Testimony Tuesday
Good morning friends and faithful warriors!
Given it is also the 200th Testimony Tuesday, and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to share a personal breakthrough I had recently.
Today I’m sharing a personal testimony. To be honest, I struggled whether if I should share it for fear of judgment. Okay I said it. Well, let me clarify that. I believe the fear comes from shame the enemy placed on me for sooooo long.
And the irony of that statement is that the entire testimony is about fear and how it can affect our faith.
I came across a devotional channel on Instagram for single women like me. There was a story she shared about 2 Kings 19. She didn’t go into depth but the message was powerful, loud and clear especially for people like me. It was as if the message was for me alone.
That led me to dig deeper into 2 Kings 18-19. And I realized this message isn’t just for single people, it’s for everyone.
I can’t take credit for it, but I expounded upon this story and took it further and shared how it changed and realigned my thinking for my situation, and actually other situations as soon I discovered.
After several weeks and months of studying and praying about what I am about to share with you. The good Lord impressed upon me to share it here in hopes it will bless you and set you free like it did for me.
Blessings,
—Paula
Thank you: Sarah Williams @gracifyme for the inspiration.
Good morning friends and faithful warriors!
Given it is also the 200th Testimony Tuesday, and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to share a personal breakthrough I had recently.
Today I’m sharing a personal testimony. To be honest, I struggled whether if I should share it for fear of judgment. Okay I said it. Well, let me clarify that. I believe the fear comes from shame the enemy placed on me for sooooo long.
And the irony of that statement is that the entire testimony is about fear and how it can affect our faith.
I came across a devotional channel on Instagram for single women like me. There was a story she shared about 2 Kings 19. She didn’t go into depth but the message was powerful, loud and clear especially for people like me. It was as if the message was for me alone.
That led me to dig deeper into 2 Kings 18-19. And I realized this message isn’t just for single people, it’s for everyone.
I can’t take credit for it, but I expounded upon this story and took it further and shared how it changed and realigned my thinking for my situation, and actually other situations as soon I discovered.
After several weeks and months of studying and praying about what I am about to share with you. The good Lord impressed upon me to share it here in hopes it will bless you and set you free like it did for me.
Blessings,
—Paula
Thank you: Sarah Williams @gracifyme for the inspiration.
❤10🙏2
The Letter of Fear
-1
In 2 Kings 19 there is a king who makes a threat.
King Sennacherib (phonetically pronounced: San-heh-reev) of Assyria has made known to the current King Hezekiah of Judah his intentions through a letter via a messenger.
This king is very proud of his track record, and states his intentions through what I call a “Letter of Fear.”
King Sennacherib’s letter comes via his field commander addressed to King Hezekiah.
This king of Assyria is confident.
He is dedicated to ensure that Jerusalem will fall because...
After all—there is evidence.
His exploits have been proven.
This king of Assyria states in this letter, what he is capable of and what he has accomplished.
This Assyrian army attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.
He took pleasure in humiliating their leaders by openly taunting and defied Judah’s God, likening Him to the powerless gods in nations they already had overcome.
If you read and study the chapter before 2 Kings 19, you will see this type of demoralizing warfare. (2 Kings 18:28-35; 19:10-12)
Indeed, his list is impressive.
Indeed, there is evidence.
Indeed, all of his claims are factual.
King Sennacherib even goes as far to mock and defy Hezekiah’s living God;
“… ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.””
2 Kings 19:10
This king of Assyria names all the cities he has conquered.
And, he is extremely confident about the fate of Jerusalem that he sends his field commander to demoralize Hezekiah to convince him to give up.
Everything this king was pointing out in the letter to Hezekiah was truth.
It arrived as proof of his accomplishments.
I too, was handed a “Letter of Fear” from the enemy. I was a slave to the yoke of fear, and had carried it with me for many years, until I realized what I was dealing with.
-1
In 2 Kings 19 there is a king who makes a threat.
King Sennacherib (phonetically pronounced: San-heh-reev) of Assyria has made known to the current King Hezekiah of Judah his intentions through a letter via a messenger.
This king is very proud of his track record, and states his intentions through what I call a “Letter of Fear.”
