If at first he doesn't succeed he tries and tries again.

Okay, I must confess that sometimes I actually envy my arch nemesis. As a Christian we all know who that is, at least I hope you know. If you're still wondering here's what our "manufacturer's instruction manual" says:

1 Peter 5:8-9 (English Standard Version)

⁸ Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Alrighty then, it's obvious that our enemy is indeed real, dangerous and persistent. That's it--there it is--what I envy--his persistence. He never gives up. He always tries again. He always tries again to pester me, distract me and do anything he can to take my eyes off of my Lord. He knows every hot-button and besetting sin I've got going. If he can't "get" me in one area of my life he'll go after another. If the Holy Spirit has helped me conquer a weakness in my life, then that nasty little guy goes for something else. See what I mean? That's what I admire. I wish I could be that bold and persistent in areas of my life.

So, last week I was visiting my daughter in California. (I am so grateful that I'm able to visit regularly and help her in small ways with her blooming photography biz.) Well, in the wee hours of the morning I had a strange dream. The dream was an old one really--it was an old stronghold--one that grew from a painful experience--but one that has been healed and doesn't plague me anymore. Here's the fun part--I woke up and giggled. I giggled because I knew that my persistent arch nemesis realized that he had lost his hold on me with the primary area of fear in my life (Praise God!) and so he was trying something else. I giggled with glee, shook my finger at him and said "is that all you got?" And, since it was very early in the a.m. and I was already awake and there wasn't much for me to do (Marianne's room is small and stuffed to the gills with her personal stuff and business stuff) I began to intercede as God brought needs to my mind. No sweeter revenge than to foil the enemy's plan to interrupt my sleep than to launch into intercession. I highly recommend it.

I am reminded of the story about Smith Wigglesworth. Smith was a dynamic faith filled preacher during the pentecostal revival 100 years ago. One night Smith was awoken in the middle of the night with this horrible sense of evil. He saw Satan himself standing in his bedroom. He looked Satan in the eye and said, "Oh it's only you", and turned over and went back to sleep.

Hah! That's exactly the truth of the matter. Somehow we've made Satan out to be like one of those ugly horrible creatures we see on TV or in movies (the kind that always seem to win--what is that all about anyway?) Well the truth is that he is already conquered! The end is near for him. All he is really is a pesky gnat that buzzes annoyingly around our minds. We are more than conquerors! Know it and be even more persistent that your arch enemy!!!

^{Romans 8:36}

As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I don't worry, I don't fret, God has never failed me yet

I so wish that I could say that those words (from a song that was popular in the 70's) were true every day for me. I would be delighted to say that every morning I wake up full of faith and no worry.

Alas, it isn't so. I have an enemy that delights in whispering words of fear to me in the wee ours of the morning. That seems to be my most vulnerable time and the trickster must know that. In times past, before I was fully aware that it was indeed an attack, I would wake up in a cold sweat with my mind spinning round and round.

A few years ago, after many years of struggle, God showed me some things that put the problem into perspective for me.

God showed me the source of my anxiety as I looked back at my family and realized that although I was raised in a stable, encouraging family, there was indeed a "history" of anxiety in that family. My grandmother took "nerve" pills for years to combat anxiety. My mother is a wonderful mom, but her anxiety was transmitted to me in subtle ways throughout my life. I adopted an outward peace while feeling anxious inside--masking the fear and thus not dealing directly with that fear.

Praise God that He began working deep within my spirit a few years ago.

First God lead me to begin memorizing scripture. I would walk and memorize the Word every day. This became invaluable a few years ago when we were going through some pretty scary things. When I would wake up with anxiety, unable to sleep, I would repeat those scriptures until I fell back to peaceful sleep. His Word is indeed powerful.

Hebrews 4:12 (The Message)

^12-13God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what.

Then, worship music became extremely important to me as a weapon of warfare. Some mornings I get up with the enemy niggling at my brain and instead worship music rises up in me and I blast away at the enemy--singing God's praises. I love it that what the enemy meant for evil, God used for His Worship.

Psalm 71:23 (New International Version)

²³ My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I, whom you have redeemed.

Just a couple of years ago God spoke clearly to me that the spirit of fear that was still plaguing me sometimes had to go. I woke up one morning with a strong thought in my mind and in my spirit--today is the day to be prayed over--to seek the unity of the body to "kick the enemy" out. Ever had that happen--not only a strong word from God but also in his graciousness the details are included? God told me exactly who should pray for me! AND that day the pastor indicated that God had showed him that we would need to pray as a body for anyone plagued in 3 areas--one of which was the spirit of fear. WOWZER! Could God be anymore clear. Needless to say I leaped up from my seat (husband just missed me with his elbow) and there standing in the middle of the line of prayer warriors as if a beam of light shown on her was the person God told me was to pray for me. She prayed--with a word of knowledge about my childhood--and the spirit of fear was lifted.

