Tag Archive | fiery darts

Christian, vote your values

Aug2

 

Christians, when you walk into that voting booth consider the following.

“I will vote my Christian values”” Rodriguez said. “It’s life, the family ethos, it’s religious liberty, it’s limited government. That’s the person I’m going to vote for.”

   The fiery dart in all this is that when I step into the voting booth, I am voting for a particular candidate. FIERY DART ALERT folks! The truth is that when we go into the voting booth this year, we MUST vote our Christian values!

I don’t care for either candidate, so I just won’t vote!

   I could refuse to vote because I can’t endorse either candidate! But I recognize that fiery dart right off. Refusing to vote is a vote for Hillary!

And if I vote for Hillary, then I must  accept the responsibility that by my vote I have endorsed the following values: 

1) They want to repeal a law that disallows everyone’s tax dollars from directly paying for abortions. This means that Christians would be forced to fund the murder of babies.

2) They want to repeal a law that disallows foreign funding from directly paying for abortions. This means that not only do the Democrats want to increase abortions in America, they now want to spread it across the world.

3) They want to ban people from discouraging abortions. Basically, they want to make it illegal for Christians to try to help and persuade mothers to try to keep their babies. Praying Christians outside of abortion clinics would be punished for trying to help.

Nor, as a Christian, can I afford to overlook the following:

A Word from Mike Huckabee’s Facebook page concerning the effect voting for Hillary would have on future Supreme Court nominations:

   Now, some of Hillary Clinton’s potential SCOTUS nominees have been revealed, albeit in an unofficial way. This story notes their “diversity,” but it’s all on the surface. On their attitudes toward the law and the Constitution, it’s a list of lockstep activist liberals from the courts most infamous for legislating from the bench. We have two names from the notorious Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, several more from other top California courts, a couple from the DC courts, and two Democratic Congress members who aren’t even judges now, but both gave very partisan speeches at the Democratic Convention. Plus, not on this list but suggested in passing by Hillary Clinton, is the possibility of appointing Barack Obama to the Supreme Court to safeguard the Constitution. Which is sort of like appointing your cat to safeguard your canary. These would be the people who might spend decades on the Court, condemning our children and grandchildren to a far-left, Washington-controlled America unrecognizable to the Founders, one where the Second Amendment is history, and with it gone, the gutting of the First Amendment and the rest of the Bill of Rights can safely continue.
   The economy and terrorism are very important, but this may be the most urgent issue in the November election. I would urge the remaining “NeverTrump” holdouts to look over this list and think very hard before you pull the lever for Hillary or a third-party candidate who’ll help elevate her into the position of stacking the courts.

And finally, 

I watched this video and couldn’t help but identify one as a prayer but the other as no more than a speech.:

This was disturbing and down right scary! Remember, it’s about values not a person! And never forget 2 Chronicles 7:14. That is the final word!

 

 

 

 

The Fiery Darts of Politics

Jul3

   I wrote a book, Fiery Darts: Satan’s Weapon of Choice, on which this blog is based, about how the enemy uses fiery darts (negative thinking) to steal, kill, and destroy the work of God in our lives. Perhaps you are thinking of voting for Hillary, even though you don’t like her or trust her, because you can’t imagine Trump capable of running our country. Perhaps you think that because of her political experience she would at least be more capable. Now, please understand that if you think like that, and I can understand why you would, you are allowing yourselves to be manipulated by the enemy. THIS IS A MAJOR FIERY DART! Here’s the Truth Thought that should replace that fiery dart: Don’t doubt God’s ability to make up for what Trump may lack.

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Pro 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.

   By the way, do you see Hillary appointing a religious counsel to advise him? I have included in this post an article from Dr. James Dobson that I pray you will read! I urge you to keep the following in mind:

dr-james-dobson-min

Dr. James Dobson on Trump’s Christian Faith

Only the Lord knows the condition of a person’s heart.  I can only tell you what I’ve heard.  First, Trump appears to be tender to things of the Spirit.  I also hear that Paula White has known Trump for years and that she personally led him to Christ.  Do I know that for sure?  No.  Do I know the details of that alleged conversion?  I can’t say that I do.  But there are many Christian leaders who are serving on a faith advisory committee for Trump in the future.  I am among them.  There are about 25 of us that include Jerry Falwell, Jr., Robert Jeffress, Jack Graham, Ben Carson, James Robison, Michele Bachmann, and many others whom you would probably know.  We’ve all agreed to serve. How will that play out if Trump becomes president?   I don’t know.  It is a good start, I would think.  

