WALKING THE HEAVENLY ROAD BEGINS WITH ENTERING THE GATE

WALKING THE HEAVENLY ROAD BEGINS WITH ENTERING THE GATE

by  LilacladyJunebug2 

IT TAKES A GATE TO ENTER

Matthew 7. 12 - 14  Therefore whatsoever you would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.   Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

                      Matthew 4.23 -25.  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people.    And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them all. 

                             Matthew 5.1-2a   And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, the disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth, and taught them"  

                      Let's think ! about it.

               Everyone that came to Him has been healed.

Would you ready to L I S T E N ? if you were healed? 

He tells them who is blessed  5.1 - 12

poor in spirit

those who mourn 

those who are meek 

those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

those who are merciful

those who are pure in heart

those who make peace 

those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake

Matthew 5.12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad 

for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted 

they the prophets which were before you. 

As the Hollyhock is named Althea - and stands 

for honesty, and truth, 

so too, Jesus gives us a way to view 

ourselves and others,

and how to 

ENTER THE GATE

WHICH LEADS TO HEAVEN.

Matthew 5.16 

 Let your light so shine before men, 

that they may see your good works, 

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  

He goes on to say that He is the One who

came to fulfill the Law, not to destroy it.

Matthew 5.17,18 

Think not that I am come to destroy 

the law, or the prophets: I am not 

come to destroy, but to fulfill: for 

verily (Amen) I say unto you, 

Till heaven and earth be passed,

one jot or one tittle shall in no wise

pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." 

In His message to us, He today is saying

still,   Blessed are those who choose to 

enter the Strait Gate and walk the narrow way,

instead of entering the Broad and Wide Gate

which leads to Destruction.

I speak to you today, as God would have me 

speak.

Jesus gave us all that we need to find 

ETERNAL LIFE 

and He has made it plain

WE MUST ENTER THE GATE THAT IS STRAIT

AND NARROW

THE ROAD 

IS NARROW ALSO

When a person drives a car, he needs 

to know where he is going in order 

to get there.

Jesus has given us not only His words,

but He said BEFORE it happened, 

that He would go to the Cross, suffer, 

and die, and be raised again.

He told them, and His Word has been 

recorded for us so that we may know 

and understand JUST WHO AND WHAT

HE WANTED US TO BE....

SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND - WHAT ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR?

SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND - WHAT ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR?

by LILACLADYJUNEBUG2

IN TRAVELING ON THE ROAD OF LIFE 

WE NEED TO KNOW WHOM TO SEEK

                          MATTHEW 6.33 

                 SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD 

                              AND ALL THESE THINGS

                                               SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU 

                            

                          Psalm 31.15   My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

This is the same Psalm from which David declared in verse 5 "Into thy hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth."    Jesus said this very same thing in Luke 23. verse 45,46 when Scripture tells us "And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." 

                      Matthew 7. 7,8    In this passage Jesus was giving to us instructions as to the Way we should go.   Everyone was expecting an EARTHLY KING,  and had no idea of the truth that here was The King, and His Kingdom was surely as THE KING OF THE JEWS, yet He came to give us the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.      

                   Many today are looking for physical safety, and freedom from fear.   We forget that Paul has told us in I Corinthians 15. 3,4 "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

                  

                        ASKING  

                              SEEKING 

                                  KNOCKING 

         MANY PEOPLE ARE ENTERING THE WRONG DOORS

               FOR THEY ARE NOT SEEKING THE RIGHT PATH.

                      So, the question I ask, is 

HAVE YOU BEEN SEARCHING

 IN THE RIGHT PLACE? 

          

 ONE OF MY PASTIMES IS TAKING PHOTOS 

                               When I see rock formations along the highway, I like to take a photo of it, so that when I am home I can look at the picture with a magnifying glass.   Or, if I choose, I can put it on the computer - and in photos - I can look at the photo rotating it upside down, or sideways, and back again.   Quite often, I do this.    It has helped me appreciate how to draw what I see.    Many times I see in the rocks evidences of the FLOOD that came when God told Noah to build the Ark.    

