GRACE Lesson #4

OK, well, the truck can be repaired fairly cheaply, we think, but still cheap is not -0- so that is still money we wonder where are we going to get. Was at church, taught 4-5 yr old Sunday School class and was looking to a much desired and needed sermon to help me with guidance. (We were unable to go last Sunday because of my health issues and the new meds were setting off my Dystonia badly.) Son had an asthma attack and we needed to leave immediately to get home to the breathing machine as his rescue inhaler was not working on his breathing.  I got home started some dinner, and was starting to feel the "effects" of this grace lesson I requested from my Father.  When guess what?  My Father is so wondrously good I could jump up, dance a jig, scream Hallelujah and run around the house! I picked up our church newsletter that comes the first of each month but I'd not had time to even pick it up if you read all the prior events & lesson "plans" since this started. What was the topic?  RELEASING HOPE - THERE'S POWER IN THE WORD DURING OUR DARKEST TIMES.  I read it as a drowning man would grab for a life preserve!  You know the passage about putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:13 starts it)?   Well, the tears began to flow right there in my kitchen as the stove continues to heat my home and the two little portable heaters assist.   "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"   Notice it doesn't say IF the day of evil comes? This is not the first time the Holy Spirit has handed me this verse.  The other was when it looked as if the world would ended, I had fasted, I had prayed, I had done all that the Word taught me and it was then that I was led to this verse. You see, Satan doesn't take a vacation just because we're down.  That's when he strikes hardest....If he can steal our hope, then what good does the resurrection do for us?  THAT IS OUR HOPE.  That My Father is so strong that He gave power to His Son, Jesus the Christ, to take away the keys of death out of Hell from Satan and destroy death.  Now that's some power! Also, we underestimate the STAND part.   Do you know that soldiers in ancient times when they went to battle, they lifted their shields and their shields would cover their face to their knees?  The shodding of the feet went from the ankles to just below the knee, and the shoes of course covered the feet.  The only thing really exposed was the one arm holding the sword to defend themselves.  See....NOTHING left unprotected even though they STOOD STILL.   It reminds me of another verse in the Bible, 2Ch 20:17 'You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you." Have I put on the full armor of God? YES.  Have I positioned myself? YES.  Then, I need have no fear nor hopelessness at all for I will see the salvation of the Lord who is with me.  I will.  God promises and He never ever breaks His promise. Never. I taught the 4-5 yr olds about Deborah in Judges 4.  There's not much really to let us know a lot about Deborah other than she loved God and followed Him.  But the mighty battle which was coming at Israel (or possibly you & me?) was to be a slaughter by human counts.  The army of Israel was small, only 10,000 against a huge number and an evil king to boot. Yet does Deborah secure in God Almighty doubt or fear? No.  Here's what is written: Judges 4:14 Then Deborah said to Barak, "Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?" So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.  I write these words as a sure sign my faith holds strong, the lesson of God's grace as my Father given to me and grace as His child to receive the gift, continues to be taught me.  God is faithful.    It really doesn't matter that all the stress is causing even my meds to not assist with my Dystonia.  God still holds me in HIS hands and I am still standing while I jerk.  PRAISE BE TO GOD ALMIGHTY!