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“Armor of God”   A battle is raging – a battle we can’t see. The battles we wage in our lives are part of a huge cosmic battle that has been going on since Satan’s fall. This battle will not end until he is destroyed. In the meantime, God promises that if we wear His armor, we can stand firm. As we pray God’s promises for our family, and especially our children, we need to pray for their strength in the unseen spiritual battles. In prayer, put on the belt of truth, praying that they will believe the truth but live it as well. Then prayerfully add the body armor of God’s righteousness protecting their heart and giving them the ability to stand up Satan’s attacks because the righteousness is not their own, but God’s. Next, “for shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News” (Ephesians 6:15). When you put on these shoes, you are ready for any battle because…you’re already on the winning side. Give them the shield of faith, Satan will shoot his fier...

You are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Psalm 61:3-4 Prayer, to the patriarchs and prophets, was more than the recital of well-know and well-worn phrases - it was the outpouring of the heart. - Herbert Lockyer Love & Blessings!

"Love never fails..."   What does it mean to love?   The love this verse is talking about means “agape” in Greek--a pure love which also means goodwill. When you read this verse with the understanding that love contains so much more, it seems impossible and very challenging to truly love. Love is patient.   Are you always patient with those you love? Love is kind; it does not boast or envy. There are more things mentioned in this verse, what love means and how it acts, but let’s focus on God and his love.   He never gives an order without a solution. In Romans 5:8 God tells you how you can love the way He meant you to. When Jesus died on the cross, God showed his love for you. God loved us first - and He still loves us. He loves us exactly the way it is written in this verse. God was never impatient with you, nor did He rejoice in wrongdoing. Nor was He arrogant. You have already received his perfect love. Now it is your turn to...

Choices "It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."   - J.K. Rowling   You have a choice as to the street where you live. You choose not only your home but those who will live next door. Your choices affect your relationship with God and the outcome of everything you do.   Choices—we all make them every day. But in the end, they make us.   Choose to cultivate your inner person, and don’t sacrifice your character on this life’s road chasing success. Check out my previous post - Choose Today Wisdom and folly both want to control our lives, and we have to make a choice which one will. Be blessed and be a blessing!

Choose Today The choices we make today, make us tomorrow... Believing that God will speak to me today through His Word. Choose today to remember the faithfulness and goodness of God (James 1:15) Forget not His benefits towards you (Psalm 103:2-5) The Word is Alive (Hebrews 4:12) Choose Today – This Day (James 4:14) Seek God’s Word Daily (Matthew 24:44) Choose Jesus Today (John 14:6) Choose Jesus Today because Jesus already chose you! (1 Peter 2:9) What choice or choices will you make today! Be blessed and be a blessing!

Humble Yourselves   Jesus said in Matthew 23:12, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” For all his wisdom and wealth, Solomon still humbled himself, walked in obedience, and worshiped the Lord.  Wisdom and folly both want to control our lives, and we have to make a choice which one will. Be blessed and be a blessing!

The Wisdom of Proverbs People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy – Proverbs 28:13 NLT If you have good sense, you will listen and obey; if all you do is talk, you will destroy yourself – Proverbs 10:8 CEV She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue – Proverbs 31:26 NIV Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will be suddenly destroyed beyond recovery – Proverbs 29:1 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety – Proverbs 29:25 NLT Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy – Proverbs 31:8-9 There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking – Proverbs 29:20 NLT Honest correction is appreciated more than flattery – Proverbs 28:23 CEV Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and G...

Ten More Proverbs There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord – Proverbs 21:30 NIV Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul – Proverbs 22:24-25 NLT Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness – Proverbs 23:4 NIV Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses – Proverbs 25:15 Message Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife – Proverbs 17:1 NIV Let someone else praise you, and not your won mouth; and outsider, and not your own lips – Proverbs 27:2 NIV People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord – Proverbs 19:3 NLT Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble. For the Lord will be displeased with you – Proverbs 24:17 NLT Wounds from a sincere friend are better t...

Be Transformed Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.   Romans 12:2 (NLT)     God leads us in very natural ways when we make ourselves available to Him. He has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for His children. God wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds. Because He only wants the best for us, and because He gave His Son to make our lives possible, we should shout for joy as we live to serve Him.   As Christ-Followers we must consciously decide not to conform to this world's values. How can we avoid being proud, selfish, covetous, stubborn and arrogant? Only when the Holy Spirit renews, reeducates, and redirects our minds are we truly transformed.   Be blessed and be a blessing!

