Skip to main content

Reaching for Paradise


I’m so glad that we are focusing on eternal life this week at Grace Alone. Chances are I won’t get to meet Iris and all my blog sisters in this life, but oh, what a great bloggers meeting we will have in our heavenly home.

All week I’ve been hearing a repetitive theme and it shoots like an arrow right to my heart. “Give thanks for your enemies; adversity is the tool God uses to promote and bless you.”

First, I heard a speaker on Christian television that admonished us to come up a step higher thanking God for our enemies for it is our enemies, not our gifts that make us overcomers. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rev. 2:7. Secondly, in her Total Transformation series, Joyce Meyer blows kisses to her enemies from the early days of her ministry. She says that their rejection of her made her who she is today, an overcomer. Lastly, the great maverick in history, Theodore Roosevelt, publicly stated that he would never have been president if it had not been for his experience in the Badlands of North Dakota.

Today I’m thanking God for my enemies and putting it in writing to hold myself accountable! That’s all I’ve got to say about it.

Comments

  1. DeniseNovember 13, 2008 at 5:52 AM

    Many blessings to you sweetie.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Laurie AnnNovember 13, 2008 at 12:14 PM

    Great post! Loved the quote in the second paragraph. Speaks volumes! Happy Thankful Thursday to you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownNovember 13, 2008 at 5:19 PM

    Being thankful for your enemies...wow! That's a hard one!lol

    ReplyDelete
  4. BonnieNovember 13, 2008 at 5:20 PM

    What an amazing thought - what a tough one to live out! Thank you for the reminder and the great quote. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  5. iNovember 13, 2008 at 8:45 PM

    Oh wow, you are amazing! I have to admit I've yet to be thankful for this one...I'll pray harder. Thank you for sharing this and it's a great reminder.

    Have a blessed weekend!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Venomous Intruder

It’s the middle of rattlesnake season here on the ranch.  The local news anchor confirmed it.   I’ve seen two already.    While driving along our dirt road yesterday, I mistook a virulent enemy for a branch. I backed up the car, looked again and noticed the branch shifted revealing a rattle at its end. At one of our road association meetings in the barn, Shelby stood up and shouted, “ BOB !” to my next door neighbor.  He’s our vice president and the one all eyes were on as he gave a presentation in the middle of the room.  I sensed fear in the way she yelled his name.  I learned after the meeting that Shelby called out to him like that because she saw a rattler slither in the barn door where she and I sat.  Bob yielded to the interruption and quietly dispatched the enemy.  Ten minutes later, this tough guy was back to center stage falling right back in step with the business at hand.   Bob is my new best friend. ...
42 comments
Read more

A Memorial Day Reflection

  Memorial Day is always noteworthy for me and my girls.  Next Thursday marks the third year of missing their father, my husband. So many thoughts  run through my mind.  The journey of loss takes on various emotions.  The strongest feeling, at first, was emptiness.  In a split second, I would forget he departed forever.  I imagined things I needed to talk to him about when he got back home.  My mind is realistic now.  He's not coming back.  There will be no more times of sitting on the porch swing together on the front deck staring at the moon and the stars.  He would tell me all he knew about the majestic night sky. I have so much I wish I could tell him, like the excitement of seeing our oldest grandchild make a decision to follow Jesus and get baptized on Mother's Day!  And our little Amy, 11 years old, I wish he could have seen her on stage receiving her induction to the National Honor Society. Our daughters have their own ...
23 comments
Read more

Hearts for the Kingdom Author Interview

When I finished reading Hearts for the Kingdom last week, I contacted the author, Cho Larson.   We talked about the book and he graciously agreed to be my guest today.  Together we hope to inspire you in your journey of faith to pursue God with a heart that is alive and beating for the Kingdom of God. Mary:  Cho, when I finished your book, I felt loved and very close to my Savior. Cho:  I’m overwhelmed at the encouraging response to it. Mary:  How long did it take to write this book? Cho:  God works in mysterious ways. As I’ve observed God’s hand at work, it’s easy for me to picture Him as the Great Conductor, orchestrating everything in perfect harmony. Hearts for the Kingdom wasn’t my original plan, but after I sent another manuscript I was working on to my editor, while waiting for him to edit, the need became clear for a foundational book. This book required about six months to complete. Mary: as an author, what is the me...
32 comments
Read more