In our neck of the woods today we have rain – which we seem to be sharing with most of the rest of the state.

Teresa took Carla and the two of them are enjoying a women’s day out of town; heading to Portland doing some shopping for some things that are not available here in The Dalles. 

While it might have been better tomorrow with a sunny day in the forecast – but both have the day off and tomorrow both work.  AND Carla won’t be feeling the least bit guilty since she wouldn’t have been playing in the dirt today, anyway.

After she gets off work, tomorrow, I am sure she will be rectifying that play time.

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“After praying more and talking to the Lord, I have said, "Almighty Lord, I accept this with my eyes open! I know the facts and I know what may happen, but I accept it. I will not run. I will not hide. I will not crawl under a rug. I will dare to stand up and fight because I am on your side—and I know that when I am weak, then I am strong."  AW Tozer

1 Thessalonians 2:2-4 “But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

³ For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

⁴ But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. KJV

Christians are under fire all over the world.  We are seeing persecution AND PROSECUTION of Christians in this country that would not even have been considered a decade ago.

But today it is not only fact but it is growing daily, it can be hazardous to a Christian’s health to speak up for God and His Word now a days.

But, that doesn’t mean we should keep quite.  It doesn’t mean we are to remain in our own little world and let satan rule as he sees fit.

We but have to follow the career of Paul to understand that no matter the age there are always those that will try to silence Christians and they will leave no stone unturned in doing so.

We are not alone.  No one who stands up for God is, even if we feel that we are.  His Holy Spirit, His love for us and His desire that people learn the truth so that they can make a decision for Him is right there with us.

It can be scary to be a servant of God.  We don’t need to go far to see how a valued servant is treated.  Using wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit sounds good, but then the reality of having to stand comes in front of us – and that reality hits us in our weakest spots and satan uses those spots against us very well.

But we are not alone, and we don’t have to stand in our own strength.  Satan will ramp up his war against us, but God will help us through it if we lean on Him.  Tozer went on to say:

“It is good for us to remember how strong He is—and how weak we are. I settled this issue a long time ago. I tell you I have talked to God more than I have talked to anyone else. I have reasoned more with God and had longer conferences with God than with anybody else.

And what did I tell Him? Among other things, I told Him, "Now, Lord, if I do the things I know I should do, and if I say what I know in my heart I should say, I will be in trouble with people and with groups—there is no other way!

"Not only will I be in trouble for taking my stand in faith and honesty, but I will certainly be in a situation where I will be seriously tempted of the devil!.” -  AW Tozer

“I will not run. I will not hide. I will not crawl under a rug. I will dare to stand up and fight because I am on your side—and I know that when I am weak, then I am strong."

Bold words, scary words when we realize the impact it might have on our lives, but we need to look at them, read His Word and then not run from our obligations, not hide but to follow Him wherever He leads us.

What I share with others is the things that God is working within me.  It doesn’t mean I do not struggle with the things I write about, it means that I still have a long ways to go to meet the ideals I hold true and before I can claim as Paul and Tozer did.

“I will not run. I will not hide. I will not crawl under a rug. I will dare to stand up and fight because I am on your side—and I know that when I am weak, then I am strong."

I share because others have similar difficulties and they need to know they are not alone.

Later, Art (-: