HOW GOES THE BATTLE?

Some days it feels as if everything we encounter becomes a battle. The alarm clock doesn’t sound and the kids are late for school, the coffee canister is empty, you get behind the lady in the grocery line that must write, record and balance her check book before the clerk can finish the transaction, then return home to find that even the dog has not cooperated. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could just crawl back into bed and start over? Or as my mother would say, “Go back and get up on the right side of the bed.” You long for someone to sympathize with you, give you hope for tomorrow and make you smile again. If only one person would take the time to ask, “How goes the battle?”


In 1 Samuel 30 we read of David’s really bad day. It was a day that thankfully, most of us will never face. David and his men returned to Ziklag to find that the Amalekites had arrived first, burned the city and taken the women and children captive. There were no encouraging words for David, no friend tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Brother David, how goes the battle?” Instead, the men spoke of stoning him. What do you do when everything goes wrong, your loved ones are being held captive and your trusted friends want to throw stones at you? Give up, start the day over, take a happy pill? The Bible tells us that David encouraged HIMSELF in the Lord!!!

I believe he began to remember all the times that God had led him, delivered him and given him victory over the enemy. After his encouragement session, David went on to the priest and enquired of the Lord what should be done. God told David to pursue the enemy, that he would be victorious and recover all. David obeyed and God was faithful. Hey David, “How goes the battle, now?”

Many times I have received a timely phone call or email from a friend with an encouraging word. I am always so thankful for those Godly men and women who are obedient to the voice of God to pray or send a word as the Lord has impressed them. There are days, however, that nothing changes until I encourage MYSELF in the Lord. Down on my knees I begin to recount God’s faithfulness; the many times of blessing, the times he didn’t just walk with me through the flood, but he carried me, the times of healing, and the times of provision. Then a still, small voice whispers to my heart, “How goes the battle?”

If God has put a friend in your mind today, pray for them, give them a phone call, send an email, and ask them, “How goes the battle?” Let them know all is not lost; they are not in the fight alone; God is faithful and will help them recover all. If on the other hand you are in the midst of the fight, and there are no encouraging phone calls, get down on your knees and enquire of the Lord. He will send His peace and calm the storm. Soon the battle will seem like just a little skirmish and you can face the day with victory. To the question, “How goes the battle?” You can answer, “The battle is not mine, it is the Lord’s!”

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Have you ever read a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book? The author creates a list of characters, a scenario and a list of events but leaves the ending up to the reader. Usually there are 3 different endings dependent upon the decisions made by the leading character and the reader gets to choose the decisions. Our life is a “choose your own adventure.” God places each one of us in the midst of a list of characters, sets the stage and presents various opportunities then we get to choose. The list of opportunities is determined by the most important choice; do we submit our life to God or follow after our own desires. Throughout our life every decision sets the path to the next opportunity that ultimately culminates in choosing our final destination. When we reach the end, our life choices determines whether we “Go Home” or “Pass Away” into eternity.


John and Fred started out on their life’s journey in similar fashion. Both men grew up in large southern families with limited religious experiences in their early years. Their paths did not cross until they reached adulthood, became brothers-in-law and forged a close friendship. Life continued, both men worked hard, bought homes, had loving wives with the same number of children. Sunday afternoons were full of laughter and good food, holidays were shared with more good food, gifts for all and lots of love. The children were close, trading nights at each house, playing endless days of baseball in the back yard and sharing their childish dreams. In the early years of the relationship, however, John made a choice to follow a path that Fred refused to pursue. At 23 years old, John gave his heart to God and everything in his life changed.

Although he chose to follow God, John was not a perfect man. There were times in his life that his humanity got in the way and a wrong choice was made but because he had a heart for God, God would gently nudge him back onto the path and life continued. As John’s children grew, he took them to church, taught them the ways of God and rejoiced as each one made their own decision to be baptized and was filled with the Holy Ghost. Throughout Fred’s life, however, he continued to resist the voice of God. He made choices that set the course of his life and stood by as the choices were transferred to his children. As his children would feel the drawing of God in their own hearts, Fred would discourage them from moving toward God, telling them there would be time to decide when they were older. The children began to follow the same path as Fred, making choices that led them further from the life chosen by John’s family.

