This week’s article is a brief, neat little tangent from our Novena Devo on the Full Armor of God. We’ll circle around to pick up His Sword of the Spirit next week. For this week, let’s consider another type of biblical sword: the reckless tongue that spews piercing words. Like mine tends to do. My son had his wisdom teeth removed and I… The day after my husband left for a last-minute out-of-town job for 4 to 6 weeks,... Read more
“Take the helmet of salvation” Ephesians 6:17a (NIV) I made a new friend one Friday evening when I volunteered for a kids’ event at my church. He was one of the other volunteers on the event team. I recognized him as the new singer in our church’s incredibly talented worship band. His voice is so tremendous, I had been curious all along if he were a professional singer. I live in Los Angeles, LaLa Land of Milk and Honey Voices,... Read more
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16 (NIV) Within 2 months of my baptism, I had pulled God’s Shield of Faith over myself at least a half dozen times. In hindsight, I probably should have used it several dozen times. But I kept forgetting I even had a shield. The times I did remember, I clunked it around, unskilled and inexperienced.... Read more
“… and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15 (NIV) I’ve been a dancer since the age of 5. I performed professionally with a dance troupe in the 5th grade. Stayed involved in student productions and dance marathon fundraisers through college and med school. Realized my childhood dream of being a paid dancer in a dance company on my 32nd birthday. And started my own dance company then became a dance... Read more
“Stand firm, then… with the breastplate of righteousness in place,” Ephesians 6:14a (NIV) I vividly remember when the first loop rollercoaster, Lighting Loops, opened at the pre-Six Flags amusement park, Great Adventure, in Jackson, NJ. I worked there a couple summers, so I happily rode it many times. I was accustomed to the lap bars that held you in place on what might now be considered quaint, “old-fashioned” rollercoasters. At Great Adventure, that classic coaster was The Runaway Train. The... Read more
“Therefore put on the full armor of God…. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,” Ephesians 6:13a-14a (NIV) On the morning of my baptism, Satan took a major swipe at me in a way he thought would work – because it had worked in his favor before. (To read how he used my husband in such a sly way that morning, click to this post now, and then come right back to continue.) In that... Read more
I love me some swords clanging against shields, shields shielding against arrows, and the valiant – if violent – strength displayed in such scenes. After accepting Christ, I wondered if I’d have to give up this guilty pleasure. All. That. Violence. Then I read about wearing God’s full armor. Well, well, well. It seemed like a lot. Requiring spiritual strength. And #skills. I started to wonder: In our 21st century life, when the violence can definitely be brutal, yet is... Read more
How scared do you get when you’ve got a medical procedure – like a colonoscopy – coming up? For one of my colonoscopies, a nurse to taught me how to shield that specific, modern-day fear… by using God’s wings, as described in Scripture. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalm 91:4 (NIV) Sheer Misery and Sheer Fear My mom died of colon cancer,... Read more
“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9 (ESV) What does Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, want us to practice? He wants us to practice prayer. But why “practice”? When Track Practice Hurts My son came home from track practice one day, early in the season before his first meet, utterly exhausted. Despite tons of homework and a looming... Read more
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” James 4:17 (NIV) God’s First Test: Would I Sin? When we lived in a high rise in Koreatown in Los Angeles, I had a beautiful balcony garden. It was high-maintenance and big, especially for a city apartment. I loved my lush urban oasis – and I loved caring for it – very much. During this time, I accepted a position as... Read more
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