Taken Captive

I don't know about you but sometimes I notice occasionally I can slip into a pattern as I begin my weekend. I can tend to let my guard down so to speak. It's time to unload the weight of the week after all, right? To forget the aggravations I may have had, to relax, have fun, unwind. But what I find is when I do without the conscious acknowledgement that my guard is down, by the time I get to church on Sunday the voices that I have allowed to defeat me in the past began trying to pull up a chair.

They can begin to woo me in a sense, telling me that I deserve a break, to forget about who or what needs my attention. Sometimes they try to create doubt, suggesting that I really didn't accomplish anything of value this week because I didn't get everything checked off my list, that I didn't measure up. Maybe because I lost my temper several times the voice may begin to wage war telling me that I really haven't gained as much ground as I thought on that, that I took two steps back instead. Oh, and this one definitely, that here I am at the end of another week without the answers I so desperately want, so maybe God is through with me in this area of my life.

And yes, sometimes a weekday here and there can be completely filled with those thoughts if I'm not careful too.

But God's Word in 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us that as His "we demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

This tells me that everything that goes against what my God really thinks of me should be taken captive and locked away in the pit with the enemy where it belongs.

Because “The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the fullest.” John 10:10

What the enemy says about me is not truth. I choose today God's voice of truth!

Psalm 139:14 says that “I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
Psalm 17 says that "I am the apple of His eye."
Deuteronomy 7:6 says that I am "His treasured possession."
Ephesians 2:10 even says that "I am Gods masterpiece".

And what He thinks of me, and sees in me is this: I am what His plan for me is, I am what He created me to be even if I haven't attained it... "He who began the good work within us, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. " Philippians 1:6

If I take those thoughts that are untrue captive here's what really happens... I more importantly allow GOD to take me captive, I let HIM take my heart captive. And I do so want to be taken captive and swept away in love by my King every day!

"Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phillippians 4:8






Marisa

Missing You

I miss my son. And I miss my Dad
I am stuck in the house this week, sick with a bad upper respiratory infection, and I'm missing my son, Recruit David Cunningham who has about 5 weeks to go in Marine Bootcamp in Parris Island SC.
And I miss my Daddy, who passed away on April 1 2005.
It's so funny. I'm sick, and there is so much going on in my world right now, and next to my husband Todd, these are the two people I most want to talk with.
But not just about my "stuff", I so want to know what new things my son is discovering about Himself, what God is doing within him right now, and to hug him to me and hold him. I wish I could ask my Dad what I should do about some of the decisions about my mom, about what he would do if it was him in this season of waiting I am in, to get his Godly advice, and oh how I miss his great hugs.

What I have discovered the past few days? I've learned all over again I can talk to them, in my heart, and through my Heavenly Father. I can tell HIM how I feel about them both. I can ask him to continue to do a great work in my sons life, and to show me how to be a better mom to David. And I can ask God to bring to my mind the good advice my Dad gave me in years past, and to remember decisions I saw my Dad make in my lifetime, both good and bad, and to help me learn from them.

O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8

The past few days may have brought fever, congestion, nausea, lots of snot (TMI?), a sore chest and throat from coughing and more... but its also brought me some sweet quiet time to pray, talk with God and about the ones I love and miss so much, and to remember :)

Marisa