I am not built to be a prisoner.

Yesterday I settled down to watch a familiar movie, Pearl Harbor. It's an easy movie for me to fall asleep to because I know what is going to happen so the plan was to take a 20 minutes nap during it. It's mostly a love story set in the true story of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.  There are some favorite parts I look forward to seeing again and again for each time I get that same rush of emotions for the courage displayed by the characters. 

This time, because of some discouragement I was viewing  those favorite parts on a spiritual level. 

The first favorites takes place in Washington at the White House where President Roosevelt is meeting with top advisors over the surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor.  They are discussing the death toll and horror taking place even at the time of that meeting.  Roosevelt had ask congress to declare war. Some in the room were speaking negative against this. Several spoke,each telling why American cannot go to war with Japan.  

It gives me cold chills every time I watch the  part where the president responds to his advisors.

"Gentlemen, he says, most of you did not know me when I had the use of my legs. I was strong and proud and arrogant. Now I wonder every hour of my life... why God put me in this chair. But when I see defeat in the eyes of my countrymen... in your eyes right now, I start to think that maybe he brought me down... for times like these when we all need to be reminded who we truly are-- that we will not give up or give in.  One of his military advisor said, Mr. President, with all respect, sir. What you're asking can't be done.  The President then starts to straighten out his legs and with his hands pull himself up to a standing position.  His man servant tries to get him to stop but the President tell him to step aside.  Even some of the men around the table start to rise to help him but he refuses their help to.  Slowly, painfully he stands and say with courage , "Do not tell me... it can't be done."

For me it was one of the most powerful parts of the movie because these are the word I have been saying in the face of the devil, the enemy of my soul who does not want me to write a book by telling me it can't be done and then proceeds to pour reasons in my head which has discouraged me.  I made a list of all the reason I have been thinking I should just quit writing.  I won't print them here but I may use them in the forward of my book.

There is another  part of the movie that I will set up for you.  The president has ask Colonel  DoLittle  to lead a mission to bomb Japan, to take out tank factories and aircraft factories.   There were homing beacons put on the planes to help them return.  One of pilots ask, what if the beacons are turned off? The Colonels answered, you bring them down any way you can and do your best to avoid capture.  Another questions was about if their planes were damaged and they had to bail out over Japan?

 DoLittle said, Well, in that case I can't tell you what you should do. He then was ask, Colonel, what would you do?  Here it come, my other favorite part, DoLittle says, I wasn't build to be a prisoner. So I would have my crew bail out and I would find the sweetest military target I could and drive my plane right smack into the middle of it.

Again, pure raw courage that comes from knowing exactly how he was built.  Let me repeat his answer, I was not built to be a prisoner.  

God did not build us to be prisoners of the devil who wants to kill and destroy.  Again, because of where my heart has been lately this words of courage in the movie lifted my spirit  and brought home some deep spiritual truth.  I am a daughter of the Most High King, not a prisoner of the devil, he has no rights on me.  And God has equipped me  with a suit of armor to protect me as the battle rages.  Nobody, no thought, no fear can take me captive unless I allow it.  God has bought and paid for my freedom with the precious blood of Jesus. 

Maybe God speaking through a movie is a little dramatic for you but the God I serve meets me in the strangest place to encouraged my soul.  I was reminded of the women who prayed for me at the Retreat I attended last week.  The story of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall was pretty dramatic, I mean they carried a sword and a plow as the built. God is not picky about where He meets us, and He is not above using the words from a Hollywood movie on a real event to encourage this saint of God. 

It worked, here I sit writing all about it and before I wrote my post I was doing some more writing on my book.  Got my battle armor on  and my finger on the keyboards.  Get out of my way devil, I am a free women.  

How about you, has God spoke to you through an unusual way?

I would rather not...

Betty, Geri, Shirley, Maria, Donna

Just returned from a great ladies retreat this past weekend with these spirit filled women.  Well four of them were spirit filled. I on the other hand did not feel so spirit filled. It had nothing to do with these ladies, or the place, or the cost, or the timing. The last thing I said to my husband was, I would rather not go to this retreat. Yet out the door I walked, got into the car and we five ladies started talking right away. I did not share that I really did not want to go, just silently determined in my heart to make the best of the retreat. 

