This morning, like most mornings, I mentally ran through all the different issues I’m facing in my life and ministry.  After presenting them to the Lord in prayer, I realized I was basically asking God to “fix” everything - “Here God, this is broken, please fix it.”  Like most people, I want life to be smooth and easy.

Then I opened my Bible to Psalm 144 and read, “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”

This passage reminded me of a conversation I had with my son last October before he went to war in Iraq.  I told him I was praying the protection of Psalm 91 over him.  And Jeremy’s immediate response was, “Well, I’m praying Psalm 144, ‘Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle…’”  My son trusts God for his protection, but has no illusions about the fact that he was going into war.  And he knows a good soldier is a well-trained soldier.  His life, and the life of his men, would depend on this training for battle.

As Believers, we too need this battlefield mentality.  Knowing the Word of God isn’t enough.  We have to learn to apply it to life.  And it is the trials and hard circumstances of our lives that train us to do this.  Yes, God is our covering and protector, but He is training our hands for the reality of warfare, not the easy life.  We look to God while engaging the enemy.  In the end, our trust is in God as we fight the good fight of faith. God is with us in battle and He receives the glory in our victory.

Think about it.   Without the battle, there is no victory.  Without Pharaoh's pursuit of Israel at the Red Sea, there is no miraculous deliverance. Without Lazarus's death, there is no rising to life.
 Without the storm and Peter stepping out of the boat, there is no miracle on the water.

Like most non-profit ministries, TCM is facing new battles in this tough economic climate.   Having donned our full armor, we are engaging the enemy head-on.  Please continue to stand with us in battle as we trust God for our victories.  Keep our needs ever-present in your prayers.  We know the battle is the Lord’s and the victory ours.  Blessed be the Lord our Rock who trains our hands for war and our fingers for battle.

Your partner in battle, 

Terri 

Update on Shipping Container:  So far, God has brought in $7000 of the $10,000 needed to ship the container to Uganda.  We are trusting God for the remaining $3000 to come in by the end of March.  Join us in our $10 challenge.  If 300 people would each send in $10, we would have the needed $3000. (Read Feb 2 blog for info on Shipping Container to Uganda)