"24"...Realizing Reality

I do not like "24".
I will not watch it in my house.
I will not watch it in a store.
I can not watch its blood and gore.
I simply cannot, will not, watch it anymore!!!

A few years back, the show "24" became popular. My husband loved the show, and every Monday night, that first season, we faithfully watched "24". I have never had to get up and leave the room so many times in one hour of T.V. I got so that I dreaded Monday night. I had trouble sleeping Monday nights. And every Tuesday morning I awoke with sores in my mouth, where I had nervously chewed the inside of my lip through the gore of "24" the night before. By the end of that first season I made up my mind: I will not watch "24".

Now, let me make it clear, my darling husband still loves the show. We have just agreed that I will find something else to do while it is on. And this season will be no different. (For those of you who don't know about the show, you can investigate for yourself, but you are only missing blood, gore, and terror. And who needs it anyway.) So, Sunday night was a two hour "24" special to set the stage for this season. I assured my husband that I would be fine in the other room, and he could watch the special. However, being that I am moving a little slow, and needing his help to carry pillows, water, blankets, phone, and whatnot into the other room, I got stuck in the living room chair for the first 2-5 minutes of the show. It was hideous! It was violent and bloody! In a chaotic scene of natives of India or Africa, screaming, dancing, drums, knives, and gore...a mere child, sitting behind a bloody and bound man, lifts a huge knife and with one giant sweep, beheads him. A child beheads a man!! For the first time ever, I thanked God for the commercials. My husband then helped me back to the bedroom, assuring me that the rest of the show would not be like that, and that "that" was just setting the scene for the months of Monday night mystery ahead.

I'll never know. I never care to know. "I will not watch it anymore!

Allow me to switch gears for just a moment and then I'll explain my rambling thoughts this morning. (Those of you who know me, or who read my last blog, know that these last few weeks have not been my most productive. Praise God...I am finally off the pain meds, and beginning to be able to take my mind captive again.) And soooo...my brain gears are just beginning to rattle and roll a bit again.

I've been thinking about what has happend to me...the fall...3 broken bones...and all. God is my protector. I know that He protects me, watches over me, is always with me, never leaves me, upholds me, surrounds me, interceeds for me, loves me, puts His angels round about me, guards me, protects my very bones, works all things together for good, causes me to run through a troup, leap over a wall, soar like an eagle, and triumph over the enemy! I know it! It is truth! Nothing will change my mind! I am convinced! Persuaded! Amen!!!

"If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, let Israel now say--if it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood whould have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters....Our help is in the name of the Lord...Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever." Ps. 124:1-5, 8 and 125:1

"If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have dwelt in the land of silence. When I thought, "My foot slips," thy steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, thy consolations cheer my soul. Ps: 17-19

So how can it be that I would step down a four inch step, and break three bones?

Now, I am not God. And I am certainly not trying to imply that I understand all His ways, even in this one little mishap. However, I have had many hours to let my mind wander, and there have been a couple of thoughts that have rumbled through it, that I would like to share with you.

1. We see our lives so finite. We see what happens here on earth, what seems to be good or profitable for our careers, or families, or day to day activities here. But God...God sees all. Eternity. Life before death and life after our earthly death. And He, as only He can, works 'all' things together for 'all' times, seasons, and reasons that we have no way of understanding. He truly walks ahead, sees ahead, and leads and guides. I can trust Him with my life.

2. The Bible also teaches us that we wrestle not again flesh and blood, but against principalities,

powers and rulers of darkness. There is a kingdom of darkness battling the kingdom of light continually. We don't always see it...but the war will not stop until our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ stands to declare that it is over, and returns to take us to forever reign with Him for eternity. We know that until that specific moment in time, wars and rumors of wars will increase, sin, darkness, terror and demonic oppression will intensify, and the tactics of the enemy of our souls will be more bloody and terror filled than we could ever imagine.

"24"... My little 2-5 minute glimspe has reminded me that as the end approaches, more evil will be unleashed on the earth. Remembering that has filled me with a security, and a peace. He is my protector. I only see what happened...but until eternity, I may never know the attack, the terror, the pain, and the suffering that the evil one intended for me, when my loving Savior put His hand up and said "Enough!" And as with Job: "You cannot touch her there!" Life is real. We are flesh. Mishaps happen. But He protects us! Halleluiah!

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God , in whom I trust." Ps. 91:1