                   As I search to see things in the rocks, I learn much about 

this old world.  There is much evidence in it that speaks of how God is the Creator, and how, because of sin, He sent the FLOOD.  

I am suggesting that if you have not, do so, read the first 9 chapters of the book of GENESIS in the Bible.  I recommend the King James Version in that I find it is most accurate.   There are many good translations of the Bible, but it is remarkable that we even have it.  

           Psalm 119. 105 says  THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.

            

               I was in a cabin with other girls as a young lady, and we were camping for a week with the Gospel being taught there.  In the night, if I had to go to the restroom, I had to take a flashlight 

with me, and I think this verse exactly what happens when we use the light to show our feet where to go in the dark, and that the path becomes accessible as the light shines ahead of me.   

             

When the lightbulb was discovered 

it made a big difference in people's lives.

Today there are people searching 

but the lightbulb of their soul is not plugged into the socket.

Unless the light is put into the socket 

it will not work.

In Psalms 18.25 - 36 it tells us: 

18.25    With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man, thou wilt shew thyself upright.   26.  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. 27. For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but will bring down high looks. 28. FOR THOU WILT LIGHT MY CANDLE, THE LORD MY GOD WILL ENLIGHTEN MY DARKNESS.   29. For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.  30. As for God, his way is perfect, the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. 31. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?  32. It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.  32. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 34. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.  35. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy SALVATION (Y'SHUA)   and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. 36.  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.

                 

When I realize you may not understand, so let me explain why this passage is so meaningful to me.

I fell in 2007 and broke my right wrist, and it was operated on, and I began to use it again.  Then in 2009, I fell while feeding birds in my yard.  I had not listened to my dear husband who had said kindly, "June, don't go out and feed the birds, I will do it.  It is too icy."   Think of it.   I like to do things for myself.   We all do.  That is just how SIN occurs.  When we want what we want to do, and to do it as we wish, not what God wants.

Romans 3.23  For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

John 3.3 Jesus told Nicodemus, Verily, Verily, (Amen, Amen) I say to thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.  

John 3.5 Jesus answered again and said, Verily, Verily (Amen, Amen) I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

We are born with water when we are PHYSICALLY BORN. As the mother's water breaks, the baby is sure to come.

 So the first BIRTHDAY IS A REALITY WE ALL HAVE.

The second BIRTHDAY is to be born of the Spirit.

JESUS TOLD NICODEMUS (John 3.16)

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have 

everlasting life.

He continues, and says 

(John 3.17,18) 

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son.  

REMEMBER PSALM 119.105

THY WORD IS A  LAMP UNTO MY FEET,

AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.

Again Psalm 18.28 tells us, 

FOR THOU WILT LIGHT MY CANDLE,

THE LORD MY GOD WILL ENLIGHTEN MY DARKNESS.

Jesus further said to Nicodemus, "And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil;  for everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."  

John 3. 19 - 21

ARE YOU SEARCHING IN THE DARKNESS ?

JESUS SAID 

John 8.12  I am the light of the world.  He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 

Psalm 27.1 

The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?

Matthew 1.21 

The angel told Joseph "Thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins.

Y'SHUA

= 

THE ONE WHO SAVES

THE SAVIOR

THE DELIVERER

THE LORD GOD sent his Son the Lord Jesus Christ to be born, to live, to minister Light in the Darkness, to be rejected, to suffer and die as MY PASSOVER LAMB, and now in Him I can

truly ASK, SEEK, AND KNOCK for I have 

access by faith to the Lord God Himself.

Matthew 7.13,14

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

Jesus told his disciples several times what He had come to do.

It is recorded in Scripture that Jesus Himself declared his purpose in coming into the world, and foretold about his death, burial and resurrection.   

