Friday, May 8, 2009

The Sword of the Spirit - Kimono Pictures Taken Last Year

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! 2009 About this time last year we visited a great studio in Harajuku, Tokyo to take some fun kimono family pictures. Seems like a long time ago, but it was only a year ago this month.A few months after these shots, we were in the MTC. It took a couple hours to get everyone dressed and all the make up applied to the girls. Rika said it was hard to smile because it felt like her face would crack.
Erika had no trouble smiling. She continues to do so on her mission in Sapporo. Julie as well. Our two little dolls.
Samurai don't smile much and Ricky and James played the part well.
The girls...
...and the boys.
As missionaries, perhaps a picture with a sword in hand is an appropriate image. The sword is the only offensive tool found in the whole armour of God. We girt our loins with truth. We shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. We wear the breastplate of righteousness, and above all we take the shield of faith to protect us from the fiery darts of the adversary. Finally we cover our heads with the helmet of salvation. But it is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, that we take into battle against the adversary as we boldly open our mouths to make known the mysteries of the gospel. As missionaries, we obtain the word through the Spirit and through that same Spirit we take the Word unto the world. (Ephesians 6)
Nothing is more powerful or influential than the Word of God.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for it is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise) Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Sister McIntyre had wanted to take these pictures for some time and we finally got them done before moving from Tokyo. Some great memories! But perhaps an even greater message for missionaries.
Happy Mother's Day!

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