Get Your Armor On!!!

 I've been hearing "Get your armor on!"  

For several years, I have had 'this is training.'  All the questions, all the doubts and the answer, "This is training."  A calm, steady, walking through it for lack of better words, 'feeling.'  

Lately, I 'feel' urgency but still that peace, not panic - peace, 'get ready.'  "Get your armor on."  We're going to battle.  The battle cry has not sounded but it is going to sound.  "Get Ready!"  There is anticipation, but not fear.  Next, I saw bright shiny armor.  Not battle worn armor like I expected.  God said, "Yes, that's right!  Brand new.  I'm giving you armor that is brand new.  One that as been tested and tried and does not ding or get dents from the enemy's attacks.  I want you to put on this armor, I have made it for you. "

A sudden realization "I do not have to fear."  God has given me an armor that the enemy cannot harm, hurt, damage, pierce...you name it, satan can't do it.  Hallelujah!  Thank you, Jesus!  I've been in training.  You have been in training.  God is saying, "You've been training with the footmen.  Now, I want you to run with the horsemen!  You are going in to battle but it is as it has always been, I am with you.  Put on my armor, you're going to battle!  But, you have already won the war!" 

♪♪♪ I'm excited beyond measure and I'm lifting my head.  Sin and judgement are not my portion, Jesus Christ took my place.  I've won the battle because of who you are Jesus and what you have done for me.  I've got my armor on and I'm running my race.  I'll be who you called me to be and I'll do what you tell me to do.  No longer running or hiding, I'm standing tall and strong for you.  I'm no longer with the footmen, but I'm running with the horsemen.  Come on all my brothers and sisters, you are running too!  Put on your armor, we're going into battle but the war has already been won!  ♪♪♪

Pay heed to what the Lord is saying and to the warnings.  We are in a battle - Choose ye this day whom you will serve....

Jer 12:1  Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? 

Jer 12:2  Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins. 

Jer 12:3  But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter. 

Jer 12:4  How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end. 

The Lord Answers Jeremiah

Jer 12:5  If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? 

Jer 12:6  For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee. 

Jer 12:7  I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. 

Jer 12:8  Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it. 

Jer 12:9  Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour. 

Jer 12:10  Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 

Jer 12:11  They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart. 

Jer 12:12  The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace. 

Jer 12:13  They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD. 

Jer 12:14  Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them. 

Jer 12:15  And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 

Jer 12:16  And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people. 

Jer 12:17  But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD. 

(KJV)  https://e-sword.net/ 

It Is Three Days Before Christmas...

And all through the house...an anticipation.  Yes, the tension was growing thicker and thicker as past memories fly.  Just what the enemy wants...Mwaahaaha....I will make them remember the trauma and abuse.  I will cause them to fret and worry. 

Jesus says... 

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father shall love him. And We will come to him and will make a dwelling place with him. 

Joh 14:24  The one who does not love Me does not keep My Words. And the Word which you hear is not Mine but of the Father who sent Me. 

Joh 14:25  I have spoken these things to you, abiding with you; 

And I just love...

Joh 14:26  but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and shall remind you of all things that I said to you. 

Joh 14:27  I leave peace to you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be timid. 

Joh 14:28  You heard that I said to you, I am going away, and I am coming again to you. If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I said, I am going to the Father; for My Father is greater than I. 

Joh 14:29  And now I have told you before it occurs, that when it shall occur you may believe. 

Joh 14:30  I shall no longer speak many things with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 

Joh 14:31  But that the world may know that I love the Father, even as the Father commanded Me, so I do. Rise up, let us go from here. 

As I printed out my Christmas letter and sent out cards, some cards still unsent and me deciding if I should send them or not.  All the things undone and unfinished and the accuser just flinging those thoughts faster than a train coming down the track and you're late for work.  Yeah, you know what I'm talking about . . I am reminding myself focus on Jesus, the Light of the World.  Jesus is the light of the world.  He's got this...whatever (_________) this is at the moment.  When you are feeling that tension build, the frustrations - take time out.  Just take time out and breathe, pray, laugh, sing, make a joyful noise...just start saying, "Thank you, Jesus for..." Find that friend who, you know that friend, the one who always, ALWAYS make you feel better after you have spent some time with them.  Take time for the important things which I have found are usually completely free - things like spending time with your family even if it's just a chat to catch up on the phone, or writing a letter, watching a bird at a bird feeder or just watching a bird, the blue in the sky, the snow glistening in the sun or if you're at the beach making your northward friends envious catching those waves.  These things will be the things that endure through time.  I can say that to those of you who are younger because as my husband said, "You are officially a member of the old peoples' club now."  

It is very true when your grandmother or grandfather or even your Mom or Dad says, "The best things in life are free."  This is a truth!  Remember it!  Money does not bring happiness and yes, I am one of those that have said, but I would like to find out if that is so.  In retrospect, I can still say I recognize money will not fix everything.  It's another tactic by the enemy to convince you that having this ___________(again fill in the blank) will make you happy.  No, it will not make you happy.  So again, choosing here to focus on good, light, positive, the promises of God, my Father, who has given me 'every blessing.'  Every to me means all.  There was nothing not given or kept from me.  I encourage you to read Ephesians, chapter one - the whole chapter.   But here is the one verse stating I have been given 'every blessing.' 

 Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ; 

The gift of our salvation is free.  You can't beat that my friend.  You don't have to do this or that or be destitute.  Jesus truly is our source no matter the situation.  I encourage you to really get out of the mindset that the future looks hopeless because that just is not true.  

For God So Loved the World

Joh 3:16  (KJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Joh 3:17  For God did not send His Son into the world that He might judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 

Joh 3:18  The one believing into Him is not condemned; but the one not believing has already been condemned, for he has not believed into the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

Joh 3:19  And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than the Light, for their works were evil. 

Joh 3:20  For everyone practicing wickedness hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, that his works may not be exposed. 

Joh 3:21  But the one doing the truth comes to the Light, that his works may be revealed, that they exist, having been worked in God. 

All scripture is King James Version from:  https://e-sword.net/

 

This time of year always has me reflecting...Hmmmm…..celebrate the traditions of men, or try to please God and what would He have me do…

I hesitate to write a family letter for our family because I have seen so many do this, and they are very good at writing with humor. I have hesitated because I really could not spin a good line on bad things. But this year, I wish to reflect on good. Despite all the losses over the last few years, I (We) have seen the goodness of the Lord. I choose to focus on the light of the world, Jesus Christ. Lord, help me keep the oil of your flame burning in my heart. There truly is nothing else worth chasing after other than you.

With all the above stated, if you are receiving this letter, you are very much treasured, loved and wanted, with fear and trembling ‘needed’ by us. Needed as in, you encourage us to keep going no matter the circumstances.