Hi Friends~
Happy Wednesday! Today we will announce our "He IS Able Card of the Week Winner" as well as information from the website "gotquestions.org" It is a great site that shares so much information. I have recently learned about it, and they have granted us permission to use their posts in their entirety.
First, I know that some of our guests have been lifting up Cathy's family, and there is news I need to share. Cathy's Mother-in-Law has gone to be with the Lord on Monday. I have her address if anyone would like to send her and her family a card. Also, Cathy's Mom, is still in the hospital, and has received blood transfusions and has also suffered from a stroke, apparently. Cathy knows that her Mother would really enjoy getting cards! So, if you would like to send a card for her Mom, I have the address to share, with her permission. Just let me know that you would like it either in the comment section or email. If you email me for it, please put "address needed" on the subject line. (I will only share the address via email.) More importantly, they continue to ask for prayers. Their Pastor is in the hospital suddenly, and Cathy and her husband led the entire service this week. So, if you are so moved, please lift up these people and situations, and any others you may read in the comment section. I thank you, and I know Cathy and her family thank you, too.
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The Winner of the "He IS Able Card of the Week" Random Give-Away is...
Here is her comment:
Traci you already know I'm praying for you and for Josh too.... praying for salvation and safety! Sounds like this devotion was just perfect for the need! That's a God thing!!! Thanks for letting your light shine for Him! His Word never returns to Him void, so your efforts will be rewarded even if in this life you don't always see it!!!
hugs,Grace
Please visit this website. They have answers to so many questions. I really liked this post, and want to share it in it's entirety. Anything in purple...I have added.
Answer: The phrase “full armor of God” comes from Ephesians 6:13-17 (NIV): “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. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
Ephesians 6:12 clearly indicates that the conflict with Satan is spiritual, and therefore no tangible weapons can be effectively employed against him and his minions. We are not given a list of specific tactics Satan will use. However, the passage is quite clear that when we follow all the instructions faithfully, we will be able to stand, and we will have victory regardless of Satan’s strategy.
T= Truth
R= Righteousnes
G= the Gospel
F= Faith
S= Salvation
W= Word of God
P= Prayer
Are you willing to memorize one Scripture this week? How about this one?" For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. " (Matthew 6:21)
He IS Able!
Happy Wednesday! Today we will announce our "He IS Able Card of the Week Winner" as well as information from the website "gotquestions.org" It is a great site that shares so much information. I have recently learned about it, and they have granted us permission to use their posts in their entirety.
First, I know that some of our guests have been lifting up Cathy's family, and there is news I need to share. Cathy's Mother-in-Law has gone to be with the Lord on Monday. I have her address if anyone would like to send her and her family a card. Also, Cathy's Mom, is still in the hospital, and has received blood transfusions and has also suffered from a stroke, apparently. Cathy knows that her Mother would really enjoy getting cards! So, if you would like to send a card for her Mom, I have the address to share, with her permission. Just let me know that you would like it either in the comment section or email. If you email me for it, please put "address needed" on the subject line. (I will only share the address via email.) More importantly, they continue to ask for prayers. Their Pastor is in the hospital suddenly, and Cathy and her husband led the entire service this week. So, if you are so moved, please lift up these people and situations, and any others you may read in the comment section. I thank you, and I know Cathy and her family thank you, too.
______________________________
The Winner of the "He IS Able Card of the Week" Random Give-Away is...
GRACE!!!
Congratulations Grace! You have won a beautiful card that was hand-made and donated for this give-away! Everyone who shared something in the comment section before Tuesday at 8pm was entered into the random drawing. Grace has an amazing blog. It is called Th-ink-ing of You. In it she shares the most amazing art projects and she shares incredibly moving Devotions in it. She surely loves the Lord, and is happy to tell anyone about Him.
It is our hope that people will use these cards to share about the Lord, or the Gospel itself! This may start a conversation which could lead to the other person learning more about Jesus and deciding to ask Him to be their Lord and Savior! And, if the person is already a Christian, perhaps your note will create more enthusiasm in them to share about Him with others! Check out Grace's blog...and tell her you are visiting from the He IS Able blog! Grace thank you for your very thoughtful comment. I always appreciate your sharing, and your prayers.
