Joy to the World! He is Risen!

 

I know we don't usually say Joy to the World on Resurrection Sunday, but that is truly when the joy happened!  My favorite song for this morning is "Easter Song" written by Annie Herring and recorded with her brother and sister in the group Second Chapter of Acts (listen here).  Keith Green does a fabulous job with it, too, you can hear his version here. Turn up the volume and sing along!

Hear the bells ringing
They're singing that you can be born again
Hear the bells ringing
They're singing Christ is risen from the dead

The angel up on the tombstone
Said He is risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He is risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah, hallelujah

Hear the bells ringing
They're singing that we can be born again
Hear the bells ringing, they're singing
Christ is risen from the dead

The angel up on the tombstone
Said He is risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He is risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah
He's risen, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah!

Victory Without Borders

 

In our ever changing COVID world, churches have been greatly impacted.  Online only.  Limited in-building services.  No singing.   Back to online only.  I have missed my church family!  Last night Victory Tabernacle kicked off our outdoor services.  We will be meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays and 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.

 

It was so good to gather together once again!  I know God is everywhere and He has used this time to reach souls through online services - we have a brand new brother who heard the gospel online and was baptized a few weeks ago!  Still, it felt wonderful to be together.  Socially distanced by families and wearing masks, we sang and worshiped.

We had another baptism last night at the end of service!  God is still working!

What have your church services been like lately?

Twenty Years

I have been blogging for over ten years.  One of the greatest inspirations for this blog is Mom's Bible.  I have used it many, many times.  A fitting quote for today is:

Only those who are assured of an Eternal life can be happy here and now.
- Mom's Bible

It was 20 years ago today that Mom escaped the pain and sorrows of this world.  For more than eight years she battled cancer with grace, dignity, and humor.  She loved God and looked forward to the day she would meet Him face to face, but many times during her battle with cancer she would say, "I don't want to leave my family."  She loved us so much, we were what kept her fighting.

She was an excellent example of someone who wrote her hurts in the sand and engraved her blessings in stone...

Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything,wrote in the sand:

"Today my best friend slapped me in the face."

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After the friend recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:

"Today my best friend saved my life."

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"

The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."

Learn to write your hurts in the sand, and to carve your benefits in stone.
~ Author Unknown

I can only imagine how much she would have enjoyed blogging.  Her "Friday Foodie" posts would have been 90% chocolate recipes.  She would have shared her "diet hymns" such as "Slimming Down, Down, Down." She would have had stories about the many children she babysat and taught through the years.  She would have shared her love for her family.  And I'm sure she would have shared the many quotes from her Bible that I have been privileged to share.

Twenty years later, I still believe the Final Score:

Mom - 1, Cancer - O

Repost: We Get Up

Part 2 from 2010...

Last week's "We Fall Down" post generated more comments than usual. And Bob Carlisle's song has been on continual play in my head. So I decided to spend some time on the second half of falling - Getting Up. I had worked on this post, but it was still a draft when we went to a Fellowship Meeting in Thousand Oaks on Saturday night. Elder Morton was the speaker and I wish y'all could have heard him! It was outstanding as usual, but it also went right along with this theme.

His text was I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." His title was "A Spirit of Repentance." The first step to getting back up is true repentance. Not crocodile tears, not being sorry because we were caught, but true repentance.

While he was preaching, Elder Morton said, "Calvary is enough! It doesn't matter what you've done! Calvary is enough! God doesn't want anyone to be lost."

I had those same thoughts last week. When we say, "I can't get back up," "I can't go on," or "I can't be forgiven." What we're really saying is, "The blood of Jesus isn't powerful enough for what I've done." We may not say it out loud, but that is what is being said. Because if we truly understood the power of the Cross, we would never doubt again. Yes, we will still fall, but we would grasp the nail-scarred hand that was reaching down to us and allow it to pull us back up again.

I remember praying with a young lady a few years ago. After praying for a while I told her, "You can make it. You can live for God." Her response haunts me still. I can still hear the anguish as she replied, "I hope so." She was so full of doubt, afraid of her own weak flesh.

I believe getting back up is a decision. It takes faith, but it can be done. The next time you're tempted to stay down, look yourself in the eye and say, "The blood of Jesus isn't powerful enough for what I've done." If you can say that, you can stay down. But if you want to get back up, shout it in the face of your despair, "The blood of Jesus IS powerful enough, no matter what I've done!"

HE is faithful and just. He WILL forgive us and cleanse us.

