Shelly A. Faust

Archives for September 2014

I’m Spending Today With My Eyes Open

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With pillow and blanket in tow and eyes heavy from a long day of playing, he stretches out on the couch beside me. Nudging his head against my arm and sending secret coded messages with those sleepy, puppy dog eyes, he has my full attention. Because these moments, at nine years old, don’t come as often as they once did. I stop typing and softly outline every detail of his face with my fingers by the glow of the computer screen in my lap.

Without thinking, I start singing a familiar song and he smiles. A praise song we first learned together while he snuggled soundly in my belly.

God of wonders beyond our galaxy, You are holy. Holy.

The universe declares Your majesty. You are holy. Holy.

We both grew in that season – he in my belly and I in my spirit (and certainly my flesh, too). God placed this promise of life on the inside of me as cancer made threats on the outside of me. He gave me joy when life tempted to bring me sadness. And He took what the enemy meant to harm me with and used it for good.

And when I look at this beautiful boy next to me my heart grows tender. Every breath he breathes reminds me of God’s mercy and grace. Reminds me that God is a God of second chances. That God’s plans are so much greater than my own. And that this life I’m living is about so much more than the girl I see in the mirror every morning.

Hold your family this weekend, friends. Take time to snuggle on the couch. Trace the freckles and memorize the curves of your child’s face.

Put the computer down. Stop work for a moment. Be fully present.

Breathe in the fullness of this day. No matter what you’re going through find something to be thankful for. Though we walk through seasons of difficulty, God is ever present. His mercy and grace remain, enabling and empowering us to get through to the other side – stronger, better, fuller.

Those hard places we walk (and sometimes crawl) through have a way of changing us. Our perspective. Our priorities. Our way of thinking. Everything, really.

The hard days have a way of opening our eyes to the good days, don’t they?

I’m spending today with my eyes open. And I hope you will, too.

xo

Shelly

Be Discerning & Wise – Recognize the Enemy

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psalm 63-4

My heart has been heavy today and my spirit grieved. The times upon us are evil and we cannot take lightly all that is happening in the physical and the spiritual realms. We cannot walk in fear but we must take seriously the war against good and evil that is intensifying. As I was cooking dinner tonight I felt impressed to grab my notebook and write. The words that poured out are a warning to us as the body of Christ.

As the enemy weaves skillfully into place and prepares to attack, one of his strategies will be to have us take ourselves out or at least weaken the ranks. This is nothing new and nothing he has not tried before but his efforts are intensifying. There is a multitude of ways he will attempt this, including:

  • Stirring up dissension and strife and causing us to fight among ourselves
  • Using friendly fire to eliminate key and effective leaders
  • Distractions – anything that will keep us from the purposes of God (loving each other as ourselves, forgiving, showing mercy and compassion, offering grace, etc)
  • Causing us to “major on the minors” or things that have no eternal significance
  • Raising up a critical and judgmental spirit
  • Stirring up hate
  • Destroying families, breaking up family units
  • Disunity in the church
  • Discouragement, disappointment, and hopelessness – anything to keep us from walking in the authority and power of Jesus, anything to keep us from praising God
  • Compromise

We must be discerning and wise. Rise up, army of God! Recognize the schemes and wiles of the enemy! He is sneaky and cunning. Be alert! Stand firm! He is a defeated foe and his ultimate fate has already been decided but he can wreak much havoc and cause much harm if we allow him to. We must open our spiritual eyes, hear with spiritual ears, and let the sound of praise go before us. Gather your families! Link arms with your brothers and sisters in Christ! Recognize the enemy for who he is. Arm yourselves with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Take time to be renewed, refreshed, and strengthened in His presence. No matter what the enemy throws at us or uses against us, our God is greater!

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ~ 1 Peter 5:8

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ~ Ephesians 6:12

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ~ John 13:34-35

For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. ~ Psalm 135:5

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ~ 1 John 4:4

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. ~ Psalm 47:1-2

 

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