THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD

I have to give God praise for showing me the way. I find myself looking for the right path daily. Always, I ponder His will in it all. I could take any path I choose, but for those of us who've travelled our own path as well as that of the Father's, we know all too well what our wrong choices can lead to. It's truly a daily dilemma. I'm shocked at Satan's stamina. My goodness, that dude can persue and afflict and haunt for hours and hours and days and months and years. He doesn't run out of tools, nor tactics. There's no way, Christians, that we can get through this without asking God which way. Go ahead...try. I've spent more time back tracking in this life for thinking I could figure it out. Never ever second guess yourself if you know that you're in God's will for your life. That tiny "still" voice that says, "not good, don't do it," ya, that's Him. That instinct that says, "hm, this doesn't feel right," ya, that's Him. Follow it! Follow Him. He works so much harder than the enemy to deliver us. God's stamina is far beyond the devil's. I see, with my spiritual eyes, the deliverance daily. My natural eyes only see the surface of this world and that's what the enemy uses to confuse and dismay. He'll convince you that what you're seeing is what's happening to you and that there's no way out...as you can see. Then, God, like that mighty rushing wind, swoops in and scoops me right out of it. I always feel like the toddler looking over the back of my daddy's shoulder as he carries me off to safety....I'm looking back at where I was and seeing the enemy still standing there with that stupid look on his worthless face wondering how I got out from under him, while I stick my tongue out at him and say, " neener neener neener." Why does he even try with us? Oh ya, that's right, because there's those who will weaken and crumble. You know why? You're not armed. The Bible says, "Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:..." Ephesians 6:11-17. It's just this simple...if something afflicts you or vexes you, use the word of God, say "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Psalm 34:19. See if hope and faith doesn't rise up inside of you (if you're saved and in the Lord Jesus Christ). If you aren't, go to the bottom of this page and say the prayer found at the bottom and invite Jesus in. Let Him deliver you out of all of your afflictions. I promise, He never fails. God bless you if you do and I'll meet you in paradise.

THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND

'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar;" then, "Two, only two?
Two dollars and who'll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars twice;
Going for three.." but no,
From the room, far back, a grey-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand and who'll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
And going, and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand,
What changed it's worth." Swift came the reply;
"The touch of the master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Are auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A hot needed meal, a glass of wine;
An event--and he travels on.
He is "going once, and going twice,"
He's "going and almost gone."
But the master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never quite understand
The worth of a soul and change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand.

This is me. This was my life. Covered in the dust of sin, out of tune with the Father, His sweet melody long ago squelched and hindered from flowing from me. But, then He found me where I was, tucked in the case of life, never to be heard again from the place of melody's song. He wiped off the sin, tuned the strings of my heart and drew His love across my strings. The sound was sweet and pure and true and real and it touched those around me. All it took was His touch, the touch of the Master's hand.

GOD'S WORD IS TRUTH

I'm seeing on the news that Moammar Gadhafi has been dethroned. I'm not a person that watches the world news nor do I follow such things. I'm a "follower" of only One. Jesus Christ. But, I have seen and chose to watch the footage of his last moments on this earth. Horrible. Just terrifying to imagine. I don't feel a bit of compassion, sympathy, or any like emotion for a man that I'm understanding to be a tyrant and a dictator over his people. I don't believe that God sees their actions as righteous, necessarily, because they took his life with their hands. God would have seen to their earnest prayers had they asked Him to deal with it. But, all of that aside, I see the stories of his life, his past, his choices, his actions, his delusions of grandeur. I saw how he adorned himself as if he was a great and mighty king of some sort. I can only think of one thing in this regard and that's the Truth of God's Holy Word (yes I capitalized all of that) which says, "...for every one that exalts himself shall be abased;..." St. Luke 18:14. Why in this world do people think of themselves so highly? How can we? Look at us. Full of sin, mischief, misdeeds, evil thoughts, evil intentions of the heart, fornications, addictions, self-serving actions, apathy. The list is so extensive. I hope Momar is an example to the world of how God's Word comes to pass. If He says it shall be...then believe that it shall be. You just never know when, but it's coming. He keeps His word even if it breaks His heart to do so because, He's not like us. He is perfect and Holy and cannot lie. I imagine Him hanging His head in grief as He performs His Word as sworn and promised. Other times, He's elated to do so in certain regards, but we know that blessings can't govern our lives. It was Job who said, "...shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" Job 2:10. How true my brother! It is Kelline that says, "behind every blessing I seem to experience a curse." Life of Kelline 0:0. But, that's o.k. I'm on my way out of here. I have no regrets, all of my sins have been confessed (daily with each new 1,2,3...). I'm right with Him by the power of His Spirit. As it says, "...Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6. What that verse means is...you can't work your way into righteousness. As it's written, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." Isaiah 64:6. So, I wait for Him with whom I have to do. Glory be to the One True Living God!!!

SCORE ANOTHER ONE FOR GOD

I gotta give God praise for getting me through this week!! Wow! Without going into boring details, I didn't know how to start. But I know with Whom I was able to finish. Why do I ever doubt Him? He has never once let me down. He's never once said, "No daughter." He's only ever said, "Let me show you a better way than the one that you think is the best." I swear I can't think of one prayer that had a "No" answer attached to it. I might be one of a few people that doesn't ask for riches, fame, wild beauty, etc. I'm more interested in those things of the Spirit where it counts. The depths of my soul are where the need is. And that's where He works the best. I've never said, "God, make me rich," but I'm sure that if I had, His answer would be something like, "Let me show you how much better simplicity is." I've experienced a lot of life's lessons in that regard. It wasn't me teaching me the values that count. So, what used to be a desire for the natural, became a hunger for the spiritual, and He answered that prayer right away. It's amazing how quick we can get what we want when it's His will. When we ask for the things that aren't in His will, we can be waiting a long time and in the end, we'll just end up with a lesson on why the thing we asked for wasn't good for us after all. Why bother taking a route that will lead you the long way around to the wrong destination?

AND HE SHALL BE CALLED...

Advocate~Shiloh~The Resurrection and the Life~Shepherd and Bishop of Souls~Judge~Master~Lord of Lords~Rock~Man of Sorrows~Savior~Head of the Church~Faithful and True Witness~Servant~High Priest~Living Water~Bread of Life~Rose of Sharon~Messiah~Alpha & Omega~True Vine~Teacher~Holy One~I AM~Mediator~The Beloved~Son of God~Good Shepherd~Branch~Light of the World~The Almighty~Carpenter~Image of the Invisible God~The Door~The Word~Bridegroom~Chief Cornerstone~Redeemer~Author and Finisher of our Faith~Everlasting Father~Lamb of God~King of Kings~Lion of the Tribe of Judah~Anchor~Prophet~Only Begotten Son~Wonderful Counselor~Immanuel~Son of Man~Dayspring~The Amen~King of the Jews~Bright and Morning Star~Prince of Peace~The Way~The Truth~The Life~Holy One~Deliverer~Potentate~Prince of Life~The Just One~JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth