Friday, April 3, 2009

He's Not Going to Win!!

Hey Friends-

It's been forever since I've blogged and I have tons of blogs in my brain, but today I just had to sit down and write about the week I've had.

Monday, I asked some friends to pray for me this week. I knew it would be a stressful week and I knew I needed extra prayers. Today I leave for a Mission Project weekend with 95 preteens, my husband has been out of town all week, and I knew I would be under a lot of pressure. Every year, this week is always tough and I have learned to ask for prayer covering before the battle begins!

"When you are important to God, you become important to Satan." I firmly believe this (and if you haven't read the book "Same Kind of Different As Me" I HIGHLY recommend it..this quote is in the book) As soon as those prayers were offered up, the battle began. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried!

Tuesday (the day after I knew that people were fervently praying) I went downtown to one of our minsitry locations to drop off some flyers. When I returned to the car in the middle of a thunderstorm, my car wouldn't start. I am in the middle of downtown in a storm with a three-year-old in the back and a husband out of town. I called AAA, and they came out and checked the car. Not only did I need a jump start, the battery needed replacing. Two hours and $125 later, we pulled away just in time for the bus to arrive home with my other daughters. No other work on the mission trip was able to happen that day.

Wednesday, as I was driving home from picking up S from preschool my car started shifting into overdrive and it felt like I was losing control of the vehicle. I pulled into the car dealership and had them look at the car. After getting S a sprite and bag of M and M's (because everything with her is all about a snack), we sat down to await the verdict. "It's definitely the transmission- could be bad. Why don't you rent a car and we'll keep it a few days, see what's wrong and then you can decide whether or not you want to trade it in." (WHAT??????????) Hubby is still out of town, the bus is coming soon and after-school activities await me. So, after renting a car, transferring all of our "stuff", and putting a $100 deposit plus the cost of the car on my credit card, I again arrive home just in time for the bus to arrive. No other work on the mission trip was able to happen that day either!

Thursday, as I sit in the carpool line waiting to pick up the girls from school to take P to piano, I feel a big bump. The lady behind me in carpool hit my RENTAL car from behind. Are you kidding me???? So we pull to the side after getting our kids and exchange insurance info, etc. WHILE I am out of the car talking to the lady who hit me, S is happily inside coloring with orange crayon all over the seats of the RENTAL car. The plan was to return the car as soon as I dropped P at piano, but instead I spent an hour scrubbing the seats with wet paper towels from a local restaurant bathroom.

I could go on, because there's more. But some of the drama that ensued is not bloggable. Suffice it to say that when you get 95 preteens together you also get 95 phone calls, questions and issues. But that's OK..because God is on His throne.

If you are reading this and you do not believe in spiritual warfare, I encourage you to read what scripture has to say about it. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."- Ephesians 6:12. Satan is real. He is active. He lurks about and he seeks to kill and destroy. If you feel like you are in a spiritual battle and that the more you pray about a situation, the more opposition you feel, then you are more than likely smack dab in the center of God's will. Satan does NOT want God's Word to go forth. He will lie and make us feel defeated every single time. But the condemning voices that we hear in our heads are NOT from God. You know the ones I mean..."you're a bad mother, a bad wife, your life is unorganized and a mess and there is no way you can lead anybody to go anywhere"....and they go on and on. But here's the wonderful TRUTH- "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"- Romans 8:1.

The Bible does not promise this life will be easy. We live in a sinful world. But praise God that He is "able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever."- Ephesians 3:20-21.

My dear friends, service for the Lord is not easy. There will be a zillion roadblocks aong the way. But the blessings this weekend are MINE. God will teach me much more through these precious preteens than I will ever teach them.

So keep praying for us. Satan is NOT going to win!

Even if I did eat two snickers easter eggs and a diet coke for breakfast. I'm just hangin' on however I can!

L

8 comments:

Jaime said...

I will be praying for you, the precious kids and those you will be ministering to. Love you lots!

Sallie said...

WOW! You know the good thing - you know that Christ has already won this battle you are in. I had no idea when I sent the email the other day that this was going on. Oh Lisa - ENJOY THE BLESSINGS! Taste what the Lord is going to do! God is faithful to those that love him! Thank you for sharing this. I know specifically how to pray for you these next few days! LOTS OF LOVE!
Sallie

Just Us Chix said...

So excited about this weekend. I'm wearing my shirt, singing the songs in my head and just can't wait to see what God does through these amazing kids. Satan may think he gets an upper-hand, but no way! This weekend will be incredible, and I'm pumped to be a part of it!
~A

Phh said...

Praise the Lord that Satan will be ultimately defeated! You and all the kids on the mission trip are in my prayers! I can't wait to see God's plan for this trip play out. In fact, I'm confident He is faithfully showing you and those you are ministering with and to His face! "Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy....For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name....So I will ever sing praise to your name, as I perform my vows day after day." Psalm 61:1-3, 5, 8

Jen B. said...

Oh my word...I am just now reading this...it's 8 p.m. on Sunday night and I had NO IDEA any of this was going on...but of course it is!!! Doesn't it always! Satan isn't concerned with turning us in to Satan worshipers; He just wants us to keep our focus off of Christ. It was evident by the amazing Homecoming Concert tonight and all the incredible stories I've just heard from H since she's been home that Christ reigns victorious!!!

Anonymous said...

I just read this...actually already heard the story, but it's a good read too! Needing to be reminded that carpet is just carpet no matter if it was just installed on Tuesday and now has a bleach stain and it's Friday!!!! Satan isn't going to win this one, sister!

Love you,
Marty

Sherry said...

OOOHHH! I love you so good, you just spoke all kind of truth over me, momma mentor. I love you.

Andrea said...

Realizing I'm a few months after-the-fact...I REALLY needed to read this today! Not that I want you to live like I live (Lord knows I wouldn't wish that on someone else!), but it's nice to know I'm not the only one out here fighting this fight. Crazy Devil. What is he thinking? He needs to go on home with his big bad self!