THE ARMOR OF GOD AND THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE

THE ARMOR OF GOD AND THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE

                           ON MY PILGRIM JOURNEY - WHAT I MUST WEAR

                         

Here I am with my dear husband Henry and our three daughters

                      Dressed for a cool fall day in 1967.    

We need to consider how we look and what to wear on our spiritual JOURNEY.

EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6 lays it out for us as the Apostle Paul writes to the Church at Ephesus.

EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6. 10 - 20

      Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,

 and in the power of his might. 

 Put on the whole armour of God, 

that ye 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 ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, 

and having done all to stand. 

 Stand therefore, 

having your loins girt (girded) 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: 

praying always

 with all prayer 

and supplication in the Spirit, 

and watching thereunto

with all perseverance 

and supplication for all saints: 

and for me, 

that utterance may be given unto me, 

that I may open my mouth boldly,

 to make known the mystery of the gospels, 

for which I am an ambassador in bonds 

 that therein I may speak boldly, 

as I ought to speak."  

                      

FIRST, LET US THINK 

ABOUT HOW IT IS 

                                                 THAT I AM DRESSED

 IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS 

OF JESUS CHRIST

 HIMSELF.

       NOW THAT I AM A BELIEVER WITH FAITH THAT GOD PAID 

THE PRICE OF MY SIN NATURE UPON THE CROSS, AND THAT 

IN POSITION I HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS OF A SON GIVEN TO ME, I

NOW CAN THINK IN TERMS OF WHAT I NEED TO WEAR THAT ADORNS

AND AFFIRMS THE LIFE WHICH I NOW HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST.     

    

                    FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, AND TO DIE IS GAIN. 

                                  Philippians 1.21     

                    AND YOU HATH HE QUICKENED , WHO WERE DEAD IN 

                     TRESPASSES AND SINS, WHEREIN IN TIME PAST YE 

                      WALKED, ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD,

                       ACCORDING TO THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR,

                     THE SPIRIT THAT NOW WORKS IN THE CHILDREN OF

                     DISOBEDIENCE; AMONG WHOM ALSO WE ALL HAD OUR

                   CONVERSATION  IN TIME PAST..."    

                               Ephesians  2.1 - 3    

                                                     

FIRST OF ALL WE ARE 

TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD

                      AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.

THE ARMOR IS GIVEN US BY GOD.

WE ARE HIS PEOPLE NOW.

                                        AS SURE AS ASTERS BLUE GREW WHEN I

                                       PUT THEM IN THE GROUND, SO TOO WE ARE

                                      PLANTED BY THE LORD TO GROW UP.

 YE ARE ALL 

                                     THE CHILDREN OF GOD 

                                                          BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.    

                          Galatians 3.26 

JUST AS THESE LITTLE FLOWERS BLOOM SO TOO,

WE ARE TO BE DRESSED IN THE GLORY GOD GIVES

US.   HE HAS GIVEN US  'OUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR' 

   HERE THEY ARE :   LET US LOOK AT EACH PIECE.

        1.      THE BELT OF TRUTH.

         THIS  HAS TO BE PLACE AROUND OUR LOINS,

          IT IS THE PIECE THAT HOLDS EVERYTHING IN PLACE.   

          THE TRUTH AS WE KNOW IT IN GOD'S WORD IS 

          THE ESSENTIAL PIECE OF OUR CLOTHING. 

                           Psalm 119.105     THY WORD IS A LAMP

                        UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.

        2.        THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

              THIS HAS TO BE PLACED OVER THE HEART.  

               WE MUST PLACE THIS OVER OUR HEART, AND KEEP 

               IT SECURELY HELD CLOSE TO MYSELF THAT EVEN

             AS I RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS THE LORD, EVEN SO WILL

              I WALK IN HIM   (Ephesians 2.8 - 10)  "For by grace are ye

                  saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift

               of God, not of works, lest any man should boast; for we are his

              workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which

            God hath ordained that we should walk in them." 

I JOHN 1.9 

IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS,

HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST 

TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND

TO CLEANSE US 

FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

I  JOHN 2.6 

HE THAT SAITH HE ABIDETH

IN HIM

OUGHT HIMSELF

ALSO SO TO WALK,

EVEN AS HE WALKED.

THE PAINTING ABOVE IS WHAT I DREW TO SHOW HOW PATHS ARE 

EVERYWHERE AND ONLY GOD KNOWS THE HEART AND CAN SHOW US 

THE WAY TO GO.    IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR 

HEART, TO KEEP OUR HEART CLEAN OF ANY KNOWN SIN, AND TO WALK

FULLY DRESSED IN HIS CLEANNESS AND PURITY.    AS WE WALK CLOSE 

TO JESUS, AND ABIDE IN HIM, HE SHOWS US AND CORRECTS AS WE GO, 

AND KEEPS US ON THE RIGHT PATH.

