MaggieBelle

Beloved–

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  (from Romans)

 Sometimes, I forget who is attacking me and why.  I learned that the belt of truth and the body armor are God’s word; putting on the shoes of his word gives me the confidence to be able to speak into someone’s life. To tell them how much God loves them and how he sacrificed his only son, on the cross, so that they can have salvation.  Praise the God who is … Father, Son and Holy Spirit!  

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. (from Romans)

Sometimes, I forget who is attacking me and why.  I learned that I must absorb the spirit of the word of God so completely, that I will be able to recognize the difference between a spiritual attack and my own foolishness.  Praise the God who is … Father, Son and Holy Spirit! I pray for you to desire the study of God’s word above all else.

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (from Romans)

Sometimes, I forget who is attacking me and why.  I learned God’s promises from his word and he gave me my faith, that brought me my salvation from death. Praise the God who is … Father, Son and Holy Spirit!  I pray for you to want to learn all of his promises to those who, by faith, choose his offer of salvation.

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (from Romans)

Sometimes, I forget who is attacking me and why.  When I see calamity coming at me, I reject all thoughts and run to his wings and hide. Then I am reminded who loves me and why.  Praise the Father, God Almighty. I pray for you as our loving Father works out his will in our lives.

Luv Ya!

Beloved–

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.  Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.  Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.  Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and our judgment against me is just.   For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.  But you desire honesty from the womb,  teaching me wisdom even there.  Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins.  Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit[d] from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. (from Psalms)

My prayer as well.

Beloved–

… rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer…   Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (from Romans & Matthew)

Persevering in prayer?  Praise and thankfulness is to be the first request in prayer,  Hallowed be your name, right? … I praise and thank you Father God in Jesus’ name because you are Almighty, all powerful and the most high God. I praise and thank you because you willingly sacrificed your only beloved son; you shed his blood on Calvary’s tree to wash away my sins so that I might be saved. I praise and thank you Father God for the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide my life …

I haven’t even got to my tribulation request before I’m rejoicing in renewed hope and joy.  What a wonderful God we have who answers our prayers before we can even start to pray!

Luv Ya!

The History of “It’s Wednesday”

The power of praise and prayer has been a passion of mine since I was a very young Christian.  As a church secretary, I took on the prayer ministry, especially for students and teachers at the preschool located on the church campus.

The prayer ministry came to include actual hands-on prayer, Wednesday was the designated day.  One particular teacher would often say to me “It’s Wednesday, isn’t it?” When she resigned to return to school, she said she would miss our weekly prayer time.  I told her, “don’t worry I’ll email you your prayer.”

In her first emailed prayer I wrote on the subject line “It’s Wednesday” and the title just stuck.  I would like to introduce you to that weekly email known as It’s Wednesday, that began in 2003.

I’m praying daily for YOU and that you will fall in love with Jesus more and more everyday; He has taken out your heart of stone and given you a heart of flesh and blood … His blood!  

Luv Ya!

     H A P P Y    N E W Y E A R    M Y    B E L O V E D

… Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  (from Romans)

God’s will for me is good, pleasing and perfect.  When all my world is crashing down around me —-  it’s not good or pleasing much less perfect. Since his word is always true, and by faith trusted that word to save me, then I must trust his word even if I can not feel or see that perfection.  Praise the God who is … Father, Son and Holy Spirit!    

Beloved–

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (from Luke)

I remember the Christmas my father said we were moving.  I was 10. I would be leaving all that I had ever known, all that was safe and familiar.  Going to a distant part of the country where people wouldn’t love me, because they wouldn’t know who I was or wouldn’t know who my father was.

Christ knew he wouldn’t be loved or respected, that people wouldn’t know who his  father was. He knew he would be hated and murdered, yet he came, because he knew who his father is.  He came to lay in a manger knowing that it would lead to the cross of Easter and the salvation of my soul!

WHAT A SAVIOR !!

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  (from Luke)

Oh, beloved friends, what a gracious gift the Lord God Almighty has given to us.  Let us be glad and rejoice in it. Have a joyous CHRISTmas season.