Proud Moments

Last night my son was telling us he had to sign the "Constitution of Independence."  After saying it a few times, my 14 year old pipes in and says that there is no "constitution of independence."  So proud of himself because he knew exactly what he was talking about (like he always seems to think) he says emphatically and and without ANY doubt in his "knowledge" ...and I quote..."  oh yes there is and it was signed by John Carter."   ......  my thought....  and you learned THAT at school?  Such proud moments of a mama!!!!  :)

Defeating the Enemy

When I woke up early this morning to do my Bible study I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open.  Of course I wasn't getting much out of the Word since my caffeine hadn't kicked in so I decided to try to find some kind of Christian program to watch on TV until I "woke up" enough to read my Bible.  I found Joyce Meyer and began to listen to her.  I know she was speaking on having wisdom (Marilyn, I thought of you and how this confirmed what you said) but not sure of the exact nature.  But one verse and interpretation has stuck with me all morning long.  My Bible has been open to this verse all day and I read it over and over.  I wanted to share with you her thoughts as well as some of my own.

Deuteronomy 7:1-2..."When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, AND clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations MORE NUMEROUS AND MIGHTIER than yourselves, and when the LORD your God GIVES THEM OVER TO YOU , and you DEFEAT THEM, then you must devote them to COMPLETE DESTRUCTION.  You shall make NO COVENANT WITH THEM AND SHOW THEM NO MERCY."

wow wow wow....Joyce said that we all have our "ites."  Could be wifeites, husbandites, bossinessites, mercilessites, complainingites, and in my case (which is only one that I mention b/c I do have other "ites") alcoholismites.  OK...I'm not suggesting our wifes and husbands are our enemies, but I do believe there are people out there who think they are.  But no, do not show no mercy to your spouses and do not completely destroy them.  For that matter don't even partially destroy them.  Only love and pray for them.  (I thought I'd better make that clear...HA).   Three things I notice...well two learned from Joyce and one from the Holy Spirit myself....

1.  according to v. 2...God gives them over to us...who is them?  Our enemies.  In other words,  (according to what I see)  when God gives them to us is when we actually realize they are enemies.  For example...when I began to drink wine, I had NO IDEA it was an enemy.   But in time, God "gave it over to me" (and I say that with tears in my eyes) and I realized wine was my enemy.  I thought alcohol was my friend.  It helped me be more patient, funny, outgoing, kind, a better wife, mother, friend.  That's what our enemy wants us to think knowing destruction lies ahead and this is a truth I know all too well.  What is an enemy...someone or something who longs to see us destroyed, made a fool of, made fun of, even to the point of death.

2.  We must "devote them over to complete destruction and have no mercy."  (v.2)  Not partial...but COMPLETE DESTRUCTION...This hit me hard because I always gave it over to partial destruction.   I told my enemy, I will not have anything to do with you except on the weekends, and maybe labor day and 4th of July and Memorial Day and St. Patricks Day...oh and Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Oh my enemy, I will not forget you on Auburn game days and days when I've been hurt oh and days that I'm actually excited.  I think you see where this is going.  It ended up being everyday that I was drinking with excuses (partial destruction).   God says devote them to "COMPLETE DESTRUCTION AND SHOW NO MERCY."  wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

3.  Thank God for His word saying...and WHEN you defeat them  (v.2)  Not if but when you defeat them.  God does not give us an enemy we can't defeat.  They may look like giants and it may look as if we are doomed with defeat but that's not what God's word says.  He will never give us something we can not handle.  With that said, it's up to us to pray, fast, seek through, but God goes before us and our enemies are defeated.  My friends, don't let your "giant" defeat you.  Your enemy may be big, but your God, my God  is bigger.  If God is for me, who can stand against me.  No one love, no one!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can't type that hard enough!!  :) 

And please hear me when I say this...If God is showing you (or "handing over") an enemy...do not delay in destroying that enemy.  I waited and waited and made excuse after excuse and now....well now my enemy defeated me in a few battles.  This is not what God wanted.  He wanted me to have complete victory in every battle.  Praise God He never gave up on me and He has restored me and my family, but not without hurt, pain, shame, guilt, and the list goes on.  I don't want this for anyone!  So from the "mountain top" let me shout...devote your enemies NOW to COMPLETE DESTRUCTION!!!!!!