I'm not done with this topic, there are a few people in the Bible I hope to write about in the next few days. Some who fell and got back up. Others who stayed down.

Our God Is Risen!

Rejoice! Today is the day we celebrate the single event that had the power to split time!

By His stripes we are healed
By His nail-pierced hands we’re free
By His blood, we’re washed clean
Now we have the victory.

The power of sin is broken,
Jesus overcame it all,
He has won our freedom,
Jesus has won it all.

Hallelujah!
You have won the victory.
Hallelujah!
You have won it all for me.

Death could not hold You down
You are the risen king
Seated in Majesty
You are the risen king

Our God is risen, He is alive
He won the victory, He reigns on high!

Have a blessed day!

Becoming a Life Champion

Tuesday night was another fantastic message by Bro. Robert Henson.  His title was "Becoming a Life Champion!"  Focus:  Successfully Living the Christ Life.

Life Champions are:
1) Victors 
2) Overcomers

God wants you to be saved!  Satan designs his attacks where we are weakest, but God provides divine assistance.

Victor
Victor = a conqueror; a person who defeats an adversary; one who vanquishes an enemy.
This speaks of a victory so overwhelming that the adversary never again arises from the dust of defeat to offer any challenge to the believer.

Romans 8:35-39 speaks of the victor:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Overcomer
Overcomer = one who prevails in a struggle or conflict; a person who overcomes difficulties; one who surmounts (comes over) opposition, debilities, weaknesses and/or temptations.
Overcomers, with great resolve, continue to fight on.

There are some enemies that I have been able to annihilate, but there are some enemies that I am still fighting.  I still face opposition, but by God's grace I'm an overcomer, still fighting. One of the favorite tactics of the devil is to say, "You must not really be saved if you're still struggling."  This is not true!  As long as you keep fighting, overcoming, you are a Life Champion. 

I took a "few" notes

Children of Israel

At the Red Sea, the Lord made the children of Israel victors.  Not one Egyptian survived.  They never fought Egypt again!

It was in the Land of Promise that the children of Israel became overcomers!

The Red Sea experience lasted 36-48 hours.  Completely overcoming the Promise Land lasted for years.  Most of us spend more time in the promise land than at the Red Sea! Deuteronomy 7:22 says, "And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little."  Little by little the children of Israel overcame their enemies.

In Judges 3:1-4, the Lord gave three reasons why Israel was not given immediate victory and occupancy of the entire Land of Promise:
So that the Israelites would learn and know how to fight the enemy.
So that their children would learn and know how to fight the enemy.
So that it could be discovered whether or not the Children of Israel would be obedient unto the Lord and His Word and to the leadership He had appointed over His people. 

You and I

Key understanding:  You and I experience both types of spiritual warfare.

Some adversaries Jesus helps us crush once - drug addiction, alcohol, cigarettes.  The other level is conflicts that we face everyday such as lust, pride, anger, poor attitudes, jealousy.

As born again children of God we have three main enemies with whom we contend: the devil, our flesh, and the world.  Our biggest enemy is our own flesh but "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phil 4:13)  2 Corinthians 2:11 says, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."  Christ will keep us from being outsmarted by the devil.

Key understanding:  FORGIVENESS plays a key role in our overcoming!

We have a much more difficult time overcoming when we don't forgive.  Unforgiveness is the most employed strategy of Satan.  We must forgive others and ourselves.  Those who don't forgive themselves live under constant condemnation.  Don't live with unrelenting regrets.  God doesn't expect you to continue grieving over what you cannot change.

Key understanding:  If you are currently fighting the good fight of faith, you are participating, even now, in championship living!

The book of Revelation addresses numerous promises to the overcomers!  Not one time are the promises made to victors.

Revelation 2:7 "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life."
Revelation 2:11 "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."
Revelation 2:17 "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.."
Revelation 2:26 and 28 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations...and I will give him the morning star."
Revelation 3:5 "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."
Revelation 3:12 "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
Revelation 3:21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne."
Revelation 21:7  "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." - Overcomers inherit ALL THINGS!! 

This was such an outstanding message!  Just re-reading my notes this morning was inspiring.  God loves overcomers!  And right on time, there was this simple quote in my email box:

Today you can choose to live the rest of your life as a Life Champion! 

Prophecy for the Next Generation

Pastor White's message on Sunday night was outstanding.  He read from Proverbs chapter 31, and as he put it, it was not a Mother's day message!  Proverbs 31:1-2 says, "The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?" The word prophecy in that verse means, "a burden; specifically tribute, an utterance, especially singing, tribute."  Verses three through nine of the prophecy are a warning, but the remaining verses are guidance.

