Monday Morning Fight

Often times when I need a bit of encouragement I enjoy reading through the book or sermon notes that I have recorded. Printed words have always had a great impact on me. As much as possible I try to take notes or write lengthy blog posts about God's word in my life. It becomes a map of the way that God has been shaping me and leading me, as well as a reference to go back to the truths that have impacted me. It gives me a way to process and ponder something that so often is heard or read, then nearly immediately forgotten because of all the other demands of life.
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When I had nearly a whole week to myself in a hotel room while Rob was at the World Dairy Expo in September I had read a book of Alexis' called Battle Cry for my Generation, by Ron Luce. The book was as powerful the second time around as it was the first time I read it. It is mainly directed at a teenage audience and is a wake up call to what shapes the minds and decisions of this generation. It is a battle cry to the Christian teen to wake up and look around at what is happening right in their midst. It reveals the subtle yet immense power of media in our lives, and especially the lives of young people as they grow up with the messages always being heard and seen on TV, movies, radio, and magazines, not to mention the Internet.
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As conservative as we are in our home with these outside sources I realize just how much the scales are still off when we balance the influence of scripture verses computer and movie time. Think of it... how many days a week do you sit down with your children (or by yourself) and read the Bible for 1 1/2 hours straight, the duration of a normal movie? Ron Luce states in his book that "When we exalt someone, we allow them to influence us and give them authority in our lives." So when we see Ariel swimming around for the umpteenth time in nothing but a bikini top, then she trades her whole species for the promise of a ring, what does that say to my girls? When the radio blares "You've got me and Jesus!", what kind of theology does that teach my children? Or when they hear again that Little Foot lived with his fellow dinosaurs millions of years ago, how does that shape their beliefs on creation and evolution?
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The subtleness is, well, so subtle. "Satan is not able to force you to sin, instead he goes to work on your mind, introducing tiny deceptions, one at a time. Then, little by little, when he has enough influence in your life, you begin following through on temptation. He is successful because he has been invited to do it. Media, TV, Internet, video games, and movies have provided him with more than enough means to dupe us a little at a time." "You may be surprised to find that you have become desensitized to what's out there- just because it is so common."
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While reading the Bible do you try to justify your life by it, or do you let it be God's measuring rod, taking it at face value for what it really says? It is His word. Unbelievable effort has been taken in translation to keep it true to what was originally written by inspired men of God. Countless tests have been run to test it's authenticity and accuracy. It is the heart of man that has insisted on changing it's meaning.
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After pointing out the enemy and his tactics, Ron Luce calls us to decide how we are going to fight this battle that is waging right outside our doors. The battle that longs to consume our children and our very souls, all for the exchange of a few trifling moments of pleasure. He says "It's time to wake up and realize there is a war going on for your generation. Your enemy is not playing games. It's time for us to take a stand and fight back." Do you believe that? That there is a war going on? Do you feel the pull? Do you see the battles? Do you see how easy it is to be sucked into this culture and it's beliefs, rather than draw near to God? It is very subtle, and we are experts at masquerading a Sunday Smile and justifying our very own sins and complacency. "If we have that attitude we will lose out and pay the price for our inactivity. You have a lot more influence than you know. It's time for us to take a stand and fight back. While the enemy hates us with every fiber of his being, he is not so strong, nor the battle so large, for us to be defeated. We have the living God on our side~ If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31"
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"The question is, what will you do? Are you ready for a fight?" He encourages us to know our enemy, and even more to know ourselves. The fight within us, Christian brother and sister, will not end until death. Even though we are saved, the battle for sin still rages right within our very own soul. The sin of the devil, pride, is so deep and so subtle that we easily overlook it in our own lives. Our first desire is not to glorify God ultimately but to make ME happy. Praise the Lord, we do have the Holy Spirit to guide us on that walk, but it is a practiced art to allow him to guide us. "If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle. What are my weak points? Do I see the enemies attacks coming? 2 Corinthians 11:14 Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. We become easy prey because we voluntarily let Lucifer into our minds. After seeing and listening to so much bad stuff... what's right and what's wrong start to become a little hazy. 83% of this generation believes that truth is relative to the situation!" Those are our children lumped into that percentage mark, unless we choose to fight. "Almost like a herd of cattle, so many just fall in line and allow themselves to be led into the fuzzy world of moral relativism. The devil's offers look freeing, but they always lead to bondage." God wasn't kidding when He wrote the Bible, my friends.
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"It is time to wake up and stop playing into the devil's hands by pretending everything's okay. Col 3:2 Set your hearts on the things above rather than earthly things. Romans 12:9 Love what is pure, hate what is evil, cling to what is good. And let's stop telling ourselves that we are not being affected. You must wake up and fight. God never creates someone with a small destiny. To finish we need: devotion [to the word], defiance [to sin], courage [to live it], and endurance [to finish the race]. Where is God calling [you] to live more courageously? If it is in God's word, we need to uphold His code."
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And, more encouraging words from my notebook by Todd Friel, "People are sick of silly, they want serious, holy, deep." In the direction that everything is headed people are seeing that these lies of peace, joy, happiness, and comfort are crumbling right before their eyes. There has to be something more; there is something more, and it's found in God. And... "If you question whether something in scripture applies to you~ if it is wrote in scripture, it applies to you.
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So what does all that look like in practice? In my life it has encouraged me to go deeper in the word, both myself and with my children. To memorize that word, uphold it against all else, teach it where possible, live it as best I can. Another area in my life that I am trying to develop is regular, purposeful prayer for my husband and children, as well as myself. I long to see God's hand work to grow them deep in the word, to have a desire to obey that word, to love their God, purity, future spouses, opportunities for growth, for Godly teachers who will encourage them. In my own life that God would change the areas of my heart that are not yet submitted to Him, to know His word more, and to love it, that I would be quick to obey, to be joyful, to constantly seek the Lord, to be so passionately in love with Jesus that it is contagious. I have to admit, it has brought both condemnation and joy as we hold unswervingly to His word.
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Again, in the words of Ron Luce "There will be times when you may have to endure personal turmoil while God is changing you. You will have to endure the attacks of the enemy as he becomes more and more irritated with you and the damage you are doing to his shrinking kingdom." In the end, I want to stand before my savior and hear Him say "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Coffee and a Bible

