365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 139

We watched the re-make of the movie Red Dawn. The classic movie with the late Patirick Swazy in which the US is invaded by enemy countries and the stand they take. My husband found out a tidbit about the new movie that was kind of disturbing. The new movie had the invading army as the Chinese but they digitally changed it in post-production to be North Korea. It is no coincidence with all that is going on with North Korea currently. In the movie, a group of youth, escape up into the mountains. They are led by the older brother named Jed and choose to stand up and fight for their home. But not all of them make that choice to fight. It was said well in the movie when they showed an American wearing a black uniform with a red band on it. They were the collaborators.  The main character Jed said it well, “that always happens”. There will always be people who will stand and fight and those who out of fear will choose to take up sides with the enemy. It is the same in our spiritual fight against the forces of darkness in our world. We can choose to fight or we can choose to be apathetic and let the darkness invade “our” world. Unfortunately, for many, they will go the route of apathy or ignorance simply because they do not truly believe in God or in the battle that is being waged for our souls with Satan. But there will be a day when not believing won’t be an option. The evidence of God will be fully revealed when Jesus comes again. In the final battle there will be those who will choose to collaborate with evil. It is part of who we are. God gave us the free will to make our own choices. But those choices for some will be made out of fear. “Do not be afraid” is said so many times throughout the bible. God is for us. He is the good guy. And it is for Him and the love he has shown us through Jesus that we must stand and be firm.

Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 123

The image of my family at the dinner table all raising their glasses of sparkling cider toasting Jesus our King came to my mind this morning. I will start this as a tradition on Easter Sunday to make a toast to our King. It made me think about other kings like you see on TV shows in which the people all bow down before the king with reverence, respect, ready to do what the king commands. Perhaps it is because we don’t have a visual on the King we are to be bowing down to that makes us apathetic in our service to our King. This Son of God made human died for me, for you, for all of us because of love for His Father in Heaven and for us. He did what his Father told him to do even though he didn’t deserve it in anyway. The Father could have at any time stopped it all and said, “No, let mankind lay in its bed that they made.” Jesus could have said “I am not going to do what my Father says, suffer on this cross and die for all mankind.” But their love was SO much that they did what needed to be done to save us from ourselves and evil. Would you be willing to die on a cross? Would you be willing to watch your child die on a cross? Love this great cannot be set aside because we are too busy dealing with our day to day lives. Worship! Pray! Sing! Bow down to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords everyday, every moment!!!

Revelations 19: 11-16 I saw heaven standing open and their before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no on knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.