It is our hope that people will use these cards to share about the Lord, or the Gospel itself! This may start a conversation which could lead to the other person learning more about Jesus and deciding to ask Him to be their Lord and Savior! And, if the person is already a Christian, perhaps your note will create more enthusiasm in them to share about Him with others! Check out Grace's blog...and tell her you are visiting from the He IS Able blog! Grace thank you for your very thoughtful comment. I always appreciate your sharing, and your prayers.
Here is her comment:
Traci you already know I'm praying for you and for Josh too.... praying for salvation and safety! Sounds like this devotion was just perfect for the need! That's a God thing!!! Thanks for letting your light shine for Him! His Word never returns to Him void, so your efforts will be rewarded even if in this life you don't always see it!!!
hugs,Grace
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Question: "What is the full armor of God?"
Answer: The phrase “full armor of God” comes from Ephesians 6:13-17 (NIV): “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. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”
Ephesians 6:12 clearly indicates that the conflict with Satan is spiritual, and therefore no tangible weapons can be effectively employed against him and his minions. We are not given a list of specific tactics Satan will use. However, the passage is quite clear that when we follow all the instructions faithfully, we will be able to stand, and we will have victory regardless of Satan’s strategy.
"If God is for us who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
The first element of our armor is truth (verse 14). This is easy to understand, since Satan is said to be the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Deception is high on the list of things God considers to be an abomination. A “lying tongue” is one of the things He describes as “detestable to Him” (Proverbs 6:16-17). We are therefore exhorted to put on truth for our own sanctification and deliverance, as well as for the benefit of those to whom we witness.
Also in verse 14, we are told to put on the breastplate of righteousness. A breastplate shielded a warrior’s vital organs from blows that would otherwise be fatal. This righteousness is not works of righteousness done by men. Rather, this is the righteousness of Christ, imputed by God and received by faith, which guards our hearts against the accusations and charges of Satan and secures our innermost being from his attacks.
Verse 15 speaks of the preparation of the feet for spiritual conflict. In warfare, sometimes an enemy places dangerous obstacles in the path of advancing soldiers. The idea of the preparation of the gospel of peace as footwear suggests what we need to advance into Satan's territory, aware that there will be traps, with the message of grace so essential to winning souls to Christ. Satan has many obstacles placed in the path to halt the propagation of the Gospel.
The shield of faith spoken of in verse 16 makes Satan's sowing of doubt about the faithfulness of God and His Word ineffective. Our faith—of which Christ is “the author and perfecter” (Hebrews 12:2)— is like a golden shield, precious, solid, and substantial.
The helmet of salvation in verse 17 is protection for the head, keeping viable a critical part of the body. We could say that our way of thinking needs preservation. The head is the seat of the mind, which, when it has laid hold of the sure Gospel hope of eternal life, will not receive false doctrine or give way to Satan’s temptations. The unsaved person has no hope of warding off the blows of false doctrine because he is without the helmet of salvation and his mind is incapable of discerning between spiritual truth and spiritual deception.
The first element of our armor is truth (verse 14). This is easy to understand, since Satan is said to be the “father of lies” (John 8:44). Deception is high on the list of things God considers to be an abomination. A “lying tongue” is one of the things He describes as “detestable to Him” (Proverbs 6:16-17). We are therefore exhorted to put on truth for our own sanctification and deliverance, as well as for the benefit of those to whom we witness.
Also in verse 14, we are told to put on the breastplate of righteousness. A breastplate shielded a warrior’s vital organs from blows that would otherwise be fatal. This righteousness is not works of righteousness done by men. Rather, this is the righteousness of Christ, imputed by God and received by faith, which guards our hearts against the accusations and charges of Satan and secures our innermost being from his attacks.
Verse 15 speaks of the preparation of the feet for spiritual conflict. In warfare, sometimes an enemy places dangerous obstacles in the path of advancing soldiers. The idea of the preparation of the gospel of peace as footwear suggests what we need to advance into Satan's territory, aware that there will be traps, with the message of grace so essential to winning souls to Christ. Satan has many obstacles placed in the path to halt the propagation of the Gospel.
