Navigating Asteroid Fields in Life? Turn Off C-3PO in the Cockpit/Change Channels From the Bad News Bears

I’m part of the Rebel Alliance.  Darth Vader and his storm troopers (Satan and his evil spirits) are who I’m fighting against.  I’m currently navigating in an asteroid field and there could be some mines set up to blow me up.  I experienced one mine that fractured my ankle.  Another mine took out my spouse.  A mine just hit my chariot (space ship/SUV).

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

I’ve got negative C-3PO’s voices in my head or they may be what people say to me. “According to C-3PO, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1.   However, in reality the actual odds are 1/6'000'000th to 1.  I like what Han Solo says.  Han Solo is my kind of man.  “Never tell me the odds.”  I am a woman with a Han Solo heart.  I want to beat the odds in life. 

How many were betting on David that he would defeat Goliath?  I don’t think there were many people who were putting their hard earned money on David to win over a 9 foot giant.  Who would have thought the horse Secretariat would have come out with such a large margin of victory when everyone said the horse was not the type of horse that could not run the distance?  His owner followed her heart/her dream for her horse.

The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you." 1 Samuel 17:37

Bad News Bears?

When I grew up my parents listened to the morning news, the lunch news, the evening news, the 11:00 p.m. news.  My father was an electronic genius and he installed one of the first large satellite dish receivers on his own so he could listen to CNN and C-Span 24 hours a day.  They also read the newspaper every day.  I'm glad my parents were so well informed, and I can't figure out with all that negative news blaring in our home how I came out a positive person in life.  It really beats me how my attitude came out the way it did in my life.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. Philip. 4:8

I'm fighting the good fight of faith to think on positive thoughts and say positive things.  I'll go to a single’s Bible study and when people start talking about Christians wanting to just hear positive things, I can't help but think that many people think that God is their problem.  Maybe Christians want to hear positive things, because there is so many negativity in this world.   Christians think that God is down on them.  God is holy and just, and yet God sent his son (the best of the best)  to redeem us and buy us back from the devil, because he wanted to have a family and he loves to have a relationship with us.  Tonight, when Christians were talking about how much we disobey the Lord, I heard this scripture in my mind the whole negative conversation at the church table:

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

My heavenly Father is rejoicing over me with love, he is rejoicing over me with singing.

Not everything in life is of good report or lovely, but what do we choose to dwell our thoughts on. There were two reasons that most of the first generation of the Children of Israel did not enter the promise land, complaining and an evil report.

So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it-- these men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord. Numbers 14:36-37

And do not grumble, as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel. 1 Cor. 10:10

In our negativity, we seem to be entering Satan's terrority.  There is a scripture that God inhabits the praises of Israel.  (Psalm 22:3) In the book of Job that even though disaster strikes there is always one person that Satan leaves to bring the tidings of bad news:

One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” Job 1:13-19

In the Parade Magazine newspaper, April 7th there is an article that says the "average age of widowhood in America is 55."  I just came under that radar in life that my husband had a heart attack when I was a few years younger. Other people have been telling me about the above statistics. I’ve always liked looking at statistics.  I believe it has a lot to do with genetics and health factors.  My husband had chronic asthma since birth so that always made his heart to go into overdrive…sort of like our SUV, the transmission burnt out when my husband did not take the overdrive off when pulling the boat.  I'm not sure what "pool" of widows the Parade Magazine is talking about:

Current world average

67.2

----2010 est.

The world average would include the population that does not have health care.
United States: 78.7 years - 2009

If there is a decline in America, I can’t help but believe it’s partially the way my husband and I, in our American society ate fried food, drank soda pops, ice cream at night/intake of refined sugar.  That is why I cut out those types of food out of my life after he passed away.  My husband was a kid in an old body that just plum wore out.  I know he appreciates his glorified body where he can breathe freely and not worry about hay, dust, and a number of other things he was allergic to.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 2 Cor. 5:6-8

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; Phillip 1:23

The reason when we lose a person we are in a close relationhip with that it’s hard to get over that loss is because God never meant for us to die in the first place.  Our soul is not meant for separation from our loved ones or to bear such a loss, like our spirits are not meant for separation from God due to sin.  When Adam and Eve sinned, they brought death into humanity and on the whole creation.  Satan is the author of death.  God is the author of healing.  Jesus proved this when he raised Lazarus from the dead.

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—Romans 5:12

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

Jesus bore separation from God because of sin.  He knows what it is like to experience the sting of death in losing a loved one, because he bore the sting of death.  Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 1 Cor. 15:55-56

God is the healer of a broken heart and any loss we experience in life.  There are different losses that everyone goes through in life it can be a life time pet, friend, family members, a marriage that ended, a job, health, finances, house, car, dreams, or growing old.  There are a number of losses we can experience in life.  

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, Isaiah 61:1

I’m aware of bad/evil reports from others. I know: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Satan likes to discourage the downtrodden through numerous attacks.  Also through Job’s friend’s “foot in the mouth disease.” Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Matthew 16:23

Its man’s thoughts, its man’s ideas, and its man’s philosophies. It’s man who discourages. It’s my Father God who is the encourager! It’s God who lifts me up and set’s my feet on the rock.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2

Jesus was the good shepherd. Jesus laid his life down for the sheep.

God wants to give us good things and it’s His good pleasure to give us the kingdom.

So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. Luke 12:32
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84:11

I had a dream one night, and this song was playing in my dream, I believe it is related to my Heavenly Father and how he lifts me up:

You Raise Me Up

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up... To more than I can be.