Welcome to Gaia! ::

Okay .... this has been on my heart for some time and last month James was nagging me about it ... okay, it was really 2 months ago, but that's besides the point.

I don't know how much scripture I'm going to include in this since everytime I've thought about what I would use, the Lord has just pushed me to speak from the heart. So here is my very heartfelt message.

Hi guys. I'm not going to give my age, but trust me, I way older than all of you. >smile< Hence, my not wanting to give my age! At any rate, I've been through a LOT of trials, tribulations, challenges and obstacles. Most of you know my story, incest, rape, it just goes on and on. The biggest question the vast majority of people ask when trouble arises is, 'WHY ME???' Well, allow me to offer to you some of the answers God has given me.

First off, do you know that the devil has to get GOD'S PERMISSION to move against a believer? Read Job, the first section, where the devil taunts God and God says it's okay to raise his hand against Job, just not to take his life. Why in the WORLD would God do that???


Let that phrase reverberate around your mind and your heart and your soul. If a soldier wants to be just in the Army, he goes through 6 weeks Basic Training ... like our beloved Lethal finished not too long ago. Okay, it's tough ... but most everyone can pull through it.

However, let's say he wants to be a Ranger .... or a Green Beret .... or he's in the Navy and wants to be a SEAL .... even be in Delta Force .... the training is not just 6 weeks folks, it's not even 6 months .... for some of our special forces it's a few years!!! AND the more skill they want, the more responsibility and priviledge they want .... the TOUGHER and LONGER the training is!!

Now, how is that applicable to us Christians?? Ever hear the phrase 'the Army of God'?? That's it. You're in the Army now .... you're not behind the plow .... >clears throat - uh excuse me, got a little carried away there .... <
Think about Ephesians 6 the 'Armor of God' .... why would we need armor?? 'Cause we're in the Army!!!

So much of scripture is given to descriptions of warfare and battle. Do a wordsearch some time just for those words alone.

Okay, if we want to just sit in a pew and do nothing else for God, guess what? He'll let us!! But, most of us have said, 'God use me!!!' ... 'God, I want to obey you!!!' .... 'I want to win the lost for you!!!' ... and other heart-felt, sincere, fervant prayers.

Know why you're havin' some problems??? 'Cause battle and warfare, and obstacles, and bombardment make you stronger, train you to be quicker, and make you a more excellent soldier. That's it, that's all. When we ask God to 'make me stronger' ... 'give me more faith' .... 'use me greater' ... etc. .... how do you think He does that??? He doesn't just wave a wand and go *POOF* YOU ARE NOW A SUPER-CHRISTIAN .... No, we learn by going through and not over, under or around situations that make us stronger, that we develop more faith because of sticking out, and are challenged to be greater followers of Him!!

SO, do not be disheartened brethren .... when you fall into diverse temptations, and tribulations for your Father knows all you need and seeks to rescue you as quickly as possible from the situations that He has allowed you to enter into.

You know, since He's the one that allowed it .... then He must be in control, eh??? So that means that we can rest securely, knowing He has a purpose, is most likely answering our own prayers!!! AND .... will not give us more than we can bear. You know, He loves us!! He really does!!

Take some time out today to inhale some of the beauty all around you .... some of what your Jesus has put there for you to enjoy. Life is not all about trial and struggle, worry and anxiety, you have a God who causes animals to play!!! How much more so you and I!! Everything in balance. Let us go forth to work, play, sleep, exercise, love, rest, study, enjoy and give God the Glory and the Praise and the Honor for who HE is .... how much He loves us and what He has in store for us!!! Bigger and better than ANYTHING we could imagine, or hope, or ask for!!

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans for a hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 ... but read vs 12 and 13 too.

I love you all!! Have a most AWESOME day with the Lord today!!!

~ Gini

Thanks bro!! You know, what kept me from writing it before was that in the flesh I wanted to include scripture, but the Lord kept pushing me to just write it period. Heh .... no matter how hard I tried, no scripture would come to me until at the end .... and then BAM! He gives me Jer 29:11!! I LOVE how He works!!! Love to you AND all our bros and sis's!!!

Nice to talk to you! It's been awhile. Isn't He amazing??? I could have been prevented from writing it just until you guys and others were talking about it. He conducts a beautiful symphony as a Master Conductor and it just totally blows my mind!!!