I was visiting my friend when her bird flew from its cage and perched atop my head.  It was a little weird to feel little bird feet in my hair, but I wasn’t overly concerned.  What could a little bird do? 

My friend soon came to the rescue and put her bird in her hand (which I’ve heard is worth two in the bush.) Before she arrived I told her I was okay with the situation, as long as the bird didn’t poop in my hair.  She stopped for a moment before retrieving the bird and in a quiet voice said, “Well,… looks like it’s too late for that.”

So that’s what a little bird can do.

“Uh-oh,”  I thought.  I let the bird stay a little too long in my hair. I should have reacted sooner.

It’s never a good idea to let a bird stay too long on your head, for obvious reasons.  It seems I hesitated a little too long in this situation.  As a result I ended up with poop on my head.

So it is with the way of temptation.  We can let it sit a little too long and end up with a situation much worse than this.

When we are tempted, the best plan is the one we hear from our brother Paul in 1 Timothy 6:11 and again in 2 Timothy 2:22.  Both times he tells us to “flee” or run away from temptation.

James tells us that when we let temptation conceive, burrow in our hearts and grow – it soon becomes sin.

James 1:13-15

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [14] but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

When our hearts are slow to forgive, this also gives time for sin to nest (or worse.)  Hebrews 12:15 states,

“See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

When we are slow to forgive we will end up with very unfortunate consequences, much worse than any bird can produce.  We can not only miss God’s grace, but lack of forgiveness always negatively affects many others.

While I didn’t love the poop that settled on my head; this little bird reminded me of the lesson to always be urgent in shooing temptation away.  A lackadaisical attitude or hesitant start can end up defiling us and many others.

Last week I sat in the beautiful Wang Theater, next to a young woman who was perhaps the number one advocate of the group that was performing.  On this night I heard the powerful and beautiful voices of a group, “Il Divo,” though when I bought the tickets I thought they were a different group.  Imagine my surprise when I checked my I-pod playlist and discovered the “tenors” I loved were in fact not “Il Divo.” The tickets were non-refundable- so of course I went to the performance.  (My wonderful husband took me even though the Celtics had a playoff game during this same time.)  I had no idea who this group was, but fortunately they were excellent.

As mentioned, I was seated next to a woman who certainly should have been president of the group’s fan club. This young woman had 5,000 picture of “Il Divo” on her phone and knew every detail of their lives.  She was seemingly entranced during every song.  Her spontaneous interactions to comments from the group members would have made one think she was part of their family.  She had studied them…and in her words – was “obsessed” with them.   I learned that she had sat in that same seat (front and center) at the concert the previous night.  Wow.  This was a devoted fan.

She also had in her possession four roses that she hoped to present to each man in the quartet.  At one point during the concert, a beautiful young woman sitting near the front put a rose on the stage next to the one “single” singer.  So, a little later in the show this young woman made her way toward the stage.  She was stopped by an usher and came back to her seat disheartened.  She whispered, “I guess I’m not pretty enough or “V.I.P” enough.  I felt sad for this young woman.  I realized that though “Il Divo” means “divine performer,” there is only one who is divine and won’t disappoint.

I thought about two other women who gave gifts.

Mark 14:3-9

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

[4] Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? [5] It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

[6] “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. [7] The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. [8] She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. [9] I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Mark 12:41-44

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. [42] But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

[43] Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. [44] They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.”

I hope I see this woman again.  I want her to get to know the true divine one; who thinks she is not only beautiful and valuable  – but also “V.I.P.” enough to die for.  Jesus values us – and as shown in the scriptures above, notices our devotion and love for him.

Reminded of this I ask myself – am I giving him not just four roses – but my all?

  This is why I speak to them in parables:

  “Though seeing, they do not see;

   though hearing, they do not hear or understand.  Matthew 13:13

I thought that I noticed most things that go on around me…that is until today when I took my grandson with me to do errands.   I came to realize that all too often I can be rather oblivious to the many happenings going on all around me.  I don’t want Jesus to feel about me as the above scripture describes.  I want to be alert to people and situations around me and see them through Jesus’ eyes.

