The Battle Belongs to the Lord

By Aubrey Spencer –

It seems I spend a great amount of time each day involved in battle. A heated battle. Often a losing battle. I honestly feel as if I’m up against an opponent that never retreats. It’s frustrating and oh so tiring.

You may be wondering what this fight is. Who knows? You might even struggle with the same enemy.

It is toys! Mounds and mounds of toys. That’s right, I’m battling toys. They are overtaking my house and they seem to multiply. I fight hard to keep things picked up, to put the toys where they go, but the reality is, I am losing the war. With a three and a half year old and a one year old at home, it’s a wonder why I even engage in this battle. It’s inevitable that the moment I can actually see the floor, one of my little darlings is right behind me, dumping out yet another basket of toys. I can’t count the number of times each day I crawl on the floor, bend over, or crouch down to retrieve one that has tried to escape. Seriously, do these toys clone themselves?

Just the other day, as I was on my knees picking up toys for the tenth time that morning, I thought to myself, “look at all this time I’m wasting.” And then it hit me. “Look at all this time I’m wasting!”

Instead of using all that time on my hands and knees griping, consumed in the task of clean up, I could be on my knees, picking up toys, praying for my children. I could take advantage of being on my knees. I could see it as a blessing instead of a battle. What a perfect opportunity. What a different perspective. It’s as if God reached down and smacked me with a fresh outlook. I now look forward to cleaning up the toys. I like knowing that I will have many, many, times throughout the day to cover my children in prayer.

Though it took me a while to realize it, but the battle really does belong to Lord.

PRAYER: Lord, it is so easy to see obstacles instead of opportunities. Help me to have a fresh perspective. Allow me to use my everyday to draw closer to You, to glorify You, and to make a difference for You. Remind me that every battle is an opportunity in waiting.

BIBLE VERSE: “…Do not be …discouraged…For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV).

Ready, Aim, Shoot

By Aubrey Spencer –

Paper plates are no longer safe with me around. Targets shudder. Even bowling pins are a bit afraid.

It’s true. You see – I’ve recently been to the gun range. For one afternoon, I was the star actress in “Wild Wild West, Aubrey Get Your Gun.” It all happened when we were in Kansas visiting my parents. My dad offered to take my brother-in-law and me to the gun range for an afternoon of target practice. What an experience! A hands shaking, palms sweating, heart racing, experience. It was my first time at the gun range. Any gun range for that matter. In fact it was my first time holding a gun, shooting a gun, basically anything with a gun. Now that I think about it, my dad and brother-in-law were awfully brave! It was a lot of fun. Scary. But, fun. I was a pretty decent shot for a first-timer. I came home that afternoon and told my husband and my mom that I felt like Angelina Jolie in an action flick. (So my imagination is grand – let a girl dream, will you?!) Who knew that “gun slinging” would end up being one of my favorite things I got to do on our vacation? It might have been scary, but I learned something new and had a great time doing it.

Of course, my ‘wild west experience’ got me thinking. Sometimes, we need to try new and scary things for God. The kind of things that make our world’s race and our comfort zones shake. We have to fill ourselves with bullets of bravery, imagination, passion, and willingness and take aim at the opportunities before us. Otherwise, we may never hit the target of what we’re meant to do, or be, for God. So, what do you think? Ready. . . aim. . . . . . . . .

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to be brave for You. Allow me opportunities to be bold for You and to try new things for You. But then grant me the courage to take hold of those opportunities. Help me to not give way to fear, but to be strong and courageous.

BIBLE VERSE: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).

Peg Leg Spencer

By Aubrey Spencer –

Our nine-month-old daughter started crawling recently. We were beginning to wonder if that was ever going to happen. It’s not that she wasn’t mobile the last few months. In fact, she’s been getting around quite well using her unique method of movement, the “sit, lean, and scoot.” Needless to say, it’s been amusing. As I’ve watched her scoot and crawl about, I can’t help but to reminisce about the crazy crawl our son had when he was a baby.

Oliver was on the move right from the start. He had places to explore and things to get in to. He was busy. (He’s now three and a half and hasn’t slowed down one bit.) He had the ability to crawl normally, but he seemed to prefer the “peg leg method.” Picture it – crawling around in typical form except for one crazy, stiff, straight-as-a-board, left leg. It was quite amusing to watch that little crawler we nicknamed “Peg Leg Spencer.” And just like it is now with our daughter, Ava, it was fulfilling for us to watch him as he figured out the world around him. He was inquisitive, excited, and very busy. He literally never sat still.

Thinking back to him as a crawler makes me wonder, shouldn’t our lives be like that as Christians? On the move, with a world to explore and a difference to make? We should be busy and excited and desperate to share Jesus with the world around us. It doesn’t matter if we have limitations; we can still accomplish great things for Him.

