The Battle is Raging

The war is not over.  The battle is raging all around us and will only be over when the trumpet blasts and Jesus bursts through the clouds.  Paul writes, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

The battle for the hearts and souls of our children is real.  It’s not big and loud on the surface.   The battle rages silently on a small screen illuminating a beautiful face, simultaneously poisoning the heart and mind behind the screen.  What has been seen can’t be unseen.  What is heard echoes through the mind for ages.  A piece of an innocent heart is darkened, the soul is lured away and a child happily skips into the enemy’s trap. 

IT IS ON NOW!

We cannot stand idly by and watch as this battle rages.  We can’t hide in the shadows, hoping we aren’t hit.  We have to put on our armor and fight for the souls of our children.  The weapon we have is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  We not only have to read it, but speak it and pray it.  The thing is, is we can’t give our sword to our children.  We must show them how to pick up their own sword. The way they learn to use it is by watching us.  We must tell them what we are doing and why.  It will not just magically happen someday.

Before our children can pick up their sword and use it effectively, it is most important for them to put on the Helmet of Salvation.  In trench warfare, the head is typically the most exposed part of a soldier’s body.  Without a helmet, one shot to the head will take a soldier out.  Accepting Jesus Christ as the Lord and savior of their life is critical.  Without the helmet of salvation, they are not able to understand II Corinthians 2:10 which says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive very thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  The helmet of salvation helps protect the mind.

Flaming arrows are aimed straight at our heart and can only be extinguished with the Shield of Faith.  Fight for your kids.  Get out of the shadows. Pick up your sword and shield, put on your helmet, get on your knees and fight!

Ephesians 6:13-18

“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. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

 

 

 

Countdown to Midnight

December 31st, the last day of  the year or New Year's Eve, is a day to reflect on the past year and declare hopes, dreams and expectations of the coming year.  Today is different from all of the other days.  There is a celebratory spirit (if you will) in the air.  It is nation wide and not influenced by religion or race.  It happens at the same time for all of us--Midnight.

 

At midnight the ball drops in New York City, a kiss is shared between loved ones, a champagne toast is given and all is right with the world.  At least this is what media has told us.  This is how we bring in the new year America! 

 

Personally, I have never been to New York and my typical New Year's Eve is spent on the couch trying to stay awake to watch the legendary ball drop when the clock strikes twelve.  I am certain it will be no different tonight.

 

However, this year I want to reflect on all that The Lord has done for me.  I am going to thank Him for the storms He has brought me through and the battles He has fought for me.  I know He has fought them because II Chronicles 32:8 says, "With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles."

 

I will praise Him for the good times and the bad because Philippians 4:4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice."

 

"Thus far the Lord has helped us"

I Samuel 7:12

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!



Enter His Gates

Why do we have gates? The answer seems simple enough.  A gate is used to easily enter a fenced area.  The definition of gate, according to Merriam-Webster, is a part of a barrier that opens and closes like a door.  The word gate is used often in the Bible.  We must enter the gate to be in the presence of the Lord. 

A verse I read in Psalms this morning, inspired me to write this.  It states, "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name" (Psalms 100:4).

We are told to enter with thanksgiving.  Psalms 118:19-20 says, "Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.  This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter."

We know the gate to the kingdom of God is small as stated in Matthew 7:14, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

If the gate is small, it seems to me that we cannot go through it with a lot of stuff.  We can't go through if we are full of ourselves, fat with pride or arrogance, and loaded down with baggage of unforgiveness and bitterness.  All of the "stuff" that weighs down our soul must be left at the gate to enter.  There simply is not room to carry it in.

Sometimes we may try to sneak a little something in the gate with us, because that's the way we are, aren't we?  The rules don't really apply to us.  No one will notice, right? Well...
The Lord will notice according to Psalms 139:2, "You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar."

We are to enter His gates with thanksgiving in our heart--NOTHING ELSE. If we needed something else God would have told us.  Whatever it is, leave it outside the gate.  Hebrews 13:12 tell us, "And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood."  Jesus suffered for us, outside the gate. We can give Jesus all of our "stuff" that keeps us from going through the gate.  We can give him our pride, we can give him our unforgiveness, we can give him the sin--that thing that has a hold on our life.  We can give it to Jesus, say 'Thank You', and go through the gate.

It boils down to this in Revelation 22:14-15, the final chapter of the Bible, "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."

When this life is over, I want to be inside the gates of the New Jerusalem.  Don't you?

Able to Stand

On Sunday, I stood in worship as long as my body would let me.  When I sat, I maintained an attitude of worship, but I longed to stand.  I did notice a few other people sitting throughout the sanctuary.  Most of them elderly, probably with worn out knees or hips.  And there are those who are not able to attend a worship service at all because of illness, whether mental or physical.

However, I am not discouraged because I believe we will stand in heaven, not because we are commanded, but because we are able.

