Pray for our Troops

Recently my uncle and his family visited us from California.
He's in the Marines. He's been in for about four or five years now. We had a really nice time with him, his wife, and there to kids who are two and one.
But the trip was kind of bittersweet. This was the first time that we had seen him since he came back from Afghanistan. He was there for five months and then got to come home early. That was back in May.
He goes back to Afghanistan in precisely one month....

The last time he went he missed the birth of his little girl...and this time he may miss the birth of there other little baby.


Our soldiers will almost always be in danger. Either because of what they're doing or because of where they are. We will always have a military. And we will almost always know someone that is in it. But that doesn't mean that we have to live in fear for them.
They need our prayers just as bad as anyone else does.
Maybe even more so.
Lots of soldiers are lonely, they go overseas to come back and find out that their wife left them, or some family member is dead.
Our soldiers suffer physical, mental, and Spiritual injuries. Some never find there way back.
Some don't make it back...

Pray for our troops! Somewhere a young woman's husband is dieing, somewhere a mother is crying mercilessly for her lost son, somewhere a young soldier is waiting for someone to tell him he is making a difference. Those soldiers are someone else's sons, daughters, husbands, wives, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins.
They need your prayers!

Today, pray for your troops. If it wasn't for them, who knows, we may not even be here if it wasn't for them.

If you would like to do more than just pray for our troops here are other ways that you can help:

Help a military family. Help support some one's family while their loved ones aren't here.
volunteermatch.org

Support our troops!!
www.herobox.org

Together

It may be more fun to climb the mountain by yourself; but when you get to the top, who are going to share it with?

Today tell someone that you love them. Ask for help, don't do this alone. Their are people in your life who love you and want to help you. Don't shut them out. Let them help you.
Go climb that mountain together. :)

Starfish

One evening an old man was walking along the shoreline of the ocean when he spied a young boy. This young boy was reaching down and picking up something, then he would throw it into the ocean. Again and again this boy was tirelessly throwing and bending, throwing and bending.

As the old man grew closer he saw that they seashore was covered with starfish! They were still alive, but if they didn't get back into the water quickly they would die. They young boy was trowing starfish back into the ocean as quickly as he could.
When the old man got within earshot of the young boy he yelled out, "Son, what are you doing? You can't possibly save all of these starfish? What difference does it make to save any of them?"

The young boy turned around and answered, "No, I can't save all of them. But I can save this starfish." And he threw another one back into the ocean. "And this one too. I can make a difference to them."

As the boy turned back around and continued throwing starfish back into the water the old man realized what the young boy had meant. He leaned down and picked up a starfish and hurled it with all of his might into the water. He too could make a difference.

I love this story. The significance of one person making a difference in this large world..it never gets old! This is what my whole blog is about. It embodies the revelation that one person can make a difference.

Have you ever seen Horton Hears a Hoo? My favorite line in that whole movie is, "A persons a person, no matter how small." We are all people! It doesn't matter what you look like, what you do, or how tall you are. God loves you just the same. He died for you. We can make a difference. Just like in the starfish story, we might not be able to save all of the people in this world, but we can  make a difference in someones life.

Saving one starfish...that's a miracle.

Funny Story

For Thanksgiving me and my family went to Michigan. That's where most of my dad's family lives. We stayed with my great grandma, who lives in a neighborhood for elderly people. 

Ya know how people run over things in the road? Like squirrels? Well, while we were their a poor little squirrel got run over...many times. :( And on day me and my little sister, and our cousin Landon, decided to to rescue it from the road so that it wouldn't be able to get run over any more. Anyways, LONG story short, we used a plastic lid and a stick to scoop it onto the lid and carry it over to the little creek that empties into the pond a little ways down from where our grandma lives. I decided that we should bury it, but not a regular burial, a beautiful water burial. :p

So we kept it on the plastic lid and set it down into the creek bed. In this beautiful procession, the poor little squirrel, whom we named Ketchup on account of all the red blood, started to sink. So our cousin Landon grabbed a stick and attempted to save it! Well, as soon as he would get it back on the plastic lid it would sink again because it was soaked with water! Anyways, when Ketchup was about two feet from the pond, he fell off again and while my cousin Landon was trying to save him, he fell in the pond! And then my little sister tried to rescue the plastic lid and she feel in too! (Luckily I didn't fall in)

Yesterday night my grandma told me that the pond is full of pipes that channel the water in and out (yikes) and that a few months ago a story made the newspaper of some kids who put something in the water and stopped up the whole pond! Those grandparents sure are tattletales! LOL So hopefully we don't make the newspaper!

The whole point of this story was just to make someone laugh. So hopefully I made someone laugh, I know it made me laugh. :)

God's plan, Our plan, Whose plan?

Recently I've realized that life is not what I thought it was. It's so much more than I could have ever imagined it could be! I mean, our lives are SO amazing!
We, as humans, can feel, see, hear, smell, and have emotions. We can obtain jobs and have families, go to school and have fun. So many different things. Yet why do we sometimes feel so bogged down and unhappy?

Life is fickle, and very special. The time that we have here on the earth is so special and a very beautiful thing. Sometimes people make expectations of what they think their life should be. They plan everything from their 10th birthday, to their retirement house. But sometimes God is telling us to stop planning. To just relax in His goodness and let Him do the planning.

God is so good! We have no idea how good He is, how much He does for us, how much He loves us. He also had plan for our life. He started planning out our lives from the beginning of time. For as long as God has existed, which has been forever, He has planned out our lives. But when we get older we too start to plan our lives. Which is a good and a bad thing. Sometimes we get so upset and worried about what the future holds for us. We get stress headaches, and anxiety attacks, and sleepless nights. But God has it all under control!

God wrote a book about you. Just yourself. When we get to heaven God is going to show it to us, compare His to plan, to how we actually lived out our lives. I hope and pray that the way that I will have lived out my life will be very close to how He planned it. But we are all humans, and as such we will make mistakes. But God is in control. He knows everything that we will ever do, think, or say. It may not line up with His eternal plan but He has given us the ability to choose for ourselves.

