Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Hero, Anyone?

Not the sandwich ok? I’m referring to a real live person that we can look to for inspiration, encouragement,  and strength!
Now, of course, Jesus is THE Ultimate Superhero!
Looking unto Him, the author and finisher of our faith, Who, while fully God, became fully man, walked in our shoes, overcame sin and conquered death, is fully uplifting. Keeping our focus on Him who lives to intercede for us and is soon coming back to get us, provides loads of faith-boosting fire in the belly!
But, He gave us even more heroic examples to relate to. People who, just like you and I overcame enormous obstacles and endured immense suffering all because of their unwillingness to yield to doubt, fear and lies.
In Hebrews 11, there is a list of fellow followers of God and their stories:
Here are a few:
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child  when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”  19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, 
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in  Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 
33 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy.
Ok, seriously. Doesn’t that just get your heart pounding??
None of us really want to be nominal Christians do we? Slithering back from the battle lines? No. I believe inside each of God’s children lies the heart of a warrior.

When I shared with my closest friend’s the discovery of this new intruder in my body,
they asked me what they could do. They were pretty distraught ( I think they might really like me..:) I said, “Fight with me....We are not of those who shrink back. We are warrior princesses!”
The next day I got this picture from one of them and it made me laugh...a lot. 
( A merry heart does good like medicine. Prov. 17:22).


Then ....it made me want to me brave.
I know that on my own I am a weak wavering and wandering soul and that I can do NOTHING with out Him (John 15:5).
But I want to fight for His glory, by His power and for His purposes!
Like David asked his mocking discouraging brother, before he faced the giant Goliath, “Is there not a cause?’ 
The answer is a resounding “yes!” There is a purpose to all you and I encounter. We may not fully understand it. We may get mad, ...even really mad. But, when we let our faith be our compass, we find direction and a few modern day heroes along the way!
(In fact, I saw a couple of familiar heroes at the Cancer Center....:)

So, no matter what you are facing today, and I know you are facing stuff, 
remember.we have our swords up with you!
The Word of God, that two edged Sword of the Spirit, that will not fail or falter. 
And HE is our shield!
United in Him, with you.
*To update you all. Yesterday, the doctor ordered more tests before she could determine the best treatment course for me.
A brain MRI ( scheduled for Friday) a bronchoscopy with biopsy and an endoscopy with biopsy. There is a suspicious lymph node at the base of my esophagus where the bronchial tubes branch out. I would LOVE to have both those scopes and biopsies done at the same time..(I would already be knocked out and the doctors perform them in same suite). When I asked about that happening, they kinda thought that would be at the very least difficult, if not impossible due to coordinating doctors. I will submit, of course to God’s will and wisdom. But. will you stand with me in asking for this impossibility from our God with whom all things are possible?  I really want to get things rolling.....:) 
“Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler,
And stand up for my help. Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.” Psalm 35:1-3




Fellow warriors: If you want to, Post a scripture about God being our shield, fighting for us or encouraging us to be brave! Thanks!

16 comments:

  1. Okay so maybe this scripture is not exactly what you had in mind, just the same though when my family went through one of the biggest challenges of our life when my husband suffered a brain injury 2 1/2 years ago I felt as if God helped us and was our sheild in so many ways one being our family and friends helping us and interceding on our behalf ... they were kind of like our Aaron and Hur in Exodus 17:11-13 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
    In Christ love,
    Kelly Stevens

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  2. Psalms 61:1-5
    1 Hear my cry, O God;
    Attend to my prayer.
    2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
    When my heart is overwhelmed;
    Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

    3 For You have been a shelter for me,
    A strong tower from the enemy.
    4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
    I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

    5 For You, O God, have heard my vows;
    You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.

    Praying for strength and courage for you and your family moment by moment.
    Love and Blessings to you,
    Barbara Chronister

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  3. For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
    2 Timothy 1:7

    You go our Princess Warrior!!! Love!!!!!

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  5. Psalm 27:1-6
    "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident. One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord." Amen! (Cathy T.)

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  7. Habakkuk 3:19: The Lord is my strength; He gives me feet like deer's feet, and He makes me walk my high hills.

    He gives us the tools we need in order to fight our battles. When we are weak, He is there to hold us up. That is the way of a soldier. He is our general - our eternal King - and best of all, He is also OUR FATHER.

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  8. I will pray for the impossible! I have seen God do many impossible things in the past, so keep pressing forward and we stand with you.

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  9. Prayer for Rescue from Persecutors. Psalm 57
    Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,
    For my soul takes refuge in You;
    And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. I will cry to God Most High,To God who accomplishes all things for me. He will send from heaven and save me;He reproaches him who tramples upon me.
    God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.
    May the Lord remove this thorn from your flesh.
    God Bless...Linda

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  10. Isaiah 41:10
    Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

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  11. Here you go: Jeremiah 33:1-3 "Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 2 “Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name): 3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Praying for the strength you and Robert need every day from Him and that all your procedures go smoothly. Bonnie

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  12. Yes, Lisa we must fight on for God's glory - all the way. "So he answered and said to me: "This [is] the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts." (Zech:4:6)

    Your kinswoman in this cause who's been shaped to truly know the "battle belongs to the Lord." (1 Samuel 17:47) Seriously - let me know if you need anything. :-) Cherrie Huseby

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  13. "You are my hiding place and my shield. I hope in your word." Psalms 119:114 How reassuring to know that we can claim God's promises and stand firm in Him. Your blog is encouraging to me, Lisa. Praying for God's will in the timing of each test scheduled next to give you answers quickly to press forward with treatment. Loving you....Toni

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  14. The lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted on him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise him. Psalm 28:7. Blessings to both of you love Irma

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  15. Lisa,
    Psalm 16 is wonderful. I pray God will continually fill you with His unending peace, joy, and strength in the journey you face. My aunt goes to your church and I sent out a prayer request to my church here in Wisconsin so we will be fighting with you.
    May Gods peace be with you
    Lori

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  16. "For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me," says the Lord. Jeremiah 39:18
    Warrior princesses unite!!!!
    P R A Y I N G ! ! !
    Love you!

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