From the front porch and beyond:

Life has changed.

I sit and turn it over in my head, it’s been changing for quite a few years now. A little each day; well some days there are leaps.

Years ago, I told God, there will come a time when I’ll study your word more. I’ll pray more. I’ll go deeper.

I got busier, time was shorter and my heart became more distant and I tried to do things on my own. It didn’t work very well.

I had lost my awe, my joy, my thankfulness, and stopped working at believing.

My garments of compassion, patience, kindness, and goodness had grown thin and neglected.

Take up your armor

My armor of God had not been cleaned and polished, it had sat in the corner rusting, covered with dust. My sword was dulled and useless from lack of use. My shield of faith had thinned. My love for Christ had become a stagnant tiny puddle.

Then God began to call me back, slowing life down and even requiring my attention.

There were purposes that he needed me to fulfill.

He sat down, and I turned and came back and sat with him. He had me open His word and He began to teach. I struggled and He strengthens. I committed to the work of my belief and spent time each day, mending, adding patches, dusting, and polishing. He reminded me of my purpose: glorifying him. He gave me tools of encouragement and prayer.

And now He calls me:

He calls for me to come.
He calls me to do the work of believing.
He calls me to remember He is doing things too wonderful for me to understand.
He calls to encourage.
He calls to prayer.
He calls me to beg for Him to do more in me, so He can do abundantly more for others for His glory.
He calls me to compassion, kindness, patience, and goodness for His name’s sake.
He calls me to take up His armor.
He calls me to be still and know!
He is God!

Tools of your armor

Psalm 30:18 Three things are too wonderful for me;
Four I do not understand:

Psalms 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

John:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6:14 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Debbie Kendrick