Checking in with God? Someone else is.

Satan checks in with the Father. But, how often do we check in with Him? Now, how much more IMPORTANT are we to check in with our Father and ask Him how we are to endure and defeat the trials that He has set forth.

Our adversary checks in with God to see what he is allowed and not allowed to do. He is collecting the battle plans that God is going to put forth in our lives. We are going to go through a trial/tribulation, it is our responsibility to seek the solution of how we need to endure/defeat it. I think, more often than not, He is testing our faithfulness to Him. Are we going to give up and say the heck with this, or are we going to cry out to our Savior and ask for His strength to endure it.

He shares his teachings with us... store up all your treasures in Heaven. He gives us tools/teachings that we can store in Heaven that we can use to rely on, trust on, be empowered on in the midst of our trials. The Lord has asked our Father to send His Spirit to us, so that He can communicate to our spirit. I will never leave you, nor forsake you. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and He will prompt us on what scripture we can apply to our situation.

I for one, do not claim that I can remember the scriptures, but I am always reminded of them... I will put the words in your mouth at the time of need.

So, what I am saying is that the battle is already won! He says that He will not give us more than we can handle. There are going to be times when we feel that He has pushed us over the edge, beyond our capacities of handling the situation. Its a trial... there is a lot of resource that we can apply that we don't really look to. Peace. Patience. Calm spirit. Praise. Comfort.

It all works together for good. Just as the levels in a computer game get tougher, so do the trials that we face. God will thicken our armor as we grow in Him. The more Satan attacks me, the more I should look to Him; just as my daughter falls, her first immediate response is... DADDY!!!

Father, Son, Holy Spirit. we come before you to ask for your strength to endure YOUR trials for our lives. And we want to thank You for Your mercies for the time that we fail. But, though Your Son, we can be reconciled to You through asking for forgiveness. We know that these trials are for us to grow in You because we are sinners, and that we need to seek you everyday to learn Your teachings. Though, it may be tough, You are the Author of our lives and we trust You will bring us though EVERY trial you put us through. Help us to look to the Holy Spirit's promptings, we ask for Your discernment of what voices we need to listen to, help us to grow together in Your body- to strengthen and uphold each other as brothers and sisters. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

(click on the comments below for scriptures)

The Joy of the Lord is my Strenght

At one point towards about 2 weeks ago, my body started to ail. My vertebra flamed up. I was weak. Where was my strength?

This gave me a strong appreciation for the Lord GIVING me the strength to stand against the opposition.

- The Joy of the Lord is my Strength.

Despite getting discouraged by my back/groin, God is testing me if I am fully trusting Him. Well, I have fallen. But, He is trying to pick me up, encouraging me to fight the good fight of Faith. To stand firm against the opposition.

Under great fire

How great of a fire I am under:
- My ailing hip
- Continued strife in my marriage
- Employment
- Idleness
- Credit cards
- Money running out
- No vehicle
- Wicked servant

I am sick and tired of my wife. I am tired of going over to 'HER' house and then getting asked to leave. I feel that I am of no value to her. When I think of all the insecure actions of her- I CAN'T STAND IT!!! I am a defensive person in her presence because of all her perceived attacks.
- The van brakes.
- Ignoring me @ lunch.
- Not cuddling with Grace.
- Inquiring about what I did that day.
- Not letting me use the vehicle.
- Not being thankful for anything- dinner, shampoo carpets, cleaning bathroom, laundry room, sitting area.

Yes, I am bitter against her! I just want to give up dealing with her in all aspects of my life. I am tired of being rejected, attacked and not being loved.

I all my thoughts listed above, I AM DISOBEYING GOD!!!

God gave His Son up for us. How much more so are we to give up our lives to Jesus. In China, there is a great smog, but above it all is clear. I am looking at all these worldly things in my life instead of looking up at my provider, counselor, restorer, maestro.

The enemy is really using all the above to try and derail me. To tell me to give up in my marriage. To focus on the past/present and not what lies ahead as ordained by God Himself.

What scriptures are there...
- Trust in the Lord your God.
- Acknowledge all your ways before God and He will make your paths straight.
- I present to you a thorn in the flesh.
- Be Holy and walk in the spirit and you will not be under His Law. Walk in the flesh and you will be under His Law.

The bottom line is that... I gotta give everything up at the cross- EVERYTHING! If I expect to live for myself, it will just turn into turmoil. But, I gave up myself for Him to take over everything in my life. This is something relatively new in recent months.

The work of men will not prosper, but do the work of the Holy Spirit and you will be blessed.

I believe that God is going to bring me... He has brought me into His Upper Echelon, He is readying me for a new prosperity, a new advancement that I can glorify Him and for the advancement of His Kingdom.
- I don't have to be under satan's rule of affliction.
- The Joy of the Lord is my Strength.
- I can be humble before my Lord and accept what direction He is leading me to.
- I don't have to be so defensive.
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