King Sennacherib’s letter comes via his field commander addressed to King Hezekiah.
This king of Assyria is confident.
He is dedicated to ensure that Jerusalem will fall because...
After all—there is evidence.
His exploits have been proven.
This king of Assyria states in this letter, what he is capable of and what he has accomplished.
This Assyrian army attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.
He took pleasure in humiliating their leaders by openly taunting and defied Judah’s God, likening Him to the powerless gods in nations they already had overcome.
If you read and study the chapter before 2 Kings 19, you will see this type of demoralizing warfare. (2 Kings 18:28-35; 19:10-12)
Indeed, his list is impressive.
Indeed, there is evidence.
Indeed, all of his claims are factual.
King Sennacherib even goes as far to mock and defy Hezekiah’s living God;
“… ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, “Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.””
2 Kings 19:10
This king of Assyria names all the cities he has conquered.
And, he is extremely confident about the fate of Jerusalem that he sends his field commander to demoralize Hezekiah to convince him to give up.
Everything this king was pointing out in the letter to Hezekiah was truth.
It arrived as proof of his accomplishments.
I too, was handed a “Letter of Fear” from the enemy. I was a slave to the yoke of fear, and had carried it with me for many years, until I realized what I was dealing with.
❤5🔥1
-2
Like King Sennacherib’s letter, fear arrived with facts that were undeniable.
It had proof.
It carried evidence.
In my mind this letter of fear was predicting my future. It was as if it was prophesying over my life.
Here is some of the evidence fear had on me.
“I’m getting older”—this is fact.
“I am watching others receive answers to prayers I have been praying for”—fact.
“Another year has passed, and still no answer to my prayer”—fact.
“I keep praying for my family to come to the Lord, but there hasn’t been any evidence yet”—this is fact.
In addition to the above; I’m guessing that perhaps the enemy has also sent you a similar letter of fear…it may sound like this:
“The healing hasn’t come and I have been praying for years”
“My situation remains the same”
“My children are still lost”
“Divorce runs in my family, why should it be any different for me?”
“The drugs and alcohol are taking over my family.”
“My spouse was unfaithful.”
All of the above can be factual. There is no denying any of it.
The result—despair begins to write the ending. This is what fear does. It gathers evidence, facts, and records them in the letter of fear we carry within ourselves.
Like King Sennacherib’s letter, fear arrived with facts that were undeniable.
It had proof.
It carried evidence.
In my mind this letter of fear was predicting my future. It was as if it was prophesying over my life.
Here is some of the evidence fear had on me.
“I’m getting older”—this is fact.
“I am watching others receive answers to prayers I have been praying for”—fact.
“Another year has passed, and still no answer to my prayer”—fact.
“I keep praying for my family to come to the Lord, but there hasn’t been any evidence yet”—this is fact.
In addition to the above; I’m guessing that perhaps the enemy has also sent you a similar letter of fear…it may sound like this:
“The healing hasn’t come and I have been praying for years”
“My situation remains the same”
“My children are still lost”
“Divorce runs in my family, why should it be any different for me?”
“The drugs and alcohol are taking over my family.”
“My spouse was unfaithful.”
All of the above can be factual. There is no denying any of it.
The result—despair begins to write the ending. This is what fear does. It gathers evidence, facts, and records them in the letter of fear we carry within ourselves.
❤3🙏3
-3
The greatest weapon the enemy can threaten over us without a fight is fear. It’s psychological warfare.
An enemy that uses no physical weapons can derail a person and destroy them from within.
The devil…doesn’t want to fight you.
He wants to discourage you.
He wants you to give up.
He wants to undermine your trust in God.
Sennacherib told the people; Hezekiah was lying to them about being able to deliver them from his hand.
You can read the account here.
https://bible.com/bible/59/2ki.18.29-36.ESV
His intention is to make surrender an attractive option. And when I say surrender, I mean, to stop believing that God can still be good to you.
You can still have faith in God, but when fear arrives carrying facts, it can convince you there is no hope so you give up. You begin to wonder if God has forgotten you.
Fear has recorded the evidence, and now, just like in a trial, it presents its case in which the only outcome is; “This is how it’s going to be.”
