...having done all, to stand

I have been reading all my family and friends’ blogs, commenting to them via email and I finally decided it was time to move into the 21st Century and blog (what kind of name is that?) Anyway, I have been moved by much of what I have read in Lauren, Dennae, Dennis, and the blogs of others and I realized I am so blessed to have so many uncompromising Christians in my life.

So let me begin with why I picked the title of my blog..Still Standing,
After the devastation of Katrina, we all saw many things “not standing” and some of those were people. I don’t mean the ones that passed away, but those who remain living and “lost their faith” in the goodness of people and of God.

My life motto is about standing and the song I have chosen to describe my life is Casting Crowns’ latest song, “Lifesong”. The scriptures are rich with the words about standing. In Eph 6 talking about putting on the armor, Paul says, in verse
13 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, STAND and my prayer for my girls has always included in what Paul writes in Phil 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so …., I may hear of your affairs, that you STAND fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (No problem there girls! Your doing great! I’m proud of the two of you. Paul is always encouraging people to STAND strong in the Lord, In Phil 4 he begins with “So stand fast in the Lord and goes unto talking about rejoicing, being anxious for nothing, and finishes with the beautiful words:

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

(This describes my husband, my knight in shining armor, who always seems to have an inner peace that puts me into turmoil) (smile) (Love you babe)

And finally, by one of my favorite STANDs in Rev 6:17 Behold, I STAND at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

I see the devastation in New Orleans and I know that people without Faith can take no comfort in the promises of God. And I know the people who have called themselves Christians are being put to the test.

Now is the time to stand in the gap! For some of us that will mean giving up money and time, some of us will go there and help, some of us will stay here and help those who are in Phoenix. Some of us will give up being with our loved ones as they go and others will give up material things to buy for others. All that is good, but what they need more than anything right now, is for us to do Spiritual battle. We are so very willing to GO and do something, but you know its difficult to stand and pray, stand and intercede, I mean STAND and do Spiritual Warfare. You see running the race, sometimes calls us to stop and STAND. To take up our weapons of warfare and cover the backs of our brothers and sisters; 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 “ though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

The hardest thing to do, is this type of warfare, its easy to go and work with people, you see some good right away/ Its much harder to fall on your knees and envision every high thought that will enter those people’s minds, every reason they might have to fear, to have pain, to be anger, to have grief and sorrow. The hardest thing to do is STAND in the gap against SATAN and against what those people see as their reality, their reality is that harm has been done to them. Their reality is that everything that meant something is gone. My reality is so much different. My reality continues to believe in the sovereignty of God, the goodness of God, the eternal hope of God, the peace and the love that He has to offer, plans for good, plans that prosper and gives hope.

“Jer 29:11 (NIV) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I understand living through their type of devastation. We lost EVERYTHING when I was a child (except our lives), my husband and I lost 2 children and have gone through much lost. I know God was faithful then, and God is faithful now. The goodness of people and the faithfulness of God was there then and its here now. I know what I could have used then and I know what they can use now. They need for me, for us to STAND in the gap.