Once
more into the fray
Into
the last good fight I'll ever know
Live
and die on this day
Live and die on this day
-
From the
movie, 'The Grey'
Love is a battlefield.
-Pat Benatar
Hast thou no scar?
No hidden scar on foot, or side, or
hand?
I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,
I hear them
hail thy bright ascendant star,
Hast thou no scar?
Hast thou no wound?
Yet I was wounded by the archers,
spent,
Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent
By ravening
beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:
Hast thou no wound?
No wound, no scar?
Yet, as the Master shall the
servant be,
And, pierced are the feet that follow Me;
But thine
are whole: can he have followed far
Who has no wound nor scar?
-Amy Carmichael, 'No Scar'
Lead
on, O King eternal,
The
day of march has come;
Henceforth
in fields of conquest
Thy
tents shall be our home:
Thro'
days of preparation
Thy
grace has made us strong,
And
now, O King Eternal,
We
lift our battle song.
Lead
on, O King Eternal,
Till
sin's fierce war shall cease,
And
holiness shall whisper
The
sweet amen of peace;
For
not with swords' loud clashing,
Or
roll of stirring drums;
With
deeds of love and mercy
The
heav'nly kingdom comes.
Lead
on, O King eternal,
We
follow not with fears;
For
gladness breaks like morning
Where'er
Thy face appears;
Thy
cross is lifted o'er us;
We
journey in its light:
The
crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.
- Lead on, O King Eternal, Ernest Shurtleff
Endure
hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- 2
Timothy 2:3
Endure
hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children
are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone
undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters
at all.
-
Hebrews 12:7,8
In
a couple of scant hours another battle will have begun. We will have made our way through the
snow and slush to the hospital for another surgery and another battle to be
fought. Amid the sights, sounds
and smells of four hospital walls a new fray will be encountered. In many ways this is the microcosm of
the Christian life. For the
Christian…life is war.
Life
is war and the Christian is no stranger to conflict and battle. There are skirmishes on every
front. There is a battle for
truth, a battle for love, a battle for honor, a battle for relationships, a
battle for the gospel, a battle for souls, a battle for joy, a battle for
worship, a battle against sin and temptation, a battle against bitterness and
criticism, and innumerable other small and large conflicts that work their way
into everyday life. In the moment
some battles are won and some battles are lost, but either way we must continue
to fight.
The
truth is that in all of these battles we are not alone in them. We have One who has gone before us and
Who stands with us in them, and particularly today, this is a great comfort to us. By the surgeon’s hand another war will
be fought. You won’t hear
battlefield sounds, but a war will be fought nonetheless. In a few hours Judy will enter the fray
into another battle and her gracious and loving Commander will be with her and
with us to wage war. And yet in
the mysterious economy of our resurrected Savior-King the Prince of Peace has
already won. In the tension of the
‘already and not yet’ the outcome of these small skirmishes has already been
decided. Our King is a conquering warrior on a white stallion, but whose
kingdom comes at great cost to Himself.
In the mystery, humiliation, and condescension of a cross, and in the
glory of an empty tomb every battle and even death itself has been vanquished. Every enemy, yes, even death itself, must bow.
In
hope, we’re reminded of this,
‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this
great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.’
-
2 Chronicles 20:15b
Thank
you for standing with us in the battle.
- Dan and Judy
(This is a re-post of something I had written just over a year ago. Over this past year we have been incredibly grateful for those who have helped us raise our hands in worship, and helped us see God's great mercies in the middle of this battle.)
-DJM
Isn't it wonderful the caring and prayers given by friends and family, calling upon God for us, going to Him for us, when times are uncertain. Helping us to realize God is there at all times standing with us...You and Judy are very much loved and cherished for who you are in Christ. We are all in this together as a collective, you/we are never alone..This brings great comfort and peace when fighting the good fight..Lovingly, Mom
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