Since my daughter had a Bible study with her neighbor I offered to take her son, Micah (who turned two in February), for several hours.  This week is quite busy for me, so I used this time to go to the post office, gas station and grocery store.  I was taken aback at all that Micah saw while we traveled from his house to the post office, to the gas station and then to the grocery store.  It seemed he noticed everything.  Usually, I just get in the car and go in sort of an autopilot mode.  I can stare into oblivion while I pump gas and move through the market as quickly as possible while trying to remember the things I need to purchase.

When I pulled into the store I quickly transcribed all that I remembered from Micah’s commentary from the previous ten minutes that it took to cover the three miles of our route.  I didn’t want to forget this stream of conversation.

Micah’s reporting began as we pulled out of his driveway ….

There’s my park Nana.  I like to play at the park.  I like to slide.

There are lots of cars on the road.  Vroom, vroom.

I’m on my side in the back seat.  You are on your side, Nana.

There’s a (bull)dozer there.

What’s that noise?

There’s a mailman.  Are we going to the mailman’s house?

Are you going down a hill now?

Who’s in that mommy’s car? (as he notices a car like his mommy drives a few cars ahead of us)

Prob’ly a lady in there.

Are we going by the fire trucks? (as we near the road that leads to the fire station)

What are those guys doing?   (I didn’t see the  guys he comments on so I ask him what guys he is talking about…. to which he responds and answers his own question)….Those guys workin’ in the dump truck.

(As we approach the post office)….I’m excited to get out.  Does the mailman live here?

What are you doing?  What are you doing?  What are you doing now?  What are you doing? (in the post office he engages with the other patrons)

(As we get back in the car and turn the corner where there is a train station)…..There’s the train station.  I won’t be scared when the train comes.  I’ll wait to ride with my dad.  I’m going to wait for the train and go to the city of Boston.

There’s an ambulance.  There’s a digger.  I want to go see the digger. Let’s go see the digger.

Happy Mother’s Day Nana.  (big smile)

(As we go into the grocery we go to the seafood counter so I can buy fish; meanwhile Micah is talking to all the women who are also at the counter. He looks at the fish)….

Nana, are you getting Nemo?…

I realized that I would have likely missed 90% or more of the things, people and sounds that he saw and heard while I was simply focused on getting my errands done.  While listening to Micah’s running commentary and questions, I became much more aware of the people  I could meet, the lessons I could learn and all that was going on around me.  I suddenly began viewing my surroundings through the fresh, eager eyes of a two year old who was eager to take in all that surrounded him.  He was keenly aware of the people and places we encountered.

I went to my Bible tonight to seek to learn from the ways Jesus noticed people and situations and how he responded to them.  He truly saw the people behind the situations.   I noted from the following scriptures ways Jesus noticed their plights, distress, faith and lack of faith.  He responded with what they needed.

When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.   Mt 8:14

    Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”  Matthew 9:2

    When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.   Matthew 9:36

When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. [39] He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” [40] But they laughed at him.

    After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. [41] He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).    Mark 5:38-41

    When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.    Mark 10:14

    Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”   Mk 10:21

  When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”    Luke 5:20

  Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!    Lk 18:24

    He saw through their duplicity and said to them, [24] “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” … Luke 20:23-24

   As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. [2] He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. [3] “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. [4] All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”    Luke 21:1-4

    When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”    John 5:6

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.   John 11:33

Thanks Micah, for calling me higher today by helping me notice things through your fresh and eager eyes.  May I seek to respond to what I see in the loving and courageous ways that Jesus did.  May I look, and really see!

For my birthday last year my family gave me some money. I had requested this monetary help to go towards an Ipad, or similar electronic tablet.  I researched numerous options and scurried to the mall to purchase my present from the family.  I looked and looked , and debated with myself about all the options available.

Three hours later I returned home with five birdfeeders.  You see, I reasoned that I may not in fact like the electronic tablet.  I use my laptop consistently and already know it quite well.  I can carry it on trips and even take it to the front porch where I can enjoy the flowers and all the birds… if I only had birdfeeders with which to attract the birds.  (Logical transition, right?) This is why I veered from the Apple store to the hardware store.

