Have You Ever Forgotten To Get Dressed?

          You say, “You were naked!”  In a way I was.  I always put on the armor of God (found in Ephesians 6:13-18) first thing in the morning.  I always start getting dressed by first putting on my pants, and to hold them up, I gird my (waist) loins with (the belt of) Truth.  Then I put on the boots (shod my feet with) the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace.  Next, I need to put on the Breastplate of Righteousness, since I don’t have any righteousness myself.  I pick up the Helmet of Salvation.  Unlike a motorcycle helmet, God’s helmet needs no adjusting.  It fits perfectly.  Now I hold the Shield of Faith in my left hand and the Sword (the Word) in my right hand and I salute my Lord, or pay homage to Him.

          Since we are to try and be like Jesus, we must have what he had while on this Earth.  You can find that in Isaiah 11:2-3.  I always ask for the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and might; the spirit of knowledge and that we will delight in the fear of the Lord and that we will not judge by the sight of our eyes nor reprove by the hearing of our ears.  I must admit though that I have yet to be able to not judge by the sight of my eyes, I proved this morning, nor not reprove by the hearing of my ears.  This morning because I was sick and concerned for the lack of sleep, I trusted my eyes and feelings instead of picking up the Shield of faith, and trusting God.  Since then I have not failed to get dressed each morning.  God allowed me to be tested and I flunked.  But praise the Lord he does not expel anyone from His school of faith just because one might flunk a test.

          How about you.  Do you get properly dressed in the mornings.  If you know Jesus as your Lord then you were drafted into his Army when you asked to be saved.  A good soldier always takes his clothes off to get the proper rest but keeps his clothing and weapons near by.  If you have not been putting on the armor of God remember that you need each and every piece.  No one part is more important than the other.  You should consider getting dressed each day.  Of course, if you decide to get dressed in the armor everyday, remember that you have just announced to the kingdon of Hell that you are on activity duty.  This armor will help you through the day.  If you do not know Jesus and you Savior and you would like to enlist in His army, try something like this:

Lord please forgive me for taking so long to enlist.  I realize that we are at war and I have been on the wrong side.  I understnand that salvation is a free gift, sort of an enlistment bonus and I want that.  From this day forward, teach me to march in accordance to you cadence.  Help me to keep in step.  Thank You.

If you did this, then we are comrades in arms and brothers/sisters in Christ.

Remember this:  Always ride saved, soldier.

Richard Kyles, TX

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Weekend at Prison

 I was just sitting here at my computer and I wanted to tell you how much I loved the Day of Champions Event on March 30-31 @ Parchman

But the most important thing you can know about me is how I met Jesus.

2Co 12:9-10  But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.  (10)  So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I am 32 years old, and have Cerebral Palsy. When I was born the doctors told my Mom and Dad “Mr. & Mrs. Crouch your son will never walk..”  After a few years, and the faithfully prayers of my parents. GOD show them. 
 During my school years, my friends would make fun of me because I was different. I remember one time. I was to come home. My friends came over to surprise me. My brothers were there. I was depressed because I could not go down where my friends were. So, my brother picked me up and carried me downstairs. When we go through storms in our lives, Jesus carries us through. In 1989, I had surgery for the last time. After coming out of the Operating Room, I couldn’t feel my arms or leg. My mom called for the nurse she never came. My mom knelt by the bed and prayed. Slowly, feeling came back. THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER  
 In the Summer of 1989, was the first time I saw JESUS on the Cross pierced for ME. My friend told me how much Jesus loved me. JESUS said “I am the way, the truth, and the life no one come to the Father except through Me.” I came to Jesus just as I was. And He came to me and did a miracle. He gave me acceptance, purpose and hope  
My teachers said I would never graduate But I DID.  In the top 5th of 212

In 2002 again my professors told me I would never teach BUT I am. 
The things impossible with man are possible with God.  
         
2002-2005 I worked in a local schoool. I have had many opportunities to share with the students at my school. Mainly because I walk a little differently. I will be walking down the hall and a child will ask me Why I WALK with A LIMP. I then get permission from the teacher to come talk to her class about Differences.  
Then, I tell them how God made each one of them special, how god has a plan for there life, and HOW MUCH HE LOVES Them.

Today I teach children about Jesus and I still go into the schools and volunteer my time to hopeful reach some with the Love of Jesus. God continues to bless me as I am obedient to HIm.

Only Because of His Grace

Your fellow Laborer in the Harvest

Stephen <><

John 4:23

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God Will Never Fail Us!

There have been times in my life that I thought God was not listening, that he did not care what I was going through. But in reality I was not listening to Him.  Maybe a friend failed us or it seemed that way. Read Nehemiah 9: 16-17 (NAS). This speaks of when we have forgotten all God has done and will continue to do and how He will not forsake us.

I am reminded of the prison ministry I recently experienced and how I was so terrified by saying that I would go. Have you ever been not just scared, but terrified? Did you do it anyway?  Well, I prayed about participating in this ministry for 2 months and decided to go ahead.  God took care of me and did not forsake me. Instead he taught, comforted, and allowed me to feel His love, never forsaking me. I find that when I put all my trust in Jesus, He always takes care of me. Read Matthew 10:28.  I have had times in my life that I felt there was no-way out, that I was going to lose everything I had worked for, but the God who created us and sent His son to die for us that we may have eternal life did not forsake me!  Also, in John 10:10, Jesus said I have come that we may have life and have it more abundantly. That does not mean that I will get my way.  It means that I will get God’s will always. Praise the Lord that he allows me to feel His love and has allowed me to witness some people receiving Him into their hearts. That has been the many blessings of my life. I always pray to have a faith that is “contagious”.  Be willing to share God with others because someone did with you. God will not forsake you; He will just love you.   

Guy Shipp

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The Blessings of Brokenness

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

by Jack M. Redfearn, Jr., pastor of West Hartselle Baptist Church, Hartselle, Alabama.

As a pastor, I do my best to help those in my congregation who have experienced heartache and tragedy...

(for the rest of this wonderful story click here, "the rest of the story")

...God bless you! AND DON’T FORGET TO “KEEP MOVING” in Jesus!