Another cool thing that God did was show me that when I begin to have any anxiety, begin to pray. In fact, I often begin to pray for others. I especially understand how immobilizing fear is--so instead of being stopped in my spiritual tracks--I push forward to go into prayer for other needs in the body. Yahoo!! Hallelujah!! Take that enemy!

Lastly, I revel in the fact that often these days the Holy Spirit starts to do battle for me even before I'm fully awake. I now often wake up with the Holy Spirit "fighting" back at the enemy with the Word of God or worship music--praising God. How glorious! Instead of waking up in a cold sweat, I wake up singing God's praises--what the enemy meant for evil, God uses for God.

So instead of being like our dear Chicken Little--looking up to see if the sky is falling, let's look up to God and expect Him to be our source of peace.

Philippians 4:6-7

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life

Color Me Katie

Today Marianne shared a wonderful blog with me.

Katie is a marvelous street artist in New York who shares a special kind of joy. I encourage you to go to her blog and enjoy her fun form of art. I know it will make you laugh and giggle and even marvel at how inventive and creative she is.
It occurred to me that this amazing young lady was indeed a woman of purpose. She has incorporated her God given talents into a fascinating and fun adventure of life.

http://colormekatie.blogspot.com

She spreads joy while at the same captures that joy in photos that delight and inspire. She encourages others to use her ideas to inspire your own creativity and to bring some happiness to the world around you.


I love her "thought bubbles" and her "shadows". She also incorporates other fun and happy activities that are happening around New York City where she lives. I am inspired to follow in her footsteps. To find that childlike part of me to invent, create and just go for it in reaching out to bring some happiness to the world.


I realized as Tiara Ladies tiaraladies.com we are doing the same thing. We don our tiaras and go out into the world to encourage women to know who they are in Christ. To bestow a tiara upon them to remind that them God created them beautiful, with gifts and talents only they bring to the world. To inspire them to have fun and do the things they've always wanted to do. To spread joy and a message of hope to others.

The Extra Cake Mile

Don't you just love reality TV? What an amazing phenomenon. "real" people doing "real" things in "real" life. It's really a hoot and I've got to say that I'm enamored with several of them. The latest and greatest is Cake Boss.

For those uninitiated, this is a reality show about a bakery featuring Buddy Valastro of Carlo's City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey. I love the New Jersey accents, humor and wild interactions. It's so much fun to see the amazing artistry of this baker and his staff. They create unique, creative cakes of all kinds. Apparently they produce 40-50 wedding cakes alone in a week. Very fun to watch.

The latest episode actually pointed out a remarkable Biblical principal (Pretty sure that wasn't the point of the program).

The episode featured a "bridezilla" who came into the bakery to order her wedding cake. Mother and daughter were not entirely on the same page about the design but Buddy managed to get what he thought was a meeting of the minds. He sketched out the cake, wrote of the work order in detail and thoroughly covered the design--a lovely, 3 layer round, white on white cake with beautiful hand-molded lilies drifting down the cake and a roped drape flowing from top to bottom. All His cakes are gorgeous and this one was no exception.

Well, the day prior to the wedding the bride drops by unexpectedly to see the cake. Surprised, but happy to show off his creation, Buddy takes the bride to the cake. He expects to see exclamations of joy and happiness but instead these words come of her mouth "I hate it". She demands that he make a new cake for her wedding the next day. He leaves to talk to his team to see what he can do and while he is out of the room she grabs piping bags and globs multi colored frosting all over the cake--totally making it unusable. Obviously her motivation was to force him to make a new cake.

Good grief! Are people this crazy? His first reaction is what mine would have been. He tells her since he didn't have time to make a new one she could just have the ruined one. Irritated he calls her mom and tells her that her daughter has ruined the cake. He has no time to do a new cake but after listening to a weeping, apologetic mother of the bride, he acquiesces and tells his very upset and reluctant crew that they would indeed make a new cake. Not just any cake (which what I would have done) but this time a 5 layer spectacular quilt patterned cake with amazing sculptured vivid handcrafted flowers all over the cake. The staff stays late to do this over the top gorgeous cake (of course with grumbling but still with perfection).

He hand delivers the cake himself the next day, expecting gratitude from the mom (which he got) and a good reaction from the bride (who refused to come out to see him or the cake). Amazing! How is it possible that this unhappy, self-centered girl would be so outrageous?

