Two Responses to Persecution

There are two main responses to persecution:

Run and hide.

or

Stand and fight!

For the first option: Run and hide - 

When the enemy attacks, we can choose to tuck tail and run, to turn from God, to shut our mouths, to close our eyes, to cover our ears and to hide away from all our fears, doubts and pains in a futile attempt to seek safety and miss out on all God's work and blessings in our lives and allow the enemy a short-lived victory.

When the enemy attacks, we can stop our teaching and preaching and writing and reading and sharing and living for God to try to save our families and friends from the attacks of the enemy.

But...

Is there actually anything we can do to keep our families and friends safe?

For the second option: Stand and fight - 

When the enemy attacks, we can choose to stand firm and fight hard, to plant our feet on God's path, to open our mouths with His words, to look up into His face, to listen to His promises and to confront face-to-face every fear, doubt and pain that sets itself up against God since this earth is not our home and to partake in God's bountiful feast and unconditional love in our lives.

When the enemy attacks, we can double our efforts of teaching, preaching, writing, reading, sharing and living for God because we know that He is the only One who holds our families and friends in his hands.

Sunday night, a thought flitted across my mind: If I stopped being so open about my faith in God, would my 

family and friends suffer less?

While there may be some truth in that statement, it is a lie from the enemy.

First of all, my family and friends are not in my hands, but God's.

Secondly, God may allow all kinds of trials in any life He chooses.

Thirdly, the devil can attack anyone he decides.

Fourthly and most importantly, Jesus specifically warns against putting even family above God: 

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." ~ Matthew 10:37-39

So, I have a question:

 

What will you do?

Call to War!

Tonight, I have felt the attack of the enemy in me and in my family!

I did not want to go to work tomorrow, to do the job God has given me or even to write His stories as has been my dream and joy!

My dad has had frustrations with our computer as he tried to help my mom prepare to teach her class tomorrow.

My mom has had two daughters calling for advice and prayer even as she tries to concentrate on her lesson plans for the coming week.

My sister's little boy would not stop crying to the point she called my mom, desperate for help!

My older brother's youngest girl has a bacterial infection, and they live in Niger, where he teaches history.

The attacks of the enemy seem to be growing stronger as I reach out farther in obedience to all that God has called me to do!

All I have been doing is praying every day for each member of my own family and my pastor's family as well as anyone else God brings to mind, leading a small group from 7-9 p.m. every Thursday for a few ladies who have been attending, sharing in-depth conversation with Godly friends as well as casual friends who need encouragement, writing letters to missionaries in training and writing whatever stories God sends my way or lays on my heart...

The enemy is getting nervous and striking hard, but our God is greater!

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." ~ 1 John 4:4

"How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.

He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how he spread out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion? See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea. This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance. He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach." ~ Job 36:26-33

And that's just the beginning! Read chapters 37-42 for a bigger picture!

So, who will join the Lord in this battle and stand against the enemy?
Who will take up the sword of the Spirit to slash down the lies of the enemy?
Who will take up the shield of faith to thwart every flaming arrow of the enemy?
Who will fasten the belt of truth to withstand the schemes of the enemy?
Who will put in place the breastplate of righteousness to come against the enemy?
Who will put on the feet that are fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace?
Who will fasten the helmet of salvation to counteract the enemy's threats?

Who will stand up with the Lord and fight as David fought Goliath?!

"David said to the Philistine, 'You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
~ 1 Samuel 17:45-47

Who will be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints?

We need each other because no one can live for God alone!

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
~ 1 Peter 5:6-11

And don't ever let the devil tell you that you can "only" pray or the "least" you can do is pray because prayer is one of only two weapons (God's Word being the other one) we have as believers and is the MOST we can do for each other since ONLY GOD can bring transformation, restoration and everything else we need!

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." ~ Ephesians 6:18

"pray continually" ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17

"Devote yourselves to prayer, 

being watchful and thankful."

~ Colossians 4:2 ~

"Revival In The Land" by Carmen

Attention, all saints of God! Man your battle stations!
Sound the alarm loud and long to all men of every nation!
We’re kicking down the gates of hell and not stopping till they’re level
For the sentence of destruction’s on the forehead of the devil!

Lift your hands in victory, this is our finest hour
For the sleeping giant called the church is rising up in power
Cry loud, spare not, this lion’s gonna roar
We may have lost some battles, but we will win this war

We’ve made it through the fire; our faith in God is strong
We’re a revelation generation with fire in our bones
Filled up with the Holy Ghost, trusting in the Bible
Fasten your seatbelts saints of God, the world is breaking forth in REVIVAL!

