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Post by kencoolidge on Feb 14, 2011 6:22:19 GMT -5
I have watched this thread and like others have stated it has been a great encouragement. God has answered so many of my prayers and only those that I fellowship with on a regular basis know about it. He has blessed with with discernment to witness His work in others, to share in the joy and to sit in heavenly places with brothers and sisters in Christ. I surely never have wanted to discourage anyone in their walk with Christ and post things only for encouragement and resources that have helped me. Perhaps other will also be encouraged Love you all ken Inspiration by E-Mail for the Week of February 13, 2011 BEGINNING WITH TRUTH Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:14-15) The previous sentence ended with the idea, "stand." This sentence begins with the word, stand. Yet now, the Apostle Paul tells us how to stand therefore. We can only stand when we are equipped with the spiritual protection (armor) God gives us in Jesus Christ. Each aspect of this symbolic armor answers to a specific dynamic within the Christian life that enables us to stand against spiritual attack. Remember that Paul wrote this while in the custody of Roman soldiers. It was easy for him to look at the equipment of his guards and see how God has equipped the believer. As he describes this spiritual armor, the order in which the pieces of armor are described is the order in which the soldier would put them on. He began with the idea of a belt: "Having girded your waist with truth." Truth is symbolically represented as a belt that both protects our mid-section and gathers up our garments so that we can fight effectively. Strictly, the belt is not part of the armor; but before the armor can be put on, the clothing underneath must be gathered together. Remember in those days men often wore long, robe-like clothes. It would be hard to fight and maneuver in hand-to-hand combat in a robe. The bottom part of a man's robe would be tucked into the belt to make the man more ready to fight. It kept the other parts of the armor in place, and simply made it possible for the soldier to use the rest of the armor effectively. When a soldier sat down and was relaxed, he took off his belt. Putting on the belt prepared one for action, it frees one for movement, and it put him in a battle frame of mind. The same idea is communicated by Jesus in Luke 12:35-36. The belt of truth puts on the Biblical beliefs of the Christians as a whole - what other passages call the faith. Many people believe that the church will never go forward until it takes off this belt of truth, but that is completely wrong. This is armor to have - it is a foundation you live upon all the time, your understanding of and confidence in the basic doctrines of the faith. Whatever you do – don't let go of the truth, Biblical truth. That keeps everything else together and ready to use. By David Guzik David is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara: www.calvarychapelsb.comFor Bible Study resources by David Guzik, go to: www.enduringword.com/library_commentaries.htmFor David Guzik podcast, find the link at www.enduringword.com.
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Post by IllinoisGal on Feb 14, 2011 7:47:06 GMT -5
Lets remember to keep Pink and her husband in our prayers today.
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Post by Scott Ross on Feb 14, 2011 8:45:57 GMT -5
Just slipping in here to wish you a Hapy Birthday today Pink!!
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Post by sharonw on Feb 14, 2011 18:56:08 GMT -5
Mrs. TS has come a long way in a very short time! Keep up the praying, Mrs. TS and know my prayers continue for you as well! It really seems like things are going to work out for you and your lovely family!
Love to all, Sharon
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Post by IllinoisGal on Feb 15, 2011 23:01:58 GMT -5
Many times we pray and God may give the answer almost immediately. Not for physical healing but possibly about his will for our life or a situation in our life. We may not always like Gods answer to us but ita always the best and right answer for our life if we are willing to follow his leading in our life.
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Post by ts on Feb 16, 2011 9:51:13 GMT -5
Mrs. TS has come a long way in a very short time! Keep up the praying, Mrs. TS and know my prayers continue for you as well! It really seems like things are going to work out for you and your lovely family! Love to all, Sharon Hey Sharon...thanks for your faithful prayers and your care...I thank our Father for your counsel 'most every day..you won't know what doors you opened up for me in that I could pour out all my fears and woes on you...!! God has truly worked a miracle in my life. I am always praying for you, that you would feel our Father's blessing on your life in every way. I don't get much time to post here, but I do appreciate checking in with what's going on. I will keep praying, it's one thing I can always have time for!! May each of you feel the comfort and assurance of our Father's great love and care for you, wherever you are today... Thanks to you all...and love, Mrs TS
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Feb 16, 2011 17:22:52 GMT -5
The Lord inhabits the praise of his people....sometimes when I go to pray I end up just praising without requests without anything but praise and worship....he deserves it. He knows our needs before we ask.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Feb 16, 2011 17:25:39 GMT -5
Giving thanks with a grateful heart, appreciating him for who he is and what he has done. Is something else that works. Thanking him for the impossible, with a truly expectant heart and not allowing doubt and fear any place.