I had never taken the time to study who King Lemuel is, but Pastor White pointed out that most scholars agree that this was Solomon.  That being the case (and the commentaries I read agreed) then the mother who taught him was none other than Bathsheba!

Bathsheba, the woman who was a known adulteress, prophesying, uttering, singing of the Virtuous Woman?  John Gill's commentary said she uttered this prophecy to Solomon, "either in his youth, or when he was come to the throne; particularly when she saw he was inclined unto, or going into, the vices she cautions him against."

In my study last year, I did not study the Virtuous Woman.  I had planned to, but never got to her.  The one thing I was going to study was the difference between what she did (bought a field, sought wool and flax, etc.) and who she was (the heart of her husband trusted her, her children call her blessed.)

It's almost impossible to reconcile Bathsheba with these great verses, but Pastor White pointed out that she was teaching Solomon in spite of her past.  David was much older than Bathsheba, and she was known to be a beautiful woman.  But after their sin, she was true to David and the purpose of this prophecy was to teach Solomon to walk in the path of righteousness.

The prophecy we must teach the next generation is this:  You CAN get up from your failures.  You CAN walk in newness of life. You CAN be a godly person.  You CAN sing a victorious song!

I Don't Think So!

I heard something the other day that I didn't agree with.  The person said, "There are times when I just don't know if I can make it."  In my nearly 50 years of life, I have never thought that.  Yes, life has been hard at times.  I've been through trials and tests.  I've had grief and trouble.  But I have never thought, "I don't think I can make it."  On my own strength, I know I can't make it, but through the power of the Holy Ghost and the blood of Jesus, I've always know I CAN make it!  I've had so many examples of victorious Christians, I know if they can, I can!

It all comes back to the Battle of the Mind.  What we think is what we will do and become.  When we win that battle, everything else falls into place.  Here are some other things I don't think:

All Men Cheat On the Wives - I heard this from a co-worker many years ago.  I don't think so!  My parents were married for 40 years and my Dad didn't cheat on my Mom.  We've been married for nearly 23 years and no cheating has taken place and I pray to God that it never does.  I know it happens and I'm so sorry if it has happened to you.  But it does not happen to everyone.  I stay away from books, even Christian fiction, that the main storyline is that of an affair.  I don't want to fill my mind with the hows and whys, that will just put doubts in my mind.

All Teenagers Go Through a Rebellious Stage - someone once told me "all college students experiment with drugs and alcohol."  I don't think so!  I know many who have not.  Not all teenagers are pushing at the "restraints" of godly living.  Some are wise enough to know there is safety in staying with the ninety and nine.  I never tried drugs or alcohol and I never wanted to!  Les lived in a college dorm for four years and lived for God the entire time.

My Parents Divorced, so I'll Probably Get Divorced - a close friend told me this when we were teenagers.  I don't think so!  The choices of our parents affect us, but we do not have to follow that same path.  God created marriage and HE wants your marriage to last.

My Parents/Grandparents Had  Cancer/Heart Disease/Fill In the Blank, So I Will Too - I don't think so!  For years we thought every disease was hereditary.  Many are, but many studies show obesity as the cause.  What we inherit is grandma's cookbook and grandpa's sweet tooth!  We inherit habits and lifestyles.  I may be diagnosed with some fatal disease next month, but it won't because I haven't taken care of myself.  I'm not sitting in fear wondering when the ax is going to fall, I'm keeping my family's good habits and working hard to keep the bad ones in the past.

As An Apostolic Lady, I Can't Exercise/Be Active/Have Fun and Be Modest - I don't think so!  Mankind (and that includes ladies) has always been active.  Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz and remained modest.  I know ladies who hike, bike, golf, ride horses, run, and kayak and all of them remain modest!

In Matthew 19:26, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."  When you think "I can't make it" what you are really thinking is "the blood of Jesus is not powerful enough to help me overcome this situation."  Say it with me:  I don't think so!

Finishing Strong

A couple of years ago I wrote a post called "Living Up to Her Name."  It was about marathoner Joy Johnson who was going to run the New York City Marathon at age 84.  She ran it again this past weekend.  It was her 25th NYCM.  Sadly, at mile 20 she fell and hit her head.  She finished the race, but the next day died in her sleep.  Last Saturday she said, “I always say I’m going to run until I drop, I’m going to die in my tennis shoes. I just don’t know when I’m going to quit.”

