Warrior Princess

 

Walking With the Lord is a pause we take here at Ruby in the Rough to focus on the things of the Lord. Sometimes it will be a devotional, a poem, or a lesson from our church that stood out as being particularly applicable.

My Sister In Law, Grace, is a wonderful writer and gave me permission to share one of her recent posts for our Walking With the Lord feature. Enjoy!

The Warrior Princess lie in mud in a cloudy darkness and had been there for about a week, although she couldn’t really remember how long. She groaned as pain pulsed through her bruised body. Weak and head throbbing, she slowly pulled herself up from the ground to a sitting position. She was covered in dry blood and mud. Running her fingers through her mud-caked hair she tried to recall what had happened.

“Where’s my armor?” Horror filled her heart as she realized she didn’t know where it was. Squinting her eyes she could make out the outline of her armor strewn in the darkness around her. It all came back now.

It started when she took her eyes off the cross. She hadn’t meant to, she just became unintentional about her focus. After she had traveled on for awhile she put her sword in her sheath thinking that it was getting rather wearisome to hold out all the time. Plus, she saw no signs of the enemy, surely they wouldn’t attack. On she walked oblivious to the fact that her enemies’ greatest desire was for her to put her sword in her sheath.

She continued her way unaware that it slowly grew darker. Soon, she was lost in a thick dark cloud and instead of crying out for help she stumbled on. Her shield of faith slipped out of her hand and dropped with a slow, dramatic thud to the ground.

All of a sudden, she found herself surrounded by the enemy. Frantically, she looked for her shield, but it was too dark. In her nervousness she couldn’t manage to pull her sword out of her sheath. There she was, trapped and defenseless. Her enemies mocked and laughed at her as they danced around in glee. They were all there–Flesh, Pride, Emptiness, Failure, Depression, Loneliness and others.

In the darkness they spoke lies to her and tormented her. Fear filled her soul and she felt as if she’d never experience joy again. For as they danced round her, one would knock her down, another would throw a rock at her, another would slap her cheek, and so on. It was utter distress and agony for she could not see her attackers, nor what they would do next.

She felt so ashamed. “How could this happen?” “Will I ever live in victory?!” She wept, and groaned, and pleaded with them to stop. But it was of no avail, the enemies’ attacks didn’t let up—if anything, they increased.

“Look what you did! You failed again!” “You’ll never be like your precious Shepherd King—never!” “Just give up!” They called out in torment.

Want the rest of the story? Check out Grace's blog here: Uncommon Grace

To the brim

 

Walking With the Lord is a weekly pause we take here at Ruby in the Rough to focus on the things of the Lord. Sometimes it will be a devotional, a poem, or a lesson from our church that stood out as being particularly applicable.

Joh 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

As I was reading this morning this verse caught my eye.The setting is Jesus' first miracle, at the wedding in Cana. Mary had bid the servants to do whatever Jesus asked them too, and this verse tells what he asked of them. 


The thing that is striking is how thoroughly they obeyed. Jesus commanded them to fill the water pots, but he didn't say it had to be to the brim. Usually when a person fills something they leave a bit on top so that it doesn't spill. I consider my cup full even if there are a couple inches left from the brim. Granted, these waterpots were considerably bigger than a glass of water, but even so--the servants weren't asked to fill them too the brim, just to fill them. The servants were simply obeying orders. 


Since it was Jesus' first miracle, I doubt that they suspected what was about to happen. Jesus didn't have a reputation yet--at least, not one as a miracle worker. He was simply an 'ordinary' guest at the celebration. What's more, this 'ordinary' guest asked the already busy servants to fill 6 water pots of 2-3 firkins. This is equal to between 108-162 gallons. That was no easy task. Despite this, the servants went over an beyond, doing everything asked of them and more besides.

I wonder, how often can we say that we do the same? We all know of things that God wants us to do. I'm sure that many times in the past we have obeyed Him and done things that were difficult, but how many times do we stop there?


