A Lesson from Bats, Bugs and Mice

Over the last few weeks, we've battled bats, bugs, and mice.

They all come with living in the country.

You want the country-life? Then, you get to battle these things, too.

Some problems are simply part of living.  

There are fixes, however.

We've employed all of them.

Bat traps.

Sealing any holes in the exterior of our house.

Bug bombs.

Raid.

A brand new Bissel "Little Green Machine" steamer.

Mouse traps. 

Two adorable kittens named Lucy and Ethel (see below). 

A professional exterminator.

These are the things you instinctively know to do when you live in out-of-the-way-country-places...

...but, bats, bugs, and mice are extremely annoying. 

These things cause frustration. 

They stir up the soul in a not-so-good-kind-of-way. 

Believe it or not, they are a light shade of "trial and trouble." 

But, it caught me off guard this week, when I mentioned our little war to an acquaintance, and she responded, "Obviously, you have been under some little bit of spiritual attack."

Spiritual attack?

This never crossed my mind.

Of course, the enemy will use anything in any way to tempt us toward sin, bad attitudes, and dealing with things incorrectly; but, spiritual attack?

Seriously, I don't think bats, bugs, and mice are deserving of being placed under that particular weighty category.

Some things happen to us just simply because we live in a real world where bad things do happen to good people.

Other things occur because our flesh gets in the way.

Yes, the enemy will work over time to attempt to come against anything that has to do with the gospel being promoted or anything that raises itself up against the knowledge of God, but not EVERY! THING! can be attributed to spiritual attack.

We actually had this conversation at dinner last night with our present company, and our discussion resulted in the following few thoughts. 

Just as living in the country often means bats, bugs and mice, so living in this world often means trials, heartaches, and problems of various kinds. 

And, none of this, necessarily, means the devil is sending these things our way to attack us, but he will use those things to tempt us into sinful responses...so, at all times we need to be on guard. 

As with most things, we can not over-exaggerate the problem, nor minimize-responsibility. 

So, just as we employ "fixes" for bats, bugs, and mice, we must also employ ownership for what we can do on our part to problem solve the, well, the problems life carries to our doorstep...

In all of this, however, we need to continuously be praying for wisdom, discernment, and God's direct divine intervention. 

And, finally, we must rehearse to our selves over and again that ALL things work for God in His economy...one day we will see exactly how. 

In the meantime, I love listening to this newest from Jordan St. Cyr: Rescue. 

Why Are We Surprised?!

I've been reading Little Pilgrim's Progress (a children's version of John Bunyan's classic: Pilgrim's Progress), complete with pictures, via video for my six-year-old grand-daughter, Brynley Joy.

It's been fun to re-read this age-old novel, and follow little Christian's journey (as portrayed by a small bunny), observing his travels as through the eyes of a child.

Photo Credit: Little Pilgrim's Progress.  "Encouraged on the journey by others."

As Christian journeys toward the Celestial City, he encounters road blocks, enemies and difficulties, as well as joys, new friends, and better yet, blessings, all along the way.

But, over the last couple of days, I read the chapters where Christian and his good friend, Faithful, have to go through the city of Vanity Fair.

Vanity Fair has been built by the Wicked Prince, and he has servants who govern this incredible city filled with lovely items sure to distract. 

The goal, of course, is to convince one little bunny and his buddy to cease their pilgrimage to the City of the Great King and simply stay put in this worldly place.

It's all a ploy by the Wicked Prince, who wants nothing more than to persuade pilgrims to give up, preventing them from stepping closer to the Celestial City.

The thing is there is no way around the city. 

You have to go through it.

...and few remain unscathed.

Every pilgrim must pass through Vanity Fair, and, as we find out, it is not easy to stay focused...

Yet, Christian and Faithful don't give in to the whims of the evil one, and as a result they are mocked, beaten, and thrown into a cage where they suffer miserably.

Traveling through Vanity Fair can also be quite dangerous, even unto death. 

It helped that the boys had been warned about Vanity Fair by Evangelist, and they had entered the city mentally, spiritually and emotionally prepared.

Photo credit: Little Pilgrim's Progress. "Christian with Evangelist"

Plus they had each other's encouragement.

The two boys are taken before the governor, where they are given another chance to change their minds.

Photo credit: Little Pilgrim's Progress. "Before the governor."

However, the little pilgrims remain steadfast in their desire to go forward to the Celestial City, no matter how difficult the journey.

While in the Governor's Court (and standing before a jury of twelve) small Faithful asks to speak and is granted permission. 

Although a timid boy, he affirms his desire to go on to the King he loves dearly, and assures the governor that he will never obey anyone else. 

As little Christian hears all Faithful declares, he wonders when he became so brave... 

...and, as the jury sentences Faithful to death in the marketplace, Christian sees him look skyward and his face turn radiant with a beautiful light.

