I think I have discovered the title for a new book. A book for the follower's of Yhwh. A book to revitalize, energize and ultimately feed and nurture the souls of the beloved followers of Our Lord.
The Art of Battle: A warriors Guide.
Such a book deserves to be written. Must... needs to be written! And, on the other hand, such a book already exists...
So perhaps, more than a book, my hearts longing is, at this time and season, my brothers and sisters. Those who share my faith, and are ultimately, "fighting the fight," and "running the race set out before us..." Brothers and sisters whom I can say, "Together! We fight!," with.
"Together we stand! Apart, we're steak..." That joke has an uncanny, and disturbing, truness to it.
"but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." ~ Romans 5:3-5
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnessed, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." ~ Hebrews 12:1-3
"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hand on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe
Why, in times of emotional turmoil, spiritual collision and physical taxation; why is it, in these times, G-d seems to be non-present.
My heart knows He is near. Indeed, when you sit quietly, and listen; stop thinking and breathe in the 'Fragrance of God'; Wash yourself under The Word - the Water of Life; relax under the strength and wisdom of Him on High; you do, truly, know, in your heart of hearts, feel nearly physically, and see in your minds eye, that you are in the presence of the Almighty.
You are the 'apple of His eye." He "waves the banner over you," you are His, and He is yours!
A quote I once heard was, "when you hit rock bottom, the only place to go is up," which I find correlates remarkably with something a well-intentioned person told me, "well, it couldn't get any worse!" This was post-house fire, and after my dear aunt Susan succeeded in her race Home.
The term "rock bottom," is a relative term. A term that can be defined in multiple different ways. A term that, seemingly, means absolutely nothing when compared to another's suffering, hardship and cross-bearing.
There is only ever a "going up," part to the "when you hit rock bottom," quote, only if you accept the hand of Him who carries our sin and shame, to lift you up.
The term, "it couldn't get any worse," is just as relative. When someone tells me that, I want to quote Golda on Fiddler on The Roof, "pta! Do you want to invite bad luck?!"
(This, indeed, leads to the question, "what unseen doors do we open in the realm of the spiritual, with our words?" - One must wonder!)
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race(!), I have kept the faith(!)." ~ 2 Timothy 4:7
"~'The battles of the spirit that we face in times of trial can be won simply by lifting our hands to heaven, praising the Father of lights, asking His will be done, and thanking Him for the victory that is already ours.'~
Isn’t it comforting to know that even when we don’t feel as though we’ve won the battle, we can know that we have if we simply pour our hearts into trusting and praising Him?" ~http://atentforthesun.com/winning-the-battle/#comments
The Art of Battle: A warriors Guide.
Such a book deserves to be written. Must... needs to be written! And, on the other hand, such a book already exists...
So perhaps, more than a book, my hearts longing is, at this time and season, my brothers and sisters. Those who share my faith, and are ultimately, "fighting the fight," and "running the race set out before us..." Brothers and sisters whom I can say, "Together! We fight!," with.
"Together we stand! Apart, we're steak..." That joke has an uncanny, and disturbing, truness to it.
"but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." ~ Romans 5:3-5
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnessed, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." ~ Hebrews 12:1-3
"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hand on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe
Why, in times of emotional turmoil, spiritual collision and physical taxation; why is it, in these times, G-d seems to be non-present.
My heart knows He is near. Indeed, when you sit quietly, and listen; stop thinking and breathe in the 'Fragrance of God'; Wash yourself under The Word - the Water of Life; relax under the strength and wisdom of Him on High; you do, truly, know, in your heart of hearts, feel nearly physically, and see in your minds eye, that you are in the presence of the Almighty.
You are the 'apple of His eye." He "waves the banner over you," you are His, and He is yours!
A quote I once heard was, "when you hit rock bottom, the only place to go is up," which I find correlates remarkably with something a well-intentioned person told me, "well, it couldn't get any worse!" This was post-house fire, and after my dear aunt Susan succeeded in her race Home.
The term "rock bottom," is a relative term. A term that can be defined in multiple different ways. A term that, seemingly, means absolutely nothing when compared to another's suffering, hardship and cross-bearing.
There is only ever a "going up," part to the "when you hit rock bottom," quote, only if you accept the hand of Him who carries our sin and shame, to lift you up.
The term, "it couldn't get any worse," is just as relative. When someone tells me that, I want to quote Golda on Fiddler on The Roof, "pta! Do you want to invite bad luck?!"
(This, indeed, leads to the question, "what unseen doors do we open in the realm of the spiritual, with our words?" - One must wonder!)
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race(!), I have kept the faith(!)." ~ 2 Timothy 4:7
"~'The battles of the spirit that we face in times of trial can be won simply by lifting our hands to heaven, praising the Father of lights, asking His will be done, and thanking Him for the victory that is already ours.'~
Isn’t it comforting to know that even when we don’t feel as though we’ve won the battle, we can know that we have if we simply pour our hearts into trusting and praising Him?" ~http://atentforthesun.com/winning-the-battle/#comments
