Joyce Meyer: Spiritual Warfare

Joyce Meyer: Spiritual Warfare

This is amazing. I've been feeling - down? Overwhelmed? Lonely? Not sure exactly what I'm feeling...but this devotional spoke to me very loudly!

Colossians 3:15 (New International Version)

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

"You are waging spiritual warfare when you give radical praise to God in the midst of your need and lack. When you are thankful to God for all he has done and is doing, you are defeating the enemy. When you hold your peace in the midst of the storm, you are warring with spiritual weapons. (see 2 Cor 10:4-5)" From Joyce Meyer

Wow...good stuff!

Ephesians 1:15-23

¹⁵For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. ¹⁷I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^f]">[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. ¹⁸I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²²And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Lord, this is my heart's cry - please do not take your holy spirit from me....

Definitions and Resources

I am reading Ruby Payne's Understanding Poverty

The working definition of poverty is "the extent to which an individual does without resources". The resources she discusses are listed below:

1. Financial: Having the money to purchase goods and services.
2. Emotional: Being able to choose and control emotional responses, particularly to negative situations, without engaging in self-destructive behavior. This is an internal resource and hows itself through stamina, perseverance, and choice. I think of family that I love here. I believe my mom was from a poverty stricken area, if not family in her younger years. If the sins of the father (and mother) are passed from generation to generations, then it makes sense that this theory - not being able to control emotional responses, would also be passed from generation to generation, unless there is a mentor somewhere along the line to change the patterns, or help teach new ones. I see where this affects people in my family, here. When things get hard - and they do for everyone, he engages in self-destructive behavior. (There was even a verse in Leviticus I think, that said we are to pray for the sins of our father - goes hand in hand with bondage breakers and Mr. Ramirez's conversation this week)
3. Mental - Having the mental abilities and acquired skills (reading, writing, computing) to deal with daily life.
4. Spiritual, Believing in diving purpose and guidance.
5. Physical - Having physical health and mobility.
6. Support systems: having friends, family , and back up resources available to access in times of need. These are external resources.
7. Relationships/Role Models: Having frequent access to adults who are appropriate, who are nurturing to the child, and who do not engage in self-destructive behavior.
8. Knowledge of Hidden Rules: Knowing the unspoken cues and habits of a group. (A hidden rule in poverty include the noise level being high (The TV is on and everyone talks at once)
   

That's really amazing - when I think of these things- my mom falls into many of them, which kept her in poverty.

Now - how to incorporate this to help our students....

A Crisis Can Lead to Healing Choices - Tools @ PurposeDriven.com

A Crisis Can Lead to Healing Choices - Tools @ PurposeDriven.com

Considering the issues at hand - this is so timely! God is so good.... Praying he uses me - to reach others. Even those I don't like!

So much to pray about!

Phil 4:4-7

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I am excited about what God is getting ready to do.... even if it's just a changed heart! So many things to pray about -----

Property
Family relationships
Serving him
Working

On top of the normal every day stuff - like kids - family - triathlon tomorrow!

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Sarah walked in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It was a 2 day walk - 26.2 miles on Sat....13.1 on Sunday. I am so impressed with how strong she is to do that. When we were there on Sunday, I was so thankful for dark glasses. Everything made me cry...I even have tears rolling as I write this now... My own mom died from Breast Cancer in 2007.... well not really from the cancer, she did have two episodes and had a masectomy - but from so many other complications - and one of the Leukemia type diseases she had was from the chemo due to breast cancer. I was also sad, knowing that Sarah lost her mom to this horrible disease...which means Craig lost his first wife... It just all seems so unfair....

I wondered why he didn't show more emotion - and then in my bible study this week - the answer arose... In the book Secrets - Transforming your life and marriage - the author writes: A woman generally processes emotion by talking openly. A man often processes emotion by taking action and he needs a safe environment in orter to express how he feels. When I asked how the day affected him - he said it brought back memories.... I was amazed - how can a day like that just bring back memories? I'd think it would bring back so much more.... It was a hard day for me -


Avon does an incredible job.... they give the money out immediately - incredible!

Picasa Web Albums - Craig & Lori Lackey - Sept2009

Picasa Web Albums - Craig & Lori Lackey - Sept2009

Went to visit Dad for a little while - Labor Day Weekend...

Craig and I went for a quad ride and rolled up on some wild Mustangs... Incredible site!