"JUST STAND"

By: Donna Selma Lind

 "JUST STAND"

"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." Ephesians 6:13

Trials, tribulation, heartaches...we've all had them. Most of the time they come from within our own camp.(Those sting the most!) 
Some we bring on ourselves, some from others, some we are blind-sided by, some we expect, some we have no control over. What do they all have in common? The enemy. The enemy is the one who brings division and strife,chaos and confusion.All these things turn into trials and battles that can consume us if we don't know how to handle them. 

The LORD warned us we would have trials in this life;  "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."John 16:33  

I don't know why I am so surprised every time a grenade is thrown into my life, it's not like I don't know or haven't been warned or been through countless trials before.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." 1 Peter 4:12

Trials  and tribulations happen, they are part of life. 

What we do to prepare ourselves and how we react in these various trials is what makes the difference.

It is so easy in the midst of a trial to react in our emotions. I for one am guilty of this especially if I'm blind-sided and didn't see the fiery dart coming in my direction!

That is why I have been faithfully "Putting on my Armor" since I was twenty something.
A soldier doesn't go into battle without putting on his protective gear, neither should we.
Because we are all in a battle everyday of our lives.
Each morning when I wake up before my feet hit the ground I praise the Lord and PRAY out loud the verses from Ephesians 6:13- 17

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand....." 

In verse 12 right before this we are reminded; "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this worlds darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Why do I have to go through this stuff you ask? 
The Bible tells us throughout scripture that trials refine us. That we may become a living hope for someone else, a witness and encouragement for the Glory of God.

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer various trials; so that the authenticity of your faith - more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may  result in praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:7

 "Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."James 1:2-3

So if I understand what I am reading in the Bible here is what to expect:

* TROUBLE & TRIALS & BATTLES. 

* IT'S NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, IT'S NOT THE PEOPLE, BUT IT IS AGAINST THE DARK, EVIL ENEMY OF OUR SOULS.

*PREPARE FOR BATTLE BY PUTTING ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD.

*PREPARE* PRAISE  * PRAY * 

*WHEN WE HAVE DONE ALL OF THESE THINGS, WE STAND. 
WE JUST STAND!

We stand on God's promises because His promises are faithful and true! 
We stand on God's Word because His Word does not return void!
We STAND! Believing! We JUST STAND!

THE BATTLE IS NOT OURS , THE BELONGS TO THE LORD!

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to STAND still."Exodus 14:14

You may feel like you are the only one going through a trial or battle.
You are not the only one!  The devil likes us to think we are all alone, that is part of his isolation trick! Don't fall for it! Surround yourself with Prayer Warriors and Bible Believers that will lift you up and encourage you!

I myself have been in many battles in my lifetime, especially recently. But I have come through these trials stronger in my faith and because of God I am able to help comfort others in their own battles. 
If I am able to help others because I myself have endured the trials, then that is reason enough for me to continue to STAND! 


Hang in there! You will get through this trial, this battle. You will be Victorious because Christ is Victorious in you! The Lord will see you through!
 You can STAND on that!

"The pain that you've been feeling can't compare to the joy that's coming." Romans 8:18

"BEHIND THE MASKS"

By: Donna Selma Lind

"But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known." Luke 12:2

I think I put my first mask on at about the age of six years old. I discovered this a few years ago when I was looking back at some old family movies. There was a film of my little sister and myself playing, my Dad was correcting me for not doing something the right way and I remembered that I felt like I had disappointed Daddy. I thought I wasn't good enough and I wanted to be a good girl and make my Daddy proud. 
So I put on the Mask of Perfectionism. 
"If I could be perfect maybe people would love me." 

This set the beginning of a course (or should I say curse) that nearly destroyed me throughout my life.

I put on my second mask at twelve years old when my parents separated and later divorced. My"perfect family and life" was broken. The pain was unbearable. So I put on the Mask of Fixing.
"If I could fix everything, we could have our family back."

My baby sister Tammy Sue was only fourteen years old when she died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. I was seventeen and the grief and loss was so heavy. I was a senior in high school and already working a part time job,I decided to get a second job to keep busy.
So I put on the Mask of a Workaholic. 
"If I could work two jobs and go to school it would help me forget and numb the grief."

I got married at nineteen. For the next twenty plus years I wore alot of masks. It's what some of us do when we find ourselves in a place we never thought we would be. I married an alcoholic that was very abusive to me. Although he had some great qualities, he was very troubled. When you love a person and they are in pain like this, their pain becomes your pain, and when you don't know how to help them get better or they won't get help it can make you sick also just in different ways. So we hide behind our masks.

Some of the masks I wore in my marriage were:
* Mask of Fear.
"If people find out, or if I tell anyone the truth, what will they think?     I am afraid there will be consequences to pay."

 * Mask of Co-dependency.
"I'm the only one. They need me. They said they can't live without me"

* Mask of Pain, Despair and Sickness.
"If I can just keep it all inside, stuff it and not tell anyone, no one will know the truth. Just hold on a while longer it will get better." 
This mask almost became my death mask. It's a story for another time but I spent many years literally on my death bed. Dozens of operations, procedures and illnesses that left me in chronic pain and sick on a daily basis for most of my life.

