Maybe Someone's trying to tell me something

This past week, in our study of Revelation 12 for BSF, we took a look at the character of Satan.   We looked at the Bible's first mention of him at the Fall in Genesis 3, how Jesus referred to him as a murderer and a liar from the beginning, and how he preys on the church (Revelation 12 and 1 Peter 5:8). 

Be sober-minded; be watchful.

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion,

seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8 esv

After the class discussion, our lecturer paused to remind us of the same verse.


Later in the afternoon, I was at work, and for some strange reason I had no clients.  (It really is strange, because most people have their W2 forms now and it's peak.  I had two clients waiting for me when I got to work, but after they were taken care of, I had nothing the rest of the day.)  I don't mind; in fact, I kind of treasure these times because it gives me opportunity to study the Word in some fashion, so I went and bought some new swanky ear buds and plugged into our church's website, and listened to a sermon from nearly a year ago.


Believe me, there is nothing like listening to a sermon while you're in the middle of WalMart.  True.


I had missed the sermon, and because I'm anal, the hole it left in my book of notes really bothers me, so I went back to last April and listened to Pastor Aaron's sermon on the providence of God as it related to Paul when a large group of people banded together and took an oath to see him assassinated.


And do you know what Pastor Aaron told me, 9 months ago but yesterday, in my ears, in the middle of WalMart?  He said:  We also have an enemy seeking to devour us.  He prowls around like a lion seeking someone to devour.  We are in the midst of an intense spiritual battle.  We must not let down our guard.


When things like that happen, my heart does a little dance.  I feel like God is affirming His message to me when I hear it more than once in different ways.  And in this case ~ this message even sort of transcended time to affirm it!.


Isn't that kind of crazy?


Doesn't it kind of rock that we have such a cool God?


But wait, there's more!


Of course I shared this with Robert yesterday, and the first thing he showed me this morning was something that came up on his Facebook or phone or feed or whatever, an article by Tim Challies about the very same subject.


I just love the way God works like that.  It reminds me how personally involved He is in our lives.  As awesome as that is, however, I need to be careful to not miss the message:  Watch out!


Wake up.  Pay attention.  We DO have an enemy and he HATES us.  Think about that.  He isn't just the enemy of Jesus - he hates you, too.  And he stalks us and he seeks to devour us, to eat us up, just as he sought to devour the Christ child at His birth in Revelation 12.


I think it's important to note that while we don't need to fear the enemy (for God is more powerful and the ultimate battle has been won), we should not underestimate him, either.   One thing Pastor Aaron also said in that message is that predators look for prey that is isolated and away from community.  Being in biblical community is one important way to avoid falling victim to Satan's schemes. 


Jesus told the disciples to watch and pray, so that they would not fall into temptation.  We need to wake up, people.  In the same way my Ro is constantly reminding his family to be aware of our surroundings and get our heads out of the distractions that can cause us to be victims, we need to be spiritually vigilant as well.


Because your adversary the devil is seeking someone to devour. 

I'm sad today.

Heavy-hearted.  Hurting.

(I know Jesus is in control of all of it.  I know He has me and the people involved in His hands.  I know He brings comfort.  But sometimes life - and death - is just hard.)

I have a close friend who is with her father, sitting beside him and waiting, just as I waited next to my grandfather's bedside, for him to pass, five years ago today, for what it's worth.

- - - Wait - she just texted - maybe he'll pull through! - - -

I found out yesterday that two boys Grace used to study taekwondo with have both lost their fathers.  These are boys around Grace's age - now boys to be raised without fathers.

And they weren't just tragic freak accidents, not that that makes it any less hard.  One was by suicide, just a few days ago.  The other was involved in a shooting a few weeks ago.  My heart just hurts for these families.

And though I didn't know him personally, my heart hurts for the family of little Noah in Tennessee.  He'd been missing about a week ~ no foul play, just simply toddler energy and playfulness.  That sweet face... I've been praying for him.

I'm literally teared up sitting in my little work kiosk inside a WalMart right now.  My heart just hurts for these people and longs to hug on the ones I love.  We just take so much for granted!  We are impatient.  We miss opportunities.  We are lazy and self-focused.  We are always in such busy seasons - we wave good-bye and rush out the door - and who knows?  Who.  Knows.

Who knows.

God has been good

I am beyond joyful at the news of the release of my brother, Saeed, from prison.  Thousands of prayers on his behalf, maybe more... more than three years have passed... and the Lord has secured his freedom.

What else to say?  That is enough.

But still.

The kids are doing well.  Grace has made it in the top 14 spellers in her school and will represent at the district spelling bee in a few weeks. 

