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In some strange but familiar way God is using this season to teach me about the hope we have right now. Where would we be without our Savior? I believe we know the answer to that question.

Here are some things Papa is teaching me right now:

Sometimes it isn’t about the answer to our prayers. Yes, we prefer our prayers to be answered according to our own selfish desires (I admit). But, just maybe it is more about what we learn about His will for us while we are waiting for the answers to those prayers.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, an all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 ESV

Sometimes He reminds me of how weak I am so that I remember how strong He is.
Allow God to surround you with good people even strangers. They bear the presence of God Himself to comfort, encourage and strengthen you. We draw strength in community.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 
For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 
Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

God does not eliminate all hardship when we are following Him closely. Pain has helped me grow. Because, when we suffer, our faith in God has a chance to grow.

Like Job, sometimes the Lord takes away to teach us to surrender. I am learning it is okay to lament about the pain you are experiencing, just don’t let it change your mind about trusting in Him. God hasn’t moved. He is the same today, as He was yesterday. We trust him, even though we are given no explanation as to why these things were allowed—we haven’t lost hope.

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.”
Job 13:15

God doesn’t give us what we can handle; He helps us handle what we are given. He is there with us.

“…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

Even when you know you are to surrender everything to Him but still have doubts of a favorable outcome, YOU HAVE A HOPE! That cannot be taken away from us. His name is Jesus Christ our redeemer. And that my friends, will never be lost, it will never succumb to a final end. It is everlasting, it is eternal, because Jesus came, and He lived, and He died once for all. He is our ONLY hope!

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.”
Job 19:25 ESV


Blessings,

—Paula
@CallToBattle

A friend gave me this candle to display in my window last Christmas. The story behind the Christmas candle in the window goes back to a popular traditional Irish Christmas decoration, harkening back to that ancient Christmas Eve when Mary and Joseph could find no shelter. The symbology of a lighted Christmas candle indicated our homes would be offered as a safe haven for travelers seeking shelter.

https://youtu.be/B6fA35Ved-Y?
Thank you @KimFairchild for forwarding this song to me today. Perfect timing.
My daughter-in-love Jennifer passed away early this morning from a long painful battle with an incurable cancer. Papa woke me up a 2:45 AM and I knew she had passed. She is in His presence in glory now. She leaves behind my son Ryan and three children.
Thank you everyone for your prayers! Even though I am broken hearted I have such an overwhelming peace.

More inspiration and a gentle reminder of the power of our God.

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
Psalm 34:8 ESV

Hey friends, starting today you all are going to see a new admin for this channel. Don’t worry I am not going anywhere, or cutting back on content. In fact we will be more like a team here on Call To Battle working together to bring you even more encouraging godly content.
Please welcome Kim Fairchild! I met Kim through @ThinMint channel during Kris’s crisis with her husband a few years ago.

In fact never in my life have I met so many wonderful friends nor expected the impact it would have on my life personally within this network of social media.

This is all the Lord’s doing and I give glory to Him for putting me in this position in the first place so it is an honor and blessing to be a part of it.

Thank you Kim for joining Call To Battle and for helping me play whack-a-mole with the spammers😆 Lord willing we can keep them at bay.

Me: “Lord, what do You want me to know today?”
God: “Spend time in prayer every day. Look for pockets of time in your day where you can talk to Me on your own behalf and on behalf of others.
“Listen to the nudging of My Holy Spirit. When you sense a need to pray for someone, do not put it off till later. When I call My prayer warriors into action, the time is now. No matter how short your prayer may be, I will hear it and act upon it.”
Col.1:9 (NIV) ~ “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,”

Testimony Tuesday

I have two videos for you today.
The first one is an amazing testimony of a man who finds himself in what seems like a hopeless situation. Watch how Jesus shows up and gives him strength.

The second one is about a miraculous reunion. God is always in the details!

As our 2024 Christmas season comes to an end, I ran across this beautiful song sung by Riley Clemmons. I hope it inspires you to adore our Lord now and always.

https://youtu.be/F-zepQVQSdA?si=2CjD92JuhzoalXRe

Thought I would repost this sweet little song again. Start the new year, being grateful and thankful while praising the Lord!

Vanessa Horabuena

I’m caught up in your presence worshipping it’s just me and Him.

❤️