a different perspective

It is always good to get away to gain a different perspective.

I am in the most opposite place from my regular work in ministry possible. Salem, Massachusetts during halloween! This of course is where the witch trials took place long ago and this is the place where people involved currently in witchcraft or at least curious about the belief system associated with such things gather at halloween. They come from across the country to be here.

I have seen many curious things - costumed dogs being pushed around in strollers, of course people fully costumed and trolleys full of people touring the area. Some are people who just think it's fun to dress up for halloween and others are people who are fully devoted to satanic influenced practices.

When you go into darkness you immediately feel God's indwelling, it is actually MUCH easier to live for Christ then mixed in crowds back home. It is black and white here, back home in my world there is a lot of gray. People back home actually wear more masks than the lost folks here.

I walk around praying for the lost here, don't get me wrong, I don't believe there are more non-believers here than back home, they are just much more obvious here. More out-spoken and perhaps determined to remain lost. Or, just not called to be a Child of God, in which case I view them with deep sorrow - a totally wasted life serving themselves or worse, satan.

The perspective I gain by being here is a deep thankfulness to my Lord for my fairytale life surrounded by Godly friends and family where I seldom consider the evil that seeks to destroy the lost. It gives me a renewed determination to share my faith and reach out to those clueless about the eternal choices they make each day. I desire the eyes of my God.

weak spots

Doesn't Satan just love to tweak our weak spots. Guess it makes sense that he cannot bother us much in areas we are strong in the Lord.

If I could always remember this and remain in what I 'know' rather than what I 'feel' I would save myself a lot of discouragement.

I John 3:18 - 22 This passage encourages us to be confident in God. Not to just love and talk with our tongue, but in deed and truth.

When we get discouraged chances are we are relying on how we feel at the time. That is all us! When we live truthfully and honestly before the Lord our heart will not condemn us. When it feels like God isn't giving any answers to our questions - this is the time we grow. Testing and silence produces Godly maturity. These are the hard times....waiting. When I feel discouraged I try to force myself into the Word and prayer, even though it is the last thing I want to do sometimes. That is just honest.

Beth Moore says this, "The answers God is willing to give us in our tomorrows often flow from our faithfulness when we have none today." Powerful!