The Day Before
Good evening to our sister saints!
I pray your day was fruitful in the Lord? We have moved on to another destination and preparing ourselves for some more street preaching here in Florida. Every day we should be prepared, in the Lord, to give an answer or share the gospel with someone but there are times in our lives that we need to prepare a bit more, amen? We may have to talk to a sister about a sin in her life, or tell someone that you must separate yourself from their ways in order to honor God, or deal with a mocker to your face, or as we do, going out on the street where we know we'll be hated. In all those situations we need to be prepared in our hearts and make sure we are blameless and walking in the ways of the Lord, lest we be a hypocrite.
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Philippians 2:15
Brother Jim and I know very well what it's like to have to do those hard things and we've learned over the years, how to prepare for them and for me, the day before is the finishing point to where I set my mind on what must be done and call it final. You have to be strong and stand on the truth, not wavering, and trust that the Lord's will be done. Then, through all this, we grow. Amen sisters? There's a never ending string of trials that will come until the day we die but over time we get stronger and can battle our way through them better than the last one.
1 Peter 4:12-19
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye ; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Tomorrow we are going out on the streets for flying signs and street preaching in a busy city (that blends in with all the other cities all the way down the coast) and know what we're up against because we were here last year. The day before we do such things, I take time to put on my armor...
Ephesians 6:11-18
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
I love that part 'having done all, to stand'. That shows we have prepared then we we must STAND.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:9
We can't cower or shy away from trials, we must stand and we CAN stand because...
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
Amen. The Lord gives us what we need, when we need it so regardless of the circumstances, you can STAND if you've 'done all'. Amen sisters?!
Brother Jim made a quick video about our day.
Let us all rejoice in thankfulness in what the Lord has done and be diligent workers for Him.
We had to travel on a busy highway, enjoying the bits of countryside along the way and see some interesting vehicles.
My mind must have been right today because we crossed a super LONG bridge and it didn't phase me, God is good!
At one point we were at an intersection and saw 2 sand hill cranes by a sidewalk. I then saw a walkway behind them...
...and it all looked so pretty that I said 'oh I'd love to walk down that and see the birds'. Brother Jim told me to and that he'd pick me up down the road a ways, so I jumped out at the intersection and walked over.
In the middle of a busy city, they are so calm. So peaceful. It was awesome because it's a picture of how we are to be in this world sisters. Standing calm, knowing that our Father is in control.
He's watching.
He sees all.
And I saw this...
Delicate beauty, right next to a roaring busy highway.
And the palm trees...
Somehow they withstand the battering of wicked storms and hurricanes that come across this piece of land sticking out into the ocean. Maybe they are like garden plants in that the more the wind blows the heartier the roots. That's how we are to be as followers of Christ. The more trials we have, the more bolstered our faith and stronger our armor.
We were blessed with a beautiful sunset that got more colorful as it went down.
Looking past the parking lot and buildings, you can see the beauty of our Father's creation. As we should do in this world, looking to Him and past all the distractions of satan.
Once we were all settled in, I made enough salad for left overs for tomorrow's dinner.
I'm thankful that thus far I can have salads again, what a joy. Here's a refreshing recipe if you're interested.
Shredded cabbage, apple, dried cranberries, almonds, onion, pumpkin seeds and cheese. I tossed it with a little bit of raspberry vinaigrette dressing and salt. (No I didn't cook it, I only mixed it in my pot because I don't have a big bowl:-) I think tomorrow I'll serve it with some lentil soup.
I'm prepared for whatever comes tomorrow, are you?
We love you all,
Sister Deb
The biblical gospel...
https://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html