The Stepping Stone

Jesus told us we'd have trouble, and He was right. I wrote that recently, but today it's been on my mind all day. The news I've heard today has ranged from runaway children to uncertain job prospects to businesses in trouble to marital stresses to physical illness, and a plethora of trouble in between. It's sometimes overwhelming and hard to have a wise word in the midst of such circumstances. 

We were discussing troubles this morning and my nurse summed up the situation nicely. "Well, the Lord delivered Jonah out of that whale, and He got Daniel out of that lion's den, and this ain't nothing but a stepping stone." I'm not sure I've ever heard truer words spoken. 

We serve the Great I AM and He can handle whatever comes our way. He has a plan, He knows what it is, and His plan is for good and not evil. That plan of His is about the future, so we don't have to be afraid. It may not look like we expected, but it won't surprise God. In fact, He recommends we be still until He tells us to move. No matter what happens, we do not need to be afraid, because God is our safe place, and He is always ready and willing to help us in time of need. 

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

“Be still, and know that I am God! ...” (Psalms 46:10 NLT)

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. (Psalms 46:1-2 NLT)

If you are faced with trouble and there seems to be no way through, take heart! The One in charge of the entire universe is available to help you, and all you have to do is ask. After all, that trouble is really just a stepping stone in disguise. 

Excitement in the boat, part 22: What Kind of Free?

For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power. (Luke 8:29 NLT)

We see here that the evil spirit had such control of the man (actually spirits, as he had many spirits in him) that they could take control of him. Because he had become so demon-controlled that he was considered completely out of control and a danger to himself and others, there had been considerable effort made toward subduing him. At times, he had been under guard, both chained and shackled. Unbelievably, he was able to break the chains, escape from the guards, and run into the wilderness. Finally, it appears, those trying to subdue him gave up and allowed him to run wild among the tombs. 

In a way, the demons helped set him free from those bonds. He was free from chains and shackles and guards.  He was free to run wild and naked in the tombs. But what kind of freedom is that? He had no comfort, no love, no relationships.  He was at the mercy of the demons. 

Then Jesus came to set him free. When Jesus came, the power of those evil spirits was broken and he could be free indeed. No more tombs, no more nakedness, no more hunger and isolation. He was free to live the life he was created to have, and free to resume society and the comforts of community. He was free indeed. 

Which freedom do you suppose he preferred? Of course, the freedom only Jesus gave. That freedom came with a new Master, but One who loved him and had only good plans for him, and it was the freedom he chose to keep. 

We do have a choice about freedom, you know. We can reject the freedom that Christ offers and cling to the appearance of freedom the world offers. In so doing, we may shed some "shackles" on our behavior choices, but what we lose is so much more precious, so much more costly.  

What freedom do we choose?  What freedom do our loved ones choose?  Pray today for hearts that seek the true freedom that only Christ can bring. 

-------

Link to last night's blog: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/on-life-gaining-and-losing-it.html

-------

Our terrorist/terror group of the week is the former ISIS, now the Islamic State. Their leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. To learn more about them and their goal of spreading radical jihad and sharia rule throughout the world, click here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

On Life: Gaining and Losing it

Life. It seems such a huge subject but two things happened today that have been cause for considerable pondering on the topic. 

First, a patient came in for follow up. She had a tremendous improvement with treatment and was ecstatic. "I feel like you've given me my life back!" she said. 

Later this evening, an alert on my phone indicated that Robin Williams, an actor and gifted commedian, had died. My first thought was, "Wow. 63 seems young for a fatal heart attack!"  When I looked at the alert article, however, I found that he had committed suicide with the cause of death as asphyxia. He very likely hung himself. 

The two events triggered a long line of pondering on the idea of losing and regaining our lives. In every life, there are good times and bad times. Jesus said we would have trouble, and He was right.  There are some troubles, however, that seem so severe and last so very long that it seems as if we have "lost our life". What we mean, of course, is that the lifestyle we prefer has been changed to one we don't like quite as well. 

When I fractured my hand a while back, I had those horrid Frankenstein pins and that cast for so long, I felt like I had lost my life, and I was one whiny baby. I hadn't lost my life at all. What actually happened is that I gained tremendous insight into the difficulty of compliance with doctor's orders and a better understanding of how to help patients comply! The very thing that seemed like losing my life actually enhanced it. 

What is it, then, that drives someone to such despair that they would take their own life? A suicide such as Mr. Williams was not a sudden, impulsive act, nor was it an accident. It was deliberate. No one will ever know all the thoughts that went through his head at the time of death nor all the factors that led to his tragic decision.  Every death by suicide is a heartbreaking reminder that we can feel alone though we live in the spotlight, and feel as if we have nothing to live for though we own everything our heart has desired. 