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Post by IllinoisGal on Feb 16, 2011 20:38:49 GMT -5
The bible says God can do exceedingly abundantly all that we could ask or think according to the power which worketh in us..
Now thats saying he can even exceed anything abundantly. Abundance means more than enough I suppose. What is the power that worketh in us? Faith?
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Feb 17, 2011 11:39:01 GMT -5
The power is the holy spirit.
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Post by IllinoisGal on Feb 17, 2011 20:31:09 GMT -5
I dont actually think that is what this particular verse is talking about. Since it is talking about all we can ask or think I thought it to be faith but I could be wrong ;D and Im certainly not above being wrong.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Feb 17, 2011 20:59:30 GMT -5
The bible says God can do exceedingly abundantly all that we could ask or think according to the power which worketh in us.. Now thats saying he can even exceed anything abundantly. Abundance means more than enough I suppose. What is the power that worketh in us? Faith? Faith is a spiritual gift. Without the power of the holy spirit within and without the knowledge of the Word. THe word and spirit working together with faith in our mind and heart, the more abundantly cannot work. So I think its the collectively the holy spirit, Christ the word mixed with faith that nocks it over to bear abundant fruit. For example we pray and ask, petetion God, speak it out, the word goes out to heaven via the holy spirit. We have prayed, believed and then stand on the prayer. Unwavering. Then in its time the prayer is answered carried back from heaven. It may include and involve angels rearranging things. Before we have the answer. ie: Daniels prayed and fasted 3 weeks and that is the length of time it took Michael to fight the prince of persia over Israel.
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Post by IllinoisGal on Feb 17, 2011 22:19:34 GMT -5
Hey Shushy..Maybe Im a duh head but how about a more simple explaination. Im not a bible scholar
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Feb 18, 2011 1:04:18 GMT -5
Ok. example, if you remove the power you dont have anything. If you remove faith you still have the power but without faith the power cannot be activated.
God is only moved by faith.
{If Im baking a cake and I leave out the 'baking powder' which causes the cake to rise and lift, Im going to end up with a flat cake. }
I wouldnt call myself a bible scholar IG.
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Post by IllinoisGal on Feb 18, 2011 7:06:08 GMT -5
Please pray for a close friend of mine today. She is going for an ultrasound of her gallbladder today. The drs thought it was bleeding ulcers but not so. She is in alot of pain and needs for the dr to figure out where all this pain is coming from and get it treated. Thanks so much ~IG
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Post by IllinoisGal on Feb 23, 2011 22:25:10 GMT -5
Please pray for my best friends husband. they found out 2 weeks ago he has cancer in both the kidney and the lung. He goes to Barnes hospital in St Louis tommorrow for a pet scan.
Also, Pray my daughter gets a good report from her neuro surgeon at St Louis University hospital. She is going for the results of her annual MRA to ensure she hasnt developed another brain aneurysm.
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Post by IllinoisGal on Feb 26, 2011 15:06:01 GMT -5
My daughters test results were good. In fact, She now doesnt have to go back for another MRA for 3 yrs.
The dr asked her to serve on a committee for a fund raiser St Louis University is doing about Brain aneurysms and he has chosen her to be a guest speaker at the hospital at that fund raiser.