The first speaker got up and out of her mouth came the very words I said to my husband.  She said, I have been telling God for weeks, I would rather not do this.  God kept replying to her heart, I'd rather you  would for I have something for you.  

All five of us ladies looked at each other and silently mouthed, we did not want to come either.  Wow, I was not the only one.  I know a couple of those ladies well and why they did not want to come but we all chose  for the sake of each other to not allow our trials to keep us homebound.   

As the  speaker continued, she shared how association played a huge part of each of us being there.  One decides to go, ask another to go with her, that person ask another and on it goes till you have five or 25 or more going with you.  

In John 12: 1 -22  Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany.   A large crowd of Jews learned He was there  and came to see Him and Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  The next day, as Jesus rode into Jerusalem the crowd took branches from the palm and begin to shout, Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.  Among the crowd were some Greeks and they came to Phillip because of his association to Jesus.  They ask him, Sir, we wish to see Jesus. Philip told Andrew and they went and told Jesus.

Jesus told them, :The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified, Truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone,  but if it dies it bears much fruit.  He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.  If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me, and where I am, there My servants will be also.  If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Our speaker, us five ladies and I am sure countless others died to themselves just by putting themselves aside for the sake of someone else to be a part of the retreat.  Because of our association to Jesus probably 700 or so women came to hear something from the Lord.  

Our association with Jesus will draw others to us as we go about our lives.  Also our association with others who know Jesus will help us step out when we don't want to do something and get a blessing.  God always has something for us and it does not depend on how we feel.  He blessed the socks off all the women who came to the retreat, filled us up again to face our trials, gave us truth to put into practice just because we associated with others of like mind.  

My prayer is the way I live my life will leave no doubt that I associate with Jesus. 

Authenticity

Recently I was reading  the Magnolia magazine in which Joanna Gaines writes this, "Authenticity can't be copied, it can't be false. " She goes on to say, it seems to me that there are very few absolutes in this life, only a handful of things that are true to their core.  If our authenticity is one of these rare undisputed truths, why then does it seem to be such a difficult part of ourselves to live out?

GREAT QUESTION

  For over a year I have been praying, take me deep Lord and I am learning, again, and again going deep means counting the cost to get there.

Maybe its my age but my desire to be real has grown stronger.  I try to live with authenticity, to not portray myself as anything other then a saved sinner, a forgiven sinner, a frail women with a heart for God but also a women who can respond with a string of harsh words  when I am mad.  A women who can smile at you but inside I would like to knock your head off.  A women who gets deeply hurt but you would never know it because I will say I am fine when I am not.  A women who envies what others have at times.  A women who gossips,  a women who does not have it all to gather most of the time.  Etc. 

Not to long ago I was emailing a missionary friend in the jungle of Papua New Guinea, she ask how I was doing.  I decided to tell her about my latest crisis of faith, my struggle with a certain person.  Her response blew me away, she was discouraged by my honesty. Told me it was not what she needed to hear.  I realized she thought I did not struggle like she did.  It was a lesson learned to be discerning about who I am real with. 

 There is a solid sound to the word authenticity.  To the ear it sounds wholesome, well rounded, strong, and full of knowledge and wisdom and confidence.  I think we all crave it the longer we live but fear keeps us from living it out some of the time.  Paul states it well, I am what I am  by the grace of God.  

Here is something I read recently that helped me. 

Authenticity is more for yourself than for other people.

It is more about being honest to yourself than being honest to other people. It doesn’t depend on whether other people perceive you as authentic or fake. It’s not just about speaking the truth. Not everyone will have the privilege to listen in to all your thoughts, emotions or deepest secrets. As long as you are honest with yourself, you are living an authentic life. 

If you really want to authentic just ask  young children how you look.  The other day I needed to wash my hair but had a much to get done before I could do it. So I wrapped a scarf around my head,  it looked like I had no hair. Our three year old grandson, Reedley upon seeing me, yelled, Grandma, what wrong with your hair. I said, you don't think Grandma hair looks good, he replied with his thumb pointing down, not good Grandma, not good.  My goodness, I love that little boy. 

Here is my after thought on Reedley's authenticity.  He was not afraid to answer my question. He knows I will love him no matter what he says, besides if I did not want the truth I should not have asked.  

Of course the greatest example of authenticity is our Savior,  Jesus Christ.