"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fail. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me." - Psalm 13
This Psalm is so heartfelt and really captures how I feel right now. I returned from my mission trip, where I could truly see God working. I was on a high, only to return to find out that my loved ones were hurting deeply.
The devil never stops trying to attack me and those around me. "The enemy persues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed." (Psalm 143:3,4)
My dear friend Rochelle lost a beloved part of her family, Shaz. Shaz was her dog, and was a beautiful and loving one at that. I had the privilege of spending time with my Shazzle Dazzles when I was in Australia. Please pray that God will put his loving arms around Rochelle and her family.
I also discovered upon my return from Bangladesh, that my Grandpa (post-accident: brain hemorrhage due to a fall) is not doing so well. He is not expected to live more than a couple weeks. It is time to start saying goodbye in my heart. I'm not up north where I can actually say goodbye in person. I love my Grandpa very much and will miss him greatly.
God has blessed me with wonderful friends and family to support me in times of need. My only request is for prayer for my friend Rochelle, her family, and my own family. Life is never without its storms and trials. We see evidence of pain and suffering all the way through the bible. It's a fact of this sinful life. Our only hope is in Christ. As long as we can hold onto him in our pain, he has promised to uphold us in our weakness.
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:3-5
I pray that in all trials Christ shines through in my weakness. Thank you for your prayers.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
The Broken Hearted
Today in my devotion, I was reading about the broken hearted. I want to tell you about it, but I'm running late for clinic. Hopefully I will find the time to post later today. Sorry!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
The Battle Against the Enemy
This morning I studied the battle against the Enemy. We need to learn to recognize the enemy, Decide whose side we're on, and then take action with Christ's weapons to defeat the enemy. The following is a guideline to my study. I haven't written a summary yet. Take a look at the verses though!
Recognize Your Enemy
• “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
• “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1st Peter 5:8
The Battle
• “Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
• “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:21
• “Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them. And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:16, 17
• “He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10: 18, 19
• “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2nd Corinthians 4:18
• “When an evil[a] spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26
• “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30
• “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. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” 1 John 4:4-6
• “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom[a] also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,” 1 Peter 3:18-20
Decide Whose Side You’re On
• “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Matthew 6:24
• “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30
• “Hate evil, love good;
maintain justice in the courts.
Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy
on the remnant of Joseph.” Amos 5:15
• “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16
Turn Your Weapons Against the Enemy
• “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.” Matthew 12:29
• “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2nd Corinthians 10:4
• “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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.” Philippians 6:13-18
Quotable Quotes:
Check out the screwtape letters, “Interfere when people start to pray…real prayer is lethal to our cause.”
“Prayer isn’t to persuade or influence God, but to join with Him against the enemy.” –Michael W. Smith, “It’s Time To Be Bold”, p.119.
“There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan.” –C. S. Lewis, “Christianity and Culture,” Christian Reflections, p. 33
Recognize Your Enemy
• “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
• “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1st Peter 5:8
The Battle
• “Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
• “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:21
• “Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them. And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:16, 17
• “He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10: 18, 19
• “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2nd Corinthians 4:18
• “When an evil[a] spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26
• “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30
• “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. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” 1 John 4:4-6
• “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom[a] also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,” 1 Peter 3:18-20
Decide Whose Side You’re On
• “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Matthew 6:24
• “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30
• “Hate evil, love good;
maintain justice in the courts.
Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy
on the remnant of Joseph.” Amos 5:15
• “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16
Turn Your Weapons Against the Enemy
• “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.” Matthew 12:29
• “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2nd Corinthians 10:4
• “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 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.” Philippians 6:13-18
Quotable Quotes:
Check out the screwtape letters, “Interfere when people start to pray…real prayer is lethal to our cause.”
“Prayer isn’t to persuade or influence God, but to join with Him against the enemy.” –Michael W. Smith, “It’s Time To Be Bold”, p.119.
“There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counter-claimed by Satan.” –C. S. Lewis, “Christianity and Culture,” Christian Reflections, p. 33
Go and Tell This People
This morning for my worship, I picked up my devotional book and today's reading was about committing yourself to being available to God. It opened up with the verse Isaiah 6:8, which I looked up so I could read around the verse. You should read it, even if you are familiar with it. Isaiah 6:8 says, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" He said, "Go and tell this people:..." I like the verse thus far, but reading to the end of the passage I become a little confused and discouraged. So maybe you can help me with that. But that wasn't what I was trying to get to. It was just a tangent. Back to the real point, being available to God. I really want this in my life, and I know that Christ has a lot of work to do in me. But I also realize that I don't have to be sinless and perfect for God to use me. Going back to that passage, verse 5, "Woe to me! I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and live among people of unclean lips...See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for (verse 7b)." Christ has already done the work to cover our guilt and He is ready for us! I think that's so amazing! It's of course one of those things one know, but it's hard to adopt the idea within one's own heart. Remember Paul speaking of the thorn in his flesh, the messenger of Satan, to torment him. God responds, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Then Paul goes on to say, "That is why, for Christs sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Christ will make us strong as long as we hold on to Him!
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