Ten Proverbs Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble – Proverbs 17:17 Message A sensible person accepts correction, but you can’t beat sense into a fool Proverbs 17:10 CEV Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes – Proverbs 19:2 NLT It is one’s honor to avoid strife, and every fool is quick to quarrel – Proverbs 20:3 NIV Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter – Proverbs 20:22 NLT When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom – Proverbs 11:2 NIV Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean for more to God than religious performance – Proverbs 21:3 Message A gossip will reveal your secrets! So avoid the company of people who talk openly and foolishly – Proverbs 20:19 The Voice Mixed motives twist life into tangles; pure motives take you straight down the road – Proverbs 21:18 Mes...

Ten Proverbs The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence – Proverbs 14:16 NLT Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet from evil – Proverbs 4:26-27 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed – Proverbs 15:22 NIV Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall – Proverbs 16:18 NKJV A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends – Proverbs 16:28 NLT Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out – Proverbs 17:14 NIV Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray – Proverbs 10:17 NIV Fools have no desire to learn; they would much rather give their own opinion – Proverbs 18:2 CEV Slack habits and sloppy work are as bad as vandalism – Proverbs ...

Ten Proverbs Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin – Proverbs 13:3 NIV He who walks with wise men will be wise. But the companion of fools will be destroyed – Proverbs 13:20 NKJV Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends – Proverbs 17:9 NLT He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless – Proverbs 2:7 NIV If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise – Proverbs 15:31 Whoever is patient has great understating, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly – Proverbs 14:29 NIV Wealth from get-rich-schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time – Proverbs 13:11 NLT The one who hates good counsel will reap failure and ruin, but the one who reveres God’s instruction will be rewarded – Proverbs 13:13 The Voice Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind t...

Trials and Temptations Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. The Spirit-filled life does not mean a problem-free life. There are two characteristics the distinguish Spirit-filled Christ followers from other Christians and unbelievers. First, they are not controlled by their circumstances and second, they refocus quickly after having sinned. Even when we meet with disappointment, our spiritual joy isn’t diminished under stress. Anyone can be loving, kind, and self-controlled in seasons of blessing. But what happens to our attitude in trying times? The real test of who we are occurs not when things are going our way but when misfortune shows up. We learn four things when the Spirit is in charge: to love when we want to hate; to practice...

Now faith is the  assurance of  things   hoped for, the  conviction of  things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (NASB) Faith is not just believing that God’s way is better than yours, but it is wanting what God wants for you and doing your part to get it.  – Keith A. Craft       Blessed and be a blessing!

Unashamed Online Bible Study Wrap Up This is it! We’re finally at our wrap-up week! I hope you have been impacted and changed, and most of all encouraged, by the Unashamed Bible Study! When I look back to the day I first held Christine’s study guide in my hands and I thought, Easy peasy! Not my issue. This’ll be a piece of cake! Little did I know how much this study would impact me. What was your most important take-away from Unashamed? It may sound pretty basic, but I think for me it was as simple as realizing that shame was such a big struggle and that God wanted me to be brave and honest so that He could heal me. Sometimes we need a bold and audacious friend to go before us and show us that we can do it, too, don’t you think? This study by Christine Caine (CC) did that for me. You will heal as you go. The same Jesus that did it for me, I know, will do it for you! — CC GOD LOVES YOU. God has a plan for you. NOTHING can separate you f...

The Lord is with Me… You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4) “You are with me.” Yes, you, Lord, are in heaven. Yes, you rule the universe. Yes, you sit upon the stars and make your home in the deep. But yes, yes, yes, you are with me. The Lord is with me. The Creator is with me. Yahweh is with me. Moses proclaimed it:” What great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us.” (Deuteronomy 4:7 NLT) Paul announced it: “He is not far from each of us” (Acts 17:27 NIV). And David discovered it: “You are with me.” Somewhere in the pasture, wilderness, or palace David discovered that God meant business when He said: “I will not leave you” (Genesis 28:15). God is always with you. How can this truth bring positive changes to your life? May you be encouraged and be blessed!

1 Corinthians 7:17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. (NIV) “let each person lead the life . . . God has called him.” The following verses make clear that the phrase “God has called him” is not a reference to a social position but to conversion itself. In vv. 17–24 set forth a principle that gives coherence to the whole chapter: becoming a believer does not require a change in status, whether marital, ethnic, or social ( vv. 8 , 20 , 26 ). This verse has sometimes been misused as evidence that Christians should not attempt to improve their social or economic standing. On the contrary, Paul encourages slaves to obtain their freedom if the opportunity arises ( v. 21 ). Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches. (NKJV) So he...