My son loves comic books. One day he came to me quoting a line from a Batman Azrael comic book and i was pleasantly surprised. The quote was Truth and Powerful. Then the deep dialogue began. This has happened many times before with comic books, movie quotes and themes, music etc. God used a comic book to reinforce something we often don't think of. It said,
'People think the greatest achievement for satan is to trick humans into thinking he does not exist, but his real trick is making people think Piety is insanity'
Wow! what a word! The first part is still true. Our world does not realize the forces we fight day in and day out. The Scriptures are so clear on this Ephesians 6:12
12"For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens."
If we don't believe there is an enemy, we cannot fight him and therefore evil presides.
But the second part is what shot off the page for me. This affects the lives of all believers who take seriously the Gospel. Anyone who lives, eats and breathes for God is mocked by family and friends alike. For me this started from childhood. Some abandon us because of our convictions. Many run to us mostly in times of need for our prayer and encouraging help often never asking how we are, but behind our backs, the gossip and jokes they make cut deeply and sadly often derail a person from their calling. St. Augustine has a famous quote,
"“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”
This quote is so very true. i often share a story of a children's music/Christian teaching program called "The Donut Repair Shop". The man's name is The Donut Man....and they use a donut to easily explain to (children and adults alike) "life without Jesus is like a donut...there's a hole in the middle of your heart!" These are the words of the cute song he uses for every show. This is the video from when he first started. enjoy...it is cute and brings us to days past.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSN90GLg6ag
Without God there is a void in our heart/soul nothing can fill.....only HIM! We try to fill it with many worldly things...relationships, alcohol, noise, drugs, all types of sexual involvement that opposes God's Way which teaches sex in marriage between a man and woman and being open to children is His Way, all types of things, ...the list is endless...Yet with all we search and buy and involve ourselves in, we never become fulfilled or happy or satisfied because all of the best life has to offer put together can NEVER fill what is meant for God!
And so the evil one just has to have the majority of people in our lives mock us for our prayer time, our choices, our devotion, our being different and that will cause many to walk away from their true selves for at least a time and most of them sadly for good. i remember the deep interior struggles i had thinking i was wrong, or off, or confused, when in reality those trying to pull me away from a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ are the one's who need Him the most! It is very hard when we are different than most in our family circle.....when our families don't understand and cannot accept and nurture what they do not have themselves, i just thank God He continues to knock at the door of our hearts....waiting and hoping we will open the door and let Him in! Here is the traditional picture of Jesus knocking at the door of our hearts...and notice there is no doorknob for Him to open it...we must open it from the inside...it is our choice and free will to do so, or not. Praise Him for His Grace supplied so we can, like a football player pushing thru the line, we can push thru all the unacceptance, ridicule and mockery from people. Just because people are older than we are does not mean they are wiser.
www.matthewfsheehan.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/500x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/j/o/john-brandi_art-work_A44_200-2402_34.jpg
Let's start with ourselves....let's continue to chase God...and not change for any person...only for what God leads us to grow and evolve so we can become the saint we were created to be. Let's be true to our consciences...and the Voice of the Living God.....Let's watch how we treat all people especially children when they have a calling in them...not to snuff it out...Let's stop ridiculing those who are aiming to be more and more like Jesus in all they do....unconditional Love sadly can only be given by those who experience it daily from the God Who made us, so don't expect those far from God to support you and surely do NOT even entertain their thoughts and opinions . We are God's and we have to talk to God and discern things one on One with Him alone. He then will show us if we will need someone to support our calling/ministry/life and will give us the one/ones meant to do that. We can always consider someone's suggestion nomatter who they are, but it must be taken to God to see if it is Truth or the world's lie.
And let's forgive all those who have injured us....mocked us....those who continue to look down on us and treat us inappropriately because we are God Loving Obedient People willing to do all and give all for Our Savior Jesus Christ! To Him Alone be the Glory and Honor and Praise for the Grace He has given us to always know deep down that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that our calling, conviction and fervor is Real and coincides with all those Saints who walked before us. :
13You formed my inmost being;
you knit me in my mother’s womb.
14I praise you, because I am wonderfully made;
wonderful are your works! PSALM 139:13-14...
Let's remember, it takes a lifetime to grow into our best....a lifetime...and so we must have patience with others and others should also be patient with us and the same love and kindness and acceptance we should expect and desire from others, we should always give the same. For our calling at this moment makes us no better than anyone else...it is just our time...and our prayer is that everyone will eventually experience all the Love and Mercy and Acceptance and Growth in God as we have and more.....
Praised be Jesus Christ Now and Forever! til next time....
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