Armour of God

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

Friend, this world is not an easy place to live in, is it?

I think that’s why Scripture tells us to suit up in the armor of God.

Interestingly, in Ephesians 6, we are told to put on the belt of truth, helmet of salvation and to take up the sword of the spirit. But not once are we told to actually fight.

Instead, four different times Paul tells us to stand firm. Why? Paul says that we are fighting spiritual enemies, and Christ has already secured our victory over all the enemies of this world!

The devil may be defeated, but he is defiant. His forces continue to fight against us, but we don’t have to fight back. We just have to stand firm!

- Whitney Capps - Proverbs 31 Ministries

Vessels of Honor

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

     Watch for a moment the various boats and ships as they glide past on the water.  Some are massive, carrying cargo or perhaps part of a military fleet.  Others may be sailboats and speedboats, commercial fishing boats, tour boats, even kayaks.  Of these vessels, some may gleam with newness and care while others have obviously been around a while.  These boats may be made of any number of materials, like wood, fiberglass, or metal.  No matter what type of vessel, its age, or what its exterior consists of, we have no idea what's going on inside.  It could be carrying passengers, smuggling something sinister, or even both with the former unaware of the latter.  We casual spectators can't see inside to know what's taking place.

     Similarly, much to our own detriment (and others'), we too could hide our menacing cargo and get away with it ... for a while.  At least long enough to leave a path of destruction.  How, then, do we purge the gunk and become a "vessel of honor"?  What does that even mean?

     Based on Paul's instructions to Timothy, we must remove what's dishonorable in our lives: corrupt influences, false gods and teachings, immoral behavior.  This is not saying that we must be perfect and without sin (because none of us is), but we should ask God to point out what needs to go, ask Him for strength to release it, and then be willing to do so.  Only then can any of us be a vessel of honor that's useful and prepared.  We are to be willing to suffer (Ephesians 3:13); be kind, show respect, put others first (Romans 12:10); and check our motives (James 2:2-4).  And ask Him to make use of any past transgressions, either as a lesson for us to learn or to help others (Romans  8:28).

     In some respects, all of this may sound counterintuitive when you think about various leaders, coworkers, athletes, artists, and others upon whom honor is bestowed - and in a way it is.  We're not promised recognition or reward for our efforts.  Not here, anyway.  There's no competition for us to win.  But if we serve and represent the Master, we cannot do so dishonorably.

"Devotions From The Beach"

Volleyball Games

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

     Say what?

     Kind of makes your head spin, doesn't it?  Paul could be delightfully convoluted sometimes.  You can practically see his two hands, gesturing back and forth, as you read the verse (Romans 7:15) and the subsequent verses.  It's like watching a volleyball game of words and will.

     Volleyball is a fun game, whether you're a spectator or player.  It's suspenseful, particularly if the ball is kept in the air for a long period of time.  It bounces from player to player, across the net, back and forth, and the stakes grow higher the longer the ball stays in play.  Who will dive for it?  Who will miss?  When this happens, players and crowd alike will often react with each hit.

     The internal struggle Paul described in Romans 7 isn't as much fun.  We go back and forth with sin.  We willingly participate, hating ourselves for our own weakness, questioning how real our faith is, wondering if we are really saved.  We have periods when we feel like giving up and giving in, and sometimes we do.  But God doesn't.  He knew in the beginning, and knows now that we need a Saviour.

     Still, there are those times when, regardless of what we've learned and how far we've come, we want to bounce back over.  Maybe life was more exciting then or you were having more fun, or making more money, or had more dates, or,...or... Maybe if we just take a little taste of what we're missing, then we'll bounce back over to the other side of the net?  Just a quick visit.  After all, if Christ took care of the game point already, why should we be concerned?

     Thankfully Paul covered this in Romans 6 by asking a very important question.  "What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?"  (v 24).  Now, be honest with yourself and your Lord as you answer this question.  How does that "benefit" compare to the peaceful mind and heart in the present?  How does that choice to sin show gratitude for the eternal life in the future?

     We can take heart that Paul struggled as we do, and was honest enough to write down the crazy game that plays out in our minds, hearts, and actions.  But, honestly, aren't you tired of playing?

"Devotions From The Beach"

Every Time Something Thwarts Your Plans....

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

EVERY TIME SOMETHING THWARTS YOUR PLANS or desires, use that as a reminder to communicate with Me. This practice has several benefits. The first is obvious: Talking with Me blesses you and strengthens our relationship. Another benefit is that disappointments, instead of dragging you down, are transformed into opportunities for good. This transformation removes the sting from difficult circumstances, making it possible to be joyful in the midst of adversity.