God's word says we will stand in Revelation 7:9, "After this, I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb."

We will all be able to stand because we will be healed as God promises in Revelation 21:4, "He will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

If you have any physical limitations and you long to stand before the Lord in worship, God knows your heart and feels your pain.  It may last for your time on earth, but it will not last forever, because forever we will be with our Lord in heaven.  Until then, hold fast with me to the truth of Hebrews 10:23, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."



Ginger - Rest in Peace

GINGER

(2004-2016)

 

 

Tuesday, August 9, 2016, was one of the saddest days for our family. 

 

We found our sweet, precious collie, Ginger, dead in the pool that morning.  I let her out at 5 am and found her around 7am when I went to let her back in.  We can only speculate about what happened.  Did she have a heart attack or a seizure and fall in? Did her hips give out and she slipped and fell in? Was she trying to get around the chairs that were too close to the pool?  We will never know what happened to Ginger in her last few moments of life.  But, we will remember what a wonderful dog she  was.  She had the sweetest disposition of any dog I have ever known.

 

On April 4, 2006, I woke up with a nagging urge to go to the dog pound-- or city animal services as it's now called.  The feeling stayed with me all day.  Christopher was 3 months shy of turning 2 and Adam was 8, in the 2nd grade. I had never been to Lubbock's city animal services before, but when I picked Adam up from school we went straight out there.

 

We had discussed getting a dog since our 11 year old golden retriever, Hope, died about a year and a half prior.  When we got to the pound, it seemed like every cage was occupied by a dog needing a home.  We asked to see 3 or 4 dogs.  We took each one to a small fenced off section of grass.  I observed their disposition around the boys.  We played fetch and tried basic sit and stay commands.  We weren't really making a connection with any of the dogs and we were getting ready to leave.  I remember walking among the cages with deafening sounds of dogs barking.  I looked down and saw the sweetest face of the only dog not barking.  The tag on her cage read: GINGER.  I turned to the employee assisting us and said, "What about this one"?  We took her out to the play area and immediately fell in love.  I called my husband at work and we all begged him to let us come home with this sweet girl.  She was surrendered by her owner and her time was going to expire the next day.  He couldn't say No, of course.  So, Ginger came home with us that day and became part of our family.

 

Shortly after coming to live with us, we discovered Ginger has seizures.  They normally occurred when she was startled awake.  We worked with the veterinarian for months to get the proper medication to control the seizures without making her lethargic during the day.  We were able to get the seizures under control, then had to deal with urinary incontinence.  Once again the vet worked with us on getting her medication at the proper dose, so she could have a normal dog life.

 

Ginger loved everyone she came in contact with.  She was in the car with me one day and we were stopped at a red light.  There was a man in a pickup truck next to us, not paying any attention to Ginger.  She kept looking at him, wagging her tail and whining because she wanted to greet him and show him affection.  That was the moment when I thought she would be a wonderful therapy dog.

 

I don't remember exactly how I found out about the free therapy dog training we attended, but God put everything in place.  We went through 10 weeks of training and passed the tests.  Ginger was certified by Therapy Dogs International and we served in Lubbock at University Medical Center, Covenant Hospital, several nursing homes and in a reading program at an elementary school.  Ginger was exceptionally good with children cancer patients.  I am so very thankful for the time I was able to spend with her as a therapy dog. 

 

When we moved to Colleyville 4 years ago, we had so many changes and adjustments that I did not renew her therapy dog certification.  However, she was great therapy for me while the boys were at school.  A few months after we moved her hips started giving out and she could no longer go up and down the stairs.  We added glucosamine and a pain killer to her daily meds.

 

Ginger truly had the sweetest disposition.  If she accidentally got locked in a bathroom or closet, she never barked or whined to get out.  She would patiently wait until she was found. 

 

Ginger was afraid of thunder, Nerf guns, and balloons.  The only thing she did not like and would bark at was the vacuum cleaner.

 

Ginger was dearly loved and gave love in return.

 

Ginger will be forever in our hearts. 

 

Rest in Peace sweet girl.

 

 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalms 34:18



Beauty in Death

It is January  2016 and I have said "Good Riddance" to 2015!

On New Year's Day, 2015, my mother in law was hospitalized, where she remained for the next twelve days. Her medications were altered and adjusted over the next few months and she did fairly well, until she was found unresponsive one day in April.  

She was admitted to ICU for several days and subsequently transferred to another hospital for about a month.  She was home in time for Mother's Day.

She continued seeing her many doctors and lived life simply with her husband, who was also her care giver.

In late June she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  This news was hard to digest for the entire family.  She opted out of chemotherapy and was placed on Hospice care July 14, 2015. 

A port was placed in her abdomen to drain the excess fluid from her body produced by the cancer.  We drained fluid every other day until October 27, 2015.

