Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Armor of God

I have been trying to figure out how to say this for about a month now...I have struggled, typed, pondered, struggled, then typed some more...I could never get the words to come out the way I wanted them to be heard. I have become afraid to state my true feelings. The feelings that I have felt so free to express since the beginning of this blog. This blog has been a blessing from God to me. I have found some of the most amazing Godly women here in blogging world. I have gotten to know them through daily bible verses, family pictures, church stories, stories of sadness, church pictures, stories of joy, daily bible studies and just plain ole' stories of life. I have also come face to face with some criticism that has made me look at myself. I am thanking God for this also.

As you know I have had PBF and THBC on my heart and in my prayers a lot here lately. I was reminded by anonymous that I was obsessed...and maybe I am. I feel a unbelievable desire for healing. Healing of families, healing of friends, healing of feelings and healing of a church family that has now become two but is still on the same side. I love all of these people, they have been my family for a big part of my life.

I listened to Bro. Johns sermon twice today and I want to leave you with something that he said that all of us need to remember, "Our battle is not against flesh and blood it is against the devil."

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. - Ephesians 6:10-18

We need to put on our armor of God and stop fighting amongst each other. Who do you think wins when we are fighting? We are all on the same side and both churches can do amazing things in our community if we will focus on "Keeping the Main Thing, THE MAIN THING!"


God is so Good!

3 comments:

Shirley said...

Hi Debbie...thanks for stopping by my place and leaving a comment. I can relate to your post... sometimes it is hard to put our feelings out there...but...if that is what God wants us to do... we must do it...even if we are afraid. I will share with you about a time that I had to do something that I was afraid to do.. God had put it on my heart to leave the church that I had been an active member of for over 26years...God knew I was afraid...He lead me to a quote by Joyce Meyer..
I can't remember it word for word...but she said that if you feel God leading you to do something that you are afraid of doing....do it afraid. That was what spoke to my heart. When I stepped out on faith and left...I went to where I felt God leading...
I was so blessed...I cried during Sunday School class...I cried during worship and preaching...I
even cried when I came home... my husband (who is not a Christian) thought I was crying because I left
my church...I then explained to him that I was crying because I was happy...I had done what God had been wanting me to do for a long, long time. I could share more...but won't at this time. Just want you to know that you have a great blog...one that Satan will try to discourage you about...
don't listen to him.

Kendra Lee said...

Debbie,
I'm sorry that you are struggling! I know how deep the pain goes with church struggles (splits, whatnot) and I feel your desire for healing in your blog. The difference between you and 'anonymous' is that you are courageous to share your feelings, insecurities and shortcomings but he/she is not. He or she is struggling with the same things, but is criticizing you instead of working it out with God. That's what bloggers like and me are doing... just workin' this thang out... only we do it online (and with God of course).
I just started Part TWO of the book I have been blogging about "The Three Battlegrounds". Part TWO is about 'the church.' Let me share with you the opening paragraph - that will probably get a blog from me as well. I pray it encourages you to keep on, and for all of us to realized where the true battle lies.

"The other born-again congregations in our cities are not our enemies! We must learn to war against the illusions and strife, the fears and jealousies that are sent from hell to divide us. If Jesus is eternally praying for our oneness, then we must recognize that Satan is continually fighting against it. The devil knows that when we become one with Christ and, through Him, one with each other, it is only a matter of time before this Jesus-built church will destroy the empire of hell!"

And that was just the opening paragraph.

Lois Christensen said...

Oh my word, how wonderful is this post!!! Why do we as Christians do this to ourselves?? We need to remember not to fight against each other because the only person who wins is the devil!!! I hope many people read this and realize in these last days we need to be more focused on the Lord and not on criticizing each other!! Great post!!!