place to take on the enemy, but it's our job to stand firm and BELIEVE. Jehoshaphat was told there was a great multitude" coming against him basically from every side. "And Jehoshaphat feared." BUT ... he didn't stop there and camp in his fear. He didn't get stuck in his rut (see yesterday's blog entry). Instead he "set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."

             SIDEBAR... maybe instead of running to all our friends, posting it on social media or throwing down at the local pub ... maybe if we remembered where our help comes from and begin to seek God - maybe we could get the yuck off our eyes and really see where we are and whose we are!

Have a throwdown with God! It's okay. He's a big God. He can handle it. He knows you're going to do it before you do it! Even Jehoshaphat did it. Look at v 6. He said (paraphrased), "Hey God. Aren't you the God in heaven? You rule all the kingdoms. You possess such power that nobody can oppose you. Didn't you evict all the people from this land for the children of Israel? In other words - I've seen what you can do! Now I'm reminding you! I've got enemies in front of me, enemies in back of me, enemies on both sides of me ... You're our God. Why don't you judge them? We don't have what it takes to face all these enemies. We don't have a clue what to do - so it's up to you, God!

My sweet friends here's OUR clue! Admit we're nothing! Admit we don't know what in the world to do! Remind Him who He is ... and ... wait. I know - you don't like that word. Me either.

But God appeared to Jahaziel and gave him a message for Jehoshaphat. And you know the rest of this story. God told them not to be afraid of the size of their enemy. He said (paraphrased) Hey, the battle isn't yours. It's God's. You won't fight this battle. Instead, take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord for you. Don't be afraid. Get up, and go out there. The Lord is with you.

In the words of my sweet friend, Ashley, "that'll preach!"

So here's the word for us today. God's already fixed the fight. We don't have to do battle. We just have to do what God's called us to do - take our position and stand there and watch God show up and show out! I'm convinced He loves to blow our minds! He does it so often. Even James told us in James 4:7 - resist, not do battle, not pick up your AR15 and fight ... resist. He fixed the fight! The battle is already won! How awesome is that!!

Getting Un-Stuck!

Do you ever feel stuck? Like in a rut? I seem to trip and fall into a rut fairly often ... a rut at work, a rut planning meals, a rut in my daily tasks, a rut in my marriage ... just a rut! The dictionary explains it like this: "a habit or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change." Even my thinking gets stuck in a rut. Thinking the same old things. Thinking the same old way. In fact, I'll admit I don't just fall into this rut I pitch a tent and camp there! Anybody else? Just me?

Before we beat ourselves up too badly know that we are in good company. Even the apostle Paul got into a rut. Before God gave him the name Paul - he was Saul of Tarsus, and it was all about him! How many times do we fall into that narcissistic rut of thinking it's all about us? It's true - we all fall into that rut at some point or another (and some of us more frequently than others). We get stuck in the rut! Even if we are all that and a bag of chips ... we are only that through the grace of God. Paul had an extraordinary resume! He was educated to the nines. I wonder how many degrees would follow his name in today's society? Of the 27 books in the New Testament, he is credited with writing 13! But even he had to get un-stuck.

While he was in prison he wrote of being stuck. Look at Phil 3:7. All those things he used to count as valuable, all those impressive educational degrees he had, all his impressive highly thought of societal experiences ... he is now counting as worthless for Christ. He had to change his point of view ... his way of thinking.

Maybe, just maybe if we would follow suit get off our high horse and begin to realize where we are today is ONLY by the grace of God. Where we've been saved from ... how many times God has been there to intervene ... how many times He has sent someone to lift us up when we were at the bottom of the barrel ... how many times has He protected us from what could have ... what should have happened? Maybe if we begin to give Him credit (instead of thinking it's all about us) - we would realize it's our stinking thinking that is keeping us stuck in the rut! Maybe if we see ourselves - not just look at ourselves - but actually, see who we are we will realize without Him we are nothing. All those "things" (that a whole other entry) that we think are so important aren't important at all. What is important is WHO we believe and what we do with what we believe.

That thought immediately takes me back to one of my all-time favorite Bible studies by Beth Moore - Believing God. It's not enough to just believe in Him - we have to believe Him. We have to believe: God is who He says He is. God can do what He says He can do. We are who God says we are. We can do all things through Christ. God's word is alive and active in us. Then our point of view will change and we will get un-stuck!

No Filters Needed!

On the way to work one day last week, God just seemed to drop this is my spirit.

I am a frequent user of filters - snapchat filters, youcam filters, etc. etc. I don't like the way the wrinkles in my face wrinkle, the lines show up, the turkey skin on my neck wobbles ... you get the picture ... or hopefully, you don't. So I use filters. As soon as I find a new one that makes me look better, younger, smoother, less wrinkly, I install it. I'm all about filters. After having gotten frustrated with the latest photo of myself last week - even WITH filters. I looked myself in the mirror and said, "Girl, you gotta face it - you're looking old."

I was thinking about all the things we females do to try to look better for those we love (or is it for ourselves??), and Isa 44:2a popped in my head. The Lord formed you in the womb and will help you. Then my mind went to Psalm 139:14 I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.

Wowsa! So ... if I believe even just those two scriptures - who am I to complain about His creation? Really?! Does putting a filter on my picture really make me feel better about myself - about His creation. What's really amazing is the fact that He doesn't see all my faults and wrinkles - He sees me as His righteousness! 2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I don't need to put a filter on this corruptible body - God created me the way He wanted me to be - to look - knowing that I would age, knowing that my body would decay - and He's good with that.

So why aren't we? Jus'sayin'

He's Excited to See Me

I am so excited!! For the first time in 140 days, I am going to see and hug and kiss my son! He's in the USAF and is in training in Florida. While that's not all that far away - six hours driving time is huge to someone like me who suffers from multiple autoimmune disorders. Sitting in a car for long periods of time is absolutely excruciating for me. All that being said ... I would do it in a heartbeat to see my son - if only for a few minutes/hours. I love him that much!!

I don't sleep well (ever) so when I got up to get ready for work this morning my body ached, my mind was fuzzy and I so wanted to roll over and try again to sleep ... but then I remembered ... James is coming home today. I don't know for sure what time he will be home (it doesn't matter), but he said he'll be here! My heart skipped a beat, and I got out of that bed (body snaps and cracks included) and began the morning routine. Put Tyson outside, make the coffee, fix Tyson's breakfast, drink my water, take meds, bring Tyson in, grab my coffee and get back upstairs to find something suitable to wear, see Tyson has come back upstairs, put him on the bed while I get in the shower ... etc. etc. Turn on YouTube to one of my favorite speakers to preach to me while I'm in the shower.

On my drive to the office this morning it hit me that James will be home tonight. What should I cook for him? What goodies will I bake? O my goodness! I'm so excited to see that sweet rugged face of his. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks!

O God ... is that how YOU feel about us? Are you excited about seeing us? Can it be that the maker of the universe is anticipating being reunited with us the way I am anticipating being reunited with my son? I think it must be so! As a parent, we give up many things to raise children but think about what God gave up for us! He gave up His only son to bring us - adopt us - into His family! Tears began to sneak down my cheeks as this settled into my mind and heart and as I admitted to Him I haven't been as excited about the return of Jesus as I should be.

My prayer today: O God renew that excitement over your love in me. My finite mind has trouble processing the depth of your love, but renew the excitement in me. I want to be as excited to see you as you are to see me. Renew my first love for you!