Keep up the Maintenance

Yesterday I was at Newbold for my first maintenance appointment for 5000 miles on the Rav. When hubby bought the car he got the full maintenance package so that we will just go to the dealer every 5000 and all basic maintenance is handled by the manufacturer. When we come to the dealer they will have any custom part needed; they will know how to take it apart and build it again if necessary; when the regular maintenance is done on a Toyota u don’t have any worry about having a good car for life (it’s expected end). 

While sitting there the Lord dropped in my spirit that we are the same way. If we just keep up our regular maintenance by keeping our tires rotated and topping off our levels of his spirit by reading his word (the manual) and monitor the wear and tear by staying connected with our regular (every Sunday and Wednesday) maintenance rotating and balancing our tires (staying connected to like parts) we will be able to stay in our lane and not drift off the road.  Then when we break down we can go back to the dealer because he knows the end from the beginning; he knows every hair on our head; he knows the plans he has for us for our expected end.  Even if u have picked up some junk yard parts along the way he can work that together for ur good because the engine (heart soul mind) are still in tact and connected to our dealer (God). Let that encourage you!  Feeling like u need a tune up? Just pull into your dealer (church, ministry, house of faith) or your own shade tree maintenance at your house and let the hood up (raise ur hands in praise) 

Be Blessed and be a blessing.

School Clothes? Church Clothes? Whole Armor

Growing up being raised primarily by my great-grandmother so affectionately named Muhdear she had rules about clothing. You would have various sets of clothing based on the timing and need for that clothing. There were your school clothes that were reserved for school and school only. There were your church clothes that were reserved for church and church only. There were your playclothes that were over worn school clothes that had now been deemed appropriate playclothes. Playclothes were rarely bought to be playclothes they were downgraded school clothes that now could be played in. Cut off high water jeans and other creative alterations for prolonged use! 

As an adult I have subconsciously carried this thinking over.  I come home and head straight to my room to take off my work/church (or wherever I have come from that day) clothes and put on loungewear (today’s vernacular for your mommas house dress...just much cuter).  I never really thought about it until today!  I cringe when my husband comes home from church and takes out the trash or starts a load of laundry without changing clothes!  I know I have said more than once since we got married, “why do u still have ur church clothes on” with my bare feet hopped up on the couch in my cute lounge clothes!   

  When it comes to the full armor of God however it calls for “all the clothes no matter the occasion”.  Ephesians 6:13-17 says this.  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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

See what this is saying?  Here’s what I see. Can’t just have faith, we need that salvation and sword. Can’t just have the righteousness but we need that belt of truth the righteousness is based on! Whew. See as a child when I outgrew that shirt for school I just made it a play shirt.  When u outgrow ur measure of faith because of you’re digging into his truth more and more you need more items of clothing or ARMOR to contend with the enemy.  You need the whole armor. You need to keep ur church clothes on even when u get home and u r chilling. Lol no but seriously we must put on the whole armor.  All of it. It’s only when we are completely suited and booted that we can fight this good fight of faith. With everything coming at you, at me, at us let us do as verse 19 says ...with this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Be blessed today!  

Dagne