This is War. [On Spiritual Warfare].

Present weapons!

Sometimes we're given courses to train us for a job, and sometimes we have to do on the job training and learn as we go--if we're lucky, there is both(...and it is time to start practicing what we've learned or are learning).

I don't want to play clueless anymore. Sure, I can pull it off pretty well with my blonde hair and generally quiet, innocent, and a bit naive personality...but it's time to quit playing pretend.

This war is real. Can't you feel it? Can't you feel the rumbles of the blasts shaking the ground beneath your feet? Can you hear the cries of the wounded, and see the casualities around you?

There is no closing your eyes to this, not for long anyway.

A young person commits their life to Christ's mission, they prepare to go and spread it, and then painful wounds are inflicted upon them. Scary situations present themselves. Stress piles up, friends desert. They are left hurt, scared, stressed, and alone.

Can we not see who is behind this? Can we not see what it is really about?

God can use you.

First, Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

Second, in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3: 5,6)

Now. What is this all about...What weapons do you have? I think this provides some pretty clear instruction;

Eph. 6:

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For 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. 13Therefore 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. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And 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 saints.

So, do these. Pray for, love, and encourage one another.
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2).

Support each other.

What I'm grateful today;

Free plants to put in my flower gardens

Parents who provide for me

Funny and amusing pets

Strength and Courage given by God

Friends

What I'm grateful for today;

A comfy bed

Advil ;)

A silly little chipmunk

Opportunities presenting themselves

Friends

** I haven't felt well today, so these are the things that I could see God had blessed me with today.

[ sorry I'm whispering, I didn't want my parents to think I was talking to them and come to see what I was saying and interrupt the recording :p ]

Today, I am grateful for;

The sun

The warmth

My health

Parents who are willing to lend me or give me money :)

Friends

Yummy white chocolate raspberry ice cream

Water fights

and much much more :)

Stuck in the Mud (or snow)

Yesterday, I discovered how stuck in the mud I was. I have been rehearsing the same behaviors that have proved ineffective in the past. The devil knows these muddy pathways in my life, and he takes me and drags me through them. He knows my weaknesses, and he uses them against me. Convincing me I'm not good enough for the blessings God has for me.

Funny how I got to experience the actual situation of being stuck--in the attempts of turning around in an access road, the car I was traveling in became stuck in the snow.

We tried to get it out, but we were not prepared for that kind of work. Especially not me. I was wearing a dress and high heels. We had to call for assistance.

How true that is for my life, there comes situations that I'm not prepared or equipped to handle, but how often do I try to fix it myself? Often. I realized that sometimes I have to call on God and sit back and enjoy the ride.

Sometimes, all I'm called to do is to know who to call on, to wait, and trust.

A Balm in Gilead

My earlier post may have lead one to believe that there was no sorrow left in my soul, no wounds left to heal. Let me be clear, I still get sad. I still feel vulnerable. I still struggle to overcome doubt and trust the Lord for all, but I know what it is when that feeling settles. I know the devil is trying to bring me down. To use my wounds to make me doubt.

I repeat in my head, "give the devil no foothold," when the doubt begins. I try to remind myself that thanksgiving is the best and most consistent way to chase away negative emotions.

Today is one such day. I feel like hiding, because I feel how close my heart is to the surface...how open it is. I am not comfortable with this. I long for a sense of safety. This does not feel safe. "You've been too open," I tell myself, "now, you're going to get hurt."

I am taking a stand against that though! I will rejoice, regardless of my mood. I will praise God that he has put people in my life, that I have had the opportunity to open myself up to. I will live, with my heart open. I will risk, so that I may love.

I know God will provide the strength that I need.

Mature Christians

I have been asked to speak next wednesday on the topic of being a mature young christian adult.

I have fumbled over several ideas, unable to decide the best path to take. It's like trying to describe things such as love, the importance of prayer, or hope. Or, the workings of one's own heart.

What is maturity? Silencing the child within? I pray not, for if it is so, I never want to mature. Perhaps, it is putting away childish things? But what then, are childish things?

Is it being full and complete? If so, what does that mean? Does it mean you never long, that you are never lonely? If so, maturity has not yet found me. Perhaps, it is letting God fill you when you are empty. Realizing the world can never (consistently) fill you. Sure, you may experience an emotional high, a satisfaction from circumstances, but you will also cry in despair because of them.

Is being mature being old? If so, then there is no hope other than waiting for life to pass you by. I'd rather not wait until I'm old and gray and the spark and vigor of my youth have faded.

What great things can be accomplished by an energetic, young, and mature christian!!?

The verses that jumped out to me when I was searching for maturity in the Bible, and the words that are used to explain either maturity, the fruits of maturity, or what the lack of maturity looks like are;

—James 1:2-6 (New International Version)

—Trials and Temptations

— 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

This passage gives a few clues on what maturity may be, and how one can achieve it. It is being able to rejoice in the face of trials, because you have learned that God is trustworthy, and that through this trial you will grow in faith. That you develop preserverance, and this will make you more mature.

Maturity is realizing you don't have all the answers to every problem you will face. It is knowing whom to take your questions to, and knowing what to ask for. Wisdom. It is trusting that when you ask for a good gift like wisdom, that it will be given to you. It is believing that when you ask for wisdom, when you are firmly rooted in your relationship with Christ, that you will become wise. It is trusting that God is leading you. Wisdom is not external, wisdom is an inner phenomenon. It is the small voice in your head directing you. It is knowing God has inspired your thoughts.

Being mature is believing and not doubting that God wants what is best for you.

The second passage,

—Ephesians 4:12-14 (New International Version)

—¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. ¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. ¹³ This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.¹⁴ Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Let me note, that I realize this is a letter to a young church--however, I believe the advice is applicable to young christians.

In these verses, we see that being mature is being responsible. Doing what God has called you to do as members of the body of Christ--as the Church. The church is to equip people to do His work. Mature christians come together in unity of faith and knowledge. They work together. The are one. The do this, not in order to have friends or respect among men, but in order to live up to the standard of Christ's life and character. Maturity is knowing what you believe, so that you will recognize counterfeits when they present themselves. It is not falling for every sales pitch you hear. It is knowing what is truly of value and protecting that truth in your heart--regardless of the popularity of the truth.

One note I wanted to make was about the idea of unity. How unified do you feel? How often do you consider the well-being of your fellow believers. Are you currently thinking about the well-being of the individual nearest you? Do you strive to live in unity with them? Do you put aside "yourself" in order to hear them out? Do you take of your mask, and let your heart be exposed to those around you?

A saying I come back to over and over again, is that a true Christian community cannot exist under the pretense of perfection. Are you willing to be imperfect? Maturity calls for us to be an imperfect, broken and stripped of pride, united people--who come together and bind each others' wounds with the good news of Christ, with the unending love and care provided to use by a endlessly wise, everlasting God. Maturity is knowing when we do not have the answers, and knowing whom to turn to.