Ephesians 6:10-16 (NLT)
The Whole Armor of God
10 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 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. 14 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.
BRAVE - Listen to this song by Nichole Nordeman.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2llYdZOZesc
I don't have to write a lot today. The verse says it all. I had read it before, but recently a good friend pointed it out to me again after a tough day at work. After re-reading it, I realized that the "fiery arrows" can be sadness, discontent, anger, or anything else that separates us from God. I read it again the following morning before work, and continued to read it daily since then. I have not had a bad day at work since and I believe it's because I'm being Brave and relying on Him to protect me from those emotions, those "fiery arrows" that divert me from his planned purpose for me.
Brave, it's what we all have to be on this Christian walk. Nichole Nordeman's song talks about not settling for the "status quo", but being better, being Brave. Change can be difficult, with His help though, you can do it. Just remember you are never alone. It's easy to be Brave with God as your protector.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Accepting His Authority
1 Peter 3:1
In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.
Edited slightly on 1/29/2010
Yesterday was my husband’s birthday. I took the day off and devoted it to him. My youngest son and I decorated the night before. I bought a cheese cake, his favorite. We went to see The Book of Eli. I made Lasagna and then we celebrated with most of our children and grandchildren. It was a great day, and he deserved it.
When I first learned that wives are to submit to their husbands’ authority, I thought “are you kidding me”? Submit to my husband? I’m a strong, independent woman, I even had the minister who presided over our marriage omit the part about obeying my husband. God has since shown me how selfish I was, and how important being respectful to my husband really is.
I’ve always struggled to be something more. Always going to school and taking every training class offered at work, and attending even more to support my function at work. All in the hope of being recognized for my accomplishments, perhaps gaining a promotion or what I thought might be more important role in the organization, with some authority of my own.
I started attending college classes in t the early ‘90’s, taking one class at a time working my classes around my children’s school schedules and taking summers off. When my oldest son graduated from college in 2001, and I was still working at it, I decided to find an accelerated program and get it done. I knew that if I didn’t do it then, that I never would. By that time there were several schools in my area offering accelerated programs and on-line classes were also becoming popular. Well, I did both and finished my BBA in 2004. With my husband’s encouragement, I went on to complete an MBA in 2008, taking some time off in between to be available for my parents. It was during this time that we discovered my dad had cancer, he also had a heart attack and triple bypass in the middle of his cancer treatment, and then COPD took over.
All this time my husband took care of everything, and I mean everything; and me too. All this while working a full-time job. He never complained. I, however, was very stressed and not always appreciative of his efforts. Not recognizing him has head of our household. I had a Masters Degree after all, why would I submit to my husband’s authority? It still didn’t compute and my inability to give up my perceived right to leadership of our family was beginning to make things difficult between us.
Early last spring my church started to form Life Transformation Groups (LTG) and, knowing I was seeking the Lord, my Pastor recommended I join. The purpose is to get into the Word, and to hold group members accountable for certain things. At the outset, each of us chose an area to which we would hold ourselves accountable, and when we don’t live up to God’s intent for us, we confess it to the safety of the group, pray about it, and ask God for forgiveness. I chose to learn to be respectful to my husband in the hope that he would see a change in me that might bring him closer to God.
My husband is still taking care of everything. He’s been unemployed for the last couple of years now, and has assumed the daily responsibility of taking care of my mom and sister, who has Downs Syndrome. He drives them to their doctor’s appointments, takes my sister to her day program, and my mom grocery shopping. He even checks in on a couple of seniors in the neighborhood. Still, he never complains.
I’m not perfect, I “lose it” occasionally, still wanting to control things, but I think I’m getting better. At least I pray I am. Through the LTG study and concentrated prayer, I now see my husband for the kind, giving person he is. I am so grateful to God for bringing us together. My husband isn’t saved yet, but by following God’s direction for me, in 1 Peter 3:1, I pray that my actions will bring him closer to God so that he may experience the joy that being close to God brings.
In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.
Edited slightly on 1/29/2010
Yesterday was my husband’s birthday. I took the day off and devoted it to him. My youngest son and I decorated the night before. I bought a cheese cake, his favorite. We went to see The Book of Eli. I made Lasagna and then we celebrated with most of our children and grandchildren. It was a great day, and he deserved it.
