Thursday, November 15, 2007

Be Alert--watch out for those scams!



She sat at the table of the sidewalk cafe and watched the people scurrying by. Men with briefcases talking business on their cell phones. Women clutching the hands of their children as they rushed to get home to fix dinner and do homework. Taking her cup in hand she took a deep breath and tried to steer her thoughts away from what waited for her at home. But no matter how hard she tried, the scene from that morning loomed dark in her mind and emotions.
Getting ready for work that morning, she decided she had had enough. Her emotions were so close to the surface that she could hardly function. Putting on her mascara was no easy job--as tears kept finding their way down her cheeks. She would tell him today she was leaving. She had had enough. She could not even begin to think of how she would tell her son. He had to know what was going on. All the yelling. How she wished someone could step in and stop what was going to happen. How had they gotten here?
Try as she could- she could not figure out how things had gotten where they were. She had loved him so deeply when they stood at the altar. Never could she have imagined loving someone with so much passion. Even after the honeymoon life had been good. Little calls. Notes left on the mirror. Life had been sweet.
Maybe it began to change with the birth of their first child and the change in jobs. Maybe that was it. She had begun to feel separated. He worked and time at home became a whirlwind of taking care of responsibilities. She had tried to tell him how she felt. How she needed something. She felt disconnected. He did not seem to understand.
The loving thoughts that once filled her head now had been replaced by thoughts that led to frustration and anger. She didn't deserve this. This was not what she had bargained for. Why should she have to live like this? She would just cut her losses and go.
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First and very importantly, this woman is not me at this time in my life. She used to be me. When my son was about three, my marriage was in shambles. I was in the restaurant business working ten and sixteen hours days. My husband was working a job that was opposite mine in hours. I was not going to church because I was working so much and going to school. I was so tired. Our son was a handful. We would later find out he had ADHD.
Life and Satan had taken control of my life. I was miserable. My marriage was miserable. My Mom thought I was on the brink of an emotional breakdown. I probably was.
I moved out and lived in an apartment on my own for about a year and a half.
Of course there were many more details than were listed here. Financial situations. Me walking away from the Lord. I got involved with things that I should not have.
What a mess!
Today would the same thing happen? Could the same thing happen?
If Satan had his way--YES!
Am I on the brink of divorce? No. Not even close. Not even thinking about it.
Am I on the brink of a nervous breakdown? No. Not close. No way!
But, I became aware yesterday that my marriage has been under attack. It was a sneaky attack. (And I missed it!) It began simply with the events of my life. A change in home. A change in residents of that home. A testing time from God. Situations with our children.
And, before I knew it, my thoughts began to draw a picture that was not pleasant. A picture that I began to think I did not want to be a part of. Who would?
After the post yesterday on scams and how to react to them--I had an ahaaa! moment.
I had been buying into a scam. A scam that the enemy of my soul had been weaving so carefully.
If he could get my eyes off the truth and focused on me--then I would start to sink. Yes, kind of like Peter walking on the water and then taking his eyes off Jesus.
Last night I looked at my husband and bam!--it hit me like a ton of bricks. Satan had been slipping in and out of my thoughts, weaving all kinds of emotions and events to try and separate my husband and I. I love my man. He is not perfect. Neither am I by the way. (Just in case you were not sure about that) ;)
He is the one God gave me and I am happy, pleased, and eternally grateful for that gift. I would not trade him in and I will not let Satan take him away.
I will not buy the scam that Satan has sent my way.
We need to recognize that when we start to entertain certain thoughts-- we may have begun the process of believing in one of the scams of our enemy. He can touch our thoughts-- but he can not make us believe them. The danger is that so many times we don't even realize that the thoughts we entertain are not our own. We hear, "I'm miserable". And we believe it to be truth. And then down we go.
Let's be alert! Our enemy is on the prowl. He will not approach us face to face on the street corner. He will not walk up to us and point his finger in our face and say, You are going to believe the lies I feed into your mind. He doesn't work that way.
Today let's watch our thoughts. Let's check them against the truth. And then let's fight back!

Again, I love my husband.
I am happily married. Next week we will celebrate 19 years of marriage. I am in for-until death do us part. I just wanted to share this time in my life so that we would be reminded that our marriages are never safe when we allow our minds to be touched and influenced by Satan.

19 comments:

Masked Rabbit said...

Oh Sharon, if only you knew!!! Thank you for opening your life and heart to us out here in blogland and being so honest. It would be all too easy to put on the "Jesus" smile and pretend that life is a bowl of roses. But equally, you're not accepting the lies sown by satan and you're encouraging us all to do the same. This, to me, is real fellowship. Share the good times, share the happy thoughts but also share the temptations and lies and confirm out loud that God is God and will make a way through them.

Thank God we have His word, Thank God He is faithful and may God bless you and hubby as you celebrate 19 years of marriage!
Hugs
BG

AK said...

