overcomer

  • Your Royal Announcement

    The one who is victorious will, like them,
be dressed in white…
I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but
I will announce before my Father and his angels
that they are mine.
Revelation 3:5 NIV…NLT

    YOUR ROYAL ANNOUNCEMENT

    royal wedding harry and megan

    On May 19, 2018, the world joined in on a truly royal celebration with the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, still Duke and Duchess of Sussex.  I thought it was very appropriate that at the same time in Canada it was our annual Victoria Day holiday weekend, commemorating the late Queen Victoria’s birthday.  

    The monarchy was forefront in the conversations of most everyone as millions watched the marriage nuptials. Across in North America, early morning parties were planned with girls of all ages dressing up in white wedding gowns, attempting to live vicariously through Meghan Markle; a regular girl turned princess.

    Sherry drinking royal tea blendHere’s a picture of me celebrating the wedding drinking the official royal wedding tea blend 🙂  {Notice the properly positioned pinky}

    Even though Harry and Meghan’s wedding did veer from some of the monarchist traditions, the formality of royal announcements was a part of the day.  Just hearing, “Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah! All rise. Now entering, the Duke and Duchess of…” makes you curious to see who’s entering.  As for me, a girl brought up at the dragstrip, this all seems like a foreign language, but it sure helps me to grasp the weight of these words in Revelations.

    John records in Revelations 3:5 that if you are a part of those who are victorious by overcoming to the end, three things will take place.

    1. Jesus will dress you in white; symbolizing our right-standing with God through Christ. Since your position now is a daughter of the King, you’ll be dressed like one.
    2. Jesus will write your name in permanent marker, never to be blotted out of the Book of Life.
    3. Jesus will make, YOUR ROYAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

    Jesus will introduce you to the Father and His angels! To think that Jesus is going to announce your entrance into heaven is mind-blowing! Who are we that Jesus, The Son of God should give us such a royal announcement?  

    Through your faith in Christ: you are adopted into THE royal family, you’re an heir, holding the position of a son, as a daughter of the King of Kings! That’s why you’re worthy of such an honour!  In case you’re still finding it hard to believe, this truth is confirmed at least three times in Scripture.  Jesus himself says in Matthew 10:32 and Luke 12:8 ” Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.”

    In case you’re still finding it hard to believe, this truth is confirmed at least three times in Scripture.  Jesus himself says in Matthew 10:32 and Luke 12:8

    “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.”

    As I studied this verse in the original Greek I became completely overwhelmed with wonder of God’s grace and His goodness.  When describing those who will be introduced by Jesus, the words are translated in our Bible versions as one who overcomes, conquers or is victorious.  The original says they are those who “subdue (literally or figuratively) conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory”1.

    Let the knowledge of WHO you are, your royal identity as a daughter of the King and the future hope of, YOUR ROYAL ANNOUNCEMENT help you to be a victorious overcomer, conquering whatever this world throws your way! 

    Prayer

    Father, I thank You for Your awesome gift of grace.  You give to me what I don’t deserve. Open my spiritual eyes to see myself as Your child, a worthy heir and daughter of the King. Help me to overcome so I make it to the day Your son introduces me to You!  In Jesus name…Amen.

    Drawing from the well

    1. Revelations 3:5
    2. Matthew 10:32
    3. Luke 12:8
    4. Luke 10:20

    Royal Video

    Here’s an interesting video to watch of Her Majesty the Queen of England and the royal family being announced just for a luncheon! Such pomp and circumstance.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eBYUOKQOnE

    Soul H2O book

    If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

    Footnotes:

    1. https://www.godrules.net/library/strongs2b/gre3528.htm Website accessed 2014-10-06

    YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
    MONDAY    Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis, Soul Survival – Donna Reidland,
    TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
    WEDNESDAYCoffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz GiertzTHURSDAYHeart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms, Chasing Community– Barbara Bradford OttingerFRIDAYDance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell ELLEN’S PICKS– Ellen Graf-Martin

    *Revised post on 2021-01-08, originally from 2014-10-06 & 2018-05-22

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  • Overcomer

    “for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
                                           1 John 5:4-5 NIV (Italics added)

    A year ago, we had to cancel our family vacation plans because Todd was waiting to get a call from the hospital to have open-heart surgery. He couldn’t even walk around our neighborhood and had to reserve his strength to continue working.   Last week, just one year later, we were able to take our family holiday. The trip made it clear to me that I married an OVERCOMER!

