Weapons of an Overcomer

Lately I’ve been thinking about what it takes to stay steady in my walk with the Lord.  How do I fight unbelief?  How am I supposed to go deeper in God when it feels like it takes all of my strength just to keep from sinning?  I’m reminded of a time early in my walk with Christ when I was struggling just to get above water.  Those around me were saying that I just needed healing from things of my childhood, etc. So, out of desperation, I found a healing house in St. Louis, MO and scheduled an appointment to be prayed for.

When I arrived, I expected some sort of religious looking building, but it was just a dark brown office suite. On the front door it said “Healing House”. I walked in to find a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Immediately upon entering I heard water running and a lady struggling to speak over the sound of the faucet saying, “Come on in and make yourself at home.” As I sat down I was invited to go into the prayer room.

I get in the prayer room, and expecting to go directly into prayer, I bowed my head. Surprisingly, one of the 5 little old ladies began asking me questions about everyday life. She wanted to know me. It wasn’t a sit, pray, leave situation. This lady actually wanted to take the time to know about me and where I came from. I explained to her that I was lacking in character, and how I needed healing from my childhood so that I could be normal. Though they prayed for me, the majority of the ministry that day was these 5 little old ladies telling me that the very fact that I am seeking character means that I have it. They said that out of all of the young people they knew, they could see that my heart was after God and that God was pleased with me.

They encouraged me and I felt overwhelmed with victory. I felt like I could continue fighting! After that appointment my friends were saying things like, “Shane you look so different. Your countenance has changed. We can tell a difference in the way you act.”  Thanks to that ministry of encouragement, I was empowered to run the race.

 The Bible speaks of this principle in Hebrews 3:12-13: “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”  The key against a sinful, unbelieving heart is encouragement! 

John gives us more insight into this topic in Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” OUR EXPERIENCES IN GOD ARE POWERFUL!  This is exactly why I felt new strength when I reminded myself of that time at the Helaing House.  Unbelief simply cannot argue with one’s experience. The devil knows this, so he tries to get us focused on the unbelief. He tries to get us focused on our sin and our failure.  This is a grave mistake on our parts.

If we focus on sin and failure, we will produce sin and failure.  The scripture makes it clear that the keys to battling sin and unbelief are to encourage one another and speak of God’s faithfulness.

 Love,

Shane

Revelation of the Faithful One

It was a Thursday night.  It has been five years, but I still remember it was a Thursday night.  I was curled up in a little ball on the floor of my old bedroom at my parents’ house crying.  It went on like that for nearly two weeks.  I barely slept.  I barely ate.  I just laid there on the floor and cried.  My entire world had crumbled beneath my feet and there was nothing I could do about it.  It was there, in that room, in the weakest state I had ever known that I met the Faithful One.

I had met Him before, but I had never known Him by that name.  In fact, I am not sure how well I knew Him at all.  I knew Him as the God who could be ignored and then called upon whenever it was convenient for me.  I knew what I wanted out of life and I was certain that God was just the avenue to get me what I wanted, so I went about my days, consuming and being consumed, calling on God to help me get what I wanted, and then paying Him my dues by going to church once a week. 

I was convinced it was working too.  I was well on my way to laying hold of the ever-glittering, oh-so-enticing American dream.  That’s when I found out that my so-called happy marriage wasn’t happy at all, and that was only the beginning.  I lost everything.  I lost my marriage, my house, money, social status, friends.  I watched my whole life come crashing down in front of me, and no matter how tightly I gripped, it just slipped right through my fingers.  

However, this is what I realized that night on my parents’ floor: there was one thing I could never lose-no matter how hard I tried.  I couldn’t lose the Faithful One.  All that time that I was pursuing my own way He was there.  He was with me even when I was ignoring Him and He was loving me all the way through it.  I was hurting Him, but He stayed with me.  He was all I ever really had.  Everything else-the very things I put my hope and trust in-they were all just a silly vapor.

He’s all I ever had and He’s all I ever will have.  He’s the friend that sticks closer than a brother.  He’s the lover who will never leave.  His tender love and mercy are the only reason I’m alive.  I could never earn what He has given me, yet He gave it so freely.  He’s the most incredible person I will ever know and I want to love Him with all of my life for as long as He gives me breath. 