The men grew old and became ill. John learned that he had a horrible disease and would not live long. He used this space of time to examine his life, correct the wrong choices, forgive and be forgiven by those who had been offended. John went home to be with the Lord with his loving wife by his side. His home-going service was a celebration of a life well-lived. The tears of sadness were replaced with the knowledge that it was just a temporary situation and someday soon the family would be reunited. Fred also suffered for some time with a disease. He used his space of time to continue his life as he always had, loving his wife, kids and grandkids and doing all the things he desired. A convenient time for God never came. One day Fred told his wife he was tired, lay down on the bed and never woke up. Fred “passed away.” The funeral was held at a church, which Fred had never attended, a minister-acquaintance spoke nice words in an attempt to comfort the family as sad tears ran down sorrowful faces. There was no hope; Fred had “passed away.”

We are each given a space of time that begins the moment we take our first breath until we breathe our last. During that time God presents various opportunities as He draws us unto Himself. How we respond to each of those opportunities is our choice. For those who turn aside and follow their own pursuits, God’s mercy continues to reach until He hears the final NO!!! God doesn’t love the person who submits to Him more than the person who rebels but the end has a different outcome. It’s your choice!!! When my space of time ends, will I have chosen to “Go Home” or “Pass Away?” It’s my adventure and I choose the ending.

HOW TO DEFEAT THE BULLY

Have you ever experienced or witnessed a playground bully at work? He will evaluate the various groups and zero in on the smallest, weakest, or loneliest person. Once the bully has chosen his “mark” his goal is to insert himself into the circle and disrupt all activities, instill fear and in general make life miserable. If he can infiltrate and consume the life of the “mark,” he feels important because he is now, “Top Dog.” The only way to defeat a bully is to face him and give him a dose of his own medicine. Also, having a big, strong friend to stand by you is a definite bonus.


When my son, Philip was in 8th grade, he experienced a bully. The other student picked on him and tormented him until finally Phil reached the breaking point. I was not aware of the situation until one day Philip came home from school with bruises, a bloody nose and broken glasses. It seems the other student came at Phil one last time in the locker room. Something inside of Phil, said, “Not this time!” He turned and unloaded on the other kid. I will never forget his words as he relayed all the details of the encounter. He said, “Mom I know I shouldn’t have been fighting, but it felt so good!” To my knowledge, the bully never bothered Philip again.

Satan reminds me of the playground bully. Like the bully, he lurks around, observing the group, choosing his next victim, and just waiting for an opportunity to disrupt and instill discord and fear. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” He will wait until we are at our most vulnerable, and then rush in with lies, temptation, and discouragement. He thrives on picking at you until he becomes the focus of your day. There are other times that the devil attacks when we seem to be at our strongest. The minute you get your eyes off him and focus on your relationship with God, you can bank on Satan making an appearance; this time with reinforcements. If he cannot bully you through temptation or discouragement, he will use a friend or a “Christian” brother or sister to begin the process. Turn around, look him in the eye and say “NOT THIS TIME SATAN!!!”

Isaiah 59:19 promises, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” Suddenly, we aren’t in this fight alone. When Satan looks up and sees our big strong friend joining the fight, the dynamics instantly change. Fully equipped with the necessary weapons, you can finally turn and unload on him.  He will scamper off with his tail between his legs looking for someone a little less confrontational. You may come out of the scuffle with a few bruises a bloody nose or broken glasses, but on your knees you can look up to Jesus with a victorious smile and say, “It felt so good!”

HELP, MY BETTER ANGEL IS MISSING IN ACTION

Over the last few years, I have heard politicians and journalists repeat the phrase, “our better angels” with increasing frequency. This is not a phrase that I had ever heard used in my circle of friends and family. So, what does it mean? It sounds good, but I’ve learned that every phrase and cliché that sounds good sometimes has a deeper meaning that may not be so pure. The first reference to “our better angels,” is found in Abraham Lincoln’s first Inaugural Address. President Lincoln uses the phrase, “by the better angels of our nature,” in asking the United States to come together as one and preserve the Union. President Obama has used this quote several times, most recently in reference to the Arizona shooting of a Senator. My question is do we really have a “better angel in our nature?” And if we do, does that mean there is a “worse angel” in our nature?”


