Fight the good fight
I woke up this morning to NPR's announcement that homosexual couples can "marry" in California. I wished I could put the pillow over my head and go back to sleep and hope that all would be well in the world when I woke up.
Instead, I had to get up. There were meals to make, children to feed and care for, a husband to love, laundry to do, noses to wipe, and diapers to change.
I pulled myself out of bed and opened my Bible to read in Nehemiah and this verse almost jumped off the page at me:
"Be ye not afraid of them: remember the LORD... and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses." (Nehemiah 4:14)
Be not afraid.
Look to the Lord.
And fight.
Much as I sometimes wish I could run away from all the ungodliness and humanism which is prevalent in the world, God has put me where He has for a reason. He has called me to a great work. I cannot shirk this responsibility He has given me to glorify Him as a child of God, a daughter of the King of Kings, a help meet to my wonderful husband, a mother to my two precious daughters.
This verse gave me resolve to face the day with all it's challenges, to stand firm in my beliefs even when it seems the world is crumbling around me, and to throw myself into raising up "intercontinental ballistic missiles" (to quote Voddie Baucham!) for the glory of God.
I may not be able to change the world, but I can have an impact in my home by training and raising up my daughters to be valiant warriors for the Cross of Christ.
The world may laugh, the world may scoff, the world may persecute.
I must persevere. I must press on. I must be faithful.
And I must "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12), "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
Instead, I had to get up. There were meals to make, children to feed and care for, a husband to love, laundry to do, noses to wipe, and diapers to change.
I pulled myself out of bed and opened my Bible to read in Nehemiah and this verse almost jumped off the page at me:
"Be ye not afraid of them: remember the LORD... and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses." (Nehemiah 4:14)
Be not afraid.
Look to the Lord.
And fight.
Much as I sometimes wish I could run away from all the ungodliness and humanism which is prevalent in the world, God has put me where He has for a reason. He has called me to a great work. I cannot shirk this responsibility He has given me to glorify Him as a child of God, a daughter of the King of Kings, a help meet to my wonderful husband, a mother to my two precious daughters.
This verse gave me resolve to face the day with all it's challenges, to stand firm in my beliefs even when it seems the world is crumbling around me, and to throw myself into raising up "intercontinental ballistic missiles" (to quote Voddie Baucham!) for the glory of God.
I may not be able to change the world, but I can have an impact in my home by training and raising up my daughters to be valiant warriors for the Cross of Christ.
The world may laugh, the world may scoff, the world may persecute.
I must persevere. I must press on. I must be faithful.
And I must "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12), "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
Labels: Current Events, Do Hard Things
posted by Crystal Paine at 8:26 PM
36 Comments:
It's hard to trust in the "mustard seed" faith we have...but God's word is true and He is faithful. Though at times it seems like evil prevails and "What in the world am I doing here?" screams through my head and I feel like I'm not having an impact on souls to harvest them for God's kingdom, the Lord keeps reminding me that my simple obedience in unseen places is being used by Him.
Lord, help me to obey you no matter what the cost or what the world does! Help me to pray fervently and do the unseen work of faith!
Bless you Crystal for your faithfulness to our Lord!
sheila
When I found out about the news from California, I, too was wanting to wish it away. Thank you for your scripture verse from Nehemiah. We're studying that book in our adult Sunday school class and it's a great book of encouragement for the age we're living in right now. I'm 45 with 3 teenage boys who have to face a world full of lies. I'm so thankful that Christ promises to increase our faith - Oh, we need Him!
Thanks,
Rosa
Thank you for this post, Crystal. I have found myself fearing the directions of our nation more lately and I needed to be reminded of what you shared. Have a great day!
Amen to you and this post Crystal. In church on Sunday the preasher said that "there is no victory without a battle." This struck a huge cord with me. We may not like the battle but in Jesus we WILL be victorous. I have been feeling belittled in my beliefs recently and it is so good to hear that all over the world there are those who are quietly fighing away for God and all He stands for.
Thank you,
Amy
Amen. Thanks for the encouragement, esp as a possible move to CA looms closer than I thought. (We'll have to talk....)
