Battle Cry!

"... For the battle is not yours, but God's. 2 Chronicles 20:15

Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

Sound the battle cry!

Rachel stepped out into the warm sunlight, letting it wash across her face bringing a smile along with it. Hummm...the marketplace...the sights and sounds, colors, smells. Oh, how she loved the marketplace. The people, the food, the culture...the provision it provided her family. It brought such pleasure to her soul to be able to buy and prepare things for her family. She found herself humming a song as she walked along the way.

She entered the marketplace full of excitement, but, strangely, all was quiet She was not greeted with music, laughter, and smiles as always before. Puzzled, she searched for familiar faces and friends. When she found them, their normal exuberance had been replaced by somber, worried expressions.

Hurrying to her favorite vendor, Maria, she asked what was wrong.

"A battle," was all she said, a downcast look spread across her face.

"What? Tell me more, please!" Rachel exclaimed.

"I wish I knew more. All I do know is that we all must bring our families tonight to the square to listen to King Jehoshaphat. He has a plan for all of us. He "wants us to stand before the LORD."

The day had begun with anticipation, but was now filled with dread, fear, and anxiety. "How can this be? Not another battle. How will we get through it? What will we do?"

Just as Rachel learned of the impending battle...we often times find ourselves entering into a battle zone. Not against an army of invaders, but a battle against spiritual forces---whether its a battle of illness or finances, loss of a job, a relationship, or even difficulties in marriage and parenting.

Whatever the battle, we must prepare just as King Jehoshaphat did.

Here's his battle plan (taken 2 Chronicles Chapter 20):

Step 1: Acknowledge who God is (Verse 6). "God of heaven."

Step 2: Remember God's past faithfulness in your life. (Verses 7-9). Take a minute and make a list of what He has done in your life. Oh, how faithful He is!

Step 3: Cry out for His help...pour out your heart about what is going to take place in your life. Even take a minute to pray for the unknown. (Verse 9).

Step 4: Keep your eyes on God---not on your battle (ground level). Instead, raise up your eyes to the Lord (heavenly). Oh, and don't forget to include all your family in the battle plan. A battle touches everyone involved! Do not feel like you are the only one and isolated. Get battle

support!

Step 5: KNOW, BELIEVE, AND BE NOT AFRAID..."for the battle is not yours, but God's." (Verse 15). Trust Him for His help.

Step 6: Make a plan, seeking the Lord's direction, discernment of the Holy Spirit, scripture, and wise counsel of others. (Verse 14-25).

Step 7: Worship, praising God through song, of who He is, His attributes, and that HE IS GOD and yes, even thanking Him for this battle. (Verses 18, 21).

Step 8: Declare Victory!! (Verses 26-30).

No one is exempt from battles, trials, or conflicts, but let us be on the offensive, knowing God and His banner of love goes before us in battle. The victory is ours because of Jesus Christ!

What blessed assurance and peace is ours through our Heavenly Father!

He Cares

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you" 1 Peter 5:7

As we visit today, I am praying that you would have some quiet moments visualizing yourself at the feet of Jesus, allowing Him to encourage and press into your heart---He cares for you.

"...he careth for you..." This wonderful, profound yet simple truth was etched into my heart on December 24, 2009. My Christmas Eve adventure was both a little stressful and little humorous. It involved me, the Lord, and yes, snow. My adventure is best shared moment-to-moment.

Timeline: 12/24/09

11:00 am...Left my parents home in Sherman, Tx. traveling by car to Amarillo in what is normally an 6-hour drive. Threw in my car last minute...2 water bottles, chopped pecans, a hand towel, a solo cup, and package of dog food(no, not for me, for my dog, Huntie). It was a crazy array of items but would become my survival tools for later events.

1:00 pm... Snow falling hard, but roads are drivable at a much slower speed. No problem, snow predicts to be more north than the way I am headed. Keeping in touch with family so they know what is going on. Stop several times to clear off windshield from snow and ice. Hand towel coming in handy. All is good.

2:00... Decide to stop and fill up with gas outside of Wichita Falls to be on the safe side. Notice several cars are stuck in the snow and ice. "Lord, just get me to Amarillo for Christmas Eve. Even if it is midnight, want to be there with them." Slowly merge back on the highway.

2:30... Come to complete stop as cars are in one lane due to build up of snow and ice. No moving whatsoever. "Come on. Let's go." Stopped dead still, no chance of going anywhere. Cars trying to turn around and finding themselves stuck in the snow and not able to go forward or backward.

4:00... Tears shed as I realize I won't be arriving in Amarillo and trying to reassure my daughters I am safe and will be okay. As I click "End" on my cell phone, crying out to the Lord to take care of me and comfort me as I realize that I am stranded on the highway in the middle of a winter snowstorm. I get out of the car to scrape off the ice and snow and the only tool I have is my Chick-fil-a gift card. Oh, me. I have to laugh! This is crazy. I walk to the car in front of me and ask if they have an ice scraper I can borrow...I will return it. They do.

5:00... Feed Huntie in the car. The close quarters with dog food is a little too strong. Storm passes over. Watch the sun come out. Move 10 feet. Watch the sun go down.

