Posted in Life Inspiration, Word of God

We’re making Satan’s Job Easy

If I have any advice for this day, for anyone, especially myself, it’s “Don’t take your vulnerability to Satan lightly.” There was a thought in my mind this morning that I dare not say out loud, for fear of Satan getting to know me too well. Sometimes I think we talk entirely too much. In this “touchy-feely” society where everyone wears their emotions on their sleeves and they constantly tell people what they’ve done to hurt their little feelings, Satan is having a hay day with the conversations. He doesn’t have to wonder where our vulnerabilities lie, he has a play by play from our own mouths. 

Just 2 Corinthians 10:4 reminds us (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;), the weapons of Satan are in the spirit realm too and the evil devices and forces that he chooses to use. He is the god of this earth and right now he’s living his best life thanks to the ample supply of weaponry provided by us. Take a trip around social media and read the posts of people who have been “wronged” by someone or something as they give Satan the fiery darts he can use to shoot them with later. The funny memes that are meant to stir the ire in people who believe differently are a wonderful distraction against the good which the word of God can do. It makes people feel so accomplished that they’ve stood for what they believe in by such offensive means, and there’s always someone ready to be offended. What good does that offensive method do? 

Hey! I’m not throwing stones at glass houses, I’m the first to think a meme or conservative cartoon is hysterical and share it. But yesterday a person I “followed” on instagram, who confesses Christianity, posted a meme with cuss words in it, insinuating that Christ would say this “funny thing.” My ire went from 0-90 in about 2 seconds. I quickly sent a message saying the Lord would by no means would say such unholy things and to make light of His holiness in such a manner was unacceptable. I’m sure they didn’t care. They have thousands of followers. Which I am now not one of. I didn’t say it obnoxiously or self righteously but hopefully in a manner that will make them think. But the point of this whole rant is that Satan uses human emotions to promote his own agenda. This conservative person, allowed Satan to use them as a tool to attack the holiness of God. They were vulnerable because they took lightly the sins of this world. 

This caused me to re-examine by own life in relationship to what I’m exposing my mind too and what I invest my time in. It is so easy to get sucked into the rabbit hole of Hellywood. (Intentionally misspelled). And it’s not only California that does it’s share of distracting the people of God, but ever state in the union, and every country in the world has less than godly things for godly people to get off task with. These invisible enemies are very visible to the vulnerable and very attractive. It’s a meme that makes us laugh, even though it’s not very nice. It’s a video that has a “little language,” but it was sooooooo funny we needed to share it. It’s a video rant of someone with an agenda, who plays right into the hands of Satan to cause our next Christian post to go unseen because we’ve angered the masses. What would happen if before we posted something we ask ourselves, “what is the end result of this going to accomplish for Christ?” 

Oh, I know. I’m the Jesus Chick, I have to say these things right? No I’m very human with a warped sense of humor that Satan attacks regularly. I’m also an outspoken person who Satan can use very easily when he gets my mouth engaged without my mind. Which is often. While I’m very conscientious of not saying my own weaknesses aloud, knowing that Satan can use it against me; but what about the weaknesses of others?

I noticed something about some solid Christian people I follow on social media. My attraction to them was in the fact that their posts encouraged my soul and pointed me to Christ. I also noticed that within my sphere of influence was a lot of negative drama that had  no business being there. At some point they had made me laugh or love deeper with one post, but I failed to notice that 20 other posts were less than godly and often took my mind into darkness. While I thought I was shielding by self from Satan by guarding my own mouth, I wasn’t guarding my mind from the mouths of others. 

Hey, I’m so human it’s ridiculous! I always write these blogs to myself and for myself. If they help you, that’s awesome! I’d love to know. But the truth of the matter is, this venue is my own soul check.  How about yours? Have you check the vulnerability level lately of your own mind and soul? I encourage you to do so today. I certainly need to!

Posted in Uncategorized

Ridiculous Faith!

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Woohoo! Here I am burning daylight with Jesus on a Saturday morning! There are a great many people who would look at that statement, shake their head and under their breath say “Jesus freak.” And that’s okay. I’d have said that too in 1995. But then came 1996 and life radically, drastically changed and there was no turning back.

As I read the parable of the sower this morning in Matthew 13 I could see myself in all four. Prior to salvation I heard the Word of God, but it went in one ear and out the other. It might cause me to ponder life for a second, but in three seconds my thoughts were back on worldly tasks and toys. Or I’d get into trouble and turn to God for a second, but two seconds after I was out of trouble I had long since forgotten my need for a Savior. And too often to count I battled my way out of trials and tribulations like fighting gnats on a hot summer night, seldom ever striking anything that hit me.

But what a blessing it was this morning to read Matthew 13:18-23 and see myself in a whole new light!

Matthew 13:18-23

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Being brought up in a Christian home I knew to turn to God in times of trouble. So I’d open up the Bible and read it thinking there’s got to be an answer in here for me. And had I been reading it for an actual solution rather than some magic pill to make all things better I would have likely found an answer; but for the most part it might as well been written in the original language, because I understood nothing! So imagine my surprise when I got saved and the scripture came to life! It is a living Word. I didn’t understand the whole book, but what I read I gleaned so much goodness from I carried it everywhere I went and read it like it was the hottest magazine on the market.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Psalm 119:165 says “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” What once would have sent me seething out the door of a church suddenly had me captivated shouting bring it on! There wasn’t a preacher who could preach long enough or hard enough to me, I thrived on hearing the Word of God and although it might pierce my heart with the truth, Christ was quick to cover it with a balm of gladness as He spoke to my heart “Don’t worry… that sin’s covered too!”

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

As a new convert I watched as friends who had accepted Christ walked away from the church and back out into the world and the world embraced them with a tender hand and then smacked them down to the ground. I waited for them to come back; some did, most didn’t. I praise God that He spoke to me each time and “That’s what the world has for you, stay with Me.” And so I have!

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

I pray I’m a fruit bearer. I pray that no word spoken from my mouth or written by these hands do anything but show you what Christ has done in me, for me and through me. To the unsaved I pray I look so ridiculous that they have to look a little while longer, and in so doing the too discover Christ!