Sandals of Peace

In the midst of yesterdays ultra cool God is So Here experience at breakfast, there was also another thing happening that I didn't really get until later and I want to write about it so I don't forget about it.

A little background: I had gotten new white Sunday sandals for the girls earlier this week and Katie had hers on at breakfast yesterday.

So when I was going over the armor of God, I was talking about the sandals of peace, ready to share the gospel and Katie jumped up and said, "Just like these sandals!" I love almost 5 year olds!

Later that day on several occasions when things were a little ugly she would look at me and say, "Mommy, do we need my sandals of peace?"

I just absolutely LOVE 4 and 5 year olds and their complete innocence, yet wisdom and simplicity that we need to hang onto as adults.

Do you need your sandals of peace today? I know a sweet girl who can share hers!

O:)
Melissa

And a child shall lead them

Man oh man do I love my Jesus! Let me tell you what HE did this morning! I'm not sure where to begin, but suffice it to say that there are some issues God is really working with me on and, as with anything, there are times I feel more strengthened to fight the enemy and some days it just doesn't seem worth it. (Satan likes those days) I was having one of those days yesterday and last night and feeling down in the deepest pit. I was crying out for help this morning in my sweet QT, reading over some scripture, trying to find something that I could not find. Still not feeling like God was listening (even though I know HE was) and cried for the Spirit to groan for me (Romans 8:26). A while later things started hopping around the house and sweet little Leah came down. I was looking all over Habakkuk trying to find what I was looking for but I couldn't. Then I remembered about Haggai and that is exactly what the Lord was trying to point me to. More on that in another post, I need to muse on it a while. So, the morning progress with thankfully not too much trouble and blah blah and we are eating breakfast. The conversation moves around to homework and practicing Bible verses for Bible drill. All of a sudden Rebecca jumps out of her chair and says, "The armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-20" I just sit there stunned (the Lord is using that with me too) then say, "Well, what is it?" But she reminded me it was just a key passage and she just had to know the reference. So I proceeded with great flair to go over each part, literally putting it on all of us and showing how to apply it. Then when I got to the Belt of Truth Rebecca jumps up again and says, "Just like the Voice of Truth" (on their musical for choir they are working on at church). She is tearing the living room apart looking for the CD and finds it and we fix it to #13. Pow! Right there GOD socks it in my house and flows down THE TRUTH over me... Oh, what I would do to have the kind of faith it takes To climb out of this boat I'm in Onto the crashing waves To step out of my comfort zone Into the realm of the unknown Where Jesus is, And he's holding out his hand But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The waves they keep on telling me time and time again "Boy, you'll never win, you'll never win." But the voice of truth tells me a different story the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!" and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth Oh, what I would do to have the kind of strength it takes To stand before a giant with just a sling and a stone Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors shaking in their armor Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The giant keeps on telling me time and time again "Boy you'll never win, you'll never win." But the stone was just the right size to put the giant on the ground and the waves they don't seem so high from on top of them looking down I will soar with the wings of eagles when I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus singing over me But the voice of truth tells me a different story The voice of truth says "do not be afraid" And the voice of truth says "this is for my glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth (you can listen here to the whole song by Casting Crowns) It was all I could do to just sit and bawl my eyes out. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for groaning for me. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me and putting up with me, no matter how many times I fail. Thank you, Jesus, for reminding me about the voice of truth and belt of truth I need to keep around me. Thank you, Jesus, for using my precious challenge child to send me where I needed to be, even without knowing what she was doing. Can't you just imagine the angels waiting breathlessly after she jumped up and said that about the armor of God? Like when you are giving someone a really awesome present and you can't wait for them to open it? How many times do we do things or say things the Lord wants us to, without even knowing what we are doing? How many times do we not heed the Lord's nudging and someone, even a stranger, misses what may be exactly what they need for that moment? I don't know if the Lord nudged Rebecca this morning to jump up and say that, or if she just did it to show me she is one step closer to getting her verses learned. But she did, and now I won't ever be the same.

Isaiah 11:6 ... a little child will lead them.

O:) Melissa