The Armor of God | Belt of Truth, Shoes of the Gospel, Day 3

These five devotions were written for Helping Hands Camp 2014. This is a faith based youth camp that allows youth to provide services and fulfill clean up and construction projects for those in the community that are unable to do so. 

Theme: Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 

Our anchor verse is based of the entire passage from Ephesians 6:10-17. Each daily devotion is based off of that verse.

[NIV Translation, Ephesians 6:10 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.]

Belt of Truth, Shoes of the Gospel

[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.]

In the world a belt and shoes might be labeled as accessories. You might not need either to complete your outfit but having the “right ones’ can make or break your look.

If you stop to consider when you put those items on, their role might make you reconsider their value in your own spiritual attire. You may not wear a belt or shoes when you’re lounging around the house. Most often they are only added when you are walking out of the door.

Putting on the shoes of the gospel means that you are READY to spread the word, READY to jump in, READY to help and READY to move for a cause.

Wearing a belt ensures that you have a place to put your tools, so that they are with you at all times. You are ready to go to work in the Kingdom of God and you are prepared for the tasks ahead.

You might already have on the helmet and breast plate. Your sword might even be sharpened; but you won’t likely use any of those things until you’ve decided that it’s time to go to work.

Think About It

1. Are you available for God’s work? Do you include God in your conversations and look for opportunities to help others? 

2. Many people won’t leave home without certain things; cell phones, keys, lipstick are some examples. Is there a place on your tool belt for your bible and prayer life or are they tools that you often leave without?

3. Try some shoes on? Consider what questions someone might ask you about your faith and find those answers. The more comfortable you are practicing what you might say, the more comfortable and likely you will be to start talking in real scenarios.

The Armor of God | Breastplate of Righteousness, Day 2

These five devotions were written earlier in the year to include in a booklet for a local youth camp that is held in July. Now that camp is over, I thought I'd share the devotions. Helping Hands Camp is a faith based youth camp that allows campers to provide services and to fulfill clean up and construction projects for those in the community that are unable to do so. 

Theme: Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 

Our anchor verse is based of the entire passage from Ephesians 6:10-17. Each daily devotion is based off of that verse.

[NIV Translation, Ephesians 6:10 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.]

Breastplate of Righteousness

[14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place]

There are a lot of different ways to interpret what a breastplate might represent in our spiritual life. 

Purposes of the Breastplate 

• Does a breastplate represent what we might stand for or believe?
• Does it symbolize how others might identify us?
• Does the structure of the garment help maintain our posture, back straight, square shoulders, etc.?
• Does the structure or design aid in restraining us from moving too quickly or bending too much?
• Is it a barrier to you, protecting you from things that might injure your heart?
• Does it generate power from the sun [Son] by drawing heat and reflecting light?
• Now give yourself a moment to imagine what expectations you might make of someone else that you see already in armor?

In considering that list, as believers we should each “represent” Christ in the same way. What people discover about us in private should match or even beat what they expected to find when they first learned of our faith.

If you review that list again, with a more self-reflective approach; you may be able to identify areas in your own life where you can speak out, stand firm, hold back and also let a bit more God in. Suddenly that list begins to take the shape of self-control. 

Examples of Self-Control

• Do you find ways to humble yourself so that God doesn't have to? (By spending time with positive leaders, volunteering, reading stories that inspire you to be a better version of yourself.) 
• When you feel your temper flare do you pause and restrain yourself?
• When presented with a need for another do you put aside what you had planned so that you can be of service to someone else, no matter how much you have to do?
• Do you ask for conviction when you feel like something is off and you just don’t know what it is?
• Do you repent and seek forgiveness from God and whomever may have been offended?
• Do you live by the boundaries in your heart or do you do follow what your friends do, even if it begins to feel uncomfortable or increases doubt?
• Do you allow yourself to matter by caring for and respecting your body and values?
• Do you spend time in prayer and study of the word?
• Do you turn the t.v. or internet off when the content starts to cross the line?
• When peers at school are being torn down, do you lift up the person’s good qualities, and correct lies redirecting the conversation?

Proverbs 4:23 Says to always guard your heart, for all you do flows from it. By spending time with God and deciding who you are and what you stand for, you will be able to draw healthy boundaries in your life. -Ones that preserve dignity and reflect purpose.

With the practice and use of self-control, it becomes more obvious to others that that no matter what the outside looks like, the inside backs it up. You have the heart, stamina and the guts to protect what you believe.

Think About It

1. If you don’t know what you stand for, how will you know when to defend and when to back down? 

2. What characteristics come to mind when you hear the word righteous? (Faithful, honest, loyal, trustworthy, prayerful and powerful)  What else?