* Mask of Divorce, Shame, Guilt and Failure and Grief.
In the end when there was no other choice except for Divorce or my own death I chose Divorce. Not what I ever wanted nor ever considered for my life, but it was where we ended up. I wore the Masks of Divorce, Shame, Guilt, Failure and Grief all at the same time.
These masks I wore for a long time because not only did I experience the Divorce but two days after the Divorce the unimaginable happened when my husband took his own life and committed suicide. I cannot express my feelings or put into words my pain and devastation. 
The shame, guilt, failure and grief I went through and the years of hiding behind the masks that I lived.

 But I lived. 

But for the Grace of God, I lived! 

And because Jesus Christ lives in me I can face another day without wearing anymore Masks!

Because Jesus Christ loves me I am free to live!  I am no longer in captivity trying to be perfect because Christ is perfect in me!

I am no longer a slave to fixing everything and working myself to death along with fear, shame and guilt!

Please don't Judge me or others. No one but the Lord knows the pain we hide behind our Masks!

Jesus Christ came to set me free from pain and a life of wearing Masks! 
He came to set you free too!


What or Who are you hiding from?

We cannot hide from God. He knows all and He is the only one who knows the truth about you, your life and your situation. 
God knows what is behind our Masks. Let's all make today the day we remove our Masks and be brave and bold and real enough to live without a Mask!


What are the Masks you are wearing?


"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."Colossians 1:13-14



Are you ready to take off the Masks?

 "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
2 Corinthians 3:16

Somebody out there needed to hear this today. If this testimony has helped or blessed you in anyway, please leave me a comment or email me. I would love to pray for you! 
If you think this could help someone else please share this with them. 
Thank you and God Bless you!

"HATS OFF!"

By: Donna Selma Lind

"HATS OFF"

"Honor her for all that her hands have done."
Proverbs 31:31

When I was a little girl we wore hats. All the ladies big and small wore hats. Especially for church,holiday's and special occasions. 

Easter Sunday I wore a white straw hat with a yellow daisy along with a matching straw purse. Christmas was a red velvet Gatsby hat with white fur trim. My Mother, Grandmother's and Aunts all wore very colorful, loud and proud hats. Grandma Kathryn favored a bright blue peacock feather Cloche hat while Grandma Nonnie rocked a wide brimmed black Derby style with big white bows and flowers. Mama was stunning in her classy little Jackie Kennedy Pillbox hat and pearls.

While these were beautiful hats for everyone to see, there were many other hats the ladies in my life wore that were not visible. The invisible hats are the ones that are the most important!

The Hats Mama wore:

NURSE- Mama kissed my owie's and boo-boo's and applied a healing balm of love.

TAXI DRIVER- Before Uber, there was Mom's Taxi service. 
She drove us everywhere, no meter running and no fare charged.

COOK- Three meals a day. Seven days a week. 
Wonder-bread and bologna sandwiches with the crust cut off and Twinkies and Raspberry Zingers in my flower power lunch box. Thanks Mom! 

TEACHER - School homework, tying shoelaces, art and craft teacher.

ENTERTAINER- Birthday parties. Pool parties. School plays. School parties.

CHEERLEADER- "There isn't anything you can't do!" "YOU CAN DO IT!"

HOUSEKEEPER- Not only was Mom a great Housekeeper, she was a very gifted interior decorator and always kept a beautiful home.

SEAMSTRESS- Mom would make all our costumes for school and made some of our clothes. She also made homemade curtains and pillows and decorations.

I didn't think about it when I was a kid, but Mom really had to wear many hats and fill many roles throughout the years. Especially when she became a single parent. 

You may be out there right now and recognize that you have been trying to wear these same hats and many more. 

Stop for a moment and write down a list of the many hats you wear.

Do you feel overwhelmed sometimes?

Are there any hats you are wearing that you can take off?

What hats do you enjoy wearing?

What hats do you not enjoy wearing?

It's okay not to wear all the hat's. We are not made to!

God created us with specific gifts and talents, some hats just fit better than others! 

Learning the difference is the beginning of freedom, the beginning of embracing who you are meant to be. Don't try to wear somebody else's hat, it never fits right!

"God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well." 
Romans 12:6

Think and Pray before you put on anymore hats! 

"It's a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one's vows." Proverbs 20:25

When you are wearing the hat that God designed specifically for you, you will enjoy it and your family will enjoy you even more!

Choose the hats that will matter to your family and God in years to come!

IN HONOR OF MY MOM AND ALL THE OTHER MOMS, THANK YOU!

 "HATS OFF TO YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE AND ALL YOU DO!" 

I love you Mom!

"Her children arise and call her blessed." Proverbs 31:28

HALLELUJAH! 

PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

Donna Selma Lind

I would love to hear your hat stories!

Share them with me in the comment's box. 

You can also let me know if you notice anything special about the lovely ladies hat in the photo above! :-)