The evidence doesn’t lie.
Fear can sound like a verdict.
It can sound like it knows the future.
The truth is; fear CAN be factual, but it CANNOT predict the outcome, nor your future.
Fear can distort things to convince you, you’re wasting your time praying.
But, here are some other facts that are worthy of considering.
Fear doesn’t decide your future.
It is not the judge of your life.
It may claim it has authority over what hasn’t happened yet, and it may make threats as though it is the final outcome.
Isn’t it interesting how fear can carry power over our minds over something that hasn’t happened yet?
Before I knew it, fear had arrived threatening my future, my dreams, or any hope I had.
The verdict has been handed down. I began to accept the lie—I relegated to my mind, the fact; “This is how it’s going to be, and I just need to accept it.”
It wasn’t until the Lord, led me to 2 Kings 19 when I had asked Him to “Open the Eyes of My Heart.” (Yes, I sang that worship song over and over and within days, He directed me to this story in the Bible)
This is where I learned what was really happening.
The greatest weapon the enemy can threaten over us without a fight is fear. It’s psychological warfare.
An enemy that uses no physical weapons can derail a person and destroy them from within.
The devil…doesn’t want to fight you.
He wants to discourage you.
He wants you to give up.
He wants to undermine your trust in God.
Sennacherib told the people; Hezekiah was lying to them about being able to deliver them from his hand.
You can read the account here.
https://bible.com/bible/59/2ki.18.29-36.ESV
His intention is to make surrender an attractive option. And when I say surrender, I mean, to stop believing that God can still be good to you.
You can still have faith in God, but when fear arrives carrying facts, it can convince you there is no hope so you give up. You begin to wonder if God has forgotten you.
Fear has recorded the evidence, and now, just like in a trial, it presents its case in which the only outcome is; “This is how it’s going to be.”
The evidence doesn’t lie.
Fear can sound like a verdict.
It can sound like it knows the future.
The truth is; fear CAN be factual, but it CANNOT predict the outcome, nor your future.
Fear can distort things to convince you, you’re wasting your time praying.
But, here are some other facts that are worthy of considering.
Fear doesn’t decide your future.
It is not the judge of your life.
It may claim it has authority over what hasn’t happened yet, and it may make threats as though it is the final outcome.
Isn’t it interesting how fear can carry power over our minds over something that hasn’t happened yet?
Before I knew it, fear had arrived threatening my future, my dreams, or any hope I had.
The verdict has been handed down. I began to accept the lie—I relegated to my mind, the fact; “This is how it’s going to be, and I just need to accept it.”
It wasn’t until the Lord, led me to 2 Kings 19 when I had asked Him to “Open the Eyes of My Heart.” (Yes, I sang that worship song over and over and within days, He directed me to this story in the Bible)
This is where I learned what was really happening.
Bible.com
Bible - Bible App
Encouraging and challenging you to seek intimacy with God every day.
🙏4❤1
-4
Dealing with the threats from Sennacherib, Hezekiah mourned, but he knew where to seek help.
“Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.”
2 Kings 19:14
“And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said:
“O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made the heavens and the earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone.
Therefore they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.””
2 Kings 19:15-19
Did you notice?
He took that letter to the Throne Room of God first!
And “…spread it before the Lord.”
He did not panic.
He didn’t deny what was happening.
He laid out all the facts.
As Hezekiah laid the Assyrian’s letter before the Lord, he prayed a humble, powerful prayer of worship and trust in the Lord God. A prayer of supplication, of faith, pleading for deliverance so all the kingdoms would know that the Lord alone is God of all.
Dealing with the threats from Sennacherib, Hezekiah mourned, but he knew where to seek help.
“Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.”
2 Kings 19:14
“And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said:
“O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made the heavens and the earth.
Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone.
Therefore they were destroyed. So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.””
2 Kings 19:15-19
Did you notice?
He took that letter to the Throne Room of God first!
And “…spread it before the Lord.”
He did not panic.
He didn’t deny what was happening.
He laid out all the facts.
