Have You Met The Enemy? #308

I Peter 5:8-11 

8 Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

10 Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. 11 The dominion belongs to Him forever. Amen.

Do you have a roaring lion growling at you from the bushes, behind the rocks and is he loud and scary. He is there only to make loud noises. He was defeated at the cross and in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is your adversary but a defeated one. Then what is really happening? Satan, the Devil wants to distract you from your faith. He tries to get you away from your faith in Jesus Christ and trust the world around you. He wants your focused on your problems, your sufferings and trials. Of course none of those things can happen apart from God allowing them to enter your life.

God also has a purpose. The God of all grace will meet the enemy head on and will do something to and in you. He called you to bring glory to Jesus Christ. Through all you suffer or struggle it is God who will Himself, personally restore you, establish you, strengthen you and support you AFTER YOU HAVE SUFFERED A LITTLE WHILE. This too came to pass.

How do you know? Because the Bible says that all the dominion or the control belongs to God.

It then finishes with AMEN!!!   LET IT BE!!!   Praise the Lord.

_______________________Today's personal note from Dennis

Greetings from Starbucks in beautiful Tempe, AZ.

Yes, I am back and going. Not strong yet, but on my way. The surgery on Monday, the 18th has been a great success. The two stents and the biliary tube and bag were removed (even though a group of Doctors said it couldn't be done) and God is getting glory once again. I have a brand new titanium stent in the area where the common bile duct was completely blocked. It all seems to be working. 

I am still very weak from having been unable to eat. I still weigh less than 150 lbs and for me that was my JR HIGH weight. I am praying for the ability to once again take the lid off the catsup bottle or lift a gallon of milk from the fridge. I know it will come back. 

Thanks so much for your prayers. I am so keenly aware that without the intervention of God I wouldn't be writing or even talking about any of this. I so thank you for lifting my name to Our Lord Jesus and for answer to prayer. 

I have received so many comments from you about my CANE GANG PICTURE.

One friend of mine had used a cane years ago after an accident. He carried it with him on the 18th (day of surgery) to remind him to pray without ceasing. He said he never prayed so much for anyone on one day.

Your emails have been such an encouragement to me and Sandy. We know you have been praying and are such a help. 

Sandy and I had our two youngest grandsons to spend the night on Friday night (August 22) so Mandy and John could celebrate John's 38the birthday. On Sunday we will have the whole family together to share in the celebration. John is such a wonderful husband to Mandy, and great father to Johnny and Justin. Happy Birthday John.   ~ DGW