When He sat at table with the disciples, he declared again the same.

How? By his words in the taking of the Bread and the Cup.

Matthew 26.26  - 28    And as they were eating,  Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body; And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it. For this isis my blood of the NEW TESTAMENT, which is shed for many for the remission (forgiveness) of sins.

A TESTAMENT IS A WILL THAT ONLY GOES INTO 

EFFECT WHEN THE PERSON 

WHO DIRECTS IT DIES. 
WHEN JESUS DIED - 

THIS WAS THE TESTAMENT HE LEFT FOR US.

HIS BLOOD, HIS BODY TOOK 

MY SIN

AND YOURS

AND 

PAID 

IN

FULL 

THE GUILT

THE PENALTY

THE CONDEMNATION

AND

HE WAS CUT OFF

FOR YOU AND ME

HIS RESURRECTION 

PROVES THE TESTAMENT IS INDEED IN EFFECT.

2 CORINTHIANS 5.21

He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Matthew 16.21, 22

From this time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how he must go unto Jerusalem; and suffer many things of the elders, 

and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.  But he turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offence unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

He further declared 

Matthew 16.23,24 

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, 

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,

and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; 

and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake 

shall find it. 

Matthew 17. 22- 23 

The second time He warns them.

And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them,

The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him, and the third day, he shall be raised again.

And they were exceeding sorry.

I think of when my dear Mother was ill, and nearing death. She was trying to tell me FACTS about things SHE WANTED ME TO DO. But because I was so sad about her coming death, I did not pay too much attention TO HER REQUESTS.  So I had to really search my heart after she died, for I COULD NOT REMEMBER what she told me to do.

It did work out.  I did remember.  

Here the Disciples were focused on the Coming Death.

They were sad.

Their focus was not on HIS PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION.

Again, in Matthew 20.17 - 19

Jesus again tells his Disciples this.

And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,  

Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death; and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge; and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

In my next post I will look at Jesus' words 

when he arose from the dead.   

HOPE IS FOUND ONLY IN JESUS

HE IS THE ONE WHO CAN SAVE 

WHO CAN LIGHT UP OUR LIFE

WHO CAN FORGIVE OUR SIN

WHO CAN CLEANSE OUR HEARTS 

AND PURIFY OUR LIVES

TO SERVE HIM.

ONE DOOR AND ONLY ONE

AND YET ITS SIDES ARE TWO

I'M ON THE INSIDE 

ON WHICH SIDE ARE YOU? 

ONE GATE AND ONLY ONE

AND YET ITS WAY IS CLEAR

I MUST CHOOSE THE STRAIT AND NARROW GATE 

AND LEAVE THE WIDE AND BROAD WAY

IF I AM TO FIND 

THE ANSWER TO MY GREATEST NEED

Down at the cross where the Savior died,

there where for cleansing from sin I cried,

There to my heart was the Blood applied,

Glory to His Name.

Glory to His Name 

Glory to His Name

There to my heart was the blood applied,

Glory to His Name.

MATTHEW 28.18 - 20

And Jesus came and spoke unto them saying,

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST, 

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you alway,  even unto the end of the world. 

The Yakima River flowing here keeps the farmers happy

Is there a river of LIFE flowing in you?

If so, then you will be fruitful and abiding in Christ. 

Galatians 2.20

I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

John 15.5

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you,

ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

just plug yourself into the light source ! 

John 6.37 - 40

All that the Father hath given me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 

Acts 4.12

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

WHAT TIME I AM AFRAID - I WILL TRUST IN GOD

WHAT TIME I AM AFRAID - I WILL TRUST IN GOD 

PSALM 56.3  

AS I JOURNEY IN MY ELDER YEARS I AM QUITE AWARE

THAT THERE IS MUCH TURMOIL, STRESS, AND TROUBLES

HERE, THERE, EVERYWHERE I LOOK.