The question, then, becomes one of "What makes a life?" If it's not lifestyle, fame, or possessions, what is it? Jesus had a very simple answer.  "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus IS life, and He is the one who makes a life. 

On those days when we are despairing because of one change or another in the circumstances of our lives, we would do well to remember that, if we have Jesus, we have all the Life we need. 

Excitement in the boat, part 21: the battle

Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me." (Luke 8:28 NASB)

As we have seen previously, the demon threw the man to the ground and cried out to Jesus, "What business do we have with each other?" Indeed. What possible business could a vile demon have with the Son of God? The only business could be a breaking of the hold the demon had on the poor man in the tombs, and that was exactly what Jesus planned to do. When the demon saw that Jesus had arrived, he knew his time of domination was short and that his power would soon be gone, and it was. 

For the believer, the demons of hell may not possess us, but the enemy of our soul can certainly gain a stronghold of sin and lies that allows him power in our lives. The question we must answer is why. Why would we cede territory in our lives to the evil one? Why would we allow ourselves to be overcome with evil and controlled by our thirst for sin when Jesus has all the power that is required to break its hold on us?

 

In times of temptation, we have only to ask Our Lord for help, and He, who stands ready to come to our aid, will help us overcome temptation. When we have believed a lie so long that it has become a stronghold, allowing the enemy control of our lives in that area, we have only to call out to God and He will replace the lies with truth and fill that void with His Spirit. 

If we can be set free from sin's hold on us, if we can be freed from the enemy's attack, why aren't we? Why don't we have victory every time? Ephesians 6 tells us that we are to put on every piece of spiritual armor in order to overcome the evil one. 

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. (Ephesians 6:13 NLT)

The armor of God is a topic for another time, but there are two pieces of armor that are vital, yet often neglected. The shield that protects us from the fiery darts of the enemy is the shield of faith. When we hold our shield in place, those fiery darts bounce right off, yet many of us allow our faith to wobble to such a degree that we are constantly exposed and at risk. We must hold firm to our faith without wavering if we hope to be protected in times of trouble.   

The only offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit. We can make tremendous headway and gain victory with this sword, but many of us are ill-equipped to use it. Our sword is the Word of God. When we know Scripture from time spent studying it and living it, we will have it ready and available when it is needed to combat the lies of the enemy.

The best part is that knowing the Word of God in such a way that we can use it as a sword against the evil one also allows us to better use it as a bolster for our shield. It expands the shield and becomes a protection for us. Attacks may come, but the Word of God will be not only our sword but also our shield, for it is the foundation of our faith. 

Pray today that God will fill our hearts and that of our loved ones with His Word and His truth to such a degree that our faith will be expanded and our arms will be strengthened and equipped to do battle with the evil one. 

-------

Link to last night's post is here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

-------

The terrorist prayer focus for this week is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his organization, ISIS.  Only a few thousand soldiers, they aim to spread their radical extremism throughout the world. http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

Lessons from the battlefield #1: Warrior Positions

2 Samuel 11:1

King David was one of the most amazing men who ever lived.  He was handsome and strong.  Although he was a fierce warrior, he wrote some of the most beautiful poetry ever written.  He also made one big mess of his life when he sinned with Bathsheba.  

How could someone described as a man after God’s own heart wind up in such a dreadful series of events?  The answer lies in the last five words of verse 1. 

“But David stayed at Jerusalem.”

When he should have been taking care of business, he was taking it easy, and he became an easy prey for temptation.  It might have seemed as if he was making a prudent choice by sending others to fight.  After all, he was Israel’s beloved king and had to be protected at all costs.  He found, however, that the safest place for a warrior is not relaxing on the rooftop.  The safest place for a warrior is in the midst of the battle – the midst of God’s battle.  

Are you weary?  Do you feel as if you’d rather “relax on the rooftop” than wade into the heat of spiritual warfare?  Don’t give up and don’t despair.  The safest place you can be is right where God has called you to be. There is no doubt that most of us will experience battles and difficulties in our Christian walk.  There will undoubtedly be times when we feel like turning aside from the struggle.  When discouragement threatens, remember we are not fighting alone.  As David faced Goliath, he spoke the truth that sustained him in all his battles.  “The battle is the Lord’s.” (1 Samuel 17:47) 

Our job is to engage in armed battle with the only weapon we need – the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, but remember, this battle we are fighting belongs to Him. Our Lord is able to handle every difficulty we face, including every tremendous struggle we encounter, so take heart.  Regardless of how fierce the fighting, the battle belongs to the Lord, and He is able to deliver. 

 

Radical Obedience: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and ISIS

I've had terrorists on my mind. That's partly because I'm editing my first novel and it's filled with terrorists. It might also be because I've been jumping to conclusions and seeing terrorists where there were none.

All that terrorist thinking has reminded me of the time when I selected a terrorist of the week and asked you to pray for them.  It was July 6, 2014 and our terrorist of the week was Nasir al-Wuhayshi. He was the general manager of Al Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula and one of the most dangerous men in the world.  

