Warrior

I want to be a Warrior.

Yes, I am a young woman, but I want to be a Warrior.  I want to be highly trained and good at what I do.  I want to fight! 

You have probably guessed it, I want to be a Prayer Warrior.  Although I am still in the learning stages, I am being trained by The Best Warrior out there.  I have personal training with Him whenever I am ready to listen. 

 I fight things that sound scary, things that should be in books.  But they are in a Book.  I am told to fight them. 

Ephesians 6:11-12
"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Vs. 18
"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints..."

Even though you may never see me in battle array, I am constantly covered in it.  Even though you may never see me fight, I do.  Even though I am a woman, I fight- and I hope I fight well!  I do it with a large company.  I do it by myself.  I am a Warrior.

Even writing this up I get a stirring of heart to "go to battle!" with the call of my Lord wringing in my ears.

A favorite song of mine which I can't seem to find online, (we have the CD) is Battle Song by Holy Smoke.  It is a stirring song that depicts what we do in everyday life- we go into battle. 

I know who my General is and which side will Win- do you?

A Warrior For the Victor of victors, Lord of lord's, and King of king's,
~Rebecca

He is Great

In my personal Bible reading I am doing a chronological order of reading through the Bible. (which my sister tells me is great when you get to Kings and Chronicles!)  At the moment I am in Exodus.  The Israelites have left the Egyptians with Moses and are stuck between the Red Sea and all of Pharaoh's mighty army. 

Here is a beautiful section that I hadn't appreciated before;

Exodus 13:21-22
"The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.  He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."

 I just really liked the last sentence.  He did not take away His Guidance from before them.  If He can lead the huge crowd of Israelites without leaving them, how much more can He lead me (If I listen....)???

Then in Exodus 14:14 Moses tells the people;
"The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent."

Ahh, this was just a balm to my spirit.  I have been worried lately about my husband.  What am I doing wrong that he isn't here? This was my reminder that I have nothing to do about finding my husband.  Nothing!  I just have to be silent.  My God will be fighting for me- and I do believe He is a better fighter! 

How can I be worried about how God is going to be bringing about my husband?  (or my future if I never get married) God was able to conquer the entire Egyptian army without anyone's help.  I just have to be willing to lift my arms.  :)  I have to be willing to listen and go stick myself in a bind between the Egyptian army and a huge sea.  I have to be willing to follow my Lord completely.  Then He will fight for me.  All I will have to do is walk across dry ground to the other side (oh, and maybe admire the fish on each side of me...) and give God the glory.

The other part I loved that tells how God fought for them was in Exodus 14:19-21

"The Angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 
So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Thus the one did not come near the other all night.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land so the waters were divided."

Of course, I wanted to quote the entire rest of the chapter.  It is really a unique story.  One I really enjoyed this time for some reason. 

Anyway, back to my sharing...

I just enjoyed reading and seeing the Awesomeness of God.  I mean, He kept back the armies from each other for a day!   He then goes on to conquer the Egyptians completely so that they fully realize that God was fighting for the Israelites. 

Through all of the things going on in my family's life right now, it was a good reminder to me that I have a Champion Warrior on my side fighting for me.  As it says in Romans 8:31;

"If God is for us, who is against us?"

Blessings,
Rebecca

Bride?

We sang this song yesterday during worship.  It is one we have sung many, many times but this time it struck me.

Sing a Song of Celebration, life up a shout of praise
For the Bridegroom will come The Glorious One
And Oh, we will look on His face.
We will go, to a much better place.

Dance with all your might, lift up your hands and clap for joy
For the Time's drawing near.  When He will appear
And Oh, we will stand by His side.
A Strong, Pure, Spotless Bride

(Chorus)
We will Dance on the streets that are golden
The Glorious Bride and the Great Son of Man
From every tongue, and tribe and nation will join
In the Song of the Lamb.

 Just as I am waiting for the perfect timing for my bridegroom to come, so I should be waiting for the time when my true Bridegroom will come.  Just as I think about and prepare for my earthly bridegroom, I should be doing more for my true Bridegroom.  We the Church should be preparing.  We do already, I know, but we should also be looking forward to that day.  How many times do I think and dream about my earthly wedding?  Quite a few times.  OK, a lot.  I don't tend to think about Christ that way.  As thinking and dreaming for His wedding that He has prepared for.

How often do I wonder where my husband (if that is what God has in store for me) is at this moment.  What is he doing?  What is he thinking?  Is he keeping himself pure?  Is he saving his heart for me?  God is the same with us- we know that from scripture.  For God, though, He had to see His Bride go to other gods.  They didn't remain pure and wait for Him.  They didn't trust Him completely.  Through it all He was always there when they repented and turned back.  Ready to forgive them and heap the many blessings He wanted to give them but couldn't when they were in sin and rebellion. 

As many times as I look forward to finally meeting my earthly husband, so I should- and even more- look forward to the Bridegroom of the Church and finally seeing Him face-to-face.  

Enjoy your True Valentine today!

Happy Valentine's Day, may you enjoy the Love that God has given us to share. 
Rebecca

John 15:9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love."

Isaiah 42:5-13

I really enjoyed this beautiful passage.  Read it as if God were really standing and talking to you.  He is Mighty and Awesome!!!  I serve a Righteous God.  Who do you Serve?

Thus says God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its offspring,
Who gives breath to the people on it
And spirit to those who walk in it,
"I am the Lord. I have called you in righteousness,
I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you,
And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people,'As a light to the nations,
To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the dungeon
And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

"I am the LORD, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another,
Nor My praise to graven images.
"Behold, the former things have come to pass,
Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."

Sing to the LORD a new song,
Sing His praise from the end of the earth!
You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it.
You islands, and those who dwell on them.
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices,
The settlements where Kedar inhabits.
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud,
Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.
Let them give glory to the LORD
and declare His praise in the coaselands.

The LORD will go forth like a warrior,
He will arouse His zeal like a man of war.
He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry.
He will prevail against His enimies.

Love in Christ,
Rebecca