Stand Firm

I was leafing through my bible looking for a reminder of the Armor of God.  I haven’t thought about it for a while and needed a little refresher.  No matter how many times you read the bible, truths always spring up new and fresh!  This really hit me, again!

Ephesians 6:10-12

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.  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.

Wow!  I have been rather grumpy lately.  Like a brick of despair was sitting on my chest.  Things are getting on my nerves that I am usually able to brush away.  I have been getting frustrated with people in my family and even games I have played.  This verse refreshed and reminded me – it is not the people around us that we are fighting against.  That is just one of Satan’s tricks.   He sows discord and wants us to focus on the people and the issues rather than facing and recognizing what he is doing to us and fighting him.  Don’t give Satan that foothold, don’t let him steer your emotions and shake your faith through the actions of others.  He is what is wrong, not ‘flesh-and-blood’ people.

The shield of faith is to turn away the “fiery arrows of the devil”.  What are your fiery arrows?  Lies that you are no good?  Actions of others or yourself that make you angry?  (The devil likes us to be angry, it is hard to do God’s work when we are angry.)  Lies that you are a failure?  Lies that you can’t control your own thoughts or emotions?  God equips us with that shield to protect us from those arrows.  He has also given us a way to fight back – the ‘Sword of the Spirit’ – the word of God.  The bible!  In the bible holds the answers and truths to fight back against all the tricks Satan uses to pull us down!  Use the word to counteract the lies of Satan and words or actions of others that are aimed to hurt you or knock you off of your firm stance. 

Take your stance in faith and trust.  Put on the shoes of peace, knowing you are saved, and preparing yourself.  Don’t let Satan run you down, stand strong.

Turn to Ephesians 6, verses 10 to 18, and stand firm in your faith.

Branded

Have you noticed the Under Armor craze around us?  I am not sure about other parts of the country, but kids around here look like they are drowning in the Under Armor logo.  It is ‘the brand’ to wear.  I have never understood how having a certain label or symbol on your clothes made them worth 5 times as much money.  Kids seem to think they will only be cool or accepted if they are wearing that symbol.

Let me ask you this.  Do you want to be accepted, to be in God’s ‘in crowd’?  That brand is free.  That brand gets you relationships that are not based on how much your clothes cost.  That brand is worth devotion and praise.  The brand Jesus puts on your heart when you repent of your sins and accept him is the only brand that keeps you out of hell and guarantees eternal life in heaven with him.  Now THAT is a valuable brand.  People tried selling it years ago, but they were wrong.  You can’t buy this brand with money, it is much too valuable for mere money. 

No one can take their special clothes they buy here on earth with them when they die, or when Jesus returns.  You can’t run up and pack all of your Under Armor.   Clothing brands cannot change who you are, or make you beautiful to God.   Only Christ’s brand can do that.  Only Christ’s brand on your heart.  Wouldn’t it be great if people worked as hard for Christ as they do to acquire certain things or brands of things?  We would live in a different world!

Ephesians 1:13 ----And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

Revelation 7:2-3 ----'And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.' 

Live Like There is No Tomorrow

“Live like there is no tomorrow!”

I am sure you have heard that quote.  It’s general meaning tends to imply that you should do what you want to do when you want to do it.  People think it means that you never know when you will die so you had better enjoy life now.  I want you to step back a bit and ponder a new spin for that phrase.

What if there is no tomorrow because Jesus returned today?

How would that alter the choices you make?

If we truly want to ‘live like there was no tomorrow’ we need to consider where we would be tomorrow if Jesus were to return today or our life were to end today.  Tomorrow – we would be seeing heaven or hell.   The choices we make today choose our tomorrow.  How does that change your perspective on that phrase? 

It really is a good motto to live by.

“Live like Jesus returns tomorrow!”

Purposeful Prayer

    Have you ever read the book The Help?  It was a big title a few years ago, made into a movie and all that.  There was a little sideline that was discussed in the book that really hit home with me (this was barely mentioned in the movie - it got about one line if I heard correctly).  Anyhow, one of the main characters wrote out her prayers.  She not only wrote out her prayers but was a true 'prayer warrior'.   Other characters would ask her to put them on her prayer list, and there was an obvious response from God once someone was added to her prayer list.  These little snippets and side stories sprinkled throughout the book inspired me.  I want to write out my prayers and prayer lists.  I started small.  I am a person who never remembers to do something until the wrong time, therefore it took awhile to get going.

