When the Lion Roars: Five Promises Christians Can Claim

Blog posts ideas don't always pop into my head fully formed. Sometimes, I open my computer and stare at the blank page, my brain equally blank because I have no idea what to write.

On those days, I use an unusual story prompt: my photo app. I open the photo file and scroll through until something catches my attention or an idea comes to mind. Today, I decided to try a variation on the story-prompt theme. I opened a free photo site and scrolled through until I saw the photo of the roaring lion. A verse from 1 Peter came to mind and a blog post was born. 

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 nasb 

The lion's roar is a terrifying sound, and can be heard up to five miles away. According to lionalert.org, "lions roar to tell other lions where they are, to show how big they are, and to warn lions from other prides to keep away from their home territory."   

The lion's roar is a loud message that says, in a way, "I'm here and so big you can't get away. Don't tangle with me. Don't invade my space." It's a message of pride that defies other animals to venture into his territory. 

How does that translate to the spiritual realm? 

1) The lion's roar proclaims his size. The evil one roars to proclaim his dominance over us. He would have us believe he's the biggest, baddest lion in the area, but that's a lie. 

"Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) 

If Scripture is true, and it is, Satan is not greater, or more powerful, than our God. 

2) The lion's roar proclaims his proximity. In a way, the roar says, "I'm right on top of you. I have you now." The enemy of our souls would have us believe he's so close we will not be able to resist or flee. Jesus, however, said He and His Father would live in us. 

"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him." John 14:23 

No matter what the enemy says, He cannot evict our Father. 

3) The lion's roar proclaims his ownership. When the lion roars to proclaim his territory, he defies other lions to risk entering. As Christians, however, we do not belong to the world or the powers of this world. 

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."  1 Corinthians 6:19,20 nasb

Regardless of what the enemy claims, he does not have authority over us. 

4. The lion's roar proclaims his power. The roaring lion would have other lions believe he is big enough and powerful enough to defend that which is his. In that same way, the evil one would have us believe he is powerful enough to destroy us and that God cannot snatch us from his claws nor deliver us in time of danger and temptation.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 niv

5. The lion's roar proclaims his victory. A victory in advance of battle is nothing more than a prideful boast. We may experience battle with the evil one, but we have all we need for battle, and we fight a defeated foe.

"Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:13 

God has already given us the defensive weapons to protect ourselves from the onslaught of the evil one. He has also given us the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, which is the only offensive weapon we will ever need. We must know Scripture, however, to use it. We do have power, but we must be prepared before the lion roars. 

Lions roar, because that's how they're made. The evil one also roars with pride and defiance, because that's who he is. Fear and defeat are his objectives, but we can stand firm in the face of his tactics, if we remember the truth God has given. 

The power, authority, and ownership of our souls were bought by Jesus with His precious blood. The enemy's claim on us has been broken. We have been set free, from sin, death, and the roar of the lion. 

Today, let's evaluate the roar of the evil one in our lives. Do we tremble with fear when he threatens? Does fear cause us to run straight into his lair? Let's remember Whose we are and live as those who have been redeemed. 

We have been freed, so let's live free.

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In case you missed yesterday's post, here's the link: When Where You Arrive is Not Where You Meant to Go

When Where You Arrive Is Not Where You Meant to Go

I've been super-busy preparing for the new website and the new blog. Everything will finally be in one place. You'll be able to go directly to the blog without social media links if you want, although those links will still be available. You'll be able to comment on the blog without signing in to Google or going back to a social media site, and I'll be able to easily reply.

There will also be a store with a variety of items for sale. One item I've worked on recently is the James Bible study. When I finished writing it, I posted it as a dropbox file for readers to download to their computers. What I quickly learned was that most of my readers use their phones or tablets to access the blog, not a computer. 

I tried converting to a series of six blog files, as well as to a print version, but neither worked well. Recently, I decided to do what I should've done all along. Make an e-book. 

As part of the preparation for uploading the file, I spent days reworking my document endnotes ("footnotes" placed at the end of the book instead of the bottom of the page). I went through every link to be sure it worked. I reread the text several times to check for errors. I studied James, and was kicked in the repenter again.

Once all that was done, I signed in to Amazon's easy create-a-book site and went to work. I designed a lovely cover, uploaded the photos and file, corrected formatting, and was almost ready to hit "publish" when I noticed something odd. There was nothing about e-books on the web page. 