Last Sunday morning, as Joy was running, Pastor White preached an incredible message.  He talked to us about what it takes to remain strong to the end.  Just as the human body must work harder as it ages to maintain a certain level of fitness, so must we who are older in the Lord work to maintain our spiritual strength.  We can't think that our past experiences are enough to carry us through.

I still remember elderly saints of my childhood saying, "I've been living for the Lord for 30 years and it just gets better and better."  They couldn't say that if they were content to rest on past victories.  Their spiritual walk was new each day.

 

Joy's story made me think of Sis. Mary Coursey from Fresno.  She was a faithful saint of God.  I vividly remember her testifying with such joy and victory.  The end of her life came.  Still living alone and walking with her dear Jesus.  When they found her, she was kneeling at her bedside.  I've always thought the Lord said, "Let's finish this conversation face to face."  She finished her race with victory - she never quit!

I don't know when my race will be over, but I plan to run to the end!

Running the Tour de France

In 2009 I wrote a couple posts called Lessons from the Peloton.  These were posts about the Tour de France with a spiritual application.  You can read about it here and here.  This year there have been many revelations about, and confessions by, Tour de France riders, most notably by Lance Armstrong who won the race a record seven times.  With or without the benefit of doping, it is still a very difficult three week race.  Approximately 2000 miles with over 100,000 feet of elevation gain.

This year's race has come and gone.  But there was someone else doing the Tour de France this year.  Zoe Romano RAN the entire course!  It took her about three months, averaging 30 miles a day.  ON FOOT. 

As a runner, I am in awe of such a distance.  I have run 2000 miles in a year and 26.2 miles in a single day, but this feat was amazing. 

Zoe blogged about her last run.  She ran the first three stages of this year's tour at the end because they took place on the island of Corsica.  After running stages one and two, she had 90 miles to go.  She ran those final 90 miles in one day!  It took her 23 hours, but she did it!  She fell twice in the dark, was spooked by a wild boar, suffered in severe heat during the middle of the day.  About that final run, she wrote:

 "When I finally did finish, at 1:05 am, my knees and elbows were crusted with blood, and my palms dotted with blood blisters from falling down, my skin pickled and covered in a sun rash, my ankles swollen red and hot, dirt everywhere, and my face completely flushed with fever."

So many of her posts were about days that seemed effortless, just another 30 miler.  She obviously has a natural running talent and the ability to recover quickly.  But that final day almost did her in. Can you imagine how she would have felt if she gave up with only 10 miles to go?  But she did it.

It makes me think of people who live for God through their teen years, survive young adulthood, then somewhere along the way give up the journey.  A trial that seems to be their darkest puts them off their feet and they don't get up.  How tragic it is.  They ran the early miles with confidence and seemed to breeze through valleys, but the last stage took them down.

We can never think, "I've lived for God for 25 years, I've got it made."  Satan would like nothing better than to take us down in the final mile.  But there is victory for every step of the way!  God provides grace for every mile.  

I wrote this after finishing the Ojai to Ocean marathon:

"It was tough, but not impossible.  There were moments of doubt, but I overcame.  It seemed to take forever, but when the finish line came into view, a huge surge of adrenaline hit and I sprinted across the line!  My first marathon, in the books.  I kinda think that's how we're going to feel when we get to heaven, don't you?  Only on a much grander scale!"

Break Every Chain

We had an incredible service last night at Victory Tabernacle!  It started in choir practice.  We learned a new song and the choir came ready.  We were expecting a move of God.  I had to ask myself, "Why don't I come expecting God to move in every service??"

The song was so simple, but so powerful.  There is power in the name of Jesus.  I can't think of words that are more powerful than that!  We added cardboard testimonies to the song and the combination was dynamic!  I think we sang for about 45 minutes (I have the sore throat to prove it!) as the power of God swept into the house and chains were broken!  I have no idea how many chains came off last night, but I know there were many.  And ten year old, Kay, received the Holy Ghost for the first time!

There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus
There is power in the name of Jesus

To break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain

There's an army rising up
There's an army rising up
There's an army rising up

To Break every chain
Break every chain
Break every chain

I hear the chains falling
I hear the chains falling
I hear the chains falling
I hear the chains falling

Blessed Be Your Name

We were back at New Life Pentecostal last night. We were saddened to learn that while we were gone, Pastor McGriffin was going through the same valley I was. His father passed away on March 8th. They were already on the mainland and had spent some time with him, but their stay was extended. This was the first time he had been in church in two weeks and he was ready. As service started, Les said "When you think you're alone in the valley, someone else is walking alone in the valley, too."