Doubt that thought? Just remember “Peg Leg Spencer.” All we need is one good “leg” to stand on. One “dream,” one “talent,” one “desire,” one “purpose,” one ” ___”(you fill in the blank). Just imagine what would happen if we, as Christians, couldn’t sit still any longer.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to remember that You can do so much with so little. Help me to be active for You, using whatever abilities You’ve given me in order to glorify You and to share Your good news with the world around me.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”(Colossians 3:23 NIV).

Transformation

By Aubrey Spencer –

I have recently been doing some redecorating in our home. To be honest, I redecorate a lot. It’s kind of my hobby. Not many people share my desire to constantly change things up. In fact, those who know me well often think I’m crazy for the number of times I’ve repainted rooms or rearranged furniture. But I just can’t help it. I love transformation.

One project I’ve been working on in particular is the painting of our three and a half year old son’s bedroom. His newly, but not yet finished, orange bedroom. He is completely nuts about the color orange. So the transformation has begun to create for him an orange and white horizontal striped bedroom. (Don’t cringe – it’s going to turn out great!)

Unfortunately the process has not been particularly pleasant. The two coats of orange paint I have already put on the walls are not covering what was previously there. I’m afraid it’s going to be a four or five coat job and that’s before we even get to the white stripes! (Maybe I’m starting to see why people think I’m crazy.)

It sure would be easy to give up mid-project. To assume it will never come together. To throw my paint roller away and say I’m never again working on another project. But I won’t because I know the outcome. I can see the finished product in my mind. So, during this daunting process I keep reminding myself that no matter how long it takes, I will keep painting. The room will eventually be finished. The hard work will be worth it.

Transformation will happen.

I can’t help but compare my paint transformation project to my walk with God. It’s so similar to how God transforms me. Layer by layer by layer until, eventually, He’s created a completed project in me – to become more like Him. It can be daunting. It can be difficult. It can seem impossible. Transformation isn’t easy. And I can be resistant. I can only imagine how many times the Master Painter has wanted to give up on me mid-project. How many times He’s wondered if I’m ever going to “come together.” Thankfully though, He never gives up on me. You see, He has the finished project in mind. And, He keeps working on me layer by layer until transformation happens.

PRAYER: Father God, I am so thankful that you see the outcome. I trust that You are creating something beautiful in me no matter how daunting the process can be. I realize that it is quite a project transforming me into Your image. I don’t change as easily as I should. But I am so thankful that You don’t give up on me. Thank You for seeing what I can become and saying that I’m worth the effort.

“And we all…are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory…” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV).

Stinkin’ Thinkin’

By Aubrey Spencer –

Not long ago, I introduced my son Oliver to one of the great joys from my childhood—Zig Ziglar. If you don’t know of him, he’s a motivational speaker who (years ago) created music for kids with positive messages. His songs were all about succeeding in life, making good choices, having great attitudes, being a winner, etc. I loved my Zig Ziglar tape! I honestly think it’s part of the reason I turned out to be such a crazy optimist. Even as a kid, I loved being positive, and Zig Ziglar knew just how to “pump me up” with inspiration. Our family listened to his tape, See You at The Top, over and over in the car when we took road trips. I knew every line of every song. Songs like, “Don’t Kick the Cat,” “Goodbye, Mr. Mediocrity,” “Don’t Be Flaky Like the Biscuit,” “Stop the Stinkin’ Thinkin’,” and “Dr. M.Y. Self.” Makes you want to borrow my tape, doesn’t it?

So, the other day, when we were on a small road trip, we gave Oliver his first Zig Ziglar experience. It was great! My first time to really pass something from my childhood on to my child. Something with meaning, hope, optimism, and worth. And, you know what? I’m pretty sure he liked it. I suspect he’ll be singing the words before long, just like his mommy!

The motivational blast from the past got me thinking—it’s really important to me to begin, even this early on in his life, to fill Oliver’s mind with good things. I want him to be positive even when times are tough. We all go through times like that at some point. Times when discouragement sets in. Times when people let you down. Times when the future is uncertain and the present is unbearable. Times when it would be easy, even understandable, to fill our minds with bitterness and negative thinking. But, instead of getting bogged down with the injustices of life, I choose to fill my mind with Christ. With His love. With His promises. And, with His power. As I heard one time, we need to focus less on the mountain and more on the Mountain Mover! Jesus is able. I’m going to fill my mind with that thought. And, if that doesn’t stop stinkin’ thinkin’, I don’t know what will!

PRAYER: Father, help me to focus on You and the things that draw me closer to You. Fill my mind completely with Your goodness and with the hope I have in You.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8 NIV).

« Previous Page — Next Page »