Tuesday 19 April 2011

Full armour of God.


According to Ephesians 6:12-17, we need to put on the "Full Armour of God" every day, so that we can take stand against the devil's schemes. [Eph. 6:12,13] "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." 13. "Therefore, put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
The apostle Paul explains furtheron how to do it. To those of you who are not familiar with this, it may sound quite foreign, but try it anyway - for it works! First read the verses 14,15,16,17 a few times as to try and understand what the apostle Paul suggests, or you can do it any way you find easy. It works well to visualise the process in the manner easiest to yourself. Let's start with the head - this is by far the easiest way to remember it.
You can start off by doing the motions also, until you can see the process in your mind's eye  - -
"I put on the Helmet of Salvation" (than I add 'optional' for I am in Christ Jesus, hidden in God, and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Therefore I now bind every negative thought to the obedience of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Lift up your left hand, saying: I lift up the Shield of Faith, with which I can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Lift up you right hand: Now I lift up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Now you can mention some of your favourite verses of Scripture, for instance: Greater is He that lives within me, than he that is in the world; the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want; he who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty, etc.
I stand firm with the Belt of Truth buckled around my waist  -  and the Breastplate of Righteousness in place, on my chest. Now I put on the Shoes with the readiness to spread the gospel of peace.
For many years I have done this, and have even taught my children to do the same. My children would then, before going to School, recite this, while putting on their School clothes - needless to say: the habit stuck. Be sure to try this, and let me hear how you progress. I do this every morning and every evening before going to bed. As the follow up, I will tell you how I have taught little 5 and 6 year old children in my classroom to do this daily. Due to the repetition every morning, they memorised it easily. In the end they started teaching it to their parents. Also that, when we had an armed robbery at the School, how the children responded.
Yours faithfully, HERMA VAN BUREN-SCHELE.
(Our pearl for this day:  1 Corinthians 2:9  No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived  -  what God has prepared for those who love Him.)

Friday 15 April 2011

To dream


I love to dream' But is'nt it amazing that you always have to wake up in the middle of a dream, especially when you enjoyed it. Many of life's dreams get shattered along the way OR just fade, to make way for something new - a new way of thinking, reasoning, and to live that dream in any way possible.Maybe the opportunity to start and finish something well.
And do you know what?  It is so amazing to wake up in the morning and to remember that God's Word says that His grace is new every morning. Another realization is that He has been faithful to me through my life, and that His love is from everlasting to everlasting. In short: I have been young, and now am old, and I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed seeking for bread. [Psalm 37:25].                                                                 LIFE IS BUT A DREAM.........