              

                   THE PAINTING ABOVE ALSO SHOWS US HOW DISTRACTED WE

                   CAN GET WITHOUT STAYING CLOSE TO HIM WHO IS THE ONE 

                     TO WHOM WE BELONG.   

                                 3.   FEET SHOD WITH THE 

PREPARATION

 OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.    

                       MY SHOE ARE THE PREPARATION I MAKE TO PRESENT 

                      THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.     JESUS SAID,   "I AM THE WAY,

                      THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE

                      FATHER, BUT BY ME."  JOHN 14.6    

                      MY SHOES ARE WHAT GOD GIVES TO KNOW I AM A BEARER

                     OF HIS LOVE, HIS LIGHT, AND THAT NO MATTER WHAT ELSE,

                       I AM PURPOSED TO BE HIS VESSEL - THE CANDLELIGHT IN 

                      THE DARKNESS THAT JUST AS GOD IS MY LIGHT IN THE 

                     DARKNESS SO TOO I CAN SHINE FOR HIM AND BEAR LIGHT

                     IT IS THE WHOLE BEING OF A PERSON THAT GUIDES THE FEET.

            

                                        JOHN 8.12    THEN SPAKE JESUS AGAIN 

                                          SAYING, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD,

                                           HE THAT FOLLOWETH ME SHALL NOT WALK

                                         IN DARKNESS, BUT SHALL HAVE THE LIGHT

                                                OF LIFE. 

       

AS JOSEPH AND MARY TRAVELED TO BETHLEHEM,

                SO TOO, WE TRAVEL TODAY BY FAITH

                       WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE, OR GOVERNMENTS TOPPLE,

                     OR LIFE SEEMS FRUSTRATING, THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD 

                        REMAINS.     WE ARE, AS JOSEPH AND MARY, RECEIVERS

                         OF THE LIGHT.     JESUS WAS THE LIGHT OF LIFE.   WHEN

                         HE CAME, HE CAME THE  FIRST TIME TO BE OUR KINSMAN

                          REDEEMER.

                         SAVIOR    REDEEMER    DELIVERER  LIGHT 

                                  HIS MESSAGE OF PEACE IS THE ONLY ONE WE BRING. 

           4   THE SHIELD  -  OUR DEFENSE IS FAITH.

                         

                          ROMANS 10.17  NOW FAITH COMETH

                                                             BY HEARING,

                           AND HEARING 

                                                            BY THE WORD OF GOD.

AT AGE FIVE I ENJOYED A FEW DAYS IN

MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MASS.

IT WAS PART OF CAPE COD

AND THE BEACH AREA.

GOD GAVE ME HOPE AS A CHILD

BUT 

EVEN MORE

HE GAVE ME 

PROTECTION

UNTIL I CAME TO KNOW HIM

AS MY LORD 

AND SAVIOR.

NOW I ASK YOU 

WHAT PROTECTION WILL YOU WEAR?

FOR THE JOURNEY OF LIFE

AND AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE PORT

OF ETERNITY ? 

ARE YOU READY ?

ARE YOU PROTECTED

WITH THE SHIELD OF FAITH ?

THE PATH WE TAKE

MAY BE HARD.

THE WAY

MAY BE ROUGH.

BUT WITH THE SHIELD OF FAITH

OUR HEART WILL BE

EVEN MORE PROTECTED.

                  5.    THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT - 

                        OUR OFFENSIVE WEAPON TO FIGHT 

              THE UNSEEN REALITIES OF EVIL,

               THE UNSEEN INNER BATTLES OF OUR SPIRIT

           CAN ONLY BE WON BY THE WORD OF GOD 

                                       MATTHEW 4.4  [JESUS, SPEAKING TO SATAN] HE 

                      ANSWERED AND SAID, IT IS WRITTEN, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE

                       BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH

                       OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD."   

                                       ROMANS 12.2 AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS 

                     WORLD, BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF

                    YOUR MIND, THAT YE MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD 

                    AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.   

                                        

TEN YEARS OLD, IN NORTH ADAMS MASSACHUSETTS,

HERE I AM, WHEN MY GRANDFATHER TOOK A 

PHOTO OF ME IN FRONT OF MY HOME AFTER

HE HAD VISITED US.   I RECEIVED CHRIST

AS MY SAVIOR THAT FALL, BEFORE THIS SNOW

CAME ON THE GROUND.  PEOPLE AND PEOPLE

AND MORE PEOPLE LIVED ALL AROUND

ME.   IN THE SECTION YOU SEE JUST

BACK OF ME, 17 PEOPLE LIVED IN FOUR ROOMS

AND SURVIVED SOMEHOW.   I HAD NO 

IDEA WHO I WOULD BE,

NOR WHERE I WOULD GO

BUT GOD KNEW.

