Hey friends! We are alive and well! I have not blogged in a looonnnngg time! We have been spending so much time with family and friends and preparing for our big move to Romania! It has been a sweet time for us!
There have been so many things I have wanted to blog about, but actually spending the time to write about all those things is not how the Lord wanted me to spend my time. I think they were things for me to just sit and ponder in my own heart.
But, there has been something that I have wanted to share for some time that He continues to bring to mind...I think because I am still struggling with the lesson He wanted to teach me!
About five weeks ago Steve and I were not sleeping good. Packing up all of our belongings, loss of sleep, schedule and routine thrown out the window, not praying fervently, not soaking in the Word as I should, anxiety about adjusting our family to a new culture, language, housing situation along with thoughts of leaving family, our house and our church....well, I will just tell you....we have had LOTS of bizarre dreams!
Not just bizarre dreams, but God dreams! Dreams that I believe HE gave me to teach me something.
So, I want to share with you a dream that I had a month ago.
We were living in the missionary house and I was outside pulling the kids around the yard in their red wagon. All of a sudden a black serpent creeps out of the grass and begins to lift its head up and strike at my heel! What did I do? I began to try and stomp on his ugly head! And then I ran. And that serpent was fast on his belly and he chased after me. I ran to our car and lifted my kids onto the hood of the car. (it is a dream, so some things just don't make sense :) All the while, the serpent is on my heel....striking at me....biting my heels. And it hurt....I was in pain, screaming out for him to stop. As soon as my kids were "safe" on the hood of the car. I began to stomp on his head repeatedly until eventually he lowered his nasty head and slithered away.
"I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise your heel." ~Gen. 3:15
That was it. So, I woke up in the middle of the night confused and wondering why in the world I had that dream. I went back to bed and it was the first thing on my mind in the morning. I knew this dream was from the Lord. I have had several God dreams over the last few years and when I have them it is almost like the Lord says, "pay attention to this...there is something here I am trying to tell you."
Well, guess what? I didn't pay attention very long. I couldn't after all you know with all that packing and visiting! So, I told myself.
The next day, the dream still lingering in my mind, but I don't sit down and take the time to talk with the Lord about it. I am far too busy for that.
The third morning after the dream. I wake up and tell Steve about this dream and as I am getting ready for the day. I pray. I seek the Lord. I listened. And, so faithful....He spoke.
I looked back on my last two weeks at that time. And all I had done was run around like a chicken with its head cut off. I packed, I shopped for things we needed, we visited lots of folks, we baked, we did, did, did. I had not been praying hardly at all. I had not been in the Word very much. I had not looked for opportunities to share the Gospel or just be a light to those I was around day to day. I was anxious and worried. I was scared. And I didn't take any of this to the Lord.
It was almost as if I had forgotten the whole point of why I was packing up and moving halfway across the earth. Him! He is our reason!
He should be our reason for everything we do!
In my mind my world and my to do list seemed so big to me and it seemed so important. Not what the Lord would have me to do...not in the order He would have me do them, but I put myself first.
The Lord reminded me that when I let my guard down and am not seeking Him with all of my heart, mind, soul and strength that I am so weak. I am weak to fight off the devil.
But, mostly I was reminded that I am in a spiritual battle. As followers of Christ, we all are...daily.
Satan is out to kill, steal and destroy. (John 10:10) Did you read that? This is satan's goal for your life. To steal anything he can from you--peace, joy, contentment, etc. He wants to destroy your life and leave you for dead.
He does not want to see our family following God.
He doesn't want more people in Romania to hear of Christ's love.
So, I need to buck up! ARMOR UP!
Will you read all of Ephesians 6:10-20 with me?
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the Gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. "
"Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
Ephesians 4:14
Is your armor on??
When I picture men with armor on or see movies where men are covered in heavy armor and fighting, I always think, "how do they move or lift their arms with all that extra weight?"
But, with the armor of the Lord it is exactly the opposite. We put on all of this armor and it lightens our load.
We can move with more ease.
We are freed up from the inside out!
"Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from mr, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." ~Matt. 11:28-30
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