Are you geared up for Survival?

Life is frustrating but God is FAITHFUL...

the world can be tough, but God taught us in Ephesians 6 

how to survive in this world.

He  gave us this guide through Scripture 

teaching us which tools we were to use in "GEARING UP"!

Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the whole armor of God...

BE STRONG

"be strong in the Lord..."

Remember to lean on God everyday in every way --- 

His Might is more powerful than we can imagine!

TRUTH 

" Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist."

Protect yourself by covering your heart in God's Truth - 

the Word of God planted in your heart each day will

help you navigate through the chaos of life.

RIGHTOUSNESS

"with the breastplate of righteousness in place..."

When we enter into a deep and personal relationship with God, 

we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in each decision and action daily.

GOSPEL OF PEACE

"your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace..."

Be ready to meet the needs of others with the Love of Christ 

and the Message of Hope and Salvation 

that comes from knowing God and His plan for us

and the willingness to share the Gospel with others.

SHEILD OF FAITH

"take up the shield of faith..."

This shield raised against the attacks 

of the devil as he comes to steal - kill - and destroy 

all that God gifts to us each and every day in our lives. 

HELMET OF SALVATION

"Take the helmet of salvation..."

Being careful each day to wear your helmet  - if we don't our minds 

are unprotected against distressing thoughts that 

satan uses to target us and make us doubt God's unmeasurable love for us...

REMEMBER - HE CHOSE YOU!

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

"and also the sword of the Spirit..."

God's Word is the sword that slays the devil - 

know His promises and claim them as your own...

they are power again the evil one.

When Jesus was tempted by satan - 

He spoke the truth of God's Word to rebuke satan.

PRAYING ALWAYS

"and pray always in the Spirit..."

Not only are we told what armor to wear, 

but also we are told what our stance should be. 

Many times we find that as we seek God - 

we find He is standing at the ready to answer and meet our needs.

So ladies - I ask you - how's your gear looking?  

IS IT STORED? or IS IT WELL-WORN?

Don't head out with out ALL your armor.

With Love in Him,

Not JUST Released from Captivity

It's a GREAT grace that sweeps across us as 

we realize that God doesn't just move 

us out of bondage & captivity to wander alone aimlessly...

but instead He invites us to overwhelming joy

 as the shackles fall away and we step into the promises He gives.

As I read Isaiah 55 this morning, God spoke to me about the JOY

that becomes ours when He frees us from the captivity of our sins.

He REDEEMS us - REFRESHES our spirit and RENEWS a hope in us.

As the Jews were coming out of captivity in Babylon, God already

had planned overwhelming Joy and Happiness in their future.

He does so for us today too...

Call to the One who is Hope-

the One who Restores us- 

the ONE who forgives sin 

and remembers it no more-

THE ONE WHO PLANS JOY FOR YOU!

Let your heart be filled with Joy that 

Only HE can give...

Is ANGER giving Satan a foothold in your life?

 “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.  ~Ephesians 4:26-27

Anger can be a warning to us that something is really wrong in our heart. Like a warning light on the dashboard of our car, it means to stop and check inside the engine to see what is going on. 

Often times our pride has been wounded. Good! When we exalt self above others - our pride needs to be more than wounded; it needs to DIE fully at the foot of the cross.

It may take some time to get down to the real problem. The problem may be deep-seated issues of embitterment, receiving the anger of others, a sense of unfairness, a wrong someone has committed  toward you, or any number of other challenges. Ask God to reveal the source of your anger.  Once we are able to identify the root cause, only then is it that it can be (and must) be dealt with as God would have us do. Give it to HIM!  Our renewed way of thinking must examine that issue in the Light of His Truth.   Doing so doesn't mean it will immediately go away,
but that we learn how to look at the issue in God's Light.

It is important to not let anger go unchecked. Unchecked anger is like a scheduling a "playdate" with the devil and then offering a sleepover too - he WILL grab a foothold. It can turn into bitterness, rage, brawling, slander and every form of malice. If any of these would characterize how you feel or behave toward another, the devil has a foothold in your life. This grieves the Holy Spirit. He is not comfortable dwelling in you when you allow this behavior to remain. 

You are not exemplifying the life of Christ, but instead the spirit that of the world.

God's solution is to get rid of it. It is the simple and obvious answer, but we can only carry that out by surrendering to the Love of Christ. Remember - He forgave your worst offenses - and that was  worse than the challenge that created the anger. be embraced by His Love and Grace and know that He wants to express that same Grace in and through you. 

Now to be clear - it doesn't mean that you have to trust or enable that person to harm you or others again, but it does mean your attitude of bitterness must GO. This change is nothing short of a miracle. God will do it IN you  and FOR you if you are willing. The Greek verb tense implies this is done at a point in time and remains done. Get rid of it! Don't go on grieving the Spirit. He will help you.

Remember - God stands ready with outstretched arms to forgive you, remove the anger and replace it with His Immeasurable Love.   Check you dash lights ladies and get ready to take a look inside...

In His Love,