Put on the WHOLE armour of GOD...

"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace." Luke 11:21

I woke up this morning with a simple thought... Put on the whole armour of God. 

Now, I don't exactly know how the thought came about, but I know it was the Holy Spirit reminding me to keep watch. And I was truly thankful to the LORD for His kind reminder and faithfulness to me. He is so gracious! 

It's interesting, but sometimes I wake up excited... ready to face the day. The sun may shine brightly and we may think that "all is well".  That's when we can easily get lost in the "tasks" of the day and let go of the guard. Sometimes pride creeps in... making us think "we can handle it all".

Such was the feeling I had this morning. It was beautiful and sunny outside... and I had all sorts of plans for the day. But the Lord gently reminded me... Put on the whole armour of God. 

The armour of God is always needed.... for it helps us to stand against the wiles of the devil. Without the armour we are open to all sorts of attacks that cause us to stumble and fall.  

" Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." 

James 4:7

How gracious the LORD was this morning. It suddenly reminded me of the Lord Jesus' tenderness in His prayer to the Father, 

" I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil one."

John 17:15

We have been thoroughly equipped. God's armour is strong enough for whatever may come our way.  

     

Put On The Whole Armour Of God

Put on the whole armour of GOD,

And go out in the power of HIS might.

To ward off the wiles of the devil,

Make sure the belt of truth is buckled on tight.

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For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

But against powers and spiritual wickedness in places on high.

So wear your breastplate of righteousness,

To quench all the fiery darts that fly.

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Be strong and put on your armour,

Make sure your feet are shod with the gospel of peace.

Above all don't forget to pick up your shield,

For by faith you shall thereby increase.

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Take courage for salvation is your helmet.

So keep the WORD of GOD as your constant guide,

And as you fight against the darkness of this world,

Allow not the sharpened sword to fall from your side.

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With all perseverance be watchful and pray.

As you run the race, make sure your guard is not down

For with God's armour your battle is won, 

And what joy in the end when you give Him your crown.

~Ellie 6/16/14~

May you be reminded to put on the whole armour of GOD... whereby you may stand.

~Ellie

Every WISE woman buildeth her house...

"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness to his bones." Proverbs 12:4

This past week I've been dwelling much on the roles of wives in the home. 

And because I've been reading through the Proverbs, I thought to stop a bit and do a quick study. I need God's guidance in my own home. I need God's guidance in the words I speak to a friend in distress.

What is the role of a wife in the home? What is my role? How do we keep the home from being destroyed? Can we even build the home? I can only go to the WORD for answers.... because God's WORD is truth.

" Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:"

 Psalm 127:1

There's wisdom ... and there's folly. And God differentiates between the two quite clearly.

" Every WISE woman buildeth her house, but the FOOLISH plucketh it down with her own hands." Proverbs 14:1

But first and foremost... in order for a home to survive the wind and the storms, a solid foundation needs to be applied.

A couple of verses in Matthew lays it out clearly.

The WISE will hear and apply God's word: 

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a WISE man, which built his house upon a rock. " 

Matthew 7:24

The FOOLISH will not apply God's word:

"And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand." 

Matthew 7:26

And if the LORD JESUS CHRIST is our rock, then we are to walk in HIS ways by imitating Him in our lives... in our homes.    

It sounds easy right? Well, then why the troubled homes, separation, divorce? Do we not hear? Do we not apply God's word? Do we not let go of self and allow God to fill us with His LOVE? I'm not sure...

My thoughts may be rambling... but GOD'S WORD is direct.

Just reading through Proverbs, I'm simply amazed with the wealth of knowledge found... in just 1 book of the bible! And so I'm reminded clearly of how we ought to behave as women...

A woman must NOT: be clamarous, a brawler, angry, contentious, do evil, be strifeful, have hatred...

A woman MUST BE: gracious, virtuous, guard her lips, answer softly, open her mouth with wisdom, have the law of kindness on her tongue...

The list can go on. But LOVE covereth a multitude of sins. And PLEASANT words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones.

O Lord, give us godly homes where YOU dwell...  keep us from folly.

" Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge... be thou in the fear of the LORD, all the day long. " 

Proverbs 23: 12, 17

May you build your house on the SOLID rock... and hear the instruction of the LORD. 

~Ellie                           

Come unto ME all ye that LABOUR...