God loves us and He wants the best for us. Although we may not always agree with God's plan, and may not always understand it, God will work it all together for our good. Just trust in Him, trust me He knows what he's doing. :)

Psalm 18

Psalm 18

^1" I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
² The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
³ I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

⁴ The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
⁵ The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
⁶ In my distress I called upon the LORD,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

⁷ Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
⁸ Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
⁹ He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
¹⁰ And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
¹² From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

¹³ The LORD thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.^[a]
14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
¹⁵ Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O LORD,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

¹⁶ He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
¹⁷ He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the LORD was my support.
¹⁹ He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.

²⁰ The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
²¹ For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
²² For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
²³ I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
²⁴ Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

²⁵ With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
²⁶ With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
²⁷ For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down haughty looks.

²⁸ For You will light my lamp;
The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
²⁹ For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
³⁰ As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

³¹ For who is God, except the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?
³² It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
³³ He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
³⁴ He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

³⁵ You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
³⁶ You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.

³⁷ I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
³⁸ I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
³⁹ For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
⁴⁰ You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
⁴¹ They cried out, but there was none to save;
Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
⁴² Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I cast them out like dirt in the streets.

⁴³ You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
You have made me the head of the nations;
A people I have not known shall serve me.
⁴⁴ As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
The foreigners submit to me.
⁴⁵ The foreigners fade away,
And come frightened from their hideouts.

⁴⁶ The LORD lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
⁴⁷ It is God who avenges me,
And subdues the peoples under me;
⁴⁸ He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
⁴⁹ Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.

⁵⁰ Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forevermore."

I love this chapter.
The Lord is always with us! He will never leave us or forsake us. The Lord lives!
Just reading this brings me so much comfort. Their is really nothing else to say after reading this.
Today I want to challenge you to put your trust in the Lord. He can and will deliver us!

Bold as Lions

Shy is such an overused word. When someone doesn't talk a lot people speculate and say that they are shy. When someone doesn't participate in something as much as others people say they are shy. Some people even call themselves shy! But as Christians, we aren't supposed to be shy.

Proverbs 28:1 says "The wicked flee when no one pursues,
But the righteous are bold as a lion."

We are the righteous! Boldness is something that comes with being a child of God.

Bold means that we are not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff; courageous and daring: a bold hero. showing or requiring courage:

When we have boldness we have required courage. Boldness and courage go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other. The Bible says that we are to be bold as lions. Lions and the king of the jungle. The rule the Savannah, they are to be feared by every creature on the planet. And the Bible is referring us to them? Yes! God knew what He was saying when He wrote that we are to be bold as lions. We are to be courageous, daring, adventurous, pronounced, and shameless. Not shy, quiet, careful, and insecure.

Philippians 1:20 says "according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death."

We are to bold in sharing the Word of God. God's word is our life, our bread, our way of living. Without God's word we would living lives full of sin and hate and confusion. God's Word is a path for us, and light in our darkest of times. Christ lives in us! We are the light of the world. People will be won into heaven because of our obedience to Him. Christ's love will shine through us. But how can we expect anyone to come to God if we are going to be ashamed of His Word?

Hold your head high! The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords lives within you! Now is the time for you to be self endorsed. Times is running short. Like I said in my last post once you run out of time their is not going back. We don't have time machines or magical powers to go back and change things. Those people who are hungry for God's love may never cross your path again. A simple smile, hug, a word of encouragement could open up the door for you to save them from eternal damnation. Don't let the opportunity pass you by.

Be bold as lions. Share the love of God with a boldness like fire. Be diligent, don't give up. I know that you can it! Let Christ be magnified in your life, through whatever costs you may have to take. You are the light, the city on the hill that cannot be vanquished.

Every second counts...

Recently I've been thinking...life is just so short. Jesus could come at any waking moment, we could die in any waking moment, a loved one could die in any waking moment. I one single moment our whole lives can be shattered, or completed. You just don't really know that until your life one day comes to a screeching halt.

Our life is like a thin thread, too strong of a pluck in any direction and -------- we're gone. There is no going back. Things that you say and do have a lasting impact on yourself, but more importantly, on others. One single word can ruin a person's self-confidence or their reputation. An unjust act can ruin your life! Believe me, I know all about doing things that you shouldn't be doing and then later reaping the consequences. It's not fun when you get caught....

But besides yourself you have to be aware of who else is around you. Younger siblings and other people who look up to you. You are someones role model. Believe it! Whether you know, or want to know, someone else out their admires you and wants to be just like you when they grow up.
When little kids, or other teenagers, have told me that they want to be just like me I start thinking, 'am I a person that is a good role model for these kids? Is what I'm doing acceptable in their eyes?'
Be careful what you do.

Non believers are watching you! We, as Christians, are supposed to be the light of the world. Jesus shines through us. But is what is coming out of our mouths stuff that Jesus would say? What we are looking at on the computer? Or how about what we do without our parents knowing about it? Would nonbelievers be drawn to us because of those things?

But most importantly, Jesus is watching us. When we get to Judgement Day Jesus is going to show what we did here on earth. Everything...every word....every thought...every action...every look...everything. Just thinking that He knows EVERYTHING makes me just a little bit nervous? How about you?

We need to step up our game here people! We were not put on this planet so that we could party and have fun! We were not here to live cosy and comfortable lives. We were put here to be witnesses for Christ! To win lost souls to Him! To further His kingdom, not ours. It doesn't matter how many people are on the Miriam team, or the Jesse team, or the Stacie team, what matters is how many people are on God's team. That is where we win the game. With Him in Heaven, not here on earth.

Step back and evaluate yourself, I know I am. Are you living a life that's pleasing to God? Are you a person that others should look up to? Are nonbelievers attracted to you because of your faith in Him?

Every second counts, don't waste the precious time on earth that we have. Because once that time is gone, you can't get it back.