Thrilled with my purchases of: a new super-duper birdfeeder for the back deck; a yellow feeder designed for yellow finches; a simple birdhouse for viewing birds outside the kitchen window and a couple of hummingbird feeders – I hung them all and waited for the birds.  They came, and I’ve enjoyed them more than a tablet (which I got for Christmas).

This morning I was reminded of this unexpected purchase as I watched this spring’s first yellow finches arrive at the feeder on my front porch.  This was a new birdfeeder.  I had to switch to this feeder from the previous one, as its predecessor was defective.  The openings on the defective feeder were not set up correctly, and birdseed spilled out of them as fast as I could pour it in.  I tried several times, thinking perhaps I was pouring it wrong – but alas, it just kept falling out onto the porch, yard and every inch of the surrounding area.  The spilled birdseed left a pile of mess.

Our lives can at times be like this birdfeeder.  Due to losses, rejection, unresolved issues from our pasts or simply a failure to seek God first… we can have “holes” in our inner selves that keep us from being “filled up”.  We can try to fill this void with all kinds of accomplishments, relationships, things or just plain sin.  Nothing seem to keep us filled… so we try again and again to fill ourselves up, only to be left with a mess.

John 4:7-14

    When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” [8] (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

    [9] The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

    [10] Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

    [11] “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? [12] Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”

    [13] Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, [14] but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

This is an amazing claim and promise from Jesus, that I have found true in my life again and again.  It is a relationship with Jesus that makes my deep down soul complete. Everything else with which I try to fill my life just falls out of the holes…and leaves a mess.  I love this water of life.

My favorite breakfast place opened this weekend, where I can enjoy breakfast at a table overlooking the vast expanse of the North Atlantic.   I took the morning off today in order to visit this breakfast spot.  I had extra time to meditate on “life and Godliness” as I drank my coffee  Usually on Monday mornings  Wyndham is with me, but due to an unexpected semi-emergency he needed to take care of, I went by myself (well, God was with me.) As the only patron in the restaurant (this is the very early season) I appreciated the opportunity to practice the scripture in Psalm 46:10-11

“Be still, and know that I am God;  I will be exalted among the nations,  I will be exalted in the earth.” [11] The Lord Almighty is with us: the God of Jacob is our fortress.    Selah

So often, life moves at such a pace that it is hard to just be still and reflect on who God is.  I thought of how He shows Himself through Jesus as our Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace.  As I thought through those apropos depictions of my God I felt so grateful for all of these ways that He interacts with me.

As I sipped my coffee while looking out over the expanse of blue,  my eyes caught sight of something outside of the window that I must say,  I have never seen before.   A man was jogging; however as he was jogging he was also juggling 3 or 4 tennis balls.  He didn’t miss a stride, or a tennis ball.  I was amazed.  I hate jogging, and it takes every ounce of concentration and determination I can muster to keep moving.  Yet, this guy was not only moving at a rapid pace, but his juggling seemed effortless.  (He was too fast for me to catch with my camera.)  

I laughed (to myself since no one else was there) thinking about the contrast of what I was doing and what he was doing.  I also thought of how he portrayed how life so often feels.  Often, I can feel like I am juggling while running.  I don’t think I am unusual in(figuratively) trying to keep numerous balls in the air without dropping them, while at the same time running from one thing to the next.

I need the strength of the Mighty God, the wisdom of the Wonderful Counselor, the steadiness of the Everlasting Father and the trust in the Prince of Peace to be able to combine the stillness of soul that I felt as I looked out of the window –  with the crazy activity of running and juggling that I viewed from that same window.

After finishing  breakfast  I took a long walk so I could pray, smell the salt air, feel the breeze and watch the ocean waves push against the protruding rocks. As I prayed about many different things, I thought of the times I get busy running and juggling.   Two scriptures often ground me and help me discern whether or not my running and juggling is “too much.”  I thought on these scriptures as I walked and prayed.