AND HE KNOWS JUST 

WHAT YOU NEED RIGHT NOW.

WHY ? NOT TRUST HIM

TO LET HIS SPIRIT 

BEAR WITNESS TO YOUR 

SPIRIT 

THAT YOU 

INDEED

CAN 

BE 

HIS 

CHILD.

I NEVER HAVE REGRETED THIS.

GOD HAS BROUGHT ME ALL THE WAY.

IN SPITE OF ME

HIS UNDESERVED FAVOR - HIS GRACE - 

HAS SHOWN 

ME AND KEPT ME AND HELD

ME 

IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS HANDS.

HE IS INDEED THE SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP.

I WAS JUST A LOST LAMB WHO NEEDED 

SOMEONE TO LOVE ME,

TO CARE FOR ME,

AND TO LEAD ME

AND HE DID JUST THAT ! 

JOHN 3.16 

IS STILL TRUE TODAY.

HE IS WAITING

FOR YOU

TO CALL ON HIS NAME.

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.

JESUS SAID THIS OF HIMSELF.

START YOUR JOURNEY TODAY.

BECOME A CHILD OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS,

AND 

PLACE YOURSELF IN HIS CARE,

AND WALK WITH THE ARMOUR OF HIS PROVISION

ONLY WITH THESE CAN YOU FIND

VICTORY 

OVER

SIN, DEATH, TEMPTATION AND HELL.

ONLY WITH

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

CAN YOUR FAITH GROW.

WE MUST EXCERCISE

THE 

MUSTARD SEED OF 

FAITH

THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.

FOR YOU SEE,

EVEN THE FAITH I HAVE

IS NOT 

SOMETHING I EARNED

IT IS A GIFT.

EVEN THE FAITH I HAVE

CAME FROM HIM,

NOT ME

SO 

I 

DO NOT GET

ANY CREDIT.

IT ALL IS THE GLORY TO GOD.

HE IS THE SAVIOR. 

IT IS HE WHO ALONE CAN SAVE.

Just as this Mountain looms beyond, 

and the meadows invite one to climb,

so too LIFE HAS ITS UPS 

AND DOWNS

FACE HIM WITH THIS ARMOR

AND HE WILL NOT FAIL YOU.

THE FINAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT

TO REMEMBER

IS 

THE HELMET

OF 

SALVATION.

BE SURE THAT 

YOU KNOW

YOU 

NEVER 

CAN 

BE UNBORN

ONCE YOU BECOME HIS CHILD.

THIS WAS ME AS A BABY.

I WAS BORN.

WHEN WE COME TO JESUS

AND ASK HIM 

TO BE OUR 

SAVIOR

HE NEVER 

EVER

WILL LET YOU GO.

YOU WILL BELONG TO HIM.

YOU  ARE PART OF HIM NOW.

SO WALK EVEN AS HE DID.

ENJOY.

SEE YOU IN MY NEXT POST.

BIBLELADY99

LILACLADY JUNEBUG2

     

CLIMBING HIGHER - WALKING BY FAITH, I KEEP CLIMBING

CLIMBING HIGHER

             Walking by faith - I keep climbing

                       IF I COULD, I WOULD

                                 God helping me.

                        IF I CAN, I SHALL

                                By God's grace. 

                        IF I MIGHT, I KNOW I WILL

                                As God leads.

      FLY HIGH 
        SEE THE SKY 
        IN AN OCEAN OF 
         CLOUDS ABOVE 
        WHERE THE BIRDS CAN 
        FEEL THE WIND DRAFTS 
         PULLING THEM INTO 
         THE CURRENTS OF 
          UPDRAFTS 
           THAT WILL
            TAKE THEM
            HOME 
            TO NEST.  
                    June Estelle Cash, author.

         MATTHEW 7.7,8  
        Ask, and it shall be given you, Seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 

               

WITH EVERY WAVE 
         THE RHYTHM OF LIFE 
                 SETS TO MOTION.

Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,
No man cometh unto the Father, but by me." 
John 14. 6.    

There is a current of joy to take us along passing through the most difficult oceans simply by going with the flow.
   
