knowledgeofgoodandevil

Happy New Year! I’m glad to see 2018 go away. I don’t think I have ever thought that about a year. But 2018 really hasn’t been my favorite year, for many reasons. I also found out I was not alone in these feelings. I noticed quite a few people saying they were grateful 2018 was gone. Here’s to a new year, 2019.

A long time ago, right after I got engaged to my husband, the enemy sent someone to tempt me. My husband and I were engaged to be married. Two Christians about to enter into the holy union of marriage. We would commit ourselves to God and, hopefully, have children which we would bring up in the admonition of the Lord. Do you think Satan wants that to happen? Of course not!

Right after we got engaged, a new guy started working at the place I was working. He was tall and good looking. AND he seemed to be drawn to me. He asked me out. I said I was engaged. He complimented me. He liked that I was tall too. He wondered if I played basketball. Yes, I did. He wanted to play one on one at some point. I said no. I told him I was engaged. He said that would be no problem. It was just a harmless little one on one. I said no, again. He wouldn’t leave me alone and he kept paying me attention and complimenting me. I soon left that job and him too.

Just a few months before we got married, a friend of my husband’s pulled my husband aside to warn him of a girl that really liked my husband. She also worked at the same place my husband did and I guess she really had eyes for my husband. This friend felt she was a threat to our impending marriage and wanted my husband to be really, really careful. She did the same thing to my husband: paid him compliments, paid him a lot of attention, and was furiously desperate to get my hubby’s attention. Needless to say, she didn’t.

Why am I talking about these things as a New Year’s post? We’re in a new year. The enemy is always searching for who he can attack. He’s a roaring lion seeking whom he can destroy. As my friend says: “Satan hates you and has a terrible plan for your life.”

If you are a believer, be prepared. As you enter this new year, keep awake. The enemy is GOING to come at you. He wants to destroy all believer’s testimonies and make them immobile. He can’t take your soul, but he will do everything he can to neutralize the believer.

And what we need to be careful of, is that he comes as an angel of light. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He doesn’t come dressed all in red, with horns and a pitchfork. He comes, looking good and complimentary. He’s a smooth talker. Whoever he sends in to disrupt your life will say really nice things to you. They will be good looking.

We are in the end of days and the last thing the enemy wants is to have us all keep our testimonies and commitment to God. He wants us to stumble and fall. So be aware friend. Stay awake. Be careful. Stay close to God. Because God does love you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

Merry Christmas! This week we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

I heard a message the other day that got me thinking. I went back to Isaiah 6:1-4. “…I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face; and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory. And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.”

The train of God’s robe fills the temple. Angels called Seraphim fly around Him, but cover their eyes and feet because of His holiness. The whole earth is filled with His glory. The foundations of the earth tremble at His voice.

This same God. The One who the Seraphim cannot look upon, but must cover their feet and eyes, put on human flesh and allowed Himself to be born a baby, a small helpless baby.

The One whose train of His robe filled the temple, was now laid down in a dirty, stinking manger, a feeding trough for animals. Laid on a bed of hay.

The One whose voice causes the foundations of earth to tremble, now lay in a manger. The only sounds He can make now would be a baby’s cry.

The One who calls out and the temple fills with smoke, lays in a manger, far from heaven.

Not only will He allow Himself to be born a baby. He will allow Himself to be brutally beaten and crucified when He grows up. The Holy God whom the Seraphim cannot look upon will suffer and die an excruciating death on a rugged cross.

Merry Christmas! He IS the reason for the season!

The other day, my faith was wobbly. I have good days and bad days, but this day I was really struggling. It was early in the morning, and I was coming home from the store. I was praying to God to help us, help me. I was feeling abandoned by God, like He didn’t like me. I felt like I was doing something wrong, that’s why God hasn’t answered my prayers. 

The whole way from the store, I was crying out to God. I tried to keep the tears to a minimum because I was driving and needed to get home safely. 

There is a stoplight right outside my neighborhood. I stopped at the light and just when I did, a huge rainbow appeared above me. Not a partial rainbow, it was the full arch. And clear. No clouds covered it over. It was beautiful.

My light turned green, so I had to stop looking at the rainbow, and move on. As I got out of my car, my neighbor pointed to the sky and asked if I had seen the rainbow. I looked up, and there it still was. I went to my house, and stood on the porch looking up. The rainbow was perfectly framed around my porch, as if the rainbow was for me. There were equal sides to it and I was directly in the middle of it. Usually rainbows disappear quickly, but this one remained where it was for a long time. I went inside and got my husband and son to come look at the rainbow.

Trying not to cry, I told my husband, that was my rainbow. I told him I had been praying when suddenly, the rainbow appeared as I was crying out to God.

People all over our area published pictures of the rainbow, but I’m here to tell you, that was my rainbow. God was reminding me Who He is and that He heard my prayers. He was telling me it was all going to be okay, and that He did like me. 

The rainbow is the gift from God, reminding us He will never flood the earth again. That rainbow in the sky told me God hasn’t forgotten me. He likes me and He’s heard my prayers. It was just what I needed. 

God’s brought me rainbows in the past. Sister, if you are going through something. If God has you in a waiting time, don’t stress. God has heard everyone one of your prayers. He loves you. And throughout the time, He will give you gifts to remind you He is there. Whether it be a rainbow, or a bird, or something entirely different. God gives good gifts to those who love Him. 

And even when your faith is wobbly. Admit that to Him. He will understand and give you the faith you need.

My winter has come. I’ve been dreading this time, for a long time. But it is here, whether I like it or not. Like the changing seasons, I’ve moved into this new one. My winter.

Like the cold, barren land, that winter creates, I feel like my life is like that. My kids are grown and don’t need me like they did when they were little. I’m not homeschooling anymore. I’m looking for a job to help pay for my son’s college, with absolutely no luck. That’s what I have been waiting for. At times, I question whether it was the right thing to do, to homeschool my kids. I’ve been out of the work force for so long, was it worth it?

As my negative thoughts overtake me, God reaches down and gives me gifts, to console me.

My son is doing well in his school work. He tells me it’s because I homeschooled him. Right when I think I’ve wasted my time.

My kids went out the other night, together. I stood by the kitchen sink, watching them go and feeling my heart soar. They both are so different and have completely different lives, but they went out together to go get some food. I felt a dampness on my cheeks as I watched them go.

My son complimented my daughter, the next day. He told me what a great conversationist she was and how he enjoyed being with her. A lump formed in my throat.

I have friends who are going through some of the same things. We get together and pray for one another. These friends are like a crackling fireplace on a cold winter night – they warm me.

The other day I stood in a long line at a check out counter. I noticed a lady at the end of the counter I was at. She was looking desperately around, pacing back and forth. I couldn’t help but notice her. When I did look at her, she was wearing a t-shirt with the name of a place I had recently applied to. It was like God letting me know, I’m here, I’ve heard your prayers. I haven’t forgotten you.

That’s how God works. In every season of our lives, He is there. He doesn’t leave when winter comes. He gives us the things we need to survive winter. He gives us a warm coat, a fireplace, a bird lighting on an icy tree branch. God is comprehensive. He doesn’t just supply us with food, shelter and clothing. He goes much deeper than that. He knows our every thought, and he takes away our discouragement. He wipes away our tears. He lets us rest our head upon His bosom, while He rubs our head. God’s love isn’t minimal, just the basics. It’s vast and far reaching. He tends to us, so that every single need is met. He even supplies us with parking spots.

So in this winter season I am grateful. I am grateful to God. I am grateful for his overwhelming kindness to me. I am grateful for His comprehensive love for me. If you are a one of God’s children, rest in the knowledge that He loves you completely.