UNDER ATTACK!!!!

     "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat." Luke 22:31
Satan has asked... Yes, asked.

     "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

     In moments of frustration, Satan is fighting hard to steal your joy. In times of trouble, Satan is seeking to destroy your positive attitude. And when there looks to be no end to the misery, Satan is fighting hard to kill your hope.

     Satan has asked to sift you as wheat, not to mention the text above says: all of you. Sift us as wheat; run us through the ringer, drag us through the mud, swing at us in a boxing match... We're in a war. It is a war and it has been cleared by the King of Kings.

     It's not cruel considering God's number one priority is our spiritual development and oneness with Him. This life is temporary. Our troubles are momentary. But while in the midst of them, they're at times overwhelming and consuming.

     Have you ever been under attack in the same way, over and over again? Or have you been under a string of attacks?
     Let me ask you this, how did you react? Did you lose your crap? Scream; yell, shout, throw things, cuss? Or did you just stop in the midst of it, no matter how urgent it seemed and pray instead?

    When you're in school and the teacher gives you a test, there are a series of questions you must fill out to get a passing grade, right? If you don't answer enough of the questions correctly, you're going to fail that test. In combination with all the other failed tests, the end of the year has come and you don't move onto the next grade. You failed to show the teacher that you retained enough information to move onto the next grade. So, next year, you get to go through that same grade all over again.

    How is life any different? How is becoming a well rounded person in Christ any different? Our aim as followers of Jesus Christ is to become more like Him. It's best for us, He set the best possibly example of how a human should conduct themselves here on planet earth. If you don't believe me, read more of His words. He didn't walk around jaded and worn down by the weight of the world. He walked with boldness and certainty. He had a beautiful soul. He loved everyone. He is peace. He is life. That is my aim.

    It hasn't been an easy road being molded to be more like Jesus. I'd be lying if I said it was a walk in the park because it hasn't been. I've cried; I've wept, I've yelled and cussed. But I've also prayed; praised, sang and persevered. My walk hadn't changed one bit until I changed my reaction.

    Yes, I changed my reaction. It is the only thing I have control over in my life- my attitude and how I react. Think about it for a moment, what can you control?
—Nothing.

    When the walls are pressing in and I'm exhausted and just can't do it anymore, I'm changing my reaction. The situation doesn't seem to weighty anymore. It feels more doable. An end appears. I pray. I pray my way through it, as I'm wading through the mud of life. I'm never alone, Jesus is always with me, so why wouldn't I talk to Him. We're going through this together, He is the one who gives me strength.

     Do you have those days where it's just one thing after another? The kids; the coffee maker, the car, the traffic, spilled coffee on your lap, that annoying coworker. Look at your reaction. Don't blame it on the universe being out to get you. This has more to do with you that you realize. And here's a bit to get angry about, Satan is betting against you. Oh he sure is, he wants to see you lose. He wants to see you fall flat on your face so he can come back next week and hit you just as hard for the same stuff. Doesn't that make you angry? He is betting against you and wants you to lose your crap... What are we supposed to do?

    War against him. Change your reaction. He's trying to get your goat, don't let him. Your poor reaction leaves the door cracked open for spiritual attacks.
"In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Ephesians 4:26-27

    When faced with adversity, don't react poorly, you look foolish. You're being laughed at by the enemy and his dark followers. How is your poor reaction any different from that of a 3 year old having a temper tantrum? It isn't. We're adults, we're followers of Christ. Let's seek out godly council, pray and react appropriately.

    Jesus is your strength. Jesus will spur you on and give you whatever is necessary to press on. I know like can really stink sometimes but our ridiculous reaction just makes it worse and secures us a spot for continued attacks. The best encouragement I can find to support this; "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

     An antagonist will eventually give up when they're not getting the reaction they desire from you. Submit yourselves to God! Pray. Trust. Press in. Submit. Resist by not giving in. Say no. Talk to Jesus. Satan will leave you alone. He has to because you closed the door that allowed him in.

    Friends, I know we've all been here. It's part of life. Life wasn't meant to make us happy- although we find happiness while we're here. Life was meant to mold us into the character and nature of Christ. We could have no better role model than He. Praise Him in your trials, press into Him. He defeated death and the devil. We don't know how to navigate through the minefields of life, but He does.

Have a blessed day friends!

My love affair

     When what I had wasn't enough, I reached outside of my limitations. When what I had didn't satisfy me, I chased after what did.

     Chips. Yes, that's right, chips. I've had a love affair with junk food since before I was a teenager. Oh man, I've loved chips for a long time!

    I went vegan almost a year ago now, it was a lifestyle change that I needed for me, for the environment— everything. I don't regret my decision, not even a little bit. It hasn't been a difficult move for me, just keeping the variety is a bit difficult sometimes. Especially during the winter (which is way too long) I'm more of a salad kind of gal and during the winter it doesn't always satisfy. I love my comfort food, like really love it. Before I went vegan nothing satisfied me more than twice baked potato soup with extra bacon. Oh my gosh!

    So, potatoes. They are (in my opinion) a food group all their own. You can do almost anything with them. But for me, on the fly or a quick snack, I loved a handful of potato chips. Or even these other chips I had found - that were vegan but I couldn't stop eating them! But after my stomach feeling like it was on fire every night and gaining a few water weight pounds, I knew it was time to give them up. Ugh, the sodium content... That's what was killing me. I guess I really have to watch that. It lit me up at night, no matter how much water I drank it didn't take away the burn. And it had tremendously slowed down my digestion. So it was time to go.

    This hasn't been easy... I pack chips in my husbands work lunch everyday. There is a small basket on top of the fridge containing all the chips too. I see them all the time. But you know what, this is how I gave up soda too. I had a 12 pack of throwback Pepsi in my house when I gave it up, it was torn open with a few soda's missing. Every time I walked past it, it called to me... Haha. I kept saying no.

    I guess my point in all of this, is that we all struggle with something. And when it's time to give something up, it will just happen. Not by beating ourselves up. Not my shaming or guilting. It will just naturally happen. I know there are other people out there struggling with something greater than a chip addiction. Don't shame them. Don't judge them. Support them. Encourage them.

    I've been there. I used to drink. I wasn't an out of control alcoholic but a textbook alcoholic is defined as someone who has a habit in relation to alcohol. Whether it's the time of day they have it or that they have even one drink a day. It's still considered a habit. Especially if a day isn't missed. That was me. I began reasoning, I'll just drink every other week. And I did. I did just fine with that. But I looked forward to it. Or I'd have a few too many on that week- because I was making up for lost time. I've been freed from alcohol for almost 6 years this coming June. I haven't had a drop and I don't miss it one single bit! It didn't add anything to my life. Just like chips haven't either.

    I know this is kind of a goofy post but I felt like I had to share this one because it's real, it's real to me. This post is very much keeping in step with the publication of: Human, being. In the way that it was a hang up of mine, even though seemingly trivial. But it was a hang up for me.

     In my spirit for going on a year or so now, a prompting to take a proverbial roto-rooter to my life. I've been doing it little by little and un-strategically. I've been handling the things that are brought to my attention by way of the Holy Spirit. One by one these things, whether little or big are left at the wayside. Not by my doing but through a strength only God can give. There are other things, smaller and bigger things but I am confident when their number is called, they will fall to the side as well. My God is bigger than anything I can manage to have a fond attachment to. That, it something I can count on.

    I hope this encourages someone, whether food is an addiction for you or if it's something else. If you have any questions about veganism, just ask. I'm always happy to talk about it. I don't however respond to criticism and ridicule. I choose not to give my time or energy over to those such things.

    Have a blessed day my friends!