Unseen Enemy

I am tired. Of sneezing that is. I have been having allergy reaction after allergy reaction since we moved into our new home. As I am allergic to dust, pollen, grass, pine, etc, it can be hard to narrow down what the culprit could be, but more than likely it's cat dander. These reactions have all the usual cat-dander symptoms. The former resident had a cat, and once those microscopic skin cells hit the air, it's hard to rid a location of them. Rip out the carpet, paint the walls, wipe down all surfaces, vacuum under appliances, change filters and clean out air ducts ... these are all recommended. And it still could take six months to get it all out. I'm in for a long road. Some days are worse then others. And you know it's bad when I will go outside to cut the grass in a effort to get out of the cat-dander house.

It's an unfair battle. I can't see the enemy. I can only feel the consequences. It's a daily struggle. It's exhausts me. As a very last resort, I'll take some kind of allergy medication, which typically knocks me out for the rest of the day. No matter what I seem to do, I can't get the upper hand. I shout "Unfair!" into the air and plow through boxes of tissues.

I have friends and family who are dealing with far worse unseen enemies in the form of diseases like cancer. And I am sure they have shouted, "Unfair!" many times.

But even that is not the most evil unseen enemy. There is one far worse. One that prowls the earth like a roaring lion waiting to devour us, the disciple Peter tells us in his first letter, chapter 5, verse 8. He calls the enemy, "Your adversary, the devil." He is one that hopes to derail our faith and make us want to give up. And this enemy actually uses some of the previously mentioned unseen enemies to aid in his derailing. What is Peter's advice to combat this enemy? "Stay alert, be sober, stay viligant, watch out." He also says, "resist him and be steadfast in your faith" in the next verse. So more preventative than combative, just like all the preventative things recommended to remove the cat-dander from this house.

Does this mean you'll avoid all entanglements with the adversary? Probably not, but it will certainly help reduce the confrontations. Other great preventative measures? Prayer, reading Scripture, and submitting ourselves to God. And if Christ's example in Matthew 4:10 is one to follow, then saying, "Be gone, Satan," doesn't hurt either.

Day after day of struggling against an unseen enemy can make a person want to give up, but those who are successful aren't quitters. Plus we have an Advocate who can fight for us who is far more powerful, and it's to Him I turn daily. Prior to 1 Peter 5:8, the disciple tells us,"cast your burdens on Jesus because He cares for you." So it's to Him I turn to for help with an adversary that refuses to back down ... and allergies that just won't let go. These battles are temporary. Christ has the final victory. So armor up ...while I grab another tissue.

Choked Up

Recently a friend of mine was told he might have cancer. He shared with me that when he first got this diagnosis, and subsequently thought about the potential outcome, he said his first thoughts weren't about goals not achieved, not reaching certain successes or becoming wealthy. He said: "I immediately thought about all the people I haven't shared Christ with yet."

I was profoundly moved, and could certainly relate. About a decade ago I had a near-death experience when I was told I might not survive and spent the next 45 minutes in an ambulance making sure everyone riding with me knew of the saving grace of Christ.

When sharing the first story above, a friend listening said, "Yeah, that's the dash. What are you doing with your dash?" He was referring to the poem by Linda Ellis called The Dash, about the dash between the birth and death years on a gravestone (which you can read here). It's a precious convicting poem reminding us what is important in our lives. But I think my friend facing cancer has the true meaning of the dash figured out perfectly. It's not about our wealth, being a success in the workplace, awards and accolades ... it's about furthering the Kingdom, period. That comes about with love in our actions, certainly, as spoken in "The Dash" poem, but also in "telling" of the love of God, sharing our testimonies, speaking of the forgiveness God offers us through His Son. That is our most important job, and Jesus reminded us of that with his last words before leaving Earth "Go therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)

During my devotion time a day ago, I was reading Mark and rereading the parable of the sower for the upteenth time. Sometimes when I get to these stories, I kinda gloss over them since I've read them so very often. But this day, I read it slowly, absorbing all God wanted me to learn from it. Jesus speaks of a farmer scattering seed, some of which falls on the path, quickly eaten by birds; some on rocky places with little soil, so plants have no root and wither; some on good soil producing a crop multiplied by 30, 60 or even 100. But the seeds that got me, were the ones thrown among the thorns, choked and unable to produce fruit. Jesus says in Mark 4:18-19: "Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful."

I never related to these seeds. I kinda put myself in with the seeds on good soil producing a bountiful crop. But the Lord convicted me that day. I've certainly spent a portion of my time as the seed among the thorns, desiring things of this earth rather than the company of my Father and fulfilling His mission for me. And I thought for a moment about all the time I've wasted. Good heavens, there have been some unfruitful times in my life.

Perhaps as I'm in this "middle age" of life (that is if the Lord has me live into my 90's), I am re-evaluating my time. How have I been fruitful today? Have I told anyone about Christ? Have I encouraged a soul this day? Have I reached out to a friend in need? Have I spent moments in solitude with my Creator God?

When facing the certainty of death ... oh, and it most certainly is there waiting for all of us every moment ... our outlook, our values and goals get a bit tweaked.

So I've learned a couple things: 1) don't gloss over the Word - it's living and God has more to reveal; and 2) don't waste an opportunity to talk about Christ, not one moment, because there are many, many who need Him.

It's time I pull out these thorns.

Enough Troubles For Today

Sitting at the end of one of my neighbor's driveways is a bowl of water, a bowl of catfood and a bamboo placemat usually with a feathery toy laying on it. It's right there near the road. It sits there because in the sewer that drains right there at the curb lives two feral kittens. Apparently my neighbor, while not claiming ownership of the cats, has not turned a blind eye to their need for food and water. It's full every day when I walk by.

Recently my pastor preached on Matt. 6:25-34 about worrying. Though I've read this Scripture countless times, this sermon couldn't have come at a more perfect time. Just recently, my sister was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. She has had surgery and awaits a meeting with a doctor to determine the amount and frequency of her chemotherapy treatments. Then just the other day, my father was diagnosed with the same thing. He is awaiting news from his doctor about surgery and whether or not his body can even handle the surgery since he is already dealing with a low white blood cell count due to his leukemia. If there was ever a time to worry about tomorrow, this is it.

But God assures me in the above Scripture that worrying isn't worth it. By worrying, I can't add a single hour to my life, Jesus says in vs. 27. I know by worrying I've lost more than a few hours, however. Jesus adds later in vs.34 tomorrow will bring worries of its own and to just handle today's troubles.

In the midst of that passage of Scripture, Jesus asks His disciples to consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field and how God cares for them, adding "Are you not of more value than they?" It made me think of that neighbor down the street caring for these two kittens to make sure their needs are met. And it made me smile. I know God is going to care for my sister and father.

A friend recently asked me how I was doing after this latest health blow to my family. I said without hesitation, "I'm not going to worry about it, because Jesus told me it won't help anything." I'm going to spend that time praying instead.