Month: January 2021

Patching Walls and Scrubbing Floors

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, marriage, music6 Comments

Patching Walls And Scrubbing Floors

Patching walls and scrubbing floors

Replacing broken dishes, replacing doors

What happened to our love?

Yelling words that keep the neighbors awake

Slamming doors hard enough to cause a quake

Why is there so much bad blood?

You’re not the same and neither am I

We stare in disbelief and wonder why

How did we get to this place?

We keep playing these head games

I know we are both to blame

Can we have a heart to heart, face to face?

I pull my hair out, frustration sets in

Halfway through I wonder why did we begin

Are you still here?

Have you checked out, want to be anywhere else

We have our children, quit thinking of your self

This was my worst fear

Can we get to where we were before?

Instead of patching walls and scrubbing floors

Do we walk away or give it one more try?

Were all these years just a mistake?

Was our love for each other fake?

Do we talk it out or say one last goodbye?

Are we just actors in a movie, playing our role

On to the next scene, same ole same ole

I don’t want to be in this movie

I’m here, let’s take that first step

Look to the future and try to forget

Take a good look at you, a good look at me

There is only one way to heal, to make us better

We need to look to the One who brought us together

‘Cause I’m done fighting these wars

I’m done patching walls and scrubbing floors

If We’re Honest by Francesca Battestelli –  

House Divided by Josh Wilson –

Restored by Matthew West – 

I Don’t Wanna Fight by Westlife – 

Don’t Know What You Got Til It’s Gone by Cinderella – 

Until It’s Over by Oleander – 

Do I by Luke Bryan – 

Angry All The Time by Tim Mcgraw – 

Take It Back by Toni Braxton & Babyface- 

Fighting For Something by The Wrecking – 

Love Is Not A Fight by Warren Barfield – 

Tired of Fighting With You by Barenaked Ladies – 

Feel Again by Blue October – 

Losing Ground by Tyrone Wells – 

Fight For It by Estelle –

What Are We Fighting For by John Berry – 

Exhale by Plumb – 

My Name Is Legend

On By roberthansen1317In Battkes, Christian life, Short story, WarriorsLeave a comment

Image result for ordinary people fighting demons

My name is Legend. I am a warrior. I fight the demons of this world. I fight your demons. Ones you never saw attacking you, ones that you fight each day. I stand with you.

 

I have to admit one thing that tears at the very depth of all that I am is loving my enemies. The same enemies I fight every day. I pray they will change. I pray they will find love instead of hate. The devil has them in a stranglehold.  Another dies as their blood drips from the end of my sword. As their lifeless body lays at my feet I pray for them. I do not gloat or take pride in what I have done. It pains me greatly. It scars me more on the inside than the scars visible to you.

I have a confession to make. I am tired. More than that, I am worn out. Darkness is everywhere. I am only one man. I only have so much fight in me. I have more scars than freckles. I am on my knees begging God for help. Send me help God! Help me get off my knees and pick up my sword to fight again. 

God’s answer was to go to His people. Here is my plea:

As I mentioned before, I am worn out. Yet, I pick myself up, grab my sword and head into the night to fight another battle.  I fight your battles. It’s time for you to stand up. As I have prayed to God, I will ask of you the same.  I need help. I need your help!

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Make no mistake the devil knows your name. He keeps track of all the demons you let in. He knows when to send more. You have to put on your armor and  you have draw you sword. Even then the devil will not stop. You have to be tenacious. You have to never give up.

The devil tells you to yell at your husband for forgetting to go to the store on his way home from work. Knock that demon on his butt and smile at your husband, be thankful he arrived home safe.

The devil tempts you with that new attractive coworker who is flirting with you. Take your sword and cut that demon in half.  Look at that picture of you spouse and children on your desk. Be thankful for your family.

The devil tells you to yell at your child for spilling her milk at the dinner table. Destroy that demon with kind words and forgiveness. It take only a few seconds to clean up the milk, harsh words will be remembered forever. Be thankful you have a child. Many want one who can’t have one. Look in her eyes and tell her it’s okay. Tell her how much you love her.

These are just a few examples where you can help me. These are what I call the front line demons.  The little ones that try to ruin your life. The little ones that open the doors to the big ones. The generals, the lieutenants, the corporals.  You can not give in to them. You can not give in to the addictions, the temptations, the struggles that will rip your life to pieces. The ones that once they sink their teeth in are hard to defeat.