The shield of faith spoken of in verse 16 makes Satan's sowing of doubt about the faithfulness of God and His Word ineffective. Our faith—of which Christ is “the author and perfecter” (Hebrews 12:2)— is like a golden shield, precious, solid, and substantial.
The helmet of salvation in verse 17 is protection for the head, keeping viable a critical part of the body. We could say that our way of thinking needs preservation. The head is the seat of the mind, which, when it has laid hold of the sure Gospel hope of eternal life, will not receive false doctrine or give way to Satan’s temptations. The unsaved person has no hope of warding off the blows of false doctrine because he is without the helmet of salvation and his mind is incapable of discerning between spiritual truth and spiritual deception.
I highlighted the word "incapable" because I feel that this is something that I think Christians sometimes lose sight of. It is not possible for a person who is unsaved to tell the difference between spiritual truth and spiritual deception. Some things are so obvious to us, because our eyes have been opened to the Truth...but the unsaved, do not have this...yet.
Verse 17 interprets itself as to the meaning of the sword of the Spirit—it is the Word of God.(One great reason why we should read the Bible daily, and work at memorizing Scripture, don't you agree?) While all the other pieces of spiritual armor are defensive in nature, the sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God. It speaks of the holiness and power of the Word of God. A greater spiritual weapon is not conceivable. (WOW! It is the greatest of all spiritual weapons...Scripture!) In Jesus' temptations in the desert, the Word of God was always His overpowering response to Satan. What a blessing that the same Word is available to us!
In verse 18, we are told to pray in the Spirit (that is, with the mind of Christ, with His heart and His priorities) in addition to wearing the full armor of God. We cannot neglect prayer, as it is the means by which we draw spiritual strength from God. Without prayer, without reliance upon God, our efforts at spiritual warfare are empty and futile. The full armor of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer—are the tools God has given us, through which we can be spiritually victorious, overcoming Satan’s attacks and temptations.
Recommended Resource:
Verse 17 interprets itself as to the meaning of the sword of the Spirit—it is the Word of God.(One great reason why we should read the Bible daily, and work at memorizing Scripture, don't you agree?) While all the other pieces of spiritual armor are defensive in nature, the sword of the Spirit is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God. It speaks of the holiness and power of the Word of God. A greater spiritual weapon is not conceivable. (WOW! It is the greatest of all spiritual weapons...Scripture!) In Jesus' temptations in the desert, the Word of God was always His overpowering response to Satan. What a blessing that the same Word is available to us!
In verse 18, we are told to pray in the Spirit (that is, with the mind of Christ, with His heart and His priorities) in addition to wearing the full armor of God. We cannot neglect prayer, as it is the means by which we draw spiritual strength from God. Without prayer, without reliance upon God, our efforts at spiritual warfare are empty and futile. The full armor of God—truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer—are the tools God has given us, through which we can be spiritually victorious, overcoming Satan’s attacks and temptations.
Recommended Resource:
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I think this column made it clear that Scripture is a necessary part of our lives. Not just something to educate us on the people and their stories...but to memorize and use often. The ABC Scripture Challenge that I am a part of and is led by Patter Cross (some of you thought I was doing it on my own) helps me to memorize the Scripture on the pages. And, I plan on passing it down to my young grandsons when they are old enough to read...so they can memorize them...and use them.
The following are the parts of the "Armor of God."
W= Word of God
I am working on storing those Scriptures up in my heart. Will you join me this week? What Scripture will you be memorizing and thinking about? How about letting us know if you are going to work on this for this week, or what Scripture you are going to memorize in the comment section? It's always more encouraging to do things like this in a group! God bless!
Thank you so much for being here. Friday is another post from Michele: "Precious Women of God--This Includes YOU!!" Monday--more cards!
He IS Able!
Traci S.
I hope that this post was not difficult to read. The computer kept changing words to bold, or unbold, or the color changed...all without my help. I couldn't straighten it out. I hope you could read it.
ReplyDeleteI am going to work on memorizing the Scripture I shared earlier. Is anyone going to join me in memorizing one? Which one?
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Cathy, Sweetie, if you need anything, please let us know. Prayers are going out to you all.
He IS Able!
Traci S.