I get in wrestling matches with
God at times. It’s like when Jacob
wrestled with God in his sleep. One was
last night after talking to a man who served in Vietnam and asked me why a
loving God allows such evil to exist in this world? I really don't have any "quick" answers,
but I look at Jesus life and he said the servant is not greater than the
master. (Remember what I
told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me,
they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
John 15:20)
Jesus battled continually on earth so don't think there is not a warfare going on in life. It says in Philip. 2 that he did not use any of his divine privileges, but as the second Adam, he only used what everyone has available through God (Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, Philip 2:7)
A tornado hits or something like a killing in Boston, and then people realize that we are in a warfare.
I never served in a war or been around a war torn society so I don't hear screams, smell gas or flesh burning (memory recall), had to drive over bodies in the street, or shoot women and children. I guess 90% of those killed were green and froze up the first time they had to kill someone. I don't wake up in cold sweats every night or go into a daze at times reliving a war experience. Although, the body count has risen in my family of relatives.
Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to someone who counsels war veterans. He pulled people into helicopters on a crew in Vietnam. I was speaking to a mother whose son served in Iraq. Some of their experiences is a little bit similar to what I experienced in going through a sudden death is that counselors are very ill-equipped to handle these type of war or life experiences because they never served in war---or they never had dealt with sudden death experiences in their own life. These counselors for Veterans or widows were trying to speak from case studies. They were speaking from their head not their hearts.
It's a lot better to talk to a person who has had real life experiences or served in war. Same in the body of Christ, it's better to speak to someone who understands spiritual warfare.
They had people blown up daily. My daughter Sandy went through the same thing since she was present with me at my husband's death. So for a while it's the constant "rehashing" over and over of what you should have done/could have done type of experience, and now a lack of a sound sleep I had when I was married which is only a very small taste of a war veteran. My five year old grandson James was afraid to leave me for fear (slept in bed with me), or left all the lights on at night, and every time he heard an ambulance, he thought someone died since he saw his grandfather carried away on an ambulance gurney.
In the past, I was more like a foot solider in God's army as far as I'll go anywhere and do anything for God. I was involved with several others in street evangelism for several years and experienced some 'interesting" times during the 70's and a couple of street riots during that time where people would break in and loot stores in the middle of that era --once in Washington D.C. during Nixon's resignation and another time when I was in California a riot broke out and police officer used Billy clubs to move the crowd.
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! Romans 10:15 and Isaiah 52:7
One problem with seeing myself as a foot soldier is there is a tendency to be like David treated Uriah after so many battles is that when we are on the front lines all the time, we are expendable.
Jesus battled continually on earth so don't think there is not a warfare going on in life. It says in Philip. 2 that he did not use any of his divine privileges, but as the second Adam, he only used what everyone has available through God (Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, Philip 2:7)
A tornado hits or something like a killing in Boston, and then people realize that we are in a warfare.
I never served in a war or been around a war torn society so I don't hear screams, smell gas or flesh burning (memory recall), had to drive over bodies in the street, or shoot women and children. I guess 90% of those killed were green and froze up the first time they had to kill someone. I don't wake up in cold sweats every night or go into a daze at times reliving a war experience. Although, the body count has risen in my family of relatives.
Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to someone who counsels war veterans. He pulled people into helicopters on a crew in Vietnam. I was speaking to a mother whose son served in Iraq. Some of their experiences is a little bit similar to what I experienced in going through a sudden death is that counselors are very ill-equipped to handle these type of war or life experiences because they never served in war---or they never had dealt with sudden death experiences in their own life. These counselors for Veterans or widows were trying to speak from case studies. They were speaking from their head not their hearts.
It's a lot better to talk to a person who has had real life experiences or served in war. Same in the body of Christ, it's better to speak to someone who understands spiritual warfare.