The first is one I must read often, as I tend to be more like Martha and yet need to like Mary, choose what is best.  Luke 10:38-42

    As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. [39] She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. [40] But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

    [41] “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, [42] but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

This following scripture helps me discern whether or not my busyness is merely activity, or if it is in keeping with seeking first God’s choices and desires.  Matthew 6:33-34

    But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I pray that as I juggle and jog in my daily activities, I will see God for who He really is – and that my purpose, priorities and desires are united with His.  Then, amidst the busyness, I can be still and know that He is God.

“I want downstairs water!!  I don’t want upstairs water!”

I laughed out loud as my daughter described her three year old’s tantrum and resulting repeated discipline tonight.  I remembered my daughter at that age – fiercely holding to her resolve that she was thirsty..but absolutely refusing  water I offered her from the bathroom sink.  Only kitchen water would do!!  She would not back down until she was absolutely and completely convinced (at times after hours of being disciplined…yes, seriously hours!) that she could not win the battle.   Wow, those battles were intense and required lots of prayer and a forehead of flint!  I often gained courage from God’s words to Ezekiel :  Ezekiel 3:7-9

    But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. [8] But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. [9] I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house.”

It’s not much fun at the time, but as I look back at my own children and as I watch my grandchildren now,  I can laugh at their propensity to think something that they can’t have is so much better than what is offered and available to them.  “I want it my way, thank you.”

As I look over at the scene in front of me I see the “same song, different verse”  displayed.  Our puppy, Denver, has a wonderful and comfortable pillow-lined crate.  Blackie (our little dog) had seemed jealous of his crate, often climbing in and taking over the space.  So, being a compassionate doggie parent I recently purchased a small doggie bed for Blackie.  He was thrilled and immediately tucked himself in.  Until….he got up for a moment and then….. Denver wanted Blackie’s new bed and plopped right on down.  Blackie just stared at him with an accompanying snarl.

As I mulled over a toddler’s stubborn desire for something other than what was offered and my pup’s desire for what the other had – I was reminded of how easy it can be to be discontent with what is offered to us and put in front of us.  It’s so easy to be discontent…about the weather, our work, our health, and all kinds of things offered to us and in front of us.  Surely downstairs water is much better, and the other dog’s bed is much more comfortable.  When I am discontent I’m afraid it looks too much like the above toddler and doggy scenarios.  That is when I must remind myself of scriptures like Psalm 23:1-2

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  [2] He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,…

Proverbs 19:23      The fear of the Lord leads to life:  Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

Philip. 4:11-12     I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. [12] I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

1 Tim. 6:6    But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Hebrews 13:5  Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,  “Never will I leave you;  never will I forsake you.”

May I always be grateful for upstairs water!

Do you ever find yourself in situations where you are over your head?  Sometimes my learning curve is steep.  Such was the case when I began an eight year stent working for a wonderful non-profit, HOPE worldwide.  During this time my eyes were opened to many things.  First were the living conditions of the majority of the world.  I visited slums worldwide and met some of the most amazing and grateful people – despite their destitute conditions.  I cried more tears than I had ever cried before.

Second on the learning curve was how much I had to learn about my new job.   The philanthropic world of non-profits was new to me.  I figured a 501(c)(3) was probably either a locker combination or a new model of Nissan.  An NGO was not text slang for “never getting old” and inurement wasn’t something cows left on the ground.   Also, grant writing did not mean sending an e-mail to my nephew, Grant.

My naivety amused my colleagues.  When joining in a discussion about a kick-off for a new program and the need to make a certain event a ‘dog and pony show’…. my wheels started turning.  I thought it was a strange idea…but hey, I loved dogs and horses so why not have a fund raiser using these fine specimens from the animal kingdom.  I soon learned that a dog and pony show was not… er, ahem, gulp – well…it was not a real dog and pony show. I have to say I was a little disappointed about that.

