SLIDER

Monday, July 18, 2016

Moving To Stars Hollow.




Out of all the articles that could have caught my attention today, the one that stuck out to me this morning was a sponsored post titled "5 Real-Life Towns Like Stars Hollow that Gilmore Girls Fans would love." Ahhhh..... You can thank me later. Small towns. As a kid, I used to live in a small town. I don't remember having any problem with it, but as I got older and we moved to the city, I remember thinking I'm glad I'm in the city. I could never live in a small town.

But now... Now, It feels like a good place to shuck responsibilities and hide out. Not that if you live in a small town, you are irresponsible. But a quiet life sounds more and more appealing every day. Stars Hollow. Some days, I wish God would speak to us and tell us that's where we belong. Just a small town girl and guy attending a small town church where her kids could grow up, get married, have grandkids and then they could grow up. Far away from the banter of the city life and the ruckus of people and opinions. 

In case you haven't noticed, the momentum of sin and chaos in this world is growing. It's not slowing down and I don't think it will. What was once nearly unheard of, is now becoming ordinary. And for the record, instigating chaos never brings peace, comfort, justice or any such thing. No matter which way you spin it. Yet, people seem willing to settle up and get cozy with it. But seeing it all, hearing it all, reading it all overwhelms my soul some days. I don't know what to say or what to think. And aside from all the opinions being spewed forth all over social media, I think a lot of us really don't know. What do we do? All I know is to pray and to listen for His voice...

We're spinning in a pandemonium of fast paced, lit up, hyper active, uber-cool, politically correct, over-opinionated, superstar, morally decaying, self absorbed, agenda pushing, dehumanizing, non-submissive, extremist activity and rhetoric all throughout the world. And, I for one, would be totally OK, if I lived in a different time. In a galaxy far, far away. 

If opening up my Facebook news feed each and every day wasn't heavy enough, with all the stories and shootings and demonic activity in this world staring me right in the face, what is even more disheartening is watching Satan play on the minds of Christians. And them not have enough sense to take authority over his lies, his deception and his obvious mission to divide their marriages, their families, their churches and ultimately the body of Christ. 

We need to start learning to really know God's voice and start discerning what is an attack or lineup of the devil.

1. Stop Dreaming About Stars Hollow.
This isn't a time where we should run from our foundations. I know I know. I said I wanted to hide out in Stars Hollow. And I'm not saying I still don't or wouldn't. But it's not time to hide. Our families, our spouses, and our churches are the people we should stand and fight with, not against-- lifting up one another, encouraging one another in the faith. We need to put on the armor of God and fight against the attacks the devil has placed on each of these unions and relationships God has entrusted us with. If God put a relationship in your life, He is trusting you to tend that garden. If Satan can destroy our unity in our families and marriages, He can weaken the body of Christ on much larger scale. If he can break apart our churches or Godly connections, we can be left standing alone with no one to hold us up. Recognize when the devil is at work. Don't abandon your foundations in faith. And Fight!.

2. Don't Get Your Knickers In A Twist. 
The things happening in our nation and in this world are bigger than your issue with dot dot dot...While we are busy daydreaming about greener grass, the devil is busy using that open time slot to run his dirty little agenda. While we get negligent, it opens the door for him to get busy. It's not the time to become selfish. It's not the time be needy. It's not time to run to something bigger, brighter or flashier just because you have issues. It's not even the time to run to something or somewhere smaller because you have issues (Ahem...Stars Hollow), for that matter. Suck it up, buttercup, and let's stop getting our knickers in a twist. We've got bigger (but actually smaller) fish to fry. I'm just saying. Let's not let our issue carry so much weight that it hinders the plan of God for our lives or our churches. This world needs us now more than ever. And it needs the message of strength and hope in Jesus, not division and bitterness.

3. Crawling out of the Depths of Despair.
One of my favorite movies is Anne of Green Gables. One of the best quotes is Anne, over dramatizing as usual, as she says "I'm in the depths of despair." Then she asks Morilla, her adoptive parent, "Are you ever in the depths of despair?" Morilla is point blank. "No!" 
Every now and then, I feel myself start to sink into the depths of despair. I hear something or read something or come face to face with something in life or family or ministry and my feet start sinking in. I want to give in. I want to feel sorry for myself. 
But I've already been there. I've done that. I've had bad stuff happen. I've had issues with him and her and you and them and myself. I've made bad decisions. I've wallowed a bit. Then more. And where did it land me? The depths of despair. I've been through depression. It sucked. I refuse to allow myself to sink into that crumminess again. If you are feeling discouraged, overcome with depression or perhaps in the depths of despair, the Bible says to give all your worries and cares to God. (1 Peter 5:7) Worry or anxiety will do you no good and won't better the situation. It just won't help. I understand depression is real. I know all too well. And thank God for doctors, and even better-prayer and His word to speak over our lives. But if you are just starting to sink, crawl on out before you begin to even start feeling stuck. His Grace is your Strength, friend. 
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4. Say No to Sweet Nothings.
There is a lot really cool sounding, new things being said these days. New priorities (us). New Agendas (us). It sounds enticing. New doctrines. New churches. New ideology. And guess what, a lot of it is centered around us. What we need, our human rights, our claim to fame, our need to justified, validated, loved and accepted. No matter what we do, it's still about us. It all sounds really romantic. Because of course, God loves us. But when do we start loving Him in return? When do we start making his heart for this lost world our priority? When do we start really helping and loving people by speaking the truth, instead of just validating everyone and everything that comes along? Not everything that is being said is of God. And not everyone that speaks using scripture is God ordained. Use discretion. Know God's Word. Listen for His voice above all others.
 And in all your ways, acknowledge HIM... not them.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

5. Stay In Character.
I've had a lot of discussions recently about staying in character. What I mean by that is knowing who you are and not letting the junk in life derail you. And not letting the world around you have it's influence on who you know you really are called to be. Have you felt bored, had a let down, set back, run in, been down played? Have you heard the gossip, read the stories, tasted pain, felt the fear rampant in this world? We all have. But where did it take you? Did you cling to the Lord? Or did it change you? Did it take you down a path further away from His heart or did you draw closer, clinging to His every word? We may have all had different experiences. But we have all known trouble. Living in this world, we are not exempt from these experiences. But in the end, we know we are victorious. Jesus said, "In this world there will be troubles, but I have overcome this world."- John 16:33. We know who has the victory. So don't let troubles change who you once were. Don't let whispers of the world and agendas of the enemy disrupt God's call on your life. Don't become desensitized to God's sweet presence. 

Don't allow yourself to be influenced by it all. YOU be the influence!



Read Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.



 
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