Ripping Again - 405

  Church at the jail last night was pretty amazing and Whooooaaaa did God show up and show out last night.  For anyone that is really close in their walk with God, or just anyone that happens to Know Yahweh, i am sure that you have experieced the "wash of the Holy Spirit".  This is such a beautiful feeling, such a closeness to our Creator and such a blessing to receive.  It is the softest caress from the inside out and top down that anyone could ever feel.  So gentle is God's touch and so awe inspiring a gift to know that He cares for us.  i couldn't help but share that before a little news on work. 

  i have been fortunate to have been called into my old job at the furniture frame factory for the rest of the week.  Back to running the industrial rip saw during the day at least for a few more. There were several things since last fall that really added to the decline in work.  The obvious is that winter is not a landscaping season even if you do happen to live in the south.  But there were other issues and lessons from God that i have taken in and taken to heart and these have strenghthened me and my faith over the last few months.  Lean months and GoOD lessons from Father.
  We ran around 3,500 pieces today which is well below what we used to run, but then again it was just day one out of the gate.  i thought my old injuries would flare up and not allow me to work in this capacity again, but it went well and i covered the aches with prayer and some song amid the noise of the factory.  This really brought forth some humility and gratitude to realize that it doesn't matter the situation, circumstances and surroundings because you can always be with God in your walk.  Praise Him.

Thank You Father!  ~ your little ant
 

Just One, or 300 Trumpets - 348

 i have been reading through some of Judges Chapter 7 since this past Tuesday.  Pastor Avant gave the message of how God used Gideon and a small group of 300 men to defeat the Midianites, who numbered as the sands of the desert.  The initial group that were to go out to war was around 32,000 and God told Gideon that this was too many because Israel may think that the defeat was theirs and not given into their hand by God.

 So God first separated all those that were afraid and wittled the number down to 10,000.  This still being too many, God selected a few 300 men based on how they drank water.  These men lapped out of their hand rather than drinking from the water on their knees.  This was the few that stood and would stand in the face of adversity and challenge, the few with faith enough.  God then took this small group and sent them out to the enemy camp each armed with a trumpet and a pitcher with a torch inside.  At the sounding of the 300 trumpets, they shouted "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!", and they broke their pitchers.  They held torches in their left hand and the trumpets in their right hand.  The enemy was awoken and disoriented and those that didn't flee turned on one another with their swords.  God accomplished the victory alone, while using a small remnant to witness His method. 

Would you believe that 300 men with horns could defeat such a vast army?  Most would view that as foolishness - that is, foolishness to the world.  But God uses the foolish to defeat the proud.

This story has importance in learning how God uses people for His Will.  He selects the weak to show His strength, He uses the few to defeat the many, He uses those who believe and are not afraid to accomplish His Will to stand in the gap.  He needs Spiritual Leaders that will simply Stand for Him.  It just takes one, or 300 trumpets, or whatever simple means that God decides to use.  Believe.

~ antbrother