With today’s blog post I am aiming to return to the Monday,
Wednesday, Friday schedule I had switched to a couple of years ago. With all the craziness of the move, my posts
have been coming out here, there and everywhere with no pattern at all. So, hopefully… today will get us back on some
semblance of a schedule!
Things here in Oklahoma are beginning to take a form of
normalness for me… not like it is similar to anything before, but normal
to this time and chapter of my life. As
I drive around Broken Arrow and the southern parts of Tulsa, listen to local
Christian radio, observe local ads on TV, visit various stores and government offices
while shopping or attending to state residency regulations and attending
church, I am reminded again, that this area is totally different then other
areas of the country that I have lived in, visited or researched.
People are blatantly open about their Christian
faith! Windows in store fronts, business
ads, bumper stickers and public conversations openly display the Christian
faith and Biblical principles. And while
the physical landscape of the state is totally different and maybe not as
beautiful in the ways that I’m used to, the spiritual atmosphere and
friendliness of the people more than makes up for it.
Before we moved back here, I made up my mind to see Oklahoma
with a new set of eyes. To view it
through the uniqueness of its location in the country, to become educated with
and a part of its special history and to live with the fact that this is now HOME...
my home! When we temporarily moved here
in 2006, I was strictly focused on attending Bible School with the plan of
returning home to California as soon as we could to get back to the call that I
received in the mid-1970’s and whatever ministry the Lord had waiting for
me.
The first six months was like heaven and then things began
to surface concerning Piper’s health needs.
From that point on my life consisted of school, a full-time job and
going to doctor’s offices on my days off.
Needless to say, I wasn’t really enjoying my surroundings! But now… well, let’s just say that I have
a different perspective!
Over the last few months as I prepared for the move and then
after being here for going on three weeks now, it seems like the Lord is tiding
up loose ends. He’s been showing me bits
and pieces of Biblical facts that are helping me to bring closure to many of
the rough events of the last twelve years.
Last night just before I turned off the lights, I read from
1 Peter 5:8-9. This morning I immediately
went there again as I began my daily Bible study. Last night I was reading from the King James
translation but today I reached for a modern twist on Peter’s teaching. The Message Bible tells us to, “Keep a
cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing
better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only
ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the
world. So keep a firm grip on the faith.”
I like to follow the life pattern of keeping a cool head
and staying alert throughout the ups and downs of daily life. It is something that I had to become very
aware of during the eight years I cared for Piper 24/7. I did not ever want to be caught napping on
the job when her life was literally in my hands! The King James version declares that “the
devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…”
Wuest’s Word Studies informs us that “the word 'roaring' in
the Greek text speaks of the howl of a beast in fierce hunger.” In other words… and we had first-hand experience
with this… the devil doesn’t mess around when it comes to attacking you
when you’re in a vulnerable position. Let
me assure you that his tactics are vicious, underhanded, and worse
than you could ever imagine… and his attacks can and most likely will come from
places you’d never thought possible.
But our verse also gives us a major key to our success over
his potential attacks. If you’ll notice,
the end of verse states that he “Walketh about, seeking whom he MAY devour.” The choice is up to you and me… but you
need to stay alert, not be caught napping and then resist him when he attempts
to harm you and yours.
So yes… this time around is different
for me in Oklahoma. I not only have a
different outlook and purpose here, but am MUCH MORE aware of my
surroundings in the physical as well as in the spiritual
realms. I’m staying cool-headed and
alert. And I am very sensitive to and
knowledgeable of the depths of depravity that the enemy of our
souls will go to in his attempts to foal up our days… with the eventual goal
of destroying our lives. (See: John
10:10)
How about you? How
alert are you?
Have a wonderful celebration of our country (here in the
USA) tomorrow, be proud to fly the Red, White and Blue, and be proud of who
you are in Christ! Happy, Blessed and Safe
4th of July…
- Jim
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