The Whole Armor of God

                           I love this! Ephesians 6:10-18

       
http://competingforhisglory.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/armor-of-god.jpg

God has a plan!

                              

Be the change

                      

Faith Beyond Life

              
There is a reason for everything that happens. Every event that occurs whether good or bad is an opportunity to learn, grow, be blessed and be a blessing. Even the seemingly unexplainable!

One of the most moving books I've ever read was 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. Piper tells the account of a fatal car crash and what transpired afterward. There were several others there besides him (rescue personnel, police officers and bystanders) who each saw the scene differently and took away a different perspective. All of them agree on one thing. There was a miracle that happened that day! Jesus was there through it all. Watch the video and even if you're not an avid reader, make an exception and read this book. You will not be disappointed!

In the book, Don mentioned thanking the pastor for staying with him, praying and holding his hand. The pastor admits to Don that he couldn't have held his hand because one arm was detached and the other was pinned under the dashboard and steering wheel in the front. The only way the pastor could reach him was from the rear seat of the car. Don knew that he did indeed have his hand held throughout the entire ordeal! Awesome!

                                      

Angels Unaware

                                  


An elderly woman leaves the grocery store with her sackful of needed items for the dinner she was planning that night for her grandkids who were coming to visit. In the rush to do her shopping and get home she forgot to put in her hearing aids. "It's just a block away. It'll be alright just this once. I walk to that store all the time. It will be fine." As she is crossing the intersection heading back home she is preoccupied with thoughts of her recipe. Did she get everything she needed? A quick glance with her less than perfect vision and off the curb she stepped to cross the street not hearing the car barreling toward her! Suddenly she felt an arm around shoulders and a forceful tug pulling her back just as the car sped by. She looked up to see a young man of about 15 years old asking her is she was alright as he helped her pick up the groceries that had fallen from her bag."You're an angel!" said the old woman to the teenage boy.

From the beginning of time there has been talk of angels. The Bible tells us of the heavenly beings and how they are agents of God to be guardians, soldiers and messengers. There has been talk of angels in human form. There has also been stories of humans actings as angels when they allow themselves to be led by the Holy Spirit to do extrodianary things to help others.

The photo above is part of a heartwarming story of a family spared from murder by angels that "watched them sleep as if guarding them". A group of God's messangers sending a silent message to the would be killers that this family was not going to be harmed on this night!

http://angels.about.com/od/YourAngelEncounters/a/Guardian-Angels-At-Work.htm


                

Above is a picture of a crashed car burning after an explosion that happened late one night. A nearby neighbor who was a retired nurse and medic heard the crash and rushed to help. His brother was nearby and met him at the scene. Together, they broke the back glass, crawled into the car and freed the trapped driver. What they did to save that person makes them both angels! That in itself is amazing but there's more. Much more was at work that night. Another 'angel' helped and then dissapeared as if in thin air! I like to call it angels helping angels!

http://angels.about.com/od/YourAngelEncounters/a/Angel-With-A-Fire-Extinguisher.htm

In today's society we get so wrapped up in our day-to-day lives; so busy with "stuff" that many times we miss the 'miracles' that happen all around us. Some happen that are very dramatic and unexplainable like a stranger appearing from nowhere to give assistance only to vanish without a trace. Some happen just by one of us mortal humans taking the time to show compassion, listen to that still small voice of the Holy Spirit and acting with the boldness of God's Spirit in us!

Jesus told his disciples all those years ago and he is telling us now, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." - John 14:12-14

Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! - Hebrews 13:2

An Open Heart: Life Lessons From God

                        

Everyone knows that adversity and heartaches are as much a part of life as breathing itself. All of us have had moments in life when the good days seem like a distant memory and the bad days cause a struggle that is nearly unbearable. If you claim belief in Jesus and have confidence in his power, you can take comfort and draw strength from him. Many times, during these dark phases of life, questions fill our minds; “why me?, why now?” or “what did I do to cause this?” Other times we find ourselves hard at work seeking the Lord’s will and trying diligently to carry it out with obedience. During these times, the pain is not necessarily felt in the process we go through to do what he asks but is very closely tied to the blessings that result from that obedience.

I recall a time when I was trying really hard to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit by supporting a close friend with her decision to move out of state. She had endured many difficult times in her life before I met her one year ago. She had a deeply compassionate heart and a true love for God but the wounds from her past had yet to heal. As I was getting to know her, I felt a connection that I believed was created by God and placed there to allow me to minister to her. Month after month went by until, despite her fear of allowing anyone near, we became close friends. An opportunity arose for her to move in with her brother, reduce her debt and even go back to school. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, she would have to uproot her life and move hundreds of miles away. I prayed that God would provide her with healing, protection and provision and I knew that this move was part of his plan.

When she told me of her plan to move, I was filled with mixed emotions. I knew it would be the beginning to a positively changed life for her. I also knew that I ran the very real risk losing contact with a friend that I had grown to love like a sister. So, when I thought about the direction both of ours lives were going and God’s will for each of us, I found myself asking ‘why’. Not so much why she had to move. I knew he wanted to answer my prayers to prosper her and this was his way of doing it. I asked ‘why’ for more personal reasons. I knew God had called me to show love, open my heart and life as well as speak the word he gives for specific people and do for them according to his leading. The blessings I see in others as well as my own life are incredible. Seeing God set a person up on his foundation and strengthening them to stand on their own and then fly is awesome! To be allowed to be any part of that is truly overwhelming.

Now, with that said, my question is, “Lord, why does following your will and gaining so much blessing have to be tied to so much pain-pain that almost takes my breath away at times”. He gently reminded me, “You can’t have one without the other. Vulnerability is necessary to connect at such a deep level, but it also allows for pain. If you take the vulnerability away, you also take away the ability to ever do what I have called you to do.” It was at that moment that I understood the term ‘bittersweet’. Even though I still felt the intense sadness of loss, I also felt the Lord pouring his love on me and through me. I knew that he had both of us in his keeping. I didn’t know what the future would bring but I knew that the Lord has an abundance of blessings set aside for each of us. I realized that the key to his blessings wasn’t necessarily in getting to a particular destination in life but in following God’s will and guidance throughout the journey to that destination.


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