This post is a copy of an email I sent to a group of men in whose lives I have been blessed to be a part of. They are brave, strong and holy men who live life for all they can in spite of all that this world and our enemy may throw at them. I wanted to post it as an encouragement to you all. We are not alone, and God has not abandoned us.
"As I read the posts and hear the struggles that each of us are facing, I am again reminded of the scene from Lord of the Rings, where Sam and Frodo are walking and begin to think about the larger story. Sam asks, "what kind of story have they fallen into?"
As I think about that, I can not help but ask that question of us as individuals, as a fellowship. What kind of story have we fallen into? If we look at the smaller story of our struggles it is so easy to lose hope. Finances are in shambles, friendships are attacked, marriages are on rocky ground and we wonder if we are alone. But then as we cry out to God, share our struggles with him and each other; we see the movement of the kingdom. We see the desperation of the enemy. The army of God is moving across the land, recapturing the territory held by the enemy. It’s happening in small bands of freedom fighters that are moving out of darkness and declaring the light. We have herd the call of God and have answered it. Some of us started down this path by ourselves, others with a group of others. Along the way we have met with other fighters who have walked with us, battled with us and charged the fields of the enemy. We have also taken wounds. We have felt the arrows pierce our sides, the sting of the enemy’s blade. We have cried tears of pain and sorrow as some of our comrades have fallen in battle. Through the pain and struggle though we see we are moving forward, not always running, but slowly step by step we see the light of our King and we follow him. My heart leaps at the thought that we are involved in the epic struggle. Something so much bigger than us, but something that we have a major role in. We are part of the last great battle. The time when once and for all the enemy of our soul will be sent down to the fires of Hell for all eternity. The war may last beyond our time, but as we take our rest from the battle, God will rise others up in our place. These new recruits will look back and recount the battles already won. I pray that we will all see the battle around us for what it is. We are in a war for the freedom of men, and the return of the true King. How wonderful to be part of that. What kind of story have we fallen into? The kind we all dreamed of when we were young. One that requires all of our hearts, and on in which we are truly needed. Take heart my brothers, we will be victorious. To quote a brother of mine.
God has Chosen us
Evil will hunt us
A fellowship will protect us!
1 comment:
This is awesome, my friend. It gives me courage to read it. For the first time, I'm beginning to understand that all those desires for those things you speak of here: "What kind of story have we fallen into? The kind we all dreamed about when we were young. One that requires all of our hearts, and one in which we are truly needed..." were really crafted deep within me even as God "knit me together in my mother's womb" for such a time as this. For such a day as this. For such an hour.
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