In the beginning, God created man in His own image. Man was pure and sinless but it didn’t take long for the “worse angel” to come along. Satan presented an offer that obviously mankind could not resist. Sin entered the picture and the war began. In Romans, the Apostle Paul discusses the lifelong struggle in a most unique way. Romans 7:15 says, “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. He goes on in verse 18 and 19, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. It seems that we all suffer from the same malady as the Apostle Paul; we are all infected with the SIN NATURE. We want to do the right thing but our flesh seems to always choose the other. Some may call it a tug of war between the better angels and the worse angels of our nature, but the Bible calls it a war between the Spirit and the Flesh.

Now then, should I just give up? Does good ever win? According to Paul, nothing good dwells in us; so much for the “better angel.” Paul even calls himself a “wretched man” and asks, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Hey, Paul, maybe now would be a good time to call on the “better angel of your nature.” But the great Apostle realized that it wasn’t the “better angel” that was going to change his will but it was, as he states in Romans 7:25, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The idea of a “better angel” with a halo on one shoulder and a “worse angel” with horns and a pitch fork on the other is really only a cartoon. There is a constant battle between our carnality and God’s holiness and our carnality will be victorious every time unless we submit our will to Jesus Christ our Lord. Galatians 5:16 gives us the antidote to our malady and the key to defeating our carnal nature, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Our greatest weapon to winning the war; Walking in the Spirit. So if the “better angel of your nature” seems to be missing in action, the best place to begin your search is on your knees. Submit your will to God and soon you will stop doing that which you hate and discover how to perform that which is good.

HE DELIGHTS IN ME

Recently, I spent two weeks taking care of my two grandsons, Caleb and Nathan. Their mom was in the hospital giving birth to their little sister, Maicie, who made an appearance 6 weeks early. Grandma was privileged to spend some quality time with the boys until Maicie was strong enough to come home. We played games, read books, told stories, talked and cuddled. I learned which were their favorite toys, movies and books. They showed off their climbing, jumping and tumbling skills and I marveled at their strength and intelligence. It didn’t take much to entertain Grandma and get her to smile. Sitting one day enjoying their antics, I realized how much I delighted in every little thing about them. Caleb’s scribbles on plain paper were works of art, Nathan’s happy dance was worthy of awards, just hearing my name whispered or yelled gave me immense pleasure. What was it about these 2 little people that evoked such emotion within me? Sure all little kids have cute moments but there was something different about these two. You see, they don’t have to perform to get Grandma’s approval; it is enough to just spend time with them because they are MY grandchildren and I delight in them.


Did you know that God delights in us? Proverbs 12 and 11 tells us that God delights in us when we deal truly and are upright in our ways. According to Proverbs 15, our prayers are His delight. Psalms 37:23 says that when our steps are ordered by the Lord, He delights in our way. Just as I feel great joy at my grandchildren’s accomplishments and obedience, God delights in us when He sees that we want to follow His leading and obey His Word. He cheers us on when He sees us make the extra effort to please Him and allow Him to accomplish His will through us. As a grandmother, however, there is no greater joy than just being with my precious grandchildren, hearing their voice and holding them close. Oh, how it must fill God’s heart with delight when we set aside time just to be in His presence, to tell Him our deepest desires or sit at His feet as He speaks to us.

Psalms 18:19 says, “He brought me forth into a large place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.” I love this verse because it doesn’t speak of my performance. It isn’t about me doing, or praying or following, but it just says HE DELIGHTS IN ME! Sometimes, God pours out a special blessing on us just because we are HIS CHILDREN and He DELIGHTS IN US.

Psalms 37:4 tells us to “Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” What a wonderful promise from God that is made even more wonderful by the knowledge that at the same time I am delighting myself in the Lord, He is delighting in me.

A WANTED CHILD

I don’t remember a time when I felt unloved, because there has never been one. There have been times when I was unlovable and undeserving of love but I still felt completely loved. Long before I knew there was a God who loved me unconditionally, I felt that love through my Dad and Mom. Like all infants, there was nothing I could do to earn the love of my parents. I was demanding and self-serving with no thought of anyone or anything but my needs, yet they loved me. My Mother made sure that a day did not pass without me hearing her say, “I love you.” Even today, every phone call ends with her assuring me that I am loved. Every card tells me I am special and that I was loved from the moment of my first breath. I was definitely a “wanted” child.