My mother-in-law was given 4 months of life to live after her cancer diagnosis.  Miraculously, she was without pain and had more mental clarity than any time I had seen during my 24 years in her family.

The beautiful part of this story, the end of her life here on earth, is she is no longer tormented in her mind and no longer limited by a body filled with disease.  She has a new body with a clear mind and eternal life with King Jesus. 

I will admit it is very hard to see any beauty in death when faced with the shock and reality that your loved one is gone.

But somehow, somewhere in this very dark place, in this sea of dispair, love bubbles up in the form of family and friends who drop everything, who pause their lives for a moment--for you.

It begins with a neighbor, then two or three more who show up with food; a knock at the door.  A delivery of fresh flowers from a long lost friend, who can't be there in person, but sends a prayer with Amen.

It's the emails, the texts, the flowers the food, the phone calls, the cards, the friends who show up that carry you through.

Without our family and friends this would have been much harder.  Without Jesus, it would have been unbearable.

Between Darkness and Light

I went outside this morning while darkness lingered and the song of frogs and crickets played. As the sun began to emerge from behind the trees, there was a moment of silence between morning and night.  There was stillness and quiet between darkness and light, before the new day's dawn and bird's morning song.  Before the winds began to blow and the trees clapped their hands, the earth was still and quiet before its' creator.

I cannot help but think how this simple scene from everyday life is like that of a person emerging from the darkness of sin and death to the light of salvation, life and peace.  There should be a moment when they are still and quiet before their creator.

But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
—Psalm 131:2

Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
—Psalm 21:6

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
—Psalm 37:7

Illusion of Seclusion

"He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul". (Ps 23:2-3)

This is what I said to myself over and over when we moved 3 years ago to this beautiful view.  It's raining in this picture.  When it's not raining there are ducks, turtles, squirrels, hawks, cardinals, egrets, possums and an occasional fox.  Egrets would glide in and out each day at sunrise and sunset, leaving me amazed at their beauty and grace every time I saw them. I have enjoyed my morning quiet time with the Lord with this view in the background. 

During the past few weeks, workers have cleared out the overgrowth and underbrush, which has revealed three houses and a heavily traveled road.  Lately, my morning quiet time is anything but quiet.  Imagine daybreak with the sound of chainsaws, mulchers, mowers, and weed eaters. 

My illusion of seclusion is gone.

The Lord led me beside still waters and has restored my soul.

Over the past 3 years, He has helped me clear out the underbrush and overgrowth of past hurts, unforgiveness and bitterness.  I can now look beyond my little corner of the world and see my neighbors. Neighbors who may become friends.  Neighbors who may need my help someday and vice versa.

I may not like what I see and hear around me as the reality of change sets in.  Life never stays the same.  It is ever changing.  However, I will hold on to the truth of Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Some Day My Prince Will Come

I love Disney movies, especially when the girl, the damsel in distress, is rescued by a prince (or handsome guy) on a white horse.  Some of the movies that come to mind are Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Tangled and Frozen.  These movies are loved and enjoyed all over the world for several generations.

We recently took a vacation to Florida and visited The Magic Kingdom. My 17 and 10 year old sons enjoyed our time there, but probably not as much as the little girls all around us. So many of them were dressed in princess dresses, twirling and giggling with glee.  I love watching the innocence of childhood and catching a glimpse of a little girl who believes she is THE princess waiting for her prince on a white horse to come and whisk her away to a fabulous castle and live happily ever after.

So why the white horse?

The idea could have been taken straight from the Bible.  Several verses in the book of Revelation describe Jesus returning on a white horse:

Revelation 6:1-2  "The Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. There before me was a white horse.  It's rider held a bow, and he was given a crown. He rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest."

Revelation 19:11 "I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns."

Revelation 19:14 "The armies of heaven are following him, riding on white horses.  On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords."

Snow White sings a song of hope in her movie:

     "Some day my prince will come

      Some day we'll meet again

      And away to his castle we'll go

      To be happy forever I know"

 

That's my song of hope, too.  Some day MY prince will come on a white horse. His name is Jesus and away to the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, we will go.





The Sound of Rushing Waters

What is it that draws me to the ocean? What pulls me to the place where sand meets waters edge? It's not just the beauty of white capped blue waves. It's not just the miles of sand to feel beneath my feet or squish between my toes. It's not the seashells or the sea gulls.

              IT IS THE SOUND.

The melodic sound of the ocean does something for my soul. It soothes and calms and takes away the stresses of life, if only for a moment.

I believe it is The Lord who draws me there. Ezekiel 43:2 says, "and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory ".

In the book of Revelation, John describes the sounds he heard coming from heaven as 'rushing waters' three times: 1:15 "His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of rushing waters"

14:2 "And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder"

19:6 "Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters..".

The sound of rushing waters calls me to the ocean now. It is also the sound that will call me home to heaven.

mamapossum