What Would Chuck Norris Do?

I know I've been ignoring the Titus 2 woman....at least on here.  In real life, I'm thinking about her and how to be her, all the time.

Last night was a ladies' night out for some of the women from church.  It was such a fun time of fellowship and laughter (you should see a bunch of middle-aged women getting into their roles as royalty...we are all princesses, you know, daughters of the King).  It was also a great chance to see some Titus 2 women in action and be ministered to by them.  Now, I'm not a newbie in my faith journey and I can and do mentor to younger (physically and spiritually) women, but that doesn't mean I don't need some mentoring, myself.  We all do.  We're never done growing in the Lord.  If we are, then something is very wrong!

Anyway, it was such a joy to have these two women listen to our prayer requests and offer advice on a wide variety of topics.  I'm pretty sure had our group had more time we could have solved all the world's problems.  LOL  Not really, but the conversation was dizzying!

My prayer request was for strength to withstand the enemy's attacks.  The last few months have been a time of incredible spiritual renewal and growth for me and as usually happens when we grow closer to God, Satan gets busy.  I shared that I know what I am to do to withstand, but when there are days that you feel buffeted from all sides...you can get tired, your guard can slip.  And I was feeling particularly vulnerable because taking my beloved pet was a new low and it nearly brought me to my knees.

Source

I woke up this morning feeling strong and energized.  I knew those Titus 2 ladies hadn't been playing lip-service to the I'll-pray-for-you thing.  They really had gone to the Father on my behalf.  Then with this refreshed, strong attitude I got to thinking about most of the action movies I've ever watched.  The fight is going on, the hero is getting his butt whooped, and then the bad guy makes a fatal error.....he hurts the thing closest to the hero....his dog, his girlfriend, his buddy, his kid brother, etc.....and then the hero sees red and goes all Chuck Norris on the bad guy.  So, I was thinking, Satan....you messed with my dog.  Be warned, I'm getting my Chuck Norris on.  You will NOT make me angry at God, nor drive me away from Him.  You don't have that much power over me.  No, you don't have any power at all over me.  So there.

Told him.

This seems the perfect time and frame of mind to revisit what I started in Tending the Garden.  I talked of the importance of knowing who you are and promised my own list.  So, this is my list.  This is stuff I know to be true about me.

1.  I am a princess.  A daughter of the most high King.  My inheritance comes through his Son, Jesus Christ, who took my place in death and forever opened the temple curtain allowing me to come into God's holy presence.

2.  I am a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend.  I might not be the one you think I should be, but I am the one I was created to be and I strive for all that God has intended.

3.  I am creative.  Not in a crafty way, but I write, I have lots and lots of ideas, I decorate, I draw, I take pictures.

4.  I am a planner and organizer.  I dream up big things.  I make them happen.  From parties, to youth rallies, to community bingos, to weddings....I can do it.

5.  I am forgiving.  You may wrong me and I may get angry, but I am good at seeing what motivates you.  I may not like it, but I can understand and forgive you.  That doesn't mean I will let you do it again.  I am forgiving, but I am not a doormat.

6.  I am discerning.  This is one of my strongest spiritual gifts.  I recognize what is true and what is not.  I also have a way of putting things together.  People call it intuition.  Mine is strong.  It makes gigantic leaps...correctly.

7.  I am a learner.  I love to read and study.  Teach me.

8.  I am a reader.  I love books.  Always have.  Always will.  I am always reading something.

9.  I love animals.  I have never not had a pet.  I've had dogs, cats, birds, fish, turtles, rabbits, a goat, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, a ferret, and even a fawn.  There will always be an animal in my home.  I don't think a house is a home without a pet.

10.  I am introspective.  Most of the time it's easier and more comfortable for me to deal with my thoughts than to reach out to others.  Small talk and chit-chat are something I've never gotten the hang of.