GETHSEMANE LIVING CONTINUED...

My personal life has been my own personal garden of Gethsemane, meaning it causes me..as does scripture, (see Ephesians 6:18.)..to pray without ceasing for the trials and tribulations that continue to display themselves one after the other. Although sometimes the pain seems more than I can bear, the Lord continually reveals Himself to me and is my source of comfort, strength, wisdom and so much more. I am so very grateful I can put on the Armor of God, (Ephesians 6vs10-17) - but I'm also grateful that it's not like some big weighty metal suit, it's simply battle-ready equipment that ALSO makes you feel loved, secure, strong, so many different emotions that are supplied by God - how amazing!


What I "wish" it would do though is give me actual predictions of what's coming! Although the whole 'psychic' thing is against scripture, there are ways that God will alert us of upcoming "events" but those are in His timing and of His planning, not ours; hence the warning to keep battle-ready with prayer and the full spiritual armor of our King.

So why do I wish it even though I know He'll give me what I need to battle through? Bottom line, I don't like the pain or the feeling of not knowing from which direction the enemy will be striking next. A good friend of mine says..."forget trying to figure out the enemy's next step..cuz he isn't planning one next step, he's planning and attempting to carryout every next step possible....just trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.."(Prov 3:5-6).

So the arrows fly and have been shooting from every direction, the more I cling to & serve our King, the more the enemy wants to thwart me. As of this writing -- and why I haven't written in a few weeks -- the enemy's taking shots at my job, my marriage, my "gay" child, my "finding self" other child, my family such as parents, siblings, etc. EVERYWHERE!!

In one weekend, my "gay" child decided to 'come-out' at a family gathering (right before Mother's day, what a present!); my hubby & I shared some 'issues' & my other child announced relief that, well, let's just say they were REALLY relieved...."whew".....then the rest of my family is either cutting me out of their lives or criticizing me for taking a stand as a Christian (how dare I!); and the place that takes up most of my days, my job, says it doesn't "approve of that sort of thing"; and so on and so on...

So what do I do? Well cry for one, a lot, but most importantly I pray, I get inner support from Him, and "outer support" from the friends that share our Christian bond -- and the one or two family members that seem to be on the same battlefront as I find myself.

Now even though I go to God first and I wouldn't be functioning without Him, I must say that I am grateful for the support He provides here on Earth with the friends and few family members (that share the Biblical teachings belief systems) that He blessed me with. They help me to remember I'm not alone, I have their support and their PRAYERS!! What an incredible blessing, I've never felt so richly blessed ever.

Now - how about you???