Suit up...this is WAR!

I apologize to any of you who were looking for this last Monday..Tuesday or even Wednesday.  I had not missed a week yet....and I am sorry.
But the subject of this is a direct result of what has been going on with me this past week. And by the looks of things it may be 2 weeks worth of reading rolled into one!

For any of you who may not think Satan is real, that the devil is just an idea or a caricature with horns, a tail and a pitch fork, read your bible.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:12

He is as real today as the slippery serpent in the garden of Eden.  Genesis 3
And from that very first encounter...he didn't strike when things were difficult or chaotic or people were in despair.  Things were good, Adam and Eve were in the beautiful garden, they had everything the could need, they had open communication with God. Satan does not like it when things are going well...when we are in a right relationship with our God.
So he begins to look for breakpoints in our armor.
Now don't jump right to the mind set..."so every time things are going well I will just wait for Satan to attack...just wait for it to go wrong" because that is just the mind set that puts that chink in your armor and gives Satan an "in".
Don't let this sound overwhelming or scary...we have hope! We have a God who has given us all we need stand firm against this devil...
Put on all of God's armor...
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:10-17

I just heard Pricilla Shirer speak about the belt of truth being the first part of the armor..and it makes sense...God's truth..the truth about who Christ is and what He did for us is our salvation, when we believe it.  It is the helmet of salvation that covers us. We need to put on the breast plate of righteousness ..doing right...not "I am right you are wrong"..but Christ's right.  It covers our hearts..directs our motives.  The shield of faith protects us...it is in our hand because it is moving and fluid...it shields us from the devils flaming arrows...no matter which direction they come from..our strong  faith protects.  Our sword goes before us and gives us a direction and an aim in battle!  A sword is held in your hand...it can not do any good out of your hand. Just as the Word of God  must be a part of us, in our hand, and mind and hearts.
Once you believe the truth of who Jesus is and what He has done for you...and you have His salvation ..you receive His Holy Spirit ... 
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—  John 14:16
And the Holy Spirit fights for you...intercedes for you!
 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

I didn't forget the shoes...shoes of readiness...readiness that comes from the gospel of PEACE..isn't that what we desire?  Peace...God's peace....in our hearts and in our lives!
So are you ready?!
Ready to step forward into battle?

Okay!
Hit...the ....ground....
...on your face!!!
Not what you expected...maybe "CHARGE" or " hit the ground running!"
No...the next verse after all the armor is PRAY.
¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. . Ephesians 6:18
That is the battlefield!

I have been in battle...more strongly recently than I have in a long time....and so have many around me.
It can be overwhelming, discouraging, exhausting, frightening...all the things Satan wants it to be.
First of all, I look at it this way...something must have Satan scared to step up his game like this. People are drawing closer to God, building a stronger relationship in Him, following in His direction.  And people must be strapping on the Armor for Satan to be shooting arrows looking for holes, chinks or weak spots.  And part of this past week's battle is that Satan has found some holes and was having a field day.

I heard something a long time ago and I come back to it often..."Satan only has as much power as WE allow him"
Satan is NOT God...or equal to God. He is not all knowing or all powerful, only God is. But Satan sees only what we reveal.
"I am not good enough to do that."  I am not worthy of this persons love...or Gods love"
"They really hurt me, I am justified in my anger" "they lied..I can't trust them"
And many more....that Satan will pick up and run with.
Just a FEW examples;
Satan's lie:
" I am not good enough"...he wants to keep that up, build on it...to keep you from stepping out in faith, fulfilling God's plan for you.
God's truth:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
 I can do all things through Christ  who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

Satan's lie:
"I am not worthy of love, even God's love." if he perpetuates this lie he can keep you from knowing the power of God's love.
God's truth:
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

Satan's lies:
"They really hurt me, I can not ever forgive them."  "They lied I can not trust them ever again."
God's truth:
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”  Matthew 11:25

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22

 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” Luke 17:4

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

If you are feeling beaten down, or distant from God.  You need to search God's word, spend time there and find His truth.  Recognized the need to do battle with the Great Deceiver.  God's word will tell you if it is Satan attacking and trying to get you to believe his lies.  I understand "life happens"  but we must remember... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:7-11

Sin entered this world from the very beginning with the lies of Satan, and he will continue those lies as long as he can steal and destroy the things in this life that draw us closer to God. 
Let's not give him that satisfaction!...let's suit up and get ready to battle!

