Blessed be the Lord

 

A faithful fortress - My loving Father

Teaching me His ways.

A soul known for it's peace.

For that is the true mark of a warrior.

 

Zephaniah 3...

 

 

 

 

"...Your God is present among you,
    a strong Warrior there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love
    and delight you with his songs...

   You’ve carried those burdens long enough.
...I’ll get rid of all those who’ve made your life miserable."

 

 

Hold it...

I have this image in my head of that scene in Braveheart where Mel Gibson tells them to hold the line...hold it... hold it...

Which is funny cause I have never even seen the movie, but I feel their anticipation, I feel every single nerve in my body trying to hold me back, trying desperately not to leap forward and fight! Trying not to yell at the top of my lungs and catapult forward in a moment of intense readiness!

In my head a contradiction unfolds that will hopefully settle into the ultimate reality.

A warrior doesn't stand in the absence of fear ready to draw the sword in full protection of the armor.

A warrior doesn't glide on the surety of victory into a new day of peace.

 

A warrior is the one that stands up before an invincible army, against staggering odds, in the blistering sun when all is set and done... Ready to fight the fight. 

Esther

God, you have already slain the dragon. Forced the serpent to crawl around on his tummy. And although you are ever-loving, ever-patient and ever-merciful - you do not tolerate acts of the dragon against your children. You empower your own with the Holy Ghost and you bring victory - even before your return - which will bring the Ultimate Victory.

 

Your words in Esther proclaims:

 

“By these the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together,

and to defend their lives,

to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish,

all the forces of the people and province that would assault them,

their little ones and women,

and to take their possessions for a spoil…”

 

Psalm 109

I read through Psalms 107 and 109 and must admit that I found it comforting to hear David's plea for total destruction of his enemies in 109.

 

I struggle not to yell out loud: "Amen!!!"

 

But I find peace next to you. Knowing that you are love personified. That you are giving them time to turn to you. And I prayed for that myself.

 

I cannot predict the future.

Yet I stand here -

because as much as you are loving and kind -

you are just.

And these actions do not pass you by.

You hear your child.

And I hear you roar...

 

Rest

Genesis 15

"Don't be afraid....

I'm your shield.

Your reward will be grand!"

 

But Abram's words after this is what reminds me that we are all just human. Even Abram questioned God's words after receiving such a powerful promise from God. So like the father in Mark I beg: "God I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief."

 



Be still and know...

As this song came back from a moment's past -
it reminds me of The Greatest Love of all, in charge of everything.
I only need to be still and know...

My life is blessed in the palm of His Hand.

I Trust You My God

 

God, some days I cannot see this warrior that you are busy creating.

I only remember the flinching girl too afraid to speak up.

But I love you and your vision.

I love what you have started.

The passion is for sure within my soul.

 

God, I pray that in this fight your promise in Isaiah 54 verse 17 will reign on high.

I stand on your promise.

I stand in your name.

In victory.

Amidst the fight: a plea

I started writing this blog after my first major test. Since then I had to face 2 other major tests. The former of which I am ashamed to say had me on anti-depressants for 6 months. My faith was like the tides. Some days strong, some days I was barely moving. And now - we are in month 6. And test #4 is well on it's way. Bigger than any one before. Part of me gets angry and relies on:
 

 

2 Tim 4: 1

"I solemnly charge you in the presence of God

and of Christ Jesus,

who is to judge the living and the dead,

and by His appearing and His kingdom."

 

But I know that God is trying, begging these people to also do what is right. This is God's cause. His fight and his victory. I am honoured to be standing with Him on this battlefield. That He uses me and that I have His word of "peace in the land of my enemies".

 

So I will be still within my faith.

 

My Father, I beg of you to restore me.

To renew me.

And to give to me Your Peace.

Do not allow them to steel from your child.

1 Samuel 17 verse 45 - 47

David answered: 

“You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax.

I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies...

 

 

...the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there’s an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn’t save by means of sword or spear.

The battle belongs to God

- he’s handing you to us on a platter!”

 

 

Isaiah 35 v 3-4

 

 

 

 

 

"Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

he will come with vengeance;

with divine retribution he will come to save you."

 

 

Zechariah 9 & 10

...I'll release you prisoners from their hopeless cells.

Come home, hope-filled prisoners!

This very day I'm declaring a double bonus -

everything you lost returned twice-over!"

 

"God-of-the-Angel-Armies will step in

and take care of his flock...

He'll revive their spirits,

make them proud to be on God's side."

 

"I know their pain and will make them good as new.

They'll get a fresh start, as if nothing had ever happened.

And why? Because I am their very own God,

I'll do what needs to be done for them." 

Sometimes, like during this test, I am that prisoner in a hopeless cell made up of natural laws, injustice and worldly bias. And then your spirit leads me to your eternal words. That, as if you needed to "prove" to us why we should be on your side, you make us proud to be with you! What a merciful Father you are... You know how small our faith can be and yet - it's one of our ways to please you. Our faith in you - in your goodness. You are the archetype for goodness, truth, trust and yes, vengeance...

You call us your nation. You are our "very own God" and in your wisdom and grace - you do what needs to be done for us...

Thank you Father.

I rest in your words. I rest in you.

 

 

 

 

Habakkuk 3

"Though the cherry trees don’t blossom
    and the strawberries don’t ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten
    and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless
    and the cattle barns empty,
I’m singing joyful praise to God.
    I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God’s Rule to prevail,
    I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
    I feel like I’m king of the mountain!"