Someone HATES us...

So last night I realized something so mind boggling that it has stuck with me all day. 

SOMEONE HATES MY FAMILY!

I know....right?

Hard to believe isn't it?

But yep...there is someone who HATES us and we found out about it last night! 

You see we live in a white, middle class community. We have been blessed with a beautiful, dark skinned Ghanaian boy in our home. A boy who loves the Lord. A boy who has a mother and sister in Ghana who love the Lord. A boy who brings us smiles and laughs and tears.

And someone HATES it!

You see we also have a child who shot 1000 three pointers to raise money for kids in another country that he has never met! He gave sacrificially...waking up early in the morning to shoot. Giving up his time after school to shoot.

And someone HATES it!

You see we also have a nine year old who is traveling to Sierra Leone with his Dad, (who by the way is SOLD OUT for Christ). He has shared verses with people in an effort to raise money to go.

And someone HATES it!

And, you see we have a daughter who every single night prays for kids she has never met. Prays for her Papa and Aunt Cindy to be healed of their cancer. Prays for her friends to know Christ. Prays for her teacher and the people in the nursing home that she has never even seen.

And someone HATES it!

And today, like other days, I talked about Christ with students in my office. I shared my faith in my community. I prayed for God's direction, for His leading, for His will to be done.

And someone HATES it!

SOMEONE HATES OUR FAMILY!!! 

Last night, as I sat in bed, reading a book by Dr. Gary Smalley, the words jumped off the page:

"SATAN HATES YOUR FAMILY!"

"And He will do everything he can to sabatoge your family and your marriage and the future marriages of your children. HE HATES YOUR FAMILY!"

WOW!  EYE OPENER! 

There is a battle and God won it on the cross but Satan won't stop trying. 

So we will form a plan.
We will armor ourselves with Christ's word.
We will write it on our hearts.
We will meditate on it daily.
We will be prepared.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
Ephesians 6: 10-18

So what about you?

Are you doing anything that would cause Satan to HATE your family?

Have you accepted Christ as your Savior?

Have you given of yourself...truly given...to the point it hurt?

Have you expressed your love of Christ to others?

Do you have a plan?

A plan to stand against his schemes? To stop him in his tracks? To shut the door on his efforts?

Do you? 

Because if you LOVE JESUS, then SATAN HATES YOU!