7:00... Watch the moon appear. Realize I won't be making Amarillo by morning.

8:00... Christmas Eve supper---chopped pecans and water. Are you kidding? Many conversations with my daughters. They hate that I am having that for supper. I am thankful for my supper. Asking the Lord to help me be brave and endure.

10:00... Things to be thankful for: food and water, yogurt gummy bears, dog food, great CD about the Lord being my Shepherd. Heater, full tank of gas, my heavy coat, and the solo cup for my personal pit stop. Got to keep a sense of humor. Realizing the sweet presence of the Lord.

12:00 am... Still not moving... will be sleeping in the car. Sleep comes in 10 minute intervals because I keep waking to see if we are moving, silly thought.

3:00... We are able to begin to move slowly down the snow lined highway. Call a dear friend of Amy's, who has kept in touch with me throughout the ordeal, who is in Wichita Falls for Christmas. The husband finds me and I follow him to their home to find hugs, tears, thankfulness, and a warm bed.

Christmas Day finds me with a family I know, but not all the relatives, yet they welcomed me and expressed how they had prayed for me. Enjoyed a Christmas brunch with them then got in my car to try to make it to Amarillo. "Operation - Rescue Beege" is the theme Amy and her family adopt to meet me half-way between Wichita Falls and Amarillo. Thankfully, Operation-Rescue Beege is a success! Wanting to take some stress off me, Matt drives my car the rest of the way to Amarillo and I relax in their car with Amy and the children. Yes! What a relief!

Through my being stranded on the highway for 12 hours, I experienced God's providential care for me! The last items I threw in the car. My filling up with gas before being stranded. Knowing different people praying for my safety. The awareness of God's sweet, sweet peace and enveloping me in His presence. Thanking Him for the situation and finding the humor in snow that He used once again to develop an even deeper trust in Him and His plans for me.

What is it that you might be walking through right now? Stop and realize...He cares for you. You...He cares for you, down to the last little detail. A simply, yet so powerful truth. Take the time to allow God to teach you through the circumstance, provide what you need, and trust Him the more.

What a loving Father we have. Let Him give to you His peace and an awareness of His presence.

Change of Plans

"We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." Prov. 16:9(NLT)

Dropping by today...just a quick cup and visit.

"Coffee pot unplugged...check. Lights off...check. Doors locked...check. Ready to leave. Absolutely! Destination...Lexington, KY. Purpose: grandmother's 100th birthday celebration."

Such anticipation! My plan is set. I am flying to Dallas to make a connecting flight with my sister, brother and his wife. I'm so looking forward to the time to visit with my sister on the flight, having tucked away in my heart things to talk about and share with her. I can hardly wait.

I look at the window. Humm...snow flurries. But, hey, I live in Houston how bad can it get, right? As I approach the airport, the small flurries have turned to heavy snowflakes. It's literally a "whiteout." I quickly observe that there is still a lot of activity going on...no problem with snow, I live in Houston. Must be a go!

Make it through security, check the monitors, and arrive at my appointed gate of departure. Chaos! Sooo crowded and then I hear the words, CANCELLED, ALL FLIGHTS CANCELLED. I make my way to the service counter, trying to keep a smile on my face, asking sweetly, "So, what flight can I get on to get to Dallas? The weather is great there, I hear."

"No flights. Do you want to make a future flight or get a refund?"

"Uh, you don't understand. My grandmother is turning 100 years old. I need to get there. This only happens once in a lifetime. I can't miss this." I'm fighting back the tears.

"Sorry. Refund?"

As I make my way back to my car, trying to see through my tears, I can't believe this is happening. Snow! Flight cancelled. Are you kidding? She is going to be 100. "Lord, You know I have been planning this for months."

Driving home, my tears have turned to sobs and have been pouring out my heart to my daughters, feeling disappointment like I have not felt in a long, long time. It's so bad that I can't even appreciate the beauty of the snow.

"Lord, she is turning 100!" I find myself saying again. "I wanted to be there, to hug her, to love on her, to see family I have not seen in decades. Why can't I go. Snow...it has only snowed in Houston 4 times in 15 years and it picks today? Lord, I don't understand." Even in the midst of all my talking, sobbing, and complaining, I heard the sweet voice of my Father, "I love you."

It was at that time---even before I got home---that I had to walk through a process...I could choose to be obedient or put it off and have to do it later. I thanked the Father for the circumstance, acknowledged He knows best, and began to praise Him for His care over me. Did I understand why I couldn't go? No. Did I try to figure it out why I had to stay? No. I simply realized that the snow was the only thing that would keep me from going, but I had to be content and trust my Father in HIS plans.

What about you? Have you had any plans fall through at the last minute? What has your response been? Oh, to be truthful...it is only because of my growing in the Lord, that I did not throw a fit, get angry, and take it out on everyone else. We have a Father who loves us so much and brings about the best for us. Let's trust Him to believe that and learn to be flexible, thankful, and proceed with a heart of praise to Him. Is that always easy? No. But is it rewarding? Yes.

I still think about not going to the party, but I have to trust my Father according to His will and His plan. May we find ourselves walking along side our Father. He loves you the most!