As service started, I put my heart into the singing and praise.  I needed church!  It was either the third or fourth song when we started singing "Blessed Be Your Name."  This song ministered to me so much!

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

I've walked through the wilderness lately, but I can still say "blessed be Your name!"

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

The name of the Lord is truly glorious! I began giving Him the praise He is so worthy of and my heart got lighter!

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

My road has been marked with pain recently, but His name is stilled blessed.

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

As we sang that final part, I knew that it was my choice.  Job said, "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."  Everything Job had was gone, but he chose to say "blessed be the name of the Lord."  I did the same.  I sang from the bottom of my heart, "Blessed be Your name!" with tears streaming down my face.  There truly is victory in praise! Weeping does endure for a night, but JOY comes in the morning!

Pastor McGriffin preached "Keep Standing, Because Falling is Overrated."  It was an excellent message.  So much is said about restoration when we fall, but it really is better to keep standing.  Sure, you can get back up, but I know from experience that each time you fall there is pain to go along with it.  If you're up, stay there.  If you're down, get back up and start standing!

We came home and I had my best night's sleep in a couple weeks.  I know the pain of losing my Dad is far from over, I'll always miss him, but I received such a healing touch last night.  I know God is answering the many prayers that have been prayed for me by so many!  Blessed be the name of the Lord!

What's Stopping You?

Sometimes life and marathon training intersect and there's nothing I can do about it!  Yesterday was the 27th Los Angeles Marathon.  The winners are so much faster than I'll ever be, running 26.2 miles in just over 2 hours.  Simply amazing!

One person who will probably not get a lot of attention is Christian Alvarado.  He finished in 9 hours, 11 minutes and 39 seconds.  Long after the winners had received their medals, eaten a recovery meal, and probably had a shower.  This was Christian's 11th marathon and he is legally blind.  He ran with a guide who was running her first marathon.  A Los Angeles Times article said this about him:

"He took up running, though he didn't like it, 

to prove a disability couldn't stop him."

Last night, Les preached from Acts chapter 28.  "A Place Where Two Seas Meet."  We are all on the sea of life and are often tossed by contrary winds.  But he reminded us of what Jesus said in Matthew 16:18: "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."  Nothing can stop us!  No trial, no storm, no difficulty, can stop us as individuals or as a church body. 

Les also pointed out that gates are for defense.  The church doesn't have gates because we are not the ones on defense.  We are the ones marching on in battle!

So if a young man, who is legally blind, can run 26.2 miles, what is stopping you from being victorious in life?

Mileage Update

I had a fantastic week! It started with a 10 mile run on Sunday, a bear sighting on Monday, and a climb all the way to the top of Las Llajas yesterday!

(Taken at the TOP!)

I've been riding a little higher up the trail lately, but not going all the way to the top. Les rode with me yesterday and I knew it was time to do it again. This is only the second time I've made it all the way to the top ~ you can read about the first time here, it occurred way back in March. I couldn't do it without the encouragement of this guy:


The view is amazing at the top... except for the scrub bushes...


Yes, my face was this red! It's a hard, hot climb. Some portions have an 18-20% grade ~ STEEP, but so worth it! And that is NOT a bushy pony tail coming out of my helmet ~ it's a real bush ~ not connected to my head!

Totals for Week ending September 10:
Running: 25.91
Cycling: 49.07
Total: 74.98

Year-to-Date:
Running: 902.76
Cycling: 949.46
Total: 1852.22

Are you thinking about a Fall exercise plan? Cooler temps mean longer walks. Don't just think about it ~ get to it!

Tearing Down Strong Holds

After our powerful prayer meeting on Tuesday night, I went to church last night expecting a great service. We were dry as toast! Pre-service prayer found few people praying. Song service was flat. Bro. Bellew got up to preach and no one responded. His title was "We've Been Here Before." He started preaching about Caleb, in Joshua chapter 14. Caleb had seen the promise land before and he was ready to move in.

After about ten minutes of preaching, Bro. Bellew just stopped. He wasn't harsh in anyway, but he said he didn't want to keep preaching against a brick wall. This should not have been happening after Tuesday night's prayer meeting! He had us stand and begin praying against whatever it was that was keeping us bound. After several minutes, he had everyone gather in the front to bind together against the spirits fighting us.