Freely

Recently I've realized that you have to let go of past hurts. That it does no good to harbor bad feelings towards somebody or towards an event that has happened to you.
Last night at youth my youth pastor was talking about heaven and hell. About how they are both real places and that we, as Christians, will one day get to see our loved ones who have passed on before us. I started thinking about my dad. He died three years and three months ago. He had a very rare type of cancer that wasn't supposed to spread. That once you took it out it wasn't supposed to come back or go somewhere else. Obviously though it didn't do that. It came back like three or four in his right jaw and it spread to both of his legs and his back. It was devastating.

I have been doing a lot better about not dwelling on those past hurts and feelings. But last night something just struck me very hard. My youth pastor lost his dad almost two years ago. His dad was our pastor and it was very hard to lose him. He was talking about how he missed his dad and how he couldn't wait to get to heaven to see him again. I started thinking about my dad again. I realized that I had finally let go. It was the most amazing feeling that I have ever experienced since his passing. I started crying when I realized that I no longer had that sharp pain that was always inside of me. Yes I still miss my daddy with all of my heart and I will never, ever forget him. But I have finally learned how to go on living without constant pain eating away on the inside of me.

Life is too short to go on living without telling someone I love you. Without making amends with people who have done you wrong, or who you have done wrong. I realized the hard way, I have let way too many people leave my life without telling them I loved them. Or without apologizing. Don't let past things get in the way of a budding relationship. Don't let it ruin the short time on earth that you have with the people you love, and that love you. Love others freely!

Motivational Quote

"The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win."
- Roger Bannister

LOL

Something I really enjoy doing is to laugh. Their is just something about laughing that is so freeing! My mom always tells me that laughing is a medicine to the heart, and it's true! There is a verse in the Bible that says a merry heart does good for the soul.

Sometimes in life all that we can see is the negative. All of the bad things that happen to us, like our ever growing debt, our lack of friends or money, not enough time or space, too much noise, not enough fun! I know, for me at least, I can't stand being around a person who only sees the negative in life. It just makes you feel depressed.
There's a saying that people say, do you see the glass half empty or half full? I know for a long time I was one of those people who saw the glass half empty, pessimistic. How you view things reflects how you view life in general. If you see everything as bleak, dull, and boring than you a half empty person. But if you see things are enjoyable, that things that could be boring have potential, than you are a half full person! :)

I want you to take this quiz and see what positive quality you are. Because I believe that you are a positive person! I took this test and I was love. <3

http://www.gotoquiz.com/which_positive_quality_are_you

Good luck!
And remember, that glass is half full, not empty. Laugh out loud! It will do you some good.
:D

Time

Recently I have been just crazy busy! School, and a college class, friends and church, the fair, too much stuff! So I've been thinking, how does God feel about all of this? I mean with all of this stuff going on down here how do I make sure that I'm giving God enough time?

Their are only so many hours in a day...and sometimes I feel like their aren't enough. I'm sure that you've felt that way once or twice before. :) Well, recently I have been feeling like that a LOT! My life is just super hectic rights now, and I'm only a teenager! I can't even imagine being an adult, or a parent for that matter. Crazy! Props to all of you who have jobs, kids, and still manage to have God as your number one.
With all of these things that we have to do is God being pushed into the corner? Well I know for me that sometimes, yeah, He does get pushed into the corner. I don't pray as often as I once did, or should be doing. I don't read my bible every day, I don't sit still and just listen enough. I get too pre-occupied.
And I feel like that's how the whole world is right now. They just put God on hold knowing that He will always be their for them. Whenever things slow down, or the going gets rough then they run to God for help. But is that we as Christians should be doing?

I don't think so. God should be number one in our lives, always. Not just one we have enough time, or when we feel like it, or when things get tight, every day 24-7 God needs to be number one in our hearts and our lives.
It's not very hard to say that, but to do it? Wow! It's extremely hard. But their is such a thing called baby steps. You don't have to pray for hours every day and read a whole book of the bible every day and sit still and listen for hours on end. You start slow, you read a chapter, then two, then three, then a set. You start by praying in the morning and before you go to bed. Then you pray in the car on the way to work or on the way home from school. Then you start by setting aside just five minutes of your day every day where you sit and just listen to what He has to say. Then slowly but surely you expand and grow!
It's not that hard, but the first step is always the hardest.
Today I want to challenge you to take that first step. Take a break and pray, then listen.

The Sun is Still Setting

This is kind of like part two of the last blog post that I posted:

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." - Romans 10:17
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. What God did back then, in the Bible times, He can do it again.

I would like to give you three steps to live by faith and to walk it out in your life:

1. We believe
"Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” - John 20:29
Nothing is impossible with God! Believing is trusting. Believe for the impossible!

Every Monday I go to one of my church's buildings for class. Last, every week without fail, there was this one guy who was probably in his twenties who would stand at the door at greet the people who came in. He would always say, 'nothing is impossible with God!' I haven't seen him this year but I saw him on Sunday night and he told me the same thing, 'nothing is impossible with God!' Just let it sink in, embrace it!

2. We speak
"It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[a] Since we have that same spirit of^[b] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. " - 2 Corinthians 4:13-14
Our words are the outcome of our faith. Speak the word of God into your life. Whateever you speak over yourself, that is what is going to happen. Believe in Word of God and speak it over your life!

3. We stand
"When the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." - Ephesians 6:13
No matter what happends, with Christ we will ALWAYS win! No matter what you're facing. Whether it be sickness, death, financial ruin, breakups, mean words, anything. God is with you and He never loses.

Today I want to to challenge you get a sticky note. I want you to write on it a scripture of faith. Place it somewhere that you can see it every day, on your mirror, in your car, by your bed, in your Bible, anywhere. Read it every day and speak it over your life.

You know sometimes we pray that God will make the sun stand still prayers. We pray for the impossible. And God loves it! But sometimes those prayers don't happen. When my dad was sick with cancer I prayed every day for the impossible. I prayed that God would miraculously heal him and that we could all go back to our normal lives. But it didn't happen. He sill died.
Sometimes we pray that the sun will stand still, but the sun still sets. Sometimes God wants the sun to stand still inside of us whenever its seems as if our prayers aren't working. Even though the sun is still setting that doesn't mean that the miracle isn't happening. When your miracle doesn't happen, than maybe your the miracle.
Let faith arise! Let faith arise inside of you!

