There is a Cost

THE BATTLE IS SPIRITUAL

Eph.6
[12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Last night a student and I sat at my kitchen table over dinner and we were discussing the risks that we take in this life when we open our selves up to others in relationships. The conversation put me in mind of a question I have been pondering in my heart for a while. " WHAT IS MY PASSION?" That made me think about sports....specifically football...and we were talking about how those players that play with the most PASSION are the ones who get the worst injuries...she said because they are the biggest threat!!!!
I thought WOW...now that gives me perspective....
I had been reading in Ephesians 4 and in this chapter verses 11-12
[11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
This scripture, as do many others in the Bible talk about the body of Christ..and how we that are in the Body are to edify each other....just like the defensive line on a football team... Edification is so important to the survival of the Body of Christ....
1Thes.5
[11] Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
It is so clear that there are risks involved in being a minister of the Gospel of Christ. WE MUST COUNT THE COST...AND EDIFY ONE ANOTHER...
If we are going to fight this spiritual battle with PASSION then we MUST realize, understand and accept there will be wounds....
Jesus knew He was going to suffer the Cross....He still fought with PASSION because He loves the Father because the Father SO loves us. John 3:16
Christians let's allow the Love of God and committment of Jesus flow through us as we fight...because when we fight this battle in our own strength is when we are most voulnerable.... Jesus said
Matt.11
[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light

GOD Speaks through the Rain

Gen 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

There is no need for God to bring the rain with out a prepared man!

Today is September 12/13, it just so happens to be 12:30 in the morning…and I just got home from a powerful time of prayer with some magnificent women of faith.
On my journey home it began to rain AGAIN….it has been raining all day, as a matter of fact…..it has really rained A LOT all summer….which is very unusual for this geographical location of the state of Missouri!...
God has been working on my heart about this rain thing for probably 6 months now and I have been preparing for His rain to come into my life…spiritually speaking….
God gave me this mental picture as I traveled through this rain tonight….
At first it was just a light sprinkle, very nice a relaxing for a midnight drive…
AND THEN here came the down poor!!!! I get really nervous driving in the rain at night because I can’t see well AT ALL at night when driving and the rain totally doesn’t help the situation…
I thought to myself, “SELF turn the radio up and just meditate on what the group just did and let the music speak to me..!” Self said MMMMMMM that idea sounds delicious!!!
Then the Holy Spirit said, “You have been talking to me for over an hour with your friends, let me speak to you through the rain!”
Well, how could I say NO to that!!!! I LOVE the sound of nature!! I turned off the radio and just sat back slowed my speed down and started listening…..and God had something to say…!!!!
He said that sometimes the rain is slow and light making it easy to get around in and through…and sometimes it comes down fast and hard making it difficult to see the path that your are on. To be safe not to drift off the safe path you have to slow down and keep your eyes on the lights to see where you are going! I tried looking AHEAD of the light that my head lights were making but that only distorted my view, making the path cloudy…God said that I need to keep my eyes in front of me ON the light and that would keep my FOCUS clear and on the safe path.
That means don’t get ahead of God…there is safety in the light.
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

I was like WOW…all this time in the last few months I have been trying to get as much of God’s Word as I can every way I can to get ready for what ever it is He is getting ready to do in mine and Bill’s lives. We have slowed down in everything.
I remember realizing how much clearer God’s voice has become the more we have slowed down and just got into His presence!!!! God is totally showing me the picture of that in this rain tonight!!!
Gen 19:27 And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:

God also said that sometimes the rain comes so hard that it washes out part of the path that I am on and I have to take an alternate route to my destination…!!!!!
That is EXACTLY…. where we are right now in our lives! The rain is coming hard and fast and part of our path has been flooded and we have been directed to an alternate route for God to bring forth the fruit He has planted the seeds for in our lives in His season!
Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
CHRISTIAN: YOU MUST PREPARE YOUR GROUND FOR GOD’S RAIN!!!! YOU CAN HEAR HIS VOICE IF YOU JUST GET IN HIS PRESENCE, STAND STILL AND LISTEN.