The title of this blog comes from one of my earliest movie favorites.  Other than this line, however, it really has no redeeming qualities whatsoever so I will refrain from listing the name of the movie here....

Part of my calling can be described as a ministry of presence.  When life is good, bad or indifferent, you can usually find me there just listening.  I am encouraged and blessed by the stories of victory through Christ and feel empathy during times of trouble.  Through it all, the good, the bad and the ugly, God's grace, mercy and love is present and visible to me in one form or another.  Though this, one of my favorite verses is confirmed, time and time again.

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

During a recent conversation with a new believer in Christ, she shared how tough life had become and how it seemed like everything around her was falling apart.  Everything had become a struggle and her inclination was to run away from her newly discovered freedom, away from the light of God through Christ, and back to the dark recesses of her former life.  In listening to her speak, watching the tears stream down her face, my heart began to ache for her and her struggles.  It was then that several sisters in Christ, as if taking a cue from our Heavenly Father, walked over to the conversation and began to love and care for their struggling sister.  As the tears subsided, we began talking as a group.  Of all of the things said, this statement seemed to provide her with the most comfort: "You are not going crazy."  The simple truth is this; our enemy, the evil one, finds no pleasure in our transformed life and will do all that he can to steal our victory through Christ away from us.  This can be especially true and self-evident in new believers who have been held in the confines of bondage through addictions and abuse.  The lies that are perpetuated by the evil one are all too real to those in the midst of the battle.  The reality, and Good News, however, is that our victory in Christ is complete because Christ's victory was complete.  We are victorious through association and, as believer's in Christ, we recognize and begin to understand that Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20) and with that, we do not live this life alone or separated from the full grace, mercy and love of God through Jesus Christ.  It is new every morning....and we get to experience it forever.

Just as a follow up, she is doing much better and seems to have found some renewed strength this morning.  Hmmm.

Remain calm...All is well.

Your brother in Christ,

Jim