Rescue Ops

Have I told you that my husband is not only my personal hero but he actually saves others too?  He works for a rescue team that evacuates people from natural disasters, swift water and hurricanes.  He's also a firefighter, arson investigator, paramedic and a peace officer.  All around rescue hero.  (And yes, that is him hanging from the helicopter.)

July marks one year from the rescue operation to remove me from the pit.  I won't call it an anniversary.  Hell, I don't even want to remember it.  But I will look at the past 12 months and praise the Lord who saved me and my husband who allowed the Lord to use him in the most painful way.

As I look back over all that has happened over the year I can't help but want to share the parts that might actually be helpful to someone else.  I had no idea that I was on the brink of destruction and maybe you're there but don't know it.

Hindsight is 20/20.  Of course it is.  It's a cliche but it's true. 

I can look back and see exact moments when I turned from God and point exactly to the scripture I was disobeying and show the outcome of my disobedience.  Ah, hindsight.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters,

whatever is true, 

whatever is noble, 

whatever is right, 

whatever is pure, 

whatever is lovely, 

whatever is admirable

—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things. 

This was my favorite verse of scripture for years.  I'm a bit of an optimist (when I'm not clinically depressed ;)) and have always felt that if you look at what is true and right and pure you can avoid heartache.  I didn't do this, however, I chose to look to prayers that weren't answered rather than what is true.  I chose to question the goodness of God.  And I started to believe the whispers of the Evil One.

God doesn't always (in fact almost never) works in ways that we can understand or would prefer. 

Isaiah 55:8

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD. 

Friends, we need the full armor of God to protect us from the Evil One and to keep our spirits and our minds focused on the Lord at all times. 

Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.   

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, 

but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world 

and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, 

you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.   

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, 

with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  

and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.   

In addition to all this, 

take up the shield of faith, 

with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, 

which is the word of God.

  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. 

With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

My only hope in writing these truths and scriptures on this blog is that they will glorify God and help someone else.  Use the tools He has given you.  I'm praying for you today!

Love,
Denise