Always on the Prowl

Yesterday was a very strange day. When I walked the dog early in the morning I found a large feather in the yard that most likely came from a wild turkey passing through. I picked it up and immediately asked the Lord for wisdom in what it meant. Was it another feather for my wings to fly or was it a warning that the enemy was near? As the day went on I received some disturbing e-mails from a 'stranger' who was 'fisching' for security information - by playing on my emotions and my sympathies. They were claiming to be on their 'deathbed' and were really 'snowing' their way in to obtain financial record information. I sensed something not right with all of it so I was very cautious. It was really very upsetting. The e-mails continued even into today. But later in the day [yesterday] the Lord revealed the 'scheme' when another e-Mail came through with almost the identical info - with just the names changed. God showed the TRUTH of the situation as I continued to 'pray it through' along with one of my friends here, a godly woman, who prayed with me, as well as with advice from one of my pastor's and his wife on how to proceed.

Turns out this practice [of scam artists] comes through Nigeria. This country is the source of most of these scams. One of the addresses in the e-Mail was from the capitol city of that country. I can now imagine how easily people [especially the elderly] can be 'caught up' in these scams - at first they seem very believable.

God had shown me these verses:

1 Peter 5:7-9
7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Habakkuk 1:7-9
7 They are a feared and dreaded people;

they are a law to themselves

and promote their own honor.
8 Their horses are swifter than leopards,

fiercer than wolves at dusk.

Their cavalry gallops headlong;

their horsemen come from afar.

They fly like a vulture swooping to devour;
9 they all come bent on violence.

Their hordes advance like a desert wind

and gather prisoners like sand.

Psalm 37 (selected)
Of David.

1 Do not fret because of evil men

or be envious of those who do wrong;

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him;

do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For evil men will be cut off,

but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;

though you look for them, they will not be found.

12 The wicked plot against the righteous

and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,

for He knows their day is coming. [Scripture emphasis added]

I'm so glad that the LORD protects widows and orphans and those He loves. He will not allow the schemes of the wicked and perverse to prevail.

Looking UPward and Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[In Flight]

PS: 'B' = I'll share this feather with you!! ;-)