God IS in control!

There is one thing I do like about Colorado, is that the winters are sunny.  Yes, the Rogue Valley was warmer overall for the winter, but it rained all the time, foggy, vary rarely see the sun for long stretches.  Here in Colorado, it may be colder and more snow (except so far for this winter, unusual), I at least get to see the sun.  

In continuation of yesterdays conversation, I wanted to bring out another great devotional in Our Daily Bread that I read a while back:

Our Daily Bread, Sept. 16, 2013, God’s Will, Ps. 37

We’re often looking for God’s will – especially when we’re in a difficult situation.  We wonder, what will happen to me here?  Should I stay or does God want me somewhere else?  The only way to know for sure is to do what He asks you to do right now – the duty of the present moment – and wait for God to reveal the next step.

As you obey what you know, you will be strengthened to take the next step and the next.  Step by step, one step at a time.  That’s how we learn to walk with God.

But you say, “Suppose I take the first step.  What will happen next?”  That’s God’s business.  Your task and mine is to obey this day and leave the future to Him.  The psalmist says our steps are “ordered by the Lord” (Ps. 37:23).  This day’s direction is all we need.  Tomorrow’s instruction is of no use to us at all.  George MacDonald said, “We do not understand the next page of God’s lesson book; we see only the one before us.  Nor shall we be allowed to turn the leaf until we have learned its lesson.”

If we concern ourselves with God’s will and obey each day, the directions and warnings He gives, if we walk by faith and step out in the path of obedience, we will find that God will lead us through this day.  As Jesus put it, “Tomorrow will worry about its own things” (Matt. 6:34) – David Roper

I was on Facebook yesterday and a friend of mine commented on yesterday’s post with:

“Hey Roberta. Just read your blog, anbd wanted to let u know what happened to us. My roommate brought a lady home, that she met in church on sunday, who is homeless. during the night (after 11pm when Debbi went to bed) the lady cleaned out all the money in debbi's purse (dumb of her to leave it out anyway), and took all the beer and food that was in the garage in the frig. this morning debbi went to work and i went into walmart (via the bus), got back at 12:45 and the dogs were all out running loose. We didn't do it. We always make sure the doors and gates r shut. The gate on the side of the house that goes in2 the backyard doesn't lock. Nobody knows that unless they r trying to get into the house. There is a door that then goes in2 the garage that doesn't lock. Whoever let the dogs out, got in that way. The money that i had stashed is gone, including all the state quarters and national park quarters that i had. My advise is please be very, very careful taking home homeless people that u don't know.”

Yes, I agree, we have to be careful and have wisdom, but true Wisdom comes from God.  I have picked up people on the side of the road, taken dozens of people home, but it was all at the direction of what God had to say about it.  I’ve said no to just as many people.  Yes, we spend a life-time accumulating ‘stuff’ to make us comfortable.  There is a time coming when ‘stuff’ means nothing and we have to be willing to give up our ‘idols’,  be willing to give up ALL things that hinder us from doing God’s will.  God is gathering His army, looking for those willing to give up all things in order to serve Him.

We took in a homeless man a few years ago, and after working with him for months, he turned on us in anger (and on drugs) and stole our computers (among other things) … sure we was upset at first, but we were LITERALLY MORE concerned about his welfare, state of mind, and especially his spiritual well-being that we were of our ‘stuff’, and I earned a living using my computer and had to have one to continue working.    Eventually, we got both computers and stuff back, and God worked out ALL things for His good (Rom. 8:28) AND to the salvation of the one who stole – and most importantly on our part, we TOTALLY forgave him from the very beginning of the episode.

Yes, stuff happens because we live in a fallen world, but we as children of God live in the spiritual realm, operate in the spiritual, because what we see in this physical world first started in the spiritual! (Eph.5:17, 6:10-20) and we DO have the authority (Matt. 28:18-20, Luke 9:1, 10:19) – we are not to just lay down and say, “I can’t do that because I might get hurt” or whatever.  We step out in faith when we know we are in God’s will and act – no matter what it looks like!

Unfortunately, that is why this country is in the state it is in now … 50 years ago we let the enemy come in like a flood and take over (yes, there were many other instances prior), starting with our children.  Prayer was dropped from school, abortion made legal, and on and on it goes until now, you mention anything EVEN IN THE CHURCH and everyone cringes in fear, “oh, we can’t do that because of liability” or “I don’t want to offend anyone”!  HELLO and WAKE UP!  We are in a WAR and there are casualties, but we go out in the AUTHORITY of Christ himself to take back what the enemy has stolen.

Speak boldly of what Christ has done for you WITHOUT fear of reprisal and consequences from the world – the world and the enemy are the same thing!  Go out there and get that one lost sheep no matter what it takes!  The government – OUR government – WILL lock us up one day for speaking the name of JESUS – are you ready to stand your ground!! 

More attacks

After 3 nights of attacks from the enemy (up all night with tormenting dreams, severe headaches, and heartburn) and having spent most of each night in warfare prayer, I woke up extremely discouraged.  Instead of going straight to the Word, I went to Facebook, but God still met me there.  

I am always so encouraged by my ‘likes’ and my friends on Facebook (I have ‘liked’ several ministries there).  I like what Mel Bond said the other day: “Worry is faith in the devil!” and today: “When you surrender to God, you allow His angels to work for you!”   

I like what Joseph Prince said:  “There’s power in your words! So instead of speaking negatively, start lining up your words with God’s promises of good in His Word and release the power of His Word to work for you!  Beloved, healing and provision come when you have a hearing heart for God’s Word. Learn how you can enjoy God’s provision and see how God obligates Himself to heal you when you seek and value His Word.”   