I fretted with this for an absurdly long time before I realized a critical fact. I was on the site to publish print books, not e-books. 

I had gone to the wrong website and was seconds away from a book I didn't want. Where I meant to go was not where I'd arrived.

I backed out of the print site and went to the e-book prep site. An entirely different bit of formatting needed to be done. Because I work on a MAC, the e-book Table of Contents and internal links all had to be done by hand. It was way past bedtime when I finished last night.

The problem of arriving where I didn't intend to go was quickly solved by opening a new tab on my web browser. The problem of an eternal destination error is not as easily solved, however. 

Just as I had two publication options (print or e-book), we have two eternal destinations. Heaven or hell. We choose our destination in advance and, unlike publication options, once arrived, the choice cannot be undone. 

As James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote, our faith is revealed by our works. Faith that isn't manifested by works is dead. In other words, if our faith doesn't change us and make us more like Jesus, we need to consider whether we have saving faith or not. 

Those are hard words, but they come straight from Scripture. I'd soften them a bit and wrap them in flowery prose. James does not. He'd rather offend and save a soul than cushion someone in comfortable words that usher them straight to hell.

James urged those to whom he wrote to examine their faith. We'd be wise to do the same. To what kind of faith do our works give evidence? Is Christ clearly seen in our words, our actions, our deeds? 

If all we do is sit on a pew once a week, can we, realistically, expect that kind of faith to take us to heaven? According to James, it's life-altering, behavior-changing faith that assures our eternity with Jesus, not attendance at a series of meetings, not matter how well-intended. 

If heaven's where we want to spent eternity, let's be sure that's where we're headed. None of us can enter God's home on our goodness alone. We're all sinners. It takes faith, covered by the grace of God, to enter Heaven.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 niv 
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: The Importance of Mucking Out the Stalls
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

The Importance of Mucking Out the Stalls

The photo today might be a little bit shocking, but bear with me. Yes, the contents of the wheelbarrow are exactly what you think. Manure. It's a part of my daily routine. 

When the temperatures are low or the weather is stormy, my horses go into the barn for their evening meal and to sleep overnight. The next morning, they have breakfast and go outside again, where fresh water, grass, and hay await them. 

My job is to prepare the stalls in which they reside. Every day, I fill the racks with fresh hay and the water buckets with fresh water. I also scoop out the waste from the night before. Part of that waste is hay that's been trodden underfoot. Part of it is the droppings they've left behind. 

There's something oddly appealing about the job of "mucking out" the stalls. I take great pleasure in a clean stall that, moments before, was filled with the stench of waste.The work results in clean stalls in which my horses will be more comfortable. It makes a safer environment for them because the bacteria-laden manure is not left as a breeding place for disease. 

When the wheelbarrow is full, I roll it to a hole that needs to be filled, and dump it. Nothing is wasted. In a year or two, the manure and hay will degrade into composted soil that will make a happy home for grass or flowers. 

I pray as I scoop out the waste. Earlier this week, I had a conversation with the Lord that went a little like this:

"Whew. Calli sure was busy last night, Lord. There's a mountain of pooh in here. I could smell it when I walked in the barn."

I scooped for a bit, then something occurred to me. "Lord, I hope my sin doesn't seem as unattractive to You as this stall is to me."

That Still, Small Voice didn't hesitate for a moment. It wasn't an out-loud voice, but in my heart, I knew. "It's much worse."

I leaned on my scoop and pondered that for a while. The stench of sin rises up to the Lord, just as our offerings of praise and love rise up. Our prayers are a sweet smelling incense to Him. Our sin is not. It's offensive and foul. 

Our job as disciples is to muck out the stalls of our hearts every day and remove the droppings of sin and our encounters with the world. When we do, we present a sweet-smelling home in our hearts for our Lord to reside. When we don't, we risk the disease of sin breeding in our hearts and minds. We also leave an odor that's unpleasant to the Lover of our souls. 

Today, let's take a closer look at our hearts. Is there anything there that needs to be "mucked out?" If so, let's do the work of repentance until it's done so that we can present our Lord a heart that's beautifully cleansed. Done daily, the job is repentance is quick work, so let us not delay. 

"Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you." Romans 8:8,9 BSB

"And the smoke of he incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand." Revelation 8:4 nasb
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: Footprints in the Snow

Footprints in the Snow

An unsullied expanse of snow is a beautiful sight. To preserve the recent pristine white as long as possible, I tried to walk along the edges of the sidewalk. The stretch of snow in front of my house made it, intact, nearly to the end of the cold. 

