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| Army Dodgeball |
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Have you ever heard of such a game?
My sons were at a soccer party recently and "Army Dodge ball" was played.
I have to preface this with a "disclaimer" - this game is rather morbid and, to me, not appropriate...another words...I just didn't like the concept...sorry! But there is a point to me telling you about it.
During Army dodge ball, when a person gets hit with a ball, they lose the use of that body part. For example, if they get hit on the left leg, they have to hop around on the right leg. When both legs are hit, you get on your knees. Same thing for arms ... a hit to the abdomen or head and you are out.
Wednesday night, after church, the Lord was reminding me of that game.
With the church being the "body", what happens when we have a leg missing or an arm? The enemy is constantly trying to attack the church, the body. There are many days when we are a body laying on its side, using the little toe and a thumb trying to dodge the shots of the enemy.
Where are the other fingers, toes, legs and arms?
I get more than a little angry when my other body parts "Don't feel like" coming to church. They may say something like "Well, I'm fine". When I hear things like that, I think: "Well, great....what if I'm not? What if the function the Lord has for you within this body is needed for my benefit today?"
I am not very knowledgeable on medical issues. But I know that the systems in the body all work together to keep each part functioning. When one organ or part stops functioning, it sometimes causes to whole body to shut down.
Do you all face this in your "bodies"? Do you feel at times like a wounded body, unable to function? Unable to defend yourself against the enemy?
In an earlier blog, I retold the story of my grandfather's experience in Battle of the Bulge. The higher ups told them to advance the hill...reinforcements were on their way. They never showed. Many men were killed or wounded that day.
Some days I feel as though the Lord is telling us (as His army) to advance the hill. I know He is calling the reinforcements to support and fight the enemy with us. If He calls, will you answer or will your fellow soldiers suffer in the battle?
Why are you here? What function do you have in your church body? Are you fulfilling it, or is someone else pulling double duty.
The enemy seeks to destroy the plans of the Lord.
We need to get on our armor, grab the sword, and advance the hill.
The enemy’s camp is on the other side...
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Angie...awesome post...lots to ponder...
First thought was a silly one...the Monty Python scene of "only a flesh wound". That is how we, as a church, and as individuals function sometimes.
Second thought was more to the point...together, we function as a whole, so if I don't have my legs yet, others fulfill that function, but I need to be showing up or I end up being legless, if that makes sense.
I will come back to this...this is good. |
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Yes! And if you show up "needing" legs...pray they are there!
Reminds me of that Casting Crowns song "If we are the body" |
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I am a front liner, Angie. I don't say that with any pride whatsoever...it just is. There have been many a time I have charged over the hill only to look back and see nobody with me...they are all still gathered around the donuts and coffee. Yet, even at those times I, like Elijah, have seen the armies of the Lord. I know that is off topic slightly...but it gets to the point that the harvest is great but the laborers are few, pray, therefore, that the Lord would send laborers.
The parts of the body description keeps coming back to me here. The call to battle is great. Are we ready to respond to the call? When we respond will we be fully functional, or will we be wounded before we start? |
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This is well written Angie. It's a very graphic scene that i can imagine and perhaps a good parallel of what is happening on the spiritual arena. I am thankful that during times of need and dark emptiness, I was supported by prayer warriors and members of the Body who made all the difference in the world. A great thing about the Body though is that in working together we can pick ourselves up, encourage and spur one another one, even if in the past we've failed each other or didn't do our part... just as you are illustrating here.
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| That's one heck of a message, Angie! Man oh man what an "army" (for good) we would have if all the troops were fully on board! Well.... actually, let me think about that. It sounds like relying on human strength, maybe my eyes are drawn away from God when I focus on the potential of such an army. ~mike (ps... see, I am still processing your blog!) |
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DC- never watched Monty Python...sorry. I agree with all comments. We do need to pray for the laborers to come forth. I guess what I am describing is simply Biblical. He knew this would be an area we struggle with, I guess.
Care Bear - thanks and you are right - we do fail our brothers and sisters at times. I have thought about that recently too. How many times have others needed me, when I have not made myself available to the body?
Mike - Always, we need to keep our eyes on Him and not each other, agreed.
To all, I know we all have slumps and dry times when we don't "feel" His presence. We all know, from experience, that these are the times when He calls us unto Him through faith, because we can't see or feel Him.