What would you do if this happened to you? Have you ever experienced an insult so drastic that you wanted to retaliate? I know what my first inclination would be and it wouldn't be to make it bigger and better. But that's what he did. He went that extra mile--not because she was appreciative or even nice. He did it because he felt it was the right thing to do.

I don't know about you, but this was a huge reminder of what we are supposed to do. We are not of this world, where most things are tit for tat, you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Walking in the Kingdom of God is understanding that people can be self-centered without Christ (and sorry to say with Him too). BUT as followers of Christ, temples of the Holy Spirit, we are called to turn the other cheek, give more and even when forced to go a mile, we choose to go the extra mile.

I know that put things into a godly perspective for me. How about you?

Matthew 5:39-41 (English Standard Version)

³⁹But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ⁴¹And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

The fear that matters most

Ever have God repeat himself to you? Sometimes He has to shout at me over my car radio while I'm singing loudly along with the worship music on the radio. Praise God He is so patient with me and keeps trying to make His point.

Recently, our personal economy tanked along with the nation's economy. In the past, finances were definitely a place of fear for me. It didn't matter if we had a lot or a little--I still allowed the enemy to use this fear against me. Weirdly enough the fear that hung over me all these years--the fear of "what if" is for the first time rather close at hand. Sort of like the thing that I feared has come upon me. Ever do that? Worry about the "what ifs?" How about what if I get sick and can't work? What if I get laid off again? What if my spouse no longer loves me? What if my kids get into drugs? I'm talking about fears that have no foundation in fact--purely what ifs.

Let me say that I don't believe that we can make our fears come upon us. Rather, sadly, we waste a lot of time worrying about tomorrow rather than enjoying the day that God has given us. Personally, when I hear those "voices" in my head I'm now quicker to throw my hand in the air and say to the enemy "talk to the hand" or better yet say to the enemy "See that big guy right beside me? I might be weak and pibbly, but He is Strong. To get to me you gotta go through Him! And that ain't going to happen. So there!!!!!"

Praise God, He is bringing us peace, joy and faith smack dab in the middle of a shaky time. In fact, as we were saying at home church yesterday, we really should be panicking but instead there's peace around us and an extra bonus is that God has been speaking to our hearts more than ever before. We serve a great God.

So as I was driving along the other day and the enemy started to speak those same lines again to me, God shouted over the loud blaring radio in my car and said again. "Finances? that's nothing to worry about, it's your heart that I desire."

I knew exactly what He meant. Finances are not worth worrying about--that's easy for God, but a heart that does not hear His voice--that's what I should fear.

So, I have determined that I will take the time that I used to spend worrying and use it to praise and seek a great and awesome God who doesn't mind shouting at me to make a point. Want to join me?

Philippians 4:6-7 (English Standard Version)

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Fruit of the Spirit

Our Home Church is studying Galatians 5.
Check it out at:


http://churchonrogers.blogspot.com

Extreme Grandparenting

Being a Grandparent is the best thing in the entire world! I loved being a mom but this grandma thing is amazing!! Where else can you get total adoration? There's never a doubt in my mind--I am loved by that adorable creature that God placed in the arms of my wonderful son and amazing daughter-in-law. Most days I can't stop smiling ear to ear--wondering do I look as silly-happy as I feel?

So, when I found out that Tim Kimmel and his wife wrote a book called Extreme Grandparenting--I thought that's the book for me and began pouring through it. So much great advice to grandparents. It is definitely a high calling to be a grandparent.

Well, ever had this happen? You are at some activity or meeting and you sort of feel something niggling at the back of your mind? You kind of have an idea that God is trying to tell you something very important but it's only half formed in your mind? So, I get home from that activity, pick up this book and had that Ah-ha moment--that's the key--that's the answer.

So here's what happened. I attended a pro-life youth seminar the other day. It was super--the young ladies putting it together spoke with passion and the teens warmed up to the information. By the end of the day they were asking good questions in response to the transparent presentations of these 2 caring young women. At the end of the day, the youth pastor gave an invitation--a pretty much--if you want God to do things for you and hear your prayers and you don't want to go to hell type of invitation. Obviously, there was some truth in what he said (and some not so truth) but mostly it was the way he delivered the info--the scare tactics minus the good part. I kept thinking this isn't what these kids need to hear. Then I got home, picked up the book and realized what it was.

