Title:
Attacked
Scripture:
James 1:26, Matthew 11:30
Story behind the Story
One Sunday at GCC, a video was played introducing a new ministry called People Restore. It was presented by a man who mentioned the ministry was to help people restore their faith back to Jesus. There was “hiccups, hurts and hang-ups”. Every person who walks with Jesus has these and to varying degrees, can interfere in their life. The mission was to take back others who have been distracted. I was moved and seemed to connect with the key people in the ministry. I mentioned the stories God has blessed me with and seemed to be a place to share with others. I’m not certain the outcome or how involved I will be personally, it seems like a next step and I wanted to be involved. We were at a bible study and the same person who introduced the ministry, asked for prayer mentioning they were under attack since announcing the ministry. God laid on my heart the word “Attacked” and the first sentence / phrase used in this story. We also had just studied the scripture in our small group.
Story
Have you ever felt like every time you turn around? There is something seemly in your way. No matter how much you prepare. No matter how much you plan. Something always seems to get in the way. Every obstacle appears to get larger and more difficult, It’s like a person is having fun watching you stumble. Roadblocks are put up everywhere. You work through one really hard roadblock, another pothole comes along out of no where. Finally, things appear to have calmed down and another larger pothole appears suddenly. After a few battles that appear to impact the overall plan. Anxiety, Worry and uncertainty rule the day. It seems the harder you work, the harder the task at hand becomes. Nothing is easy although the task is rewarding. It requires a lot of mental heavy lifting. Up until this point, you have kept it contained and the journey has been great. Then you widen the effort to include many others. The battles become larger and more difficult. You’ve entered the arena of many thousands now. The goal is no longer contained, the idea becomes shared with others. The attacks are more wide spread impacting many others Who are engaged in the battle. The enemy has drawn the battle lines. The efforts are to restore souls. The efforts are to repair hearts and turn them back north, North to God, his son Jesus and Holy Spirit. The enemy has made it clear every soul will be a battle. Nothing will be easy, Nothing will be calm. There will be bumps, potholes and obstacles along the way. Not a moments rest, Not a moments peace. Scripture tells us to endure the journey. Take refuge in the Son for his yoke is light. There will be peaks and valleys, endure everyday with hope provided from above. Keep it simple, take care of orphans and widows, do not become part of this world. An orphan can be a child. It can be an middle aged person struggle with addiction or even an older person lost in their way. Each orphan has their own unique story. God wants all of his “children” to know he loves them and wants to see them come to him with their hearts open. God will restore hope from their hurts, God will help overcome their habits and even when we have hang-ups from time to time, he’ll be there loving us unconditionally. The good book says One day you will hang with him in his house, forever. What a comforting feeling knowing we are loved by such a great creator. This single hope helps us endure the journey filled with Hurts, Hiccups and Hang-ups.
Poem
Have you ever felt like every time you turn around
There is something seemly in your way
No matter how much you prepare
No matter how much you plan
Something always seems to get in the way
Every obstacle appears to get larger and more difficult
It’s like a person is having fun watching you stumble
Roadblocks are put up everywhere
You work through one really hard roadblock
Another pothole comes along out of no where
Then finally, things appear to have calmed down
And another larger pothole appears suddenly
After a few battles that appear to impact the overall plan
Anxiety, Worry and uncertainty rule the day
It seems the harder you work
The harder the task at hand becomes
Nothing is easy although the task is rewarding
It requires a lot of mental heavy lifting
Up until this point, you have kept it contained
And the journey has been great
Then you widen the effort to include many others
The battles become larger and more difficult
You’ve entered the arena of many thousands now
The goal is no longer contained
The idea becomes shared with others
The attacks are more wide spread impacting many others
Who are engaged in the battle
The enemy has drawn the battle lines
The efforts are to restore souls
The efforts are to repair hearts and turn them back north
North to God, his son Jesus and Holy Spirit
The enemy has made it clear every soul will be a battle
Nothing will be easy, Nothing will be calm
There will be bumps, potholes and obstacles along the way
Not a moments rest
Not a moments peace
Scripture tells us to endure the journey
Take refuge in the Son for his yoke is light
There will be peaks and valleys
But endure everyday with hope provided from above
Keep it simple, take care of orphans and widows
And do not become part of this world
An orphan can be a child
It can be an middle aged person struggle with addiction
And even an older person lost in their way
Each orphan has their own unique story
God wants all of his “children” to know he loves them
And wants to see them come to him with their hearts open
God will restore hope from their hurts
God will help overcome their habits
And even when we have hang-ups from time to time
He’ll be there, loving us unconditionally
For the good book says
One day you will hang with him in his house, forever
What a comforting feeling knowing we are loved
By such a great creator
This single hope helps us endure
the journey filled Hurts, Hiccups and Hang-ups
Pondering Thought 