As for the body of Christ, physically there are things we can do to help and uplift one another. BUT it is the spiritual gifts, given not earned, that I miss sometimes. If the gift my Father has given me is mercy and acts of service and He needs me to minister to another with these gifts, I still have to answer the call or at least get my rear-end out of bed and get to church or wherever He needs me to be. The Holy Spirit uses others to minister to me - His love, His mercy, His teachings, etc.
These gifts are not to be horded or even something to be "proud" of, they are gifts...we didn't earn them or create them. They were given to us.
If I sound a little angry in this blog, I am really not. I am sad that He has so graciously given gifts and talents to many for the benefit of all...but many times they are not used.
But we keep pressing on...
Love to all |
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| I honestly believe this is the word of the Lord for His church right now. Yes, Mike, we have to be careful not to rely on the human numbers or strength, but we need to gird ourselves up and be responsible for our actions, for, as you know, faith without works is dead. I don't think it is pure chance that this was posted the same day Soozanne posts about not going to church because it is boring. For all of you who have ears to hear...Angie, soldiers will suffer in the battle. They always do. That is their calling. Whether it be suffering for the lost or suffering because of loss, they still suffer. The key here is that they must not suffer alone. When one goes down another picks him up. Still pondering...this is spot on! |
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Here is the link to Soozanne's blog...very good:
boring |
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Confession friends...
This blog was a topic that, quite frankly, made me angry. Sometimes I get frustrated with my brothers and sister-in-Christ over these things. Pet peave...when someone asks for a ministry or opportunity, you follow through and make it happen and those very same people do not particpate in the ministry they requested!
Well, I did just that recently...
There was a certain ministry that was/is needed in our church. I went to the pastor, with others, and through prayer and planning, a brother in Christ headed up this new ministry. With the big kick-off this past Sunday night, lots of preparation and planning was done. Very exciting.
For a reason I am still unsure of (and kicking myself over)...I did not make arrangements for my family to be there!
Although I have asked for forgiveness from the Lord and my brother-in-Christ, the Lord is dealing with me on this issue. You know the old saying "It is the thing you hate most about others that is usually true about you."
I am not only sorry that I let Satan use me in this way, but I am embarrassed that he even could...especially in this area! You ever hear a preacher say "...and I am preaching to myself, as well"? Well, I am!
The point in sharing this with you is to share the lessons the Lord taught me through this:
1. When He shares a "Word" with me to pass on...I need to take heed myself FIRST and be an example BEFORE passing it on (ie. this blog).
2. There (in our church) are 3 times a week that the Lord has given us to share in learning and fellowship with our church family - Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. With rare exceptions, this time is reserved for our church family...approximately 9-10 hours a week...the rest of the time is for our extended family, ourselves, ministering to the lost, and our friends.
3. Pray over decisions made. Do not take even the small things lightly. It's NOT "Don't Sweat the small stuff"... but be weary of the little foxes that spoil the vine.
Just thought I'd share my heart this morning.
Love to all! |
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| Angie, trust me...you aren't the first one to eat humble pie...more importantly to the Body, this shows me you are right on in what you are saying otherwise the enemy wouldn't have taken the opportunity to strike you in that place. All the more reason for those who have ears to hear to hear the word of the Lord... |
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Angie; AWESOME BLOG! This is so true for all of us. My husband and myself are really experiencing a 'tugging' from the Lord to participate in our Church as much as we can and we are slowly getting to that point. The Lord has worked many miracles in our lives and one HUGE miracle is that my once 'arrogant salesman, zero empathy of a husband" (and he doesn't mind me saying so) is now bonding with other men in our Church and building strong relationships with our brothers. Through these relationships the Lord has strengthened him and has shown him who He wants him to be, all because my husband stepped out of his comfort zone and "ran up that hill". We are both forming relationships that sometimes we wouldn't have thought possible. We took a break from Sunday school for a year and a bit and now we are getting more involved and will soon be getting involved with the youth. Through working at the Church I was able to get to know the seniors who attend and I was so blessed by it, and they are blessed because they know I care about them. It is so important that we remember we are all apart of the same body and that we truly are there together as one.
Thank you Angie for sharing this... you are not alone in what you have confessed for I confess this many times over. God Bless you Angie. Isn't God's grace awesome!
Love you sister. |
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