Spiritual Atomic Bombs!

They overcame him [the devil]

by the power of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony;

they did not love their lives so much

as to shrink from death.

-Revelation 12:11

It's always an interesting experience going back to our old diaries or journals. A lot of times, i'm sure we embarrass ourselves or wince thinking about everything that happened. But, at the end of the day, I think we all come to a point where we become thankful for where we are & more sure that God will forever be with us.

I encourage you guys to check out EM's 3 year Anniversary Testimonies. I know everyone that is in EM now may not have been there, but it's a blessing to see how far we've come through God's grace. One of Israel's greatest sins was forgetting everything God had done for them. Let's not do the same!

http://picasaweb.google.com/tobibobes/EM3rdYearAnniversary?feat=directlink

Now let's blow up some demonic strongholds!

That big project.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28

Prayer is what makes this Christian walk ______.

a. difficult

b. easy

Prayer seems tiring sometimes. There are so many needs around us, and every day brings new challenges. Eventually, the idea of wrestling through all of the issues is so dreary that we just put off our time in the prayer closet. It's like we have a huge grocery shopping list in front of us, and we don't want to have to carry all of that, so we procrastinate. Prayer ends up being a burden that we dread. But remember, God is not out to dump all of His peoples' problems on us once we come to meet with Him. God doesn't burden our backs; time with Him, the Bible tells us, is refreshing. It's that time that, after a long day of being pummeled by the difficulties of everyday life, we can spend with our Healer. If ever you become weary of praying, and look for distractions to run from the prayer closet, examine the way you perceive prayer, and the way you perceive God. It may be that one [or both] of them has wandered from the truth. God wants to take our burdens and worries away, so that we can focus fully on Him. Then, we will see clearly to pray effectively. Then, prayer will become at once joyful service and profound, life-giving intimacy for and with Him.

Giving All

Christ says ‘Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. I don’t want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked – the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.’ -C.S. Lewis

Not to claim I've arrived in giving my all but things are put into perspective when I know God isn't looking for me per se but to eventually see His Son in me. That there's nothing I can do to become like Christ because I simply can't in my own strength or understanding. Only the supernatural can give birth to the supernatural. However, that doesn't mean I wait until something happens but living each day wanting Christ to live in me and allowing Himself to form within me by obeying and heeding His voice.

Opportunities for Christ

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." - 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

This verse was spoken to us during the prayer meeting this past Tuesday. It didn't make much sense to me at first; I understood the first two verses... but the last verse about carrying around death in our body so that life might be revealed... didn't really click. But I just realized that God clarifies what He meant later in the same letter:

"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Why do we need so many humblings? Why do we need so many valleys? These struggles are God's way of showing us our weaknesses. And He doesn't do it just for the sake of rubbing it in our faces; it is when we realize what we cannot do on our own that we look to God for grace. There are so many hardships in the Christian walk-- many that nonbelievers do not have to endure. But God's grace is sufficient for His people! Every weakness, fear and pressure is a venue for God's grace to prove sufficient.

Let's even rejoice that we are deemed worthy of such suffering, that God would provide so much opportunity for Christ to be revealed. God's grace is sufficient for you!