Perhaps, this is why it is so easy for me to believe that God loves me beyond imagination and I am His “wanted” child. The Bible, God’s love letter, tells me in 1 John 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us.” It is not such a miracle that I love God because He is worthy of such love. The miracle is that He loves me, not because I love Him, not because I perform acts of kindness, not because I am a good person but because I am His creation. His heart longs for me; I am a “wanted” child.

Can you imagine what would happen if we could ever really understand and accept God’s perfect love for us? We would follow Him without question, knowing that wherever he leads us there is a rainbow with a pot of gold. We would be bold to tell everyone we meet about this amazing circle of love that surrounds them too. Every hardship and trial would be endured with gladness of heart, confident that it is just part of the shaping process in our life. All fear and doubt would disappear because His perfect love casts out all fear. Just as a baby rests in total peace, so would we, knowing that all our needs would be supplied according to His riches in Glory. We would walk with our head held high confident that we are a “wanted “child.

On this Valentine’s Day, I want to grab hold and never let go of the fact that “He loves me with an everlasting love” and I am a “wanted” child.

CHECK YOUR WINDOW SILLS

The windows were shining, the furniture dusted and the carpet vacuumed. Ahhh, the feeling of accomplishment was sweet; time to let the fresh breezes blow out the lingering staleness created by the hot, humid days of summer; time to settle back with a well-deserved cup of coffee and admire the results of my fruitful morning. Tying back the curtains and raising the window, I suddenly recoiled in horror!!! My feeling of satisfaction and my beautiful room was suddenly marred by filthy window sills. The sills were grimy with dirt, dead bugs were strategically lining the wells and cobwebs filled the corners. Where had all the filth come from and how had I allowed it to accumulate to that extent? Paper towels and window cleaner work wonders and a half hour later I was sitting back enjoying my cup of coffee, secure in the knowledge that my rooms were spotless.

Pondering the situation, I realized how thankful I am for windows. The sills reflected what a great job the window had done in trapping the dirt and bugs before they took up residence in my house. God created our bodies with some pre-emptive devices to protect important sensitive areas from ingesting the filth and germs that swirl around us every day. If you are the mother of daughters or are extra sensitive, you may want to stop reading now or write your own ending to the story. I am the mother of two boys and believe me when you raise boys; all sensitivity quickly flies out the window. With boys, bodily fluids and noises were not subjects to sweep under the rug or discreetly discuss in hushed tones. OH NO!!! They were loudly proclaimed, a subject of masculine rivalry and at times actually celebrated. Now that you understand how my mind works, blow your nose, clean out your ears and wash the sleep out of your eyes. These are all systems that must be cleaned from time to time; systems that protect the body from ingesting foreign objects that would harm delicate tissue. If you never blew your nose, you would finally be unable to breath. Ears can become so plugged, that it seems you are hearing everything from inside a barrel and of course who would want their eyes glued shut with the goop that accumulates every night while you sleep? We make sure to take care of our bodily hygiene every day but what about our spiritual hygiene?

We have repented and turned toward Christ, our sins have been washed away through baptism and He has filled our emptied soul with the Holy Ghost. The inside is all clean!!! We live by the motto, WWJD. Our homes have been set up as a testimony, there are certain places and situations we shun, and we are careful to let our speech glorify God. The outside is all clean!!!! Before we settle back and rest in what God has accomplished in our life, CHECK THE WINDOW SILL. What is lurking in the corners, down in the wells and under the layer of dust we have allowed to accumulate. We still live in a world that doesn’t follow WWJD. We are bombarded with filthy words, images and evil imaginations every day. Although we may guard our heart and refuse to embrace the world’s view of life, we have to daily cleanse the accumulation from our mind. The Apostle Paul says it in such an eloquent fashion in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Spending a little time with the Lord, listening to Godly music, reading a passage of scripture, and just allowing His love to gently wipe away all the outside crud will keep all the pre-emptive devices in good working order. If you haven’t checked the window sills of your heart in a while, take a few minutes, you’ll be reaching for the paper towels and Windex, with lightening speed.