Praise

I was planning to post on the end of the reading program, but it looks like that will have to wait. First, I want to say thank you to all of you who are praying with us in the spiritual battle(s) we are facing (if you haven't read the post prior to this one, click here or if you would like to read more on spiritual warfare click here or here.) We still need your prayers, our kids need them, those in the community/church need them. The battles have been draining and often not so encouraging, but as I was thinking today...what I need to do right now is praise. Even though I can't see how God is going to bring good out of this valley and I feel very burdened. Even though I don't understand why the battles are so prolonged or why it can be so difficult to filter through Satan's deception. Even when I don't understand why the demons can be so stubborn and where we go from here. And probably for these very reasons... because I don't know, I don't understand, I don't "see" what God is doing, I need to praise, because well, whatever we are going through God is still worthy of it. And praise is a weapon against the darkness.

So, as you continue to pray for us (you can see some of the prayer requests I posted here) please continue to pray specifically against deception and for God's Truth to be very clear. Pray for hearts willing to fight and work with us to end these battles and for renewed strength. Through it all, please pray that each individual (and us too) would come to know Jesus Christ better through the struggle and that He would be glorified above and in all.

AND please join me in praising...

Praise God:
-that through Christ we can have freedom from Satan, sin, and death
-for the authority that we have in Christ as God's children
-that God is sovereign and in control
-that He has shown us His faithfulness and goodness
-that He will bring good from what Satan intends for evil and destruction
-for the reminders of captives who have been set free in the past
-for the ways that we are learning to fight through the struggle
-for each child and staff member that God has brought to CVE and the important part they play in our spiritual ejercito (army)
-for the ways God is working to bring to light issues in our own lives that need to be taken care of
-for the way He changes us through prayer, trial, the testing of our faith, and awareness of the seriousness of the consequences of sin (for ourselves and for future generations)
-for victory that we trust will come in His perfect way and timing

O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 127