As Hezekiah laid the Assyrian’s letter before the Lord, he prayed a humble, powerful prayer of worship and trust in the Lord God. A prayer of supplication, of faith, pleading for deliverance so all the kingdoms would know that the Lord alone is God of all.
🔥3🙏2
-5
After studying this account, the Lord encouraged me to write down a list of all the facts the enemy had over me.
I put on paper, my own letter of fear I received from the enemy.
It was in two parts…
Part 1: I had recorded all the facts that fear had over me for so long. (Some of the samples I shared in section 2)
Just the facts.
Evidence.
Part 2: The list of the enemy’s voice.
These were words he would use against me to discourage me.
Accusations and lies.
I listed below a sample of those lies.
Pay attention to the language the enemy uses. They will have a condemning nature to them.
It will sound like the following:
“You’re too _______.”
“You will always be ____.”
“You will never be _____.”
“Maybe you’re not _____.”
“God has forgotten you.”
What we do with that is where our fear meets faith.
It’s not just mental, or emotional, it’s also spiritual and yes, physical as you will see.
The very act of bringing that letter before God is a proclamation.
I encourage you to record your own letter of fear.
Write it down, present it as evidence to the Courts of Heaven.
What has the enemy told you?
What is the evidence that he says is proof nothing is happening?
After studying this account, the Lord encouraged me to write down a list of all the facts the enemy had over me.
I put on paper, my own letter of fear I received from the enemy.
It was in two parts…
Part 1: I had recorded all the facts that fear had over me for so long. (Some of the samples I shared in section 2)
Just the facts.
Evidence.
Part 2: The list of the enemy’s voice.
These were words he would use against me to discourage me.
Accusations and lies.
I listed below a sample of those lies.
Pay attention to the language the enemy uses. They will have a condemning nature to them.
It will sound like the following:
“You’re too _______.”
“You will always be ____.”
“You will never be _____.”
“Maybe you’re not _____.”
“God has forgotten you.”
What we do with that is where our fear meets faith.
It’s not just mental, or emotional, it’s also spiritual and yes, physical as you will see.
The very act of bringing that letter before God is a proclamation.
I encourage you to record your own letter of fear.
Write it down, present it as evidence to the Courts of Heaven.
What has the enemy told you?
What is the evidence that he says is proof nothing is happening?
❤3🤔1
-6
Take your letter of fear, open it and spread it before the Lord and pray.
I prayed a simple humble prayer, of worship, acknowledging God is Lord over all, the same as Hezekiah did.
I thanked God and told Him that the facts and evidence the enemy had against me doesn’t get to predict my future.
I acknowledged to God that He has the final verdict in my life, and those I’ve prayed for.
I thanked Him for finally helping me understand what He was showing me.
I asked for His forgiveness for the doubt and the lies I was accepting, and the things I didn’t think God could fix in me. Mainly the false beliefs I had about myself.
I went a step further…and I took that letter of fear and burned it as a sacrifice to Him.
As I watched the letter be consumed by the cleansing fire of the Lord. I felt this heavy burden lift off of me.
Peace filled my heart. Indescribable peace.
Nothing has changed in my life since then concerning all the facts.
But I now believe differently.
There has been a shift.
God holds my future, and He has a plan.
He has the final say for my life. Not fear.
Bring your own Letter of Fear to the One who actually holds your future. The One who says;
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13
The enemy has no power over us unless we authorize him. We are the gatekeepers to our thoughts. This is why we take every thought captive. We arrest those thoughts immediately.
Ask God to expose every fear the enemy held against you.
Yes, it may be factual.
Yes, it may be painful.
Take it to the throne room of God; the only place where dismantling the lies, and distortion the enemy had over you can be overridden.
Spread your letter before Him.
In conclusion;
The enemy may have had you convinced for a little while to accept a future where the land of unanswered prayers becomes a wasteland of despair and lost hope.
But he doesn’t have that kind of authority.
He wants to distort your discernment and your trust in God.
God is the One who holds our future.
He alone has the final verdict in our lives.
He is a great defense attorney and judge.
He goes above and beyond for His children.
He is truly the good, good Father.
My advice;
Praise Him and thank Him daily, even for those hard trials.