I like what John Hagee said:  “Father, I thank you that when I was down to nothing, You were up to something!  I also like what Jesse Duplantis said:  “The devil is a liar. He wants to remind you of everything you don’t have. He wants to make you discontent with yourself, God and everything in this world, but the Bible tells you not to listen to his lies and to simply rejoice in the Lord always. So, REJOICE!  Look at Mark 11:23. Notice that Jesus said, ‘For verily I say unto you....’ Now, if Jesus had to say something, don’t you think we, as His followers, must also have to say something?! What you say affects your life deeply, maybe more than you ever realized. Notice that Jesus puts you in the power seat by telling you that YOU are the one who must “say” something to the mountain. This is a principle that applies to more than mountainous problems in life; it applies to everything.  Talk about what you want instead of what you have. It is hard at times not to talk about what we have or the negative things that are going on around us—but it rarely does a bit of good to focus your mouth only on what is currently going on. God has created us to look beyond our circumstances and use our words to drive both our heart and our life to the place He created us to be.”  

As my friend Tracy said:  “Prov. 11:8 – the Righteous ARE delivered out of trouble.”  I also like what my friend Reda said:  “Father, I'm sorry I sometimes give foothold to the spirit of discouragement because of looking at my circumstances, instead of standing on Your promises! I'm sorry I let how I 'feel' override what I 'know'.... that is nothing is too big for You. Your plan & purpose for me are far above anything I could conceive or imagine & I choose to trust in You for all my needs, and guiding the direction of my steps. I'm sorry for my 'Israelite-itis' when I murmur about where I think I should be physically & spiritually, instead of giving You praise & thanksgiving for how far You've brought me & what You brought me out from....giving You glory for what yet awaits ahead! I choose to greet today with anticipation & expectation of what You have for me, setting aside any preconceived notions of 'self' that only serve to hinder my spiritual growth & quench the light & testimony of who I am in Christ. Thank You for the opportunities as they present themselves...help me recognize them as such, not as interruptions or inconveniences to MY agenda but embrace the learning You would have me glean from them or Your ministry to others through me. I give over my schedule to You to work my tasks in and around what You would have me do, thanking You that I am able to do them and accepting that if all my 'stuff' doesn't get done...it's because Yours DID!  And Thank You especially for allowing me to be an interruption to Your day, inclining your ear to me, with patience & love.......(it's not like I'M the only thing you have to deal with after all, even though our times of communion make me feel that I am....) Psalm 8:4 "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" Love You SOOO much & can never tell you enough....I lay these petitions & declarations at your feet with an 'attitude of gratitude', and in the name of Jesus, Amen  PS: ......and as always, thank You for listening to the ramblings of my heart without judging my grammar, spelling & punctuation.....which are more enthusiasm of the moment than textbook!”  

I also liked what my friend Cecelia said: “Has anyone ever heard of a three fold cord in the spirit on the devils side?  While in prayer the other day with my dear friend Ruth we were told by the Lord this, Pride is the driving force behind the spirit of Religen and where Pride and Religen is there is confusion. A three fold cord in the spirit for the devils side. Then I asked God what breaks this and I was reminded of the scripture that says if one can put a thousand to flight then two can put two thousand to flight. Meaning A three fold cord or rather three Holy Ghost filled people praying and agreeing with his word and each other will do it. How many out there will endeavor to start a three fold cord prayer group this week? Do it and watch what God will do for you.”

So, I dealt with the enemy again, In the Name of Jesus, I told those mountains to be removed and I ask God for strength to keep going forward.  I’ll keep my mouth shut, unless I have something positive to say.

Enemy Attack

So many attacks by the enemy, like a roaring lion coming to devour.  We know we are doing God’s will and are on the right path, otherwise Satan and his cohorts wouldn’t be coming at us from so many angles.  Our car payment was due July 20th, but we had nothing to send, so I was waiting to see what I would get paid from IWU … $190.!!  What????  I called the loan company and they said they’d give us until Friday to pay the $389 + $38 late fee.  The storage shed also needs $59 [since we left everything behind in Central Point] and our car insurance expires tonight at midnight!  When William called around for other insurance to find something cheaper than the $138 we’ve been paying (for 1 car no less!!  I know there has to be something cheaper), he found something for $67 a month.  He went to sign up and they said it would be $110 because of 2 accidents reported on May 23rd.  WHAT???   William backed into 1 guy in the parking lot and only took out a headlight.  We reported it to the insurance company and heard nothing else, so we thought, ok, it would be real cheap to fix, we had no damage and all was a done deal.   I guess the guy reported two accidents and much more damage!!!  Not only that, but last Thursday, we get a letter from our past landlord (we were expecting most of the $700 deposit money back), but he’s suing us for damages to the apartment!   WHAT?????  I even took pictures of the place before we left – we left it just as clean, if not cleaner (and no damage!) than when we found it.   We were only there 9 months!  Not only did he take the whole $700, but he wants much more as well!  The enemy is now trying to take everything from us and take our focus off of Christ and the ministry he has called for us to do.  He’s trying to make us frustrated and take away our faith.  IT WON’T HAPPEN – this is all out war and we are here to fight.  As in any war, there are victories and there are losses; however, I do not believe God wants us to lose this bad!  We go to Praise Mountain Saturday morning for 2 days of fasting and prayer – we will fight!  We have no other money coming in, this $190 won’t go far for all of this (plus we have an empty tank).  So we trust in God and why He sent us to Colorado.