Childlike Faith

I know that I have already talked about faith a lot of different times but it just keeps coming up! And if something keeps on being impressed on my heart, than I have to talk about it, or in this case blog about it. :)

"I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” - Luke 18:8
When Jesus comes back on the earth will he find faith? I know that he will in me, but how about you?
Faith is trust, hope, and belief in the goodness, trustworthiness of a person, concept or entity.

"Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  - mark 10:15
The Bible tells us that we have to have faith like a child if we are ever to enter the kingdom of God. Children have an undeniable faith. They are gullible, they believe everything that they hear. Normally when someone calls us gullible we take it that they are almost making fun of us. But in God's eyes, if we are gullible than we will have faith like a child. We must believe. Children don't need to have a thesis paper in front of them to believe what the Bible says, they just believe! And that is what we have to do if we are ever going to enter the kingdom of God.

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.
³ By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." - Hebrews 11:1-3
Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.
It's okay for us to have questions when times get hard, but what are you going to do with those questions? You must lay them at the foot of the cross. Hand everything over to Jesus. This is something that I have to deal with daily.Whenever something just doesn't go my way or I can't figure out why something is happening, I can't handle it on my own. I have trust in God. Because He is the only being that has secrets that we will never know about. He knows everything and will work everything together for His good. But we have to choose to trust in Him.

:By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith."
- Hebrews 11:7
We need to be like Noah. Noah had no proof that their was going to be a flood. He only knew what God had told him. But for Noah that was enough. He had childlike faith. He chose to build an ark that was full of safety. Let faith arise! Open you eyes! Noah had to believe and step out by faith.

Faith requires us to believe in something greater than we can see. To live is Christ and to die is gain.

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹ By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. ¹¹ And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she^[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. ¹² And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore." - Hebrews 11:8-12

By faith Abraham... by his faith he did what God called him to do. Abraham was good as dead. But God told him that he was going to have descendants as numerous as the sand on the seashore. As many as the stars in the sky.
You may have felt as good as dead, but let faith arise inside of you and ward off those negative thoughts if depression, oppression, worthlessness, ugliness, stupidness, any thoughts that will hinder your faith in Him.

I would like to tell you a story about a donkey, a farmer, and a pit.
One time there was a farmer who had a very old donkey. Now this donkey was getting slower and couldn't do half of the work that he could've done a few years earlier. This same farmer also had a very deep pit in the donkey's pasture. One day the farmer had been calling and calling his donkey. He couldn't find him anywhere so he decided to go out to his field and check the deep pit. Sure enough the old donkey had fallen into the pit and was braying his sad brays begging for help. The farmer had to make a decision, he decided that donkey was as good as dead anyways and he needed to fill up the pit anyways. So the farmer started to throw dirt into the pit with donkey, alive, in it! As he was throwing the dirt in the donkey started thinking. Wait a second, I'm still alive here! I have more life in me, what are you doing?!?! As the farmer would throw the dirt into the pit the donkey would shake it off and step on top of it. Again and again the donkey did this until eventually he just jumped up and ran away.

The moral of this story is that don't let people or your thoughts try to make you feel as good as dead. God's not finished with you yet. If He was you would know, and other people wouldn't.
Today I want you to take captive of those negative thoughts and crowd them out with the word. Meditate on the word today and spend some extra time in prayer. Determine in your heart that you are a child of God, you have childlike faith, not execute it!

Walking with God

"A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we^[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
¹³ Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. " - Ephesians 6: 10-13

In the ancient Roman times their were three Roman sports, wrestling, boxing, and panchradia. Which is Greek.

1. Wrestling:
Wrestlers were men who fought until one lived and one died. It was very brutal and very fierce.
2. Boxing
If you were a boxer, that you would die. It was fatal. The boxers would cover their arms with leather. On each of their knuckles their would a 1-3' nail sticking out.
3. Panchradia
This was the people who had more power than anyone else. They were the strongest and fiercest of men. They would fight with clubs, nails, anything. It was like wrestling, boxing, and everything else all tied together.

So when you think of that verse: "For we are not fighting(wrestling).." think of those three sports.

Just because we have the victory in Jesus, that doesn't mean that we should be unprepared. The devil will come after us no matter whether we have the victory or not. The devil doesn't care. Everyone of us will be pulled into contact with invisible forces.
The next part of this verse says "but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against might power in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."
Powers do whatever they want to.
Principalities have the highest ranking. They are the generals and have the most power.
Rulers possess raw power which has been harnessed, disciplined and focused.
The demons have been trained. They have gone though years and years to learn what to do to possess us and make us fall.
Satan is not haphazard about what he is trying to do. He knows exactly what he needs to do and he will do it.
Against in Greek is ante. Which means very intimate, have contact. So we are wrestling, boxing, having panchradia, in intimate contact with generals, raw untapped powerhouses of demons 24/7! We need to be prepared!
Their motto is to kill, steal, and to destroy. We need to be prepared, we need to pick up our spiritual armor. Pick up you armor and use it! Take unto you the whole armor of God. God has given us everything that we need. We are fully covered.
We cannot function against spiritual warfare if we do not have the Power of God. Be strong! We were made for this. Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might! God has made it very simple for us to attain His Power because it is in Him.
Might means mighty man. And God is mighty! God is Mr. Universe.
If you go through the motions of obeying God and putting on the whole armor, it will do nothing for you. As long as you are walking with the Lord you will have on the whole armor of God.

"As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” ³⁶ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). ³⁷ But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
³⁸ Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
³⁹ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm." - Mark 4:35-39

Something arose. You can feel it, but cannot see it. This is what happened to Jesus and his disciples. Something arose. They couldn't see it but they could feel it coming on. They were powerless to do anything to stop it. But what about you, are you powerless to do something against the principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world?
I know I'm not. Because I am walking with God, and as long as I'm walking with Him, I have the whole armor of God.
What about you? Are you walking with God?