    

               

                       THESE ROSES ARE GROWING NICELY ON A TRELLIS HERE.
                       IT DOES NOT JUST "HAPPEN"  BUT IT TAKES TRAINING AND WORK
                      WITH MUCH PATIENCE ON THE PART OF THE PERSON WHO MAKES
                      A ROSE LIKE THIS BLOOM SO HAPPILY.

                       THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO LIVE
                            AS JESUS WOULD HAVE US TO LIVE 
                              EXCEPT BY HIS DEAR SPIRIT.    

                                                AS A BRANCH GROWS FROM A TREE, WE
                                                ARE TO ABIDE IN OUR LORD JESUS.

                                               JOHN 15. 7  IF YE ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS
                                                ABIDE IN YOU, YE SHALL ASK WHAT YE WILL, 
                                                  AND IT SHALL BE DONE UNTO YOU.

                               AGAIN -   JOHN 15.15  TELLS US  "IF YE LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.     

                                          What is Jesus telling us to do?

                                          In this going away message Jesus gave the Disciples, He had just told them in (John 13.34,35)  A  NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU, THAT YE LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YE ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.  BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.  

                                                                             TOO OFTEN 

                                                                                 WE TRY TO WALK

                                                                                           ON OUR OWN STRENGTH.

                                                 

Ephesians 4.32 "and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."   Ephesians 5. 1,2 goes on to say "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour." 

                     

Living in Jesus is a J O Y F U L    W A L K.

Only as I trust Him, will I discover the joys He has in store for me.  

John 15.11  These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

 Remember Jesus is giving His disciples the instructions that He most wanted them to remember.    In these He told them "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love."   (John 15. 9)

     Matthew 11.28, 29  

       Come unto me, all ye that labour and are

heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

           A yoke.    Think of it.

              Built for two animals - like oxen 

                    to pull together.

                Now here is the interesting thing: 

              IF JESUS SAYS HE WANTS US TO 

                 TAKE UP HIS YOKE ?  WHO WILL

                  CARRY THE BURDEN OF THE 

                 LOAD?    

                   WHY !   OF course !   Jesus will

                    make it seem so worth while !  

  

                    Such a paradox !  In taking 

                    up the  YOKE  Jesus offers, 

                     I find that true rest and an easy

                     yoke carrying the burden

                     because Jesus will shoulder 

                     up under it, and it will be not

                      hard at all.  

                     What we often are most afraid

                     of "taking on"  might be the 

                      best answer to difficult things.

                      Psalm  37.62  

                      Trust in Him at all times, 

        ye people, pour out your heart before Him. 

                  Selah. (Think about it, rest on it.) 

                  

A Lighthouse made it possible in years past for sailors to find help to avoid rocky shores.   Today you and I need to abide in Christ - to love Him and to love each other - that we might serve Him and follow Him.    Only by taking up the YOKE that He gives us, can we find true J O Y  and peace.    

        John 14.27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you; let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.   

            

                     Years ago, I remember seeing 

                      a picture of Jesus with the children.

                      Here is my rendition of that 

                      picture.   We do not know what 

                    Jesus looked like.   The important 

                    thing to remember is that he did 

                     "tabernacle" among us, He did

                   come from the Father, just so we

                     might know Him.

                      Are you walking with Jesus?

                      In the Words Jesus spoke, you

                      can find true Joy and Peace.

                      You too can know His Presence.

                 

Like a beautiful 

Douglas Fir tree,

You can display

the growth 

and 

fruit

by 

ABIDING IN THE VINE

Doug Fir seeds are so small.

Yet, when planted,

they grow tall and beautiful.

One cone can produce many seeds.

Here is a small tree being planted.

How small.

How fragile.

Yet 

with the right soil

the right altitude

the right place

it will grow.

How about you?  

Are you growing?

Climbing Higher - I walk by faith.

I will keep climbing.

Before you begin your climb

You must first know

that 

1. the only reason Jesus came was to save sinners.

2. that those who choose to reject Him are turning out the Light.  He is the Only One who can save.

3.  the only reason Jesus died on the Cross was to save anyone who would call on Him to save them.

4. He paid the full penalty of separation from the Father for my sake - taking my sins - when He was the Holy Righteous One 

and took my sins on Himself

that I might become

a child of God.

II Corinthians 5.21 

For he hath made him

to be sin for us 

who knew no sin,

that we 

might 

be made 

the righteousness of God 

in him.

When I give my life

to Jesus Christ,

He lives his life in me.

Others will see the Light reflected 

and will in turn come 

to Jesus.

FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST - biblebuffjournalbiblelady99

FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST

When I wish, I like writing poetry.   Here is one I wrote in 1991 about LIFE IS TO BE LIVED.

Philippians 1.21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

My life 
My focus
My whole being
is
related to only one thing

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD 

From even my early years 
God had a plan for me.