Thank you for such a lovely and encouraging post.
I woke up to the very same news story on NPR. Funny to think we were waking up at the same time and listening to the same story. (I'm in SE Georgia).
I too wanted to throw my head under the pillow. I just cuddled up closer to my husband and enjoyed him.
After that I got up, put the baked oatmeal in the oven, got my son up and dressed and prepared to receive my niece who stays here during the day. Life goes on.
Thanks again for being such an encouragement.
Thank you for the reminder about our duties regardless of what is going on in the world around us. It does get discouraging ~ I find myself envious of the women who lived and raised their families in what seemed, at least, to be more wholesome times. But then I remember that God appointed me for this time and that He will equip me to raise my children and be a helpmeet to my husband, even in these trying times, if I will trust Him. Thanks for the encouragement!
My 11 year old son caught this on the news this morning. As we've had this talk numerous times about sodomy and how wicked it is he said to me "Mom, I don't understand how those people can think that's ok and right". I praise the Lord for his Holy Word and the truth he has given us!
I think I am more disturbed by the fact that many states now mandate uni-sex bathrooms- meaning anyone can use any bathroom by law. What does that mean for my daughter using a public restroom when it's now OK for a male sex offender to use the women's bathroom?
Crystal - This is a particular problem in our own little provience at the moment too.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7447850.stm
Our politicians are getting into trouble for their christian stance.
I appreciate your post to-day - very timely.
Blessings From Northern Ireland
You don't even have a paying job, so it isn't your tax dollars that are being affected by homosexuals getting benefits. Your children aren't going to be gay (God forbid!), so they won't be taking advantage of this new law. Just because it's okay by the state, doesn't mean it's going to be okay by churches! Separation of church and state...it works both ways.
Here here! I agree with you on this issue Crystal. The more we are tolerate anti-Christian behavior, the more prevalent it becomes!
Crystal -
I JUST posted today about how we are to be obedient no matter the cost.
I think we are only going to see that "cost" rise higher each day!
Sigh. Thank you for the pep talk - I needed it. We live in California. It was a sad day.
You are absolutely correct, Crystal! I, also, found it extremely disheartening that this marriage sham is being allowed in California. But as in all things, God is in control and these things will work to His glory.
Very well said! It's often so concerning and scary, the world that we are raising our children in! We must teach them to fight the good fight in faith as well.
I was in lost of words to know that people were marrying the same sex. My heart is sadden by this. I do pray for those who married same sex for their salvation.
I really like your blog, I'm not surrounded by sister in the faith in my town, but the Lord has put all different kind of woman in my life to help me in my Christian walk (women who like out of my state). I'm just saying that I love your blog and the things you post for young women. I did email you but I guess you did no get it but it is okay.
Anonymous: Welcome! I'm guessing you are new around here; we're glad to have you.
I work from home a few hours per day during my girls' afternoon naptimes or in the morning before they are awake. Since I'm self-employed, I pay around 25% of my earnings in taxes.
However, it's not the tax issue that bothers me; it's the blatant humanism that has swept into this culture, the blindness to the things of God, the utter disregard for morality... that is what bothers me most. And that is why I must fight and raise up my children to be strong warriors in this sin-sick world of darkness.
Thank you for this good word.....a timely reminder that our battle is not against the flesh. My beloved church is under huge oppression from the enemy, having consecrated a practicing homosexual as BISHOP in 2003, and he recently "married" his partner.
Yikes. I have to keep repeating that verse over and over, and now I have yours to add as well.
Well said, Crystal. Thank you for the encouragement!
:o)Rachel
All I can say is AMEN to your entire post.
The fallen one has earned a victory over mankind yet again. All those poor, lost souls. My heart aches for them. I pray they realize how much Christ loves them and wants to lead them toward salvation!
Thankfully . . . no one can defeat the Lord. May He help us all. May He have mercy on us all.
Why is this sin any different than any other sin? Why aren't Christians as vocal about adultery among heterosexuals, stealing, murder, etc., etc. I don't get it. My Bible says "Judge not, lest ye be judged... Frankly, I'm sick of all the gay-bashing. We should love one another as we are loved. I cannot condemn others when I am a sinner, too.
