Thursday, July 17, 2008

No Weapon Formed

Eh! Yesterday was a challenge to get through, but by God’s grace we are here, alive and persevering. I am not one who is quick to give undue credit to our Enemy, but yesterday, if it could go wrong, it did go wrong in a major way. I could not help but believe that there was some spiritual warfare going on over and around us all day today. But by the authority of God’s Word, though, we are more than conquerors, and we claimed that over and over again today.

The day started around 5:30 as we got the whole family up, dressed, packed and out the door to catch our flight from Kisumu to Nairobi. We made it out the door just fine, with sleepy and slightly grumpy girls. The flight was about an hour late, and I just sat there thinking, “The girls could have been sleeping this whole hour.” But instead they were up, and up and up.

When we arrived to Nairobi, the car that picked us up had a flat tire, so we waited for that to be changed and then dropped the tire off to be fixed. Then we waited for some time to be picked up by someone who would show us the way to the house of the family that was to host us (did you follow that?). After about half an hour, the person arrived, and we began the journey to the house. Unfortunately, the accommodations were not enough for the family, plus my brother-in-law, so Rev left the girls and I there to head into Nairobi to find other accommodations for us.

They were stuck in Nairobi traffic for a few hours, meanwhile I was trying to settle the girls to take naps, in a new, noisy, different environment, which wasn’t working in the least. After several tantrums, crying spells, etc. they both passed out for a short while on the couch before they were awakened by the various noises of the house. It seems that the short nap made them grouchier than before they slept.

Meanwhile, as Rev was on his way back to pick us up, the truck broke down on the side of the road. So they were waiting for a tow truck, and I was waiting for them. They picked us up in a different car, and we went back to the truck with a friend to see if it could be fixed. There were tools in the back of the car that we were in that they needed to work on the truck, but, for some reason, the trunk was then refusing to open. After several minutes of fighting with the trunk, they abandoned that idea and went back to look further at the truck. No fixing possible, so we headed off to find a tow truck. As we were driving along the highway, the trunk conveniently became unstuck, flew open as our bags flew out across the road.

It was at this moment that we started to vocalize that we were dealing with more than just a string of unfortunate events, but were actually in the midst of a battle. And so as thing were being up off the highway and we were regrouping ourselves in the car to continue on the journey, we back to use our sword.

“The Enemy is a coward and has no power over us. No weapon formed against us can prosper, by the Authority of the Word of God. Because he cannot touch us as children of the Most High King, our cowardly enemy goes after the things around us. But they are just things that God has provided for us, and if God ordains that they should be taken away, it is for our good and for His glory, and so we let them go. We praise you Jesus for the opportunity to walk away from things and cling to You. We thank you for the opportunity to persevere.”

As the words were leaving our mouths, spirits were lifted and laughter filled the car. Satan can take our things, but he cannot take our joy, and that is the powerful witness against him.

We were able to find a tow truck and get the truck to a garage where it is currently being worked on. We were able to find a Catholic guest house to rest for the night, though the quarters were quite tight. They are not accustomed to having families stay there, so the girls slept in a twin-sized bed, and Rev and I slept on a twin-sized mattress on the floor. As the room was being set up with the extra mattress, Rev and his brother stepped out to try to find something to eat (they had not eaten all day and the girls had not eaten since lunch; it was now 9pm). They came back to report that the car had sustained yet another flat tire, the second one for the day, and that this time it had in fact shredded the tire. Just to keep things interesting.

Somewhere between the cold that I have had for the past few days, the plane ride to Nairobi, and the hectic day, I developed a raging ear infection, which was hurting to even open my mouth. I was leaning over the bed to just cry out to Jesus about it all. I said, “Oh, Jesus!” Toria was listening and came over to me to ask “Mama, do you want Jesus?”

Me: “Yes, baby, I do want Jesus.”

Toria: “Ok, then, let’s go take a bath.”

Because taking a bath will get us closer to Jesus. I like her theology.

