Super Powers and Super Fruits

I have grandkids who love the fairy tales and super powered ...well,  just about anything, from pups to princesses!
One common theme, I have noticed, is that they have a special item (a scepter,  a crown, a "pup pack", etc) that infuses them with special powers or a special ability...and at the climax of the show the evil villain steals the special object so the hero no longer has their power...but sometimes find they had "the power" within all along
Harkens back to a story about a girl and some red shoes!
My first thought was, "we don't have a special object that gives us what we need....do we?"
📖  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 6:11-17

Each piece is representative of what we can have in Christ. We don't have to actually have a helmet to have salvation.  A helmet covers us at the top...the start so to speak...it also protects our brain...our mind...where we make a conscious decision to follow Christ.  Where we reason the great gift God  gave us in His only Son, so that He could be the sinless "lamb" and die for our sins, and have victory over death when He rose three days later. Salvation is top!
📖 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condem n the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16
When we accept that we are a sinner and need a savior we receive forgiveness.   And in that we can give forgiveness.
Once we have accepted His grace we can give grace.
We accept His love, we can love others the way we are called to.
📖 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

Once we become His follower and be filled with Him we have the ability to live righteously (breastplate), we have faith (shield), we have the spirit/the word of God (sword), and we have His word which is truth (belt), and should be ready to spread His gospel of peace (shoes)

We read and memorize scripture, but it isn't what gives us our "power".  Scripture gives us truth which gives us wisdom, understanding.
We accept Christ and receive the Holy Spirit....and we can't not lose that once accepted with a true heart.
Being filled with Christ and the Holy  Spirit is what allows us the ability to have... not exactly super powers...but "super fruits"!

 📖  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

We hear today about many of the super fruits we should ingest to help with our over all health.

When we become infused with the Holy Spirit we will produce these fruits, His fruits!

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Self control
I consider it a good  day when I can display several, my goal, always, is to have them all!!
But I know that I can not produce them in my own strength, and I don't even have what it takes within me, unless I am filled with Him and His mighty power!
be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10
I pray you find your power today!
🙏❤
 📖  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly  realms,  Ephesians 1:18-20

The Gate and Beyond

I am cheating again!
I am going to share with you the link to our virtual church service yesterday.
There are 2 songs (beginning and end)
I mention Victory Baptist Church specifically a couple times, but insert your church name, it still applies!
I pray God use His wordto speak to hearts.
❤🙏
The Gate and Beyond

I Am At A Loss

"I am at a loss."
Have you heard that statement before?
Have you said that statement before?
During a crisis, a tragedy, when someone comes to us with their crisis or tragedy we may find ourselves saying or at least thinking,
"I am at a loss?"

At a loss for what?
A loss for an explanation?
Don't  need one.
📖 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3
There will be trials and trouble in this world....PERIOD.
📖 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33
You don't need to come up with the reasons.

A loss for answers?
Don't need them.
Christ has the answers
📖 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37
📖 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
Any answers you could want are in His Holy Word!

A loss for words?...don't need them.
Love
📖 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:35
📖 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:32
LOVE!

At a loss as to what to do?
📖 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
📖 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
 1 Corinthians 13:13

We do not have to be "at a loss"
because Christ has already has it.
However we can lose
the anger
the hurt
the bitterness
resentment
jealousy
pride

If we are in the middle of grief, or great tragedy,
whether brought upon is by our actions or the actions of another
or we are thrust into it through circumstances that are under no ones control...life just happens that way....
Our reaction may be " I am at a loss"
When Christ faced His biggest, darkest challenge,
He was at a loss;
"Father take this cup from me..."
But instead of trying to bargin or reason, or find words to try to change it He said
"Not My will, but Yours be done"!
And then His loss became His victory and our gain!

When we are in it and are at a loss as to what to say or even what to pray
Pray the "prayer that never fails "
"Lord, Your will be done."
If someone comes to you with their sorrow so heavy they can not bear it alone...
and your mind is whirling, all that wants to come out is "I am at a loss"
Pray for them!
📖 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. James 5:15

Christ is not surprised by anything....He is never at a loss...
📖 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. Romans 8:26

🙏I pray that if the circumstances around you are putting you "at a loss" you look to your Savior for your direction 
And know I am praying for you ❤

Freedom Isn't Free (reboot)

I originally did the Freedom Isn't Free as a blog July 4th 2017.
This Independence Day Weekend I reworked it as a message for our church.
I am sharing the whole thing with you!
Freedom Isn't Free

Life Coach

There seems to be a new buzz phrase...some amongst the wealthy and privileged.
I have also heard it in terms of those suffering from trauma...especially during important developmental points in life.  
But when I heard a successful actress use the phrase on TV the other day..stating her "life coach" advised her to apologize to an individual (though she hadn't wronged that person,  at least not intentionally)
My thought...
Hey!  I have one!! THE One!  The only Life Coach we should depend on!
And He doesn't charge by the hour! (He only requires we love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength❤ and worth every bit!)

📖 “Keep my commands and follow them. I am the Lord.  Leviticus 22:31

📖 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

Our Life Coach has given us a strategy book to follow ...full of direction,  encouragement, correction, wisdom, and more!

📖 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Just as with anything in life we attempt, that we want to be productive, we have to be committed.
If we commit our life to the Lord, commit to reading His book and following what is in it, we will be better for it.  And have a healthier spirit! 
📖 And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  Hebrews 12:1b-2a

And it will never be in vain....
📖 And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.  
Philippians 2:15b

Because the reward is far more than any earthly thing....
📖 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him James 1:12 ESV
the end of the race, the Crown is Eternal life with Our Coach, Jesus Himself!

It may seem difficult at first, hard to establish the habit...but give it a try.
Set aside time each day...specifically, to spend with your Coach and His book...make it a habit.
And remember we can even can talk to our Coach ..in prayer 24/7, 365  ad ifinitum! Once we make that commitment our Life Coach takes the job for eternity, our contract never ends! 

I am glad I have already SIGNED UP!
🙏My prayer is that you have made that commitment as well!

📖 but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9b

Glow In the Dark

I am again going to share what I did for worship this past Sunday.
I hope that you don't mind and it touches a heart!
(just click on the link to watch the service)

Glow In the Dark

I Know You Are

Lord,
I know you are:
Listening
📖 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17
📖 As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,  
and he hears my voice. Psalm.34:16-17

There
📖 So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
📖 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

Working
📖 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
📖 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17

Loving
📖 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
📖 We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:18


Faithful
📖 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. Psalm 25:10
📖 They are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23

Righteous
📖 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 7:17
📖 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. John 17:25

Caring 
📖 The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,  Nahum 1:7
📖 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Able
📖 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. Daniel 3:17
📖  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us Ephesians 3:20

Calling me
📖 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 
2 Timothy 1:9
📖 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28


📖 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his Commandments. 
Deuteronomy 7:9

I know you Lord!
I pray you do too!