365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 184

I have been reading about a boy named Alex Malarkey who was in a car accident and went to Heaven. This boy has had angels visit him and heal parts of his body and he has been attacked by the devil. My daughter asked me what I was thinking about last night as we relaxed in the spa. So, I told her about the boy and how the devil was attacking him. The boy couldn’t say the name of Jesus and was terrified. But with lots of prayer coming from prayer warriors and his family he was able to fight off the devil and say “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus”. Of course, my daughter asked how the devil was attacking him. So, we talked about how the devil is the liar of all liars and will say anything to us that might change our focus from Jesus to him. We talked about how even though the perceptions of this boy were acute and he literally saw angels and the devil that the more we open our hearts to the Lord the more we will be able to discern when the devil is attacking us. We talked about the armor of God and specifically about the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. I told her that we will be attacked by the devil throughout our lives especially in those circumstances when we find ourselves weaker but if we are in the Word of God everyday and his truth is sinking into our hearts, we will be able to fight off the devil and his attacks. This part of our faith is tough for people. It is hard to imagine a war is being fought all around us everyday. It goes against what we see but things are never as they seem. We, as Christians, are soldiers of Christ so like any soldier we must prepare for battle. Put on your armor and fight the good fight.

Here is a good article on the armor of God:

http://www.battlefocused.org/articles/armor-of-god/

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

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 91

I picked up a book the other day at the library that sounded interesting. It is a fictional story about the world a hundred years from now in which there are 9 nine-year old children around the world who are the “trumpets” or prophets that must come together to bring the light back into the world. The world is going into an ice age of sorts and it is because humankind has turned away from God. There is no freedom of religion there is only no tolerance for religion of any kind. There are angels in the story that are in human form and are there to help win the war against the devil. However, the story seems to be leading towards the idea that all religions must come together and even said at one point there is not just one way to God. Well, that ruffled my feathers a bit because the real truth is there is only one way to God and that is through his only son, Jesus Christ. Thankfully, the spirit of the truth is within me and I can easily see the lies within this story but others who do not have a solid foundation in their faith may be swayed to believe such lies. The apostle Paul is very adamant about those who would preach another gospel and makes a point of saying whether it comes from a man or an angel. I love the idea of angels being around us and helping us but we have to be careful to not think of angels too highly. Jesus is the one we are to look to, love and worship.

Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel form heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 88

Have you ever felt like a person was an angel? Of course you have. We have all experienced at one time or another a person who is in our life at the right time, right moment and gives you exactly what you needed. I encountered an angel the other night when I went shopping for a specific kind of shoe my foot doctor recommended. This angel was previously in the medical profession and could tell me the name of my foot problem which I could not remember. He was perplexed at why the doctor would recommend this particular shoe and showed me how it worked and how it would not be good for my foot issue which is called Morton's Neroma. It's a swelling at the nerve between the 3rd and 4th toes and is caused by consistently putting too much weight onto the ball of your foot or in other words, high heels. It can also be caused and aggravated by shoes that are too narrow in the area around the toes. This particular shoe the doctor recommended actually rocks forward onto the ball of your foot. "You don't want to do that", the angel told me. He showed me more of what kind of shoe I should get and recommended I be my own best doctor. So, I went home without buying anything and did some research. Sure enough, all the sites I have visited about this say you just need some comfortable shoes with a wide-box toe. So, I am thankful for this angel who helped me avoid buying something that wasn't going to work and guiding me. God was definitely working through this kind man. We can be that angel to someone everyday if we look beyond ourselves and focus on serving others. Who can you be an angel to today?
2Peter 1:7 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perservereance; and to perserverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 69

I can see the doors opening! Day by day as I keep to His word and focus on my God who loves me I am finding mile marker posts keep coming up showing me I am on the right path. I spoke with a friend who happens to be pastor at a church and she passed onto me another church possiblity where I can possibly get in a workshop or series of workshops. Working within your own network of people can help get you further out there to new people. I am feeling very blessed for these people that get what I am trying to accomplish and I know in the end when this minisry is successful and thriving I will be able to look back and see all the wonderful people who played a part in it's journey to success. Thank you Lord for those people you place in my path that are really angels in disguise.
Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyon hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 40

On New Year's Eve we were up at Aunt Joanie's home in Sterling enjoying a mexican feast and doing a round of Apples to Apples Family version so Faith could play with us and a round of Uno Attack. Playing games with the family in Sterling has become a highlight to our times together. We all look forward to the interaction and laughter that ensues. This time was no different although we were missing a few family members. There was a moment when my son Tristan and Aunt Joanie who were sitting side-by-side where they were enjoying some playful banter. I kept that visual in my mind all through the first new day of 2012 and when I finally had a moment to myself with God relaxing in the spa that evening. I realized that it reminded me of my own aunts and uncles. I don't have any specific memories except for when my Great Aunt Elisabeth who lived on Catalina island was very kind and provided a new friend I had made and myself, a peanut and butter sandwich lunch. I wish I could remember more of the details but I do have the memory of the feelings. That is the only memory I have of that particular aunt because she lived on Catalina island off the coast of California so we didn't get out there too much. My praise is for those family members in our lives that we may not get to know or be around much but who in some way touched us even in the smallest way like a peanut and butter sandwich lunch.
Hebrews 13:1 Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.