3. How many of them would you use when describing yourself? What role do you think self-control plays in those characteristics?

4. If questioned about your faith or your values, would you be able to answer question(s) holding your head high or would you awkwardly try not to make eye contact and avoid the question(s)?

The Armor of God | Helmet of Salvation, Day 1

These five devotions were written earlier in the year to include in a booklet for a local youth camp that is held in July. Now that camp is over, I thought I'd share the devotions. Helping Hands Camp is a faith based youth camp that allows campers to provide services and to fulfill clean up and construction projects for those in the community that are unable to do so. 

Theme: Ephesians 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Our anchor verse is based of the entire passage from Ephesians 6:10-17. Each daily devotion is based off of that verse.

[NIV Translation, Ephesians 6:10 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.]

Helmet of Salvation, Day 1

[17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.]

Many studies have been done on how the way that you dress affects your attitude and behaviors. You might be able identify with that statement, when you consider how you feel when your lounging around in your favorite sweats verses wearing an outfit that you know you look good in.

Likewise the things that we think about affect our actions. Our main passage this week in Ephesians refers to the “Helmet of Salvation”. Another verse in Philippians 2:2 says “that we should be like-minded [with Christ], having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

If we get up in the morning and think about ourselves and our own interests we will most likely only pursue those things throughout the day. If we choose to “put on” the thoughts of Christ we will, not only be more inclined to pursue his interests; we will also be more careful and thoughtful with our actions.

Think About It

1. Is there a significant moment in your own faith walk that makes you “thankful” to God? Perhaps even, your salvation? If so, how could thinking about that moment regularly, alter your daily living?

2. What are some areas that you struggle with in your mind? Do you suffer from insecurity, anger, fear, depression, being judgmental?

3. How could putting on the mind of Christ help you in these areas?

Throughout this day or week, look for areas in your mind where you get stuck or fixated on something.  Try to make a note of those thoughts. If you get time during camp or when you get home, sit down with that list and look for scripture(s) regarding each area.  When you find verses that speak to you, write them down on something small enough to put in your wallet or store them in your phone. Maybe you can even commit them to memory.  The next time that issue arrives, find your scripture(s) and speak it out, offering up a quick prayer to God.

Seeing God's Hand | Log

It's really too hard to write big posts about significant moments every day. Particularly because I work full time. However, I want to start looking for God's hand more on a day to day basis and because if I intend to write it down, I will be more intentional about looking for it. If I post them more regularly, they might not all make sense to you but by being intentional, I hope it keeps me looking...

7/13 - The plane ride & little boy, and then picture. See bottom of this post.

7/14 - The realization that I should be talking to my kids regularly about how I see God in my own life, in addition to study, devotion and prayer.

7/15 - My taxi driver here was a really sweet woman named Amanda. She entrusted me with some of her personal history in the car. It was incredibly humbling. We prayed together in the car and swapped information.  I felt like it was truly a divine intervention but I don't even think that I am aware of what all happened in our short time together. I felt God's presence when we were together.

7/16 - My text to Becky when she asked how the conference was going. [Doing well. Just taking it all in. I love how God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. I think the last month or so was really taking a toll on me (with the changes in my job, the new study, family illness and a recent loss...) Not only was I worn out but also getting sick. The first few days here I have really felt awful physically. And yet God has made a place where I don't have to clean, or tend to anything. It's all pretty much taken care of. He knew EXACTLY WHEN I would need it most. I am grateful for the break. Even if the class is a little hard. I believe he will pull that together for me too. I miss the kids and the family but he even worked that out for their sake. (Rachel and some cousins are in town.) they always drop me like a hot potato when she's in... I'm glad it's helped to cushion things. And I can see some other silver linings brewing. ... I hope the same for you...? How are things in your end? And thanks for checking. Love ya!!]

7/18 - When I wrote "Seeing God's Hand" there was a verse at the end that I wanted to go back and write but I couldn't remember it. So I asked and slowly but surely, I was reminded... John 11:40.

7/19 - Realizing that Maybe my FB post and Alcohol post were really my decisions. As in something that I wanted to do for God. Why don't we just give ourselves permission to change our minds? :)

“’I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but I will not be mastered by anything.”—1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love…For I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”—Galatians 5:13, 16

This post was from a week in July. By the time I've posted it, it's 8/7. I've made other notes since then about days but haven't written them all down. I think I might actually try to do a month of "logging" in August. Just to see what it might change for me. :)



This post is in a log format. For more information about what this is, read the top of this post.