I AM TO TRUST 

THE FIRST STEP TO TRUSTING 

IS TO  HEED WHAT JESUS SAID 

WHEN HE DECLARED: 

ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU,

SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND, 

KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU

FOR HE THAT ASKETH RECEIVETH,

AND TO HIM THAT SEEKETH, FINDETH;

AND TO HIM THAT KNOCKETH IT SH.ALL BE OPENED.

MATTHEW 7.6 - 7 

ASK 

When I was 5 years old, my grandmother made me 

this little smock, and initialed my J D on it 

How proud I was to wear it.  

I remember asking lots of questions 

when I was little.

And Grandmother 

Mother

and 

my Aunties 

all listened 

and would give answer.

Never did they

get upset at me if I asked

about something.

Mother too.

She was always ready to give

a cheerful smile.

Today I am thinking of how much

we need to remember to ask GOD 

for His Will in our lives, for we 

need Him more than ever.

Jesus said 

If we ask

we will receive.

SO I GIVE THOUGHT TO YOU OF THIS - 

THAT 

WE OUGHT TO ASK 

AND KEEP ON ASKING

UNTIL 

THE ANSWER COMES.

What a joy it is to discover

the answer to something!

What privilege it is to A S K.

What a blessing to be able to S E E K  

and yes,

WHAT WONDROUS THINGS 

WE CAN 

FIND

IF WE JUST START 

KNOCKING 

ON 

THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY.

My mother was the kind to smile,

and give me the opportunity 

to ask, to seek, and to find

She knew that I was curious

about the world around me.

She gave me every opportunity 

to help me learn how to 

answer my own questions

YET 

THERE 

WAS 

ONE 

THING

SHE

ADMITTED

She said,

When you grow up, Junie, and you find out 

who God is, then I want you to come and 

tell me and I will also believe...

She gave me a big job

to do 

as a little girl

I wanted to know WHO GOD IS.

So I thank the dear Lord God of 

Heaven and Earth that He did indeed 

answer my search.

 One way that he helped me 

was that when I visited Grandmother

and Grandfather in Cheshire Lake of MA, 

at his cabin he built there, I would see

the Lake, and got to swim in it.

It was not very many times 

I did that, but the few times I did were

so much looked for.

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth,

and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, 

but by me"  John 14.

This is one of many paintings I did.   

                                              You too can find things to do

                                                    You can ask, you can seek,

                                   You can knock on the doors of 

                                  things you want to see, to do, to be.

                                      most of all, however,

                                      remember that WHEN YOU 

                                      KNOW THE GOD WHO CREATED 

                                     YOU, YOU CAN ASK, AND HE WILL

                              HELP YOU, BE AND DO JUST EXACTLY

WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO BE.

            

                         IF I COULD,  I WOULD 

                                IF I CAN   I SHALL

                                       I I MIGHT - I KNOW I WILL 

                                   fly high 

                                          see the sky 

                                                in an ocean of clouds above

                                   where the birds can feel 

                                          the wind drafts 

                                                  pulling them into 

                                    The currents of updrafts that 

                                            will take them home to rest.

                          

Here along the Bay in Drayton Harbor

I am able to walk and see the Sky with the clouds 

overhead and the Birds in the water enjoying

the day.

With every wave and current

whether in the Sky above or in the Water before me,

the currents will flow and set to motion

everything around them.

There is a current of J O Y  to take us 

along passing through the most 

difficult oceans simply by going 

with the flow.

WITH EVERY WAVE 

THE RHYTHM OF LIFE SETS

TO MOTION

There is no other way to live as Jesus 

would have us to live

except by His dear Spirit. 

As a branch grows from a 

tree, we are to grow from 

little sprouts to large trees rooted

in the soil of God's dear Son's 

provision - the sacrifice He made 

for us - dying upon the Cross that 

we might have our DEBT PAID

IT IS FINISHED - He cried.

DONE.

COMPLETED.

FULFILLED.