Christian, too, looks up and sees a band of angels with their wings outspread, waiting to carry the soul of Faithful directly to the Celestial City. 

Such is our journey Heavenward to be with our Forever-King. 

The world is constantly trying to distract us with pretty baubles and bangles that get our attention off the journey we are traveling.

Those who remain unpersuaded and loyal to the High-King are mocked, teased, and treated brutally.

Persecution follows...

...sometimes death.

Many will suffer for their faithfulness and obedience to the King they have never seen, but love with all their hearts - those who love Him because He first loved them, removed their worldly burdens of sin at the cross, and secured their future for eternity. 

Photo Credit: Little Pilgrim's Progress. "Losing his burden at the cross."

These speak openly about the King's Book, which record His words and bring comfort.

These remain undistracted by the temptations to turn aside.

The problem is as fellow sojourners, we all find ourselves in the "city of the Wicked Prince."

We all have to go through it.

Few will get past unscathed.

Some will die for their faithfulness.

The questions remain the same for us all - 

How great is our understanding of the King's Love for us? 

How focused are our hearts on heavenly matters?

How well do we grasp the words our King has recorded for us?

And, what difference will this all make when the Wicked Prince and his cronies attempt to persuade us to transgress off of The Way? 

The one thing I am remembering from Pilgrim's Progress is the need to be AWARE of what is ahead, and remain intentional about our preparation for the dangers and distractions, which could be ahead.

The Lord sends others who warn us all, plus we have His Book; so, we shouldn't be caught off guard - but lean into the help He offers for "such a time as this."

What kind of help? 

Courage we didn't even know we possessed.

Comfort in Truth...and THE COMFORTER, God's Holy Spirit inside of us.

Consolation in community.

Compassion from our own Suffering Savior.

And...maybe even a band of unseen angels waiting to welcome us.

Just a few thoughts worth pondering today.

Photo credit: Ruth Chou Simons, "Pilgrim"

Sorrow and Suffering: What We Don't See, Part 3

From my house to yours, we pray you enjoyed your Fourth of July and reflected on all the reasons we set this holiday aside each year...

For Bay and I, we enmeshed ourselves in family-doings, and had an opportunity to enjoy a celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary (such a sweet and meaningful evening). 

It never escapes me that the reason we are given these days off around the 4th have come to us at a high price. 

In fact, our freedoms, like many things we consider "free," are not free.

The cost was paid years ago through the sorrow and suffering of many who walked a road not one of us would wish to walk, but who saw the necessity of giving their all, that we would not have to do the same.

For their sorrow and suffering on my behalf, I am so very grateful!

XXXXX

A few weeks ago, I mentioned two impactful incidences that occurred while we served in Kenya that began a journey for me of processing through my own theology of suffering.

The things I didn't see amidst the experiences are what started to shape my theology the very most, and I mentioned two: 

1. The Lord uses EVERYTHING to point others to His Son, Jesus. We all need a Savior, and sometimes, hardships makes this need clearly evident, so that we might turn to Him for salvation. 

2.  The Lord is always present with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us; and, His faithful presence sustains us, even when we think we "can't," He CAN (& WILL)...

There is one more unseen lesson that surprised me...

As I have journeyed through different seasons of trial and come to the other side, what I began to notice occurred inside me.

Slowly and subtly, I changed. 

Not on the outside - nope! my appearance never changed; but, the transformation of character inside definitely shifted. 

After my friend's murder under the cover of darkness, on the side of a lonely road, in the midst of a country governed by the Kenyan shilling, I turned to the Lord and His Word for belief, comfort, peace, understanding, perspective, hope and joy.

Digging deep and leaning hard into both the Word and the Lord, I began to claw my way out of a dark pit of fear and onto the solid Rock bathed in Son-Light.

It wasn't two months later, when tragedy struck our campus again, this time at the home of another dear friend right on our campus.

As we awoke to another desperate phone call for help in the middle of the night, I saw a shift in me - - - just as before, I began to REACT in fear, then REMEMBERED the previous lessons the Lord had taught me through His Word, and, instead of REACTING, I RESPONDED differently.

Fear, unbelief, confusion got kicked out of the driver's seat, and peace, trust, and truth took over. 

Sometimes, what we don't see is how the Lord uses our suffering, sorrow, hardship, hurt, difficulty, despair, trials and tragedies to CHANGE US for GOOD (multiple meanings apply), and that brings Him glory. 

As I look back, while there have been many struggles I've gone through I would NEVER want to go through again, what I've learned is invaluable. 

These lessons are also the result of God's faithfulness to not leave me as I am, but to better me.

There have been truths imbedded in my soul that transform me more and more, little by little, into something I couldn't be, wouldn't be, shouldn't be unless the Lord used them to mold me more into His image. 

That's what I desire above all - to end my life looking more and more like my Savior...and, one day, when I reach heaven's gates, the old me looks a lot more like Jesus. 

#lifegoal