 When you get right down to it, though, it is that extra bit that matters the most. We can obey God out of duty, but to go beyond what He asks takes love and trust. It is also this extra bit that is the best witness. If God asks you to do something and you do just that and no more, others watching will wonder what your motivation was. Did you do that because you love God, or was it just because you had some sense of duty, devoid of personal love, simply an obligation you had to fulfill? They can't really know. However, if you obey, and add to that obediance extra, then there can be no doubt that the obediance was born of love.


 Not that I'm downplaying pure and simple obediance--never! There are few things so lovely as a Christian that is living a life of obediance. But there is something extra special when that believer is able to go over and beyond. When they don't just 'fill' the waterpots, they 'fill them up to the brim'.

The Good Shepherd

 

Walking With the Lord is a weekly pause we take here at Ruby in the Rough to focus on the things of the Lord. Sometimes it will be a devotional, a poem, or a lesson from our church that stood out as being particularly applicable.

Cattle can be driven, sheep must be lead.

Today I was reading in John chapter 10, which is the part where Jesus talks about being the Good Shepherd. I read the bit of commentary that goes along with the verses, there wasn't a whole lot but one sentence stuck with me--the one above.

Why do sheep follow their shepherd? Because they love him. There really is no other reason. It used to be that several herds of sheep could be kept in the same fold, but each herd would follow only the voice of their own shepherd--none of the other shepherds. Why is this? Because only their own shepherd knew them by name. Only their own shepherd loved them. Only their own shepherd spent time with them. And because their shephard first loved them, the sheep love him. Therefore, they will follow him wherever he calls.

Now, in the case of cattle, I have never heard of a herd of cattle following a person because they loved him. Perhaps it has happened, I don't know. But, after living on a ranch for several years, I do know that the usual way to move cattle is by driving them from one place to another. If one cow goes the wrong way, she won't turn around obediently when you call. No, she wouldn't come back in a million years. Rather, you send two or three quick young fellows after her to drive her back.

 I wonder how often you and I act more like cattle than like sheep in our spiritual lives. How often do we expect God to drive us before Him? We expect that if God wants us to do something then He will simply make it impossible for us to do anything else. When we pray, this is reflected. We never consider the relationship with God, but rather pray that if God expects us to do something for Him (or, really, if He wants us to do anything specific other than what we would natuarally want to do),that He would close every other door and force us through the way He wants us to go. Granted, we may not think of it precisely like that, but I have heard many prayers (and prayed many myself) that reflect this very attitude.

We expect God to drive us before Him.This is not how it is meant to be! Rather, we should be sheep instead of cattle. You see, with cattle, the relationship between the cattle driver and the cow doesn't matter a whit. However, the relationship between the sheep and the shepherd is of utmost importance. Sheep never have to be driven, because they follow willingly. Anywhere their shepherd goes is good enough for them, because they love their shepherd.

 Anywhere my Jesus calls me I should go willingly, as should any of His sheep. Of course, this means that we must know His voice. We must recognize how He speaks to us, and be listening to Him. A sheep will drop everything it is doing if its shepherd calls (and while grazing or napping doesn't seem very important to us, I'm certain it seems very important to the sheep). We should be willing to drop everything if our Shepherd calls, and listening for His call every moment.

originally published January 28, 2006

Turn around!

Walking With the Lord is a weekly pause we take here at Ruby in the Rough to focus on the things of the Lord. Sometimes it will be a devotional, sometimes a lesson from our church that stood out as being particularly applicable. 


I woke up that morning my mind a whirl of worries. I've noticed in life that things come in sets. It isn't just that a lot of different things happen all at once ("when it rains it pours"). Often, those "different" things, though unrelated, aren't really all that different.

That's what it felt like that morning. Three different situations, three different loved ones, and all dealing with the same problems. Or about to be dealing with the same problems.

