Christ in the Clouds

I've been studying Scripture lately on the subject of Satan and the unseen spiritual battle we, as Christians, fight every day. The battle between good and evil is strong and without God it would be a losing battle, for sure! Ephesians 6:12 - ESV For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.    We are warned to be sober-minded and watchful. Satan is cunning and deceptive and his goal is to draw us away from God.   1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.    Ephesians 6:13   Therefore put on the full armor 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.   Through Him, though,...

It's hard to believe it, but on Thursday, Oct. 8, it will be the 1-year anniversary of my very first post . One of the main reasons I started a blog was to keep track of the gratitude list I began back in December of 2010, when I challenged myself to write down 100 things I was thankful for. That list grew and grew. In the spring of 2011, I purchased and read the book, "1,000 Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. By October, I was struggling to keep the list going, and so, I began to blog.  God has continued to teach and bless me spiritually over the past year. Just last month, I posted my one-thousandth gift ! Gratitude is such an amazing thing. It lifts me up when I'm feeling down, gives me a new perspective of my life, and helps me grow closer in my relationship with the Lord. That doesn't mean it's always easy to write down what I am grateful for. Sometimes I have to really dig deep and look around.  The past few weeks have been just that way for me. Family il...

Haven't posted in a couple of weeks because I have been so very busy. I got a new part-time job at my church as a receptionist, plus my brother has had some major health issues and has been in the hospital. Because of this, my mind has been on doctors and healing..my brother, who can't keep food down, ended up having his gall bladder removed a week ago. That led to many complications and he recently was just moved out of ICU, but is still dealing with not keeping food down. Doctors have done and are still doing many tests, but can't figure out why. There are many, many people praying for my brother and sister-in-law, both saved and seeking a miracle from God. I know He knows what is going on with my brother's health and He is going to do something wonderful in this situation. We just have to trust our Great Physician! I read this poem and was encouraged, as I hope any of you going through a similar situation, may be encouraged! The Great Physician (Author Unknown) ...

People will always let us down.  Money, things, jobs, and all this world offers us may fill a temporary need, but in an instant they can all be lost or taken from us. Schedules, plans, goals, and dreams can even be changed or be out of reach for us. Life isn't always a rose garden....There will be times of sickness, sadness, stress, and chaos. When we are feeling like all is falling apart, what can we count on? Not even our feelings are dependable.  They change, day to day. Sometimes they will deceive us.  In truth there is only One person and one thing we can depend on. “For men are not cast off by the Lord forever.  Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.” (Lamentations 3:31-32 NIV) I consider how the Lord has gotten me through many times of hardship, when I have had questions about why or how things could happen. When I've been at the end of my rope and had no strength left, He is here to pull me up out...