Circle the Wagons

Circle the Wagons:

This expression, when used by a group of people means to work together to protect against possible harm or danger, comes from the days of the American pioneers who used to form their wagons into a circle to better defend themselves when under attack.

When you have been called and you obey the orders to embark "on the journey of a lifetime" you don't really anticipate all the detours that might come upon that path. Every idealistic dream you had for this journey, every prayer that was answered has moved you closer and closer to the destination... so with great expectation you venture out on the great adventure that you knew God called you to journey...only you never anticipated that pot hole in the road that totaled your vehicle.

The last month has been that kind of "pot hole" experience for me. Part of me is still a bit dazed at the damage done by the proverbial pot hole...but the more I take it all in, I realize that God has not been taken by suprise, nor has His plan for my life been thwarted. Just as Paul had to deal with the thorn in his flesh and yet was not disqualified from his ministry, I too am going to have to learn to deal with my own infirmity and like a good soldier for Christ...carry on!

I have recently been diagnosed with chronic late stage Lyme disease. As I deal with the physical effects on my body, I am trying to maintain my spiritual equilibrium...my roots, my love and dependence upon the Word of God, and my fellowship with Believers. I am reminded of my husband's wisdom in that "attitude is everything"...and this disease shows little mercy. If I don't guard my heart with all diligence, I know that it will be the little foxes that spoil the vine. The irony of that phrase is not lost me when I consider the "little foxes" that have waged war against me. A tiny tick, smaller than a poppyseed has wrecked great destruction to my body--but a guarded heart has kept the "little fox" from touching my spirit.

I recently had a dream in which I had a wandering heart. In my dream I had been attending a different church on Wednseday nights other than my home church. This other church was a mega church and had all the bells and whistles and it was alluring at best...very intoxicating and tempting...something new. After attending this church for several Wednesday nights I noticed there was a room off to the side of the sanctuary and I felt the Lord telling me to go look and see what was inside. I ventured into the room where they were having a garage sale and they were auctioning off the sacred things of God. The communion table was for sale for $5.00 and the baptistry was turned into a wading pool for small kids to play in while their parents shopped. In my dream, I heard the audible voice of God tell me, "GO HOME! You have roots and relationship at your home church. Do not participate in selling the sacred things of God!!"

I woke up from that dream on a Sunday morning feeling guilty that I had even dreamed of leaving my church! When I saw my husband that morning I told him I had the strangest dream! He asked me what I made of the dream and I told him NOTHING! I had no intentions of leaving our church.

Later that same day I received a phone call from a friend inviting me to a conference in town where there was a man with a special anointing and healing ministry. She was insistant that I should go. She said that if I could not make it that night that I should at least be sure to make it the following Wed night. I was really torn...and tempted! I definitely would not turn away anyone at this point that wanted to pray healing over me. I was in need of healing and I knew it! Yet I was soooo torn. Wednesday night at my church is our home care groups. I look forward to this more than any other event at our church. This home care group is almost closer than family to me. We definitely see them more than our extended family. This group of people have come to be a very integral part of my church experience in that we can honestly share our ups and downs and really pray for one another and lift each other up with encouraging words and the laying on of hands.

My friend called me almost daily asking if I was going to make it to the conference. It was only $15 a day or $25 for the whole week of the healing conference...and I was still torn. Then it hit me like a lightening bolt! God had prepared me for this temptation. The Lord reminded me that HEALING was the children's bread and that I was not to participate in the selling of things that are sacred...such as having to pay to have someone pray for me. My heart swelled with emotion when I finally understood! There is no "special anointing" that the conference speaker had that was not resident in each and every believer in Jesus Christ. He reminded me that it was this group of people (my home church) who have been praying for me for the last 5 years through all the illness and misdiagnosis, 6 miscarriages, and all the health calamaties--even before we knew the name of what I was battling. I felt a conviction stronger than ever that if anyone was going to pray for me, now that we knew what I was fighting, it was going to be this group of people. They have a vested interest in my healing, I am part of their body. I cringe when I think of how close I came to missing the true ministry of the body of Christ that evening.

My pastor had a word for me that will be forever burned in my heart! CIRCLE THE WAGONS!! When someone in the body is wounded or down, the rest of the body rallies around in a defensive mode to protect the injured from harm. The warriors take their station and the prayer battle is on! There are the soldiers that "circle the wagons" and guard the perimeter while the front line soldiers move in with the prayer of faith, laying on of hands and the anointing of oil...hand to hand combat with an enemy that is already defeated. Who in their right mind would remove themselves from that kind of Godly provision in the Body of Christ? And the best part was, they manned their battle stations simply at my request...no fee required.

So as I look upon this Christmas season, I am looking at the manger from a little bit of a different perspective this year. As I ponder the magnificence of the angels proclaiming the birth of our Savior, the Christ Child, I see the Holy Angelic Armies "circle the wagons" around humanity in need of salvation. I see the Holy Spirit forever intervening in the lives of mankind pointing the way to Jesus and drawing the lost into His perfect and FREE gift of eternal life. The wagons are circled and there is a place of safety inside for those truly seeking the face of God...and we rejoice, not that satan is defeated, but that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life!

Christmas Blessings to my Family and Friends, and when you see someone in need, CIRCLE THE WAGONS!!

Love, Dawn