Every morning gird yourself in God's Truth!   Claim your Salvation! Cover your heart in Righteousness!  Shield yourself in your Faith!  Grab your Word of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to do battle for you! And Step onto the battle field.....and PRAY!   When we are this prepared Satan doesn't stand a chance!

that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

STAND YOUR GROUND!
AND don't be discouraged...we have a God who has already won the War!  Trust in Him and His word and you will win this battle, and any more that come!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

Good Mooring

No not a typo.....
Well it started out that way...saying good morning to a dear Aunt of mine I mistyped and ....there goes my brain again.

Can we say Good Mooring today?
according to Wikipedia
"A mooring refers to any permanent structure to which a vessel may be secured. Examples include quays, wharfs, jetties, piers, anchor buoys, and mooring buoys. A ship is secured to a mooring to forestall free movement of the ship on the water. An anchor mooring fixes a vessel's position relative to a point on the bottom of a waterway without connecting the vessel to shore. As a verb, mooring refers to the act of attaching a vessel to a mooring."

 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me;    he drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
    from my foes, who were too strong for me.
 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
    but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
    he rescued me because he delighted in me." 2 Samuel 22:17-20

SO....do you have a good mooring today?  are you secured to THE permanent structure?

The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. Psalm 37:9

Is your position fixed?
So that when the waves and storms of life come....and they will, if they haven't already, are you secure?....you may get tossed about.....but you are not going to be sunk! 

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;    my hope comes from him.
 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Psalm 62:5-7


 You are moored to Christ! 
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20

He is our Hope....He has come to be our life saver/savior!  Our souls are firm and secure in our faith in Jesus Christ!

I pray you have good mooring today! Everyday!

Freedom Isn't Free

The independence we celebrate today we all hear, see and know comes at a cost.  Those who have and do serve in our nation's military sacrifice  much, so that what we know as America and her freedoms are protected. They sacrifice comforts, family, security, safety, health, and sometimes their lives....much more than some of us will ever know.
and for that I am grateful!

There is another freedom, greater than the freedoms we have in this country...a freedom that is yours no matter what country you live in or what circumstance you find yourself in.
And that is the freedom we have in Jesus Christ.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

That came at a cost too.... an only Son was given  to do battle for us, fighting the biggest enemy this world has known. 
 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

He was wounded, tortured, beaten and  even gave His life, BUT HE WON THE BATTLE and He won our freedom!
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11
He did not stay dead!  He rose again....that is how HE won and why we can have victory too!
...just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

With that victory comes the freedom from the penalty that comes with sin.  The ultimate penalty for our sin is eternal death, separation from our God.
For the wages of sin is death,
BUT because Jesus, our Warrior, took that penalty for us, we can claim freedom!
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
IF we claim Him as our Lord and Savior!!
because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Romans 6:7-11
Freedom in Christ gives us:
the ability to approach God with confidence
 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:10-12
Freedom to read and understand God's word....and the freedom to put God's word into action

 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

Freedom to show mercy, God's mercy

 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12-13

Freedom to serve God and to respect and love those God puts in our the path of our lives

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:16-17

Freedom to love, worship and walk with the Lord God

 May your unfailing love come to me, Lord,    your salvation, according to your promise;
then I can answer anyone who taunts me,
    for I trust in your word.
Never take your word of truth from my mouth,
    for I have put my hope in your laws.

 I will always obey your law,
    for ever and ever.
I will walk about in freedom,
    for I have sought out your precepts.
 I will speak of your statutes before kings
    and will not be put to shame,
for I delight in your commands
    because I love them.
 I reach out for your commands, which I love,
    that I may meditate on your decrees. Psalm 119:41-48

Freedom from a sinful life.  Freedom to live a holy life...

 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.  What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ...

...a life that will lead to eternity

...But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.   Romans 6:19-22

I pray for you find freedom in Christ today!
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free... Galatians 5:1

It is Not About You!

Today ( a day behind) is going to be to the point and fairly brief ...for me.
It is going to be like my "knee time" on Sunday morning.  God was to the point and brief! (one of those 2x4 moments)

I pray daily for many things and many people....fervently asking God to heal, resolve, work mightily, guide, direct for those around me....but when I hit my knees ....all I could "hear" is

"IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU!!!"

"It is about ME!"

"it is not about whether they are healed.  Or they find resolution, or they have wisdom, or you have direction or even if you serve Me today.

it is about ME......JUST ME.....heart consumed with ME.  eyes turned toward ME.  Soul flooded with ME.  AND I will take care of the rest!"


Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
  In the light of His glory and grace
Lyrics:

Helen Howarth Lemmel (1863-1961)

Music:

Helen Howarth Lemmel (1863-1961)

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Matthew 16:25

We must give up ourselves in order to find LIFE! 

It is not about you or me.....it is about HIM and only HIM!

Good Good Father

I am stealing the title to a song...

You're a good good father
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am…

Songwriters: Anthony Brown / Joseph Patrick Martin Barrett

Good Good Father lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

 It has been performed by Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, and others I am sure.

We all have a father; whether he is just is a biological DNA donor, or an active part of our lives.  Whether he was our knight, our prince, or the source of our nightmares.

Whether we have known him well, he has passed on, or we are searching for him still

At some point in our lives there is or was a father.

And there is nothing we can do to change who that person is, if we wanted to.

BUT regardless of the circumstances with your father, (and I PRAY that they are good)

you have a heavenly Father

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.   Psalm 68:5

who loves YOU above all else. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  1 Peter 1:3

He is but a breath away....if you haven't already called out to Him....

He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’  Psalm 89:26

the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. John 16:27

In your darkest moment or your greatest, giving your life over will give you peace and grace

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 1:7

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

Let God, through His Son Jesus Christ, lavish His love on you today!

He is THE Good Good Father, be loved by Him!

Good Good Father; Mercy Me

A New Frame

Today is probably going to seem rather whimsical.....or silly....how ever you may look at it, my hope and prayer is that it is at least somewhat inspirational!

We went bowling last night...10 AWANA kids and 6 of their teachers!  Lots of fun....My score was consistent ...54 both games!  I am not a bowler!  BUT I like to have a good time and it was a fun way to celebrate the end of the year with our some of our AWANA kids!

As I was throwing gutter balls, I made the statement....."next frame I can start fresh!"  and there goes my brain!
Isn't that like each new day?  I may not hit the mark today, I may stumble and grumble and show a lack of faith, I may even throw it all right into the "gutter", I may lack direction and focus. BUT tomorrow is a new day!  We can start fresh!  We ask God to forgive our weakness, our lack of faith, our poor judgement....He forgives us and we start fresh!

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28

Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, Mark 3:28

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”  Matthew 9:2b

We can ask God to direct us so that we are going straight and true.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

We have to focus...If our eyes aren't front and center, then our aim is going to be off; like mine, right into the gutter!

......And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1b-3

I love the last verse, 3....Jesus endured all He did so that we do not have to grow weary and lose heart! 

Today is another frame!!  I pray you throw a strike!

Forever Flame

Just this week, while doing a devotional reading I have (The Secret Place [Judson Press]) one of the days was about a perpetual flame.  The author talked about a fire in an England hearth that was kept stoked for 200 years. The gist, of course, was about the fire of the Holy Spirit that burns in each of us.
AND there goes my brain again!!
One of the first things that came to mind was the Olympic flame that is lit to start the games and has traveled across many miles and many countries ...and remains lit until the close of the games.
I also thought about our wood fire. We burn wood as our source of heat in the winter....and you do NOT want the fire going out....especially in the 25 below zero days.....if the fire goes out for any length of time it takes quite a long time to get the house warmed back up to a comfortable, livable temperature.
I am sure most of you can figure out where I might go with this....and actually I feel there is lots of spiritual application to both scenarios. 
What is the condition of your "hearth"?  When we accept Christ as our Savior He gives us the Holy Spirit to "dwell within us"
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 1 Corinthians 16:19

 “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:25-27

In Acts 2, the disciples and other followers of Christ were gathered shortly after Jesus ascension into heaven.   They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit....Acts 2:3

So the Holy Spirit can be likened to a fire with in us!

How is your fire doing!?  Are we constantly feeding our fire, so that it remains strong, giving warmth and light to all those around.
or do we forget to tend our fire, and it grows dim, just embers that are very hard for others to feel the light and warmth?  Do we need to stir those embers back to a flame and begin "feeding" it again?
or have we let the fire go out all together?  have we left it untended for so long that we almost have to start the process again?
One wonderful thing about the Holy Spirit  and our relationship with Christ is once you have accepted Christ as your Savior and the Spirit lives in you....It isn't going any where....but we can neglect it to the point that it is unrecognizable in us.  If we are sincere in our acceptance of who Christ is, we are His for eternity.....but we MUST tend that relationship, that "flame", in order to live a life worthy of Him.

As we run this race called life....
We MUST tend our "flame" so that we can carry it where ever we go and allow it to spread Christ's love and light every where we are!
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2
Have you feed your fire today!?