Sometimes the Truth Hurts

Sometimes the truth hurts.

When you follow Jesus and your relationship with Him begins to grow and  your life begins to change,  be prepared to get the HELL beat clean out of you.  In scripture, it is called "pruning," but it's really the same concept, it's for the purpose of removing the junk and making provision for producing good stuff.

We just finished a study on the Armor of God in women's Bible study, and it is clear that we are told in Scripture to put on the ARMOR OF GOD, not our pretty frilly white Sunday best.

 It doesn't say to put on our dainty clothes that aren't meant for getting dirty, or show any sign of wear and tear, but

 ARMOR.

 Why?

  Because we are in a war and the

 *struggle is real*

 and we need all the armor that Ephesians 6 describes.

I think so many times as Christians we are hesitant to talk about the battle, because it's messy and it's painful and it's hard and we don't want our faith to look unpleasant.

  We somehow feel like God can't handle people knowing the real truth about what happens when we submit our lives to JESUS.

  But guess what???

SURPRISE!!!

JESUS IS THE TRUTH, 

so I'm not sure who we think we are protecting,

 God, from himself maybe?

Don't get me wrong....following Jesus is the ONLY WAY and it's amazing and
 IT IS FULL OF BLESSING
 and LIFE ABUNDANT...but it's NOT the best life NOW, it's living in a war zone and looking forward to our best life later.

It's not the abundant life that we think of in the here and now, it's Jesus,

 JESUS IS THE LIFE AND THE BLESSING!

In the Old Testament story of Jacob wrestling with God, Jacob was up close and personal...sweating it out and he wouldn't let go, even though it was hard and painful, he wouldn't let go or give up  until he got a
 BLESSING.

  He was never the same after that wrestling match, and he walked with a limp the rest of his life. 

 But I bet when we get to heaven and talk to him, he will relive that wrestling match a million times...it changed him, He was changed and He was

 BLESSED.

I have never seen anyone that has walked with the Lord for very much time, or had a real up close encounter, that they don't walk with a limp of  sorts, and everyone who has stuck it out with God, may have a limp, but they also have
ABUNDANT LIFE
and

  FAITH, HOPE and LOVE.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13The Message (MSG)

12 We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

13 But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

The reason this is heavy on my mind is that Charlie is away on a mission trip.   The Lord gave an opportunity and provision and Charlie jumped in ready to go.
 I know there will be changed lives and GLORY to God!  

  As he was preparing to go, things just seemed to fall apart, which often times accompanies any step of faith.  In order to stay on track we have to focus on JESUS and know the TRUTH and remember God's FAITHFULNESS. 

 If we look at the obstacles and circumstances and lose heart we will miss the
 BLESSING.

The christian life is not skipping through life in our Sunday best
with doors flinging open and money falling out of the sky, but rather, things heat up,
 and the battle is on.

 This is why the Bible tells us to put on
 ARMOR,
 not a  frilly Sundress and flip-flops.

 We have to be ready and armored up and prayed up and prayed for.

I can tell you from the home front that when Charlie is gone, things get crazy even at home
(part of this is just Murphy's law as well...when the man is away...stuff breaks,)

 but I can also testify that when he is gone for the sake of the GOSPEL the whole family grows  and benefits and is blessed beyond anything we could think to ask for.

 One of the best and most beautiful LIFE ABUNDANT examples of this, is our Esther. 

 Had we looked at the wreck that was going on in our lives 6 years ago when Charlie and Lashae were headed to Uganda, and not focused on JESUS, Charlie would not have gone, he would not have met our girl, we would have missed out on this
ABUNDANT LIFE.

 Our blessing came home and we walk with a limp of sorts,

 because it's hard, and it's amazing, and we are forever changed and 

BLESSED.

I'm getting great reports of how Charlie is doing in Kenya!

I'm so thankful for Charlie and I'm especially proud of him when he is bold and brave enough to get out of his comfort zone and out of his country and reach and teach and share the
LOVE of JESUS.
I'm thankful to God for always being creative in how he puts His people together on mission.
I'm thankful to Catalyst for Africa and Michael Mozley for taking a chance on a cowboy and welcoming him to the team.

I'm most in LOVE with my man when he has been on a mission trip,
he is full of fire and purpose and
 LOVE.

 and therefore I will greet him in a hazmat suit.