OCTOBER 4, 2022

 “There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.” 

― John Calvin

ISAIAH 29-30

 13The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship of me

is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (29:13)

EPHESIANS 6

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For 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 spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore 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. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

JOURNAL 

Yesterday I was overcome by the compelling thought of history and how all these people were once alive and living life in the present moment.  It has always been fascinating to me to think about time travel. I have always loved history and to really be immersed in the midst of actual history while it is happening would just be beyond words...I don't really know why it is so fascinating to me, I guess it is for most people. I

What hit me though was the thought that currently, right now I am living a life that will be part of history...this moment right now. That thought can be a bit overwhelming, yet I believe God is sovereign but I also know that we have a part in the story. I know that our actions have consequences and results. God allows it but we still play a part. Therefore the details really matter. What I do everyday really does matter!

That's why it is so important for me to go to God everyday and clean out my spiritual pipes...to confess all the ways that my self-absorption clogs my life. Therefore the more that gunk is cleaned out of my heart the more purely God's power and love flows through me and out to a world that longs for his love.

 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

EPHESIANS 2:4-5