Yes.  Jesus came as the Light into the world 

that mankind might find LIGHT.

Yes.  Jesus came into the world 

as a little Baby so long ago

that we might

have SALVATION 

Following Jesus 

is made possible 

when we come to Him and say,V

"Wash me clean, Lord Jesus,

Forgive me - a sinner, I pray.

Come in to stay." 

Jesus said,

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

except a man be born again, he cannot 

see the Kingdom of God." 

John 3.3 

Just as we are born as babies

into this world of ours

and grow,

so too 

must we have 

a second birth 

a S P I R I T  birth

how is that done?  

by believing 

that Jesus is 

the very One 

He said He was - 

The Son of God 

It was Jesus Himself 

that said "For God so loved the world

that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever 

believeth in Him should not perish, but 

have everlasting life."

John 3.16

Only after we are born

by faith in Christ Jesus,

can we start LOVING AND LIVING 

AS CHILDREN OF THE FATHER.

I JOHN 2.25 

AND THIS IS THE PROMISE  THAT

HE HATH PROMISED US, EVEN 

ETERNAL LIFE.

I JOHN 2.23

WHOSOEVER DENIETH 

THE SON HATH NOT 

THE FATHER;

 BUT HE THAT ACKNOWLEDGETH 

THE SON HATH

 THE FATHER ALSO.

I JOHN 4.19  

WE LOVE HIM 

BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.  

COME JOURNEY WITH ME

My coffee cup and doughnut help me through my day, but most of all I pray that I may say words of comfort and hope to you along your pathway.

                                       REMEMBER TO ASK, TO SEEK, AND TO KNOCK.

                                      GOD WILL ANSWER.    YOU WILL BE LED ON A SURE

                                     PATH.   

     THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET,

AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.  

 Psalm 119, 105  

THE LIGHT WILL LEAD US TO LIFE ETERNAL

IF YOU ARE IN OUR AREA, I WELCOME YOU TO MY CHURCH.

       LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST CHURCH, BIRCH BAY WA      

IT IS MY HOME CHURCH, AND IT IS INDEED A LIGHTHOUSE FOR ME.

BIRCH BAY WA - LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST CHURCH

     

WHAT TIME I AM AFRAID 

        - I WILL TRUST IN GOD          

                                                  

     SEE YOU IN MY NEXT POST 
                         LILACLADYJUNEBUG2

THE ARMOR OF GOD AND THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE

THE ARMOR OF GOD AND THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE

                           ON MY PILGRIM JOURNEY - WHAT I MUST WEAR

                         

Here I am with my dear husband Henry and our three daughters

                      Dressed for a cool fall day in 1967.    

We need to consider how we look and what to wear on our spiritual JOURNEY.

EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6 lays it out for us as the Apostle Paul writes to the Church at Ephesus.

EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6. 10 - 20

      Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,

 and in the power of his might. 

 Put on the whole armour of God, 

that ye may be able to stand

 against the wiles of the devil. 

For we wrestle 

not against flesh and blood, 

but against principalities, against powers, 

against the rulers of the darkness of this world, 

against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, 

that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, 

and having done all to stand. 

 Stand therefore, 

having your loins girt (girded) about with truth, 

and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

and your feet shod 

with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

Above all, taking the shield of faith, 

wherewith ye shall be able to quench

 all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, 

and the sword of the Spirit,

 which is the word of God: 

praying always

 with all prayer 

and supplication in the Spirit, 

and watching thereunto

with all perseverance 

and supplication for all saints: 

and for me, 

that utterance may be given unto me, 

that I may open my mouth boldly,

 to make known the mystery of the gospels, 

for which I am an ambassador in bonds 

 that therein I may speak boldly, 

as I ought to speak."  

                      

FIRST, LET US THINK 

ABOUT HOW IT IS 

                                                 THAT I AM DRESSED

 IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS 

OF JESUS CHRIST

 HIMSELF.