When I first learned that wives are to submit to their husbands’ authority, I thought “are you kidding me”? Submit to my husband? I’m a strong, independent woman, I even had the minister who presided over our marriage omit the part about obeying my husband. God has since shown me how selfish I was, and how important being respectful to my husband really is.
I’ve always struggled to be something more. Always going to school and taking every training class offered at work, and attending even more to support my function at work. All in the hope of being recognized for my accomplishments, perhaps gaining a promotion or what I thought might be more important role in the organization, with some authority of my own.
I started attending college classes in t the early ‘90’s, taking one class at a time working my classes around my children’s school schedules and taking summers off. When my oldest son graduated from college in 2001, and I was still working at it, I decided to find an accelerated program and get it done. I knew that if I didn’t do it then, that I never would. By that time there were several schools in my area offering accelerated programs and on-line classes were also becoming popular. Well, I did both and finished my BBA in 2004. With my husband’s encouragement, I went on to complete an MBA in 2008, taking some time off in between to be available for my parents. It was during this time that we discovered my dad had cancer, he also had a heart attack and triple bypass in the middle of his cancer treatment, and then COPD took over.
All this time my husband took care of everything, and I mean everything; and me too. All this while working a full-time job. He never complained. I, however, was very stressed and not always appreciative of his efforts. Not recognizing him has head of our household. I had a Masters Degree after all, why would I submit to my husband’s authority? It still didn’t compute and my inability to give up my perceived right to leadership of our family was beginning to make things difficult between us.
Early last spring my church started to form Life Transformation Groups (LTG) and, knowing I was seeking the Lord, my Pastor recommended I join. The purpose is to get into the Word, and to hold group members accountable for certain things. At the outset, each of us chose an area to which we would hold ourselves accountable, and when we don’t live up to God’s intent for us, we confess it to the safety of the group, pray about it, and ask God for forgiveness. I chose to learn to be respectful to my husband in the hope that he would see a change in me that might bring him closer to God.
My husband is still taking care of everything. He’s been unemployed for the last couple of years now, and has assumed the daily responsibility of taking care of my mom and sister, who has Downs Syndrome. He drives them to their doctor’s appointments, takes my sister to her day program, and my mom grocery shopping. He even checks in on a couple of seniors in the neighborhood. Still, he never complains.
I’m not perfect, I “lose it” occasionally, still wanting to control things, but I think I’m getting better. At least I pray I am. Through the LTG study and concentrated prayer, I now see my husband for the kind, giving person he is. I am so grateful to God for bringing us together. My husband isn’t saved yet, but by following God’s direction for me, in 1 Peter 3:1, I pray that my actions will bring him closer to God so that he may experience the joy that being close to God brings.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Follow-Up to Jan 24 Post – Knowing
Colossian 1:9 - 10
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Here’s the thing, I pray Colossians 1:9-14 daily for a list of people that haven’t accepted Christ yet. In this letter, Paul says he’s praying that they (us) will gain more knowledge of God, so they (we) would become more like Jesus.
For an hour before posting last night, I searched for just the right verse, when I had these two all along. Perhaps I should have been looking for a verse about memory instead. I’ll chalk it up to the “Fabulous 50’s”, or maybe. . . God just wanted to spend time with me. Yup, that it!
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
Here’s the thing, I pray Colossians 1:9-14 daily for a list of people that haven’t accepted Christ yet. In this letter, Paul says he’s praying that they (us) will gain more knowledge of God, so they (we) would become more like Jesus.
For an hour before posting last night, I searched for just the right verse, when I had these two all along. Perhaps I should have been looking for a verse about memory instead. I’ll chalk it up to the “Fabulous 50’s”, or maybe. . . God just wanted to spend time with me. Yup, that it!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
How do you protect yourself?
Hosea 6:6
For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather that burnt offerings.
Today's post is inspired by a message delivered by Adam L., a speaker visiting to our church today.
Today was very busy. I didn’t have much time to think of something to write, so after a very busy day I sat down to listen to a CD of the sermon given at church today. While it was playing I was looking through my bible waiting to see where God would lead me, and then I heard it. Adam said the words “we protect ourselves at all cost.” He was right. We protect ourselves from strangers, tough situations, failure, and relationships. Even the most important relationship we could ever have; the relationship God wants us to have with Him. I’m guilty, and here’s how I did it:
Here are some of them:
I’ve begun to rely on Him for my protection.