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Post by Scott Ross on Feb 26, 2011 16:15:20 GMT -5
My daughters test results were good. In fact, She now doesnt have to go back for another MRA for 3 yrs. The dr asked her to serve on a committee for a fund raiser St Louis University is doing about Brain aneurysms and he has chosen her to be a guest speaker at the hospital at that fund raiser. That's great news! Both the clear scan and that your daughter will be the guest speaker at the fund raiser! Good for her! Scott
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Post by IllinoisGal on Feb 26, 2011 16:54:46 GMT -5
Thanks Scott. I was beginning to think I was talking to myself as no one but me had commented in this thread for days. Least I know there are others still around and Im not going crazy ;D just talking to myself
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Post by Scott Ross on Feb 26, 2011 17:13:35 GMT -5
Thanks Scott. I was beginning to think I was talking to myself as no one but me had commented in this thread for days. Least I know there are others still around and Im not going crazy ;D just talking to myself Ha!! I had actually read about your daughter's doc appointment on my phone, and meant to make a comment when I got to my computer. Unfortunately I have a case of halfzheimers going on, and that was in the half of things I forgot..... Scott
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Post by sharonw on Feb 26, 2011 19:25:34 GMT -5
Thanks Scott. I was beginning to think I was talking to myself as no one but me had commented in this thread for days. Least I know there are others still around and Im not going crazy ;D just talking to myself Ha!! I had actually read about your daughter's doc appointment on my phone, and meant to make a comment when I got to my computer. Unfortunately I have a case of halfzheimers going on, and that was in the half of things I forgot..... Scott Hah! Scott! Our phlebotomist at the clinic calls that "sometimers"! Great new, IG! I'd say your daughter should be able to tell her audience just how scary life with aneurysms are! And what relief there is that is available.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Feb 27, 2011 0:15:33 GMT -5
My daughters test results were good. In fact, She now doesnt have to go back for another MRA for 3 yrs. The dr asked her to serve on a committee for a fund raiser St Louis University is doing about Brain aneurysms and he has chosen her to be a guest speaker at the hospital at that fund raiser. IG This is great news. God is faithful.
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Post by IllinoisGal on Mar 5, 2011 12:18:30 GMT -5
My Uncle passed away yesterday after a battle with lung cancer. He never smoked a day in his life but was a coal miner for many yrs and had black lung. Pray for my family for peace at this time. The visitation is tonight and funeral tommorrow.
My uncle had also been a preacher for 40 yrs along with being a coal miner. The funeral will be so big they have to have both the visitation and funeral at the church as there isnt any funeral homes big enough to accomadate due to the amount of people.
I had been able to spend the past 6 days with him along with the rest of the family. My mom was actually with his wife and her sister at his bedside when he died yesterday and for that Im thankful.
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Post by Scott Ross on Mar 5, 2011 12:38:12 GMT -5
Pray for my family for peace at this time.I certainly will, and thank you for the opportunity to do so.
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Post by Sylvestra on Mar 5, 2011 13:10:55 GMT -5
My Uncle passed away yesterday after a battle with lung cancer. He never smoked a day in his life but was a coal miner for many yrs and had black lung. Pray for my family for peace at this time. The visitation is tonight and funeral tommorrow. My uncle had also been a preacher for 40 yrs along with being a coal miner. The funeral will be so big they have to have both the visitation and funeral at the church as there isnt any funeral homes big enough to accomadate due to the amount of people. I had been able to spend the past 6 days with him along with the rest of the family. My mom was actually with his wife and her sister at his bedside when he died yesterday and for that Im thankful. Thank you for letting us know so we can join you in spirit through these days! It sounds like your uncle was a blessing in his life.
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Post by IllinoisGal on Mar 7, 2011 19:12:36 GMT -5
Thanks to all who prayed for my family. As far as funerals go, It was the best Ive ever attended. Very uplifting about my Uncle and what a friend he was to many people. There were about 300 people at the funeral
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Post by ts on Mar 12, 2011 3:07:16 GMT -5
Hey there, this is Mrs TS...I haven't written in for a while...but I am still praying for all the requests made here. Thanks for keeping us informed about how things are going...
I feel so helpless mostly...and often overwhelmed but it is a wonderful comfort to be able to bring my concerns to our Father, just knowing He hears our prayers for each other...and as my faithful friend said to me recently:
"...Our Lord loves that we share each others loads. I'm sure He smiles at us when we lift each other before Him in prayer! He certainly answers those simple prayers, I can testify to that!"
"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is @ hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds thru Christ Jesus."
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Pink
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Post by Pink on Mar 12, 2011 12:13:20 GMT -5
Thanks for that this beautiful a.m. Mrs. TS...
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