Greetings, brothers and sisters in Christ and children of God,

How is life going? That can be a loaded question, can’t it? Have you ever asked someone that question and gotten an earful of issues? How do you respond? What about when you are asked that question? Do you respond with all of your issues about your life? Probably not, but just because you do not unload your issues or even if you do unload your issues, the issues are still there and can affect you mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Life sometimes can appear to be like a boxing match. We feel like we are against the ropes with no way out and continue to get hit from all sides. We duck but then get hit from the opposite direction, or we try to move but not fast enough or perhaps the wrong way. We begin to ask ourselves, “How do I get out of this?” 

Boxers usually have a coach or two in their corner who shout to them and give them directions. When the round is done, boxers go to the corner where they are tended to and given suggestions or advice on how to handle the challenge before them.

When it comes to life, the best coaches to have in your corner are God and Jesus. They are the creators of life, and who else better to have in your corner than the two who were there at the beginning of it all and know a thing or two about life? In fact, God wrote an instruction manual that gives all the insights of proper living. It tells you what not to do and what to do to have the best retirement plan when you leave this life.

There will always be a break between rounds to catch your breath and rest for just a short moment, and then you must return to the center of it all. But if you were listening in the corner, you might have heard God tell you to shield yourself when you get put into a corner or on the ropes. Shield yourself. The thing that should come to mind is the shield of faith that Paul speaks of in Ephesians 6:16. This, of course, is part of the Armor of God that Paul writes about. Each piece of the armor has its purpose at any given time. In the case of getting beaten while back on the ropes or stuck in the corner, the piece you most often need is the shield of faith to shield you from life’s attacks. It is the faith that will get you through the round and allow you to get that breathing moment and talk to God. Trust and have faith. When it is time to return to the fight, remember the rest of the armor and come out swinging.

Last week, the little lambs looked at evidence that God does answer prayers through the story of finding a wife for Isaac, son of Abraham. This week, the lambs will investigate the story of Jacob and Esau to answer the question if they are real or a fairy tale. By looking at historical, archaeological, and biblical evidence, they will answer that question.

I look forward to worshiping the Lord God Almighty with you tomorrow through songs of praise and dancing before the Great Shepherd. If, for whatever reason, I do not see you, may He bless you with joy, peace, and an abundance of kindness and love, and may He guide you, protect you, heal you, and comfort you when you are in need. 

God bless you

Your brother in Christ

Michael (aka Mr. Michael)