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The Armor

– Carmen Baylies

Amplified Bible: Classic Edition

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies] that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.

12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on an evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.

16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].

17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.

18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end, keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

I wanted to create a space to absorb the meaning of this scripture in practical terms now. At this time, I am not ready to expound further except to mention that wrestling with truths is part of growth. Find the tools to help protect your development.

Holiday / Waymaker

– Carmen Baylies

Time to celebrate!

It is so nice

That is who you are!

I felt that this tune, “Holiday” by Madonna and covered by Capital Cities, reflected the joy and passion I try to experience with every holiday or observance. While I plan to express more profound thoughts of this song, I feel an impulse to change the dial to a spiritual tune in light of residues of the pandemic lingering. A piece that pulls at my memory and soul is “Waymaker” by Micheal W. Smith. Times to center yourself and worship should be a daily endeavor, yet I fall short of my standards. As I curated this posting, I repeated the lyrics numerous times until my spirit connected to the message. I want to encourage all to dig deep and remember who you are.

Pumpkin Carving Date Night – 2021

– Carmen Baylies

Kicking off celebrating the harvest season, The Baylies took to an activity that placed us in a festive fall mood. We carved pumpkins. We selected patterns, shared stories, and produced pumpkins that we proudly displayed.

Coffee table setting set to Halloween tone.

Halloween 2021

– Carmen Baylies

The Dragonbeard Prince – played by Peter Baylies and his Crimson Phoenix – portrayed by Carmen Baylies, traveled through the piedmonts of the Carolinas. Lord Blackbeard alerted his alliances to take care of crossing the seas with a bounty issued for pirates that aided Blackbeard from capture. The Nexus Storm provided excellent protection as we visited a few of our pirate strongholds in the Carolinas.

The Baylies reveled in fun for Halloween! Or at least say I needed visual stimulation for a story. We tipped our caps to the strongholds that keep our sacred items safe. To the Hunter-Baylies Haven, The Blue Cay, and The Baylies Cove’s masters and mistresses, cheers and drinks on us next time we meet. May the pirate’s prayer cover you always.

2021 Winter Health Update

I received my initial vaccination doses in the earlier part of the year. After speaking with my healthcare provider and family, my husband and I decided to schedule an appointment to receive the booster shot. He coped with his administered shot; however, I experienced cold and flu-type symptoms a few days after my injection.

I spiked a slight fever and experienced chills. I recovered to nearly normal health about 48 hours later. My only lingering complaint was that the injection point remained tender to the touch for about a week. After speaking with my healthcare provider, she advised steps to combat side effects. Overall, I felt better and more confident during the holidays when seeing family members and while traveling.

I pray everyone speaks with a trusted medical source to answer questions and uses their faith to guide them to reliable solutions for their family and loved ones. With the new year approaching, the mind, body, and spirit need rejuvenation energy; find your motivation and stay true to the cause.