    Three or so weeks ago I began improving my purposeful prayer.  I listed three specific things, a few families that needed extra prayer and a situation in our own home.  During my prayers and random conversation with God I specifically brought up these items at least twice a day.  These families were in many prayers, not just mine.  But a rather striking thing happened.  All at once I realized how clearly God had answered my prayers, it was like a prayer answering rainfall.  One family got the house they so desperately needed, another dear friend's father had a giant tumor removed - it was not cancerous after all, and our finances began to lighten up at home.  All of these (especially the giant non-cancerous tumor), are amazing works of God, true blessings for those involved!  Then I began to look around at other things that I felt had entered into my prayers 'willy nilly' - but on a regular basis, and I could see answers in my life.

     These realizations spurred me on.  I now keep a very specific prayer list of praises, forgiveness neededs, and requests.  Like in the movie 'War Room', prayer that is focused can have an amazing effect on your life.  Of course you must always be prepared for whatever answer you receive, and spend time listening to what God has to say - but God is listening, and God does care.  Talk to Him, praise Him, thank Him, repent to Him, LISTEN to Him, and ask Him!  He hears!

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

check this out - verse pasted from: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/10-awesome-bible-verses-about-the-power-of-prayer/#ixzz46tughdt8

Philippians 3:8

What is the most important thing in your life?
What do you worry about the most?
What do you spend the most time doing?
What truly matters to you?
What effects your life a week from now?  A year?  10 years?  At the end?

Give a bit of time and thought to this verse that I opened up to this morning from 

Philippians 3:8 

"Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value 

of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord"

       

     Have you noticed that a lot of our worries have nothing to do with God?  A lot of what we do, has nothing to do with God?  If supper is 10 minutes late, or we don't have any vegetables, will anyone even remember tomorrow?  If your hair isn't perfect, are you going to loose your job?  If you are get pneumonia and miss 3 weeks of work, will it be any more than a memory a year from now?

       What does matter, what does effect our lives and the next generations behind us is God.  Our relationship with Him colors our entire lives.  It changes how we treat others, it shapes our personality and attitudes, and therefore, it also shapes how we raise and treat our kids and therefore how they raise and treat their kids and goes on and on and on!  The most important effect for us and the legacy we pass to our following generations is eternity.  The verse says 'the infinite value of knowing Christ' - infinite-.  That word, infinite, is not just that our relationship with Christ effects every part of our life and legacy, it is also where we spend eternity.  It is the difference between heaven and hell.  Tell me, what is more important - the kind of car you drive for the next 3 years, or 

where you spend eternity?

         There is nothing more valuable than knowing Christ in our hearts and acting upon his teaching.  The more of the bible you read, the more time you spend with the Lord, the more you consult him for advice rather than the world, the more you practice his teaching, and follow his leading --- the better your life will be, the better relationships you will have, the better fruit you will produce, the better legacy you will leave, the better eternity you will have.

Philippians 3:14

"Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

Christmas Eve

Satan wants us to believe that we are alone.  He wants us to think that Christianity is dying out.  In past experience, at a variety of churches, the services on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning are typically not well attended.  Everyone is busy. 

We attend a very large church (huge for the size of our community).  If you are 5 minutes early (or even 5 minutes late) you can usually find a seat on Sunday morning.  It is full, but there are seats available.  We arrived to Christmas Eve services this year only 5 minutes before the service was due to start…  No seats… We checked the balcony… No seats… We finally found a spot for our family of 6 way up in the front of the church (we could only see that those seats were free when we were looking in the balcony).  Keep in mind there were still people arriving.  It was amazing.  That church was packed to standing room only on a night that most do not bother with church.  Despite what society would have us believe.  People do still know the meaning of Christmas, people do still take time out of a busy schedule to worship.  People do love the Lord. 

The amount of people was not the only thing that struck me.  The service was beautiful!  Pastor Jack wonderfully wove the birth of Christ in with the message of salvation.  Pointing out that this tiny baby was destined (his purpose for coming at all) to carry our sin to the cross.  The service was full of the touch of the Holy Spirit.  Music and message, a truly uplifting and REAL experience!  Everyone alive in Christ, together!

Quick thought on Romans 14:4

Romans 14:4
"Who are you to condemn someone else's servants?  Their master will judge whether they stand or fall.  And with the Lord's help they will stand and receive his approval."

What does this verse say to you?  To me it says we should pray for people rather than thinking they are doing something wrong.  The bible is stuffed full with verses about minding our own business and not passing judgement on other people.  This verse goes a step further.  It says we should not only judge others, but treat them kindly and pray for them.  Everyone is God's work.  Everyone needs God's help.  We can not 'fix' anyone, not even ourselves - only God can do that.

 Did you notice while reading through the gospels that not even Jesus judged others?  (He did however frequently point out to the religious leaders what they were doing wrong with their service to His Father, constructive criticism if they would have listened.)  Jesus went to those people others had judged and condemned as sinners, and he helped those people to become devoted children of God.  What more can we want?  We should never assume that God is done working in someone's life, because we never want him to be finished working in our lives.   Don't persecute - just pray.