Begin by practicing this discipline in all the little disappointments of daily life. It is often these minor setbacks that draw you away from My Presence. When you reframe setbacks as opportunities, you find that you gain much more than you have lost. It is only after much training that you can accept major losses in this positive way. But it is possible to attain the perspective of the apostle Paul, who wrote: Compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, I consider everything I once treasured to be as insignificant as rubbish.

"Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence

A Mess For God

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31


“But while Joseph was there in prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” Genesis 39: 20b-21 (NIV)


Do you ever feel like your days are filled with one messy relationship and situation after another? During those times, it’s easy to label my circumstances and myself as “a mess,” then wonder how God could ever use me, or my experiences, for good.

To protect my heart from discouragement, I often ask God to remind me of times when He has worked in ways I couldn’t have imagined, in my life and the lives of others. Recently He reminded me of Joseph’s story (Genesis 37-50). It reads like a series of very unfortunate events!

Imagine being beaten and thrown into a pit, sold as a slave and then relocated to a foreign country where you are falsely accused of a crime you didn’t commit and banished to die in prison. And to make matters worse, what if your siblings had initiated this evil against you?

That’s only the beginning of what happened to Joseph.

Looking behind the scenes of stories like his helps me see how God specializes in using messes to transform people into masterpieces of His grace. That’s exactly what He did here:

“[Joseph’s brothers] saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him … they stripped him of his robe … and they threw him into a pit” (Genesis 37:18, 23b–24, ESV).

Joseph was then taken to Egypt where he was sold as a slave to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Could things get worse? They did when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, and despite Joseph resisting her advances, she accused him of attempting to rape her:

” … she called to the men of her household and said to them, ‘See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house.'”
“As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him … his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison …” (Genesis 39:14-15, 19-20a).

In Potiphar’s house, Joseph learned servant leadership and integrity; in prison, Joseph learned forgiveness, wisdom and patience. He had been wronged multiple times, yet he experienced God’s guidance through the darkness that helped Joseph get out of prison:

“And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. … And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed” (Genesis 39:22-23, ESV).

In a messy pit, the house of Potiphar and a cold dark prison, God prepared Joseph for the amazing future and role he would play in rescuing God’s people and eventually bringing his family back together.

Through it all, Joseph stayed close to God and allowed his difficult circumstances to make him more dependent on the Lord. And in turn, God molded Joseph’s character into a great and godly leader — who was humble, loving, forgiving, patient and wise.

Friend, you might feel like you’re in a pit right now just like Joseph was, but don’t despise the mess you’re in — God is doing some behind-the-scenes work. He is preparing to unleash His limitless power in and through you!

From:  "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

You Will Get Through This

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31


Sometimes God takes His time. One-hundred and twenty years to prepare Noah for the flood. Eighty years to prepare Moses for his work. God called young David to be king, but returned him to the sheep pasture. He called Paul to be an apostle and then isolated him in Arabia for fourteen years.

How long will God take with you? His history is redeemed, not in minutes, but in lifetimes. We fear the depression will never lift, the yelling will never stop, the pain will never leave. Will this sky ever brighten? This load ever lighten? Life in the pit stinks. Yet for all its rottenness, doesn’t it do this much? Doesn’t it force us to look upward? The Bible promises, at the right time, in God’s hands, intended evil becomes eventual good. You will get through this!

From "You’ll Get Through This"

At Risk Of Falling

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

       "If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" —1 Corinthians 10:12

When my friend Elaine was recovering after a bad fall, a hospital worker placed a bright yellow bracelet on her wrist. It read: Fall Risk. That phrase meant: Watch this person carefully. She may be unsteady on her feet. Help her get from place to place.

First Corinthians 10 contains something like a “Fall Risk” warning for believers. With a glance back at his ancestors, Paul noted the human potential to fall into sin. The Israelites complained, worshiped idols, and had immoral relationships. God grew unhappy with them and allowed them to experience consequences for their wrongdoing. However, Paul said, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us . . . . So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (vv. 11–12).

It’s easy to trick ourselves into believing that we’re done with a particular sort of sin. Even when we’ve struggled through the worst of it—admitting our problem, repenting, and recommitting ourselves to following God’s ways—temptation may come calling. God makes it possible for us to avoid falling back into the same patterns. He does this by providing a way out of the sinful act we’re considering. Our part is to respond to His offer of escape.
—JENNIFER BENSON SCHULDT

Lord, let me see the way of escape You offer when I am tempted. Give me the strength to accept Your help so I can stay faithful to You. I know this is Your desire for me, and I thank You that You are at work in me.
Great blessings are often followed by great temptations.

