FORTIFIED ... Thoughts on "Home" Invasion

It was a very busy July into August through September.

Our EvaSUE National Events concluded with great success and then I traveled to the US for almost a month to take rest.

I’ve just now felt settled back into Ethiopia enough to write a blog update.  I appreciate so many of you praying me through the end of summer and travel and start to the new school year.  God has been good!

Before traveling to the US, I wanted to “fortify” my house the best I could.  Fortify means to “strengthen, to protect from invasion.” Having been in and out of Ethiopia for so many years now, I knew that when I was away, things could “move in.” So I took as many precautions as I could.  I taped, I sprayed, I even had a friend come and check my place and do the same until I came back.  

On arrival, I found my house had stayed fortified.  I was so happy!

Thoughts on “home invasion” kept coming into my mind while I traveled and on my return.  So, I wanted to share some thoughts on it.

Where is “home” for you? What is there? Who is there? And how do you protect that / those things from “invasion?”

I think most of us would say “home” is where we live and our families are there.

I would also say church is a “home” for many of us, where spiritual family comes together.

Also, the country you were born in is a kind of “home.”

How do you guard these things? Fortify them? Strengthen them? 

We don’t like to be invaded or attacked in any of these “homes.”

We want our homes, our families, our churches, our country, all these things- to be at peace and guarded. When invasion happens, it can bring fear.

To fortify our homes- many get doorbell cameras and various security alarms. You might buy a dog. For our country, we may build walls or increase our military.  For churches, you may try to have small groups where vulnerability and accountability is there.

But despite our best efforts, things can still invade.

Here in Ethiopia, I’ve worked hard over the years to “fortify” my home. I’ve learned the hard way what to do and what not to do. There have been millions of bugs, lizards, ants and spiders, and one snake.  Harder in more recent years to fortify my home and self from … has been unseen things like dust that can make you cough or make your breathing shallow.

On my travel in the US, I was reminded of a lethal home invader and one that is often hard to see or catch … and that is SIN. Sin is already at work in us and around us and in people and it can sneak in and destroy homes.  It often starts small and then can grow.  Satan is there to spark it until it’s a fire.  When it gets into a marriage, a family, a church, a ministry, a life, it can bring utter devastation.

We need to watch out for it always.  We need to stay aware of it and not go near it!  We need to warn each other and get rid of it fast!  We need to be fortified against it!

Thankfully God’s Spirit is with us to give us warning.  The family of God should also be around us to pray for us and watch our backs.  We also have armor to put on and stay in.

Are you protecting and taking care of what God has given you?  Is anything “invading” your home and you haven’t done anything yet?

Thankfully, God is able to fortify us. He can strengthen us and our homes. When storms or temptations or valleys come, even if we’ve fallen in those before, He can anchor us in Him and give us a way of escape.  He can hold us strong and keep us standing.

We must keep our foundation on Jesus. We must stay rooted in Him. We also have to stick together.  Isolation is very dangerous.  We must walk wisely and keep aware.

Don’t let an invasion happen. God can fortify!

-I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me ...Psalm 16:8

-He is my rock and my salvation…Psalm 62:6

-He lifted me pit pf the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand … Psalm 40:2

-He will make my feet like those of deer; He will enable me to stand on the heights …Habakuk 3: 17-19

-Be aware, Satan is roaming around seeking someone to devour… I Peter 5: 8-9

 -the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that you may have life and have it to the full … John 10:1-3

-Submit yourselves to God; resist Satan and he will flee … James 4:7

-Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand … Ephesians 6: 1-10

-Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power … Ephesians 6:10

-He who builds His house on a rock is wise …Matthew 7: 24-27

-The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run into it and are safe …Proverbs 18:10

As the fall season continues, may we stay fortified!

And may we also remember we have an eternal home one day that will be free from sin and attack. No tears will be there or pain. The troubles we face here are temporary. The "home" we have with God forever will be worth all we have passed through here. We might get attacked here and have things stolen from us, but no one can take Jesus from us.  "Let's make heaven crowded." Thank you, Ashley, for reminding us of that with your life! Let's invite people to go there and introduce them to the Savior they need to know.  

May we stand and not be shaken. May we share the good news until we enter our forever home with God.  Until then, may we keep going! 

Praises

-Praise God for an amazing EvaSUE National Leadership Summit in August. Over 1000 student leaders from all over Ethiopia came for training and God did so much!  I gave a Youth Culture seminar and also led the Art Team.  The Art Gallery put together was inspiring for all

-Praise God for our EvaSUE National Staff Retreat in August when our team of over 100 staff gathered to rest and reflect on the year behind.  A highlight for the staff was a soccer tournament

-Praise God for safe travel home to the US, where I was able to spend time with my family and rest

-Praise God for Ethiopia’s new year, celebrated mid-September

-Praise God for my safe return back to Ethiopia

Prayer Requests

- Please pray for a busy school year calendar already underway with EvaSUE

-Please pray for a three-week training for 15 new staff that started this week

-Please pray for Ethiopia, fighting has started back in the Tigray region and prayer is needed

Please pray for ministry funds- I still need to raise a one-time amount for the new school year. This is to cover travel expenses and ministry event expenses. If you’d like to make a one-time donation for this, you can do that through this link:

https://www.globaloutreach.org/giving/missionary-details/holly-garrett          

(If you give through the link, make sure you click on “give to missionary” under the photo on the left-hand side, for it to get to me.)  Thanks for anything God might lead you to give!

Please also join me in wishing my amazing Mom- Rosie and my sister- Noel – happy late October birthdays.  I'm so blessed by these Garrett girls; and also, by my great handsome Dad, Jim. 

My Mom and Noel

My great Dad and Mom

Thank you for the support and prayers! Blessings to you all!