Fighting Unfit

Well it's been such a long time since a post, heck I'm even surprised I am even writing this post as it has been so long and I thought this blog was behind me!

Today hasn't been a great day because I have been ill but I always find I am more reflective when I am ill.

A lot has happened since my last post, the most life changing of these things being my marriage to the wonderful Caitlin :)

With the marriage we moved to a new house in a place called Tremorfa. Tremorfa means 'sea town' in Welsh and it is in the south easterly part of Cardiff about a mile from the city centre. It has a reputation for being rough and sometimes peoples attitudes towards it remind me of the way the Jews spoke of Nazareth in the Bible. So far we have only found some of the loveliest people and had no problems whatsoever, our God is mighty.

We moved to Tremorfa to be a part of Belmont Baptist Church and Ignite's mission to bring the Gospel and God's blessing (for there are many blessings along with salvation!) to an area with 91% unemployment (according to one survey I read) and allegedly 2/3 illiteracy.

I can already see and, I truly believe, God's work in this area and it is such a blessing to be a part of it with such a wonderful group of brothers and sisters in Christ.

However because of this, the enemy is at work. Satan will hate nothing more than his strongholds that cause the awful things that have afflicted the world and particularly this area of it being demolished by God's work through us.

I realised today that the spiritual battle is alive within me, I realised that those moments of self doubt, temptation to do other things than be with God and unwise or fearful choices I have made have been, in part, Satan fighting against me.

There is a problem when you are in a fight but more so when you don't know you are in one.

Please pray for me that God's will shall be done in my life, in our lives as a married couple and in this lovely area that we now call home.

Christian brothers and sisters, know the battles you are fighting, give them to God and fight the good fight of faith.

Those who don't know God, know that you too are in a spiritual battle. Satan would hate nothing more than for God to be in your life and for you to be blessed beyond all recognition and bless others as a result.

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The real haters

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/08/22/signs-attack-religion-ahead-democratic-convention/

'Just as the city of Charlotte, N.C., gears up to host the Democratic National Convention, an atheist group is mounting a billboard campaign attacking the religious faiths of President Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney.

The signs, paid for by American Atheists Incorporated (AAI) and appearing along keylocal highways, include messages such as: "Christianity: Sadistic God, Useless Savior." and "Mormonism: Magic Underwear, Baptizes Dead People, Big Money, Big Bigotry." AAI President David Silverman told FoxNews.com the signs are aimed at keeping religion and politics separate as the convention gets under way Sept. 3.'

The anti-Christian billboard actually includes that Christianity 'Promotes Hate, and calls it love'.

Jesus stood against many things and many people in the Bible, one group he particularly opposed were the Pharisees and he often attacked their hypocrisy.

Using hate to fight against hate is hypocrisy. But then Atheist adverts usually always seek to denigrate faith groups, most often Christianity. 

People who attack others such as bullies due to it due to their insecurity, could it simply be that they are insecure about the strength of their beliefs? Note that Christianity appeals to people telling people how great God is and what Jesus can do for you. From this evidence, Atheism appeals not by saying what is good about it or how it is right but by promoting hate against faith groups.

It's funny how 'Liberalism' tries to maintain that we should do whatever we want yet 'Liberal' groups seek to stop faith groups following their beliefs?

Isn't it strange how instead of combating religion these groups seek to stamp it out instead? 

I think they are worried they would lose the fight, since truth prevails and the truth is with the group can justify how it can know truth!

The War of Life

Sir Winston Churchill

These are words that WERE NOT spoken by Sir Winston Churchill about World War Two:-

'It was one of the best periods of my life, the war. All the brutality, death, hate, disagreement...it was so much fun to lead it. I was really sad when it all ended.'

Why didn't he say this? Because NOBODY in their right mind loves war!

But war is the situation we all find ourselves in. Deep down in our souls the battle between what were made to be and what we selfishly want to be rages on. We want to be popular, attractive, happy, rich and have everything we need or want and will stamp on anyone to get there. God has a better plan, put your trust in Him and you will find true happiness and the other stuff often comes along as well. CS Lewis puts it wonderfully,  'Aim at Heaven and you'll get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you'll get neither'.

This battle is what Paul referred to as the 'struggle against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.' (Ephesians 6:12, paraphrased). We want things that bring us pleasure, even if they are only short term, even if they hurt others, but God wants what is truly best for us and for everyone.

Some give in and let the selfish desires reign, and wonder why true happiness eludes them.
Others struggle to figure what is right and what is wrong and which way to go, they do the thing that seems right to them but that doesn't always make it the right thing.

I feel, even as a Christian, that I have been in both of those camps. But there is a third camp I want to be a part of and just felt called towards when spending time with God last night.

This camp is a camp that depends on God for everything. Knowledge, provision, guidance and strength. This camp prays and waits on God.
I think it's amazingly true that whatever the question is, prayer is the answer. Prayer is our biggest weapon in the war of this world. When I feel low, when I feel like I'm losing, when I feel that it's impossible...prayer is where I let God in and He just has this astonishing way of showing you the way out or making a way for you. He never lets us down.

The biggest reason I fail in anything in life is because of a lack of prayer. They say 'Fail to prepare, prepare to fail'. The ultimate preparation for anything is to pray so I have decided to rephrase the quote- Fail to pray, prepare to fail.

One of my favourite proverbs is Proverbs 16:3 which says, 'Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plans'.

Give your plans for today, tomorrow and your future to God...your plans to grow closer to Him, your plans to come through the hard times, your plans to be a better person, your very plans themselves and see what He does. He has never let me down when I have turned to Him, just need to work on turning to Him more often.

Too many Christians like myself are losing the spiritual battle, I'm missing out on so much. When I pray my problems seep away, God gives my great advice, encouragement and blessing and I couldn't be more full of joy afterwards. Let's turn this battle around, let's pray like there is a war going on...because there is.