April 2, 2008
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Be Alert
Ready, Resisting, and Alert
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith.” - 1 Peter 5:8-9 NASB
After returning to his native Venice in 1295, Marco Polo amazed Europeans with his account of the 17 years he had spent in China. He had special praise for Quinsai (or “City of Heaven”), known today as Hangzhou. Polo called it the “greatest city that may be found in the world.” Eventually, he realized that the Mongols, who controlled China, had imposed a kind of false peace, patrolling the city with guards.
In his book about Marco Polo, Laurence Bergreen, describes how Quinsai constantly faced the threat of fire. Everyone remembered the horrible fire of 1208, which burned for four days, destroying more than 58,000 houses. As a result, a “sophisticated alarm system” was created with guards on watchtowers always ready to sound an alarm.
However, this focus on fire blinded the city to other threats. In fact, residents of Quinsai were so preoccupied they took few precautions against invaders from distant lands. Because of this obsession, they were vulnerable to a Mongol takeover.
How easily we can make the same mistake in our spiritual lives. We can be so focused on our immediate needs and interests that we don’t pay attention to the spiritual warfare going on around us or to our adversary, the devil.
Peter warned us not to take the devil for granted-for he “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
Today, allow God to shape your mind and heart and give you His discernment. Seek to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, trust in God, and live according to His Word. Remember to be alert and ready for the attacks of the enemy!
I usually don’t talk too much politics but this one disturbed me. Barak Obama made the following statement:
“I don’t want my daughter to be punished with a baby”.
A baby is a punishment?
Comments (23)
to a young unmarried girl they can be because the boy also had a part and he goes free leaving her holding the bag(I can’t believe I have to teach you the facts of life) if you ever had a screaming baby and still in high school living with your family -you would know this.
I know what you mean though that a baby is from God. Even when I talk about our dog Maggie and how she was an accident because we didn’t choose her but someone dumped her at 5weeks old on our doorstep he reminds me that she was a blessing from God.
Certainly, in my mind, this will not be a banner year for the presidential election. No one candidate really excites me, and I really find a lot more I don’t like about them than I do like. Even with the thought of “voting for the lesser of two evils” I don’t know if that philosophy can be applied in this case. As I saw in one comic strip this last Sunday, they debated the same thing, with the last thought being, when they went to vote, ”I’ll write you in if you write me in.” I pray that God’s will be done, but also that I would have wisdom come time to vote.
Great comic strip!
@bubenun - I fully agree. At this point I don’t know what to do. I may be writing someone it when I vote. It’s a scary time.
@jillcarmel - I have a book on my desk of unwanted children waiting to be adopted. I picture myself as one of those children and how would I feel if I was called, “Punishment”. It’s horrible. -I hear you about young single girls.
@Randy7777 - I understand your feelings also and think you like myself are trying to help the babies and I’m trying to help the young mothers(volunteering at the center) but what a big job that is and we all need to help. Like Hillary says,” It takes a Village”, to raise a child in her book.
I don’t come here as often as I used to because your music player makes my computer lock up for a couple minutes every time I come to your blog.
I can see your point of view about babies being good and sweet and all that… but I have to say almost everyone I’ve known personally who got pregnant (married OR unmarried) said that it ruined their life or their body or their relationship (or all of the above)! I’ve come across blogs of people who consider it a joyous event, but I’ve never witnessed that in person. That’s not to say I’m a fan of abortion and I certainly want the best for the babies. I do know that even if I were to become pregnant by mistake, I would never ever raise the baby. I wouldn’t have an abortion, but I sure wouldn’t keep it! It has certainly been a brutal experience for just about everyone I’ve known and there’s no way I would have the nerve to try it myself at all!
@oceanstarr - I think you speak for a lot of people in our society & I thank you for your honesty. I have to wonder what we’ve become as a nation and as a society. When I went to Africa I watched as that society disregarded nearly all their children. I wonder if we’re headed that direction in a fast moving vehicle. I fear what heaven thinks about America.
@jillcarmel - Not a easy solution. Volunteering at a center – I’d love to hear more about that.
There isn’t too much to vote for.
@Randy7777 -
I just feel that the only ethical thing I can do is to not have any children – not add to the problem. I just wish more people would be more careful with their reproductive organs!
@oceanstarr - more careful….. – so true.
@lindaintennessee - You’re right – God help America.
It isn’t the child that is a punishment it is the parent who believes otherwise.
Wow, are we in trouble!!!!! There isn’t a good choice for President from any side.!!!
I like your section on
“Today, allow God to shape your mind and heart and give you His discernment.
Seek to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, trust in God, and live according to His Word.
Remember to be alert and ready for the attacks of the enemy!”
This is a great uplift. Thanks for did this.
Barak Obama made the following statement:
“I don’t want my daughter to be punished with a baby”.
A baby is a punishment?
Having a baby is not a punishment.
What I see if the mother is not married, she has to raise the child at the most by herself.
There is no punishment in raising children as along as the parents want the children.
There are mothers and fathers who don’t want the responsibility of raising children.
Maybe they can see that as a punishment. I don’t know.
I don’t know who will be the next President of the U.S.
Be praying for that person.
@Randy7777 - I volunteer at the Pregnancy Thrift Store in our town and it helps the girls when they’re pregnant and if they keep their baby it helps so they finish high school and with the cost of taking care of the baby. All our money we make helps the girls and the babies. I started back in December and usually work at least 2 days a week.
I agree! The baby is not a punishment. They are the children of God. Whenever people commit mistakes, the Lord judges our motives. Not who we are as a person.
@china_doll26 - I love your words that lift up the importance of life.
@jillcarmel - That’s great. The single girls need so much support.
@susie91793 - The upcoming election is not very promising. It makes me look even more forward to Jesus & his government one day.
@Kowpatty - There isn’t a good choice. I don’t know how I’ll vote.
I don’t think it’s a punishment for anyone except the child if the mother, regardless of her age, is not ready to be a mother. (single or not) Plus, it doesn’t help the situation any, if the grandparents are as bitter as some people I have have to unpleasure to meet or be related to. Children are a gift from God. Unfortunately not everyone can accept that.
@quitlikinmyhand - You’re right – bitterness never helps anyone. Infants are a gift from God – born or unborn.