SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016
7 A
Take back your mind and win the war
If you have received Christ
as your Savior, then you have
an enemy. Did you know that?
I know some people feel
uncomfortable talking about
the devil, but he is real and
it’s important for us to face
the truth about him so we can
have a victorious life in
Christ.
Now, we don’t need to be
afraid of him because as
believers in Jesus, the Holy
Spirit who lives in us is
greater than our enemy in the
world (1 John 4:4). But we
can’t ignore the enemy’s
attacks and overcome him.
And the Word of God tells us
how to “fight the good fight
of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12
AMP) using the weapon of
the Word.
We Are in a War
Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
says, “We do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of
wickedness….”
And
2
Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)
says, “The weapons of our
warfare are not carnal but
mighty in God for pulling
Florence Tech Solutions
• Smart TV Setup
• Virus Malware
• Cloud/iCloud
• Email Setup
• Tutoring
• iPad, iPhone, MAC
• Universal TV Remote
• Sound Bar Setup
• Smart Phone | Tablet
• Monthly Computer Tune-Up
• Streaming Setup
(Roku, Firestick)
• Printer Scanner
• Social Media Eduation
• Website Design
Owner | Technician
info@Florencetechsolutions.com
Book an appointment today at
www.fl orencetechsolutions.com
541-590-2474
down strongholds, casting
down arguments and every
high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of
God, bringing every thought
into captivity to the obedience
of Christ.”
There is a battle raging and
the battlefield is the mind.
That’s why it is critical for us
to learn how to renew our
minds with the weapon of
God’s Word.
Romans 12:2 exhorts us to
“not be conformed to this
world…but be transformed
(changed) by the [entire]
renewal of your mind…”
(AMPC). The Word of God is
the most powerful thing on
the earth, and if we will really
learn the truth in it, then the
power of the Word will literal-
ly transform our lives by
“pulling down strongholds” in
our minds.
Know Your Enemy
The Bible teaches us that
the devil “is a liar [himself]
and the father of lies” (John
8:44 AMPC). He comes
against us by bombarding our
minds with cleverly devised
patterns of nagging thoughts
that lead to suspicion, doubt,
fear, reasoning and theories
that refute the truth of God’s
Word. When these thoughts
get rooted in our minds, then
we have strongholds that give
the enemy control.
A stronghold is an area
where the enemy entrenches
himself and takes control. So
when the Bible talks about
strongholds in our mind, it’s
referring to areas where the
enemy
has
become
entrenched in our thoughts,
causing us to believe some-
thing that’s absolutely not
true, but because we believe
it’s true, it has become a real-
ity for us.
Before I learned about
being transformed by the
renewing of my mind accord-
ing to God’s Word, I believed
things that weren’t true,
and they created a mess in my
life.
I remember thinking things
like, “Nobody cares about me
or loves me. Nothing good is
going to happen in my life, so
I might as well not expect
anything good. I’m always
going to have a second-class
life because I was abused by
my father and I’m damaged
goods.”
It’s taken years of diligent-
ly studying God’s Word and
prayer, but God has set me
free from those strongholds
and I have come to the place
where I can live in His right-
eousness, peace and joy every
day. And like John 8:32 says,
the truth has set me free!
Wield Your Sword
Let’s go back to Ephesians
6. Verses 12-18 tell us who
our enemy is and that we need
to put on the armor of God so
we can stand our ground and
resist him. Verse 17 says to
“take the helmet of salvation
and the sword that the Spirit
wields, which is the Word of
God” (AMPC).
So how do we “wield the
Word”?
It’s simple: When we hear
the Word, speak the Word,
meditate on the Word and sing
praises from the Word of God,
we are doing spiritual war-
fare. And as we study the
Word, it becomes a filter in
our mind that reveals the lies
of the enemy and gives us the
truth. That’s why the devil
will do everything he can to
distract us from spending time
with God and studying the
Word.
I want to encourage you
today to make a determined
decision to keep your rela-
tionship with God and His
Word your number one priori-
ty. Look up every scripture
you can find about renewing
the mind, then meditate on
those scriptures and say them
out loud. Ask God to reveal
any strongholds in your mind
and help you tear them down
with His Word. Then, when
the enemy comes against you,
you won’t be deceived. And
like me, your testimony will
be: Thank You, God! Your
Truth has set me free.
Joyce Meyer is a New York
Times bestselling author and
founder of Joyce Meyer
Ministries, Inc.
Celebrate candlelight service, new beginnings
Today, on Christmas Eve,
at the Florence Unitarian Uni-
versalist Fellowship (FUUF),
there will be a candlelight
service led by the Rev. Ruth
Miller from 5:30 p.m. until 7
p.m. with stories, carols and
holiday snacks.
Christmas morning, starting
at 10 a.m., there will be a pot-
luck brunch with baked ham
and spiced cider provided.
Please feel welcome to attend.
New Year is a time of new
beginnings.