If anything, this man is a baby Christian who doesn’t have a clue about how believers think, talk and act.  All I can tell you is that we have only two choices, Hillary or Donald.  Hillary scares me to death.  And, if Christians stay home because he isn’t a better candidate, Hillary will run the world for perhaps eight years.  The very thought of that haunts my nights and days.  One thing is sure:  we need to be in prayer for our nation at this time of crisis.

By Dr. James Dobson

 

 

 

 

 

Remain Quiet???!!!

Jun20

Today’s post is going to be a bit personal.

   For quite sometime now, I’ve been threatened by an annoying dark cloud lurking on the periphery of my thoughts. For the most part, I’ve been able to avert its intrusion. I realize, because I wrote a book about it, that fiery darts are the culprit. Therefore, holding up my Shield of faith, sustains me. 

   But lately, while I’ve not lost my resolve to reject these fiery darts and to replace them with Truth thoughts, I’ve come too close to  the brink of despair and that bothers me. I’ve struggled to find the word that would label this battle, feeling that if I could know what I was fighting, I would be more savvy in choosing my weapons. And I did come up with the label, ‘bewildered!’ 

   Yes, that did help but not entirely. This negative storm, while never succeeding in hiding the Son, was wearing down my resistance. I pray unceasingly, read scriptures, and, yet, the  storm does not dissipate. 

   Today as I was reading from a book, In This Mountain, by Jan Karon (my favorite author), I came across an excerpt by Oswald Chambers:

At times God puts us through the discipline of darkness to teach us to heed Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and we are put into the shadow of God’s hand until we learn to hear Him. . . . Watch where God puts you into the darkness, and when you are there keep your mouth shut. Are you in the dark just now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? Then remain quiet. . . . When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you get into the light.

   I think it’s pretty clear what God is saying to me. “My child, you are consumed with pouring your heart out to me with your continual pleadings, but you don’t let Me get in a word in edgewise. Why don’t you come to Me, and remain quiet? I know what all is going on with you, you’ve certainly shared that with me in excess. Now, all that is left is for you to remain quiet and just listen.”

  Remain quiet?!

   I’ve never been good at listening quietly  following my prayers, so it’s going to take some practice on my part. Therefore, I will resist the temptation to reiterate my problem (I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have anything new to add) and practice being quiet.

   This is pretty bold of me to post this. I can hear the fiery darts now: What if God remains silent? What if you don’t succeed in being quiet? What if you miss what God is saying? What if you don’t understand what He is saying. What if you fail?

   While I expect to be pelted with fiery darts (Satan doesn’t give up ground easily), I will lift up my shield of faith as I stand on the following verses:

Ephesians 3:20, Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (It depends on Him, not me)

Psalm 17:6, I call on You my God, for you will answer me; turn Your ear to me and hear my prayer. (God will answer me)

You can break free of strongholds

May19

th-6

 Recently, in the midst of a joyous time of my life (externally), I have been plagued by an onslaught of negative thinking. Odd though it may be that I would be attacked like this when my days were filled with happy events, considering my bent I’m not surprised. For there was a time (starting in my mid twenties and intensifying as the years passed) when negative thinking and God’s Truths waged a battle royal and too often negative thinking won out.

   Over the years this negative thinking on my part forged a stronghold that continuously threatened the spiritual renewal that had taken place in the early years of my adulthood.  Afterwords as life began to happen, I struggled with maintaining a consistency in my bible study and prayer life. Predictably, the spiritual renewal that was burning within me instead of increasing in strength began to dwindle, leaving me vulnerable to negative thinking. Thus bit by bit, negative thoughts laid the groundwork for a stronghold that could have ruined my life had not I cried out to God for His rescue. Psalm 18:6  God indeed rescued me and enabled me to survive those dark days, but it was only since learning about the enemy’s tactics in the use of  fiery darts that I began to make sense out of the whole mess.

