Oh my, I had to go through so much change and awareness - and cognitive dissonance and pain - as my world changed. As I learned the agendas and the real struggle and fight of Spiritual Warfare. It took anger and finally freedom to realize what "Vengeance is the Lord's" means to me. To me right now as I watch my country disintegrate. As I watch violence take over the streets. As I want to do. As I want to fight. As I want to be part of a solution.

Then, finally, it sinks in as I spend more and time with my church, my pastor's teaching through the bible and I learn the Word. I fight my battles through worship. Through prayer. Through the name of Jesus. And finally, I learn to raise my eyes and walk like a daughter of the King. With Authority. It strikes my heart to read again - Jesus did not defend himself. He spoke not.

Here is the story from the Old Testament, Kings 6:12-16

¹² “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

¹³ “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” ¹⁴ Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

¹⁶ “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

This Sunday, 1-22-2023, I was encouraged and fed more than any other sermon by my Pastor Greg Locke. With the humor and provocative gesticulations characteristic of this great orator as he goes verse by verse, I learned so much. It LOOKS like we are surrounded, but there are so many more for us than outside us, against us.  We are surrounded by the Lord.

I so encourage anyone reading this, anyone who ever feels alone or feels overwhelm - which is all of us one time or another - take the time to watch this sermon. Pastor Locke walked us through these few verses for and hour and a half or more. Depth. Impact.

We meet under a tent. We have a gravel parking lot and porta-potties - and still we hit overflow of a 3500 seat tent every service. You can FEEL the Holy Spirit immediately. He is Welcomed Here. If you watch the entire sermon, you will also experience the generosity of this church as we give our tent away. This is how the church is to be - this is why people drive from all over the country to get here. This is a picture of a traffic back up (in just one direction) several Sundays ago on Old Lebanon Dirt Road in Mt Juliet. people are Hungry for the Word and the Fire of the Holy Spirit - how grateful I am to have been found by this church and my God Squad.

A few key notes from the sermon. A few places where voices broke and tears fell.

And the entire Syrian army came after One man. God's entire army came to defend One man. I can learn from Elisha: FEAR NOT. There are more with us than against us. Walk in Authority.

They came by night to trap and catch Elisha: by night, in massive numbers - like cowards. Always.

HOW STRONG and HOW DEEP and HOW CONSISTANT is my FAITH?

There are more with me, always, than against me.

It is the Big Lie of the enemy that I am surrounded by him.

Fear is not ever from God.

I am determined to walk in this authority and speak boldly.