In recognition and celebra-
tion, “New Beginnings” will
take participants on a journey
to release last year’s kaleido-
scope of experiences while
opening awareness to the
glory in today.
On New Year’s Eve, Sat-
urday, Dec. 31, beginning at 5
p.m., the “New Beginnings”
labyrinth will be drawn inside
FUUF.
All are invited to share in
drawing and walking the
labyrinth. Chanting and drum-
ming will culminate in joyous
celebration of 2017 at 9 p.m.
Then on New Year’s Day,
Sunday, Jan. 1, seating will be
arranged around the labyrinth
as Larry and Linda Addison
share new beginnings in sto-
ries and metaphors.
FUUF is located at 87738
Highway 101 at Heceta Beach
Road and is wheelchair acces-
sible.
Visit www.florenceuuf.org
for more information.
Call to quilt artists for March show in Yachats
Elks Community
Appreciation Dinner
December 25, 2016
12:00 - 3:00 pm
The Offi cers and Members of
Florence Elks Lodge #1858
Appreciate the Florence Community for
Supporting our Lodge.
As a token of our appreciation,
please join us for a
Complimentary Dinner
At the Lodge, 1686 12th Street, Florence
On Christmas Day from
Noon to 3:00 pm.
River Cities Taxi will be providing free transportation
for those that need it, inside the Florence City Limits
Please call 541-997-8520
Fraternally,
Joyce Middleton, Exalted Ruler
YACHATS—Polly Plumb
Productions Board Member,
Ruth Bass announces a call to
artists for the Ocean Artistry
Art Quilt Show to be held
at the Yachats Commons,
Yachats, Oregon, on March
10-12, 2017.
This juried show will accept
art pieces from local, regional,
and international art quilters.
The theme of this inaugural
show will be “Gems of the
Ocean.”
Details of the call to artists
can be found at www.ocean
artistry call.com.
Quilt entries will be accept-
ed between Dec. 15, 2016 and
Jan. 15, 2017, and will be
decided by Feb. 1.
Final judging will be made
KRAB KETTLE
280 Hwy. 101 M 541-997-8996
Nominate businesses,
people for Siuslaw Awards
Stock the stuffi ngs with
canned tunas in all fl avors!
Have a very happy holiday
from all of us at the Krab Kettle.
Photo of the Week:
Est. 1936
SUBMIT PHOTOS (JPEGS) BY EMAIL TO E DITOR @T HE S IUSLAW N EWS . COM
BY
By Claudia Wittenberg
NOON
ON
The ninth annual Siuslaw
Awards event is fast approach-
ing. The awards banquet,
sponsored by the Florence
Area Chamber of Commerce,
will happen Feb. 8, at the
FEC.
This prestigious event rec-
ognizes excellence in the local
business community by nam-
ing recipients for awards in
Excellence in Customer
Service,
Curb
Appeal,
NonProfit
Achievement,
Community Caring, Inno-
vation in Business and the Stu
Johnston Business of the Year
Award.
Two outstanding individu-
als in the community will be
honored with the Future First
Citizen Award and the First
Citizen Award.
Florence Area Chamber of
Commerce will also recognize
an individual or business that
has selflessly given of their
time and efforts in supporting
the Florence Area Chamber of
Commerce and its efforts with
the Distinguished Service
Award.
Anyone can choose to nom-
inate their own or another
business for the Siuslaw
Awards.
Applications are available
now either at the Florence
Chamber
of
Commerce
Visitor Center or online at
www.florencechamber.com.
Nominations must be sub-
mitted to the Florence Area
Chamber of Commerce by
Dec. 30.
For more information, call
Florence Area Chamber of
Commerce at 541-997-3128.
541-999-5083
T HURSDAYS
Breakfast •Lunch • Dinner
“Growlers Filled Here”
GIFT
CARDS
Full Service Lottery • Full Bar • 20 Beers on Tap
Open 7 days a week
beachcomberpub.com
beauty of this area and make
interpretations based on their
own whimsy.”
The new art show has
already received financial sup-
port from both the Siletz Tribal
Charitable Contribution Fund
and the City of Yachats’ New
Event Fund.
“We’re delighted to bring
this type of show to Yachats.
This will brighten up the town
and we welcome everyone to
experience an art quilt show,”
said Bass.
For more information, visit
info@oceanartistry.org.
Reminder to pick up your Crabs before 3pm today.
Elks Care-Elks Share
Siuslaw News
by a five-person panel of
artists and dignitaries during
the show.
All selected entries will be
on display during the Ocean
Artistry Art Quilt show run-
ning March 10-12 at the
Yachats Commons in the
multi-purpose room.
The show will run from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m.
“One of the goals of the
show is to introduce art quilt-
ing to both locals and visitors
to the area,” said Bass. “We
thought the ocean theme would
allow artists to explore the
541-997-6357
1355 Bay St. • Old Town