       NOW THAT I AM A BELIEVER WITH FAITH THAT GOD PAID 

THE PRICE OF MY SIN NATURE UPON THE CROSS, AND THAT 

IN POSITION I HAVE ALL THE RIGHTS OF A SON GIVEN TO ME, I

NOW CAN THINK IN TERMS OF WHAT I NEED TO WEAR THAT ADORNS

AND AFFIRMS THE LIFE WHICH I NOW HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST.     

    

                    FOR TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST, AND TO DIE IS GAIN. 

                                  Philippians 1.21     

                    AND YOU HATH HE QUICKENED , WHO WERE DEAD IN 

                     TRESPASSES AND SINS, WHEREIN IN TIME PAST YE 

                      WALKED, ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD,

                       ACCORDING TO THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR,

                     THE SPIRIT THAT NOW WORKS IN THE CHILDREN OF

                     DISOBEDIENCE; AMONG WHOM ALSO WE ALL HAD OUR

                   CONVERSATION  IN TIME PAST..."    

                               Ephesians  2.1 - 3    

                                                     

FIRST OF ALL WE ARE 

TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD

                      AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.

THE ARMOR IS GIVEN US BY GOD.

WE ARE HIS PEOPLE NOW.

                                        AS SURE AS ASTERS BLUE GREW WHEN I

                                       PUT THEM IN THE GROUND, SO TOO WE ARE

                                      PLANTED BY THE LORD TO GROW UP.

 YE ARE ALL 

                                     THE CHILDREN OF GOD 

                                                          BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.    

                          Galatians 3.26 

JUST AS THESE LITTLE FLOWERS BLOOM SO TOO,

WE ARE TO BE DRESSED IN THE GLORY GOD GIVES

US.   HE HAS GIVEN US  'OUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR' 

   HERE THEY ARE :   LET US LOOK AT EACH PIECE.

        1.      THE BELT OF TRUTH.

         THIS  HAS TO BE PLACE AROUND OUR LOINS,

          IT IS THE PIECE THAT HOLDS EVERYTHING IN PLACE.   

          THE TRUTH AS WE KNOW IT IN GOD'S WORD IS 

          THE ESSENTIAL PIECE OF OUR CLOTHING. 

                           Psalm 119.105     THY WORD IS A LAMP

                        UNTO MY FEET AND A LIGHT UNTO MY PATH.

        2.        THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

              THIS HAS TO BE PLACED OVER THE HEART.  

               WE MUST PLACE THIS OVER OUR HEART, AND KEEP 

               IT SECURELY HELD CLOSE TO MYSELF THAT EVEN

             AS I RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS THE LORD, EVEN SO WILL

              I WALK IN HIM   (Ephesians 2.8 - 10)  "For by grace are ye

                  saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift

               of God, not of works, lest any man should boast; for we are his

              workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which

            God hath ordained that we should walk in them." 

I JOHN 1.9 

IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS,

HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST 

TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND

TO CLEANSE US 

FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.

I  JOHN 2.6 

HE THAT SAITH HE ABIDETH

IN HIM

OUGHT HIMSELF

ALSO SO TO WALK,

EVEN AS HE WALKED.

THE PAINTING ABOVE IS WHAT I DREW TO SHOW HOW PATHS ARE 

EVERYWHERE AND ONLY GOD KNOWS THE HEART AND CAN SHOW US 

THE WAY TO GO.    IT IS IMPORTANT TO HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR 

HEART, TO KEEP OUR HEART CLEAN OF ANY KNOWN SIN, AND TO WALK

FULLY DRESSED IN HIS CLEANNESS AND PURITY.    AS WE WALK CLOSE 

TO JESUS, AND ABIDE IN HIM, HE SHOWS US AND CORRECTS AS WE GO, 

AND KEEPS US ON THE RIGHT PATH.