For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather that burnt offerings.
Today's post is inspired by a message delivered by Adam L., a speaker visiting to our church today.
Today was very busy. I didn’t have much time to think of something to write, so after a very busy day I sat down to listen to a CD of the sermon given at church today. While it was playing I was looking through my bible waiting to see where God would lead me, and then I heard it. Adam said the words “we protect ourselves at all cost.” He was right. We protect ourselves from strangers, tough situations, failure, and relationships. Even the most important relationship we could ever have; the relationship God wants us to have with Him. I’m guilty, and here’s how I did it:
- Not getting involved.
- Just coasting through life without intention.
- Not letting anyone get close enough to really know me.
- Not allowing myself to mention God at work or in social situations.
- Not changing my life, for fear of what it might bring.
- Being afraid to give up the things that separated me from God, or even trying to understand what they might be.
- Not truly committing to knowing God because it might force me to change.
- By carrying around my past sins, convinced that they couldn’t be forgiven.
Here are some of them:
- I’m getting involved.
- I have a very definite intention to know God more.
- I’m sharing my thoughts right here, allowing everyone to get to know me.
- I mention God in any situation as the Holy Spirit leads me, so that others will know Him.
- I’m not fearful of how God will change me, but eager for it to happen.
- I’ve stopped being afraid to hear from God, but rather I thirst for His Word and direction.
- I’ve committed to daily Bible study to gain more understanding.
- I know I’m forgiven.
I’ve begun to rely on Him for my protection.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
More on Serving
Joshua 24:14
So honor the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly. (NLT)
Joshua 24:24
We will serve the Lord our God and we will obey His voice. (ASV)
This is a story from my heart, it's about my parents and how they taught me to serve God.
My parents led a serving life. They had no money to speak of. Us kids never knew it though; not really. We were happy and healthy and knew our parents loved us. We knew about Jesus. Of course, going to a Catholic school, we would.
The tuition at my school was more than most parents could afford, so there were major fundraising events held throughout the year. My parents served God in the school kitchen, working at every event I can remember. My mom was the church Women’s Club treasure for 30 years. She was the local St. Vincent DePaul chairperson for many years too, finding food and furniture for those in need. She never learned to drive so Dad spent countless hours driving her where she needed to go always waiting for her in the car, in some not so safe areas, while she met with people that had called for help.
For many years after me and my brother left home the two of them shopped for, assembled, and delivered food baskets every Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We didn’t realize the magnitude of their efforts until Dad started to slow down from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), and then my husband and brother began to help with deliveries. Serving was something Mom and Dad did together, but it was Mom’s passion. Dad enabled her to serve others by driving for her, thereby also serving God.
Once, a couple of weeks before Christmas, when Dad was in the hospital again, Mom asked me to take her shopping for the food basket supplies. By this time I had begun to realize that Dad was loosing his fight against COPD, that he wasn’t going to get better. I couldn’t figure out why Mom had to make baskets that year. Why not someone else? Did she really expect me to do this, too? I was working full-time and already driving her and my sister (she has Downs Syndrome), to the hospital daily, sometimes going back during my lunch, and then back again to pick them both up in the evening if my brother couldn’t get there. Why did I have to do this, too?
Here’s the thing, Mom hadn’t accepted that Dad was in decline. That his COPD was progressive and would soon take him from us. She waited as long as she could to do that shopping, fully expecting Dad to come home in time to work on the baskets with her. You see, people were depending on her and she was committed to serving them.
I was feeling so stressed, and finally let Mom have it. In the car at the grocery store I scolded her for putting more on me, especially at that time. As if I were more important than those food baskets, more important than those people she was serving, more important than the work they had done together, serving God. In retrospect, I am so ashamed of my behavior that day and beg His forgiveness.
Thankfully, at this time in my life I am beginning to understand God’s purpose for me. By reading His Word and daily prayer, I’m learning more each day about His plan for my life. I’ve come to realize that there is nothing more important than serving Him and building my relationship with Him. Here's the tough part, I have only to be faithful that He will care for everything else. This is something my parents must have known, in their 51 years together, as they worked together to serve Him.
