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

Our Confidence #307

2 Corinthians 3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

_________Today's personal note from Dennis

Finally an answer: Surgery scheduled for Monday 18^th at the Banner Good Samaritan Hospital downtown Phoenix. 

   Schedule: Be at hospital at noon. Surgery at 2 PM. The surgery should take extra time: 4-    
   6 hours.

   Please be in prayer. During anytime you are having a difficult time humor always seems to
   help. I was with Bennett, Burke and Collin and decided we needed a Gang Now we call 
   ourselves the CANE GANG.   ~ DGW

Why Exult The Lord? #306

Habakkuk 3:17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, 
And there be no fruit on the vines,
 Though the yield of the olive should fail, 
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold, 
And there be no cattle in the stalls,

18 Yet I will exult in the Lord 
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

Over forty years ago a friend wrote those two verses on a small piece of paper. I have carried it in my wallet. Every so often I read it and remind myself that the reason for exulting is the Lord Himself and my joy is in the God of my salvation.

___________________Today's personal note from Dennis 

The past seven weeks have been a time for me to exult and rejoice in the Lord. My physical situation is still not good. I still struggle with pain, seven surgical procedures, weight loss and weakness. Your prayers, cards, phone calls, visits and emails have been an encouragement to me. Thanks so much.

I love all of you and appreciate your love.  ~ DGW