Confession: Some days are just "hard". I miss my culture (its holidays; well, except
for the one on October 31), my home church, medical care (not so much dental
care), my ladies groups, my kids getting to be with their church/home school
friends, my comforts, Southern California beaches and sunshine, foods I am
accustomed to, and much more. But I
cannot allow the enemy to win by making me like Lots wife - looking over my
shoulder to "what I left behind".
When I do that, I am frozen in between two places; and completely
ineffective for Him. The enemy is so good/relentless in his attacks and I find
myself humbled in prayer: "Lord,
give me grace to walk through this and overcome.
Thank You that victory is in the Cross and your resurrection.".
"I press on toward
the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:14
I tire
of the relentless spirit of religion and spirit of competition in the churches
in this place. It's not just in the
Orthodox and Catholic churches. I tire of people rejecting Christ, or even
rejecting what His Word says; choosing to walk in their own wisdom.
I cannot
allow the circumstances to overshadow the King of the circumstances, and the
power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; for in it is the power to save! He conquered all on the cross and in His
resurrection.
"For
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone
who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." Romans 1:16
He is EL
ROI ("The God Who Sees") and this has been such a powerful truth for
me in being here. He is Sovereign and
sees every circumstance/individual. As
we lift them to Him in prayer and pray against the spirits we see working - and
walking in opposite spirits (ie; choosing to have faith instead of letting
religion win; choosing to love & be gracious where there is envy/competition)
and not allowing them to overcome - but allowing Him to overcome through us.
"No,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through
Him who loved us." Romans 8:37
There is
nothing I need to do but pray and stay surrendered in obedience to Him. And
carry my sword; battle ready (have His Word in my heart daily).
‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." Zechariah 4:6
He
reminds me often when I grow weary: Jesus
didn't command us to "save the world and build institutions/churches. Saving and building are His. He commanded us this:
" Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
THANK
YOU JESUS THAT IT IS ALL YOU!
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of
Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." 2
Corinthians 4:7-10