I haven’t done my best.  I fail like all the rest, but somehow the Son of man loves me.  This is the inspiration. 

Maranda

Decisions…

This being my first blog entry, I find it appropriate to begin with a small disclaimer.  Much of what you find here will be stream-of-consciousness-style insights compiled in hopes that my thoughts might ignite something in your own personal journey with the Lord.  I cannot promise that my entries will be eloquent or well-delivered.  I can, however, promise you this:  I write from my own personal experience, so as you read, you may at times be peering into my soul.  Enter at your own risk.

 

I am convinced that the reason people think I’m a good writer is because I have the audacity to assume my personal experiences are relevant to everyone.  It’s not that I have extraordinary insight into the human condition.  It’s just that I assume I am the human condition. Allow me to elaborate on my current situation and let’s see if you can relate.

 See, I find myself in this place where I have a decision to make.  I am 27 years old and suddenly ten years does not feel like a long time to me.  I feel as if I’ve been standing still and watching my life pass in front of me.  When will I finally decide be thankful for the life I’ve been given and to make the most of it, rather than to continually wish I had someone else’s? Now none of us would ever consciously say that we would rather have someone else’s life, but we say it with our thoughts and actions every day.  At least I do.  I don’t know about you.  I say it when I wish that I had a better voice.  I say it when I think, “If only I was a painter.”  I say it when I think I’m not pretty enough.  The list goes on, but you get the idea.  The thoughts may seem harmless enough, but in reality they accuse God.  With these self-criticizing thoughts I accuse God of not making me right.  Sure, there are areas in which I need to grow.  We all have those areas, but when I criticize those core parts of who I am, I am criticizing God. 

Honestly, who am I to question the workmanship of the Almighty God?  I get so consumed with my little world that I truly forget how big He really is.  I’m reminded of God’s words to Job in Job 38:2-4.  “Who is this that darkens counsel without knowledge?  Now gird up your loins like a man and I will ask you, and you instruct Me.  Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?  Tell me if you have understanding.”  Ouch.  But that’s exactly what I’ve been doing–darkening counsel without knowledge.

 

So here I am.  When will I finally decide to be thankful for the life I’ve been given and to make the most of it, rather than to continually wish I had someone else’s?  Today.  And when I find myself in this position again (because this isn’t the first time I’ve made this decision) I’ll decide the same thing again.  I’ll decide it over and over until one day I see His face and thank Him for making me the way that He did.

 

.Maranda.

The Reality of Abortion

 

Body: Month One

Mommy
I am only 8 inches long
but I have all my organs.
I love the sound of your voice.
Every time I hear it
I wave my arms and legs.
The sound of your heart beat
is my favorite lullaby.

Month Two

Mommy
today I learned how to suck my thumb.
If you could see me
you could definitely tell that I am a baby.
I’m not big enough to survive outside my home though.
It is so nice and warm in here.

Month Three

You know what Mommy
I’m a boy!!
I hope that makes you happy.
I always want you to be happy.
I don’t like it when you cry.
You sound so sad.
It makes me sad too
and I cry with you even though
you can’t hear me.

Month Four

Mommy
my hair is starting to grow.
It is very short and fine
but I will have a lot of it.
I spend a lot of my time exercising.
I can turn my head and curl my fingers and toes
and stretch my arms and legs.
I am becoming quite good at it too.

Month Five

You went to the doctor today.
Mommy, he lied to you.
He said that I’m not a baby.
I am a baby Mommy, your baby.
I think and feel.
Mommy, what’s abortion?

Month Six

I can hear that doctor again.
I don’t like him.
He seems cold and heartless.
Something is intruding my home.
The doctor called it a needle.
Mommy what is it? It burns!
Please make him stop!
I can’t get away from it!
Mommy! HELP me!

Month Seven

Mommy
I am okay.
I am in Jesus’s arms.
He is holding me.
He told me about abortion.
Why didn’t you want me Mommy?

Every Abortion Is Just . . .

One more heart that was stopped.
Two more eyes that will never see.
Two more hands that will never touch.
Two more legs that will never run.
One more mouth that will never speak.

Beginning soon we will be adding mini-devotional series’ and intriguing thoughts that you might enjoy. Be sure to check back within the next 2 weeks!

Thanks!

Shane Facchinello