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. ~ 3 John :4

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And like RedGateFarm just recently posted, children don't just happen to start walking in the truth all on their own ~ they follow their example and respond to the teaching of dedicated parents. Although I am far from perfect, or even close to fully resembling Christ, I always find it great joy when God allows the kids to witness nearly every morning my quiet time with a cup of coffee and a Bible. Our primary relationship with Christ is through the word. To walk in the truth we have to know the truth. My prayer and my goal is that I, too, would have no greater joy as I hear that my children are walking in the truth. For there is no greater joy than walking in the truth with your Savior.

More Minor Prophets

The Lord will care for them; the Lord will be awesome to them; the Lord is righteous; the Lord is mighty to save; the Lord has taken away your punishment; the Lord is with you.
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The Lord will punish those who are complacent; the Lord will bring great distress on the people; the cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter; the Lord will sweep away everything from the face of the earth; in the fire of the Lord's jealousy the whole world will be consumed; the great day of the Lord is near~ near and coming quickly. ~ The Prophet Zephaniah
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Happy Monday Morning! The coffee's strong and the Lord is good! Whew! I have to say, working my way through the minor prophets has been challenging. It is hard to wake up every morning knowing that, again, I have to see myself in the very same place as many of the nations that these prophets warned. She obeys no one, she accepts no correction, she does not trust in the Lord, she does not draw near to her God (Zephaniah 3:2). In the depths of my soul that is still me.
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How many times do I cringe at obedience, even (especially?) to the word; how many times do I refuse to accept correction (from my husband, pastor, loved ones); how many times do I whine, worry, and complain rather than just trusting God for even the small things (like toilet paper, let alone my salvation); how many times do I let the world (the internet) consume me rather than drawing near to my God?
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My immediate justification is to only focus on God's goodness to me. Yes, yes, yes, I know, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, but I do not want to forget who I am, lest I leave a legacy of apathy to my children. This great salvation of God came to even me. Throughout all the ages He has required His children to walk in His ways. He has given us numerous prophets and warnings, and yet we stray. Like the Israelites in Exodus we claim "Just tell us what to do God, and we will obey!". Yet, at the first test, we fail Him. In the easy things, we fail Him. It's not about saving the world, signing up for every project at church, or following the law to a T. God requires that we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. Proclaiming his statutes by our lives and obedience.
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Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows [the Lord].