" The servant of the LORD must not strive; but be GENTLE unto all men..."  2 Timothy 2:24 

Lately I've been thinking about what it means to be like the Lord Jesus. And for some reason I ended up thinking about gentleness. 

Gentleness. A fruit of the Spirit. A trait that's often lacking in many of us. But how do we get gentleness?

A gentle person suffers long. I suppose a gentle person has to go through the "school of suffering "... because I think you have to learn to let go of self before you can ever be gentle. Gentleness requires crucifixion of all pride.

" I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." 

Galatians 2:20

It's quite humbling not to live for yourself. The flesh seeks glorification. But in order for God to have His perfect work in us, the "me" needs to be abased. 

" He must increase, but I must decrease." 

John 3:30

Only then is the character of the LORD JESUS CHRIST in full glory. 

I thought about the 2 disciples following the LORD when John the Baptist points them to the LAMB of GOD. The Lord Jesus turns and asks them,

" What seek ye..." 

John 1:38 

They wanted to see where HE dwelt. 

And the LORD tells them, 

"Come and see." 

John 1:39

They saw where He was living and they abode with HIM that day.

I thought of the spiritual application and how the LORD desires us to seek Him, to come unto Him... to abide with Him all day.  

A gentle person walks daily with the MASTER... and learns from HIM.

" 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 gentle in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

Matthew 11:28-30  

Lord, make me a servant that's gentle. May my calmness and peace be dependent on the ONE who walks beside me.   

May you seek the LORD and desire to abide with Him all day.

~Ellie    

God THUNDERETH marvellously with HIS voice...

" Hast thou an arm like GOD? OR canst thou thunder with a voice like HIM? Job 40:9

Last night, or more like the early morning hours, while lying in bed with some body pain  and not being able to sleep, I suddenly heard the beginning of a hailstorm. The hail came quickly with a loud noise pounding the roof.

The wind picked up and the hail was heard bouncing off the windows. Shortly thereafter, lightning lit the skies and loud peals of thunder was heard. The thunder at times was quite loud shaking the house with much force.

Then the heavy rain started to fall... and I was in deep amazement at the power of GOD. Who is like our GOD that can create such marvel?  

How can one not know that GOD reigns in the heavens?  

" God thundereth marvellously with HIS voice; great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend.

For He saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth, likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of His strength. 

He sealeth up the hand of every man;that ALL men may know HIS work." 

Job 37:5-7

After breakfast, I immediately went to a favorite passage in Job where God's power is explained in such detail. I read a few verses and thought to sit a bit, look out the window, watch the rain... and put my thoughts in a poem.

THY WONDROUS WORKS IS PERFECT IN KNOWLEDGE

Who but Thee knows the ordinances of heaven?

Thou hast laid the foundations of the earth,

And made the cloud as a garment for it.

With Thy voice You thunder and rain does come forth.

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Who is like unto Thee, O Lord?

In whose hand lies all might and power.

Thou givest the earth due rain in its season,

And causeth the tender bud to bring forth its flower.

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Thy wondrous works is perfect in knowledge.

Great things Thou doest, we cannot understand.

By your counsel the bright cloud is turned,

And cause it to come for mercy, correction, and even the land.

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Thy voice is heard upon the many waters,

For the sea is Thine and Thy hands has formed the dry land.

You make the desolate ground to be continually satisfied,

And uphold all things by Your righteous right hand.

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Who has an arm like our God and can save?

  We call unto Thee in trouble, for Thou dost surely hear.

From Thy secret place of thunder, Thy people you answer.

Yes, I will help you, for I'm with you and you shalt not fear.  

~Ellie 6/13/14

May you praise the LORD on high today... for His mercy endureth forever.

~Ellie                                            

Above ALL things have FERVENT CHARITY among yourselves...

" As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the WORD, that ye may grow thereby." 1 Peter 2:2

This week I've been able to finish memorizing chapter 13 of first Corinthians. It's been quite a few weeks, but what a blessing it has been to me! 

When I first started memorizing the well known love chapter I honestly didn't know what the LORD had in plan for me. What would HE reveal to me? It was my desire to be fully acquainted with GOD'S LOVE for me... and in turn gain a deeper understanding of how HIS love could work through me.   

The LORD, in HIS love and faithfulness,... made something quite clear to me. It was almost towards the end of the chapter...

