Category Archives: Christ’s rest

Full Armor-New Fashion Trend?

Christ's rest, Freedom in Christ, Jesus Christ, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, Who I am in Christ, , , , , , , , ,

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I am thinking I could start a new fashion trend!

At my age, wearing a full suit of armor might just do me some good. If I fell, I would not break my hip. If my face was dry from all the cold weather, it would protect my skin. If I did not have my clothes laid out already, at least I would have it laying out- or should I say “standing up”?

Thank goodness I don’t have to put on that suit. I doubt in comes in turquoise blue anyway! The truth of the matter is…I already have the suit on! Everyday! As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, He has equipped me to stand against the enemy and all the world throws my way.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:13-15

We know that the righteousness from the breastplate comes from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. A breastplate actually protected the soldier’s heart and lungs. We have been made “right” before God through Jesus.

The feet of an ancient soldier had to be protected by the rough, rocky terrain. The gospel of peace fitted on us is a reminder of our protection, the grace through Jesus Christ.

A belt held the armor in place, and provided protection often times for the vital organs. The truth of course, is the Bible. If we know the word, the Truth…we can stand against any lie thrown our way!

So, let me continue a bit more on the lies(fiery darts) shot our way and see how the belt of “truth” protects us against these lies!

I cannot do anything, I am worthless…..God has given me the spirit of power…..”For God did not give me the spirit of timidity, but the spirit of power, of love and of self discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

I don’t know how to live the Christian life…..God has given me His love letter in the word for instruction….”All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

I am not worthy of His love….It is not anything I do or have done to receive His love….”But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared he saved us through the washing and rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope in eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7

Now comes your part….Check out Hebrews 4:14-16 to find out how you can approach God.
How about Hebrews 13:5-6 about not having to handle life alone and finally Hebrews 13:8 on the never changing character of God and who He is.

If you haven’t put on your armor, and I am not talking about the turquoise suit, put it on. You might just start a fashion trend!

Blessings dear ones~
IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*Google image*
NIV Bible

Truth! Are you Free in Christ??

Christ's rest, Freedom in Christ, Jesus Christ, Spiritual Encouragement, Who I am in Christ, , , , , , , , ,

freedom

Who are you in Christ?? Not who you think you are on the days that you fail miserably…but Who does God’s word say you are??? You are FREE in Christ my friend!

I will continue to share more truths about our true identity. This is not an exhaustive list to be sure, but scripture that we can learn and lean on; especially when we don’t “feel” the truth. Even when we don’t “feel” it, we must lean on the truth of His word that teaches us that we are indeed “free” in Christ.

These truths were confirmed in my heart many times over with teachings from Bill and Annabelle Gillham. You can access their website...www.lifetime.org I encourage you to visit their site.

I am inadequate…..I am complete in Christ……“For in Christ all the fullness of Diety lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10

Each person must live his own life…….Christ will express His life through me….“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:3-4

I would have made it on my own if I won lots of money…..I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing…“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

I am always the last one chosen….I am chosen by the One who makes the rules.….“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will to the praise of His glorious grace which He has freely given us in the One He loves.” Ephesians 1:4-6

I feel guilty all the time…..“The One who makes the rules says that I am forgiven….“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:7

I worry about the future…My glorious future is set in spiritual concrete...“And he made know to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect wen the times will have reached their fulfillment, to bring all things in heaven and one earth together under one head, even Christ. In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” Ephesians 1:9-11

I feel so insecure and anxious...I have been sealed with the Spirit, I am safe...““And you were also included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession-to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14

I am so thankful for His word, the living WORD of God which breathes life into my parched soul!

Be blessed dear ones..
IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

http://www.lifetime.org
*google image*

Checklists and Ropes Part 2

Christ's rest, Jesus Christ, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, , , , , , , , , ,

stock-vector-cartoon-woman-tied-to-a-chair-155801519

In the previous post, I spoke of “performance bases acceptance” in another season of life….

I know that I spoke of this in my November 17th entry, and I feel like I have learned so much about this even since then…”performance based acceptance” can squeeze the life out of you at anytime in your life. Now, continued…..

People questioned me, thought I was crazy.  Those friends in the teaching profession seemed to understand better than anyone.  But I had to…the Lord confirmed it over and over in His word and through prayer.  I had been released and I finally was hearing it.  HE would provide, He always met our needs. I had to quit looking at those carrots at the end of that list.

It has been three months.  I believe that God actually rescued me.  He saved me.  I did not know how bad off I was until now…I feel like ME again.  I love to encourage and believe I am gifted to do so by our Heavenly Father.  But in the last two years I was “encouraging” others in my own strength.

God never left me.  But I couldn’t hear Him.  I was overwhelmed.  Now I know that there are jobs that do that to you.  If you are a “performance based” person like me, you cannot just shake it off and do your best. “Don’t take it so seriously” I would hear.  “You need to leave your work at school like me.”  “You are over the top, give it a rest.” “Why do you do this to yourself?” 

I HAD to do my best. I was a Christian and HAD to act like one…. I HAD to help the general education teachers since they were under such pressure.  I HAD to consult the parents and talk and try to explain many things to them about their special child.  I HAD to teach the students, but was limited in time and technique.  Not to mention my family and friends outside of work who needed my encouragement.  But the life was literally being squeezed out of me. God showed me! I saw myself wrapped up tighter and tighter!    The only way for me to survive was to just cut the rope off before I died from suffocation.

I don’t know what my immediate future holds.  I am crafting and selling wreaths,studying, writing three blogs and healing.  I am hearing from God again.  I am taking the time to listen.  I have the time to listen.  It seems to me that the enemy’s best tool in our demise is our “being too busy”.

So, I share this to maybe be an encouragement to you, wherever you are.  If you are like me, give something up that occupies your time.  You may not quit your job, but there may be something that you can put down that is suffocating you. There may be a ministry you are involved in because you “have” to be involved in it! Ask the Father to show you the way of rest.  Often times I was “Jack of all trades, master of none.”  I know that GOD equips us in ways that are unbelievable, but we must be able to do them in His strength and not our own.

The Lord wants us to live an abundant, grace filled Christian life. He wants us to REST in HIM. HE wants that for us so that we will share HIM and His joy and peace with others.  HE wants us to share that He is the gift of life, eternal salvation.  Trust me when I say, if you are empty, have no joy…people won’t want what you have.  You have no hope to give them.  

Hebrews 4:1-3
“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said…”

Rest in this New Testament passages means: eiserchomai and it is a verb. It means to come in, entrance into any condition, to arise, come into existence, to come into life.
Stay with me……What hit me is that it does not have a future tense”helper” verb in front of it. So it doesn’t say “will enter”, “might enter”. For believers in the Lord Jesus Christ…we enter that rest NOW. Oh yes, metaphorically the word means that we will have rest after the trials on earth are ended….but we can choose that REST now.

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***personal drawing purchased from and created by Derek Hegstead, 1993***

Blessings dear ones..
IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

earlier animation***google search stock photo****