Get Your Own Armour

1 Samuel 17:38-39



And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, "I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them". And David put them off him.



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David was going out to face Goliath, and Saul tried giving him his arour. But David had never tried them in battle, however, he knew he had Someone who had delivered him from a lion and a bear. He had the Lord, he tried Him and proved Him, and David knew God was with him.



So many times, we as Christians go out to face the world, wearing someone else's armour, hiding behind their convictions. But we haven't tried their armour, we don't know where their weakest points are in their life. We don't know where their weakest link is, and we don't know if their armour will withstand the world's attack.



We need need to get our own armour, get own shield. Don't worry if your armour isn't as shiny or colorful as other people's may be, just start making your own armour.

We don't need the armour that looks the fiercest or the strongest, all we need to do is know that the Lord Who protected David is still with us today, and that He is our Shield and Buckler.

Leaving Your First Love

Revelation 2:4
"Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love."


Do you remember your first love? Remember the first time you fell in love with some boy or girl? It doesn't matter if your first love is the one you are married to, or if God has blessed you with a new love. No matter what, chances are, you remember the first time you truly fell in love and love was returned to you by someone special.

In Revelation 2, Paul is speaking to the church of Ephesus, he commends them for their separation and patience, but then in verse 4, he tells them they have left their first love. The church had lost sight of the love they had for Christ.

So many times, we as Christians are so much like the church at Ephesus. We have forgotten our first love, Jesus Christ. Do you remember when you first fell in love? You'd get a call from the special person, and you could stay on the phone for hours, just talking to them, getting to know them, sharing your heart with them. But how many times have we spent more than a half hour on our knees talking to God, getting closer to Him, and sharing our heart with Him? We have truly left our first love.

When your Special Someone talked to you, did you feel giddy or happy? Any time you finished talking on the phone, for example, did you keep smiling for the rest of the day? How about if we apply that to our spiritual life. Folks during the times of depression and need would stay on their knees for hours, or until God met their need. But nowadays, the most prayer some folks hear, is around the dinner table!

God help us get back to where we used to be when we first got saved, where we stay on our knees praying for God's guidance in our life! Why don't we get happy when we've heard from God? Why don't we stay happy all day after we've spent the morning on our face before God? We have truly left our first love!

In His Likeness

Matthew 22:15-21

The Pharisees came to Jesus and sought to entangle Him in His talk. In
verse 17, they ask, "Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"
Jesus then asked them for a coin and asked, "Whose is this image and
superscription? They say unto Him, Caesar's. Then saith He unto them, Render
therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things
that are God's."

The tribute money that was given to Jesus that day, with inscribed with
Caesar's likeness, much like our coins today. Therefore, Jesus said they belong to Caesar, give them to him. But WE are made in God's likeness and He breathed life into us, as a result, shouldn't WE give ourselves to God?

So Much To Thank Him For

Well, year 2007 has officially gone, and the new year is just beginning. As I look back on this past year, there were many times I felt like giving up or giving in. But through it all, God has helped me through it. I have got so many things to thank Him for this year, and although I usually don't make New Year's Resolutions, I have one for this year: To thank God more for the things I wouldn't usually thank Him for, and for the things He graciously gives.

As a lot of you know, the end of this year was pretty bad. Christmas was especially hard for me this year because of everything going on with Grandpa Kelly. The Wednesday after Christmas, Grandpa's kidneys failed and he was Life Flighted down to Johnstown. But now, he has a pace maker in, and his heart is pumping much better, and he is feeling much better too. That's just one of the many things I have to be thankful for.

This year, I found God's will for my life right now, my big bro went off to college, my best friend went off to college, and I learned some great life lessons. And this coming year, I graduate! What more could I thank God for??

But, I just wanted to say a few things, other than Happy New Year. May God bless you all this year.

Update

To the readers,

Thank you all for praying for Wendell Kelly, I know that God has definitely had His hand in Grandpa's life. As you all know, last Wednesday, Grandpa Kelly had his left foot taken off two inches above his ankle. Then, on Friday, he had another surgery, where they took his leg off a few inches below the knee. So far, there is no sign of any remaining infection, which is a blessing. He is in stable condition, and as of today, he is to be in Indiana Hospital for therapy. He will be fitted for a prosthesis, and once he is able to pivot himself into a chair, and walk on the leg, he will be able to come home. We are so grateful for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray for this situation, the phantom pains will be getting worse as the days go by, as well as the depression. Thank you for praying. More updates to follow.

Prayer Request

To all the readers:

Please pray for the Wendell Kelly family, we had to take Wendell into the hospital on Wednesday to be treated for his gangrene in his left foot. His tests had shown that he had had a heart attack within the last 24-48 hours, so he was transferred to a hospital in Johnstown. Wednesday night, they took him into surgery to see how far the gangrene had spread.

When the surgeons came out, they had needed to amputate his left foot due to all the infection. The surgeon came out and told us this, and Grandma Kelly just broke down. Everyone did. The gangrene had eaten through the skin and muscle and cartilage, right into the ankle bone. Saturday, he is to be going into surgery where they will cut his leg again, three inches below his knee so they can fit him for a prosthetic limb.

I have been at the hospital since Wednesday when they took him in and transferred him. I was able to come home last night and get some sleep. Today, we are going back to the hospital to keep him company. Grandma, Teresa, and I are going to be there all today, then Teresa and I are spending the night at the hospital. Please pray for his surgery on Saturday, and also, he needs a heart surgery after this, so please pray for that as well.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Pictures of my senior trip

Hey all,
For those of you who have given up on my othver blog, please don't. I've been posting pictures from my senior trip there. Hopefully you will be able to see them all right. So, just a reminder to look there. Hope you enjoy them!!

Bethany