I came across this verse while reading today's proverb with my kids:
"He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord." (Proverbs 17:15)
As Christians we often get so bent out of shape about what unbelievers stand for that is contrary to what God's word teaches, and we forget that what HE thinks MATTERS MOST OF ALL in the end. Every person will one day answer to HIM for their life and choices. (And I have great confidence that the word abomination is not a good thing.)
Not exactly sure what I'm getting at here. I don't think we should stand back and approve of abominable sin, but I also don't think we need to live in fear because our society is going down the toilet. THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM IS THE GOSPEL, not legislation or political activism.
I'm easily tempted to fear when I wonder what kind of twisted person could possibly be using the toilet next to me, or whatever. But instead of letting my imagination run wild, I need to be reminded that "the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)
That's my little sermon for the day. :)
Now off to hang wet laundry and catch up on dirty dishes!
Merrilee
Anonymous:
The sin of homosexuality is just as heinous as every other sin. It is sin and God hates it.
And I will stand and fight against it just as I will stand and fight against adultery, abortion, stealing, murder... for Scripture encourages us to "judge righteous judgment".
You are absolutely right that but for the grace of God, I would be living in sin as well. I am nothing apart from His grace.
Those who are living in sin need a Saviour just as much as you and I. However, that does not mean we gloss over sin.
Nor does that mean we just blindly accept a state condoning sin that is in direct defiance of God's Word.
If a state ruled that it was legal to rape underage girls or legal to shoot people at whim, would you recommend we all just hide our faces and overlook this? I think not! We'd stand and fight for our children, our daughters, and our lives!
So we cannot stand idly by when evil prevails. We must take a stand for Truth and we must raise our children up to know the Truth and love the Truth and live the Truth.
By God's grace, we can make a difference in this sin-darkened culture--one life at a time!
YES! we cannot allow the things around us to take our focus off what's right in front of us. we must remain on-purpose women who pray and cry out for those who are so stuck in sins mud. it's God's heart that none perish and we have this ability to partner with Him over the things that are His heart...right in our homes...through praying. and, when we've prayed...pray some more...and then stand.
I wrote about such things Monday Crystal. I saw the picture of those two grandmotherly women , the first to get "legally wed" in CA and it made me cry. They think they are happy but we cannot be blind to God's purposes and be really happy. I feel His pain and love for them and it breaks my heart. They same way it breaks my heart to see the abortion rights folks. They would rather have their lifestyles than the fullness of His love. Oh that hurts so bad. Yes it is possible to raise children in this day and age who see the truth of God and the desire to live for Him but it is like the salmon who swims upstream. It is possible, and so worth it, but not at all easy.
blessings, Penny Raine
http://www.pennyraine.com/blog
GREAT post. I grabbed my Bible and underlined all those passages.
Thank you for not being scared to speak up!!
I myself have been on and off the fence about this particular issue... but God really spoke in my heart this morning and what it comes down to is that the State is sanctioning something that is an abomination to the Lord; this will have powerful ramifications for the entire nation.
But: "Be not afraid, for I am with you," (sorry I don't remember which chapter/verse this is from)... and "The LORD is my Light and my Salvation: whom shall I fear?" (Psalms 27:1)
Crystal I respect you so much by sticking to your beliefs! This world teaches us to accept everyone as they are, if Gays are "BORN" gay, then soon Murderers will be "BORN" that way as will pedophiles and others who sin against God.
Are we to accept that too? Perhaps even assist in their sin by causing it to be legal.
Good for you Crystal, and a big AMEN to ya!
You go Crystal....I so much admire your calm demeanor in the face of adversity...
God Bless,
Erin
Just the encouragement I needed to start the day! Thank you!
I can empathize with you. We went through this a couple of years ago in Canada. We have the "distinction" of being one of the first countries in the world to grant this "right".
When the law was passed, there was a flurry of weddings. The funny thing was that about a week later they had to fight for the right to get divorces. Apparently it was a separate issue under the law.??
