A lady and I were talking last night, after Bible study, how frustrating it is that we let satan get the best of us without even realizing it sometimes. We think we are going to do something like pray with someone, or send a card of encouragement, sign up to teach Sunday school, etc. and satan tells us how stupid we are, and what others will think of us, etc. and soon we are agreeing with him and then we don't do it and he wins. Later you kick yourself for allowing it to happen. Just like this blog, I really feel like Christ has called me to it and yet every time I go to write you won't believe the struggle I go through. Even to the point I haven't told anyone yet I'm doing it. I'm getting closer.
He even fights us physically by making us not feel good on Sunday mornings, telling us "who do you think you are wearing that", "Don't you realize, nobody there likes you", etc. Lies all lies. John 8:44 tells us he's the father of lies.
In Bible study we were also talking about the distractions, when you are trying to have your quiet time with Christ, and how the phone will ring, even when you got up early to avoid that. Or you can't seem to shut your mind down and listen to His voice. All of a sudden it is flooded with your to do list, the children wake up, your extremely hungry, etc.
So ladies we really have to learn to pray for strength before we even get out of bed. Put on our armor daily. Ephesians 6:10-18 says
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
I am going to turn this into a prayer and try to memorize it so that I may start each day with it before I even get out of bed.
Lord, today I ask you to allow me to be strong in You and Your mighty power. Let me put on my full armor, that You have so graciously given me, so that I can take my stand against the devils schemes. Let me always remember my struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Let me stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around my waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and my feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Father may I have the strength to take up my shield of faith, so that I may extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Always remembering to take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is your word, God. May I be allowed to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Father I ask you to keep me alert, and always praying for all Your people. So that when the day of evil comes, I may be able to stand my ground. For without You Lord I am nothing. In Jesus name, Amen.
It is satan's joy to keep us down and not realizing the truths that God has given us in his word. 2 Samuel 22:33, 2 Samuel 22:40, 1Chronicles 16:11, Psalm 18:32, Psalm 18:39, Psalm 28:7, and many more.
I know it sounds like we need to be some kinda wonder woman with all sorts of ninja moves etc., but ladies admit it don't you feel like that is what you are up against everyday. The news is full of headlines. Satan is after us, our marriages, our children, our families, our church families, etc. We have no choice, we have to fight this battle and it can only be won with Christ as our leader. Yet how wonderful to know it can be won.
In Him
I checked out many new patio sets but was amazed at the cost so I decided to make over our old one. Which by the way, we picked up on the curb several years ago. It is very well built and I'm sure was an expensive one in it's day. This is the best picture I had of it before. Also I get to show off my beautiful granddaughter. The cushions were worn a little and kinda smelled from years of weathering,and the umbrella didn't go up very well anymore. Most of all it was very rusted and almost all the straps were rotten and broke.
So we tore it all apart.
And then we primed it, painted it, and put new strapping on it. We were so excited to find the strapping at Lowe's. We had looked and looked for years with no luck. Now we find out you can order it online in colors. How I wish I would have known that. When we had looked before online we had no luck finding it then. (Once again sorry about the date on the picture as well as it is wrong. My hubby bought me a new one since I had dropped that one in the kiddy pool and it hadn't been right since. Also we were going on a amazing trip to Europe to see our son and daughter-in-law and didn't want to miss a thing. Pictures and stories coming soon. Totally off the subject.)
Here is a picture after we had painted them, but before the new strapping. It got dark and we wanted to get them finished so we brought them inside and hadn't taken any pictures till we were on the last one.
See how a brown strapping would have been nice. We have thought about painting them we will see. Also we made step by step pictures of how to do this since there was no real instructions in the package and the internet had some but only using water and we came up with using the hair dryer. So if anyone wants to see them, let me know and I will post them. We had to take the table all apart also and remove the glass, so we could paint it. I didn't get any pictures of that. It was time consuming I guess, but very well worth it. It looks like a brand new set and we are very happy with it.
We bought new cushions,
and a new umbrella. Makes me want to go get flowers for the pots and make it all pretty. I'll post new pictures if I get that done. Our yard is so shady it's hard to get a good picture. Just wanted to share my newest project. Can't wait to enjoy it.
Have a GREAT day
In Him
I'm so excited about how God is revealing his word to me in a way I have never gotten. I truly LOVE that about His word. Every time I read it, it reveals more of Christ's true character to me. So with that I know Him better and know how I need to grow in Him. The Holy Spirit allows me to understand it more. When I understand it more it gets me excited about reading it, and I hate to put it down. It hasn't always been this way for me.
In 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 Paul is talking to me and you if you know the Lord as your personal savior.(verse 2) 4.I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. As Christians we need to claim that daily, and his peace in verse 3. 5. For in him you have been enriched in every way-in all your speaking and in all your knowledge- 6.because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Do you see that? We have been enriched in every way, EVERY WAY folks. In all our speaking and in all our knowledge. So God is giving us the words and the knowledge, he just wants us to be willing. Be willing to speak that knowledge. I don't have to be worried about writing on here, he will has already given me the knowledge. It says it right here in his word. I think about Beth Moore, Lisa Terkeurst, Billy Graham, and many more wonderful Christian authors/speakers, they are willing! They get this!!!! 7.Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. Do you see that? We lack no spiritual gifts! So those of you that say you have no gifts, it's time you reevaluate. Ask God to show you your gifts clearly. Also in here, could easily be missed, is the knowledge of how we should live; eagerly waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. This is in the New Testament. Jesus will return!!! We have to be ready. If you don't know Christ as your personal savior, and know that if he came right now, you would go to heaven, then STOP reading and ask him into your heart. I'll wait.
Father God if for some reason someone has read this far in this post, and doesn't know you personally. I pray you will lay on their heart just how much they need you. I pray they will not be foolish enough to live one more minute without knowing your precious love. I pray that if they asked you into their heart today, that you will reveal yourself to them as you have me. I pray they will seek out the Holy Spirit and know your divine joy in their lives daily. Father we are all broken and not perfect in anyway. May they understand that you don't require that of them. That because of your son's death on the cross we are made perfect and clean in your sight. NO MATTER what we have done in our lives. In Jesus name I pray this. Amen
8.He will keep you strong to the end, so you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9.God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord is faithful. I have heard so many people say they are not strong enough to be a christian, or strong enough to keep the commandments, etc. Do you see that? He will keep you strong enough. None of us are strong enough on our own. He is faithful. In today's world how much can we say about that. Faithfulness is hard to find. We live in a world that really doesn't understand that word, but God created it.
In Him
Italics was mine.
