Christ Strengthens

I'm finishing up Philippians this morning and my goodness there is some great content in chapter 4! These verses 4:11-13 are particularly close to my heart. Paul is saying he knows from the different circumstances in his life how to be low and humbled and how to abound or have an excess or be in abundance. He's been hungry and full, to suffer and to increase. But he goes on to steak his claim in this v.13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Over the last couple years, nearing 3 now, since my husbands accident I would understand these verses much better. What I thought were low points in my life didn't even compare to seeing the way my husband suffers often in pain. You can't look at him and see it and he would never tell you because he's just not like that but me and the kids see him everyday and see the little things that naw at his spirit, just to have a fully functional body is a blessing most of us take for granted. And in the pain of this last few years we have become closer than ever and have learned to just lean into the Lord for help, guidance and peace. I actually had this part of my bible marked up saying God gave me this verse in the middle of the night almost 2 years ago and he is still giving it to me today. It's not a cliche, it's a truth I have to breath in and depend upon.

When your low or when your high let Christ be the foundation that brings you strength. There is no amount of earthly goodness that can replace the peace of God. It is what truly brings unending joy in the midst of all of life's messes. 

Character of Christ

I am continuously blown away by the character of Jesus. Jesus descended from the Heavenly places to walk with Gods creation and then humbled himself completely beyond that creation. It's mind boggling, but something only the perfect Christ could do. In Philippians 2 we are called to be humble like Christ, the Bible says in verse 7 that He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men.  It goes on to say that He humbled Himself in obedience even to the point of death! The Bible is full of reasons to praise God, just look at the character of Christ, a perfect man, and that is reason enough for many many praises!!!

Victory in Jesus!

I wonder what those who crucified Christ thought when His tomb came up empty on that Sunday years ago. After all some of the primary people who sent Jesus to his death were considered "wise men" some indeed knew scriptures so well they could quote it from heart but in a reality they were exceedingly unintelligent because they had The Christ face to face and denied Him. Their pride kept them from Gods wisdom. 

I can think back to times when I have had the wool over my eyes. I'm an ex-smoker for example. I loved smoking, I thought it was fine to smoke, I indulged in my own desires rather than living a life that kept myself healthy. I was sick all the time when I smoked, I was bound up in chains to smoking. It was on my mind all the time, I would buy cigarettes before putting gas in my car (true story)... I haven't smoked in years, 6 to be exact. Today I can't even believed I ever smoked, it wasted so much of my money and hurt my body. I feel so much healthier with out that in my life but there was a time when I was blinded to that truth, I believed the slogans, more over I believed the lie that I needed to smoke when what I really needed was God to cleanse me and heal me in that area of my life.

It's a sad story that some of the believers in the old days couldn't open their eyes to see God in the flesh right in front of them but I am so grateful today that Jesus in all bravery and the purest of love got up on that cross to die that He might glorify the father in washing our sins clean. Today is a victorious day because Jesus is ALIVE! He is risen and is as much alive today as he was on that first Sunday when they rolled away the stone!!!

Do you need victory today over something in your life? Tell Jesus, He is ready and willing to heal you and cleanse you! Is He working on your heart? Trust Jesus! If He began a good work in you Je will be sure to complete it! Has He already given you victory? Then praise Jesus today!!! 

Spiritual Armor

I drew this in my bible a long while ago and today as I close out my reading of Ephesians I am reminded of the spiritual war that wages all around us. 

Ephesians 6:10-12 says "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." 

As Christians we need to have an awareness that we have a real enemy out there ready to attack at any moment of weakness and then when we are strong, oh he really wants to break us then. Don't underestimate the devil, it's his number one priority to keep God from being glorified and that means bringing down believers, making them feel limited, bringing adversity against them and even distracting them so that their true purpose might not be fulfilled.

It's crucial we wake up everyday and dress ourselves spiritually, that we take up the armor of God so that we might not be caught off guard by our enemy. 

The bible tells us this in Ephesians 6:13-18 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 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, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—” 

Wondering why life seems so hard sometimes? Have you put on the armor lately? I am the most vulnerable when I'm not prepared. Enemies are trained to know the weaknesses of their prey, be wise, be ready! 

#armorofGod #fortheloveofGod #biblestudy #bible #Jesus #God 

A Good Word

I know I can personally testify to this verse! I have struggled with anxiety my whole life, there's no rhyme or reason to it my brain just conceives certain things a different way and panic sets in. My anxiety got worse after my postpartum depression with my second child and at that time I was straddling the fence when it came to my relationship with the Lord. Sometimes the enemy uses the weakness in my flesh against me and targets my anxiety. But what he intended for evil God has used for good. At my lowest point with anxiety and postpartum depression I was stripped to a shell of my self, all I had left to draw on was an old familiar song from my childhood. Amazing Grace (a good word) pulled me through. I would sing it a thousand times a day in my head just to keep the thoughts at bay and I survived that very low time in my life. I learned that the best good words come from God, they are in the bible and they can pull us through the lowest of the low in our life. It is one of the reasons I am so committed to Gods word, I believe it, I have seen it manifests in the life of myself and others but also I need the renewing of my mind EVERY DAY! I need that good word from our magnificent Lord every hour, every day! 

#Godswordisgood #bible #readit #loveit #hideitinyourheart #anxiety #depression #postpartumdepression 

Passion Week Study

I finished my Passion Week study this morning! I can't tell you how this has been a labor of love for me. I'm no expert in theology but I take my study of Gods word seriously and to compare the four gospels side by side was an exciting journey! I have taken my study and been able to sit down with the kids every day this week and tell them what happened during passion week. I remember wanting to do this last year but I just couldn't get to it. I am so glad I set aside the extra study time for this critical piece in the bible. There really is nothing more rewarding to me that learning the scripture for myself and then to be able to share it with my children is just the cherry on top! Happy Wednesday friends, may blessings abound for you!!!

Name Above All Names

This verse is talking about Jesus! God raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand FAR ABOVE everything! His name is greater than all names and God put everything under His feet! 

Now I am often blown away at the greatness of the Lord that is revealed in scripture. Seeing His creation, His care even after the fall, His deep desire to know us. God is mighty, majestic and we are not on His level BUT what really blows me away is that His desire is a relationship with us for His glory!

Think about it, each of us have the one True King, the Creator of the Universe desiring us! I have seen in my on life the way He seeks and pursues me, even after crazy mistakes I've made, He still desires me! 

We are so undeserving of the free gift He gives us and I pray that everyone one take notice of the love that is ready and waiting if we let Him in. Jesus is our ultimate security, the one who does not fail, the one we can put ALL of our hope in!