April Bullet Journal Calendar :)

Good Morning!

Due to my illness, (I’m slowly getting better!) I was unable to create a March Bullet Journal Calendar.  I will be adding March when I get the chance, but for now…here is April!

 

Enjoy:)

 

The Shield of Faith

I am in week 5 of the study THE ARMOR OF GOD by Priscilla Shirer..studying the shield of faith.

I have been a long time listener of her Father…Pastor Tony Evans.

This week, Priscilla quotes her earthly Daddy. Here is a very memorable quote from him this week!

 

More on the shield of faith later this week!

Blessings,

Praying The Scriptures For Your Children

Praying God’s Word is the most effective way to honor God’s Will for our lives and the lives of our children…which are His ❤

As a Mother, one of my favorite books (and one I most often give as a gift) is Jodie Berndt’s PRAYING THE SCRIPTURES FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

As parents we often find ourselves feeling helpless…especially when our “babies” start growing up and making their own decisions. (Which starts at the age of two 😜)

Our tendency is to work hard at controlling their actions and their environment…and we fail…because these things are NOT in our control. (But we keep trying!)

PRAYING THE SCRIPTURES FOR YOUR CHILDREN is a WONDERFUL resource to help us “let go, and let God.”  Jodie has filled her book with specific prayers that cover the needs of our children, and what could be better than praying God’s Word over them?

The amazing thing is, our Father provides for US as we surrender our will to His. We learn to trust Him more…we gain opportunities to experience His goodness, His provision, and His faithfulness…which naturally grows OUR faith. (Not just the faith of our kids) God always extends His blessing beyond what we can even imagine ❤ (Ephesians 3)

Here is a link PRAYING THE SCRIPTURES FOR YOUR CHILDREN

Don’t let the enemy draw you down the trail of discouragement and hopelessness. Get out God’s Word and take charge over him…He’s not the boss of you. (Or your kids) In Christ there is victory over any obstacle, and blessings that come through our obedience.

Our kids are never too old to be prayed for! Can I get an amen?

Just another reason to remember our armor…and our sword:)

In Him,

 

Flip your boat over

In the study The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer, Priscilla tells us a story about her neighbor’s canoe.

Having 3 boys, and living near a pond is beyond tempting.  Boys are made to play in the mud of a pond.

Anyway, she shares that all she has to do is say the word, and her neighbor walks down to the pond to turn over the boat and make it ready for the eager passengers…Happy to share his boat and his pond.

One particular day, this nice man was unable to meet them, but insisted they go anyway.

So, it was up to them to walk down and flip over the boat, knocking out any unwanted visitors, before they would get in for a turn.  As she tells this part of the story, (during the video) she scrunches up her nose and confides in us that she isn’t a big fan of the creepy crawly’s that hide under the dark, damp, boat. It’s scary…who knows what is going to jump out from underneath that cold, dark place…or what might still be hiding down in the bottom of the boat…ready to join them on their trip around the pond.

If left unturned, all sorts of creepy bugs, worms, and mold lurk underneath…growing and multiplying…inviting all their bug friends to move in.

Priscilla says this:

“I didn’t need to personally invite them (fruit flies) into my house, all I had to do was create an environment conducive for them, and they just invited themselves. The environment I created WAS the invitation.”

Unrighteousness is all the invitation the enemy needs to set up camp.

The “one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it” sins. (James 4:17) Sin exposes you to the dark dwelling creepy crawlers.

What a perfect visual for our need to flip over our boat! If we keep the schemes and lies of the enemy away from the light, they grow and fester in the dark and overtake us…affecting everything we do.

We have to lean in towards the light…everyday. Plug into the source. Surround ourselves with truth and truth seekers…so we aren’t distracted by what is lurking around the corner, or under our boat! Expose it to the light, gaining God’s perspective as He illuminates our life with truth and hope.

Let’s remember to flip over our boat daily!

xo,

sue

Doodle 101 / Gospel of Peace

Hello! I continue to study The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer.

It has been so encouraging to hear from so many other women who have done, or are doing this study:) Thank you for taking the time to comment! We need to stick together and encourage one another daily! (Not compare with one another daily!!)

This week it’s all about Peace.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. -Ephesians 6:13-15

This is a fruit that is at the top of the enemy’s list to steal.

When it’s stolen we are left with…

Division, Distruption, Disturbance, Discord…these create chaos, confusion, and conflict…

leaving us unbalanced and filled with anxiety, worry, and turmoil.

-Self focused and full of fear.

To fight his tricks, we must put on the readiness given by the shoes of the Gospel of Peace.

I love the visual Priscilla gives when she describes the battle shoes the Roman soldiers put on.  I didn’t realize they had “spikes” on their soles…giving them better stability… sure footed and able to stand their ground when faced with adversity. They surely learned from stumbling.

I also love the statement she made below:

“When we are wearing our Father’s shoes our footprints can start looking a whole lot like His.” Priscilla Shirer.

