Not Listening - Dinner #77

     After church, today, I took a photo of myself beside our van tire. Yep! You read that right! LOL! 

     You see, the devil has been trying to feed me his lies, all week.  “It would be more profitable for you to get a job than to homeschool your children.  You’ll never be able to pay your bills and save enough to be on deputation full-time.  You aren’t going to have enough gas to even make it to the next church meeting.  You’ve sold 1/3 of your furniture for nothing.  Your books are in boxes and your clothes are in suitcases for nothing.  You’ll never make it to Indonesia.  You’re wasting your time.  You’re not cut out for this.  If you DO finally get there, you’ll be too old to learn the language.  Your kids will succumb to every disease known to man.  Your marriage will fall apart.  You’ll fall flat on your face, and end up coming right back to the States.” Whew!  Does he ever want to hit us hard!  The spiritual warfare is REAL, My Friends!

     And when God sends me a sweet little “smile “ from Heaven, I’m going to rejoice in it! Even if it means bending down beside our van tire, and taking a photo.  Because, you know what, My Friends?  The Lord allowed me to discover something, today.  If you pull out your magnifying glass, you’ll see it, too. That tire of ours was “Made in Indonesia”! SMILE!  We are driving around on wheels that were made on the other side of the world, as we seek the prayer and the financial support we need to go there, ourselves! SMILE!  God is good! And He will get us there – for it is He that hath called us!  Psalm 57:2 “I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.”

     The devil wants to battle our minds, and leave us too discouraged to take another step forward. He wants to leave me too fearful and “weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9), to do anything more for God.  How easy it is to believe his lies!  But oh, how grateful I am that we serve a TRUSTWORTHY God! The Bible tells me, that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1:7) That is His promise to me.  The Bible says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”  (Isaiah 41:10)  That is His promise to me. 

     This morning, as we sang the hymn “Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus”, the words reached into my soul:

“'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word

Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord!"

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!”

     When the devil fights us long and hard, God is there.  “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” (Psalm 9:10) “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God . . .” (Psalm 42:5) Satan is nothing but the “Father of Lies” (John 8:44), and by God’s grace, I’m not going to listen to him! I’m going to continue to place my faith and my hope in GOD! “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.  Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:7-8) Please make us strong, Dear God!  Please help us as we continue to “fight the good fight of faith” (I Timothy 6:12)!  Will you please continue praying for us, Dear Brethren In Christ?