A Bedtime Story p2 | Springfield, MO

For readers: Without sharing all of the details. We've had a small temporary change around our house and I wanted a little special something for the family. I thought a bedtime story might to do the trick. I hope you don't mind. :)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

HI MY LOVES

I miss you SO very much and can't wait to come home. 

TOMORROW!

I was able to squeeze in story # 2!

(It's more like a collection of pics from the remainder of the trip.)

Ethan, my first day here and before I got a rental car, I rode with another lady who rented this! 

(I know your excited)

And Sophie, you've already seen it but look at this trash can again!  

PINK

And nearly every house has one!

I keep seeing post cards with pretty pictures of waterfalls. 

Each image says "The Ozarks".

When I ask how to get to there, I am told that I am already in them.

I have not seen any waterfalls though.

I've passed this dump truck a couple of mornings on the way to class. 

It's the first one that I've seen with a trailer behind it. I thought you'd like it.

You can barely make it out. Daddy might have to zoom in.

  I don't know if you remember "Route 66" from the Disney Cars movie. 

But that's based off a real road that runs through here. 
I got the impression that there would be more memorabilia or souvenirs. 

But there are none, except this.

And no, I can't bring it home.

Even the RT 66 Information and Tourist center recommended that I go to Bass Pro Shop instead.

Evidently, it's the largest one in the country.

I was looking for Route 66 pictures that might mean something to you. Maybe from the Disney movie. I came across this one instead. This is NOT here and so I didn't see it. -But it's pretty ridiculous.
 I thought you'd laugh. 

Welcome CHICKEN BOY!!

We ate here:

Which is a place known for throwing their bread at you.

Believe it or not you've both eaten here when you were younger.

(Except that you went to the one in Alabama.)

People outside playing checkers.

A picture on the wall that I thought some parents might like.

(Me)

Ashley caught her roll. See her hands in the bottom left and her bun in mid-air!

(Go Ashley!)

They served my dinner in a frying pan!!

They must know I like to eat!

An old building that looks pretty cool and sad all at the same time.

Believe it or not, this place is beautiful. I wish that I had've brought my camera. 

I'm going to try and take some more pictures before we leave. 

**fingers crossed**

Look at the mountains here!! They're so small!

 They aren't really any BIG mountains. But technically it's rock.

And they are every where!

Guess what else???
Missouri is home of the 
THE WORLD'S LARGEST FORK.  

(35' tall)
I bet that chicken boy could use a fork this big.

(That's Ashley on the right.)
She's the lady that works with me. 
She's fun and I think you'd like her.

This is a mural someone painted on the drain cover. I thought it was cool.
I bet Carson wishes we'd let him sit like that at the table.

There is a donut place in town called "Hurt's Donuts".

They fixed up an ambulance and made it their delivery truck.

Down the side it says "Emergency Donut Vehicle".

That was pretty clever!

I bet you wish that it would deliver to you, huh? 

Some friendly mutts! They wagged their tails for you.

Ashley and I decided to go roller skating.

Imagine our surprise when we got to the lot and found that they had just torn it down. 

(Sigh)

Don't worry-

We found another one!

We're pretty cute, huh? That Ashley has been a LOT of fun! I am glad that she is silly too.

I know that the last few days have been hard for you all. I am so proud of your strength and courage and making it through. Sometimes it's hard to be happy when we have something to be sad about. 

But Ecclesiastes 8:15 says: "So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be GLAD. Then JOY will accompany them in their toil all the days of their life God has given them under the sun."

Even when we're sad we can still find things to distract us and make us laugh. 

We only need to look around. 

You're also not allowed to stop being silly.

It's a pretty handy tool when you need a pick me up! 

I'm glad that God sent Rachel and Kaitlin your way to help keep you company.

The good news is, I will be there chewing on your cheeks and popping your toes before you know it. 

You can go ahead and give Daddy all of your snuggles. 

I'm pretty sure that I've got enough to go around for all of us when I get home!

I love you ALL so much.

(SQUISH)

Love, Mom (and the wife)

A new profile and the gist of the blog...

So, I really thought this blog was just a bi-product or a means to fulfill a commitment that I made to share my testimony for a year. (You can read more about that here.) However, that year has come and gone and this blog has become such a tool for me in my faith. You know how you want that first testimony to mean something? -To be useable? Well, I prayed that mine would be too.

When I started looking for more ways to have a testimony to share; it made me more serious about looking for God. Things started changing. My testimony started meaning something to me and my faith began to BURST!

