We are in a WAR! A spiritual war……. and it includes you too. We are in a battle against hopelessness, fear, hurt, loneliness, and downright negativity in any and every walk of life. We have to stand up and fight this battle………. And yet, here we Christians are,…….. fighting each other. Fighting to show each other who’s right, who’s wrong, and who’s better…………. shame, shame. Enough is enough!

Look, if we are in a spiritual war, that means we are fighting IN God’s army right? That means that we all have a position to guard and protect. So here’s the deal. God has created everyone of us to be His Children and His soldiers. Dan messes up a lot BEING Dan, but nobody can be better at being Dan than me. The same with you being you. We are spending too much time criticizing each other and losing focus on JESUS! The focus of His love for others, His saving grace for others, His wanting to give EVERYONE abundant life! He is so amazing!

Yet, we are too busy criticizing each other over whether you wear a mask. Criticism concerning if you go to the store instead of staying hunkered down. Downright anger that I don’t think like You do about …….fill in the blank……whatever. But remember, we are all different. Oh Yea, remember, the Devil cannot destroy us. I’ve read the whole Book,…… He can’t. But, sad to say, we seem to be doing a pretty good job of destroying each other on our own.

If we are God’s army, AND WE ARE, then that means that we all have different “positions” to take in this battle……… So here’s what I want to say to the Christian Army………….

That person that throws “hand grenades” on facebook. You know what I mean. You put controversial posts up, you share an opinion that causes confrontation. You “get in the face” of people. If that’s who God has created you to be, then carry on! I get it,……. you are on the front lines in the thick of battle against evil so “hand grenades” must be used. Just be careful out there OK? There is some “friendly fire” that is causing harm to others.

That person in the very back who’s quiet and withdrawn. You know who you are. You don’t like confrontation. Even so, you are busy “nursing the wounded”. People who are being hurt and fearful come to you. Continue to give freely of yourself. If that’s who God has created you to be, then carry on! Give till it hurts. Give what Jesus has given you. What’s that? Peace,…… peace that passes all understanding.

That pastor who has to make a stand concerning his (and God’s) flock. Your decisions are tough right now in this battle. But God has created you to be exactly where you are so carry on! We church members have your back. Pastor, you just focus on God and feed us His word. WE ARE HUNGRY!!

The other pastors and preachers who are making a stand by staying on their knees! Carry on!!!! Boo Yaa!

Me? What’s my position in God’s Army? Your little ole wilderness preacher is a sniper. Picture this. You are being held captive right now. I’ve got a bead on your who/what’s holding you down. God gives me ammunition (words), I right them down in this blog, it’s bathed in prayer, and I pull the trigger. One at a time. Who is the one? That would be you my friend! I pull the trigger, but God does the aiming. He constantly aims for the heart,….. your heart.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19

So, carry on my Christian brothers and sisters. The world is caught up in a continuous non stop circle of hopelessness, of untruths, of negatives and more negatives. This virus is gonna kill us all,…. The hospitals can’t handle this,….. the world will never recover,……. it’s gonna take years to get back to normal, …… the MURDER HORNET is here,…….. biscuits are exploding and causing trauma,…… climate change,…….what’s next killer koala bears,…. clorox causing cancer????

And yet, we Christians are getting caught up in this non stop circle of being let down, being told there is no hope, being told how to think, being……. being everything EXCEPT what God has created us to be. See how the enemy/ the Devil/ evil/ anything but God tears us down……… it comes from within. Enough is Enough! Battle stations.

Be who God created you to be! If our focus is on God’s Will, God’s Love, God’s Way of Life, then God’s Army will work together in one accord. That means this………. Even though we are different and in different positions in our Christian walk, we truly are in this together. The world/media/advertising is using the phrase “we are in this together” constantly. Thing about this is……… we Christians LIVE THIS WAY!

“Hand grenade” lady……. I got your back, hopefully you’ve got mine. The quiet nurse in the back…….. you can count on me, and I’m counting on you. Preacher, I’m with ya on this Christian battle. We are counting on you to hear the voice of God. That other preacher who is on his knees, know that my arm is around you right now.

It’s a crazy world right now. Let me share something personal with you. You know why I wear a mask? 2 reasons. My sister-in-law is in the medical field. She pleaded with me to wear it. So I do. The other reason,……. the 70 year old lady that’s not in the best of health at the grocery checkout. She thanks me for wearing a mask every time I come in. See, she has to work to pay her bills. She doesn’t rely on Gov’t!! Out of respect to these two I wear the mask.

I’ve also given respect to the health organizations and my United States Government. Despite all the politics and power plays, I want to be a good citizen. The virus has changed this world. My prayer all along has been and will continue to be that this pulls people closer to Jesus and the Christian walk.

Sunday, I will be inside the church building for the first time in weeks. I hope you can be too. (If you are coming as a way to “flip off” the healthcare/ government,……. please,….. don’t come) But if you are coming to truly worship with a bunch of sinners saved by grace, THEN CARRY ON!

You will be singing and worshiping with a bunch of social distanced, hand washed, clorox cleaned, sanitized, deodorized, wiped down, disinfected, temperature checked, health monitored Children of God… whew…….. and don’t want to forget… cleansed from within by our Lord and Saviour!

(singing) My heart has no desire to stay, where doubts arise and fears dismay. Tho some may dwell where these abound, my prayer my aim is higher ground.

See Ya Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher (and freshly washed hands 😉 )