We Came. We Saw. GOD Conquered.

I Raise a Hallelujah! Oh, yes, I do! Oh, yes, we do! Veni, vidi, vici – the Latin for “I came; I saw; I conquered” – attributed to Julius Caesar who used the phrase in a letter to the Roman Senate in 47 BC after he had won a quick victory in his short war against Pharnaces II at the Battle of Zela. The phrase is used to refer to a swift, conclusive victor. And, it was also used after the 17th-century Battle of Vienna, saying “Venimus, Vidimus, Deus vici”t ("We came, We saw, God conquered"). Our victory was also a swift, conclusive victory! Hallelujah!

I like that last one the best: “God conquered”! All praise and honor and glory be to Him for the incredibly powerful, and truly God-orchestrated, last couple of weeks. As a team who came, who saw and put full-on gusto of prayer, intercession AND really hard work into the sale of my children’s home, getting the move and closing in before the end-of-the-year – was a WIN of mammoth proportions. “Through our God, we shall do valiantly. It is He Who will tread down our enemies.” (Psalm 60:12)

I won’t go into the ups and downs of accomplishing this task, but I will give credit to where credit is due – and that is our little team of just a few who wouldn’t think negatively or yield to the temptation of speaking negatively either. We just dove in with relentless ambition and audacious faith in the power of the Holy Spirit Who gives us the power we need at times like this. “Praise God! Hallelujah!” That’s what I said Thursday night when I shut the door to the thoroughly cleaned out, beautiful home that looked so different years ago when my kids moved in. It was dated, was in disrepair in many areas – and they did a makeover -- that would entice women and men to come and open up their hearts to the love of this family and to the love of God. Oh, the lives that were changed in this home. Oh the blessings of inspired faith and relentless hope and great expectations for tomorrow. Halleluljah!

Over 50 million people have now watched a YouTube clip of unsuspecting shoppers who get a surprise while eating lunch. A young woman, seemingly enjoying her lunch in a food court, stands up. She appears to be on her mobile phone. She begins singing the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. All around her, over 100 (clearly prearranged) opera singers stand one by one and join in. I got holy goosebumps when I watched it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

“Messiah” is George Frederick Handel’s most famous work. It tells the story of Jesus – the Messiah. Part Two is about His death on the cross, His resurrection and His ascension into heaven. It ends with the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. In the spring of 1742, King George II rose to his feet as the first notes of the triumphant ‘Hallelujah’ chorus rang out. Royal protocol has always demanded that, whenever the monarch stands, so too does everyone in the monarch’s presence. Thus, the entire audience and orchestra stood. King George II had accepted that he, too, was subject to the Lord of lords and King of kings.

The word ‘Hallelujah’ is an invitation to worship – it literally means ‘Praise (Hallal) the Lord’ (Yahweh). It occurs twenty-four times in the Old Testament (mainly in the Psalms) and it occurs four times in the New Testament.

And it occurred for us when we had plowed through the obstacles, the season, the traditions, AND, this move at Christmas that will take my family into 2020 with freedom, gusto, and many others being touched by He Who conquers – and many times – conquers by using the frailties of human beings to prove His strength is made perfect in our weakness. So, today,
I raise a hallelujah in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
I'm gonna’ sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna’ hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
(From Bethel Music, I Raise a Hallelujah) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2XtRuPfaAU

Help Us Lord! We Don't Know What to Do!

We've all been there. There -- where the answers don't come -- where the plans are uncertain. Where everyone is counting on us and we want to count the steps to the exit. Where there is a mob raising havoc in our lives -- the relentless, negativity mob we hear bashing our president, screaming ugly and hateful remarks against we pro-lifers, Bible-toters, God and country lovers. Did I at least cover one of the areas where you need to know what to do next instead of our usual responses:
~~ "I don't know what to do...so I'll eat another cookie."
~~ “I don’t know what to do…so I’m going to listen to the latest news commentator."
~~ “I don’t know what to do…so I’m going to try harder to please everyone.”
OR -- in big red, bold lettering......"I don't know what to do....but I'm going to find out what God's Word tells me what to do at times like this!"

Maybe we don't know what to do, but we go to our WHO -- Who does! We need to follow our Leader and leaders He used to show us the way. One such leader is King Jehoshaphat who spoke those same words when a vast army was approaching. But, in that scary moment he said this: “Lord, we don’t know what to do…but our eyes are upon You.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 At times like that -- it's not the WHAT but the WHO we go to.

Jehosaphat does something we won’t find in any military briefing. He puts the worshippers in front of the army and leads with the singers and the praisers. Their attention is on God -- our great Defender -- Mighty in battle -- our Rock -- our Shield -- our Fortress -- our Victor -- our great I AM -- our Hope -- our burden removing, yoke destroying Waymaker, Miracle Worker. That's Who He is and He is the answer to "I don't know what to do!" And King Jehoshaphat's armies watched the enemy forces fight and destroy each other. When the army of Judah overlooked the battlefield, they saw only dead bodies on the ground. No one had escaped.

What an amazing testimony to the power of faith, prayer, and praise, and that same power is available to us today. Praise is the voice of faith. So if you are unsure about what to do today, if the enemy is coming and the battle is raging and maybe you have even been wounded -- stand your ground and raise your voice. Speak the truth about Who God is and what He has done. About how big He is. How much He loves us. The ways He has always held the universe and our little part of it in His hands.

We cannot lose with Him. We cannot be overcome. As I type this I think of the stories of some of my champion friends who have plenty of battle scars but they are still raising invisible swords as they praise and worship God. To be a worshipper is to be a warrior. Jehoshaphat won his battle. We will too. We think we must know what to do. But in reality all we really need to know is Who. Because that is what makes the difference. That is what matters. When it looks like you’re surrounded, remind the enemy how you fight your battles – not with a sword or spear or fear or worry – remind him that you are surrounded by the Lord God of hosts by praising and worshiping Him.

In the Box Moment

I'm having an "in-the-box" moment. It's Saturday after the death and burial of Christ. The devil was probably quite proud of himself. He thought he won. God's son was dead. Dumb devil. But Jesus, like a "Jack"-in-the-box was just quietly waiting for the crank to be turned. Soon, very soon, the lid will open, and UP FROM THE BOX (GRAVE), He will rise as VICTOR! SURPRISE, loser devil!