Protection

Greetings!!!

Are you enjoying these beautiful, sunny, summer days? Along with the sun comes sunburn, unless you use some kind of protection. Most people use sun block with and SPF rating of 35-50, but I cannot use sun block because it makes me ill. Usually, I use a lightweight, long sleeve shirt to keep the sun off my arms and neck. But last week the temperature climbed so high that the long sleeve shirt was too warm to wear while I was working. I had no protection from the sun and places that are not usually touched by the sun, like the back of my arms and shoulders, were burned and are still tender. As I pondered this while I continued to work, I kept hearing, "You have no protection." I finally put on my protection. But it made me wonder if you are walking around with no protection.

Consider Ephesians 6:10-18. "Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FFEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all time in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints."

God has provided everything you need to be all you have been called by Him to be for the Kingdom of God. Do not go out into your day without God's protection on your life. Oh, there is more. In Isaiah 52:12 we are told, "But you will not go out in haste, Nor will you go as fugitives; For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard." Soldier of the Cross do not enter into another day without being dressed and ready for all that the Spirit of the living God has for your day.

God bless you with realizing the power that is your through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

I love you,

Ruth

Shattered Dreams

Greetings!!!

Have you ever prayed for God's direction in your life and felt like God gave you a dream? God not only gave you a dream, but also showed you how to lay out your goals to meet that dream, but now, for  some reason, that dream is shattered? Now you feel betrayed, confused, hurt, and wondering what is next and how you can ever trust what you think you are hearing from God. I cannot tell you the number of times that I have had to lay down dreams and plans that I was sure were birthed by prayer and petition to God and directed by God. Though all the shards of my dreams and through having to lay dreams down over and over again, Jeremiah 29:11 always comes to mind. 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'

As much as I love that verse of Scripture, God always points out that what He says next is what is most important to Him. Jeremiah 29:12-14 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you declares the LORD.'

What dreams have you had to lay down lately? What in your life has left you hurt and confused? Run to the Father. Do not draw away. God's greatest dream, His greatest desire is for you to want to be with Him where He is. He wants to walk with you. He wants to talk with you. He wants to comfort you. He wants to laugh with you and cry with you. He wants you to want Him and His company as much as He wants yours. 

Are you holding shattered dreams? Pick up the pieces of your dreams and take them to the Father. Crawl up on His lap and tell Him all about what has happened. Tell Him everything you are feeling. Cry if you need to. Scream and wail if that will help you. If you are angry, be angry, but do not draw away from God. Do not stop spending time with Him because you are confused and hurt. Whatever has happened, God is working. You just may not understand His workings right now. You must trust Him and return to Him. Do not delay.

The LORD bless  you with taking the steps back to Him to receive His comfort in your pain.

I love you,

Ruth

In the Garden

Greetings!!!

Are you a birdwatcher? I am fascinated when I watch birds. Each one is so different from all the rest. The coloring and field marks of each one  are  unique and help in identifying each species. The song and the call help to distinguish one bird from another. It was the song that helped me to realize we had a new bird in our yard. It took quite a while to find the illusive bird, but finally I was able to put the voice with the bird!! It was a Baltimore Oriole. My heart leaped for joy! 

Do you like to listen to the to the voices of the birds? There is another voice that in even more delightful to hear. It is quiet and sweet. John 10:2-5,14-16 puts it this way: "The man who enter by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers. I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd."

I love to hear the birds wake me in the morning. I am intrigued by their voices, but even more than the voices of the birds, I long to hear the voice of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When was the last time you heard His voice? Take time to stop and listen to Him today.

The LORD bless you with hearing His sweet voice.

I love you,

Ruth

This song always comes to mind while I am alone in my garden.

In the Garden by C. Austin Miles

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

Se speaks, and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

I'd stay in the garden with Him

Tho the night around me be falling;

But He bids me go thru a voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own, 

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.