Thank you. This is long and you don't have to post it in your comments ... I just wanted to respond to you. We live in Oregon ... where we just lost that "battle" as well. It is with great sadness that I realize more and more that our nation is not Christian any longer.
I struggle with just how far to enter the foray. I strongly believe that if Christians would merely act like Christians, we would have a far greater impact on society than through all our legislative and lobbying efforts. Not to say that any of those are wrong, nor to say that any of those have held back the advancing darkness or brought the Light to light. They have. I just remember being truly amazed while watching a video produced by a Christian company that was bringing some of these things to light. In the video there was this part where a "Christian" man walks by and an unbeliever spits on him in the courtroom. The producers of the video saw fit to place this part in the video, without commenting on what happened next. The "Christian" man gets amazingly angry, his face fills with hate and he has to be held back from attacking the unbeliever. For some reason, this was included to show how Christians are mistreated. And yet, all my husband and I could think was, "Wow ... that wasn't the face of Jesus when people spat on Him."
So ... I think that there is nothing inherently wrong with being a Daniel. In fact, that is a great and mighty call. And we should all be Daniels in some way. And yet ... Daniel was Daniel, not because he had the position or sought for power or law change, but because of who He was in God. And because of his character and God's sovereignty, he was elevated to a position of power.
I think of all this often and wonder if, as you often encourage everyone and as you do yourself, we made it a huge priority to live as Jesus would want us to, being who He wants us to be, witnessing to our neighbors, taking care of the church, being a true light ... just how much more of a difference we might make than fighting a law that, sadly, just proves that unbelievers act like unbelievers. I understand the great significance for our nation ... that we are leaving our moorings ... but our moorings matter not if we do not live them today. And I find it hard to expect unbelievers to be anything but unbelievers.
Just some thoughts that I have struggled with greatly because of living in Oregon where this is going on as well.
brooke
Some thoughts from the other side of this issue. I understand that the Bible (essentially) states that homosexual acts are a sin that God is angered by homosexuality.
But isn't that a matter between the individuals and God? What I can't understand is why so many people feel personally threatened about the decision of two gay people to make a lifetime commitment to each other. What is it about their decision makes it a harder place to raise your children or a less wholesome world for you to inhabit? I honestly don't understand the problem or what it is about this that would make even someone of devout Christian belief pull the covers over her head.
-- Happy Feminist
HF: Leaving the fact that homosexuality is a heinous sin which flies in the face of God's design aside for a moment, I am especially concerned with the government condoning something which is not only incredibly unhealthy for people (the physical consequences often resulting from this gross lifestyle are life-threatening), but is an abomination in the sight of God.
This is not just between two individuals and God, this is the government saying that it is okay for two individuals to be living this way.
As I said before, would we think it were okay if the government had condoned rape of minor girls or random murder of innocent individuals? Just as God's Word clearly states that murder and rape are sinful, so homosexuality is also sinful. The government's rubber-stamping of this lifestyle is very disheartening. What will be next? That pedophilia is also an acceptable, honorable lifestyle??
When the government no longer has moral absolutes based upon the Word of God but based in the humanism of man, it is cause for grave concern.
However, God will ultimately win the battle and someday every knee will bow before Him--including the knees of those who are currently living a lifestyle in complete rebellion towards Him--and they will call Him Lord.
HF, may you come to a saving knowledge of His grace before it is too late. I pray this for you and for all of the others reading this blog who know not the wonder, the grace, the majesty, the forgiveness, and the peace which comes from walking with the Lord.
I also just didn't want to hear about it. Really, for some reason this news emphasized to me how very, very *weary* I am of the whole issue. Ack.
And I've got friends, relatives, and a sibling who were yelling and crying with *joy* over the change.
I'm still trying to figure out how to fight while maintaining grace and compassion for my loved ones who are so lost. :(
Thank you Crystal! I know I am coming a little late on this, I am just now catching up on my internet reading this week! But I wanted to thank you for this encouraging message! As many others have said, I too have felt very discouraged by this news- and I often wish I was born in a different time. But then I remember that we have been born for such a time as this! God knew when we would be born and living in this world, and He placed us here for this time for a reason! Thak you so much for reminding me!
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