I love the story - of Eucharisteo

I am so glad that I have been writing about my love for the story of ROCKY this month, because this week was agony. 2020 was a long fight, and 2021 swung with a near knockout. Is it the 15th round yet? I don’t know. This week was spent in my ‘corner’ trying to catch my breath and regain perspective and determination. I haven’t taken my gloves off, like this pic that I love, in my corner with my bruises and my gloves and my companion and my smile. I will stand back up when the bell rings. 

Psalm 18:16 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of the deep waters. He rescued me….from my foes who were too strong for me.” 

What am I fighting? The swamp monster who wants to drag us all down into division and despair. 

I am not fighting people. The swamp monster always does that, it measures and villanizes and then pounds the gavel with a verdict- “you are wrong.” Then somehow feels justified in its high seat of separation from the wrong people. 

My husband Shannon often reminds us that the Gospel says, “we are all wrong and we are all loved.” 

The swamp monster has thrown mud on all of us and tricked us into hating each other instead of hating it. 

So, that is why I will get back up when the bell rings. 

I hate the swamp monster who nearly took me under in 2012. Jesus called me to remember that life comes after death. “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life….but this happened so we might rely on God.” (2 Corinthians 1: 8-9) 

I believed Jesus, so I began to doubt the voice of despair instead of the voice of life and I started to fight. My boxing gloves are named Thanksgiving (Eucharisteo) and Forgiveness.

Despair turns to dust when I swing with Thanksgiving. I enter right into the presence of God when I am thankful, just like a light coming on a dark room thanksgiving pushes out despair. God does the fighting then while I just show up and worship Him. I imagine it is like David killing Goliath with a stone when I am able to kill despair with a song. 

Division turns to dust when I swing with Forgiveness. I have never witnessed anything on the earth more powerful than forgiveness. In the handful of times I have seen it, experienced it, and offered it are the exact handful of times I sensed the true power of the Kingdom and knew hell was shaking. Jesus insists on it. “..if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14) 

I have stories to tell about my boxing gloves in the next couple weeks if you would like to read along. I would love to read your stories of thankfulness and forgiveness, overcoming stories are always my favorite! Please share in the comments or subscribe.