"Our Daily Bread"

Self-Made Men

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

   "For who maketh thee to differ from another?  and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?"
   1 Corinthians  4:7

    The Apostle Paul, the greatest of the apostles, and who "labored more abundantly than they all"  (1 Corinthians  15:10), said in this same verse,  "But by the grace of God I am what I am."  Paul did not claim any credit for his success, but admits that it was "grace bestowed" upon him.

     A certain man once said to a friend,  "I am a self-made man."  His friend replied,  "That certainly relieves God of an embarrassing responsibility."  If you are a self-made man, you must have had some material to begin with.  You are a success in business, but you could not have been if God had not endowed you with a mind.  You had no choice in the matter of your birth.  You did not choose your parents, your environment. You could have been born an idiot.  You have excelled in athletics, but who gave you that strong body? You could have been a paralytic.  You are successful as an orator, but who gave you your voice?  No one asked you about it, but you were born with that great blessing.  Maybe you are a preacher who has had great apparent success.  But who called you to be a preacher?  Who ordered the circumstances of your life - praying parents, faithful ministers?  Who influenced you to be saved and to dedicate your life to Christ?  You cannot even claim credit for believing in Him, for even saving faith is the gift of God  (Ephesians  2:8).  "Where is boasting then?  It is excluded.  By what law?  Of works?  Nay but by the law of faith"  (Romans  3:27).

     A proud Christian is an immature Christian.  He is an anomaly.  Christian growth is expressed in John the Baptist's confession,  "He must increase but I must decrease"  (John  3:30).  Are you a self-made man? Then you make of yourself a god.  Oh, for true humility!  Stop making a "snow man" which will not endure the Sun of Righteousness.

"Bread For Each Day"

Simple Remedies Are Best

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

" . . . He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper."   2 Kings  5:11

     Naaman the Syrian was a leper.  He heard about a prophet in Samaria, of whom a little captive Jewish girl had told his wife.  When he came to Elisha, the prophet simply told him to go wash in Jordan seven times.  This seemed so childishly simple that it made Naaman very angry and he started back home.  He expected a great display of occult mumblings and grotesque movements on the part of the healer.  He wanted a dramatic spectacle of acting, but the prophet said,  "Just take a bath!"

     The same superstition still prevails in the world today.  People reject the Gospel because salvation is too simple.  They too expect noises, visions, lights, and feelings before they will believe.  But the Bible says,  "only believe."  It just seems too simple.  The Gospel needs no embellishment.  That is the pagan way.  They go through all sorts of contortions, cooking strange brews and mumbling unintelligible phrases.  It is all a "cover up" for their deception.  The Gospel needs no "props," jazz music, foreign costumes, tricks, or juggling acts.  Paul told Timothy,  "Preach the word."

     The world is full of quacks and nostrums.  They recommend a remedy because of its strange ingredients.  "Only Poo-Poo Powders contain CKLZ."  "Four out of five doctors recomend the ingredients in this Sucker Syrup."  "Dumb-Clux Dope"  contains  not one ingredient but five - and so on, and so on.  And the more mysterious it is, the more it deceives.  This is true of much religious excitement; people are sold another gospel which is "not another."  Beloved, let us not be led astray by the pageantry and display of much "modern evangelism."  The pure gospel message has not lost its power - it only needs to be set free from the fleshly methods of the world.  "Preach the Word!"

"Bread For Each Day"

The Resurrection - Incredible?

Come, sit, and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the comfort of the Lord:  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."  Ephesians  4:31

    "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?"
                                                                                                                       Acts  26:8

     How is it possible that men should doubt the resurrection from the dead?  It is far more incredible that there should be no resurrection.  The surprised question of Paul to King Agrippa was,  "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?"  If there be no resurrection, then life loses all its meaning; it becomes a hollow mockery.  Then God who created us is a God of caprice and sadism.  Is this life all?  Just a few years of alternate crying and laughing - mostly crying - and then darkness? Then with Paul we can say,  "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." But it should not be incredible, for things all around us remind us of resurrection.  The buds on the trees, the flowers in the garden, the emerging life after a long winter of inactivity - all proclaim the resurrection.

     In an ancient tomb in France, buried under tons of debris, archaeologists found flower seeds which had been there for two thousand years!  The explorer took the seeds and planted them and they grew. Egyptian garden peas which had been buried for three thousand years were brought out and planted on the fourth of June, 1844.  Within a few days they had germinated and broken the ground.  Buried 3000 years - then resurrected.  Why then should it be thought a thing incredible that God should raise the dead?  If God could cause a lump of clay to become alive at the creation of man, why then think it incredible for this same God to bring a resurrection from the dead?  Yes, it would be most incredible that after the life He lived Jesus should remain in death.  Hallelujah!  Christ arose!

"Bread For Each Day"