Be grateful for everything He has allowed in your life. There are lessons in the journey.
Ask Him to open the eyes of your heart.
Acknowledge He is Lord over your life including your fears.
Pray, and be vigilant.
And finally:
Be at peace my friends, you are free, because God says you are.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1
Much blessings,
-Paula
@CallToBattle
Take your letter of fear, open it and spread it before the Lord and pray.
I prayed a simple humble prayer, of worship, acknowledging God is Lord over all, the same as Hezekiah did.
I thanked God and told Him that the facts and evidence the enemy had against me doesn’t get to predict my future.
I acknowledged to God that He has the final verdict in my life, and those I’ve prayed for.
I thanked Him for finally helping me understand what He was showing me.
I asked for His forgiveness for the doubt and the lies I was accepting, and the things I didn’t think God could fix in me. Mainly the false beliefs I had about myself.
I went a step further…and I took that letter of fear and burned it as a sacrifice to Him.
As I watched the letter be consumed by the cleansing fire of the Lord. I felt this heavy burden lift off of me.
Peace filled my heart. Indescribable peace.
Nothing has changed in my life since then concerning all the facts.
But I now believe differently.
There has been a shift.
God holds my future, and He has a plan.
He has the final say for my life. Not fear.
Bring your own Letter of Fear to the One who actually holds your future. The One who says;
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13
The enemy has no power over us unless we authorize him. We are the gatekeepers to our thoughts. This is why we take every thought captive. We arrest those thoughts immediately.
Ask God to expose every fear the enemy held against you.
Yes, it may be factual.
Yes, it may be painful.
Take it to the throne room of God; the only place where dismantling the lies, and distortion the enemy had over you can be overridden.
Spread your letter before Him.
In conclusion;
The enemy may have had you convinced for a little while to accept a future where the land of unanswered prayers becomes a wasteland of despair and lost hope.
But he doesn’t have that kind of authority.
He wants to distort your discernment and your trust in God.
God is the One who holds our future.
He alone has the final verdict in our lives.
He is a great defense attorney and judge.
He goes above and beyond for His children.
He is truly the good, good Father.
My advice;
Praise Him and thank Him daily, even for those hard trials.
Be grateful for everything He has allowed in your life. There are lessons in the journey.
Ask Him to open the eyes of your heart.
Acknowledge He is Lord over your life including your fears.
Pray, and be vigilant.
And finally:
Be at peace my friends, you are free, because God says you are.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1
Much blessings,
-Paula
@CallToBattle
❤15🏆7🔥2
P.S.
If you want to find out what happened to King Sennacherib after he mocked God, I encourage to read 2 Kings 18-19.
I came across this resource which goes deeper.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/the-bible-story-of-king-hezekiah.html
If you want to find out what happened to King Sennacherib after he mocked God, I encourage to read 2 Kings 18-19.
I came across this resource which goes deeper.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/the-bible-story-of-king-hezekiah.html
❤11🔥4👍2
Testimony Tuesday
The believer’s walk in Christ has often been described as a race.
Not a sprint, but an endurance race.
As Bible believing Christians we’ve often hear the term “Finish the Race.”
And, we all want to “Finish well.”
Life is a race. Hard sometimes. But even the Bible tells us; “…run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.”
We are to run the race of life.
I’ve never been a runner, but I have cycled and have done a Century ride on my rode bike before.
My daughter and I did an endurance ride back in May of 2007 called Reach The Beach from Beaverton to Pacific City, Oregon a small coastal town. A 100 mile course.
We had trained for several months prior. Then the day of the race we saddled up and took off naively under estimating how difficult it would be.
There would be several challenges along the course.
I’d be lying if I said it was easy.
The scenery was beautiful though.
We started in the valley across beautiful pastoral farmland and wine country. So far very pleasant with minor hills to speak of.
Until it wasn’t…(insert sardonic grin)
Traveling west on Hwy 18 heading towards the coast with the winds kicking up, I was singing Bob Seger’s song “Against the Wind” under each breath as I focused on pedaling one rotation at a time…then, riding through the hills it was Sound of Music’s…”Climb every mountain, search high and low. Follow every by way, every path you know.”