   This was the stronghold that God addressed when He began exposing the enemy’s tactics that had held me captive for too many years. As dominant as this stronghold was in my life, I now realize I must be diligent in my prayers and bible study (nothing else can substitute). I know my vulnerability and to the degree I stay diligent in these two disciplines, the power this stronghold has over me can be overthrown.

   So in the midst of this recent attempted attack by the enemy, God faithfully guided me towards the following words from Jesus Calling:

Although My Presence is a guaranteed promise, that does not necessarily change your feelings… It is through awareness of My Presence that Peace displaces negative feelings.

   As I read the above words, it clarified for me how it was that I could harbor such internal negative feelings while in the happy throws of a long awaited family celebration. As long as I was more focused on negative thoughts, my negative feelings would not be displaced, no matter what was going on externally.

    So when the enemy tempts me with fiery dart thinking, I have learned that to know Peace I must make a deliberate choice to turn my focus toward God and His presence. It’s been my experience that’s the only sure way to break free of the enemy’s stronghold. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

 

Blinded Minds

Apr22

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. (NLT) 2 Cor. 4:4

Wow, this explains a lot!

   When we take on the perspective of the above verse, it’s not so difficult to figure out why people are behaving contradictory to the principals upon which our nation was founded! Why courts are ruling in favor of a small minority to the neglect of the majority. Why music artists & major businesses, are protesting state’s actions to protect their women and children, and their citizen’s religious beliefs! Why selling fetal body parts is a lucrative, albeit illegal, business and why it is so difficult to defund these organizations! Why, it is that someone under a criminal investigation can run for president! Why it is that a president of the United States can continually get away with violating our constitution! Why it is that our Congress, uses nothing but spineless rhetoric in addressing any and/or all of these concerns! I could go on and on and on, but I need to keep this brief (so you will read it)!

     You see folks, Satan rules the darkness. Therefore, it is his plan to blind as many as he can to prevent them from seeing the Light, because he knows that any exposure to that Light threatens his rule. His success at manipulating and deceiving individuals is measured by his ability to preserve the darkness (this is where fiery darts comes into play).

     You know, I suspect that God didn’t raise up our beloved country, which is founded on Christian principals, just to see her throw them in His face as they are doing now! Nope, one way or another God will have His way. Like it or not:

For the kingdom is the LORD’S And He rules over the nations. Psalm 22:28

   The glorious light of the Gospel is our nation’s only hope, and for those individuals referred to in this post! But make no mistake, if we stand with the Light we will be judged. So, consider the following:

I would rather stand with God and be judged by the world, than stand with the world and be judged by God. (God is Not Dead 2 quote)

Loosing the Civil War?

Mar19

Who tells the Truth?

   Recently, in my research about the battle that goes on between our old nature and our new nature as a Christian(1), I came across a reference that described this battle as a civil war. I think that is an apt description.

   You see, it’s like this. We have this old nature, by means of our physical birth, which is predisposed to sin. It is what rules us until we experience a new birth, that is salvation, which seeks to please God. After the new nature moves in, the old nature is no longer in charge and self gets dethroned. Now the battle royal begins!(2) And this is where our will (you know that part of us that makes choices) must be understood. Upon becoming a Christian, our will seeks to please God and willingly forsakes the throne to give it up to Christ. However, our old nature was quite attached to that throne and will make repeated attempts to persuade our will to again choose in its favor. So, what do you think? Are our wills making some bad choices? Why? Consider the following:

     Unsurprisingly, if you aren’t even aware of the existence of this civil war within yourself, or if you only know of it vaguely and aren’t consciously engaged in fighting it, then you will inevitably be defeated. You can’t possibly win this battle against your flesh unless you know what is going on and are determined to fight. Once you realise that you can then start to make decisions, with your will, so as to take the side of your new man in opposing and resisting the old man. – See more at: http://www.realchristianity.com/world-flesh-devil/introduction.html#sthash.1h2HgYZZ.dpuf

   How do we fight this battle and win?

   First, we must accept the fact that our winning is not just a one time event. Every day, for the rest of our lives, we must be ready to  go at it again refreshed by our time spent in God’s Word and in communication with Him. A little here and a little there won’t cut it for this battle. There is too much at stake.

