Warrior Ministries

09/13/2018

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” Luke 15:4 (NIV)

Totally Alone.

I think we’ve all felt this way at some point in our lives — whether it’s the result of circumstances beyond our control or isolation of our own choosing.

I remember an incredibly difficult season in my life when I found myself pulling back from everyone. Even my closest friend. She knew I was going through a really hard time, but she couldn’t get me to talk about it.

I was slipping away from deep conversations, making everything way more shallow than it should have been. I texted instead of calling. I made excuses for why we couldn’t connect.

And before I knew it, I woke up one day feeling more alone than I’d ever felt in my life. I kept smiling and saying things like “I’m fine. Everything is good. Doing well.” But while I was smiling on the outside, I was screaming on the inside, God, where are You? Probably a better question would have been, God, where have I wandered off to?!

This makes me think of Jesus’ parable in Luke 15:1-7, where we find today's verse: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” (v. 4)

Have you ever wondered how that one sheep got lost? Was he willfully disobedient? Did he think, Man, I don’t like the direction this shepherd is taking us; this is a better path, I’m out of here.

No, I think in reality it went more like this …

He started eating some grass, and while eating thought, Wow, this grass is pretty good. The pleasure of immediately satisfying his desire got him off track, and he found himself not paying attention to the other sheep around him. And then suddenly he looked up, and he was alone. He probably had no idea he was off track. He may have been out of sync with the others for a while, but he really had no idea.

I have a feeling that’s how we all get lost sometimes. We find ourselves a little discouraged or distracted, and we just start to subtly slide away. We start sitting on the back row. We miss a few weeks of church. We don’t sign up for the next small group study. We make excuses, and then we find an exit. A way out. We take a step, then another step, and then before long we look up and wonder, How in the world did I get here? And, Where are all the other sheep?

That’s exactly where the enemy wants us — alone. Alone with our own tangled thoughts. Alone with his whispered lies that start to sound more and more like truths. Separated from the very people who could speak courage into our deep places, flirting with discouragement and defeat. Separated from friends who could let us stand on their faith when our own gets a little shaky.

The enemy knows if he can isolate us, he can intimidate us. Confuse us. Deceive us. And ultimately, make us believe the safer paths in life are ones apart from God and our friends who serve God.

Maybe you’ve found yourself completely alone. Maybe you’ve wandered off course — willfully, or slowly and steadily with, out even realizing it.

The Good Shepherd will come and find us no matter how we get lost or how far we wander. In the midst of our wilderness, He pursues us, calls out to us, brings us back to the fold and lovingly takes back the lead in the journey. Because He never intended for us to do this life alone.

You will find God waiting with welcoming arms no matter how far you think you've run or wondered off it's just a moment cause aren't you you don't have to be alone!

07/31/2018

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31

07/28/2018

it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

—Marianne Williamson

07/23/2018

Do you know how many prayer are mentioned in the Bible (and how many were answered)? Here's the answer to that question and other things you should know about the prayer in the Bible.

There are 650 prayers listed in the Bible. (Here is the entire list and where they can be found.)

There are approximately 450 recorded answers to prayer in the Bible.

The first time prayer is mentioned in the Bible is Genesis 4:26 (earlier dialogues where initiated directly by God, e.g., Genesis 3:8-13, Genesis 4:9).

The Bible records Jesus praying 25 different times during his earthly ministry.

In the Bible, Paul mentions prayer (prayers, prayer reports, prayer requests, exhortations to pray), 41 times.

Although prayer can (and should) be done from any bodily position, the Bible lists five specific postures: Sitting (2 Sam 7:18), standing (Mark 11:25), kneeling (Chronicles 6:13; Daniel 6:10; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60, 9:40, 20:36, 21:5; Ephesians 3:14), with one's face to the ground (Matthew 26:39; Mark 14:35), and with hands lifted up (1 Timothy 2:8).

In Jesus model for how his disciples should pray (Luke 11:1-4), he provides five areas of focus: That God's name be honored – the focus on his everlasting glory (“Father, hallowed be your name”); that God's kingdom come – the focus on his eternal will (“your kingdom come”); that God's provision is given – the focus on our present (“Give us each day our daily bread.”); that God's forgiveness is granted – the focus on our past (Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.); that God's deliverance will be provided – the focus on our future.

The Bible lists at least nine main types of prayer: prayer of faith (James 5:15), prayer of agreement (also known as corporate prayer) (Acts 2:42), prayer of request (also known as petition or supplication) (Philippians 4:6), prayer of thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2-3), prayer of worship (Acts 13:2-3), prayer of consecration (also known as dedication) (Matthew 26:39), prayer of intercession (1 Timothy 2:1), prayer of imprecation (Psalms 69), and praying in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:14-15).

The word “Amen” (which means “let it be, “so be it,” “verily,” “truly”) makes its first appearance in the Bible in Numbers 5:22. In that passage God commands it to be said by a person who is yielding to his examination.