Oh my! What were we thinking?
We veered off the highway onto two lane country roads through the Coastal range, a series of big and little hills. At the end of every hill, it’s downhill…rest, reprieve until the next one…and so on.
And that included steep hairpin turns on two lane roads, one way traffic bridges, and several big logging trucks that can suck you under their wheels if they got too close to you.
Praying for safe passage the entire ride, we kept at it.
During the course, there were Support Stations to fuel up with snacks, and restroom breaks. We stopped at every single one of them. Three stations every 25 miles until the Finish Line.
At one point the odometers on our bikes told us we reached the 80 mile marker but our body’s engine light was telling us we are maxing out. Time for a break.
We pulled over on the side of the road and rested as we watched a few other cyclists pass us by. We contemplated whether if the remaining 20 mile course was still worth pursuing.
We decided to keep pushing ourselves, even if it meant to pedal our bikes standing up the rest of the way because our bottoms were really sore in spite of padded bike gear.
Each time we crested a larger hill, we could see the ocean. We were that close.
That view alone was all we needed to motivate us. It was possible but our bodies were having none of it.
There were no more support stations until the finish line. But we did see the *SAG wagons pick up stranded cyclists who did give up for one reason or another. (*SAG stands for support and gear. During a race, a SAG vehicle would be a welcome sight as you fatigue or encounter mechanical complications with your bike.)
Yes, it was tempting to wait for the SAG wagon to pick us up, but we were committed and we were determined.
We had a steadfast spirit in us to press on.
That inner voice told us, “Keep going, you got this!”
Eventually we arrived at the Finish Line. We finished the race.
We have the photos and medal to prove it.
There was a huge celebration party, live music and lots of food. It was like coming home!
We were so proud of ourselves.
It may have taken us 10.5 hours but we did it.
And no; we were not the last ones to cross the finish line. But even if we were, it still would have been okay.
We never did it again after that.
We proved to ourselves we could do it.
We checked that box off!
It’s true when they say victory and defeat happens in the head first.
Life is a race.
No matter how hard it can be, I still want to finish well.
How easy it would have been to give up.
But we have a Coach who is cheering us on.
The believer’s walk in Christ has often been described as a race.
Not a sprint, but an endurance race.
As Bible believing Christians we’ve often hear the term “Finish the Race.”
And, we all want to “Finish well.”
Life is a race. Hard sometimes. But even the Bible tells us; “…run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.”
We are to run the race of life.
I’ve never been a runner, but I have cycled and have done a Century ride on my rode bike before.
My daughter and I did an endurance ride back in May of 2007 called Reach The Beach from Beaverton to Pacific City, Oregon a small coastal town. A 100 mile course.
We had trained for several months prior. Then the day of the race we saddled up and took off naively under estimating how difficult it would be.
There would be several challenges along the course.
I’d be lying if I said it was easy.
The scenery was beautiful though.
We started in the valley across beautiful pastoral farmland and wine country. So far very pleasant with minor hills to speak of.
Until it wasn’t…(insert sardonic grin)
Traveling west on Hwy 18 heading towards the coast with the winds kicking up, I was singing Bob Seger’s song “Against the Wind” under each breath as I focused on pedaling one rotation at a time…then, riding through the hills it was Sound of Music’s…”Climb every mountain, search high and low. Follow every by way, every path you know.”
Oh my! What were we thinking?
We veered off the highway onto two lane country roads through the Coastal range, a series of big and little hills. At the end of every hill, it’s downhill…rest, reprieve until the next one…and so on.
And that included steep hairpin turns on two lane roads, one way traffic bridges, and several big logging trucks that can suck you under their wheels if they got too close to you.
Praying for safe passage the entire ride, we kept at it.
During the course, there were Support Stations to fuel up with snacks, and restroom breaks. We stopped at every single one of them. Three stations every 25 miles until the Finish Line.
At one point the odometers on our bikes told us we reached the 80 mile marker but our body’s engine light was telling us we are maxing out. Time for a break.
We pulled over on the side of the road and rested as we watched a few other cyclists pass us by. We contemplated whether if the remaining 20 mile course was still worth pursuing.