Suggested Reading List

I have been thinking a lot lately, and yesterday when I added my new questions/comments page, and put an administrator wanted add on their, it got me thinking a lot more too.
So I have decided to put my thoughts  into action and put together a suggested reading list. Now remember that these books and devotionals are just suggestions, but I highly suggest that you read them.

List:

Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer
(The book and the devotional are amazing! She also has a recorded teaching on it too!)
Also by Joyce Meyer:

The Confident Woman
Never Give Up
Power Thoughts
Conflict Free Living
Battlefield of the Mind for teens
Battlefield of the Mind for Kids
The Power of Simple Prayer
Starting your Day Right

Their are many more Joyce Meyer, anything written by her is spectacular!

Lies Young Woman Believe and Lies Woman Believe by Dannah Gresh and Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Extraordinary by John Bevere
Also by John Bevere:

The Bait of Satan
Driven by Eternity
Breaking Intimidation
Relentless
A Heart Ablaze
The Fear of the Lord

All of these are absolutely amazing! Anything by John Bevere is worth reading.

Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris

Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo

Weird: Because Normal isn't Working by Craig Groeschel

360 Life by Pastor Billy Joe Daugherty

Also by Pastor Billy Joe:

Raising Champion Children for God
Death is not the End

His Footsteps, my Pathway (devotional) by Roy Lessin



These are just suggestions but please take some time to at least read a few of them. Thank you!
And if you want more suggestions please just comment or email me at :
snowflakesLOL@att.net

Special

"The extraordinary is only made possible by the ordinary"
- Jonathon Steingard

For Everything...

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."
- Ecclesiastes 3:1

This verse was is on a bookmark that I have been using for a while. Everytime that I would open up the book I would see this verse. But it didn't hit me until last night how extraordinary this verse actually is! I mean, think about it.

There is a season for everything, everything! Do you know how large of a catagory everything it! It's huge! It has everything in it! God has ordained a time in our life for every single thing that comes upon us. That means that nothing happens to us or for us without His knowing it. He was put us on the earth for such a time as this.

I would like to talk a little bit about Esther. You know the story right? She was just a young Jew living her simple life with her uncle when one day she gets taken to the palace as a candidate  to be the next queen! Can you even imagine?!?! One day your living your normal life, and the next you be the next queen of the biggest nation in the world! One word, terrifying!

But Esther accepted it with grace. And we all know the end of the story, she does become the next queen and Persia had never been better. But their are always twists to the perfect ending. Their was a plot, a plot to kill the king and to kill all of the Jews, God's chosen people! When Esther's uncle Mordecai heard this news he immediately sent someone to go and warn Esther because she had the potential to save them! When Esther starts to voice all of the negative thoughts and feeling that run through her had her uncle tells her:

"If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” - Esther 4:14

For such a time as this. God knows what is happening because He was fit it into your life someway or another. No matter what your going through God knows, and He knows the outcome of it all too. He is omnipotent and omnitiont! He knows everything, your past, present, and your future. Before you parents ever thought about you He had already written a whole book about you! How amazing it that! When we get to heaven God is going to read us our book! The book that He was written about us.

For everything...for everything there is a season. For every matter under heaven there is a time.
I don't know what your going through, but God does. Every matter that you are going through God already knows how you are going to prevail. All that you have to do is ask Him, trust Him, and let Him do the rest.

One Accord, through Grace

"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." - Ephesians 2:8-10

You were not just saved by grace to be somebody...

BUT
You were also empowered by Grace to do something



"In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you." 

 - Romans 12:6

Grace is God's free empowerment. It empowers us to live like Jesus.

We are not going to be judged by what we did, but what we are called to do!

1 Corinthians 4:1 "Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards."

Steward- One who manages another's property or other affairs.

1 Peter 4:10 "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards on the manifold grace of God."

1 Corinthians 4:2 "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be faithful."

Faithful - Multiplication

Those who multiply- faithful and good

Those who maintain- wicked and lazy

1 Corinthians 4:16-17 "Therefore i urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I everywhere in every church."

1 Corinthians 12: 4-6 "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. There are diversities of operations, but it is the God which worketh all in all."

"Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”

⁵ But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. ⁶ “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! " - Genesis 11:4-6
To effectively build a house of God we must be one.

Psalm 133: 1,3 "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity: yes, that's where God commands His blessing."

John 17:22 "The glory which you gave me I have given them, that they be one."
If it more important to one than to be right.

Philippians 2:2 "Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."

Today I want to challenge you to be in one accord with someone. Agree to no longer disagree.



The Wisdom of the Fear of the Lord

⁷ "Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
⁸ If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you." - Proverbs 4:7-8

Wisdom is the most important thing you can do. God wants you to be great. God want you great. We are here to do a kingdom assignment. We have a purpose, you have a purpose. If you embrace wisdom than she will make you great. Wisdom will make you honorable. Embrace her!
Wisdom is a deep understanding of people, things, events, or situations. It is an empowering that gives you the ability to choose or act to consistently produce optimum results with a minimum amount of time and energy.

"Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire." - Daniel 6:3

"Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom." - Daniel 1:20

Be Holy. Are you distinguishing yourself? We are the light of the world. God has called us into different spheres of life. Embrace wisdom and she will you great.

^5" Though the Lord is very great and lives in heaven,
he will make Jerusalem^[a] his home of justice and righteousness.
⁶ In that day he will be your sure foundation,
providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.
The fear of the Lord will be your treasure." - Isaiah 33:5-6

The key to God's storehouse of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. What is the fear of the Lord? It is NOT to be scared of God!

"Don’t be afraid,” Moses answered them, “for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!” - Exodus 20:20

A person who fears God has nothing to fear. The fear of the Lord is be terrified to be away from Him. The fear of God is to venerate Him, to honor, respect, and esteem. When we firmly embrace God's heart we will love what He loves and hate what He hates.

"You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.” - Hebrews 1:9

Love righteousness; hate sin. The Spirit of the fear of the Lord. It is one thing to pray and another thing to be heard.