The next item on the learning curve agenda came during a trip to the nation’s capitol.  I had actually learned quite a lot by this point in time, however I would still describe this trip as a sequel to “Ernest Goes to Washington.”  Since I worked to help establish programs to help the poor particularly in Eastern Europe – I was invited to a United Nations advisory council meeting for Eastern Europe held on Capitol Hill.  I had become an official representative for this advisory council and would go to learn and to contribute.  For some( still unknown to me today) reason on the first day of the meeting I volunteered to be something for which I don’t even remember the name.  I soon came to learn that it involved summarizing everyone’s comments and presenting them to the group in an organized fashion – United Nations’ style (whatever that was!).  During the first break, I found my friend Kitty, (a person not a feline) who had been involved in numerous types of similar situations and had many more years of experience than I had. (She was involved in a different meeting.) I confided in her that I had just volunteered for something for which I had no idea what I was doing.  She gave me a few pointers and a look that said to me, “good luck..and are you crazy?!”.

So, I did the only reasonable thing to do.  I went into the bathroom stall and begged God for wisdom and help so I could better help the poor and not reflect badly on the organization (or make a fool out of myself.)

James 1:5-8

    If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. [6] But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. [7] That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

As soon as I walked out of the stall some unknown woman came up to me and said these words. “I don’t know how you are handing this presentation, but if I were doing it here is exactly what I would say.”

I don’t know if she saw the look of total shock on my face.  I told her I would consider her words – and then feverishly wrote down everything she said.

Not only did I say all she had said to me, but I also realized that because I was the only one in the room who had actually spent time with the poor in Eastern Europe that I really did have something to offer.  I also realized a crucial lesson before me. God blesses requests for wisdom without laughing at us or “finding fault” as the scripture says.  I rely on this promise often, realizing that when I am trying to serve God and step forward in faith…not knowing where to step next…God always comes through.  One of my favorite quotes is entitled “Faith” by Patrick Overton.

When you come to the edge of all the light you have

And take the first step into the darkness of the unknown

You must believe one of two things will happen:

There will be something solid for you to stand upon
or, you will be taught how to fly.

It was bedtime so I told Denver (our 5 month old golden retriever) to get in his crate.  He looked at me as if he was afraid of something and refused to go into his crate.  Then I heard a growling noise.  I could not figure out what was going on so began searching for clues!  While peering into his crate, I saw two beady eyes staring back at me.  Blackie (the “older brother cockerpoo” who reluctantly and sporadically accepts the newbie) was stretched out on the pillow in Denver’s crate – as if daring him to come in. 

I thought to myself -Blackie gets full reign of our house – and yet now he wants Denver’s crate too? Who does he think he is?  And Denver refuses to get into his own crate?  Does Denver not realize he now towers over Blackie?

I laughed as I observed this unspoken canine communication.  Denver had let the little “alpha dog” take over what belonged to him.  I looked at Blackie with disapproval, and as if reading my mind he slithered out of the crate.

I began thinking about this little exchange between the dogs and wondered – Who do we let take over “our house?”  It often seems that someone or something tries to take away what has been given to us by God.

God has given me a spiritual house, including everything I need for life and Godliness (2 Peter 1:3)  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

In Christ, I possess what every person in this world needs more than anything

(Acts 26:29)

    Paul replied, “Short time or long–I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Yet at times – I can get fearful or timid with my faith.  I can be like Denver, who let a small growling dog keep him from going into his “own house.”

My house is filled with so many blessings and promises from God.  God has promised me peace that passes understanding. (Philippians 4:7) So why do I let worries of this world keep me from that peace?  He has promised that He can do more than I ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)  So why do I struggle at times with wondering if something is too big for God to change?  He has promised that He will hear my prayers. (1 John 5:15) So why do I sometimes fail to pray to Him with confidence?   God’s Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) so why don’t I always use it to convict my own heart as well as those of others? God has given me a spirit of power, love and self control…so why would I let any of these obstacles keep me from possessing what has been given to me?

2 Tim. 1:7   For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

I pray I can look at these obstacles  with determined eyes of disapproval…and watch them slither out.       James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

With Jesus I am more than a conqueror. Nothing has the power to separate me from the love and power of God.  Nothing has the power, no matter how loud the growl or beady the eyes – to keep me out of the spiritual house God has provided for me.

Romans 8:31-39

    What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? [33] Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? [36] As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

 [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.