We decided to keep pushing ourselves, even if it meant to pedal our bikes standing up the rest of the way because our bottoms were really sore in spite of padded bike gear.
Each time we crested a larger hill, we could see the ocean. We were that close.
That view alone was all we needed to motivate us. It was possible but our bodies were having none of it.
There were no more support stations until the finish line. But we did see the *SAG wagons pick up stranded cyclists who did give up for one reason or another. (*SAG stands for support and gear. During a race, a SAG vehicle would be a welcome sight as you fatigue or encounter mechanical complications with your bike.)
Yes, it was tempting to wait for the SAG wagon to pick us up, but we were committed and we were determined.
We had a steadfast spirit in us to press on.
That inner voice told us, “Keep going, you got this!”
Eventually we arrived at the Finish Line. We finished the race.
We have the photos and medal to prove it.
There was a huge celebration party, live music and lots of food. It was like coming home!
We were so proud of ourselves.
It may have taken us 10.5 hours but we did it.
And no; we were not the last ones to cross the finish line. But even if we were, it still would have been okay.
We never did it again after that.
We proved to ourselves we could do it.
We checked that box off!
It’s true when they say victory and defeat happens in the head first.
Life is a race.
No matter how hard it can be, I still want to finish well.
How easy it would have been to give up.
But we have a Coach who is cheering us on.
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Our Coach can see ahead and knows the path. Trust Him.
Listen to His voice.
He’ll be the support you need along the way.
When you feel like giving up, take a support break. Refuel.
Get back in, because there is a race to finish.
He’ll give you just enough strength you’ll need to get over each hill one at a time.
He is your biggest cheerleader.
One day, our race will finally end here on earth and we will cross that finish line with the grandest Finish Line Party we will ever experience.
Finish well friends.
He is with you!
Blessings,
—Paula
@CallToBattle
Listen to His voice.
He’ll be the support you need along the way.
When you feel like giving up, take a support break. Refuel.
Get back in, because there is a race to finish.
He’ll give you just enough strength you’ll need to get over each hill one at a time.
He is your biggest cheerleader.
One day, our race will finally end here on earth and we will cross that finish line with the grandest Finish Line Party we will ever experience.
Finish well friends.
He is with you!
Blessings,
—Paula
@CallToBattle
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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
II Timothy 4:7
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Hebrews 12:1-2
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
II Timothy 4:7
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
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You may have figured out which movie she is talking about. But in case you haven't seen it. Here is the trailer to the movie she is referring to.
https://youtu.be/Le05vmahdXQ?
https://youtu.be/Le05vmahdXQ?
YouTube
Overcomer - Official Trailer (HD)
In Theaters August 23
Visit Site:
https://www.overcomermovie.com/
Follow Us on Social:
https://www.facebook.com/OvercomerMovie/
https://twitter.com/OvercomerMovie
https://www.instagram.com/overcomermovie/
Subscribe to Sony Pictures for exclusive content:…
Visit Site:
https://www.overcomermovie.com/
Follow Us on Social:
https://www.facebook.com/OvercomerMovie/
https://twitter.com/OvercomerMovie
https://www.instagram.com/overcomermovie/
Subscribe to Sony Pictures for exclusive content:…
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Testimony Tuesday
Given today is Election Day here in America, I thought it would be appropriate to share something more fitting. And of course, the most important time for U.S. citizens, not only the right to vote but a privilege.
Most of us here in the United States grew up learning about America and how it came to be.
We learned about the battles that were fought on the grounds of what was to become a new nation, the men who set the ball in motion for changes, and the men who died for a revolution for freedom and rights unlike any other country in the world.
A new government system was placed that would have checks and balances to keep America from being overtaken by rogue tyrannical ideology.
But there was something that was divinely involved in the hearts of the forefathers of this country.
God himself.
This is the first time I’ve heard the testimony of how we got to be here as a nation by way of the Hand of God Himself.
I am not going to explain the history of America here today because we should all know by now the basics in the civics of our country. But I am going to make a recommendation.
If you haven’t already seen the documentary, ‘The American Miracle’: A Michael Medved Film. Explores the Hand of God in US History.
