Women of Promise

  Image source: biblecartoon.com      Shoes are often treated as an accessory to the outfit, aren't they?  I am as guilty as anyone of being being tempted to collect a wide variety of shoes! However, as I get older, the effects of standing for 12-14 hours a day wearing "cute" shoes that didn't really support my body well are catching up with me!  These days I am forced to find shoes that provide better support, and hope that I can find some that have a little bit of "cuteness" factor to them as well! 😂      "...and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace."  Ephesians 6:15 NIV      As we are placing on the pieces of our armor that will protect and identify us as warriors in the army of the One True God, we come to a very essential piece of armor:  the shoes!  Shoes provide a foundation for the whole body, as well as protection for the feet.  Can you picture a heavily...

image source: biblecartoons.com   Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place...Ephesians 6:14 NIV      We have started looking at the armor that God gives to us as we enter into battle against sin.  Sin, with all of its many, ugly faces wreaked havoc on God's beautiful, perfect Earth way back in the Garden of Eden.  To rectify this, God set in motion His perfect redemption plan to return things to this first state of perfection.  Sending His only Son to Earth to die the most humiliating death possible provided the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.  Accepting this precious gift of redemption returns our hearts to a place of purity (provided by Jesus), restoring that perfect fellowship that was experienced between God and man prior to the fall.        However, sin and the effects of sin are still wreaking havoc on our world.  God has pr...

Image source: Biblecartoon.co.uk     A belt is a practical part of a most wardrobes.  It may be essential for keeping pants or skirts in the proper location around the waist, or merely an accent piece as a desired fashion ensemble is compiled.  For the soldier in the first century, it was a critical piece of their armor.  Used to carry the sword and many other items, it freed the soldier's hands for service.  Wide and strong, it provided much needed core support for the soldier as he bore the weight of  heavy armor for long hours. I can imagine the back pain that would follow a long day of wielding that armor, even for young, strong recruits.  Additionally, the belt identified the soldier.  The decorations and number of leather straps hanging from his belt most likely identified the soldier's rank and army.   "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,"   Eph. 6:14a, NIV     The first...

celestialheritageart.com      It is my prayer that the past few weeks of looking into The Lord's Prayer have been used by God to bring hope, encouragement and blessing to  you as you grow in your Christian walk.  As we learn to walk in daily communion with the Father, we learn more about Him, His character, and our role in His kingdom.  What we find out quickly is that there is a great war currently taking place between Satan and his forces of darkness and the King of Kings.  Struggles, trials, illness, and conflict are daily reminders of this. We can enter the battle with confidence that we are on the side of victory.        I John 4:4   You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. The victory is already won, but the battles still have to be fought.  This fallen world and sinful humanity is still warring against the Creator....