"But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded... do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ... 2 Chronicles 15:7, 1 Peter 4:12
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When I started this blog in 2004? Oh, what a battle!
Our computer began acting wonky. Freezing, blacking-out.
Heck, my brain did the same! Meaningful sentences came to me, yet while typing, I'd forget their second halves.
A perfect word would appear--then phhhht. Fade into my brain's white space where I could not retrieve it.
And remember how I (recently) felt horrified that my oldest posts screamed, "Debra forgot every writing lesson from high school and college"?
And let's not mention my own self-doubting thoughts nor that a couple folks told me sharing my personal life online was foolish, dangerous and prideful (I expected strangers to care about my life?, they asked).
Wow, right? Battle-like, indeed, and ok, sometimes I did get all --
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But mostly? I'd remind myself of Bible verses like this one:
"For a wide door of opportunity for effectual service has opened to me --along with many adversaries." ... 1 Corinthians 16:9
So today if you are facing a battle, with voices chiding you to quit? May you remember that satan does not want us to bless anyone. Only after he sees our consistent determination will he step away and bug some likely-to-slink-away-whimpering, soul.
Whether you're starting a --
home Bible study group or
a way to help your neighbors or
prepping your home/family for all emergencies or
obeying God by getting out of debt or eating right or
beginning a cooking ministry, writing a book or volunteering, etc.--
--stay upon the battlefield where God placed you. Someday He'll say, "You've finished! Well done. Now let's move on to this new thing I've planned for you."
And because 'greater is He who's within us', we can win those upcoming early battles, as well.
Satan fights us hardest on our most meaningful, legacy-type stuff. We must not let him win those battles.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." ... Isaiah 43:19
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Ooooo! I discovered a beautiful thing. A window, via our big screen tv, will sail me happily through winter by going here.
(P.S. Youtube can take you just about anyplace you wish to go. Seek, then find.)
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15
God sent you to me via this blog today Debra!!! I have something I had all but decided to quit because it's SO HARD. I'm not going to share what it is, but you have given me the push this morning to continue keeping on even though every fiber of me wants to say, "I'm done. I'm finished."
ReplyDeleteWe adore U-tube. The televison itself is rarely on anymore for regular programming. I watch knitting and crochet videos and together we watch travel and RV videos. Much more entertaining to us as a regular diet of watching, than what passes for tv entertainment as a whole.
Wishing you a lovely day my friend.
Blessings,
Betsy
Well the title of this post sure grabbed my attention! Trust me, I don't go looking for battles, but it seems as though I stumble into them on a regular basis. One thing I do know is that no one is exempt. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my own little world that I forget God has created me for HIS master plan. I love the picture of the woman holding the old-fashioned luggage that reminds us that there are no accidents with God...and we can trust Him, especially when we don't understand what's going on. BTW, I am so grateful that you persevered with this blog, Debra. The Holy Spirit has used it to teach, encourage and convict (gotta have that once in awhile) me. Thank you for being obedient to Him!!
ReplyDeleteI wish there were more options to click on than funny, interesting, or cool. The buttons I would most click on on your blog posts are "inspiring," "thought-provoking," and "convicting." I don't always take the time to comment, but know that you ARE inspiring to me and I appreciate your posts more than you'll ever know. Thank you, Debra!
ReplyDeleteBetsy--thanks so much for letting me know this was timely for you! And may you receive all the grace necessary to do what God has asked. He really can make easy what would be hard without Him! Thanks for reading here, Betsy!
ReplyDeletePam--we truly can do whatever God asks, right? I appreciate your words so much and I do thank-you for reading here so faithfully.
Deb--your heartfelt words blessed me more than I can say. Thanks for making my whole week!
I appreciate each of you so much! Blessings, Debra