              

                   THE PAINTING ABOVE ALSO SHOWS US HOW DISTRACTED WE

                   CAN GET WITHOUT STAYING CLOSE TO HIM WHO IS THE ONE 

                     TO WHOM WE BELONG.   

                                 3.   FEET SHOD WITH THE 

PREPARATION

 OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.    

                       MY SHOE ARE THE PREPARATION I MAKE TO PRESENT 

                      THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.     JESUS SAID,   "I AM THE WAY,

                      THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE

                      FATHER, BUT BY ME."  JOHN 14.6    

                      MY SHOES ARE WHAT GOD GIVES TO KNOW I AM A BEARER

                     OF HIS LOVE, HIS LIGHT, AND THAT NO MATTER WHAT ELSE,

                       I AM PURPOSED TO BE HIS VESSEL - THE CANDLELIGHT IN 

                      THE DARKNESS THAT JUST AS GOD IS MY LIGHT IN THE 

                     DARKNESS SO TOO I CAN SHINE FOR HIM AND BEAR LIGHT

                     IT IS THE WHOLE BEING OF A PERSON THAT GUIDES THE FEET.

            

                                        JOHN 8.12    THEN SPAKE JESUS AGAIN 

                                          SAYING, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD,

                                           HE THAT FOLLOWETH ME SHALL NOT WALK

                                         IN DARKNESS, BUT SHALL HAVE THE LIGHT

                                                OF LIFE. 

       

AS JOSEPH AND MARY TRAVELED TO BETHLEHEM,

                SO TOO, WE TRAVEL TODAY BY FAITH

                       WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE, OR GOVERNMENTS TOPPLE,

                     OR LIFE SEEMS FRUSTRATING, THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD 

                        REMAINS.     WE ARE, AS JOSEPH AND MARY, RECEIVERS

                         OF THE LIGHT.     JESUS WAS THE LIGHT OF LIFE.   WHEN

                         HE CAME, HE CAME THE  FIRST TIME TO BE OUR KINSMAN

                          REDEEMER.

                         SAVIOR    REDEEMER    DELIVERER  LIGHT 

                                  HIS MESSAGE OF PEACE IS THE ONLY ONE WE BRING. 

           4   THE SHIELD  -  OUR DEFENSE IS FAITH.

                         

                          ROMANS 10.17  NOW FAITH COMETH

                                                             BY HEARING,

                           AND HEARING 

                                                            BY THE WORD OF GOD.

AT AGE FIVE I ENJOYED A FEW DAYS IN

MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MASS.

IT WAS PART OF CAPE COD

AND THE BEACH AREA.

GOD GAVE ME HOPE AS A CHILD

BUT 

EVEN MORE

HE GAVE ME 

PROTECTION

UNTIL I CAME TO KNOW HIM

AS MY LORD 

AND SAVIOR.

NOW I ASK YOU 

WHAT PROTECTION WILL YOU WEAR?

FOR THE JOURNEY OF LIFE

AND AS YOU ARRIVE AT THE PORT

OF ETERNITY ? 

ARE YOU READY ?

ARE YOU PROTECTED

WITH THE SHIELD OF FAITH ?

THE PATH WE TAKE

MAY BE HARD.

THE WAY

MAY BE ROUGH.

BUT WITH THE SHIELD OF FAITH

OUR HEART WILL BE

EVEN MORE PROTECTED.

                  5.    THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT - 

                        OUR OFFENSIVE WEAPON TO FIGHT 

              THE UNSEEN REALITIES OF EVIL,

               THE UNSEEN INNER BATTLES OF OUR SPIRIT

           CAN ONLY BE WON BY THE WORD OF GOD 

                                       MATTHEW 4.4  [JESUS, SPEAKING TO SATAN] HE 

                      ANSWERED AND SAID, IT IS WRITTEN, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE

                       BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH

                       OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD."   

                                       ROMANS 12.2 AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS 

                     WORLD, BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF

                    YOUR MIND, THAT YE MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD 

                    AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT WILL OF GOD.   