Psalm 19:9 "The Fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever."
The manifestation of the fear of the Lord is:
1. To obey Him instantly.
2. To obey Him even if it doesn't make sense.
3. To obey Him even when it hurts.
4. To obey Him even if we don't see a benefit.
5. To obey Him to completion.

Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear Him.

John 15:15 "No longer do I call you servants....you are my friends."
To be a friend of God is a condition. "You are my friends if you do whatever I command you." John15:14
"Daniel says, 'There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets." - Daniel 2:28

God's secret wisdom will make you great, bring you honor, bring you wealth and riches, protect you and keep you safe, and add years to your life.

Love is Not Selfish

Day 3

Love is not selfish

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;
give preference to one another in honor. —Romans 12:10

We live in a world that is enamored with “self.” The culture around us teaches us to focus on our appearance, feelings, and personal desires as the top priority. The goal, it seems, is to chase the highest level of happiness possible. The danger from this kind of thinking, however, becomes painfully apparent once inside a relationship.

If there were ever a word that basically means the opposite of love, it is selfishness. Unfortunately it is something that is ingrained into every person from birth. You can see it in the way young children act, and often in the way adults mistreat one another. Almost every sinful action ever committed can be traced back to a selfish motive. It is a trait we hate in other people but justify in ourselves. Yet you cannot point out the many ways your family member or friend is selfish without admitting that you can be selfish too. That would be hypocritical.

Why do we have such low standards for ourselves but high expectations for others? The answer is a painful pill to swallow. We are all selfish.

When a person puts his interests, desires, and priorities in front of his others, that’s a sign of selfishness. When a someone else constantly complains about the time and energy they spend meeting the needs of others, that’s a sign of selfishness. But love “does not seek its own” (1 Corinthians 13:5).

One ironic aspect of selfishness is that even generous actions can be selfish if the motive is to gain bragging rights or receive a reward. If you do even a good thing to deceitfully manipulate your someone, you are still being selfish. The bottom line is that you either make decisions out of love for others or love for yourself.

Love is never satisfied except in the welfare of others. You can’t be acting out of real love and selfishness at the same time. Choosing to love your someone will cause you to say “no” to what you want so you can say “yes” to what they need. That’s putting the happiness of you others above your own. It doesn’t mean you can never experience happiness, but you don’t negate the happiness of you others so you can enjoy it yourself.

Love also leads to inner joy. When you prioritize the well-being of you others, there is a resulting fulfillment that cannot be duplicated by selfish actions. This is a benefit that God created and reserves for those who genuinely demonstrate love.

If you find it hard to sacrifice your own desires to benefit your others, then you may have a deeper problem with selfishness than you want to admit.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I truly want what’s best for others?

• Do I want them to feel loved by me?

• Do they believe I have their best interests in mind?

• Do they see me as looking out for myself first?

Whether you like it or not, you have a reputation in the eyes of those around you. But is it a loving reputation? So determine to be the first to demonstrate real love to them, with your eyes wide open. And when all is said and done, you’ll both be more fulfilled.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

Today’s Dare

Whatever you put your time, energy, and
money into will become more important
to you. It’s hard to care for something
you are not investing in. Along with
restraining from negative comments,
buy your family member or friend something that says,
“I was thinking of you today.”

(Taken from The Love Dare)

Love is Kind

Day 2

Love is kind

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Kindness is love in action. If patience is how love reacts in order to minimize a negative circumstance, kindness is how love acts to maximize a positive circumstance. Patience avoids a problem; kindness creates a blessing. One is preventive, the other proactive. These two sides of love are the cornerstones on which many of the other attributes we will discuss are built.

Love makes you kind. And kindness makes you like able. When you’re kind, people want to be around you. They see you as being good to them and good for them.

The Bible keys in on the importance of kindness: “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3–4). Kind people simply find favor wherever they go. Even at home. But “kindness” can feel a little generic when you try defining it, much less living it. So let’s break kindness down into four basic core ingredients:

Gentleness. When you’re operating from kindness, you’re careful how you treat people, never being unnecessarily harsh. You’re sensitive. Tender. Even if you need to say hard things, you’ll bend over backwards to make your rebuke or challenge as easy to hear as possible. You speak the truth in love.

Helpfulness. Being kind means you meet the needs of the moment. If it’s housework, you get busy. A listening ear? You give it. .

Willingness. Kindness inspires you to be agreeable. Instead of being obstinate, reluctant, or stubborn, you cooperate, you stay flexible. Rather than complaining and making excuses, you look for reasons to compromise and accommodate.

Initiative. Kindness thinks ahead, then takes the first step. It doesn’t sit around waiting to be prompted or coerced before getting off the couch. When acting from kindness, you see the need, then make your move. First.

Jesus creatively described the kindness of love in His parable of the Good Samaritan, found in the Bible—Luke, chapter 10. A Jewish man attacked by robbers is left for dead on a remote road. Two religious leaders, respected among their people, walk by without choosing to stop. Too busy. Too important. Too fond of clean hands. But a common man of another race—the hated Samaritans, whose dislike for the Jews was both bitter and mutual—sees this stranger in need and is moved with compassion. Crossing all cultural boundaries and risking ridicule, he stops to help the man. Bandaging his wounds and putting him on his own donkey, he carries him to safety and pays all his medical expenses out of his own pocket.

Where years of racism had caused strife and division, one act of kindness brought two enemies together. Gently. Helpfully. Willingly. Taking the initiative, this man demonstrated true kindness in every way.

The Bible describes a woman whose husband and children bless and praise her. Among her noble attributes are these: “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26). How about you? How would your family member or friend describe you on the kindness meter? How harsh are you? How gentle and helpful? Do you wait to be asked, or do you take the initiative to help? Don’t wait for your family member or friend to take the initiative first.

It is difficult to demonstrate love when you feel little to no motivation. But love in its truest sense is not based on feelings. Rather, love determines to show thoughtful actions even when there seems to be no reward. You will never learn to love until you learn to demonstrate kindness.

