Hello girlfriends!
(Here's some of what I've been doing...playing in my yard! ) 
I am gulity of being on Facebook more than my blog because I can pop in and out and keep in touch with you all. If you haven't added me yet, please do! :)
I had a Praise and Coffee Night this past week and it was so much fun. I really thought it would be a low turn-out because of summer and all, but you blew me away! You all wanted some girlfriend time out!
It was a great evening, we had lots of laughs and then some tears in our small groups. I'm so looking forward to October 8th when we meet again :) My one regret- I forgot my camera so I have no pictures of you beautiful women!
One of the things I shared that night was out of the book of James. I think it holds a very simple yet profound truth for us. The main part I shared was:
James 4:8
Come near to God and He will come near to you.
NIV
Really, so simple. It doesn't matter where you are, or what you've done...if you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you.
I want you to read the rest of the verse because it is all so powerful:
James 4:6-10
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
NIV
I love, love, love this!
In fact a friend sent me a message today with this verse in it and she added..."we are not called to run from the devil, but to resist him."
Think about it.
We are not to flee when trials and struggles come (as is so often our natural response) but we are to stand-resist-and fight! Then the devil will flee from US.
Girls, fight that good fight- don't back down. Don't give up. Don't run away from the battle. Be strong in the Lord and His mighty power and fight-resist until he flees.
This is no time to be double-minded. The enemy is not double-minded, he is determined to take you down, so stand and take back the things he's stolen from you...hope, joy, peace- those are promises to God's children, they are rightfully yours.
We start by drawing near to Him with a humble heart...I promise He'll walk you through each step after that if you trust Him to!
It really is that simple!
I'll try to keep in touch this week if I have service at the lake!
Much love,
Sue
7 comments:
Sue, it was a wonderful night and I'm so glad I was there. As far as suffering and trials, I also think about the burden of chronic things we have no control over and trying to find joy in the suffering. A very tall order, but one thing I try and do is offer those up as sacrificial prayers for others. It's amazing what you can accept and embrace when you turn it into a prayer.
Amen and Amen again. Such true statements when you said:
"In fact a friend sent me a message today with this verse in it and she added..."we are not called to run from the devil, but to resist him."
Think about it.
We are not to flee when trials and struggles come (as is so often our natural response) but we are to stand-resist-and fight! Then the devil will flee from US."
Fight. Resist. I have prayed that Scripture before. That Scripture says in James 4:7 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
It doesn't say the enemy might flee. It doesn't say the enemy may sometimes flee. What does it say? First, submit yourself to God. Then resist the devil. Then the devil WILL flee from you. When you resist the enemy in the power of God, the enemy has no choice but to go - to flee. Hallelujah!!!!
Hope you have a wonderful time at the lake!
Karen
I'm with you - Sue. Have declined somewhat on my summer blogging because so much has been going on in my life.
Yard/flowers look great!
I am telling you the devil is in full force attack against our church right now. We have to stand firm and put on the WHOLE armor!
Praise the Lord He equips us with the tools we need to fight.
I have not really been blogging that much this summer either since I got a job in May that has been REALLY busy!:o)
What a great post...I love those verses.:o)
Perfect timing with this post Sue. I've found that the best way to resist the enemy is to stay close to the Lord. I need to submit each and every day to Him and ask Him to transform me through His Word. And then He is able to use me as His vessel. When I yield it all to Him, He can work in and through me to reach others.
Thanks for connecting with me on Facebook and LinkedIn, Sue.
Sue, thanks for your words, always. You are brave to do Facebook, I can barely keep up with blogging!
Have a great day!
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