** Thank you so much for keeping him in your prayers. **

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32, KJV).

While I purposefully chose this book to review on behalf of Tyndale House Publishers, I was anticipating a hard read full of medical facts and jargon. However, in The Ultimate Prescription Dr. Marcum uses personal language and experience to outline his view regarding creation and its role in “God’s Health Plan.”

* Click here to read more. . . .

We come before the High Priest bound in sin. The irony. We know. We have hearing ears. We have received Truth finding no fault in Him. No fault in the King of the Jews. No fault in Christmas. Celebrating Christ. Yet, in this new year how many will we be as Peter and deny Him?

“Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest” (John 18:24, NKJV).

This strikes me. As we had taken a look at sovereignty during the holiday, this bears further thought. Only in sovereignty could one understand the position of the high priest, that Christ would be bound before *him*. We know this is a necessity of Scripture. We know this brings us in communion with God; but, in this moment, it is only of divine revelation.

Pilate therefore said to Him, Are You a king then? Jesus answered, You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. (John 18:37, NKJV)

Bound before the high priest, moving on to Pilate, He was born for this. This. Only understood to the hearing ear.

“Pilate said to Him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I find no fault in Him at all” (John 18:38, NKJV).

Even Pilate *knew* the Truth. There is no fault in Truth (not Truth Himself).

Then they all cried again, saying, Not this Man, but Barabbas! Now Barabbas was a robber. (John 18:40, NKJV)

Yet we chose a man. A robber. One with fault to replace Him who bore no fault. In the end He bears our fault on the Cross and before the Throne. He was born. We are free.

* Free to understand Peter . . .

*He* prays for *us*. Sometimes I forget that. The most obvious of Scripture. This advocacy through the Cross. Stated here. In plain English. He’s doing the talking, just as His presence does the protecting—the shielding provided through His armor. This is where faith kicks in and covers. Back to back, front to front, side to side. This fruit we reflect. Love we adorn.

“So Jesus said to Peter, Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink *the cup* which My Father has given Me?” (John 18:11, NKJV) Here, we see His surrender, yet again. Our model of acceptance.

“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12, NKJV).

He protects. In His presence. Talk about a Psalm 91 moment. To abide.

V. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil . . .”
a. Put on the whole Armor of God (Eph. 6).
* This is done by faith while changing your wardrobe (clothes) to reflect His fruit.
1. “The Belt of Truth” – Your belt is your center which holds up your pants–your position in Christ. (The Lord’s Prayer)

I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. (John 17:15-19, NKJV)

Oh, so love really *does* cover—even a multitude of sin?! {My sister’s voice enters from the Amen corner.} Okay, now we get it!! Faith works by His love. His love propels the enemy.

Talk about a full frontal attack. It’s that easy. Love puts faith into action. Faith protects us from the vices of the enemy. Each element in His armor bearing specific purpose. As love grows, the other fruit follow; thus, as love grows, faith follows love. His armor stands ready the same—an arsenal at our fingertips. It begins with love. Love manifested through His birth, provided through the Cross. Today. Now. In this moment. In *that* moment. Love *still* covers.

Click here to join Alicia and others.

I am still here. I haven’t given up! It has just been one of those mornings days. Since this week is about support, I will tell you a bit about my family then update on my progress this week.

I have a strong support system in my husband, two boys, and my sister Rena who has given me much wisdom on this balance thing. That is, when my way awesome hubby has not surprised me with chocolate on a day when I have not done so well . . . ha! Aside from those obvious connections there is the support and accountability we offer one another by showing up and being present. That counts for something.

Meanwhile, I am doing better this week and have started to look forward to my Palates again . . . whoo hoo! (because it does matter ladies.) I have found that Winsor works best through the beginning stages, so I will be focusing on her DVDs for a while. Then I will progress back to Denise Austin. {Click here for a list of my DVDs from a previous post.}