Today’s Dare

In addition to saying nothing
negative to your family member or friend again today,
do at least one unexpected gesture
as an act of kindness.

What is desirable in a man is his kindness. (Proverbs 19:22)

(Taken from The Love Dare)

Love is Patient

Day 1
Love is Patient

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."- Epesians 4:2

Love works. It is life’s most powerful motivator and has far greater depth and meaning than most people realize. It always does what is best for others and can empower us to face the greatest of problems. We are born with a lifelong thirst for love. Our hearts desperately need it like our lungs need oxygen. Love changes our motivation for living. Relationships become meaningful with it. No marriage, or friendship for that matter, is successful without it.

Love is built on two pillars that best define what it is. Those pillars are patience and kindness. All other characteristics of love are extensions of these two attributes. And that’s where your dare will begin. With patience.

Love will inspire you to become a patient person. When you choose to be patient, you respond in a positive way to a negative situation. You are slow to anger. You choose to have a long fuse instead of a quick temper. Rather than being restless and demanding, love helps you settle down and begin extending mercy to those around you. Patience brings an internal calm during an external storm.

No one likes to be around an impatient person. It causes you to overreact in angry, foolish, and regrettable ways. The irony of anger toward a wrongful action is that it spawns new wrongs of its own. Anger almost never makes things better. In fact, it usually generates additional problems. But patience stops problems in their tracks. More than biting your lip, more than clapping a hand over your mouth, patience is a deep breath. It clears the air. It stops foolishness from whipping its scorpion tail all over the room. It is a choice to control your emotions rather than allowing your emotions to control you, and shows discretion instead of returning evil for evil.

If your spouse offends you, do you quickly retaliate, or do you stay under control? Do you find that anger is your emotional default when treated unfairly? If so, you are spreading poison rather than medicine.

Anger is usually caused when the strong desire for something is mixed with disappointment or grief. You don’t get what you want and you start heating up inside. It is often an emotional reaction that flows out of our own selfishness, foolishness, or evil motives.

Patience, however, makes us wise. It doesn’t rush to judgment but listens to what the other person is saying. Patience stands in the doorway where anger is clawing to burst in, but waits to see the whole picture before passing judgment. The Bible says, “He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29).

As sure as a lack of patience will turn your home into a war zone, the practice of patience will foster peace and quiet. “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger calms a dispute” (Proverbs 15:18). Statements like these from the Bible book of Proverbs are clear principles with timeless relevance. Patience is where love meets wisdom. And every marriage needs that combination to stay healthy.

Today's Dare

The first part of this dare is fairly
simple. Although love is communicated
in a number of ways, our words often
reflect the condition of our heart. For
the next day, resolve to demonstrate
patience and to say nothing negative
to your spouse, or friend, sibling, or parent at all. If the temptation
arises, choose not to say anything. It’s
better to hold your tongue than to say
something you’ll regret.

(Taken from The Love Dare)

Complicated...

How many of you have had tough spots in friendships? What about unspoken words that fill up space like a time bomb liable to explode at any waking moment?

Well, I can answer yes to both of those questions! Ever since kindergarten I can remember when I had a tough situation come between me and a friend, regardless of how close we were. But back then things were easier. Up until like sixth grade if you had a problem with a friend you just spit it right out. But as you get older something changes. You realize that both of you have feelings, and you don't what to hurt anyone's feelings. And then you get shy maybe, or scared that that person might not want to talk to you anymore once you tell them how you really feel. It gets way more complicated!

I have realized that the older you get, especially in your teen years, that it gets hare and harder to confront friends about how you really feel. Their is something different about being a teenager, your feelings get all jumbled up and you have a hard of making people understand you. I should know, because I'm a teenager! You'd think that as you get older like would get easier, but it's actually the opposite. We have school and work, jobs and responsibilities, families and friendships, commitments to keep. For me one word sums up life, complicated!

Right now I am struggling in a very important friendship to me. Their has miscommunication and unspoken words that needed to be said, but both of us are too prideful to break. I find myself at times so mad at this person, and then at other times feeling so broken not knowing what to do. I love this person so much, it's killing me watching our relationship die. This wasn't how I had planned it to be, I figured that we would be best friends forever. But life has the upper hand. Complications and problems arise. The hardest thing to do is forgive yourself. This whole conflict between us could have been resolved weeks ago, maybe even months, but we have both been to stubborn to give in and apologize and ask what's wrong.

I want to ask you something. Do you have a friendship that is wearing away at the edges? Or have you had a friendship that has broken down? I have both of those and they are not fun. I want to encourage you to not give up! Don't give up on that person, not matter how hard life seems to be, don't give up! Unless God specifically tells to pull away, stay where you are. Maybe it's just a huge misunderstanding, or miscommunication. I have walked away from friendships because of this and now I deeply regret it. For me it's too late to regain those, but it might not be for you!

Today I want to encourage you to try and mend a broken friendship. I know that your probably thinking, that's easy for you to say, you have no idea what I've been through with this person! Well, I probably know more than you think. My best friend violated my trust, betrayed me in a sense. In past friendships my friends have back stabbed me, ridiculed me, hurt me, and played me. I know what it's like to feel so broken and alone that all you want to to do is curl up and bawl your eyes out. I've done it before and probably will do it again. But this is not the end. God is in control and He can mend anything. And even if he chooses not to the Bible says that anytime God closes a door he opens a window. Pray and ask the Lord what path you should choose. But don't let good friendships die into nothing because of pride and hurt feelings. Make the first move, make life a little less complicated.

Brandish your Sword!!!!!!

"Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."- Ephesians 6:14-17
Sword of the Spirit:

The sword of the Spirit is my favorite weapon that the Lord gives us. The sword is the word of God, His words, The Bible. It is probably one of the most powerful things that the Lord could ever give us, His promises to us.

Hebrews 4:12 says: "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."
This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. The first time that I read it I was literally shaking; God's word is alive!! It is sharper that any sword that we could ever create. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes...the first time that I read this I started crying. The Word of God exposes, brings to light, sees every single thing that we ever think, say, or do. It is a very frightening concept, but a beautiful one nonetheless.