I believe something as small as a sincere smile to a stranger is, in some way, serving the Lord. Try it; it’s a fine place to start.
So honor the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly. (NLT)
Joshua 24:24
We will serve the Lord our God and we will obey His voice. (ASV)
This is a story from my heart, it's about my parents and how they taught me to serve God.
My parents led a serving life. They had no money to speak of. Us kids never knew it though; not really. We were happy and healthy and knew our parents loved us. We knew about Jesus. Of course, going to a Catholic school, we would.
The tuition at my school was more than most parents could afford, so there were major fundraising events held throughout the year. My parents served God in the school kitchen, working at every event I can remember. My mom was the church Women’s Club treasure for 30 years. She was the local St. Vincent DePaul chairperson for many years too, finding food and furniture for those in need. She never learned to drive so Dad spent countless hours driving her where she needed to go always waiting for her in the car, in some not so safe areas, while she met with people that had called for help.
For many years after me and my brother left home the two of them shopped for, assembled, and delivered food baskets every Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We didn’t realize the magnitude of their efforts until Dad started to slow down from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), and then my husband and brother began to help with deliveries. Serving was something Mom and Dad did together, but it was Mom’s passion. Dad enabled her to serve others by driving for her, thereby also serving God.
Once, a couple of weeks before Christmas, when Dad was in the hospital again, Mom asked me to take her shopping for the food basket supplies. By this time I had begun to realize that Dad was loosing his fight against COPD, that he wasn’t going to get better. I couldn’t figure out why Mom had to make baskets that year. Why not someone else? Did she really expect me to do this, too? I was working full-time and already driving her and my sister (she has Downs Syndrome), to the hospital daily, sometimes going back during my lunch, and then back again to pick them both up in the evening if my brother couldn’t get there. Why did I have to do this, too?
Here’s the thing, Mom hadn’t accepted that Dad was in decline. That his COPD was progressive and would soon take him from us. She waited as long as she could to do that shopping, fully expecting Dad to come home in time to work on the baskets with her. You see, people were depending on her and she was committed to serving them.
I was feeling so stressed, and finally let Mom have it. In the car at the grocery store I scolded her for putting more on me, especially at that time. As if I were more important than those food baskets, more important than those people she was serving, more important than the work they had done together, serving God. In retrospect, I am so ashamed of my behavior that day and beg His forgiveness.
Thankfully, at this time in my life I am beginning to understand God’s purpose for me. By reading His Word and daily prayer, I’m learning more each day about His plan for my life. I’ve come to realize that there is nothing more important than serving Him and building my relationship with Him. Here's the tough part, I have only to be faithful that He will care for everything else. This is something my parents must have known, in their 51 years together, as they worked together to serve Him.
I believe something as small as a sincere smile to a stranger is, in some way, serving the Lord. Try it; it’s a fine place to start.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Serving
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so the we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Psalm 60:12
With God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.
On January 20th, I wrote about how God speaks to me, how He points me in the direction He wants for me. He simply places the same message in front of me, repeatedly, until I get it.
When thinking about what my next post should be, I decided to build on the closing statement of my last post. It should be about serving Him. So, I began to search through my bible for verses on serving and found one I had visited before. The verse above, from Ephesians, is in a passage I first visited in January of 2005, then again in February of 2009, even underlining vs. 2:8. Then in May of 2009 I underlined vs. 2:10 and wrote "serve" next to it. Yes, He has been directing my path.
In the Psalm above David tells us that we need only to rely on God, that He will help us. With the help of God's Word, and studying it with good friends, I've come to realize that our foes don't always come in human form. They can be much more menacing things like fear, depression, lack of motivation, alcohol, drugs, or anything else keeping us from Him and the "mighty things" He has planned for us. We have only to put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) and move fearlessly forward. He will guide the way.
My fear of failure has stopped me from moving forward on so many things. Not on this blog, though. I've heard Him and I'm serving Him by writing it. My actions were confirmed by the two verses I found last night, especially in Ephesians with and the notes in margin reminding me that God has always had a plan for me, I just have to be open to His messages for me.
God blesses all of us with His message.
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so the we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.
Psalm 60:12
With God's help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.
On January 20th, I wrote about how God speaks to me, how He points me in the direction He wants for me. He simply places the same message in front of me, repeatedly, until I get it.