God knew just how to work in my life. 
He knew just what I needed.
There were many times when my life was protected, 
and though surrounded by life circumstances which were not stable, moving a lot, having uncertainty, and never knowing who God was, yet He directed my life.

Romans 2.4 suggest that 
"the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." 

When things happen, 
they are meant 
to draw us closer to Him who made us,
and redeemed us.

What do I mean by that?
He "redeemed" us.
Jesus came from heaven to be born as that little baby in the manger, and it is TRUE.
What did Jesus say about Himself?

John chapter 3, verses 13 - 16 

       v.13.    And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 

      v. 14.   And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.

       v. 15.   That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 

       v. 16.    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.

                   That is what he said of himself.    Most people who hear that verse 16 do not know that Jesus was speaking of Himself.

      

                  

John declared of Jesus when he spoke to his disciples of him,
John 1.v.29   BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.

Jesus said to his disciples that "The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him, and after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day."    (Mark 9.31)  Another time, Matthew tells us "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go into Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised from again the third day. (Matthew 16.21). Again, he said  "The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. (Matthew 17.21 - 23)   Yet again, (Matthew 20.17 -19) it is recorded for us "And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him, and the third day he shall rise again."   

       He later comments (Matthew 20.v.26 - 28) 

 it shall not be so among you, but whosoever will be 

great among you, let him be your minister;

 and whosoever will be great among you, 

let him be your servant;

 even as the Son of man came

 not to be ministered unto,

 but to minister

 and to give his life

 a ransom for many."    

As Jesus blessed the children

He told the disciples not to forbid them to come to Him.
He also told them
THAT AS A LITTLE CHILD
ONLY IN SIMPLE FAITH
CAN WE ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Yet He said,   VERILY VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN."
JOHN CHAPTER 3.3 
EVERYONE HAS ONE BIRTHDAY.
BUT WE CAN HAVE TWO
THE FIRST BIRTHDAY IS EARTHLY, OF WATER AND BLOOD, BORN  AS A HUMAN BEING IN THIS WORLD, THIS EARTH OF OURS.
THE SECOND BIRTHDAY IS ONLY POSSIBLE AS WE ASK FOR GOD TO FORGIVE US AND TO WASH US CLEAN OF SIN, NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE SIN,
BUT BECAUSE WE ARE INDEED
SINNERS.
ROMANS 3.23
ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.

AS THE LIGHTHOUSE BY THE SEASHORE WARNS SAILORS OF 

THE CLOSENESS OF THE SHORE AND ROCKS WHICH WOULD BREAK

APART THE SHIP,

SO TOO, CHRIST HAS GIVEN HIS CHURCH THE TASK OF 

BEING A LIGHTHOUSE TO THOSE THAT ARE LOST.

JESUS AROSE FROM THE DEAD 

AND IS NOW ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN

 AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER.

AS THE PASSOVER LAMB HE BECAME OUR SACRIFICE

HIS BLOOD SHED FOR ME BECAME MY ATONEMENT 

MY PEACE OFFERING
MY SIN OFFERING
AND
I AM FREE
TO
BE HIS CHILD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.

with the dear Holy Spirit 

whom Jesus sent 

as our Comforter

I am now 

a

child of God.

JOHN 1.12 

as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

ROMANS 5.8

God commendeth his love toward us,

in that while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

SO I CLOSE MY POST WITH THIS THOUGHT - 

JUST AS THE FOR-GET-ME-NOT  BLOOMS 

EVERY SPRING - AND REMINDS US 

OF THINGS WE DO NOT FORGET 

OF FRIENDS WE WANT TO REMEMBER

OF THOSE WHOM WE LOVE 

IT REMINDS ME OF HOW I CAME TO KNOW JESUS 

AND HIS SPIRIT MADE ME A CHILD OF GOD

AND MY LIFE NOW BELONGS TO HIM

IT IS HIS SANCTUARY

AND HE LIVES IN ME

AND I AM NOW LIVING 

CHRIST IN ME,

THE HOPE OF GLORY.

HE IS MY PROMISE.

HE IS ALL IN ALL TO ME.

WITHOUT HIM I CAN DO NOTHING.

WITH HIM I CAN DO ANYTHING HE ASKS OF ME.

WHY NOT ASK HIM TODAY 

TO BE YOUR 

SAVIOR?  

NO BETTER DAY THAN TODAY. 

Have a cup of coffee, and mull on who Jesus is

He is waiting for you to talk to Him.

Matthew 11.28 - 30

COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN,
 AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME;
FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART:
AND YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS.
FOR MY YOKE IS EASY
AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.