Note To Self; Ephesians 6:10-11, 14-17

Today's service at church was short, powerful, and just on time for me today. Following is my own Bible Study of a verse taken from today's sermon.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Whew! What a relief to know I can be weak on my own, BUT (Remember the word BUT erases everything you just said before it.) WITH the Lord I am strong during the hard times, AND His power destroys my adversities.  His Holy Spirit lives on the inside of me, so essentially I have that power on the inside of me.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

My savior gives me ALL the protection I need to withstand ALL the enemy has to throw at me.  What are some ways I can put this armor on?

1. Know the Truth.  What is the truth?  God's word.  So, I need to read it, study it, and chew on it.  How can I fully understand the Love God has for me which is THE TRUTH, if I don't study it?

2. Understand that I am righteous in Christ because he died for me.  I AM righteous.  I don't 'work' at being righteous.  I became righteous when I accepted Him as my Savior, because He died for me.  I became righteous at the cross.

3. Walk in peace.  As a parent I have a tendency to slip up and 'wring my hands with worry.' In the words of my pastor  "Don't be one of those parents who says  'I did the best I could.'  God doesn't tell you to  'do the best you can.'  God tells you to rest in his Peace."

You can do that because you are resting in His might and His power.

4. Faith is a muscle.  You must work it out.  That means that sometimes you might have the fear but you step out in faith.  Do it afraid, knowing that Jesus has your back.  The money will come, the healing will come, your child will have joy and peace and a good future, your need will be met.

Faith is knowing what you word says, not what your eyes see.  You hold up that shield of faith and NOT one single fiery arrow that Satan throws at you can hurt you.

5.  Know that you are saved.  Death has been destroyed.  Life Reigns and you will live eternally.

6.  Use your sword.  Your sword is your word of God.  You use it be repeating it.  You have to read it to know what to repeat when, or what verse to turn to when.  Your word is your handbook for your life.  You ever wish life in this crazy world came with an instruction manual? Guess what! It did! Your bible is not an ancient history book that only pertains to a world that we only read about.  EVERYTHING in the bible is something that you can absolutely use in your everyday life now. 

 Here's your dilema; if you don't read it you don't know which verse pertains to the issue that you are facing at this moment.  If you do read it, study it, chew on it, then you know where to turn to find the verse that tells you what to do for the situation you're in right now.  You speak that verse to Satan telling him why you know he's a loser and a liar.  You quote God's word to your problem, then you tell God that you understand the good things he has for you because that particular verse says so.  You then leave that problem with God, knowing that he's taken care of it, and you walk in Peace.  This is you wielding that sword, conquering your enemy.

Becoming 40- Let Me Introduce Myself.

Today is Tuesday April 8, 2014.  In 154 days I will be 40 years old. That  sounds a lot longer than five months.  I'm definitely sticking to counting the days.  I realized a few days ago that more and more often I'm noticing different changes in my body & accounting it to being "almost 40".  I talk to myself 80% of the time so most of these entries are going to be conversations I've had with myself.

You may say, 'why Becoming 40?  Don't you just wake up on your 40th birthday and you're 40?'  No! You don't.  Do you go to sleep when you're 10 and wake up 20 the next day?  Do you go to sleep the day you find out you're pregnant and wake up the next day with a baby in your bed?  No.  You become 20.  Your body develops that baby for nine months, and you become a mom.

For the last year, every month my body has been completely new to me.  Literally, I wonder, 'what is it going to be this month!'  Those of you who have reached the milestone of 30 and passed it, know what I am talking about.  Things really start to change in your 30's.  Well, my body is preparing for 40 & it is sending me on one heck of a ride. 

This revelation dawned on me one morning while I was looking in the mirror (no female of age should look in the mirror before 12pm.)  'I am becoming 40', Not, 'I'm almost 40'.  I am becoming 40.  Then I started to think of my Soul(my mind, will, & emotions) it is part of me, is it becoming 40 also?  Well I do think differently, I do make different decisions, I do feel differently, yes I believe it is becoming 40 also.

So, that gets me to where we are today.  I'm going to start documenting my daily experiences up until my 40th birthday.  I'll go ahead & warn you, these are "My" thoughts & I think about a lot of things.  You may not want to refer your male friends to this blog, because they probably just wouldn't get it.  I talk about my Ve-Jay-Jay, because me & God both know that it is definitely becoming 40! If you are a young chick & yours hasn't changed yet, well, bless your heart.  If however you are over 35 or have had children, you know what I'm talking about(If you are over 35 and have given birth, than BLESS YOUR HEART, cause I know you've already stopped waxing that thing and just want to keep it hid!)

Boobs; Well that's a whole different topic....

Let me leave you with this, My devotion for today; Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Thought for the day(Joseph Prince); As you rest in God's strength, you will see His power manifesting in you life!

Whatever you are "Becoming" today, let God take you there.  I thank God that I have the opportunity to Become 40, and thank God that he's getting me there in His strength, and His power.

Heather

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I have started the devotional, Jesus Calling. It is so wonderful to know that Jesus is with me ALL the time. He is with me in my bed at night, in my closet, in my kitchen, in my car! He is there & he hears my cries, he feels what I feel!
I have been praying for God to make me a new ______(private blank lol). Yesterday I had a new fire under me in the area I had been praying about. I read my devotion last night, this is what he had for me; It is through problems and failure, WEAKNESS (this was me) and neediness that you learn to rely on me........True dependence in not simply asking Me to bless what you have decided to do. It is coming to Me with an open mind and heart, inviting Me to plant My desires within you. BAM!! 
Can you thrive where you are at? Can you do what God has asked you to do & be EXCELLENT at it? Yes you can!!! Wherever you are at today, physically or emotionally, God is Right There with you!! Yes you can get up! Yes you can do it! Yes you can, NOT do it! Yes you can be good at it! You will be excellent & YES YOU CAN!