Saturday, September 14, 2019, 23:33

 Dear family and friends,

   How goes the battle in your life? The last two days have been tough for me. I surrendered many times in the day to the sovereign hand of God. Since last writing to you I have REALLY been needing to lean on the arm of Jesus. At times today I could only ask Him to carry me.

   Weakness, though part of life for some, has gotten my attention abruptly! I know that Abba has heard my prayers, my childlike praises and seen my tears. Not only the ones reaching my face, but certainly those as I am crying from the secret places of my heart.

   I am not going to make this a time of pity-party to me. I only covet your prayers. Now, I want to show you what I did find today in reading my Bible.

   You know there are many battles described in the Word of God. Some are pretty gory for sure. But, where God is allowed to be in control, there is always victory. Do you want victory today? I sure do.

   I read in 1 Kings 20 a battle. What stopped me short was these three verses. They spoke so powerfully to me! Verses 27-29. Right there in the middle of the chapter, which I hope you read on your own.

   "The Israelites were counted and, all present, went against them. The Israelites encamped before the enemy like two little flocks of lost kids [absolutely everything against them, but Almighty God], but the Syrians filled the country."

   Did you see it? Have you ever felt like the battle was against you? The numbers against you are too many to count? Where you feel little and lost like a lamb? Now hear this! ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING AGAINST THEM, BUT ALMIGHTY GOD!

   Say it out loud right now while the heat is turned up on your circumstances. God is God! He will be the Almighty you need in the moments of everyday. Just reading this has filled me with great expectation and hope knowing the Jesus loves me and is at work. It will be a marvelous work in the end.

   Well, "A man of God came and said to the king of Israel, Thus says the Lord; Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills but He is not God of the valleys, therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hands, and you shall know and recognize by experience that I am the Lord."

   We have been given a diagnosis from the mouths of man. We have been given a prognosis that ends in death. However, read this with me..."YOU SHALL KNOW AND RECOGNIZE BY EXPERIENCE THAT I AM THE LORD!" Amen?

   I pray that this is true; that we are in a personal relationship with a personal Savior? Then we can know that He is Lord! All the time on every occasion.

   Finally, "They encamped opposite each other seven days. Then the battle was joined; and the Israelites slew of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day." They slew their enemies in ONE DAY!

   If you read earlier in the chapter, the Syrian King Ben-hadad actually took a year between the last battle and this one to prepare for war again. It did him little good! And, you know it doesn't matter how many you stand against. David stood against one named Goliath, a really big dude! He knew Who slew that giant and gave total credit to the Almighty.

   So, here we are again at a cross roads where we get to choose whose name we will be faithful to. The name of a particular disease? The name of a person who appears to have all the power and say so over you? How about the emotional names?

   Many come to my mind. How about fear? That is a big one. In Matthew 14:22-33, another battle. Jesus isn't in the boat the disciples were told to get in and go to the other side. Key words:"and go before Him to the other side." Didn't they understand that Jesus would be there? Why don't I sometimes?

   So the waves are wrecking havoc on the poor guys. They are afraid, probably wondering where Jesus was. Fear gripped their hearts and minds. So much so that when they see Jesus coming to them, they freaked out thinking it was a ghost! They screamed out! And, we don't know how long this storm will last do we? It seems like way too long!

   "But instantly He spoke to them, saying, Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid!" You know the rest...brave heart Peter says, "if it is really You, command me to come to You on the water." Would you do that?

   Jesus told him, "Yes" So, he got out and started that remarkable faith walk. It was short-lived though. He began to sink. That is how I have felt through this trial in my life. Some days, like I am sinking. Another round of antibiotics that I don't want to go through.

   I'm like Peter, "But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was fightened, and as he began to sink he cried out, Lord, save me [from death]!

   Again, INSTANTLY Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Jesus held Peter! What does that mean to you?

   When they finally got in the boat together, the wind ceased. That led to a time of worship as they knelt right there, on their knees, in the boat saying, "TRULY YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD!"

   That is how I want to end this session together. By worshipping the Son of God. Will you take this time to present your weak, foolish and faithless heart to Him? Will you give Him all that makes you afraid? There are a whole lot of ghosts out there contending for your worship; your attention. Decide to ignore them and by experience recognize that HE IS THE LORD!

   Open your whole heart to Jesus today. He is the only One to fight for you. You will drown without faith in Him as The Son of God. And, Jesus Only, deserves your attention and praise. The Lord bless you as you take this battle to Him. He has the plans on how to bring you safely to victory. In the blessed, matchless name of our warrior, Jesus Christ, amen.

Abundance is...a lost lamb in love with Almighty God


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