They had people blown up daily. My daughter Sandy went through the same thing since she was present with me at my husband's death. So for a while it's the constant "rehashing" over and over of what you should have done/could have done type of experience, and now a lack of a sound sleep I had when I was married which is only a very small taste of a war veteran. My five year old grandson James was afraid to leave me for fear (slept in bed with me), or left all the lights on at night, and every time he heard an ambulance, he thought someone died since he saw his grandfather carried away on an ambulance gurney.
In the past, I was more like a foot solider in God's army as far as I'll go anywhere and do anything for God. I was involved with several others in street evangelism for several years and experienced some 'interesting" times during the 70's and a couple of street riots during that time where people would break in and loot stores in the middle of that era --once in Washington D.C. during Nixon's resignation and another time when I was in California a riot broke out and police officer used Billy clubs to move the crowd.
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! Romans 10:15 and Isaiah 52:7
One problem with seeing myself as a foot soldier is there is a tendency to be like David treated Uriah after so many battles is that when we are on the front lines all the time, we are expendable.
No one serving as a soldier gets
entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding
officer. 2 Timothy 2:4
I have found that human life is very valuable. We see a clue of this when God sent Jonah to go and preach to Nineveh. Jonah apparently did not like them, and did not want to do it. God spoke about the cattle and the young children.
I have found that human life is very valuable. We see a clue of this when God sent Jonah to go and preach to Nineveh. Jonah apparently did not like them, and did not want to do it. God spoke about the cattle and the young children.
And should I not have concern for the
great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand
people who cannot tell their right hand from their left--and also many
animals?" Jonah 4:11
It's hard to see a loving God in war
times. I find one scripture that talks about the reason for war:
What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don't they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:1-3
When we place a low value on ourselves at times than it's easier to dishonor others. After being treated with contempt in a former marriage, God used a woman at my workplace to help me understand how men have been treated with contempt too, and I was able to put their shoes on my feet. It really helped me break that cycle of what happened in me so I did not disrespect men in return.
It may have been a little easier for people on the Titanic to ignore the screams of the people in the water thinking they were steerage. Same way with watching how Rosa Lee Parks refused to see herself as devalued to go to the back of the bus as far as the way the blacks were treated with separate water faucets and use different bathrooms, etc. A devalue of other races. That happened in Jesus times with the Samaritans. A little easier to shut away the elderly and ignore them and get an abortion when we don't value human life, but see babies as a fetus. A little easier to kill or ignore the oppressed at times.
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 14:31
Contempt: The feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn. The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.
We can also treat God's word and his grace with contempt.
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4
What I have come to find out is that God sees us as ambassadors for him. I've been sent on assignment from God so I pray about those assignments and at times it may be those "short" negotiations. Sort of like the Jedi knights had very short negotiations with the Trade Federation on Star Wars, but I recognize who my commanding officer is.
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20
What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don't they come from the cravings that are at war within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:1-3
When we place a low value on ourselves at times than it's easier to dishonor others. After being treated with contempt in a former marriage, God used a woman at my workplace to help me understand how men have been treated with contempt too, and I was able to put their shoes on my feet. It really helped me break that cycle of what happened in me so I did not disrespect men in return.
It may have been a little easier for people on the Titanic to ignore the screams of the people in the water thinking they were steerage. Same way with watching how Rosa Lee Parks refused to see herself as devalued to go to the back of the bus as far as the way the blacks were treated with separate water faucets and use different bathrooms, etc. A devalue of other races. That happened in Jesus times with the Samaritans. A little easier to shut away the elderly and ignore them and get an abortion when we don't value human life, but see babies as a fetus. A little easier to kill or ignore the oppressed at times.
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. Proverbs 14:31
Contempt: The feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn. The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.
We can also treat God's word and his grace with contempt.
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4
What I have come to find out is that God sees us as ambassadors for him. I've been sent on assignment from God so I pray about those assignments and at times it may be those "short" negotiations. Sort of like the Jedi knights had very short negotiations with the Trade Federation on Star Wars, but I recognize who my commanding officer is.
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20
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