Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of "Don't Cut off Your Nose to Spite Your Face" (without using the actual phrase or litera (02/14/08)
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TITLE: The Battle Belongs to the Lord | Previous Challenge Entry
By Cherie Millsap
02/16/08 -
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Being a deacon in a church had brought many, many obligations. But when a church is without a pastor, the obligations become a pool, in which it is sink or swim. All of a sudden, there is a body that has come to a halt.
Many parts of the body, with good intentions, want to rise up to fill the void and let their voice be heard… But what should be a time of unity quickly becomes body parts screaming the direction they feel the church should go… Differences of opinion become elevated, and all the options overwhelming…
He was not called to be a shepherd, yet in this instance he finds the shepherd’s rod suddenly thrust into his hand. How does one bring peace and quiet to a body, who in one sense, has lost the lid of who they are as a church? Identity at stake, and hearts looking for answers, problems arise in the multitudes… Then you have the fixers in the body, looking at the absence of a pastor, as an opportunity to fix things that are wrong before the head returns… Unfortunately, they end up devouring each other in criticism… and anger builds.…
This is the place he finds himself as the head deacon, when one problem, amongst so many, rises above them all. One person in the body, who has a short hold on his temper begins running like cancer through the body. This person has gone from angry outbursts unleashed on others, to broken repentance, only to repeat this cycle to exhausting levels, leaving the body drained and heaving…
So what does he do? He finds himself seeking God like he has never done before… He seeks Solomon’s wisdom, and a heart that beats with mercy and love each with its own drumstick. Doe he cut off this believer? Does he remove this constant offense? But this church is already suffering from de-capitation, do we further mutilate this body? How does one know…
So he kneels… And as he prays, God begins to remind him of Elisha’s servant that cried out, “We are losing this battle!” He remembered Elisha had prayed that the servant’s eyes would be opened to see… And God did open his eyes and he began to see multitudes of warrior angels!
Right there on his knees, he began to realize that battles are fought best in prayer’s tabernacle. For God gently reminded him, we wrestle not against flesh and bone, but against principalities and powers. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but to the pulling down of strongholds! So he earnestly began to wage war in the quiet place… After much time spent, finally peace came. God had made him privy to His battle plans. He rose after some time to leave his prayer closet, not even realizing that he was now fully clothed in the gleaming armor of God!
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I'd have liked more details here; I'm still not clear of exactly what happened at this church. And I don't know how the saying ties in...
I liked the hope and grace evident in this entry.
I would have loved some specifics here - just to have an idea of exactly what was going on. It seemed a bit vague to me.
Very nicely done.
Nice writing i liked it!