When thinking about what my next post should be, I decided to build on the closing statement of my last post. It should be about serving Him. So, I began to search through my bible for verses on serving and found one I had visited before. The verse above, from Ephesians, is in a passage I first visited in January of 2005, then again in February of 2009, even underlining vs. 2:8. Then in May of 2009 I underlined vs. 2:10 and wrote "serve" next to it. Yes, He has been directing my path.
In the Psalm above David tells us that we need only to rely on God, that He will help us. With the help of God's Word, and studying it with good friends, I've come to realize that our foes don't always come in human form. They can be much more menacing things like fear, depression, lack of motivation, alcohol, drugs, or anything else keeping us from Him and the "mighty things" He has planned for us. We have only to put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) and move fearlessly forward. He will guide the way.
My fear of failure has stopped me from moving forward on so many things. Not on this blog, though. I've heard Him and I'm serving Him by writing it. My actions were confirmed by the two verses I found last night, especially in Ephesians with and the notes in margin reminding me that God has always had a plan for me, I just have to be open to His messages for me.
God blesses all of us with His message.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
God is Prompting Me
Well, I did it. I started a blog today.
For two weeks, now, I've been thinking about starting a faith-based blog for Christian Women. Thinking about it, planning it, designing it in my mind, talking about it with friends but not acting on it. The bible tells us to obey God's direction immediately. That’s what I read in my new bible last night. I was reading the Life Principles Bible (Charles F. Stanley, 2009, NAS). I've wanted it for a while now, and was able to get it with gift card I received for Christmas. I was studying Life Principle four and looked up a verse about the value of diligence as it relates to one’s work life when I found the following verse:
Ecclesiastes 11:4
He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
In other words, “don’t procrastinate”, just obey. For months now, I've been praying on God's plan for me. Is this the answer? Is it really to start a blog? Has He really placed it in my heart and mind to do this?
Colossians 3:20
Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 27:10
“You shall therefore obey the Lord your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today."
He said "today". Here it is again, just obey. Last night and today, one verse led to another all with the same message--just obey, so I did.
I asked my Pastor once, "What do people mean when they say ‘God talked to me, God placed this on my heart’?” When you've never experienced such a thing, it can sound a little out there for some of us. But, I've come to realize that God does talk to me. He points me in His planned direction sometimes by repeatedly placing the same message right in front of me. I'll hear a praise song, then hear a Sunday sermon, read an article, see something on TV, or read a Bible verse, all of which carry the same message. Sometimes it takes me a while, but I'm starting to get better at recognizing His answers to my prayers. In my fairly short Christian walk, I've come to realize that this is how God "talks to me".
Today, I'll begin serving Him through this blog for as long as He wants me to, and my hope is that others might also be served.
For two weeks, now, I've been thinking about starting a faith-based blog for Christian Women. Thinking about it, planning it, designing it in my mind, talking about it with friends but not acting on it. The bible tells us to obey God's direction immediately. That’s what I read in my new bible last night. I was reading the Life Principles Bible (Charles F. Stanley, 2009, NAS). I've wanted it for a while now, and was able to get it with gift card I received for Christmas. I was studying Life Principle four and looked up a verse about the value of diligence as it relates to one’s work life when I found the following verse:
Ecclesiastes 11:4
He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
In other words, “don’t procrastinate”, just obey. For months now, I've been praying on God's plan for me. Is this the answer? Is it really to start a blog? Has He really placed it in my heart and mind to do this?
Colossians 3:20
Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 27:10
“You shall therefore obey the Lord your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today."
He said "today". Here it is again, just obey. Last night and today, one verse led to another all with the same message--just obey, so I did.
I asked my Pastor once, "What do people mean when they say ‘God talked to me, God placed this on my heart’?” When you've never experienced such a thing, it can sound a little out there for some of us. But, I've come to realize that God does talk to me. He points me in His planned direction sometimes by repeatedly placing the same message right in front of me. I'll hear a praise song, then hear a Sunday sermon, read an article, see something on TV, or read a Bible verse, all of which carry the same message. Sometimes it takes me a while, but I'm starting to get better at recognizing His answers to my prayers. In my fairly short Christian walk, I've come to realize that this is how God "talks to me".
Today, I'll begin serving Him through this blog for as long as He wants me to, and my hope is that others might also be served.
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