Walking on Broken Glass

Satan is kicking my ass, but I'm not losing.

Last night I came home from Walmart, and I could not find a place in my complex to park.
I ended up parking in East Buddha and then carrying all of my groceries up three flights of stairs in several trips.

Today, I went to have my fingerprints done at the Prometric Testing Center so I can convert my insurance producer's license from Alabama to Texas. I left 30 minutes before the appointment and the place is not far away.

However, I drove down the road the place is located on in the wrong direction. I didn't discover this until the address numbers on the block randomly changed from 9700 to 4500. Then, I stopped at a gas station to ask for directions where I encountered a Chinese gas station attendant, who could not understand me. Thankfully, there was also a sweet older English speaking woman there who revealed to me I had driven about 10 miles in the wrong direction.

Needless to say, I was late for the appointment. I finally arrived and realized there was no parking spaces in front of it. The Prometric Center's patrons have to park on the third level of a garage, which I had trouble finding. However, I finally parked and went in and a sweet black lady did my fingerprints. Upon leaving, however, I discovered that the door I had left the garage from was locked so I had to walk up the ramp I had driven up to get to my car.

After the appointment, I decided to have a late lunch at Burger King and then catch a matinee movie. The place across the street from BK shows older movies for a buck. I saw Fred Clause because it's what was playing when I got there.

I thoroughly enjoyed my $1.00 movie and came out of the theatre in good spirits. As I approached my car, I saw that the passenger side window had been shattered and was in a million pieces all over my front seat. Seeing that and realizing it had actually happened was quite surreal and traumatic. I saw that a note had been left on my car from the Plano Police Deparment. I called to find out that someone saw the two guys who had broken the window and were in my car trying to steal the radio. The guy apparently ran them off and called the cop who had come out and done a report, complete with a picture of the damage. He said they had a partial plate on perpetrators' car.

When I got home, I called some auto repair guys who said they are coming out tomorrow to fix the damage. Luckily, it's only going to cost about $150 and they can do it tomorrow, so it won't interfere with work.

I decided I would be disciplined and go to the gym and run and try to shake it all off. As I was pulling my hair back, I dropped my brush in the commode.

When I got to the gym in my apartment complex, it's closed all weekend for remodeling. Perfect! The weekend is the best time for me to run since I have a long weekend and I don't get off of work until seven every night.

While fixing myself some supper, I ate some carrots and ranch dressing, so naturally I dropped the bowl of them on my kitchen floor.

Today has definitely been an eventful day off. The important thing though is that I did what I wanted to do today despite the bumps along the road and that Satan, despite his obvious and desperate attempts, to rob me off my happiness has failed miserably. I am still full of the love and peace of my Lord and Savior.

What have I proven if when the going gets tough I curse my luck and sob, "Why me?" "Why do bad things always happen to me?" Nothing! I cannot call myself a follower of Christ unless I seek Him and praise His name in the good times as well as the bad.

Loving the Lord and defeating Satan is about smiling when Satan punches you in the face. It's about navigating this life, with all its hardship, with God's grace. Allowing anger or misery or sadness to infiltrate you is what destroys you. The things on the outside of the body cannot harm us. Only the things that we allow to pentrate us, to settle in our souls can do that.

Did I have a bad afternoon? Absa-freaking-loutely! But it's a wonderful night!

On the Wings of an Eagle

Everyone I meet when they find out I moved out here from Alabama keeps asking, "Do you have family out here? Do you have friends out here?" I simply say, "nope," and I can tell they think I'm bold or adventurous or extremely independent or something like that. Many people back in Alabama seem to think the same thing.

The truth is: I did not move out here by myself. I'm a coward, and I never would.

The only reason I'm able to move halfway across the United States is because my Heavenly Father is with me. No matter where I go or what I do, he is always with me. He will never leave me or forsake me. He is always my source of comfort and peace and love and hope, which is why when the demons whisper lies in my ear:

"You are all alone out here. You have no friends and no family. You are in over your head. You are never going to make it. You are lonely. You are scared. In fact, you are not even going to be good at your job, and your bills are piling up."

I can look Satan in the face and call him the liar he is. This war that rages everyday between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of Chaos is a lot easier when you realize what's going on. I can see all my fear and doubt for what it is....lies. Today I'm not getting my ass kicked because God is allowing me to see the enemy trying to work in my life. After all, you can't fight what you can't see. "I once was blind, but now I see."

I'm living on faith and hope. I will make friends out here. I will be good at my job. I will be happy and make myself a home in Texas. I will do it by God!

How do I know?
Because my Lord and Savior promised it. He promised he had plans to prosper me and not to harm me. He promised me the abundant life. He promised me that if I asked for anything in his name I would have it.

And guess what?
He never renigs on a promise. He is the embodiment of truth.

Again with my favorite quote: God asked them to step out into the darkness where they could not see, and they did, knowing that either there would be something solid to stand on or they would be taught how to fly.

When changes in life push us out of our comfort zones, let us always remember that while there might not be anything solid to stand on, we are being taught how to fly.

Isaiah 40:31 tell us that "those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint."

Am I fearless, courageous, bold, independent? Hell No! I'm using the biggest crutch of all...Jesus Christ! I'm using His eagle's wings!

Jeremiah 9:23, 24 and 1 Corinithians 1:31 say, "Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord." I'm boasting at the top of my virtual lungs! I could not be more proud to understand and know that the "Lord excercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on this earth."

It's your life, and it's your battle. You don't have to fight with the weapons which God has given you...his word of truth (Bible) and prayer, but the battle will rage on either way, and you are going to take hits no matter what. Don't just stand there...sock Satan in the face! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I thank God, for his Holy Spirit which dwells in me, has me fired up and all I can think about Satan is: Let me at him!