We have gone from Influenza virus for two weeks , straight into a cold and before that cold left us a stomach virus has hit the children. Poor baby Noah has been sick with something for a month now! He has had all 3 illnesses hit him hard. He started vomiting yesterday and last night Ashton started. Micah is better and this weekend he is performing the show and we have two shows a day. It has been so nutty and fast paced around hear and I detest fast paced! I like slow and steady not hurried and hectic!
Not to mention my attitude lately, with all this sickness, mess and loss of sleep I have been (my spirit) so far from a place of peace and rest. I can feel the struggle brewing within me and it is not pretty! Today Troy could feel it too and he held me and prayed with me for a good while and I felt so much better.
I recently read a note from a sweet, dear member over at The Lounge and she wrote "Say a little prayer tonight for the people who started and keep this website up. They are a busy homeschooling family just like we all are but they try to find the time to keep it all running. I'm sure Satan has tried to make them weary and attacked them. Because they have created a great place for us to Praise the Lord!!!"
Not until I read her post were my eyes opened to what has been going on in my life and in circumstances around us. We have been blessed abundantly since starting THL in so many ways, and yet Satan has fought us from the beginning of this venture and continues to do so today. He fights through the site, he fights through sickness, he fights us spiritually and he tries to attack and paralyze us but he cant, PTL!
So comes the question...Is Satan real? Is he alive? So many in this world go about their day as if he does not even exist...
Not only is he real but he works overtime 24/7 to destroy us, especially those of us that are followers of Christ! Satan cant stand the fact that he has lost our souls and the thought of losing our children is almost more then he can bear! So he fights on, he battles, for Satan it is WAR!
Jesus warns us about Satan.... "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy(John 10:10) Sounds like a war to me...
I truly believe this is the reason the Lord tells us to pray without ceasing, praying keeps our mind on the Lord so that when the enemy does come and attack, we are well prepared and armed to resist him (so that he will flee) ... "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)
I found the below reference from an article I saved a long time ago...
The moment a person is saved through faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross, the Devil begins to frustrate God's plan for that individual's life. He is the subtle foe of every believer. The Bible teaches that the Devil quotes scripture (Matt.4:6); he transforms himself into an angel of light (2 Cor.11:14); afflicts the body (2 Cor.12:7); causes weakness that paralyses Christian activity (1 Cor.5:5); snatches away the seed of God's Word (Mark 4:15); sows harmful tares (Matt.13:38,39); brings impure thoughts (1 Cor.7:5); tempts us through pride (1 Tim.3:6); uses outward circumstances to hinder (1 Thess.2:18); causes evil men to pervert the Gospel of Christ (Acts 13:10); seduces some from Christ by pleasure (1 Tim.5:11,15); seeks to intimidate others by persecution (Rev.2:10); sifts some quickly, like Peter (Luke 22:31); oppresses some for long periods, like the bent woman with the spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:16); buffeted Paul (2 Cor.12:7); made shipwreck of Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim.1:19,20); tempted Ananias to lie and Saphhira to hypocrisy (Acts 5:3); made one apostate - Judas (John 13:27) and he shall have other followers in these last times: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Tim.4:1).
Not only should we thus recognize the work of the Devil, but we must also know our place in relationship to him. The Bible warns us that he is as a roaring lion (1 Pet.5:8). We are commanded to resist him as the tempter to pride (James 4:7). We are forbidden to hold any discussion with him as the provoker to wrath (Eph.4:27). We are instructed to fight with truth the one who is the foe to righteousness(Eph.6:14). We are promised that the Evil One shall not touch us (1 John 5:18). Praise his Holy Name!!!
So what can we do to resist and defeat the Devil???
"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the WILES OF THE DEVIL. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:11,12).
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8)
It is so very important that we draw close to the Lord in times of upheaval, so we can be nourished and sustained by him. That we may stand strong, bold and unwaivering in times of uncertainty, confusion, distress or when being attacked by the enemy!
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:4-6).
In very simple terms, "God has our back"  in even the smallest of things, I say small because half of what takes my peace is relatively small. I do not have brain cancer, my boys are all here with me and well, I am not widowed or homeless. I must train myself to not allow the little stuff to worry me by staying in his word and making good habits, memorizing scripture and praying without ceasing! These are the things that should be top priority in my day!
Satan is defeated! This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!
Sound the battle cry! See the foe is nigh;
Raise the standard high for the Lord;
Gird your armour on, stand firm, everyone;
Rest your cause upon His holy Word.
Strong to meet the foe, marching on we go,
While our cause we know, must prevail;
Shield and banner bright, gleaming in the light,
Battling for the right we ne'er can fail.
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Apr. 5, 2008 - Praise God!
-Amy