Avoiding the Lion

Been to 1 Peter lately? Goodness, there is a lot of truth in this small book. I have been continually drawn to it due to its focus on conduct. This summer, I have been convicted of my choices. A good friend used this object lesson to talk about spiritual warfare in a small group Bible study.

I am not sure if it was the use of the transformer to symbolize Jesus or Rex to symbolize Satan but I saw spiritual warfare anew. Certainly, it was God's work regardless. For too long, I have pretended that I do not have to participate in this war between the flesh and spirit. This feigned ignorance has had ugly consequences that I hope, by God's grace, will diminish with time. It is because of this recent enlightenment by the Holy Spirit that I want to have these verses before me.

1 Peter 5:8-11
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect,establish, strength, and settle you.

To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Stages of Life

Often in life, I have not had the experience of feeling a stage of life slowly close. Relationships unexpectedly end, children move on to the next trick before I had a chance to record it, the fun time comes to an end all too quickly. I read online that you never know when the last time will be. I never know when K will stop her adorable fake cough, just like I didn't know CJ would start pronouncing his name right so soon.

The stage of my life in Pennsylvania is coming to a close very slowly in comparison. I have weeks to contemplate the joys of this stage and to prepare for the goodbye. It seems certainly then a God-thing that I am constantly pulled back to Scriptures focusing on relishing in God's good works. After spending some time in Deuteronomy 11, Numbers 14, and Matthew 6, I was brought to Psalm 136.

Psalm 136: 1, 4, 23-26
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever.
Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever. and rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever; Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever,

Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.

I love my brothers so. It amazes me to see how God protected and

grew me despite some tough circumstances.  

 

How God worked through DS1's adoption continues to amaze me.

 

An education from which I can serve and mentors I can learn from.

  

I am thankful for family and God's healing & love. 

 

And the best very friends a girl could ask for.

 

 And of course...

 

 

For His mercy endures forever.

Welcome!

Foundation verses:

Deuteronomy 11: 18-22:

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
 
That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
 
For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;
 

Today's Reflections:

I feel as if I have been seeking the Antidote to this world's pain, suffering, disappointment since childhood. Nothing has been a balm to my soul like my Heavenly Father. There have been times in my life that His love and protection has been constantly present, seen, and embraced. And other times, more so of late, that I have ignored these efforts of love and protection.

No longer do I deserve this to be true of me. I desire to fulfill Deuteronomy 11 commands - to love my God, keep His commands, walk in His ways, cleave to Him and share His works.  While I have numerous journals detailing this journey, at this point, I desire to record, remember, and relish in the great works of my God through 21st century methodology.  May I honor my God through this work.