But until coming to the end of the chapter, I realized a few things about LOVE. 

Love puts away all form of selfishness.  I suppose I knew that. But it's something else to apply it.... to let go of self. 

Can we truly love without having God's love in us? We might fool ourselves, but I don't think we'll go very far. Since GOD is LOVE, we need His Holy Spirit to abide in us.

"... because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:5

Isn't it beautiful to know that LOVE comes from GOD? And nothing we do can substitute for the love of GOD. 

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." 

Isaiah 64:6

And so, as I was nearing the end of the chapter, one of the verses made me stop a bit. 

" When I was a child, I spake as a child I understood as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11

Am I like a child most days? 

I suddenly realized that, yes, I'm often childish when I don't show God's love in my life. I'm just like a child who wants things her own way... by not suffering long, by being unkind, by seeking my own, by envying, by being proud, by thinking evil... or even being provoked when I think I'm right.

Does that mean that when I'm tired of "bearing it all" and fall short of applying love in my life... that I'm being childish? Why do I feel hurt? Why do I keep record of wrongs? Why do I give up showing kindness?

Have I not grown in the LORD? Have I not put away childish things?

And so I came to the understanding that desiring and having GOD'S WORD in my heart will make me to grow and bear fruit. We are to live outside of our fleshly desires... or childishness. We are to grow. 

    

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. "

Romans 8:5

I remember a verse I had memorized not too long ago... how much strength it gives me to put away childish things:

" But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? "

Galatians 4:9

Lord, help me to turn away from self... be my strength from day to day.

The chapter does not end there. Yes, we may know what love is... in part. The LORD reminds us not to be weary in well-doing. Yes, we struggle. Yes, we fall. We have the flesh that is enmity to GOD. 

But God's gentleness is quite evident in the last verses, reminding us that one day, 

" ... that which is perfect will come, and that which is in part shall be done away." 

1 Corinthians 13:10

Our life here on earth is for a moment.... sometimes we don't understand... we see darkly through a glass.  We may know in part. But one day, we shall soon know... even as we are known! What a wonderful promise.

LOVE. It is the greatest gift. Given to us freely from above in the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

HE was the perfect example. And He desires that we should walk in HIS ways.  

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." 

John 15:9

May you be encouraged to exercise God's love in your life... by desiring HIS Word, so that you may grow thereby.  

~Ellie

For the LORD giveth WISDOM...

"  When WISDOM entereth into thine heart, and KNOWLEDGE is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, UNDERSTANDING shall keep thee." Proverbs 2: 10,11

Sometimes I'm void of understanding. I lack knowledge... and wisdom. There are moments when wisdom is needed in my life. Much widsom.

How do I  answer someone who is in need. How do I react when criticism comes my way. When should I be silent. When should I speak up.

Reading through the Proverbs, one can easily find plenty of wisdom. God's WORD is never void of knowledge. But I stopped abruptly when I recently read verses 10 and 11 of the second chapter of Proverbs. It suddenly hit me. " When wisdom entereth into thine heart..." 

 Much of our lack of wisdom may spurn from lack of knowing GOD. Knowing HIS WORD.

" A wise man will hear, and will increase learning..."

Proverbs 1:5

Oh, to delight in HIS WORD! Can I truly say that the WORD of GOD is pleasant unto my soul? Do I seek being in HIS WORD more so than seeking earthly treasures? Where can I find wisdom... but in GOD alone.

" For the LORD giveth wisdom: Out of HIS mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. "

Proverbs 2:6

Today I am overwhelmed with GOD'S GOODNESS. He alone does the work in us... so that WISDOM can enter our stony heart.

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

Ezekiel 36:26

"For God giveth to a man that is good in His sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy..."

Ecclesiates 2:26

 There's so much sound wisdom in God's WORD. We have the answers to ALL our problems.... if we seek Him we shall find Him.

" If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

James 1:5

What a gracious and loving Father we have... who loads us with the benefits of HIS wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Oh, that I might be diligent to grow in WISDOM. To keep my heart filled with HIS WORD.... for it shall keep me, preserve me, and give me life.  LORD, help me to lean not on my own understanding, but in all my ways acknowledge you...

 "Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established."

Proverbs 24:3

May you seek WISDOM and delight  in HIS WORD today.

~Ellie