What an a amazing time I have had since my last post! I'm not saying that it was all roses... there were some definite moments where I would have LOVED to just give up, but as it is said in James 1:2-4
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
I don't know about you but I find it difficult to find joy sometimes when things start to pile up on you! I was in a hard place at the beginning of last week. My husband and I were down to NO working cars (thankfully our family helped to get us places), The bank that I work at was taken over by the FDIC, I felt like I was getting a bladder infection and my Kidneys hurt so bad that it was difficult to walk. I had to cling desperately hard to the truths that I know. I know that God is for me and will NEVER forsake me (1 Chronicles 28); I know that God has a plan for my life to prosper me and not to harm me (Jeremiah 29), The Lord is my strength and my shield (Psalm 28)!!!
It was not easy by any means, there were some tears and some fervent prayers of petition.... but I made it through that storm! My job is taken care of, my health is very much improved, and my husband and I each have a working and reliable vehicle. However we serve a mighty God who goes above and beyond, so not only did he add unto me those things he also made a way for me to get my braces removed after 11 years of wearing them!
Now my husband is expecting a job offer in the next couple of days and I am working toward a promotion at work! God is Good, beyond what I could even imagine! I am not saying any of this to brag but simply to remind you and myself that God is in control and has YOUR best interest in mind! So be strong and hold on, God IS opening doors!!
1 Chronicles 29:13 (New King James Version)
13 “Now therefore, our God,
We thank You
And praise Your glorious name.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Warfare
In all honesty since my last post I have had a very rough week! I have had to constantly remind myself of the promises that God has made for me. I even got onto my blog and read my own post for encouragement! This morning I felt myself come to a breaking point. I felt like a failure in several areas. I don't know if it was God or my own mind, but I felt a tug telling me that I am at war because I started this blog and I have been more open and bold with my words and actions promising to share only the truth of God's word. I love to look up the definitions of things in the dictionary (I guess I am a little bit of a nerd in that way), so I looked up the word "warfare" out of curiosity!
Warfare (by Merriam Webster):
1.) an activity undertaken by a political unit (as a nation) to weaken or destroy another
2.) struggle between competing entities
"To weaken and destroy another" hasn't that been the devil's mission since being cast out of Heaven? Out of fear and pride we give him the authority to do just that in our lives! I know that when I have tried to take things upon myself rather than relying on God, he has defiantly succeeded in weakening my faith! There is a "struggle between competing entities" when it come to God and the devil. We are privileged that we already know the ending, but sometimes that knowledge is easy to forget when you are caught up in the midst of a battle! That is the very reason that God has given us his word.
Hebrews 4:12 (New King James Version)
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discern-er of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God's word is living and powerful!!! Sharper than ANY two-edged sword!!! What an amazing God we serve! As I said before God has made the way for us, he never said the way would be easy, but he has given us the tools to stand firm no matter what the enemy tries to throw at us!
Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
I could go on for hours speaking about the armor of God, it is one of my passions, but I won't... this time; but I will continue to open my mouth boldly to make the gospel known. I could choose to live in fear of what may happen if I don't back down, but I am more afraid of what may happen if I choose to keep God to myself! There are too many people in my life that I have the opportunity to reach, and yes, if I back down God will use someone else; but he has already put me in their lives "for such a time as this" (Esther 4)!
Remember that God has given you his armor, so stand and fight with boldness!
Warfare (by Merriam Webster):
1.) an activity undertaken by a political unit (as a nation) to weaken or destroy another
2.) struggle between competing entities
"To weaken and destroy another" hasn't that been the devil's mission since being cast out of Heaven? Out of fear and pride we give him the authority to do just that in our lives! I know that when I have tried to take things upon myself rather than relying on God, he has defiantly succeeded in weakening my faith! There is a "struggle between competing entities" when it come to God and the devil. We are privileged that we already know the ending, but sometimes that knowledge is easy to forget when you are caught up in the midst of a battle! That is the very reason that God has given us his word.
Hebrews 4:12 (New King James Version)
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discern-er of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God's word is living and powerful!!! Sharper than ANY two-edged sword!!! What an amazing God we serve! As I said before God has made the way for us, he never said the way would be easy, but he has given us the tools to stand firm no matter what the enemy tries to throw at us!
Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
I could go on for hours speaking about the armor of God, it is one of my passions, but I won't... this time; but I will continue to open my mouth boldly to make the gospel known. I could choose to live in fear of what may happen if I don't back down, but I am more afraid of what may happen if I choose to keep God to myself! There are too many people in my life that I have the opportunity to reach, and yes, if I back down God will use someone else; but he has already put me in their lives "for such a time as this" (Esther 4)!
Remember that God has given you his armor, so stand and fight with boldness!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Be more than a Conquer
Numbers 13:30
"Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”
God has called us to be more than conquers!!! This is one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible! I still remember the first time I read it. I was in my room having my devotion with God and came across this verse. I had been struggling with a lot of things and the volumes that this verse spoke to me were astounding!!
God had told the children of Israel that "this" was their land, they simply had to take possession of it. Moses sent spies into the land, and when they returned they gave a negative report. They said "yes, the land has everything that the Lord has promised to us and more, however there are these giants in the land." All they could see were the obstacles that were standing in their way. Joshua and Caleb however had faith. They knew that God had told them to enter the land boldly, because he had already made the way for them. They stood up against the crowd and proclaimed "We can certainly conquer it!" The unbelief and lack of faith caused God to send his chosen people back into the desert until that entire generation had died off only Joshua and Caleb were allowed by God to enter the promise land!
How many times do we look at our promised land and all we see are the giants that stand in our way and we are ready to turn the other direction? God has already prepared the way for us. He has that perfect job, that amazing home, the spouse who will honor and love you, the physical and emotional healing, the breakthrough in finances!
Numbers 23:19
"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"
God WILL always come through... we just have to hang on and not loose faith. God is incapable of not keeping his promises!! What a mighty God we serve!
"Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”
God has called us to be more than conquers!!! This is one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible! I still remember the first time I read it. I was in my room having my devotion with God and came across this verse. I had been struggling with a lot of things and the volumes that this verse spoke to me were astounding!!
God had told the children of Israel that "this" was their land, they simply had to take possession of it. Moses sent spies into the land, and when they returned they gave a negative report. They said "yes, the land has everything that the Lord has promised to us and more, however there are these giants in the land." All they could see were the obstacles that were standing in their way. Joshua and Caleb however had faith. They knew that God had told them to enter the land boldly, because he had already made the way for them. They stood up against the crowd and proclaimed "We can certainly conquer it!" The unbelief and lack of faith caused God to send his chosen people back into the desert until that entire generation had died off only Joshua and Caleb were allowed by God to enter the promise land!
How many times do we look at our promised land and all we see are the giants that stand in our way and we are ready to turn the other direction? God has already prepared the way for us. He has that perfect job, that amazing home, the spouse who will honor and love you, the physical and emotional healing, the breakthrough in finances!
Numbers 23:19
"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"
God WILL always come through... we just have to hang on and not loose faith. God is incapable of not keeping his promises!! What a mighty God we serve!
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