Things are better :)

Well, this week has been much better :) I've been fighting and I've been winning :)
Still much to learn and do, but I know that no matter what, I'll be ok :) If there was no threat, there would be no attack....I would rather be a threat than be left alone leaving no mark in this world.

Thanks to my friends who have been praying, caring and just saying what I need to hear :) 

I have put on my armour and I will STAND!

I have my armour on! I will not take it off! I am on the winning side! Whatever comes my way to taunt me will only fire me up and make me stronger! 

Last week was just one week. One bad week...that ended with a great Friday.
Whatever is going on right now, I say I am under God's authority, and you will NOT come against me. In Jesus' name I will be granted favour....I will be respected. I will NOT be put in a box I do not want to be in. I will NOT be forced to make changes to to 'fix' what is not broken. I declare in Jesus' name that all things will work for MY good, for me who loves the Lord (Romans 8:28). 

The best parts of last week were my nights....spent at church for various meetings....prayer meeting, connect groups, and leadership. THEN came Sunday....and what a great end to a crappy week. While the days were crazy and stressful, the nights were so calm and joyful. When I am with my Lord, everything is good. There may be chaos around me, but God just helps me forget the feelings and enjoy his presence, and those he has placed in my presence. Thank you Lord for being the strong tower I have needed....please help this week to be a wonderful week with only good things....with many blessings and much favour. I will NOT be shaken! 

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.    http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6:9-19&version=NIV

Paul Wilbur

My Warfare Music.... Just loving it!!

http://www.myspace.com/wilburministries/radio

William Booth

I've been doing some reading on William Booth - in the early days preceding his birthing of the Salvation Army. This man really was a man of worth!

He had a calling. He knew it. His wife knew it (as with her own calling). But even so, they faced many roadblocks placed on their path to fulfilling this calling. The most interesting part, is that many of these 'roadblocks' were created by church leaders, and even his friends in committees of those churches. His ideas were too 'out there' for them. They wanted to stay in the cosy walls of their churches with rules & regulations...he wanted to go out and save those who were rejected from these walls... go right into the battle ground & rescue people from their inner wars. Reach out instead of 'shut out' (eg, refusing entry to churches).

This man had passion! He had determination. He knew who he was and whose he was - he was not going to miss his calling, not matter what came against him and his family. It must have been a frustrating journey at times...but he was rewarded for his obedience and determination. Many souls were saved.

Makes me think of Jesus....and how often he was ridiculed and rejected by the religious leaders of his day. He knew his calling - he was the son of God! He was not going to let these religious leaders stop him from fulfilling his calling.

Like Booth, he didn't want to go against them, but neither could he work with them.
I still have a lot more reading to do, but I am beginning to see just how big this man was - how he knew his calling, and was so determined to do God's will - despite what came against him.

Like World Wars 1 & 2, we often forget what people have sacrificed for us. Many of us are of generations who have not experienced war first-hand. We take so much freedom for granted because that's the way it has always been for us.

William Booth fought for us. He sacrificed for us. He saw the mission and did his best to fulfil it.
Imagine what this world would be like if men like him refused to do what God had called them to do... I don't think the Salvation Army would not have existed, had he not taken his calling seriously, but I don't think it would be the same.... I think we need to thank God for men like William Booth - God's First choice for the Salvation Army. Men who fought the battles and left a legacy for generations to come.