God's word is very powerful. By us memorizing it and meditating on it, by hiding His word in out hearts, we are secreting away the most powerful weapon in the world. When we speak God's word over our lives we are proclaiming the victory! When we grasp this wonderful concept we have already won the war. Even the devil quoted the scriptures to Jesus when he was fasting and praying. If a demonic and sick ex-angel knows how powerful the scriptures are, and even uses them on the King of Kings, then how much more should we determine to use it! I mean, come on! The Bible was written by God's handyman, for us. Every single word in their is meant for us to use to our advantage. God loves us and He wants us to use His word to combat every lie that the enemy throws our way. So lets use it to our advantage.

God has created this infallible armor for us to use! When we speak this verse over our lives we are claiming the Victory. I don't know about you, but I welcome every victory that comes across my path. I have seen and been through too much heartache to not accept them, even the small ones. God expects us to embrace His written word to us. By us standing our ground and using Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, Salvation, and the Word; we are equipping ourselves! Don't stand up this opportunity!

Today I want to challenge you to use your sword to your advantage. Brandish it against the wily wills of the devil and his cohorts. Fully embrace this victory that God has freely given us!

"I would rather fail in a cause that will ultimately triumph, than to triumpth in a cause that will ultimately fail."
- Woodrow Wilson

Beautiful

How valuable are you?

How thick is your helmet?

"Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."- Ephesians 6: 14-17

Helmet of Salvation:

Besides your heart, your head, and brain, are the most important part of you. The brain tells every part of your body what to do and when to do it, it decides what you think about and what you say. You could even say, that the brain is the head honcho. ( :) )

It is so important that you have complete control of your brain. Your head determines what goes into your heart. And the bible says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So you have to be very careful with what you allow into your head.

The devil knows that whatever you allow into your head will eventually get into your heart. The devil gets into your heart in sneaky ways, through music, friends, books, TV, any type of media, He is very smart and knows what you like. He knows how to manipulate them into what he wants them to be. So how can we possibly counter attack his attacks when he comes in from all directions?

The answer is quite simple really. The Word. The Bible says that heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. What does that mean? It means that even though everything and everyone may go away and leave us alone, God's word and promises will continually stay with us. By us meditating on the Word and praying to the Lord we will grow in Him, and we will speak His word. By us doing those things we will be able to defend ourselves from the devil's wily attacks.
The more that we meditate and pray on God's words the more that we will grow, and the thicker helmet we will acquire. And the thicker the helmet, the more we can counter attack.

So today I want to challenge you to thicken your helmet. If you haven't accepted Jesus into your heart just repeat this prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you for dieing on the cross for me. Thank you for writing my name in the Lamb's Book of Life and for forgiving me for all of past, present, and future wrongs. I love you Lord. In your mighty name, Amen.
You are now a child of God. Talk to you pastor or someone who is older than you and who knows the Lord on a deep level.
Thicken your helmet.

What size is your shield?

"Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."- Ephesians 6: 14-17

Shield of Faith:
I have already talked about Faith. But since faith is so commonly talked about in the Bible, it must be very important.

What does a shield do for you?
wikipedia.com says that a shield is a type of personal armor that is used to counter off attacks.

In the ancient Roman days, the Roman army would take your measurements. How tall you were and how wide you were. They would custom make you a shield exactly to your measurements. The shield was one of your most important pieces of armor.

So if you have a shield of faith than you can readily fight off all of the wily works of the devil. It is essential for a Christian to take possession of all the pieces of armor. Especially the shield of faith.

Every one's shield dimensions are different. Just like every one's faith, our sizes are different. Depending on how much faith you have, the more you can do.
So just how much faith do you have?
How big is your shield?

Quote

"Make your faith like the deepest of wells rather than the highest of billboards,"
-Jonathon Steingard

What Shoes are you Wearing?

"Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6: 14-17
What shoes are you wearing?
Right you may be at home, like me, and be barefoot! Or maybe your wearing flip-flops, Toms, tennis shoes, sandals, heels, converse etc.
But today I want to ask you what Spiritual shoes are you wearing? That may seem like a pretty stupid question but the answer is incredible.

Peace:
After we put on our belt of Truth, breastplate of Righteousness, it's time for the shoes of Peace. Peace is such a beautiful word.
The dictionary describes it as the cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension. But peace is so much for than that.
Apart from being listed as an armor of God, peace is also a fruit of the Spirit. God must think that Peace is really important if it is a fruit and something with which we can defeat the devil with. That means that is must be super important to us.

The Bible says to put on shoes of Peace. Why is peace the shoes, why not the chain mail? or the sword?
Just because we can't literally fight with shoes doesn't make peace any less important that truthfulness or righteousness.  We have to walk in peace on a daily basis along with the rest of the armor. To live in complete peace is a gift, a treasure. Not a lot of people know what it's like to live in complete peace. What does a life that is full of peace look like? Well, let me give you an illustration.

A peaceful life should be stress-free. But with the world as it is today how can we live a life without stress? Simple, Jesus. The Bible says to cast all our cares on Him. God knows what we are going through and he knows how to handle our floundering economy and growing debt. He has a more substantial plan for us than anyone could ever think, plan, or imagine.

A peaceful life should be full of love. But what about that one person who humiliated you today in front of the entire school? Should we still love them? Or what about that one guy who completely ran into your car and totalled it? What about him? Or what about all of the terrorists? Can we love them too? Yes! you can! God says to love you neighbor as yourself. That doesn't just mean the people who live on either side of your house, that means everyone in the world. 
Hebrews 6: 11 says "Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true."

A peaceful life isn't just one that you can earn, you have to work for peace just like anything else. By loving God and others, and giving everything to the Lord, peace will start to come into your heart.

Today I want to challenge you to choose one verse from the Bible to pray and meditate on. But not just some random verse, choose one that you can relate to. Pick one that will encourage and build you up. Trust and pray for Peace to enter your life.

So let me ask you one more time, what shoes are you wearing?