My Ruby Girls! I have missed you so much! I have so much to tell you! Where should I start? I do apologize for not blogging. My life has been in an uproar since August. I ended up with Covid and did not know it until I had it a whole week!! My first test came back negative and when the 2nd test came back positive, no one at the clinic notified me. I called the clinic and found out; I was positive. I had been socializing with people all that week. I knew something was wrong because I was in a lot of pain. A sinus infection, as they told me it was, does not feel like that! I am so grateful it was not as bad as the first time I had it. I spent my two weeks' vacation sick! Thank goodness the only plans I had was to be at home.
I have been going through a Job like experience. For those not familiar with who Job is, he went through series after series of problems. (Read the book of Job) He lost his children, livestock and servants in one day! Then for 41 chapters he had to go through until he was given double for his trouble in chapter 42! That's a lot of going through for a Bible character! It took Adam & Eve less chapters than that to mess up the whole world! I have been going through a few chapters of pain myself. Covid, cat sick, loss of a friend and just recently, I was injured in a car accident that was not my fault. Ruby Girls, pray for a sister!
Life can be knifing you, but you have to tighten up your armor. Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Hold up the shield of faith as life tries to stab you. (Ephesians 6:16) Having faith is sometimes the only thing that allows you to keep standing. Faith is your connection to hope. Without faith, not only do you not please God but you have no hope of being victorious.
Make sure you deflect the life knife with Sword of the Spirit., which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). That sword is double-edged, meaning it cuts (convicts) you when you use it. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) That double-edge sword will slice into you and show you your innards. Boy, when I got sliced with the sword, I looked down and seen what was in me, I appreciated all of my morning mercies. God allowed those I was connected to, to mirror behaviors that I displayed! I was horrified that I behaved in this manner. One of my friends got on the nerve I had reserved in the back for emergencies! I thought to myself, I act like this. I went in my prayer closet, bolted it and asked God to deliver me from this behavior. When the mirror is held up to your face, you will not like what you see sometimes! My friends if you are reading this forgive me if I EVER got on your nerve!
Make sure you lace up your shoes, which shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:15) Make sure they are tied up super tight. Peace is hard to find these days. have been seeking peace because of all that I have been going through! I have found being in the house with just me and God is the most peaceful and safe place for me right now. Have you noticed that people have been a little strange since 2020? It might just be me, but do you think sometimes you are on the wrong planet? Every time I go outside, I encounter "Peace Breakers." You know those people who can't drive, or the people at the self-scanning machines that scan like they read the bar-code first? Some of you could NEVER be cashiers. That is not everyone's calling! I have learned when others break the peace, sometimes you are the one that has to keep it. You have to let some things go and definitely deal with others with patience. I ended up in a car accident because the other driver said she got impatient. Girl, you cannot run through cars!
I caught you up with some of my life. I am making sure I have on the belt of truth, the helmet of salvation and the breastplate of righteousness. This Ruby Girl is fully geared up for the battle. Let me warn you, be careful that you do not make mistake and put on the breastplate of self-righteousness. (Not biblical but truthful) We can become self-righteous when we judge people for what we are not struggling with. Never forget, you are operating under grace. I am sure Job's friends judged him for what he went through. This man was the greatest in the land and he ended up being the least in the land, for 41 chapters. I am sure that self-righteous serpent rose its ugly head in the hearts of his friends. Through all that I am going through, I learned that I had been bitten by that self-righteous serpent. God is getting all that poison out my heart. These trials have raised my compassion level towards others and showed me that things can be good today but by tomorrow everything can be turned upside down. I understand how it feels to have no control over what happens to you. The harder you try to stop life from stabbing you the more wounds you end up with. Ouch!
Ruby Girls, keep your fellow sister in prayer. I pray if life is taking stabs at you, let it wound you so that God can bless you and give you an empowering testimony. It will hurt but it will not kill you. Trust God!
Until next time my Ruby Girls!
-Your favorite Ruby Girl