Again I must emphasize the necessity to persevere in prayer and Bible study! We must grasp the fact that there is no other substitute. As we fellowship and worship in these two disciplines, everything we experience in life will be filtered through what we learn there. FD p. 76

   A spirit weakened by too little nourishment cannot stand against the constant onslaught of the enemy’s fiery darts. And pay attention to the word ‘constant’. For constantly we must seek the nourishment available to us as we pray and seek God’s Truths. Thereby strengthening our will to choose for Christ and against our old nature (replacing those fiery dart thoughts with God’s Truth thoughts).  

(1) John 3:6
(2) Romans 8

Taking the easy road of condemnation!

Mar7

   A few days ago I came across a book entitled, God in My Unbelief by J. W. Stevenson. ( a book written by a Scottish minister that portrays what it is like to be a Christian in a community) Prior to this discovery, I had been struggling with over focusing on condemning thoughts towards myself and toward others.

   Lately, I have come to realize that condemnation whether it’s of ourselves or others, is a fiery dart that, if not brought under control, tends to eat away at our self esteem and our relationship with others. Condemnation tempts us to think thoughts that pull us down, that cause us to not think well of ourselves, that focus too much on our troubles. Condemnation creates thoughts of confusion about what we should do, thoughts that worry too much about our future well being. We become suspect that others are condemning us, and on and on it goes.

   Temptation to think condemning thoughts toward others seems to be a constant fiery dart to resist. Condemnation fed by our sinful nature prevents us from trying to  understand others. We don’t want to see their need and our need of God’s forgiveness as equal. It will tempt us to see those who we feel are condemning us as the enemy; instead of seeing Satan as the enemy. 

I have gleaned from this book such thoughts as:

It is easier to condemn than understand.

We draw the mercy of God when we had known our need to be the same as the need of him whom we condemn.

Over focusing on the condemning thoughts towards myself and others, keeps me from truly seeing the Cross. 

   The Truth thought that God would direct our attention to so that we could resist the fiery darts of condemnation is: Romans 8:1,”Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,…”  HCSB

   Concerning myself, I hear God asking me this question when the fiery darts of condemnation harass me,

“Why are you condemning yourself? I don’t condemn you!”

   And the same question is asked when the fiery darts of condemnation toward others assail me,

“Why are you condemning them? I don’t condemn them!”

   Can you imagine the bondage we place ourselves in when we allow the fiery darts of condemnation of ourselves and others rule our thinking?

   Can you imagine the freedom we would know if we would focus on Romans 8:1?

   What if we were to accept ourselves in Christ and believe that Christ makes us worthy?

   What if we were to understand that God brings conviction so that we can be restored and made more like Christ? 

What if we were to see other’s need to be rescued by God on the same plane as our need to be rescued by God?

What if we were to love others and accept them the way they are and leave it to God to convict them of their sin. (Even when we feel their sin is against us!)

Finally, let us understand the difference between condemnation and conviction.

Satan condemns with the intention of destroying us.

God convicts us of our sin with the intention of restoring us to Himself. 

Ever been plagued by thoughts such as these?

Jan23

   The following chart is copied from page 42 of my book, Fiery Darts: Satan’s Weapon of Choice.This is just a brief example of the type of thoughts that plague many and hold them in bondage; undermining the work of God in their lives. My book will show you how to identify such thoughts, how to reject them, and how to select Truth thoughts to replace them.

FIERY DARTS

GOD’S TRUTH

REFERENCES
It’s impossible All things are possible Luke 18:27
I’m too tired. I will give you rest Matthew 11:28-30
Nobody really loves me. I love you. John 3:16, John 3:34
I can’t go on. My grace is sufficient II Corinthians 12:9,

Psalm 91:15
I can’t figure things out. I will direct your steps. Proverbs 3:5-6

 
I can’t do it. You can do all things. Philippians 4:13
I’m not able.

 

 I am able. II Corinthians 9:8
It’s not worth it. It will be worth it. Romans 8:28
I can’t forgive myself. I forgive you. I John 1:9, Romans 8:1
I can’t manage. I will supply all your needs. Philippians 4:19
I’m afraid. I have not given you a spirit of fear. II Timothy 1:7
I’m always worried and frustrated. Cast all you cares on Me. I Peter 5:7
I’m not smart enough. I will give you wisdom. I Corinthians 1:30
I feel all alone. I will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

The result?

FREEDOM! 

John 8:32, Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”NIV

I WILL NOT GO THERE AGAIN!