His stated goal was to "destroy the cross. The bearer of the cross is America."

I use the past tense because he was killed in a drone attack in Yemen on June 12, 2015. He was 38 years old.  He left behind a legacy of death and destruction. 

I wept when he died, but not because I was sorry his reign of terror had come to an end. I wept because I had prayed for him to come to a saving knowledge of the Great I AM, but he never did. He died as he lived. A bitter and murderous man.

He had a choice and he made it, but I still grieve the lost potential of a man redeemed and transformed by the blood of Jesus. 

Stranger things have happened. Consider the Apostle Paul. 

My first terrorist for whom I prayed was Ayman al-Zawahiri.  He is Egyptian and was trained as a surgeon. He practiced medicine for a while, but now, he is a full-time terrorist. One of his wives and two of his children were killed by a U.S. bomb in Afghanistan. Their loss fueled his anger, but he was a terrorist before they died and eventually became the head of Al-Qaeda. He was instrumental in helping the ISIS expand and merge with other terrorist organizations to become ISIL. 

As a physician, one who is trained to preserve life, it is unthinkable that one of my colleagues would dedicate himself to the murderous atrocities of ISIL, but al-Zawahiri knows no bounds. 

Assassination. Kidnapping and torture. Bombings. He is responsible for the death of untold numbers of people.

Law enforcement officials around the world have tried and failed to stop him. 

Only God can bring this man to his knees. 

Only God can stop him.

Jesus said, "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44 nasb) 

Ayman al-Zawahiri is one of those enemies for whom we are to pray and to love. With the command of Jesus in mind, I'm choosing to pray for him. I'm choosing to ask God to bring him to repentance and salvation. Whether it is through a dream or a vision or the testimony of a believer, I pray this evil man will be transformed. 

He's not the only terrorist for whom we need to pray, but he is the leader of a large group of terrorists. Imagine the impact his salvation could make. 

Praying for our enemies. As disciples, it's not optional. We have it to do. 

There's no better place to start than praying for Ayman al-Zawahiri. 

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, 

but with God all things are possible." 

(Matthew 19:26 niv)

____________
photo from Wikipedia

Kathy McKinsey wrote a beautiful article for Friday Night with Friends, New Beginning. If you haven't read it yet, you can click here. You can read more by Kathy at her blog. Our next Friday Night with Friends guest blog will post at 6 pm this Friday night. You don't want to miss it!

In case you missed one of the past week's posts, here are the links:  Starting Over: It's Not as Easy as It Seems, Behavior That Demonstrates Belief, Answered Prayer: The Bulletproof Vest, Bringing Good from Tragedy: Wives of Warriors Make a Difference, Friday Night with Friends: New Beginning, The Temperament Test and Married Oneness, Leaving a Legacy: Choices That Last for Generations, and Jumping to Conclusions: The Terrorists That Were Not.

#prayingforterrorists #AymanalZawahiri #loveyourenemies #disciple #JesusChrist

Excitement in the boat, part 20: the Position Before the King

Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me."  (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) (Luke 8:28, 29 KJV)

This tormented man, controlled by demonic forces, approached Jesus who, according to verse 29, took one look at the man, recognized the demonic possession, and commanded the unclean spirit to come out. As a rebellious, unclean spirit is prone to do, the spirit wanted to whine, beg, and argue before Him. 

The Holiness of God, however, could not be disregarded and, in a show of respect and subjugation, the man, in His presence, fell face-down on the ground at Jesus' feet. The demon had such control of the man that it was likely the demon that directed this move of apparent humility. It was not, however, that the demon intended the position to be an act of worship.  Instead, it was an act of manipulation, a groveling before God's Son in order to be spared torment and to get what he wanted. 

One day, every knee will bow before Our King, and at that time, every one of us will praise Him and acknowledge Him as Almighty God. We will all bow, but it will not be this bowing, as the demon-controlled man did. There will be no manipulation, no pleading, only praise and worship before the Lord. 

When we approach God, our tendency is to approach with requests, demands, whining. Perhaps, if we are honest with ourselves, we, too, sometimes bend the knee for purposes of manipulation and in order to get what we want rather than purely for worship. We would do well to evaluate the sincerity of our position before God. 

Pray today that we and our loved ones would recognize the holiness and righteousness of God and fall on our faces in worship and gratitude before Him, asking nothing, and giving all our praise and honor to Him. 

-------

Link to last night's post: (it's a new series) http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-easy-prey-king.html

-------

We will have a new terrorist on our list this evening, but for today we are still praying for Hamas, as well as for the peace of Israel. One thing I'm praying for the leaders of Hamas is that now weapon of evil that they can devise will prosper and that, in the failure, they will driven towards doing good for their people.