Psalm 119:11

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (KJV)

I love to read the Bible. I am a firm believer that the only way you can hide the Word, is if you have read it. The reason you want to hide the Word is so that it will come back to you in times of stress, danger, joy, etc. It really is amazing. God's Word is living and powerful and even if you are not trying to memorize the Word, it will still stick with you.

I've read several different versions to get new perspectives although I still use King James as my primary version. Several months ago, my Bible search site crosswalk.com started using the Holman Christian Standard Bible as their default version. I liked it enough to buy a copy and that is what I am reading this year.

The Armor of God is one of my favorite sections of scripture. I pray it every day and highly encourage everyone else to as well. When I read the CSB version last night I liked it so much I had to share.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13 This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest, 15 and your feet sandaled with the readiness of the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's word. 18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. (CSB)

When all else fails, stand. May God bless you till we meet again.

Sincerely,
Deborah

Matthew 24:37-39

Matthew 24:37 As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. 39 They didn't know until the flood came and swept them all away. So this is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be:

Luke 22: 39 But know this: if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect."

It seems like every time I write I touch on this subject, but it runs like a drumbeat through my head. Everyone you talk to agrees that we must be getting close to the end. Even Non-Christian religions are getting their own signs (like the white buffalo being born) that the end is near. But are we doing anything about it?

We continue to go about our everyday business like normal. I don’t see any increased sense of urgency when we witness to people and I don’t see the majority of us living like we only have a few years left. Is it because we don’t believe or because we are lazy? I even know people who know they need to “get themselves right with God” but are telling me they will do it later. Do they have a later? I wonder if we are going to have an increased responsibility in God’s eyes because we are the end time generation?

Unfortunately, I have no answers. I do wonder though how many of us are going to be caught with our lamps empty. How many of us are going to say “If I had only known…..” Jesus is coming at an hour we don’t expect. The Bible makes it clear that the time of His coming will not be found in the book and only God knows. However, the Bible also says we should know by the approaching signs when the time is near.

Lord, help us to not get so caught up with the things of the world that we ignore the signs. Give us a boldness, Lord, to tell those around us that the end is near and use us to reach out to a dying world. In Jesus Name, amen!

Sincerely,

Deborah

I Cor. 11:5-6

I Cor. 11:5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since that is one and the same as having her head shaved. 6 So if a woman's head is not covered, her hair should be cut off. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should be covered.

14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her as a covering.

At the risk of starting theological warfare; the above scriptures are what our denomination uses to support the uncut hair our women sport. My hair has not been cut for over 9 years and is currently about mid calf. When it is completely up in a bun, it is not very noticeable, but if I do a half bun, it hangs below my bottom and, of course, when its completely down, it usually attracts quite a bit of attention.

Kome, the Greek word used for long in this scripture means uncut. Shorn is to trim to an even length and it says it is a shame for a woman's head to be shorn. (As a sign of humiliation, captured women had their hair shaved off.)

I made a deal with God when I first decided to let my hair grow. I told Him that I would not cut my hair and do everything I could to keep it nice looking (I don't tease, blow dry, use curlers, hair pins, etc.) but that He would have to keep it from looking trashy.

As always, God will do exceedingly, abundantly above what we ask or think. (Eph 3:20) I quite regularly have people come up to me and specifically tell me; "You know, most people with long hair have really nasty ends but yours is beautiful!" Every time that happens, it is just like God is reaching down and patting me on the shoulder, keeping His end of the deal.

I noticed in Vegas that people are very friendly. Any time you are waiting in line, riding the elevator, sitting at a show, etc., people are asking where you are from, if you are having fun and how about that 115 degree heat. It was the third day I was there before I realized that no one had even mentioned my hair. Since the casino's are kept quite cool I had even had it all the way down for warmth. I had to laugh. I knew I did not cut it for spiritual reasons, but I had no idea there was so much spiritual importance attached to it and that it would also be affected by the spiritual "dead zone" I was in.

1 Peter 3:15 says to always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. What being in Vegas for 3 days proved to me (again) was that the spiritual side is real, the battle does exist and satan is the prince and power of this world. Normally my hair will witness for me and I use the compliments I get to start discussions about the LORD. In a city where the wild is mundane and the bizarre everyday, I guess calf length hair is no big deal.
Sincerely,
Deborah

Revelation 8:3

Revelation 8:3 Another angel, with a gold incense burner, came and stood at the altar. He was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the gold altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up in the presence of God from the angel's hand.

I just returned from 4 days in Las Vegas. I got roped into taking my daughter for her 21st birthday since my ex-husband promised 6 years ago and was unable to fulfill his obligation. My current husband was "dying" to go and I let myself be talked into it. After all, Vegas has changed right? It's the new "family friendly" town.

My left earlobe! I knew I would probably be offended, but I was surprised at just how offensive it was. I did make some interesting observations though. I am certainly no super prayer warrior, but I do pray every day and spend time with God during the day. I've always found it easy to slip into God's presence and my prayer room at home has a lingering "aroma" of God.

God's presence is not on the strip in Las Vegas. I suppose that should not surprise me, but it felt very strange. I would find that I had gone hours without even thinking of God. When I did try to enter His presence, it was like blowing smoke into a fan. It immediately dissipated and I was simply unable to make contact. As bad as everything else was, that was the worst. Without my lifeline to God, I am lost.

Sincerely,
Deborah

Isaiah 43:10

This week we will explore the five benefits that God intends for all of His children. You can do further study of these benefits in the bible study by Beth Moore titled “Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life”. Look for this study to be offered by the Women’s ministry next year.

“You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.” Isaiah 43:10

The first benefit is to know God and believe Him. Do you think of your relationship with God as distant and judging or would you use the words close and personal to describe it. Many believers miss one of the simplest benefits of just knowing the One who loves us so. Yet, how can we know God? God reveals Himself through His word, the Bible. If you study these beautiful pages you can know the true character of the One who created us to how we will rejoin Him again. We can also know God through prayer. Through prayer we can build a trust relationship with God and see Him at work. Trusting in an invisible God is not something that comes naturally to any believer. A trust relationship grows only by stepping out in faith and making the choice to trust.

Knowing God and believing He will do what His word says, can give a believer a joy that can be found no where else. Trusting God at times may be difficult, but seeing Him prove Himself faithful time and time again is worth whatever struggles we have to endure to know and believe Him.

My prayer for you today is that you will trust in and believe in the One who stands at the door knocking, waiting for you to let Him in.

Lori