I recently had an encounter with satan.  You may ask, “How do you know?” I most definitely know.  When you are what I would like to call in sync with God in your daily walk and it is interrupted by confusion and inner turmoil that doesn’t come from the Lord – Oh, that’s satan alright!

When I am asked to speak, I always prepare in different ways.  Sometimes I might speak to a small group of women (which I am praying to do more of), a college age group, or more recently I spoke during the Sunday School hour at First Baptist Collierville.  Each time I tailor my speaking engagement to the crowd.  As I was preparing to speak to FBC, I could not get a peace about what I needed to say.  It kept ringing in my ears that they were the church around the corner and they should KNOW about Trey.  Why did they want to hear from me?

Collin and I had a conversation in the car on the way home from his football game last Tuesday.  He asked the same questions that I had of myself.  Smart kid.  Then I thought of an analogy.  Hear my heart as a child on this.  I told Collin that it finally came to me that God spoke to me to tell of HIS story through Trey and not worry about anything else.  I told him that there might people who did not know about Trey’s character or faith.  I told him there might be people there that did not know Jesus.  I told Collin there are people that live all around us that might know about Trey, but they don’t know Jesus.  I didn’t need to worry about what I had to say about Trey, I just needed to concentrate on praying the next couple of days.  And so I did.

I got so comfy after I prayed.  I knew exactly what I was going to say about Trey and how it would flow.  I could have spoken to the multitudes Tuesday night.  THEN BAM! My armor had fallen to my side!  I wasn’t protected anymore.  What is frightening to me is that I didn’t realize it until after he struck.  I have used this verse before, but it still is the most convicting:

John 10:10  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

That thief robbed me.  Satan.  He robbed me for about four days.  I was in turmoil.  My joy was gone.  I had an upset stomach.  I contacted past and present pastors to pray over me till one said it…”armor up, wage war!”  I immediately opened my bible to Ephesians 6:10-17.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

I studied it and studied it.  Even at midnight on Saturday night as I was in bed at a friend’s house.  [SIDE NOTE: I really was blessed to be in the home of a friend, Kerri Flowers, whom I had taught Sunday School with for many years.  I teach 10th grade girls with Sharis Newman and we had a sleepover that night.]  At 11:48 p.m. on Saturday night I received an email.  The email was from two doctors that I have been in contact with in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  My last correspondence with them per the email was June 11, 2012, prior to Trey’s passing.  The husband is a trauma surgeon.  Just as satan hit me out of the blue, God blessed me with an encouraging email from this doctor telling me how they still praying for our family.  His last paragraph says:

“When dark days come forth, I hope you will remember that even though Trey’s passing has been some time ago, many of us still pray and haven’t forgotten about you and your family.  I hope you receive this as an encouragement and as an example of so many families who may have never met you but still have you in our prayers.”

I wanted to run through the house yelling how FAITHFUL God had been in filling me up with His power and mercy!  (Don’t worry, the house was already awake.  The cat set the house alarm off.)  Even though I left FBC on Sunday saying to myself, I should have said this and that, I know God put in their ears what they needed to hear.  Jay and I then rushed to Germantown Baptist, our home church, just in time to hear the choir sing Majesty and Glory of Your Name.  It’s a little special to us.  It was in our wedding.

Going back to John 10:10 and that ugly guy, what’s his name, I think we forget the second half of the verse – “…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” How abundant are we living?  How filled with joy, love, and other fruits of the spirit is your life?  That’s what I have to ask myself daily – How are my fruits growing in my life?  Am I watering them or letting them die by letting my armor stay by my side?

Hate is a strong word.  We don’t use it at our house.  But I will allow it once.  I do hate satan.  He is a creep and he does just that, creep in.  The sad thing is we allow it.  Even the churchiest of church people walk around with satan in their hearts with smiles on their faces.  But you know what?  There’s that fruit again.  My prayer is that my son is able to see fruit in my life so that he will be able to grow and ask questions.  Right now, I am praying through that Collin have the mentoring opportunities Trey did at that age.  God has someone for Collin that is the right fit, like Keith Cochran, Ryan Mullins, and Ron Norton were to Trey.  Well, not to mention his dad, Jay, his biggest mentor.  It’s finding that person with fruit, willing to love, willing to invest.  God knows it is not me right now.  WE CLASH! WHOA ~ BIG TIME! Trey and I didn’t.  Well, not as much.

So, the next time you look at someone at work, school, on the street and think they are a creep – stop and think what they may be dealing with on a daily basis.  It just might be satan they are struggling with.  Pray for them that they might WIN the battle and stand firm!

Sunday we sang Holy Ground to end our service.  I shared with Ron, our music minister, that I changed the words as I sang it because I thought of Trey truly standing on Holy Ground.  What a day that will be to be satan free!

He is standing on Holy Ground

And I know there are angels all around

He is praising Jesus now

He is standing on Holy Ground!