Armor of God

We CAN be strong in God's mighty power!!!

Belt of Truth
When we obey God's Word then we know the truth. The truth is what sets us free! If we don't gird ourselves with the belt of truth we could end up getting tripped and falling and injured instead of being at liberty to live life the way Christ wants us to. God lovingly gave us his Word which is the Bible because it really is the truth we need for living our lives which successfully counteracts the lies of the devil.

Breastplate of Righteousness
Realize the vast importance of watching over your heart with all diligence and living a life of righteousness. God loves righteousness. Consistently live your life as if your thoughts and acts are going to form a strong powerful breastplate of righteousness which will keep you spiritually close to God, instead of straying to ways that are hazardous.

Feet Shod With the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
From believing the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we walk in newness of life! Everywhere we go we walk with readiness to let God's Word be our light. We share the good news of the gospel of Christ!

Shield of Faith
Faith comes from hearing the word of God. Faith is evidence of things hoped for. The shield of faith protects us from the fiery darts of the evil one. God refines us with fire to purify us. The evil one wants to set our lives aflame with destructive fire from hell. The shield of faith can extinguish every flaming dart of the evil one. When we are beset with fiery darts and saturate ourselves with God's Word a satisfying hiss from the extinguishing of the fiery darts will be readily aparrent.

Helmet of Salvation
God loved us so much he sent his Son to die in our place for our sins-- so that if we believe Jesus died for our sins and commit to live a life that pleases God, we receive God's forgiveness and eternal life. Rejoice in God's lovingkindness and great goodness and that He's always available to powerfully answer us when we cry out to Him for help, remembering that God's ways are so much higher than our ways.

Sword of the Spirit, Which is the Word of God
Fighting with the sword of the Spirit helps us to walk in the Spirit with victory over the world and the flesh and the evil one. God's word is quick and powerful and helps us to mightily win the battle. Keep your sword gripped firmly in hand to fight with. Don't forget that we are in a war against spiritual forces of evil.


Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;(KJV)

Slimming

It's nice to make new habits that in turn change you so much in a positive way. I was hospitalized at the beginning of October. The doctor put me on a diet in the hospital, which helped me get used to eating lighter meals more spaced apart. When I got out of the hospital and stayed with my mom, she really helped me to diet like I should. I've lost a lot of weight before but I usually really struggle with the concept of limiting myself to what's allowed on a restricted calorie diet, and just try to do the best I can. I've been eating about 1,600 calories per day since getting out of the hospital. My mom say's I am looking so much different that I don't even look like the same person. Yes, there is a lot of weight to lose but this is a wonderful start, my body is changing for the better and I'm getting well established in a diet that can help me lose all my extra pounds. I'm so happy about this!

I'm trying to exercise every day. I love taking walks, swimming, yoga and weight training. Aerobic exercise has always been really good at getting me trimmer-- so I want to walk and swim as much as I reasonably can..

It's very helpful to my diet that I like to cook interesting healthy meals. Although I usually eat the same thing every day for breakfast and supper, I have good healthy meals with lots of variety for lunch each day. For breakfast I eat a boiled egg, steel cut oats with prunes and 100% stone ground whole wheat toast with diet margarine and sugar free jam. For supper I eat a peanut butter and banana sandwich sprinkled with cinnamon with milk to drink. For lunch today I ate at my mom's house. We had some chicken & rice soup that I made along with steamed spinach and broccoli. I had a persimmon for dessert. I consider this really good eating.

I'm so thankful that God has helped me so much like this so that I'm beginning to lose weight and hopefully can lose a good bit of weight. To me is seems like grace-- unmerited favor, and I'm so thankful for how much he loves me.

God loves you just as much! Oh that more people would come to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. God sent Jesus to earth because He loved us so much that He didn't want sin to separate us eternally from his wonderful goodness, loving kindness and His glorious presence. Jesus came to earth as a baby and at age thirty-three he died on the cross for our sins. He however, never sinned--but by believing in Jesus's death on the cross for our sins and His being raised to life on the third day, we are forgiven for our sins and receive His righteousness. Through God's Word (the Bible) and the Holy Spirit we can walk in newness of life. Then love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (the fruit of the spirit) begin to be seen in our lives!

John 3:16-18
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.(NIV)

Memory Scripture Demonstrates the Importance of a Relationship With God

I began learning this Scripture March 1st as a part of the Living Proof Ministries Siesta Scripture Memory Team. Beth's memory scripture for the first two weeks of March was Hebrews 10:35-36. I decided to add it to the Scripture I had already selected from Hebrews 10.

There's going to be a "Siesta Scripture Memory Team Celebration Event", and it's not too late to get in on it!!!

http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2009/03/siesta-scripture-memory-team-verse-6.html

I've almost got this Scripture memorized through verse 14. I've been really working on it a lot for the past few days. Memorization of long scripture passages isn't required; however I like the challenge; committment to memorize just 24 scriptures in twelve months was asked for. I've been busy this month trying to get caught up on my Precept Ephesians study and I got to research and present a five minute Bible study on the bronze serpent at our family Bible study (click on the links to read the Scripture)

http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=numbers+21%3A5-9

http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=john+3%3A14-16&src=esv.org

and a Bible study on Counterfeits of things in God's Kingdom. Recently I was talking to my mom about counterfeits; it interested her and said she wanted me to give a talk on it. When I was getting the second Bible study ready, there were so many questions raised in my mind, that I thoroughly studied the book of Revelation.

Hebrews 10:5-7; 10-16; 35-36
link to the English Standard Version: http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=hebrews+10
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God... 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;... 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (KJV)

The importance of a relationship with God is seen in this scripture. Until Jesus Christ's death on the cross for our sins, animals were sacrificed for sins to be covered.

Through Jesus' sinless life, the requirements of the Law given to Moses by God, are met.

Whosoever believes Jesus died for their sins is given right standing with God, through Jesus Christ, by grace through faith. It is a free gift.

As Jesus rose from the grave, we too can walk in newness of life.

In the Bible are recorded God's wonderful promises and we also find instructions on how to walk in the light of the Lord.

Praises to Jesus!

I've been studying the book of Revelation and I want to praise Jesus! He is my Savior and Lord!

Isaiah prophesied:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:66) KJV

His birth was announced to shepherds; a multitude of the heavenly host praised God saying:

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14) KJV

How much does God love us?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) KJV

read more here: http://theromanroad.org/

Jesus said:

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2-3) KJV

One day, whether we have died or are still alive, we who are in Christ will be caught up into the clouds, to meet Him in the air, and so shall we forever be with the Lord. (see 1 Thessalonians 4:17)

I love thinking about forever being with the Lord.

Recently my sister and I were discussing the book of Revelation, which tells about the beast that rises up out of the sea. The beast had a deadly wound to one of his seven heads which had healed-- which I've been taught is an attempt at counterfeiting Jesus Christ. I had trouble understanding part of Revelation 17:8: "when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is". Then the awful, sick realization of where it will be discovered that the beast "yet is"-- in the lake of fire.


Rev 13:1, 3 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. ...And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. (KJV)

Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (KJV)

Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (KJV)

Rev 20:12, 15 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ...And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (KJV)