The last morning, I walked out the front door, headed to the barn. I took my usual edge-of-the-sidewalk route but, after a few steps, noticed something unexpected. Large footsteps marched in a row, right through the center of the snow. They were a male's prints, and considerably larger than mine. 

What in the world? I thought. After another moment, I realized the source of the snow disturbance. The UPS man had boldly walked straight up the path to the door. Every step had left a clear impression in the snow.

As I stared at the evidence he'd left behind, as well as my own footprints in the snow, I realized an important truth. Where we walk, and how, are more important than we realize. Every step we make leaves an imprint, though not often visible to us.

Jesus' instructions to the disciples rang in my heart. "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." (Mark 1:17 nasb) If we choose to follow Him, we, too, must walk in His steps, both where and how He walked. How? It was because of God's great love for us that Jesus came, and it that same love for which He persevered all the way to the cross. If we are to walk as He walked, then, we must walk in love - for God and for others.

In eternity, we'll see the impact our steps have made. Unfortunately, not all of mine will have left a positive impact. I can't change my wrong steps, but I can make better choices for the future. 

Today, let's ask God to give us a glimpse of our own footprint. Do my steps draw me closer to Him? Does every step lead someone else closer to Christ, as well? If not, pray that God will direct our paths in such a way that He will be glorified and honored by our life's journey, all the way until He leads us home.

"Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left." Isaiah 30:21 nasb

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In case you missed yesterday's post, here's the link: The Growing Your Faith Retreat and How You Can Be a Part

The "Growing Your Faith" Retreat and How You Can Be a Part

For months, women have been meeting to plan and prepare for an upcoming retreat. We've prayed for God's perfect plan, and we hope we have it. Three churches have joined together to sponsor a women's renewal retreat at FCR at Crow's Neck in late February. (Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Ingomar Methodist Church, and Amaziah Baptist Church) The theme is Growing Your Faith, and I'm excited about speaking. 

After Sam moved to my house, we met via phone/FaceTime. A couple of weeks ago, we were finally able to meet in person. The sweetness and unity of spirit was amazing. These ladies are kind and loving, and the choices they've made for the meeting reflect their gentle hearts. I think those who attend will be so blessed.

Sherra Owen will share some of her knowledge of Mississippi plants, and Emily Manning will share an art performance. 

I'll be leading in the study/learning sessions. We'll have small group sessions and large group worship time.

How do I prepare for such a big conference? The same way I prepare for every day of my life. I pray for God's direction. Read Scripture on the topic. Memorize passages that are pertinent. I ponder. 

It takes a lot of time to prepare because my life needs to be the first one that's actively growing, actively repenting, actively changing. I can't teach what I don't live, so I have to have my act together in order to prepare.

I don't use a speaking script. Instead, the words must be planted deep in me in order to come out at just the right time. Sometimes, I'll use an index card with a few Scripture passages to remember written on it, but not always.

I tell you this because I need your prayers. We expect God to move in the lives of the women who attend. We expect we'll all leave changed. For that to happen, those in leadership need humble, servant hearts. I need an humble, servant heart most of all. 

Please pray I'll be ready and have exactly the right words and teaching tools. 

Ladies, you, too, can be a part of this precious weekend, but space is limited so sign up soon. Here are the details:

Grow Your Faith Retreat

FCR Camp at Crow's Neck

February 24-25, 2018

Cost: Full conference $70

Saturday only $35

Check or cash only

Mail check to Laura Pannell, 1549 CR 478, New Albany MS 38652

There's a Growing Your Faith facebook page where you can ask questions and learn more. Be sure to connect with us.

I hope you'll join us for this fun retreat. I can't wait to see what God does.

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 esv 

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In case you missed yesterday's post, here's the link: The Importance of Head Protection

The Importance of Head Protection

I can still hear my Mama say, "You need to put your toboggan on, or you'll catch your death of cold." The connection between wearing a knit cap and preventing viral infections seemed iffy, at best. If I ever put that cap on, I don't remember it.

I've rarely worn hats, baseball-style caps, or knit caps. When temperatures recently dipped into the single digits, however, headwear became considerably more attractive. I dug in my glove-and-cap basket until I found a knit cap that must've been twenty years old. It was gray, had a hole in one side, and fit about like draping a piece of fabric over my head. It slipped off at least twice every time I wore it to the barn and required constant readjustments to keep it in place.

