Sunday 5/16/21 – Slippery

Thank You Lord, for this beautiful day. It was nothing short of perfect. We attended church last night which allowed for a “lazy” day which was rather productive, in it’s own way. It started with morning devotions together, inviting several individuals to the Bible (you version) app and inviting them to do devotionals with me. Not sure anyone will respond except for my wife (they haven’t yet) but I’m learning that you can never underestimate the power of planting a seed. Even the devil believes in that, he knows he’s only going to reap what we sows, so he throws a lot of mud in our direction to see what sticks. Similar to facebook ads where there whole idea is for you to stay looking at that ad a few seconds longer. Once they know what works they push more and more of that in your direction because the efforts are no longer wasted until you learn to resist him, that is when he will flee as he also has to be a good steward of his demons and if the distractions and addictions he lobbed in your direction don’t stick he’ll move on to the next unsuspecting soul and come back to you later with something “better”. I was reminded of The Shining today, cute story, right? Well it starts out good, right? Man wants to write book, man has writers block, man takes a job at a secluded (not to mention haunted) mansion so that he can spend more time with his family, right? Or was it so he could focus and break through his writers block? The demons start tormenting him and he starts to drink again. He drinks more to cope and quiet his demons. This process leads him to lowering his inhibitions and he accidentally enters the spiritual realm. However, he enters the spiritual realm with seemingly no armor and loses his soul. The weapons of spiritual warfare do not look like normal weapons you use to fight flesh and blood. The enemy is slippery, he doesn’t use ridiculous ways to get us off track where as the Holy Spirit’s ways sometimes do look ridiculous to us here on earth. satan uses the “voice of reason” at times and it sounds so good, he makes it sounds so good but the theology is off just enough that you can start spotting his lies. Other times, he is in your face. I witnessed his demons at work in our community pool this afternoon. I heard “his voice,” it’s not the sound of his voice but the way he says things to tempt us and others. A little boy, maybe 12 or so was talking to a younger girl and asking her if she asked her mom if she could spend the night (I assumed cousins or something but that’s no important to the story). The little girl replied and said no, her mom said it was a school night and not to ask her again. The little boy proceeded to ask if she had asked her mom “this way or that way” I couldn’t believe my ears and how blatant the disobedience that was being stirred up was, and how much it was in my face. I didn’t say anything to the little boy as it was not my place at that time, staying in my lane. All of the moms of this group of children were talking to each other and oblivious as to what was going on, much like I have been in the past. Fast forward to my 5 year old, my youngest, she started playing with this group of kids. The playing together started innocent, as it usually does, and then the boy started getting aggressive with my daughter and spraying her directly in the face, she said stop multiple times. At that time he unexpectedly entered my lane. I said to the boy I’m pretty sure I heard her say stop! When he was stunned for a moment but looked like he was not going to let me stop him, EVERYONE was waiting to see what I would do next, including me. What came out next I still don’t believe and it happened to me and right in front of me. Disclaimer: I do not have this much wisdom on my own – I reprimanded my daughter and brought her back close to us and said it doesn’t look like you were playing very nice with those kids, what’s going on? To my surprise she agreed with me, all the other children felt bad for her and said she was playing nice. I feel like I showed my daughter the love of Jesus today because I feel like Jesus has done the same things for me, I also showed her in a very discreet manor how to exit a bad situation where a boy hasn’t been taught by an adult figure that when a girl/woman says no, it means just that. If he doesn’t respond to “no,” find a discreet way to walk/run/swim away and remove yourself from that situation. The story doesn’t end there but it does for tonight. Moral of the story, don’t be Jack, put on the armor of God if you’re willing to surrender ALL, as I believe by surrendering ALL you end up lowering your inhibitions and can accidentally enter the spiritual realm. -A humble spiritual warrior

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” -1 Corinthians 10:13

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever, Amen. -The Lords prayer

Thank You Lord, praise You Lord, bless You Lord Jesus. Thank You for giving me the grand tour, showing me around this world, leading, guiding and directing me all along the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.