I love everyone of you...I really do.

Question

My daughter told a friend of hers that God loves the devil.  I really have a hard time believing this because the Bible says to hate "abhor" what is evil and in satan there is no light.  He is evil.  Therefore, if God tells us to abhor evil how can He "love" what is indeed nothing but evil?    Someone said because God created him, he can't hate what He created.  That God knew Lucifer would become what he became.  I still disagreed. 

My question is...what is your view on this? 

Deer, My Deer

This is the poem my son made up for school about killing his first deer.  I hope you enjoy as much as we did!

Oh deer my deer you are so dead,
You lay in the back of my dads truck bed.
Oh deer my deer you give me meat,
You give me something good to eat.

You are so young you are so yummy,
You help me fill my big fat tummy.
You help me get the protein of the day,
I eat you then, i will go pray.

You are so pretty eating in the field,
But i need you for my muscles to build.
You are the beast deer i have ever seen,
You are so dirty you make me look clean.

Boredom

Boredom is truly my enemy!!!!   And I have been very bored today.  It causes me to eat, want to drink and to be somewhat in a depressed mood.  Not to mention it's rainy and I don't have any money to do anything...ever!!  So needless to say, I've struggled today.  But with the never having any money ever...not much I can do!  Anyhoo...on the bright side...I have 5 healthy children and still very blessed!!!!   Off now to do what I do best....clean, clean, clean.  WOO HOO!!!!!!   Hope everyone is having a great day!!!!   Gonna keep my mind on higher things.  Gonna turn on some praise music and sing!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish so bad I could feel God's presence everyday all day!  Why is it that sometimes it seems He is "hiding" His face.  I know He's not because the Bible tells me that.  He will never leave me nor forsake me.  But I sure do wish I could "feel" Him all the time.  It sure would make struggles so much easier.  Could it be that during these times our faith may be strengthened?  Believing He's there even when He seems to be no where around?   My amazing God, please strengthen my faith in You.  Help me to believe when failure seems to be all around me.  Help me to know you love me  not because of what I do, but because of who you are.  Your love is so gentle. So kind.  I have never felt this kind of love from anyone.  No one can love like you.  Your love is perfect.  May I please you today.  In word and action.  Search me God!!!  Cleanse me.  Deliver me!!!!!  You are so amazing!!!!!!  I'm listening to "when I get Where I'm Going"  right now.  I can't wait to get there where I will shed these sins and struggles I have carried all these years.  But until I do, God, please keep me close to your heart.  I love you...

Why Do I Do What I Don't Want to Do?

I am constantly doing that "thing" I do not want to do!  Can anyone say AMEN?  I seem to ask myself this everyday.  "WHY GOD?  WHY DO I DO THIS?  YOU KNOW I DON'T WANT TO.  YOU KNOW I WANT TO BE SOLD OUT TO YOU FREE FROM THE CHAINS THAT BIND ME!!!  SO WHY?"  The answer?  Romans 7:15-25 lays it out for us.  Paul says..."I do not understand my own actions. (isn't it good to know Paul struggled with sin but was a great servant of God)  For I do not do what I want.  But I do the very thing that I hate.  v.18b  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out!  (I know this truth all too well)  For I do not do the good I want but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.  v.21  So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right evil lies close at hand. (battles in the mind)  For I delight in the law of God in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my MIND making me CAPTIVE to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  Wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord."    So, the law of sin wages war against the law of God.  And where does this war take place?  In our minds.  That's why God tells us to take every thought captive to Christ.  But if you are like me, this is no easy task.  Not really knowing what this meant, I looked up the word captive in the concordance.  One of it's meanings is "to gain control over."  Again no easy task.  But once we have victory over the war in our minds, I believe it is then freedom will come.  And "he who the Son sets free is free indeed." 
Feel free to comment.  That's what this blog is for...to encourage each other in Christ.