Colleen Orchanian

My friend Linda recently had cataract surgery. When the doctor told her it was needed, she was skeptical. She had great vision, could easily see road signs from a distance, and could distinguish between colors with no problem. How could she have cataracts and not realize it? But she trusted the doctor and had the surgery. What a difference! She didn't know what she was missing. Her eyesight was distorted, but because it happened gradually, she didn't notice.

One of Satan's tactics is distortion, not with our eyes, but with our minds and hearts. It's like when someone totally misunderstands you. They have formed a false version of reality and it's hard to correct it.

I love playing games on my tablet or phone. It's a way to pass the time while waiting or watching TV. But I am easily drawn into the game for hours rather than a few minutes. Then I feel rotten because I wasted so much time, time that could have been used for something more valuable. Have you ever felt this way?

James Chapter 3 is about taming the tongue. He writes: With [the tongue] we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.

The devil attacks us in our conversations. He doesn't want us to tame the tongue. He doesn't want holy conversations.

(Spiritual  Warfare Part 5) Do you remember the COVID lockdown days? Everyone was masked so you couldn't see people's faces. Most of us didn't go to school or work. Churches were closed. We lost community and it resulted in an increase in mental health problems (among other things). We were isolated and lonely. It seemed that the entire world was under spiritual attack. And maybe it was.

(Spiritual Warfare Part 4)
I am a writer. I've written 3 books and am working on the fourth. Sometimes in my writing, I have a lot of ideas but they don't make sense. It's more like a brain dump or stream of consciousness. I can get very discouraged when facing a deadline and the words are not coming easily. It's too hard. I don't know enough. I don't even know what the message should be. Does this even make a difference to anyone? I should give up. That's discouragement.

(Spiritual Warfare Part 4)

The last two posts were about spiritual attacks related to distortions. We have a distorted image of God and a distorted image of ourselves. Today's post is another distortion—our distorted image of other people. Whenever we have a distorted image, it's a spiritual attack. Because if we were to see others as they are—as God sees them  — this attack would not work.

[Part 3 of a series on spiritual warfare]

Have you ever heard someone speak about "their God?" My God is this. My God is that. My God wouldn't do xyz. Maybe you have said those words or something like it. When we say, My God in this way, it implies something. It might imply that I have created a God who agrees with me (rather than me agreeing with my Creator God). It might imply that there are multiple gods and this is the one I have chosen, when the reality is that there is only one true God, and He has chosen me. It might imply that each of us gets our own God, as if there are many to choose from when there is only one. All others are counterfeits.

We often read about identity theft, where someone pretends to be you and spends all your money or sells your house. There is another kind of identity theft – a spiritual one. God wants to show us our true identity, and Satan wants to prevent that. He wants to steal the identity we have been given.

One of my favorite children's books is Madeline, which is about a little girl in Paris. In the story you will find this line, Miss Clavel turned on her light and said, "Something is not right!"

Spiritual warfare is when "something is not right" in our life.

Three takeaways from a recent retreat: We have three ears. Empty is good. Love is unstoppable. 

Have you ever caught your dog being bad? You scold him, Bad dog! and he slinks away in shame. I realize that some dogs are quite proud when misbehaving, but the more sensitive ones don't want to disappoint their owners.

There are times I have felt like the bad dog when I sin or fall short of my call as a Christian. I hang my head in embarrassment for disappointing God.

Many years ago my husband was feeling neglected because I worked a lot. I had a consulting business and it was normal to work 60-hour weeks. One day he accused me of making work more important than him. I disagreed and said confidently, "No I don't. I have my priorities written in my day planner and you're at the top of the list." His response: "So what? When you have to choose between me and work, you always choose work."

His challenge, "So what?" was valid. All the words we say, all the words we write, if they aren't backed up with actions, are meaningless. Our conversation changed my choices – not overnight, but over time. I needed someone to point out that I was missing the mark.

Don't we all need that sometimes? Especially us Christians.

Six-year-old Noah loves sword fighting. He has no idea of the rules. He just likes to bang swords together. He shouts En garde! and then we begin. Sometimes he has a shield as extra protection. He loves a good fight.

I, too, have a shield and sword and sometimes love a good fight. Other times I don't want to fight but I'm drawn into it by someone else. They say or do something that provokes me and I respond. 

I'm reading a book called Humility Rules by Fr. Augustine Wetta. The subtitle is St. Benedict's 12-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem. The title doesn't seem to make sense. How can humility lead to self-esteem?

I had friends over for dinner to get input on my next book about spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare is the daily battle we fight to grow in holiness and save souls – ours and those of the people we love. The battle part comes from the devil trying to prevent that from happening.

Maggie likes to make bucket lists. She's 14. That seems a bit young for a bucket list, but it works for her. She has one for every season. It usually has things like having sleepovers with friends, taking pictures at a pumpkin patch, going to the pool at least 5 times, taking a trip to the beach, etc.

I've never written a bucket list, but Maggie got me thinking about a different kind of list – a Spiritual Bucket List. A regular bucket list is usually things you want to do before you die – places to go, experiences to have, and so on. A spiritual bucket list is similar – what spiritual experiences do I want before I die?

I have many friends and relatives who are caring for elderly parents or sick spouses. That kind of caregiving is very draining, both physically and emotionally. It requires the best of us when we're exhausted, which is tough. I am not at my best when I'm tired. Self-care is the key – taking care of our body, mind, and soul so that we can care for those we love when the demand is great.

Rushing is a normal response to time pressures, even though it's not very effective. I know that from experience, yet I often find that I, like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, am hurrying in mind and body. Sometimes I have to remind myself to slow down and breathe.

I have been thinking about grace, and how the unlimited grace God makes available to each person. These days I can recognize grace in my life. I have the grace of a long marriage, the grace of motherhood, the grace to serve in different ways in my church, and the grace to do this podcast and write books. It's crazy the amount of grace in my life – like an explosion of grace.

I often invite people to join a group at church or attend a retreat or event, and sometimes the response I get is – My plate is too full. I know that feeling. There have been many times in my life that my plate has been overflowing and I'm feeling a lot of stress. I want the world to stop for just a bit so I can get caught up. Unfortunately, I have never been able to make that happen, so I have to find another way to deal with the load.