We were quite blessed to lay our heads down for the night and call the day finished. I don’t pretend to know what goes on in the heavenly realms, but I do know that Scripture says that our battle 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. It seems that someone might feel a bit threatened, so we will praise the Name of Jesus for the day that we had and push ahead.

If you are a praying people at all, would you please raise up your shield of faith with us to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. We would greatly appreciate it. Today has been bathed in prayers, and God has been faithful and merciful. We were able to move to another guest house that has been a great blessing. It has a place where the girls can play and actually be kids again for a little while. They are currently resting quite hard for their afternoon naps, which blesses mama greatly! Rev and David are in town trying to get the truck fixed and get us ready to leave for Ethiopia tomorrow.
No weapon formed against us may prosper. This much I know. Grace and peace to you! Thank you for adventuring with us. It means more than I could ever verbalize to you.

9 comments:

  1. Shauna,
    Wow, what a day! God must be using you in a mighty way for Satan to get so obvious, and he apparently does NOT want your family in Ethiopia. I praise God for the lives he will change through your obedience! I will be praying for you and I am excited to read more about the adventures you will have as you are an extension of his love to the people of Ethiopia and Kenya!
    Angela

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  2. I will be praying for you in your new adventures!

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  3. What a day , It sounds to me as if the devil was riding on your tail. I am so glad you over came with the Lord's help. Put a big loser's "L" on the evil one's forehead. And see God's glory as it plays out in you and your family. I pray for God's protection and his mercy.Laugh, sing and love all, as you know that really ticks off the evil one, and the Lord delights in it.
    Yours in him who was is and ever shall be the King.
    Nancy Hughes

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  4. I'm praying for you and your family.

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  5. wow . This sounds like quite a day.. and one I can totaly understand serving here in Nepal. I totally understand about the enemies tactics to. The spiritual battle that goes on is sometimes the craziest things that you can imagine. I will be lifting you guys up hard core and believing that the blanket of protection that God will place over you will make the enemy run SCARED. I understand. I had a day like that today. I was to start language school for my new visa to stay here and i woke up with my eye swollen shut due to a spider bite in my sleep. Then I was driving my scooter down our crazy mud road (in monsoon just imagine) and my scooter got stuck then died. I was able to have a friend go get it and look at it.. and it worked again but then it ran out of petrol. But you know what I am reminded and encouraged even as I read your blog that GREATER is HE that is in us.. and I am reminded that Our God reigns.. and that we must be doing something for HIs glory or the enemy would not be so mad. I am praying for you and your family. I cannot imagine how difficult it is with a family at times.. I am a single girl (26) so I cannot imagine doing it with kiddos.

    praying for you

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  6. As always friend, my family and I stand with you and your family in the power of the name of Jesus Christ and just pray a covering and blessing over you in this time of obvious opposition. May you see the fruit of the troubles and know that you are all walking in the way the Lord has called you to. Our love and encouragement is with you now and always!

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  7. Whew! What a day! You have endured so much, but no matter what the enemy brought against you, he didn't get your victory because you are an overcomer by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of your testimony! Thank you for sharing your testimony of how God brought you through this day. There truly must be great things in store! I look forward to hearing what God is going to do through your family as you journey, and I look forward to lots of pictures from the trip too!

    I will definitely be praying with you for the rest of your trip, and also for healing for your body.

    Blessings,
    April :0)

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  8. I realize that your adventure was probably not even slightly amusing at the time, but whenever I find myself stuck in a series of unfortunate events, I force myself to start laughing at the situation. I literally begin giggling at the next event, which usually results in outright laughter at the following one. I think I would've been rolling on the ground in tears when your luggage popped out of the trunk!

    Love reading your blog...it keeps me from whining about my own stuff!

    Love, Darla

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  9. I agree with Darla - hearing about your adventures puts life here in perspective. I do remember those type of days in Ukraine. We sure miss you and enjoy hearing from you. Sending prayers and blessings your way - Love, Jolene

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