Here is a prayer you can pray for victory over the enemy’s schemes:

Lord, thank you for your greatness. Thank you that when I am weak, you are strong. Lord, the Devil is scheming and I know he desires to keep me from spending time with you. Don’t let him win! Give me a measure of your strength so that I might not give in to discouragement, deception, and doubt! Help me honor you in all my ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” - Deuteronomy 20:4

Do not look at your prayer life as a small ministry of no importance. The enemy knows full well how mighty you are in pulling down his strongholds, and he will try to intimidate, discourage, divide, or defeat you. Don't accept his lies.

"Doubt. Deception. Discouragement. Division. It's time for the church to stop accepting these enemy strikes as natural. Spiritual warfare is a reality that the church must face. It won't go away on its own - but it can be dealt with through prayer."

Love God with all your heart, and abide in Him - Loving and abiding in God is so important in order to see answered prayer. I am personally, by nature, a warrior but my relationship with God is the best antidote against the enemy’s flaming missiles. We must know God intimately, and abide in that intimacy daily.

05/31/2018

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21

05/29/2018

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ... By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Hebrews 11:1,3

05/16/2018

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10

One of the great benefits of being a Christian is joy. Joy is much better than happiness. Happiness is dependent on circumstances good circumstances make you happy.... and bad circumstances make you unhappy. Joy is not based on circumstances; it is based on a personal relationship with Jesus. It comes when you are right with God.

05/11/2018

Read this and I had to share. Seemed fitting with mothers day coming up.

Mom's the Word
by Laura MacCorkle

Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:9-10, NIV

backward forwards or backward, there's no mistaking the word mom. We all know what it stands for.

Turned upside down, it also reads wow. And that's something I wholeheartedly agree with-especially now that I'm old enough to understand everything that my mom did and has done for me over the years. All I can say is "Wow!"

I also think of the word instruction when I think of my mom - or any maternal figure who was influential in my life. I probably didn't like it at the time. Okay, I know I didn't like it at the time, as I always seemed to have my own agenda. But years later, I greatly appreciate the words of instruction that were given to me. My mom's words included, but were not limited to:

If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

When in doubt, don't.

Chew with your mouth closed.

Because I said so.

So? Sew a hole in the ground. (Not really sure what that was for.)

Do your best.

Did you wash your hands? Let me smell them.

Try it. You might like it.

Hide God's Word in your heart that you might not sin against him.

Now, what did Mommy say?

I continue to hear these words of instruction in my head as an adult. They're part of my mom's imprint on my life. They impart lessons of kindness, perspective, right and wrong, response, ility, attentiveness, and obedience. And if I show any signs of the beginning of wisdom, I'll continue to heed these words and hopefully someday impart them to my future children.

The Bible speaks of the great value and importance of instruction and how we should perceive such words and their meaning in our lives:

"Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life" (Proverbs 4:13).

"He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded" (Proverbs 13:13).

"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD" (Proverbs 16:20).

"Listen to advice and accept instru,ction, and in the end, you will be wise" (Proverbs 19:20).

"Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge" (Proverbs 23:12).

You may not have always agreed with the instruction imparted to you over the years. But, as I now am, I hope that you are cherishing the treasures given to you by your mother or anyone who has filled this role in your upbringing.

My mother sowed seeds into my life. She consistently worked my strong-willed soil. And the lack of an instant bumper crop didn't discourage her. Undeterred, she kept coming back and doing her part to ensure that good things were planted into my life. She added to my heart and to my mind so that these instructions would hopefully bring soot and one day bring forth spiritual fruit.

I've not become a mother yet, but I've done my fair share of babysitting and taking care of children of all ages. So I have a tiny glimpse of what is involved in this process.

To "train up a child in the way he should go" takes patience. Sacrifice. And most of all, a great love. Your mother is an earthly example of how our heavenly Father takes care of you and provides life-giving-and life-saving-instruction through his Word.

Thank God for your mother today. And take time to honor her this Mother's Day for all that she means to you as your mom.

Intersecting Faith & Life: I don't know what your relationship is like with your mother. She may not be here any longer. Or you may not have had a strong or healthy connection. This Mother's Day, however, think of someone (your mom, a relative, a teacher or any another godly woman you see as a mentor) who has given you valuable instruction. Let her know how much she has meant to you and what an impact she has made in your life.

05/11/2018

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. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Ephesians 6:14-16

05/03/2018

Romans 12:9-14.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

At the end of verse 13, Paul says we are to be "given to hospitality." The word given is the Greek word translated "pursue" everywhere else in the New Testament. This could be translated "pursuing hospitality."

Hospitality is actually a compound word in the Greek language. The first part of the word means to be fond of. The second part means guests. So hospitality means to be friendly to strangers, to open your heart and open your home to others.

The Scripture is very strong when it says we are to pursue hospitality. It is one of the greatest ways in all the world to demonstrate the love of God to people who are in need.

04/27/2018

My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
Isaiah 26:9

12/23/2017