                                        

TEN YEARS OLD, IN NORTH ADAMS MASSACHUSETTS,

HERE I AM, WHEN MY GRANDFATHER TOOK A 

PHOTO OF ME IN FRONT OF MY HOME AFTER

HE HAD VISITED US.   I RECEIVED CHRIST

AS MY SAVIOR THAT FALL, BEFORE THIS SNOW

CAME ON THE GROUND.  PEOPLE AND PEOPLE

AND MORE PEOPLE LIVED ALL AROUND

ME.   IN THE SECTION YOU SEE JUST

BACK OF ME, 17 PEOPLE LIVED IN FOUR ROOMS

AND SURVIVED SOMEHOW.   I HAD NO 

IDEA WHO I WOULD BE,

NOR WHERE I WOULD GO

BUT GOD KNEW.

AND HE KNOWS JUST 

WHAT YOU NEED RIGHT NOW.

WHY ? NOT TRUST HIM

TO LET HIS SPIRIT 

BEAR WITNESS TO YOUR 

SPIRIT 

THAT YOU 

INDEED

CAN 

BE 

HIS 

CHILD.

I NEVER HAVE REGRETED THIS.

GOD HAS BROUGHT ME ALL THE WAY.

IN SPITE OF ME

HIS UNDESERVED FAVOR - HIS GRACE - 

HAS SHOWN 

ME AND KEPT ME AND HELD

ME 

IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS HANDS.

HE IS INDEED THE SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP.

I WAS JUST A LOST LAMB WHO NEEDED 

SOMEONE TO LOVE ME,

TO CARE FOR ME,

AND TO LEAD ME

AND HE DID JUST THAT ! 

JOHN 3.16 

IS STILL TRUE TODAY.

HE IS WAITING

FOR YOU

TO CALL ON HIS NAME.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD

THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN 

HIM

SHOULD NOT PERISH,

BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.

JESUS SAID THIS OF HIMSELF.

START YOUR JOURNEY TODAY.

BECOME A CHILD OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS,

AND 

PLACE YOURSELF IN HIS CARE,

AND WALK WITH THE ARMOUR OF HIS PROVISION

ONLY WITH THESE CAN YOU FIND

VICTORY 

OVER

SIN, DEATH, TEMPTATION AND HELL.

ONLY WITH

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

CAN YOUR FAITH GROW.

WE MUST EXCERCISE

THE 

MUSTARD SEED OF 

FAITH

THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.

FOR YOU SEE,

EVEN THE FAITH I HAVE

IS NOT 

SOMETHING I EARNED

IT IS A GIFT.

EVEN THE FAITH I HAVE

CAME FROM HIM,

NOT ME

SO 

I 

DO NOT GET

ANY CREDIT.

IT ALL IS THE GLORY TO GOD.

HE IS THE SAVIOR. 

IT IS HE WHO ALONE CAN SAVE.

Just as this Mountain looms beyond, 

and the meadows invite one to climb,

so too LIFE HAS ITS UPS 

AND DOWNS

FACE HIM WITH THIS ARMOR

AND HE WILL NOT FAIL YOU.

THE FINAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT

TO REMEMBER

IS 

THE HELMET

OF 

SALVATION.

BE SURE THAT 

YOU KNOW

YOU 

NEVER 

CAN 

BE UNBORN

ONCE YOU BECOME HIS CHILD.

THIS WAS ME AS A BABY.

I WAS BORN.

WHEN WE COME TO JESUS

AND ASK HIM 

TO BE OUR 

SAVIOR

HE NEVER 

EVER

WILL LET YOU GO.

YOU WILL BELONG TO HIM.

YOU  ARE PART OF HIM NOW.

SO WALK EVEN AS HE DID.

ENJOY.

SEE YOU IN MY NEXT POST.

BIBLELADY99

LILACLADY JUNEBUG2