Jan16

   We often don’t realize when we are in spiritual bondage. The work of fiery darts is to keep us blinded about such things; it’s the old ‘you can’t see the forest for the trees’ dilemma.

   When I think of the years (far too many) that negative thinking (you know, fiery darts) held me in bondage, I stand amazed all the more of God’s deliverance, for I was in my 50’s when God broke through my blindness and began cutting away the scar tissue wraught by years of fiery dart attacks. 

   In looking back on my journey, I have wondered at times why it took me so long to recognize the path out of the darkness of negative thinking that God had illuminated for me. FD p.3

   Recently, a particularly potent fiery dart that kept me enslaved for years and from which God tenderly and patiently has and continues to deliver me, reared it’s evil head. Those former negative emotions came in like a flood, attempting to pull me into the depths from which God’s lessons on fighting fiery darts had long since rescued me. 

   But this time, oh but this time,

I had had several years of experience (and healing) in fighting such temptations, and knew that I knew, I was not going there again! By God’s healing grace and by the power of His Word, He equipped me to resist and the impact of those ugly fiery darts fizzled in their power to pull me back into its bondage.

   Dear Readers,

do you ever get blindsided like this; an old wound that by God’s grace and your faithfulness in calling upon God about it, suddenly opens up attempting to pull you back into its bondage? I’m sure you won’t have any trouble identifying it for the fiery dart that it is, but because of its potency you may find yourself reeling from it once again (I know I did). This is when you summon all of your training in fighting this fiery dart and wield the force of God’s Word against it. For me and in this instance, God provided Galations 5:1. 

Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.

   Knowing this attack was on its way, God had prompted me to include this verse in my prayer journal weeks prior to this recent attack. It was there ready and waiting for me to grab and use to defeat my enemy. 

   Therefore, when the enemy attempts to blindside you as he did me, I would confidently remind you of the following:

…Victory is yours as Deuteronomy 20:4 reminds us, “For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (NIV)  FD, p. 45

Want to know more about how you can defeat your own fiery dart attacks? Order Fiery Darts: Satan’s Weapon of Choice (check sidebar to order)

Stealing Christmas!

Dec16

th-2

   Today, the circumstances of not being able to conveniently shop online for only a couple of  the gifts I needed to buy and have them speedily delivered to my home in just two days, forced me to join the horde of holiday shoppers in search of those two elusive gifts! For me, shopping within this context is anything but pleasant and is a constant challenge to resist the negative thoughts or fiery darts that attack my thinking. Thus a not so pleasant me was molded and shaped by my own thoughts! My face was set in a frown, I sighed a lot, and my patience wore thin.

   Sadly there was no fruit for my labors today!  And all afternoon I battled with negative thoughts. After walking out of the 4th store with still no treasures to claim, my frustration level, lack of patience, and all around bad attitude were steadily on the rise.

   The more commercialized we become during the Christmas season (which begins right after Halloween) the more I resent the effect this quest for gifts has on the Christmas spirit. I love Thanksgiving for all the reasons I’m beginning to dread Christmas. Thanksgiving is about being together as a family and guess what, “No gifts–just sweet togetherness!” And that is sweetly enough!

Do you see what was happening? My negative focus was producing a negative attitude. All I could think about was buying the gifts; not giving the gifts. A vast difference and not the attitude that would embrace the joy of Christmas, right?

I HAD TO MAKE THE DELIBERATE EFFORT TO RESIST THE NEGATIVITY!

  As I drove toward my home in the country, the grip of negativity began to lessen. I love driving past scenery where I see more land than buildings; where I see cows and horses grazing contentedly in their pastures. 

   In a more pleasant frame of mine, I arrived home. I opened up my computer and began reading a blog that helped me to recognize this day (with all that had transpired) as a gift. The blog went on to say that each day is all we get. I agree! And I was determined that I wasn’t going to allow the enemy to steal the gift God had given me in this day.

  So as we face this Christmas season, be aware of the enemy’s plan to aim the fiery darts of frustration, anger, greed, impatience, selfishness, etc. at us. Thoughts such as these will blind us, preventing us from receiving and sharing the splendid joy God has planned for all of us in this season. Giving into fiery darts such as I have mentioned will only allow the enemy to steal the Christmas God would desire for us to have.