some thoughts pondered as i'm about to leave the land downunder...

Wednesday is almost over now here in Australia. In less than 24 hours I will be off on a new adventure. Even as I type these words i feel the anticipation in my belly. I feel it in my heart. I serve a wild, untamable God. At night i lie awake and ponder what lies in wait for me in the days ahead. Adventure. Excitement. Tears. Life. Death. Joy. Pain. Love. Heartbreak. Color. Darkness. Light. Time will tell all that this journey beholds. We go forth as the bride of Christ, advocates of life. The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; Jesus came that people could have life, and have it abundantly. all throughout history the enemy has attacked life. i can see so clearly how he sits pleased as we lose whole generations to genocide and abortion and disease. we have been warned that as we go forth to usher in life, we will not go unresisted. there will be a battle. Paul urged the church in ephesus to put on the whole armor of God so that they could resist the schemes of the devil. so that's what we'll do. we will go forth with the trusty sword of truth in hand and our shields of faith raised to "extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." as i write this, it all sounds so dramatic...really, i'm just going to learn how to "catch" babies in a couple of foreign countries, right? yes. but most of my life i have either been unaware of the battle or maybe chose not to see it. might i find most of the church in the same boat? i'm convinced though, that our ignorance of the battle does not make it nonexistent...it's more like we're off chasing butterflies in a spiritual warzone. Jesus was zealous for truth, He fought for life, and He gave His own life for love. Paul told the ephesians that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. therefore, take up the full armor of God...that's heavy stuff, haha.
these are things i continue to ponder...what does it mean to be a warrior? how do we love as Christ did day in and day out? how do we see into all things spiritual? i am convinced they are things that you just begin to walk in...and grow into...maybe for a lifetime...and day by day. well, off we go to celebrate life and to welcome in new creations with joy and thanksgiving!!