Spritual Attacks

It's funny how satan has no new tricks - just the old ones that he uses over and over again. Sometimes - if he can get the non-Christians around Christ Followers to not care about their faith - he attacks our heads and minds and tries to be more subtle with lies in our minds, things like sickness, and broken relationships, etc. And other times - if he can get the non-Christians to raise up verbally and physically against Christ Followers - he attacks us physically literally trying to destroy our very lives (in addition to all the other mental attacks he uses).
Today, I am walking into a battle field as a teacher and I was drawn to the question is this worth it. You see, I'm a new teacher this year and today is the day of parent/student orientation. Today I feel like I need to be prepared and to show myself as prepared, and I DO NOT FEEL ready. I'm being attacked with anxiety, perfectionism, and stress. I am spending money I don't have. I feel like I'm freaking out and coming apart at the seams because I am neither mentally prepared nor is my classroom physically ready for them to walk in the door.
And I ask myself, is this really worth all the hassle, going through all this trouble, just to teach? The answer (which actually surprised myself): YES!
Why? Because God has a purpose in my life and He put me HERE for is Kingdom Plan. Anything that furthers his plan is worth it - even if it doesn't feel like it. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this place is where God wants me to be. He hand crafted my team of teachers and mentor teacher to be around me for support. He picked my principal. He choose my students (I just haven't met them yet - by the way I do have 3 pairs of students with the same first name).  I am meant to be here. And I don't need to be ready and all set to do it myself because I'm not supposed to do it myself. I am suppose to do it with him and he has prepared me to depend on him for all I need in this.
So... Today I will drive to school, knowing that what I am doing is worth any cost because the gains are infinitely greater and more important that anything I could lose. And even if I lose anything, God can and will use it for my good because I love Him!
May you, as you face your trails, be secure enough in him to say unequivocally, "Yes. This is worth it for my Lord and Savior in whom I trust is Good, Loves me, is With me, and has Good Plans for me. "

Suspected Islamists Shoot Five Christians to Death in Pakistan

Here is the link to the article: Suspected Islamists Shoot Five Christians to Death in Pakistan

Influencing others/Moving in Power

Father, I pray against the power of your enemies to influence those who are blind and cannot see truth. May their efforts to attack and destroy those who would see you for who you are be naught in the face of your glory. I pray that you show yourself to those men that they might become your greatest advocates. Show yourselves and raise up a generation of Saul's become Paul's. Reroute their passion and fervor for your glory. May those that they attack be a light unto them. May those who are oppressed speak loudly with no shame so that the men that persecute them might quail in fear of what God might be so great that they don't fear death or pain. When light comes, darkness must flee - it has no choice. May the words of believers shed light into the hearts of men. May their boldness, courage, wisdom and discernment astound their opposition. May they have no words to stand up against them despite all their knowledge and training. Bring forth miracle workers full of faith and gifts of healing. Bless many with tongues and the interpretation of tongues as well as prophesy so that many may come to the faith. Allow baptisms to continue unmolested as people receive the holy spirit and thereby are fill with Your Power. Encourage your children to trust that you are the same God of today as you were yesterday and as you will be tomorrow - you will show your power if we step out in faith and ask. Give your children greater faith to ask and depend on you - you do not have because you do not ask, so I pray that we have the courage to ask. May we ask "God big" instead of "human small" with full expectations that you will move in power through us.
Amen.

Christian Nursing Student Nearly Dies from Assault in Pakistan

A Christian Nursing student was thrown from a window after being gang-raped by fellow doctors. Read the article here.

Two Chrisitians Play Dead to Survive Attack in India

Two men were beaten because the attackers claimed they were forcing conversions. The link to the article is here.

Pastor in Russian Republic of Dagestan Killed

Recently a Pastor was shot when leaving his church. It is suspected that the reasons behind this was because he was converting too many ethnic Muslims and was himself a local who converted to Christianity. Here is the news article reporting his death.

Prayer is powerful

In looking for a way to beginning to fight on the behalf of the spiritual church, I thought what I can do that can make a difference before I even know about who needs encouragement - before I have really begun. The answer I found was to pray for the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.