Fighting words

There’s a time for everything: a time to win, a time to lose, a time to laugh, a time to cry, a time to run, and a time to fight. That could mean fighting off a bully, fighting for something you believe in, or even fighting your own self and the things you tell yourself about yourself.

In the movie Back to the Future II, the hero Marty McFly does his best to do right and avoid fighting his enemy, the trouble-maker Biff. He has his limits, though, and when Biff hollers at him while he’s walking away from a confrontation, “What are you…chicken?” Marty stops dead in his tracks, steely determination in his eyes. He says quietly, “Nobody calls me ‘chicken‘” and turns to teach Biff a lesson.

What triggers you to that tipping point, to when you’re ready to fight? Most of the time I believe in solving things as peacefully as possible, but when it comes to the enemy of my soul, there’s going to be a battle. And, when it comes to the enemy picking on the ones I love, get ready to rumble!

I recently discovered an album by artist Ellie Holcomb called Red Sea Road. (so many great songs, love the lyrics) In her song “Fighting Words” she shares openly about the negative self-talk that happens inside, even self-hate, the lies the enemy spews and how she fights back:

I will fight the lies with the truth
Keep my eyes fixed on You
I will sing the truth into the dark
I will use my fighting words¹

As I listened, I found myself wishing she revealed specifically what her fighting words are. You know so I could use them, too! I realized I need to figure out my own fighting words to counter when the devil tries to pull me down.  Where would I find them? Continue reading

Sure you can, but do you really want to?

Would you accept a blood transfusion from someone with AIDS?

Would you eat brownies that had just a little bit of doggie poop mixed in?

Would you want to drink water every day that was laced with a little bit of arsenic?

Would you ask someone with a nasty case of the flu to sneeze right in your face?

You could do all those things, but do you really want to?  The Bible says that everything is permissable for us but it’s not all beneficial to us.  Why is that such a hard lesson to learn?  It seems to be one of those a lot of people have to learn the hard way, after negative stuff has stained their heart and life.

I know the enemy seeks to devour all of us but lately I’ve become acutely aware of the battle raging for my daughter’s heart.   Unfortunately when we give him an inch, well you know…  Continue reading