Image result for ordinary people fighting demons

To paraphrase John F. Kennedy ask not what God can do for you but what can you do for God. Ask not what people can do for you, ask what can you do for people. You can help me, you can help others fight the demons. Will you be God’s light in this dark world. Will you fight with me? Will you help me destroy these demons that attack you and other people?

I will fight them with you. I will stand by your side, sword drawn, ready to attack. Are you with me?

Tonight, as you get ready to sleep, drop to your knees and thank God for getting you through another day. Thank God for helping you defeat some demons today. Look deep into your heart and tell God everything you are thankful for. Then I want you to raise your head, lift your hands to God and let God hold your hands for this next thing. I then want you to look the devil in the eye and tell him to leave your life.  He has no place in your life. I want you to say devil, do you not know who I am?  I am a child of God. My name is —— and I am a warrior.

I am worn out but I will not quit. I see a light at the end of the darkness.  I see hope. I see you. I see you picking up your sword. I see the demons on the ground, laying at your feet. I see me on your left. I see God on your right. We will win this fight!

My name is Legend. I am a warrior. I have renewed strength. I will never give up fighting the darkness of this world.

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Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.

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Legends by The Afters – 

Centuries by Fall Out Boy – 

Warrior by Steven Curtis Chapman – 

Warriors by Papa Roach – 

Run Devil Run by Crowder – 

Live Like Legends by Ruelle – 

Strength by Jonathan and Melissa Helser – 

Move by TobyMac – 

Battles by The Afters – 

Live Like A Warrior by Matisyahu – 

The Lord Is A Warrior by Matt Papa – 

Attack Of The Inflatables

On By roberthansen1317In Christian life, Christmas, Short storyLeave a comment

This is not a Christmas story, but it is about Christmas time. I have been afraid to tell you this story, but after another neighbor “disappearing,” I feel that it is my duty to tell the story.

It all started last year, the day after Thanksgiving. Our neighbors, who had moved in at the beginning of June, surprised us with a yard full of inflatables for Christmas decorations.

There were Santa’s and Rudolph, the Grinch, Mickey Mouse, a dinosaur and many many more. It was gaudy, but it was also kind of nice because we live on a side street that no one decorated their house, except for us, and we only put out a few strands of lights.

We had grown close to our new neighbors over the last five months but we had no idea they were the Griswolds from Christmas Vacation movie. We made a few jokes but we were busy over the Christmas season and did not see them that much.

On Christmas Day, we went over and said Merry Christmas. I jokingly asked them when the eye sore was coming down and they laughed and said no later than January 1st.

The first came and I went out to take down our few strands of lights but did not see our neighbors. Then the 2nd came and the inflatables were still up. Then the 3rd, 4th and 5th came and they were still up.

I went next door to check on them, maybe they got sick or something but they did not answer. I even called the police to do a wellness check but they said no one was in the house. I thought maybe they left town but when they did that for Thanksgiving, they asked us to check on their house for them so I would’ve thought they would’ve asked again if they had to leave town for an emergency.

On the morning of the 11th, I unplugged all the inflatables. I had a weird feeling that I was being watched. I could swear I even saw Santa’s face change and give me a scolding look. On the night of the 11th, the inflatables came back to life again.

Who would’ve plugged them back in? There was still no word from our neighbors.

The end of January came and the inflatables were still up and there was still no word from our neighbors. No matter how many times I unplugged them, they would always be back up. I told the police that something wasn’t right but they looked at me like I was crazy.

By the end of April, with our neighbors still missing, the house foreclosed. The bank had movers come and cleared out the house, even the inflatables were gone.

At the end of May, the house had sold and we had new neighbors. We weren’t as close to them as the last ones, but we were still cordial and said our hellos.

Then it happened.

The day after Thanksgiving the inflatables were back. The exact same ones were out that our last neighbors had. I asked them how they got them and they said they were all boxed up in the basement. The only thing that was left in the house. They were going to throw them out but thought it would be fun to keep them and let them come to life.

I walked back to my house and swore Santa smiled and winked at me and the dinosaur growled.

Well, let me tell you my friends it is now January 11th and the inflatables are still up and our newest neighbors have disappeared like the last ones.

The police still think I’m crazy but tonight I am heading over there with a butcher knife and I’m going to rip them to shreds.

For some reason, I have a feeling I won’t make it back but there is something sinister about those inflatables and I can not let them win.

If you don’t hear from me again, you will know why.

Wish me luck.