    On our trip we all went surfing, swam, played Ping-Pong, hiked a mountain and walked miles of California streets! Yes, I wrote all! Todd did everything we all did and even showed the youngins how to have the right surf posture! Kudos to the old guy! The whole vacation was filled with constant reminders that Todd had overcome so many obstacles in life. Instead of allowing his heart problems taking him down, Todd has used this hardship to propel him forward. It’s created in him a drive to make his life count…to not miss out on all that God has for him! Since surgery Todd has begun writing for LifeWay’s Stand Firm Men’s devotional magazine, his book is published, we’ve started a new business, he’s illustrated two children’s books, painted a masterpiece, drawn countless caricatures, gone back to firefighting, done magazine, radio and now TV interviews.

    How does this shy guy from a small town that most people have never heard of overcome so much? The answer is found in the verse above. Todd has seen victory in his life not because he has confidence in himself, but because he has a confident faith in The One who has already overcome the world! As Todd puts his belief in the truth that Jesus has paved the way, he is able to be an OVERCOMER and so are you!

    Prayer

    Father…I am so thankful that Your son Jesus was so willing to come to earth and show us the way to live as an OVERCOMER! Help us not to live in our brokenness, but to place our belief in YOU to overcome! May we walk in the confidence that You have made us victorious and live like we are! In Jesus Name…Amen

    #mancave40  GREAT FATHER’S DAY GIFT!

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  • Identity Theft

    Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”
    Genesis 32:28  NIV

    Identity TheftHave you ever watched the movie Identity Thief with Melissa McCarthy? She hilariously and yes irreverently, portrayed a girl who takes on the financial identity of Jason Bateman’s character. This conwoman uses his credit to buy stuff and destroy his financial rating. In the end your heart turns toward this crazy thief as you learn of her troubled childhood. She was attracted to this type of crime to get away from her birth identity. She could relate to Jacob in the Bible who needed an Identity Theft.

    Jacob the Deceiver

    Jacob was the son of Abraham. His very nature was described in the meaning of his name; ‘deceiver’. You know him, He was the one who conned his brother out of his birthright and then tricked his father into pronouncing the blessing for the firstborn on him. This put Jacob ‘on the run’ to get away from his brother Essau. The saying ‘you reap what you sow’ played out in Jacob’s life as he was then tricked by his father-in-law Laban into marrying Leah when he thought he was marrying Rachel.

    Years later, Jacob in turn tricks Laban and then flees that situation. On the run again, Jacob meets up with his brother Essau who surprisingly doesn’t kill him! I think at this point Jacob was finally ready to face his issues with deceit.

    Jacob to Israel

    After a long night of meeting with God and not giving up till he received God’s blessing, Jacob’s name was changed by God to ‘Israel’. He went from deceiver to overcomer when God pulled an ancient day Identity Theft!

    Have you been ‘on the run’ from God for a long time or know someone who is? Trust that God is chasing you down to read this message. He wants you to know that He’s in the business of changing flawed identities and producing overcomers!

    Prayer

    Father…You know the flaws at the very core of my identity. I open my life to You and ask that You would change my heart. Write a new name over me and produce an overcoming spirit deep within so I don’t give up and can see your blessing touch my life!  In Jesus name…Amen

    Soul H2O bookIf you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

    WHERE YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP MY BLOG WITH OR PLACES WHERE MY WRITING HAS BEEN FEATURED

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