Tim Kimmel says there's 3 crucial things that grandparents need to impart to their grandkids

1. A secure love--loving them for who they are--their unique design
   
2. A significant purpose--affirming that God has given them gifts and talents to be used for His Glory
   
3. A sufficient hope--that using their unique design and gifts and talents they can make a contribution and in fact possibly change the world for God
   

Ah-ha!!! Isn't that exactly what we need to impart to our kids in a world that has little hope, wrong purposes and love that is conditional?

That's what God was showing me--it's right to tell young people that they are sinners and need Jesus, but we must impart the above three things--to offer the grace to them that God gives to us.

Interesting isn't it? How God takes a book about grand parenting and dramatically brings into focus my whole concept of what teens need. Praise God!

Lord, forgive my unbelief

I was tooling along yesterday, listening to K-Love, and out of the blue came a quiet voice in my spirit. "I will never leave you nor forsake you. Have I not been faithful to you every time you called on me?" My only answer could be "Lord, you are faithful, your assurances and promises are true. Forgive my unbelief".

I remembered that phrase from Mark and looked up the passage


MARK 9
14When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

16"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.

17A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."

19"O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."

20So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"

"From childhood," he answered. 22"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

23" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

24Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil[a] spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

26The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead." 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

The disciples apparently couldn't cast out the demons, so the father went to Jesus. Here's an interesting part--the father says "if you can, cast out the demon" Jesus replied (I love this) "If I can?" Can you just hear Jesus saying that kind of like "what do you mean, if I can?". Jesus then says-"all things are possible to them who believe." Then the father replied, "I do believe, help my unbelief". And then what happened? Jesus cast out the demon. He didn't say, "apparently you don't believe all the way or hmmmm--you're almost there--catch me later." No! He cast the demon out.

Now that's a loving God--he understands that our faith meter sometimes just can't quite get to the full line (or much off the empty mark in most cases) The super cool part is that God does know our hearts, (our fallible, holey hearts) but still loves us and still hears our cries. There it is--

Mustard grain belief + heart for God = KABLOOM!!! Wondrous things happening all around us.

So today, look up at God and say Lord, I believe, help my unbelief and thank him that He is an awesome, mighty God who will never leave you nor forsake you.


Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

God's Perpetual Purpose

This morning I was thinking about my mom and dad--I do that a lot lately. My dad is approaching severe stages of Alzheimers and we just recently encouraged my mom to place him in a group home where he could receive skilled care. The good news is that he is adapting as well as can be expected. And more good news--my mom is getting used to him being there. What Mom has a challenge with is finding purpose in her life. She is no longer a caregiver 24/7 like she has been for a number of years. She is 80 years old, in good health and now must find "new" purpose. Fortunately, she was a woman who had many extracurricular activities throughout her life and given some encouragement will be able to do those things again.

Thinking about my 80 year old parents always brings me back to the wonderful residents at the nursing home I minister to monthly. How do you find purpose in a closed environment like a nursing home? It's not easy to go beyond those things that you "did" in your past history to find new purpose or to think beyond what you know to do. In many cases their eyes do not see so good, their hands do not work so well, their legs most certainly will not move them from place to place anymore. How do you live within the purpose that you were created for without the faculties that you've had for all those many years? How do you get that feeling back that you are a help to others? No longer are you caring for others, no longer are you able to impart the wisdom of their years of experience. It is so easy to feel useless and lost.

We teach women in our Pathway to Purpose seminars and one to one coaching that their primary purposes do not change, but the way that the purpose works itself out most certainly changes with each new season of our lives. For instance, many women experience what is commonly called "empty nest syndrome". Their purpose for 20 years or more was to raise their children to love God and love others. Mission accomplished--what's next? For the elderly, they've been through several seasons and now in the final season it's difficult for them to see how they could possibly be of use to anyone.

But, God always has plans for us. He always puts us in a place where we can be used. We can always fulfill our "primary directives" no matter where we are, no matter what physical limitations we have, no matter what others tell us.

What does the Word of God tell us to do?

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New King James Version)

In fact, when we have more physical limitations, we have more time to rejoice, PRAY and to give thanks. Personally, I cherish the idea that the elderly pray for me and my family. I remember a dear woman of God at New Life Church who prayed several hours a day for every family in the church. Imagine that? How wonderful! To be able to go to the throne of the Grace of God to pray? Is there any other purpose on this earth more valuable than that? Is there any other place that a child of God should want to be?

Child of God, always remember that God has purpose for you. It may look differently than in the past, you may not have the same abilities to work within that purpose as you did in the past, but you are still called by God for purpose. How do you rediscover your purpose within the confines of your current life? First seek and love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, then ask Him to open your spiritual eyes to who he made you to be and what He is doing all around you. Allow your purpose to be a part of the awesome plan of God.