We prayed for about an hour. God moved in and souls were touched. But I can't help but think, "We've been here before." So many don't want to move on in to the promise land - the promise land of living continually in victory! I asked Les last night, "Do we know what living victoriously really is?" It's a place I want to be and I want to see it in Victory Tabernacle! I know there are strong holds that need to come down, and I'm believing that this will be the revival. The revival that changes people for good. That six weeks, six months, six years down the road, people are changed and don't go back to old habits.

2 Corinthians 10:4 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds."

I DID It!!

Many titles came to mind for this post - "Victory is Mine" "Mountain Top Experience" "Just Keep Climbing"... but the fact of the matter is...

I MADE IT TO THE TOP OF LAS LLAYAS CANYON TRAIL THIS MORNING!!!

Yes, I made it to the very top for the first time!

If you've been traveling with this blog for a while, you might remember me writing about Las Llayas Canyon. I first mentioned it about a year ago, when Les and I ran it. At that point, I had no idea I would ever ride a bike on that trail, much less ride to the top of an amazing hill.

Of course it was in May, when we went to Catalina Island, that I got started on my bicycling journey. Nine months ago today, we brought Myka home and my activity level changed dramatically!

It hasn't always been easy. There have been mishaps and tumbles. But after deciding to work on my strengths, I have actually gotten stronger! And today was the day. No excuses, no whining, just lots of pedaling! When I got to the top, Les said, "You did it!" I was so thrilled!


This is my happy, first pumping, I did it pose! You can see for miles, and on a clearer day you can actually see the Pacific Ocean from where I'm standing.

And finally, the stats: 14.5 miles in 2 hours, 15 minutes, average heart rate 143 bpm, max HR 176, burned 1,020 calories.

Guaranteed Victory

Bro. Ballew preached a fabulous message last night titled "Blitzkrieg." This is the German word for "lightning war." This is the method the Germans employed to start World War II. Bro. Ballew said we are under a Blitzkrieg by Satan. He is throwing everything he can at us. Working his best to defeat us, saints and ministers alike.


But we don't have to fear! Isaiah 59:19 says, "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." Bro. Ballew reminded us of the greatness of our God. As long as we keep fighting, we WILL win!

I just read the most incredible description of someone flirting with the world. The post is called "Dancing with Death." If your heart is not fixed on the things of God, if you are looking with longing at the things of the world, read this post. Don't Dance with Death! You will not win.

Everyday we have a choice to make - choose right or wrong. Choose victory or death. Which choice are you making?

Champions

This was my Runner's World Quote of the Day and I had to share it:

Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.
- Alan Armstrong, author

We Get Up

Last week's "We Fall Down" post generated more comments than usual. And Bob Carlisle's song has been on continual play in my head. So I decided to spend some time on the second half of falling - Getting Up. I had worked on this post, but it was still a draft when we went to a Fellowship Meeting in Thousand Oaks on Saturday night. Elder Morton was the speaker and I wish y'all could have heard him! It was outstanding as usual, but it also went right along with this theme.

His text was I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." His title was "A Spirit of Repentance." The first step to getting back up is true repentance. Not crocodile tears, not being sorry because we were caught, but true repentance.

While he was preaching, Elder Morton said, "Calvary is enough! It doesn't matter what you've done! Calvary is enough! God doesn't want anyone to be lost."

I had those same thoughts last week. When we say, "I can't get back up," "I can't go on," or "I can't be forgiven." What we're really saying is, "The blood of Jesus isn't powerful enough for what I've done." We may not say it out loud, but that is what is being said. Because if we truly understood the power of the Cross, we would never doubt again. Yes, we will still fall, but we would grasp the nail-scarred hand that was reaching down to us and allow it to pull us back up again.

I remember praying with a young lady a few years ago. After praying for a while I told her, "You can make it. You can live for God." Her response haunts me still. I can still hear the anguish as she replied, "I hope so." She was so full of doubt, afraid of her own weak flesh.

I believe getting back up is a decision. It takes faith, but it can be done. The next time you're tempted to stay down, look yourself in the eye and say, "The blood of Jesus isn't powerful enough for what I've done." If you can say that, you can stay down. But if you want to get back up, shout it in the face of your despair, "The blood of Jesus IS powerful enough, no matter what I've done!"

HE is faithful and just. He WILL forgive us and cleanse us.

I'm not done with this topic, there are a few people in the Bible I hope to write about in the next few days. Some who fell and got back up. Others who stayed down.