Yesterday, my gray cap fell off when I leaned over to scoop some manure from one of the stalls. That was the final straw. I threw the cap in the garbage. When I went to the feed store, I bought a new, bright red knit cap with a pompom on top. The style was most suitable for a child, but it fit my head and stayed in place. I wore it home.

I know the importance of covering your head to prevent heat loss, but I've never bothered with it before. This week, I've reconsidered my decision. Today, I'll wear my new cap to the barn and, likely, to the office, as well. I'm tired of being cold, so I've decided to protect my head. My Mama would be so proud.

There's another kind of head-protection that's even more important than wearing a cap in cold weather. We're constantly bombarded by worldly words, opinions, and images from social media, news outlets, books, television, movies, and music. When we allow these influences into our mind, they have a significant impact on our thoughts and our actions. 

The responsibility to guard our minds and hearts is ours alone. We're not accountable for what's available, but we are accountable for what we choose to do with it, and how we allow it to change us. Does it make us more like Christ or not? If not, why do we choose to fill our minds with it? 

Today, let's take a serious look at the influences we allow into our minds. Would Jesus choose them? If not, should we? Let's be sure to protect our heads and our minds.

"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence, and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." Philippians 4:8 nasb
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: Resolution Check: How I'm Doing on Getting Things Done

You might also enjoy: 
Making a Choice and Choosing a Path
Pigpen Parables: The Place of the Piggy Heart
Intentionality: Changing Wanna Be Into Got'er Done

Resolution Check: How I'm Doing On Getting Things Done

The temperature is 4 degrees outside. Instead of face the sub-zero wind chill, I decided to check my planner to see how I'm doing with New Year's resolutions. 

I'm not as far behind as I thought.

I resolved to memorize Scripture this year, a chapter a month. The first chapter of John has been quite a challenge, with 51 verses. By this point in the month, I should have 25 verses memorized. I'm not there yet, but I do have 16 verses memorized and am working on the 17th. 

How have I managed it? I spend a few minutes memorizing every morning, but I also ponder the verses and find applications in my life throughout the day. I try to live the Scripture I'm learning by soaking in its truth.

Two weeks into the month, Scripture memorization is already becoming a habit. 

My mentoring partner and I are holding each other accountable, as well. We agreed to quote the verses we'd learned in our Sunday morning time together. As you might imagine, I practice hard to be sure I'm ready. Accountability is key. 

"Take a blogging course" was on my list for January. I signed up for a four-part online course. I'm through the prequel course and 1/3 of the way through the main course. It's harder than I expected and taking more time than I wanted, but I'm learning critical skills. I'm stopping to practice what I've learned, which nails the knowledge down and assures I understand the material.

Get at least 10,500 steps every day was also one of my goals. Yesterday was the first time I fell short, with just under 9,000 steps. I should've finished out my goal on the elliptical, but I worked on a writing project until late. 

If you want lots of steps, put horses in the barn at night and walk back and forth. Add cleaning out the stalls and you'll have more steps than you can imagine. 

One simple lifestyle change has made all the difference.

I'm supposed to be following the DASH diet this year. Less salt and meat. Lots more vegetables and fruits. A weekly pot of vegetarian vegetable soup helps me meet my vegetable requirement, and a supply of fruit in the crisper has made the difference with the fruit requirement. (I'll do a different blog post later on specifics) 

Weather and limbs on fences have prevented a few outings and meetings I'd planned, but there's still time. Reading 100 books this year is also on my list. I've finished seven already. (I'll do a blog post on how-to's)

The most important part of sticking to my resolutions was in the making. I prayed about every area of my life. What changes were needed? How should they be done? It's not an accident that Scripture memory is the FIRST resolution on which I work every single day. 

I didn't stop after praying about my resolutions. I pray about my to-do list and about how to get it done, too. Specific, goal-directed prayer is a critical part of my daily life. 

I've already begun to tackle some of the most challenging areas in my life and I'm making progress. How? Because I've made a plan, stuck to it, and prayed it through. 

What are your resolutions for the year? What changes did you plan to make? It's not too late to meet your goals. Make a start now, take consistent steps, and you, too, can have an amazing year.

The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9 nasb
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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: When Snow Doesn't Fall: 6 Ways to Deal with the Disappointment of Unmet Expectations

You might also like: How to Change 2018 From Just Getting By to Simply Amazing

Photo by Jessica Lewis on Unsplash