The husband is doing well.  He walked miles and miles and miles yesterday during a hunting trip and got his first pheasant.

And I am doing well.  Today my glucose was under target for the first time in... who knows how long?  You may recall this is a major goal for me.  I still have far to go ~ consistency in hitting those targets primarily ~ and learning how to eat in a way that my body processes its sugars correctly.

More important than the physical results, perhaps, is the change in heart and mindset I am seeing.  Please pray that I don't return to the slavery of Egypt, for I am so much of the Israelite mindset one could think I'm full-on Hebrew. 

I am walking with a friend through a difficult time in her life.  It is so hard to see people you love hurt so badly, but God still has been good through the midst of it and will see them all through it.

Just wanted to take a moment to update you and recall how loving and giving our amazing Father is.

:) Beth

Now it's $1.5 billion

I can't even comprehend that kind of money.

But in thinking about it a little bit, I would like to add to the previous list.

• Grace would like to go to Harry Potter World.  And, she said, if we win the Powerball, maybe she could even buy a wand.

And...

• I would like to buy a radio station that would play someone, preferably live, reading Scripture and nothing but Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, over and over, 24/7.  Isaiah 55:11 says that God's Word does not return void.  Wouldn't that be kind of cool?

Until then...

Powerball's up to $800 million

(Cash value only $496 million.) 

Shall we dream? 

• $200 million to Uncle Sam, I'm sure
• $10 million to my local church
• $50 million to other ministries, especially those who help the persecuted church
• $10 million to my mom, dad, sister, and sister-in-law
• $5 million to my bestest of friends (that's a short list and I'm not saying who)
• $200k to put my kids through college
• $250k - $1 million to put other loved ones through college / pay off student loans
• $1 million to travel the world with my love
• $250k - $500k to pay off our own debt, including mortgage, and buy a 2nd home somewhere
• $whatever it takes to adopt a child or two in need
• Heck, let's give $2 million to whoever reads and comments on this blog post in the next week!

Sheesh, that is less than half of the cash value.  I can't even imagine how I would begin to spend the rest.  I think it would be amazing to just bless people's socks off, people who have no expectation or other means... to walk down the street and hand a homeless vet $5000 to help him get back on his feet, or to pay someone's car repair bill or another's medical bills... to just browse the GoFundMe site for someone who strikes me and anonymously donate whatever they need...to not worry about how my own bills will be paid... I can only imagine.  But now, back to reality.

But first ~ where do I go buy a ticket?!

Here we go, yo...

2016 is back upon us.

Mom and Deb are back in California.  Have been, in fact, for nearly a week.

Robert and I are back to work. 

The younger kids return to school tomorrow.  Joshua resumed his ukulele lessons today and finished his driver's education instruction.  (Next step:  DMV for test to obtain his permit.)  Grace has been studying all Christmas break for a spelling bee when she returns to school tomorrow.  She has mastered all the words through 5th grade, and probably 90% of the words for 6th grade, most of the words for 7th grade, and about half the words for 8th grade.  We are really proud of her.

The oldest kid has been working and pursuing taekwondo, earning her yellow belt over the Christmas break.  She has yet to land on a plan for her future, but has been thinking about things.  Prayers are appreciated for wisdom and direction.

I make resolutions.  I know most people poo-poo it but I think it is good and healthy to assess your life here and there (I usually do at the beginning of the calendar year and the beginning of the school year as well) and make goals.  Sure, I fail a lot, but is that any reason NOT to strive for better?

So I have two floating around in my mind, not counting the spiritual goal of working on application as I mentioned in my last post.

First, I want to read more, and specifically, more Agatha.  I've long wanted to read all her published works in order, and I've yet to do it.  She has published more than 80 novels, so it is highly doubtful I can cover all that in a year, but I'm going to shoot for about half in 2016.  In addition, I'm reviving my Dear Agatha blog to help me stay on track.  (The linky is on the right of this page.)

Probably more importantly, I have a health goal, the first real one I've made in years.  Sure, every January, most "fluffy" people think in their heads that they'd like to lose weight, but this one is serious.  Weight loss may or may not follow ~ but the real goal is to get my blood glucose figures into target range.  They have not been where they are supposed to be for a long time.  I had a little bit of a "wake up call" discussion with my doctor last month.  It's time to do something.  Seriously.  So I've been working on baby steps with that for about a month now.  My numbers are improving, but I still have quite a ways to go.

You, faithful readers, are granted permission to keep me accountable.  :)  For both goals!  A healthy mind - one stimulated even by fiction writing, much more valuable than Facebook reading - is as important to me as a healthy body.

What about you?  Any goals for 2016?