Don't you hate it when you can see a danger other people can't see? And you know it's bad, but you can't do anything about it? And the person who CAN do something about it is completely oblivious, despite warning signs? And you feel like that road sign, "turn around, don't drown!" and wonder, if signs had feelings, if they wouldn't be hopping up and down desperately trying to flag down people who are driving by and ignoring rain and the warning?

Apathy

Walking With the Lord is a weekly pause we take here at Ruby in the Rough to focus on the things of the Lord. Sometimes it will be a devotional, a poem, or a lesson from our church that stood out as being particularly applicable.

I know the name of my enemy

It seeks my life, it is Apathy.

It says that what will be will soon be,

So there's no point to fight my enemy.

It says that I will be only one,

And will not matter in the long run.

If I will fight, or if I will sit--

Why decide now? Decide in a bit.

Yes, I know it, and I know it well,

This enemy is from the pit of Hell.

It would make me un-armoured and weak,

And leave me with no honor to seek.

I will not turn, and shall not be moved,

Will not be lax, or restfully soothed.

I'm a soldier and cannot be brought

Into a sleep while the battle's fought.

I'm no warrior of ordinary mould--

I'm a Christian, both brave and bold.

And so I say now to Apathy

I won't be tricked to think but of me.

Nor will you find my sword to be slow

Or my shield weak against you, my foe.

To my brothers and sisters in Christ

Let not yourselves weary in this fight.

When you stand firm other Christians will see

That they too can stand against Apathy.

Then they will join and rally around

Their fight will start as the trumpets sound.

And so it is that though you are one,

By one warrior the fight can be won.

You cannot know what difference might make

When you will give Battle for Christ's sake.

© 2006 Sophia Rohlin

Good Stewardship

Walking With the Lord is a weekly pause we take here at Ruby in the Rough to focus on the things of the Lord. Sometimes it will be a devotional, sometimes a lesson from our church that stood out as being particularly applicable.

Recently my husband taught a Sunday School lesson on the topic of stewardship, and I thought it was particularly impacting. The timing of the lesson was interesting, because starting a couple weeks after he taught on the topic the Lord gave our family a series of financial blessings. Over the last month these blessings have served to keep my mind constantly going back to the topic of good stewardship.

As I've learned more about Biblical stewardship,

Are you Love?

Walking With the Lord is a weekly pause we take here at Ruby in the Rough to focus on the things of the Lord. Sometimes it will be a devotional, a poem, or a lesson from our church that stood out as being particularly applicable.

This evenings service was on love, and taken from 1 Corinthians 13. My dad (who happened to be preaching this evening) read through the chapter right before he closed, substituting Christ's name for charity (or love, depending on your translation). Read through it, it's amazing how accurate it is.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not Christ, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Christ, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not Christ, it profiteth me nothing.

 Christ suffereth long, and is kind; Christ envieth not; Christ vaunteth not himself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave himself unseemly, seeketh not his own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Christ never faileth: but whether there are prophecies, they shall fail; whether there are languages, they shall cease; whether there is knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, Christ, these three; but the greatest of these is Christ.  1 Corinthians 13

 Switching Christ's name for Love/charity didn't change the passage much at all. Christ was the perfect model of agape love. Now here are a few more verses for you to think about:

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:6, ESV)

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21 ESV)

You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:13-17 ESV)

We are to be imitators of Christ, walking in the same way he walked, matching our footprints to His footprints. If that is true, and if Jesus Christ is the definition of Love as found in 1 Corinthians 13, then we should be living in such a way that our own names could be substituted for love in that same passage.

 I know that I couldn't substitute my own name in there and the passage still be accurate.  Nonetheless, we are supposed to be growing more Christlike every day, and so we should strive to make this passage true--regardless of whether it is our name or Christ's in there.

Could YOU go through all of 1 Corinthians 13 (esp. verses 4-8) and substitute your name in there as I substituted Christ's? Would it still be accurate? Would it be true? Would it make sense? Or is this an area that you are working on?

Originally published August 3, 2005