His ways are not my ways....

My last post was a little dramatic...hahaha. I try to stay away from the drama, but isn't that what usually draws us into things? Our favorite books, favorite television shows, even our favorite preachers have some element of drama that keeps us engaged and interested. But, this situation is not about how dramatic or traumatic I can make it.

It is simply about Joseph making a poor choice based on lies he has been presented as truth. The overall truth of the situation though, is not my argument against his dad, or the wrongs that Joseph believes he has suffered, but is that God's thoughts are not my thoughts, and His ways are not my ways...His are higher, better, and able to accomplish much more than my earthly temperament can accomplish (Isaiah 55: 8-9) . 

I am sad, I am heartbroken, and that is not being dramatic, but simply hurting for my child who is walking straight into the lion's den, and their mouths are wide open to devour him. I wanted so much more for him- he wasn't supposed to make the mistakes that I made, but I have somehow gotten a front row seat to watch him do exactly what I did.  

In two weeks his first year of college is over, and instead of packing up his dorm and preparing for a summer with his college friends, he is packing up his dorm and moving to SC for "greener pastures."  Although I have many thoughts (and most of them are not that nice) about those "greener pastures," the ultimate truth is this, "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands^. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown; for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever,” Isaiah 55: 10-13.

If you pray, please continue to pray for our family. We believe God, we trust God, but that doesn't necessarily make it easy. 

Prepared for Battle

If you are reading this, then please say a prayer for our family....actually, say more than one prayer as we are in one of the toughest battles of our lives, a war that has been waged against the success and well being of Joseph.

If you are my friend on Facebook or have read this blog, you already know how proud I am of Joseph for getting accepted and going to school at the University of TN. He hoped so much to be able to go to school here, and God gave him that desire. Joseph wanted to get into their architecture and interior design program, and guess what? God did not let him down.

However, the enemy of our souls waged a war against Joseph. He convinced Joseph through someone that he trusts that he needs to be out from under my "control." That there are "better" things for him in SC where he has freedom to come and go, freedom to make his own decisions...sort of sounds like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, doesn't it?

Scott and me had a long conversation with Joseph's dad yesterday, and if what he says is true, he is on our side. I pray today for Joseph to have ears to hear and eyes to see the truth through the deception that is blinding him. For him to be able to discern what is the good and acceptable word of God from the lies that the enemy if filling his head with. That like Elisha's servant, the Lord will open his eyes to see the army that God has placed around him to deliver him rather than allow him to become captive (2 King 6).

This is a battle where the armor of God needs to be worn proudly and boldly, it is a battle that I don't want to fight, a battle that I didn't see coming. God has given Joseph the desires of his heart, it breaks my heart to see the enemy try to snatch those desires and close the doors God has opened.

Please pray, and pray hard, my friends. This battle is not against the person who is influencing Joseph, it is against the principalities, powers, and darkness of the rulers of this age, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places that have said Joseph belongs to them. But, I say Joseph belongs to Jehovah, he belongs to El Shadday, God Almighty, Who knows the plans He has for Joseph and has set those plans in motion.