It's like the scripture states in Psalm 119:130: The Unfolding of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple. I was already journaling and trying to read my bible more. I also started learning how to pray. When I wrote, it was a matter of blending all of those little pieces together on paper. The more I wrote and sought; the more satisfied I became with HIS answers alone. -But then the more that I also found myself questioning WHO I am or have been. 

Aside from being a wife, a mother, an employee, volunteer, church member, daughter, etc... What other labels do I use to define me? Sinner? Post abortive mother? ...A little bit goofy. -Sometimes condemning or legalistic but also creative and genuine and empathetic. 

What about my beliefs? How many of those are mine or did I just apply without question???

This might seem like a strange analogy but I think about a snake as I slough off all of my labels and shed that skin to find what it is that's underneath. I am okay with what others see because I know that there is something better inside. It is the heart of who God created me to be. The words that you see are just little droplets that spill over as I let God wash off everything else that was just attached.

In just as much as I want to know him and my truest self; I also hope that whatever it is that others see encourages someone else to go deeper themselves.

Thank you for stopping by and many, many blessings to you!

Love,
Reggie

Seeing God's Hand

Regularly when we all sit down to dinner at night, each of us take turns talking about our day. Of course the kids quickly grew tired of volunteering this information and so we had to start asking them questions. And as if we're mastering new levels, the questions also had to keep changing and/or getting more specific.

We started with "What did you do today?" Until we began only getting "nothing" for the reply. Then we switched to "What was your highest and lowest point?"  Occasionally we would switch the words up and use "dumbest/silliest" or "happiest/most boring" instead. Yes, I know, we're terribly wild. 

This method worked for a while, until they grew bored and then began giving the same answer(s) every day. "Lunch" was the highest, silliest, and most meaningful. While "work" or "homework" or even "you asking this question" became the standard response to the most boring... sigh.

Now, as if our conversation is "New and improved" we're onto the level of specific questions. "Did you do jumping jacks in P.E.?" "Did you paint today in art?" "Did you have library today or computer lab?" "What did you eat for lunch?" "Did you play with Peyton and Charlie or Isabella and Isaiah?" Of course I don't ask all of those. -Even I know that there are limits. I only pick one or two depending on their routines. And if your children are older than mine, I'm sure that you have found a whole slew of higher levels of questions.

Anyway, I'm on a trip and it's kind of an unusual circumstance for our house. We were all a little sad about being apart. :( I thought a story might give them something to look forward too. -Particularly at bedtime when everyone wants to snuggle. So, I documented my first day with pictures that I thought that they would like. I formed it into a story and shared a particular highlight toward the end.

In replaying the events, I thought about how; often the highest points of my day are when I feel close to God. He appears in many forms; through conviction, sometimes in kindness of others or even the kindness that he asks me to display. Many times I sense him when speaking to my children. -As if every word that leaves my lips is also what he is saying to me. Other times, it's in nature or just simple scenes throughout the day. (Like in that story; the conversation with the little boy and then the picture of the hole in the sky...) I wish that I knew better how to describe it but in each of those times and in so many others, there is a sudden nearness that I feel in that moment. I am moved.

While I look for and experience those encounters often, I seldom share the details. I don't know if I am too busy or if I just tell myself that they, being so small, can't understand- But for some reason, I just haven't really thought to practice this kind of dialogue. Heck, it was almost an epiphany when a friend said that she read devotions with her kids at night in addition to prayers. I'm not really sure why that didn't occur to me either but it didn't.

I thought about how long it took me to ever start Experiencing God myself. I wondered if and/or how often my children or even my husband feel his presence. Sophie and I have had a few conversations and I do believe that she already has a certain spirituality about her- But in the day-to-day what does HE look like to them? And then it hit me... I should be talking with my children daily or as a family regularly about what his hand looks like.

Perhaps by my looking with the intention of sharing; I will also start being even MORE intentional about looking for him myself. After all, if I don't start talking to them now, how long would it take them to start noticing what his hand looks like? And how many times have I, myself, wished that I had only known how to recognize him sooner?

Maybe time will allow me to post more of the little glimpses between some of the larger posts. **fingers crossed**

If you like this idea but are intimidated by not quite being sure yourself. I encourage you to start. Offer God a prayer and ask him to open your eyes and heart. As it states in John 11:40 "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the Glory of God." God is faithful but it will take your desire and your practice. I too get things wrong. If you're just starting out you can always say "I think it was is this or that".  If you do get it wrong, you can also go back and admit that. How much more comfortable will our children be with their mistakes when they see how we can also learn from them.  

P.S. I am praying the same prayer with you now. Won't you do the same for me?