Recently on line I saw a story of a huge anaconda snake in Africa.It had devoured over 250 people and countless animals in its reign of terror. I know it had to be a hoax because you don't find anacondas in Africa..
How ever there is another snake that destroys and devours people, its called a TWISTING SNAKE. This one is spiritual, it gets in between people and distorts what they say, then throws it back in the form of an attack. It twists people's words then passes it on as evil reports and slander and gossip.
Recently I've been the recipient of such an attack and I'm reminded of the lines in Francis Thompsons poem "The Hound of Heaven", where he says ...all things betrayest thee that betrayest me (Me being JESUS).I like to think the opposite is true..ie..all thigs betrayest ME that betrayest THEE. In other words what we're doing to others we re doing to him..good and bad.
Well we're in Ministry so I guess that is par for the course that attacks will come..especially after a successful conference..and I guess we should know that the enemy is not a gentleman and always strikes when we are at our weakest and most vulnerable, which I was at the time, sporting a broken ankle and leg in a plaster cast..I also don't do operations well,...hard time for Ian too.juggling conference managing roles an trying to nurse me.
Now the thing is when Satan attacks he's always got a bit of ammo to fire and this is where that twisting snake takes over ...words are quoted out of context or in disregard of the intent of the heart.Sometimes when we are stressed we speak off the top of our heads.Thank GOD for true friends who know and love you and can see beyond the words to the heart underneath. Sadly there are not a lot of true friends in the body of Christ,ones that are discerning and separate the chaff from the wheat.JESUS ALWAYS UNDERSTANDS and sees our heart and sees us through eyes of love and tenderness.A verse in Isaiah says a bent reed I will not destroy and a smoking flax I will not extinguish. Even spiritual giants have times when they feel like that bruised reed. But by His GRACE we grow and stand tall and forgive those who hurt and ,malign us. Here's a great phrase a christian brother in secular broadcasting once wrote, "What other people think of me is none of MY BUSINESS". Its GOD'S business. Now that's liberating! Yes there are times for correction but when He corrects it's in love ,gentleness and often humor,not in judgmental criticism which can leave you devastated and discouraged.
Jesus is always for you not against you, because He knows the beginning from the end. Here's a good rule of thumb when the enemy brings confusion, if it's not love it's not God...Thank you Lord for Romans 8. As my friend Kathy says ,God doesn't call us to perfect one another but to love.
In concluding any words I have inadvertently spoken that have ,been passed on to you by another in the form of an evil report..forgive me and forgive the one who passed it on...because evil reports never bring any good but the bring separation even between close friends.
By the way the kingdom of God is made up of relationship and friendship. .first with the Father ,Son and Holy Spirit then with others. Its not made up of MINISTRY....thats just a means to an end.
JOYE JOHNSON
How ever there is another snake that destroys and devours people, its called a TWISTING SNAKE. This one is spiritual, it gets in between people and distorts what they say, then throws it back in the form of an attack. It twists people's words then passes it on as evil reports and slander and gossip.
Recently I've been the recipient of such an attack and I'm reminded of the lines in Francis Thompsons poem "The Hound of Heaven", where he says ...all things betrayest thee that betrayest me (Me being JESUS).I like to think the opposite is true..ie..all thigs betrayest ME that betrayest THEE. In other words what we're doing to others we re doing to him..good and bad.
Well we're in Ministry so I guess that is par for the course that attacks will come..especially after a successful conference..and I guess we should know that the enemy is not a gentleman and always strikes when we are at our weakest and most vulnerable, which I was at the time, sporting a broken ankle and leg in a plaster cast..I also don't do operations well,...hard time for Ian too.juggling conference managing roles an trying to nurse me.
Now the thing is when Satan attacks he's always got a bit of ammo to fire and this is where that twisting snake takes over ...words are quoted out of context or in disregard of the intent of the heart.Sometimes when we are stressed we speak off the top of our heads.Thank GOD for true friends who know and love you and can see beyond the words to the heart underneath. Sadly there are not a lot of true friends in the body of Christ,ones that are discerning and separate the chaff from the wheat.JESUS ALWAYS UNDERSTANDS and sees our heart and sees us through eyes of love and tenderness.A verse in Isaiah says a bent reed I will not destroy and a smoking flax I will not extinguish. Even spiritual giants have times when they feel like that bruised reed. But by His GRACE we grow and stand tall and forgive those who hurt and ,malign us. Here's a great phrase a christian brother in secular broadcasting once wrote, "What other people think of me is none of MY BUSINESS". Its GOD'S business. Now that's liberating! Yes there are times for correction but when He corrects it's in love ,gentleness and often humor,not in judgmental criticism which can leave you devastated and discouraged.
Jesus is always for you not against you, because He knows the beginning from the end. Here's a good rule of thumb when the enemy brings confusion, if it's not love it's not God...Thank you Lord for Romans 8. As my friend Kathy says ,God doesn't call us to perfect one another but to love.
In concluding any words I have inadvertently spoken that have ,been passed on to you by another in the form of an evil report..forgive me and forgive the one who passed it on...because evil reports never bring any good but the bring separation even between close friends.
By the way the kingdom of God is made up of relationship and friendship. .first with the Father ,Son and Holy Spirit then with others. Its not made up of MINISTRY....thats just a means to an end.
JOYE JOHNSON
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