(Or you can read the book)
I highly recommend it.
Some of you perhaps saw it early this past Summer as it was released for the 250th anniversary of the birth of America.
“This is the forgotten and true story of America’s founding.”
The movie itself gives a testimony of the providence of God moving the hearts of Christians that formed our nation.
It’s more than just a documentary and more of a testimony how God’s divine intervention or rather the providence of God and how it set the course for our country.
PROVIDENCE:
“The belief that all things are ordered and regulated by God towards His purpose.”
The movie explores moments of crisis in our nation’s history that were interrupted by the hand of Providence, or as President George Washington described it, “the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men.”
“The history of the American Experiment is a fabric woven of countless instances of improbable, unimaginable success. Whether it is the supernatural protection that surrounded George Washington – the Father of our Country – throughout his life, the mysterious weather conditions that favored the movements of the Continental Army at critical battlefield junctures, or, the unique, longstanding success of a revolution unlike any other in recorded world history; it is difficult, nearly impossible to explain the outcome of any of these, and so many more events like them, without allowing for divine intervention,” the website for the movie explains.
So, if you’re interested in learning about this incredible testimony and the role of God’s providential hand over our nation you can find it on Amazon Prime or click the link just above.
Blessings,
—Paula
@CallToBattle
“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!”
1 Chronicles 16:24
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!”
Psalm 33:12
Given today is Election Day here in America, I thought it would be appropriate to share something more fitting. And of course, the most important time for U.S. citizens, not only the right to vote but a privilege.
Most of us here in the United States grew up learning about America and how it came to be.
We learned about the battles that were fought on the grounds of what was to become a new nation, the men who set the ball in motion for changes, and the men who died for a revolution for freedom and rights unlike any other country in the world.
A new government system was placed that would have checks and balances to keep America from being overtaken by rogue tyrannical ideology.
But there was something that was divinely involved in the hearts of the forefathers of this country.
God himself.
This is the first time I’ve heard the testimony of how we got to be here as a nation by way of the Hand of God Himself.
I am not going to explain the history of America here today because we should all know by now the basics in the civics of our country. But I am going to make a recommendation.
If you haven’t already seen the documentary, ‘The American Miracle’: A Michael Medved Film. Explores the Hand of God in US History.
(Or you can read the book)
I highly recommend it.
Some of you perhaps saw it early this past Summer as it was released for the 250th anniversary of the birth of America.
“This is the forgotten and true story of America’s founding.”
The movie itself gives a testimony of the providence of God moving the hearts of Christians that formed our nation.
It’s more than just a documentary and more of a testimony how God’s divine intervention or rather the providence of God and how it set the course for our country.
PROVIDENCE:
“The belief that all things are ordered and regulated by God towards His purpose.”
The movie explores moments of crisis in our nation’s history that were interrupted by the hand of Providence, or as President George Washington described it, “the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men.”
“The history of the American Experiment is a fabric woven of countless instances of improbable, unimaginable success. Whether it is the supernatural protection that surrounded George Washington – the Father of our Country – throughout his life, the mysterious weather conditions that favored the movements of the Continental Army at critical battlefield junctures, or, the unique, longstanding success of a revolution unlike any other in recorded world history; it is difficult, nearly impossible to explain the outcome of any of these, and so many more events like them, without allowing for divine intervention,” the website for the movie explains.
So, if you’re interested in learning about this incredible testimony and the role of God’s providential hand over our nation you can find it on Amazon Prime or click the link just above.
Blessings,
—Paula
@CallToBattle
“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!”
1 Chronicles 16:24
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!”
Psalm 33:12
The American Miracle
Home - The American Miracle
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Trailer:
https://youtu.be/VPp1jEDzDNk?
https://youtu.be/VPp1jEDzDNk?
YouTube
The American Miracle (2025) | Official Movie Trailer
From Heroic Pictures, The American Miracle – Our Nation is No Accident will take its audience on a journey through some of the most significant events in America’s birth and rise to prosperity and power.
PRE-ORDER the film here: https://store.patternso…
PRE-ORDER the film here: https://store.patternso…
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