Let’s be our Father’s children…with a desire to be more like Him, let’s get up and eagerly put on His shoes…Then we will be stable, sure footed and ready to stand against attack.

Blessings,

 

Doodle 101 / God Empowers / from The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer

Only through the power of the Lord, can we move forward in the direction He would have us go.

Are there any behaviors or attitudes in your life that, honestly, you are doubtful you’ll ever be able to change?

“No matter what it is…the Spirit can and will change you. Things you used to want, you’ll lose an appetite for.  Other things you never thought you’d want, you will begin to crave.  Environments and conversations you could once tolerate and even enjoy despite undercurrents of evil will begin to feel uncomfortable and distasteful to you. And you, daughter of God, will start wearing that breastplate well.”

-Priscilla Shirer

Our Father longs to be gracious to us!

“And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him.”

-Isaiah 30:18

Let’s plug in our cord ❤

Bless you,

Doodle 101 / Pickles & Ice Cream/ Have my tastebuds changed????

I am continuing in the study The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer.

This week Priscilla talks about her tastes.

Isn’t it funny how our tastes change?

When my husband and I were first married, I’d say my tastes were simple “arts and craft country,”  We often laugh, when we look back at our first home…mauve colored walls…did we really like those? Eek.

As a child, I used to marvel at the onion, tomato, and mustard sandwiches my Mom would eat. GROSS MOM.  Blue cheese, yuk. Creamed Spinach,…double yuk.  All tastes I now enjoy.  My tastes have changed.

Priscilla mentions that during one of her pregnancies, she had the overwhelming craving to eat pickles and ice cream…at the same time….something she had not had a taste for before this season of change…this time when a  precious little life was growing from within in her, creating a change in her “tastes.”

What a vivid example and picture of the change that takes place in our heart when we intentionally put on our breastplate of Righteousness…the very armor that protects our most vital organ.

CHANGE happens. It must, or we are not growing to be more like Christ.

No change = no armor.

No armor means no protection and no weapon to fight, allowing cracks to ensue….inviting the enemy in.

If my tastes aren’t changing, well…then “Houston, there is a problem.”

In the study, we are pointed to Ephesians for guidance. (Ephesians 4 and 5.)

Paul urges us to put away old tastes for new.

Put away anger…don’t let the sun go down on it. (Do I harbor anger towards my friends, co-workers, spouse?)

Put away destruction and use your hands to help, not hurt…to work honestly in order to have something to share with others. (Do I work for myself, or do I work to SHARE what God provides)

Put away corrupt talk…do not speak unless it is to build up others…not tear down, but extend grace. (Do I speak harsh words to others, forgetting the grace that has been extended to me?)

Put away bitterness, wrath, anger, slander and malice. (Do I hold on to bitterness and wish others ill will? Do I say unkind things to or about someone?)

Put away sexual impurity, immorality, or covetousness. Do not allow foolishness or crude talking. (Do I allow sin before my eyes and ears, do I covet what I do not have? Do I listen to foolishness or crude talk?)

The above tastes originate in sin.

Righteousness comes from right standing with God…as we develop new tastes that are in alignment with His tastes.

This is where true peace, joy, and contentment reside…in our obedience to truth.

Every day, I must check my taste buds!

Such a great study.

I pray that we are each reminded of our need for changing tastes.  That we will put away the old and allow the change to begin.

Blessings,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Enemy’s Strategies by Priscilla Shirer

WHen we know what we’re up against…we can stand up and fight with The Lord’s Strategy!

The Enemy’s Strategies by Priscilla Shirer/ Illustrated by Sue Carroll

Click on the image above to print off a copy…post it somewhere you will see it everyday…a reminder of the fight that in Christ, you have already won!

God Bless You!

Doodle 101 / Belt of Truth

Amazing Study…Annointed Teacher.

The Armor of God, by Priscilla Shirer.

We live in the midst of a battle.  It is not a battle of flesh and blood.

Our neighbor, or friend, our spouse, or co-worker, our family member…they are not our enemies.

The father of lies is our enemy.  If we do not know his strategy or our defense we stand no chance to win the fight.

Our stabilizer, our base and support is the truth…

THE TRUTH is the key to defeating the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy us, our relationships, our families…our purpose and salvation.

So…we MUST KNOW IT.  Our good Father has not left us helpless.

He came to take the sin out of our account…& He did not leave “our bank” empty… He left it filled with His Spirit…our help…

if only we will ask & receive.

My favorite lesson this week came from the example of the Roman Soldier’s first piece of Armor…The Belt, which was his first defense.

This is the most important piece…the armor that supports the weight of the Breastplate (our Righteousness) and carries the Sword (God’s Word)

Don’t leave home without it:)

Thank you Father, for giving us the gift of your Word…with it, we can know who we are, and WHOSE we are…we have the power to overcome, as Christ overcame.

SOOOOOOOO Grateful,