Wow you write really well! Thank you for sharing that. We all do dumb things and the Lord eventually brings us back around to Him and His will...I thought it was just us but apparently this has been going on for quite awhile (I'm doing this huge old testament research project thing so I've got Israelites on the brain lol). You've gotta catch those thoughts when they're little before they snowball and get big, I think God must get really frustrated with us sometimes because we NEVER really learn the first time we always go around and around even if it's not completely.

Thanks again for sharing, thats awesome that you're choosing to stick it out (both in your marriage and in your relationship with God). Love ya girl

Kellan said...

This was sadly beautiful. It is not always easy - living life - is it! I think you are smart - you recognize the evil that can sometimes come to close to our lives and take hold if we allow it. 19 years is a long marriage - we will celebrate our 24th on Sat. Congratulations to you and your husband for keeping your marriage together for so many years. We, long timers, are a select few and we need to just do our best and love as much as we can. Take care.

Ally said...

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Mary said...

Sharon,

A heart touching post. Satan will sneak in by any little crack he can find.

My hubby and I will be married 19 years in December. We too have had our ups and downs. Keep your eyes heavenward. I will keep you in my prayers.

Blessings,
Mary

ThreeGirlyGirls said...

WOW, have I been here!!! You are on the exactly where you should be.....RECOGNIZING the attack, most people don't even get to that point before destruction begins. 19 years WOW!!! That's a HUGE blessing!!! I can't wait to get there!! =)

Andrea said...

You're very right. Nobody is 'safe' from Satan's attack. Thanks for the reminder to be on the look-out for the enemy.

Connie Barris said...

OH but Satan is so attractive.. so beautiful.. He has his way....easy not to follow the lie....

I too have been down that path..

vowing to never again--??...

marriage is work.. but something that is a gift... each day to be opened and cherished...

Great book, Christian book... DNA of Relationships for Couples by Smalley and Paul...
and The Ever After By Bob Paul...

Highly recommended...

they share scripture to support our marriage as well...

I wouldn't trade my husband (most days)....but then I'm no sunday picnic either...... ok... I know you find that hard to believe... snort giggle...

thank you Sharon for sharing your heart... you have no idea how many people that may not come forward, this may touch.. will touch...

thank you

A Captured Reflection said...

Do you know what I was thinking? remember we were 'talking' awhile back about ministry, what God has for us and as I read this wonderful post a testimony to the power of Jesus in our lives - and because you have chosen to walk in his truth and his light, and have embraced his grace and mercy..yes I am getting to the point I promise...that often it is in the areas of victory where God uses us to minister to others, and I could 'see' you ministering to other Mum's and wives - definately ladies in the areas where you have been, in the places where you are growing and in the places you are going!! xxx

Anonymous said...

Nice post today. I'm sure many a "Christian" marriage would be intact if they had only heeded to the Holy Spirit within as opposed to the thoughts in their head.

Halfmoon Girl said...

Thanks for these words Sharon. My husband is a good man, but a man of few words sometimes. I am working on catching myself in my pity parties, when I am believing those subtle lies. I am learning that my husband was not placed here to complete me- God is supposed to do that first. I won't go on and on here- I really should post as this ties into a general theme that the Lord seems to be directing my attention to.

Cindy-Still His Girl said...

Powerful. I have a feeling you just really blessed a lotof women.

SunnySusan said...

I feel so blessed by sharing in a bit of your heart today. Thanks for being so honest and upright. My hubby and I just celebrated 16 years.....

There was a time when I "thought" I was listening to God....NOT

I am just so blessed by this....thanks from my heart...

Denise said...

My beautiful blessing of a sister, you share your heart so well. God will bless you for the lives you are daily touching with your wisdom. I truly thank you for sharing this truth with us.I love you.

Cahleen @ The Alt Story said...

Thank you so much for your transparency on this issue! As a newly married woman, I need to hear about what other women went through in their marriages and how they handled the ups and downs. It'd be nice if other people were as open, because of course it's not always a bed of roses.

MelanieJoy said...

I have to agree with Karen.

Rebecca said...

Thanks for sharing! Can I share a verse now?
(gee, thanks for saying "ok"--*wink*)
it's kind of long becasue context is important...

Phillipians 3:12-16 "12Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

17Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us."

We aren't perfect...but the word in the greek literally means "mature". I believe what makes us mature, is having the attitude of Paul to continue fighting the fight. To press on...while we may nto struggle so much with physical or action sins, our sin as "ature" Christians is more so in the mind, in our attitudes...so when you (or me) find yourself with an attitude of anything other than godliness, nip it! Nip it right in the bud! Don't let Satan get a hold on you or even a finger on you, for that matter! These verses tell me, never to fall backwards...and if I feel I am falling, change my attitude immediately so I, at the very least, never fall further than I have fallen before!
(vs. 17 is becasue I find you to be a great example and i can't help but "observe the pattern" you have in Him!)
((hugs))
Becca

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reminder! :o)