Revival, it’s coming to our land
The Holy Ghost is moving just like a hurricane
Revival, it’s coming to our shores
Get ready for the moving of the spirit of the Lord
(Repeat twice)

Revival!
What we’ve been waiting for
Revival!
What we’ve been praying for

From America to England
From Africa to Spain
From Mexico to China
The Spirit of God is being poured out on all flesh
And there’s Revival In The Land.

Challenge: Rise up! Take hold of the sword of the Spirit (God's Word)! Pray! And watch God work! :)

Be Alert!

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." ~ Colossians 4:5-6

Not everyone has a Bible--even here in the states.

Never take God's Word for granted!

Thinking = Praying

In a conversation the other day, a good friend said when she thinks something, she has already told God about it.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "pray continually."

What better way to do just that than to make every thought a prayer?

2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

When thinking equals praying, we are able to spend time in the presence of the Lord God Almighty all day long wherever we are!

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." ~ Psalm 84:1-2

God already knows all our thoughts, so it's no huge step to acknowledge His knowledge of our thoughts as we think them. :)

"You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar." ~ Psalm 139:2

Matthew 10:26 says, "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known."

Hebrews 4:13 says, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Every thought will be brought to light, and our thoughts direct our actions.

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee." ~ Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)

As another good friend emphasized to the youth at our church not too long ago, "What you think about is what you care about, and what you care about is what you'll chase."

What are you thinking about?

Untouched Feast

Last night, I texted a few ladies to see if they would be able to attend the small group I had just started the week before.

As I received a number of valid reasons why they could not attend, I wondered why God wanted me to lead the small group.

Since one lady was definitely coming, I began to cut the fresh bread I had just bought for the evening.

Smelling the freshness, I thought, they don't know what they're missing.

At that moment, God impressed on my heart how often He must feel the same way.

How often does God prepare a feast, invite the guests and wait for us to come--only for us to give excuses and reject His free, benevolent blessings?!

  

This scenario reminds me of the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 22:1-14:

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invitied that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'

But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The kind was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothers?' The man was speechless.

Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

For many are invited, but few are chosen."

Are you among the chosen?
1 John 5:13 says, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

• If you have never met Jesus, let me know, and I will be more than happy to share who He is and what He has done for you.

• If you know about Jesus but do not have a personal relationship with Him, let me know what you know, and I will do my best to introduce you to my Best Friend on a more personal level.

• If you are already living fully for Jesus, praise God and rejoice in the blessings to come--whether on earth or in heaven!

Paths beyond tracing out

Ever wonder why God allows certain steps to take place which seem to be headed in the opposite direction He is leading you?

Ever feel as though you have wasted time pursuing a road when God closes that door to open a completely different one?

Ever find yourself discouraged as you wait to see how God plans to lead you through this next phase in your life?

I have.

Yet, the longer I live, the more I see God's plan unfold in all its beauty and complexity.

Romans 11:33 says, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!"

Just this week, God has shown me, in part, why He allowed an occurrence I did not understand at the time I lived through it.

Last year, as I waited to hear from the newspaper which later hired me, I interviewed at a different newspaper in a small town, where my college roommate lived.

Nothing resulted immediately from the interview at the different newspaper, and I received the position, where I work now.

This past weekend, I visited my college roommate, and I attended her newly established church in the town where I had interviewed with the local paper.

During my visit, God impressed on my heart to write an article about the establishment of this new church, so I did.

Today, I submitted the article to the newspaper where I had interviewed but did not receive the job, and the editor called and said the article would run next week!

If I had not interviewed there almost a year ago, I seriously doubt that I ever would have written the article, but God had a plan for me which I knew nothing about at the time.

Nothing takes God by surprise, and no experience is ever pointless or wasted.

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" ~ Acts 17:24-28

Hall of Faith - Hebrews 11

What is faith?
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." ~ Hebrews 11:1

By faith...

-we understand that the universe was formed at God's command

-Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did
-he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings
-he still speaks, even though he is dead

-Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death

Without faith...

-it is impossible to please God, because everyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him

By faith...

-Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family
-he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith

-Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going
-he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country

-Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise

-Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice

-Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future

-Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons

-Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones

-Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born

-Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter
-he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger
-he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood

-the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land

-the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days

-the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great clouds of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." ~ Hebrews 12:1