Preach the Truth of Jesus!

Good morning to all on this glorious Monday morning! Waine and I spent a relaxing week in Jamaica and my batteries are re-charged and I am ready to rock and roll. Aleron has moved back home with us temporarily. His apartment was broken into and was burglarized. Thank God he was not home or hurt. Please also pray for him that he matches with Emory's ER program on March 17th. Continue to pray for ET and his recovery and continue to keep JKS in your prayers for her recovery. If you have prayer requests please give us your comments.

I am continuing my journey in 1 Timothy today 3 verses 14-16. Paul writes, "Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the Living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.  Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. " Amen!

Road maps! Paul was giving the early Church a road map for behavior in Jesus Name!  I was having a conversation yesterday with some very spiritual people. I know that they love Jesus and are saved but they do not worship with other Christians in an organized fashion on Sunday and its because in their view, the Church has failed Christ and humanity. So many atrocities have been committed in the name of the "church". The church has enslaved whole societies in the name of the "church"; the crusades were a time when in the name of God the church plundered whole countries and then brought the plunder back to the "church". Racism in America was perpetuated by the White Citizen's Council through the Southern Baptist church. I heard a program yesterday on NPR concerning the 1960's and the road to the Voting Acts legislation. The white men of Mississippi and the south formed groups (Citizen's Council) to block integration and held rallies that were opened and closed by ministers in prayer. When this didn't work then off shoots of the White Citizen's Council was formed into the White Knights of the Klu Klux Klan who felt it was okay to rape, mutilate and murder.

Still today religion is used to polarize people as opposed to spreading the Word of God and the Love of God.  As much as I love Joyce Meyers, she and her husband hosted a program last week in which a guest was preaching the "conservative" agenda which is just a code word to continue the oppression of folk who are dis-enfranchised. Now does this mean I support welfare and its devastating effects? Absolutely not however I would not use a religious platform to meter out my political and sociological thinking. The Church as Christ intended is to demonstrate the FRUITS of the Spirit the greatest of these is LOVE. If the Church cannot reflect God's Love to a desperate World where can the world turn? Sex, drugs and rock and roll which is what is happening.

So many people are turning away from Jesus because of the action of the "church" and the people that say they represent the church. I think we need to get back to basics and be sensitive to the needs of the people around us and WALK IN LOVE. If we walk in love and keep the love of Jesus in front of our face and the face of those that would rather live in entitlement programs than become responsible citizens who give back, I think the world would get better and faster!  I am challenging all of us to get back in the church so that the church through your love of God and Christ can be healed. It is the institution that Christ established when he told Peter "upon this rock I will build my church". Jesus saw a purpose for The Church and the Church as Christ intended, needs more Christians in it and not outside it! Maybe instead of preaching the gospel to India and Africa, some of these tele-evangelist should preach the gospel to the churches of America. 

As I write this blog entry, I am also listening to Joyce Meyers and today's commentary was to show the audience how much her ministry does in American as opposed to oversees. This was a real burden for me about her ministry and now God has answered my concerns and prayers in real time. You see this is how God works. He is always right on time! Hallelujah! John 14:1-3 says "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." Hallelujah and Amen! Go in peace today and be fearless for Christ because He commanded that your hearts not be troubled!!

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen.

Stephanie

The Traits of Leaders

Good morning to all on this glorious Sunday morning. The weather in Atlanta is just wonderful! We were in the 70's yesterday. Please continue to keep ET and his healing in your prayers and the health of JKS. Also remember that TK needs a job in Atlanta, in Jesus name. God is so wonderful and when you pray in Jesus name and believing, your prayers are ALWAYS answered.

I am continuing my journey in 1 Timothy 3 verses 1-13 "Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,  not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.  He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)  He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus." Amen.

Paul is giving instruction on how to select Trustees and Deacons for the Church, and as you can see it is not a personality contest and not an occasion for the pastor to pick folk that will be "yes men". Trustees and Deacons are to be the folk that other folk can look up to and to come to them for counsel. I personally believe a strong church is one in which you have as many men as women and that men take an active leadership role in the church. When Waine and I select a church to belong to, we always look at the number of men in the congregation and their role. God loves to see men active in the church and loves to build  his foundation of any community on the backs of STRONG CHRISTIAN men. Likewise women are INSTRUCTED not to be gossipers and have malicious tongues. Joyce Meyers often talks about the role of the "tongue" in bringing you down first and then others. Women are to be temperate and trustworthy. How many of us feel we can share anything with a female friend without judgement or without fear that the other woman won't reveal our secrets. Well in the Church we are supposed to be able to share and get honest feedback; not feedback laced with maliciousness or envy.

At all times men and women of Christ should be watchful that we not fall into the devil's trap of which are many both when you are awake and sleeping. What you put into your mind will also affect you when you are sleeping so always pray before going to sleep and empty your mind of all things other than the Words of God. We are not only to be good stewards of the physical church but also be good stewards of the Temple of the Holy Spirit -- us!

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.

If you have tapped this Blog this day you are blessed!

Stephanie

Women Understand Your Power!

Good morning to all on this glorious Saturday morning. I actually started this blog entry last Sunday when Waine and I were in Hawkinsville and it has taken me a whole week to chew on what I read. Regardless of my quandary, God is good every minute and every hour of the day as He strengthens me in my areas of weakness. Spring is trying to come to Georgia as we have enjoyed consistent days in the 70's. The evenings still get down to the 40's which makes good snuggling weather for Waine and I.  Continue to keep ET and his healing in your prayers, as well as the healing for JKS. TK still needs your prayers for a job in Atlanta. Thank you in advance for your diligence.

I am continuing my journey in Timothy 2 verses 1-15 "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, Who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,  but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety." Amen

Well this is certainly something to chew upon and I have been for the past week.  Now I know there were female leaders in the Old Testament and Christ certainly made leadership examples of women most notably Martha, Mary and Mary Magdelene however I think Paul was trying to establish order in the new churches arising in Asia Minor. I have not problem that in a marriage relationship, women are to assume the help-mate role as "her response to the obedience of the scriptures". Her role is to assist her husband in leading their family. A strong head of household is required to secure the home. On the other hand God also anoints women to lead His flock; a good modern example if Joyce Meyers. She will however tell you that she submits herself to her husband Dave in matters that concern their family and their ministry.  For Paul to write about the submissive roles of women in Timothy and Ephesians must have meant there was a problem between the men and women of the early church. Perhaps these societies had matriarchal practices that had to come into submission for the Word of God to spread. Who knows but more importantly who cares. Look if God tells me to submit, I am going to submit whether I understand or not. Obedience is the key and I have learned over these many years that God does not need my opinion or my assent to be God. I, on the other hand, need His Grace and Mercy everyday.

Paul also reminds us that it was Eve that was deceived and then she gave the fruit to  her husband. was it because Satan had tried to deceive Adam and was unsuccessful? Probably. It is the nature of women to want to make a way of success and achievement for their families. It is in our pedigree and therefore should be under due diligence. How many of us allow Satan to deceive us now and therefore weaken our families. In Genesis 3: 1-6 it reads "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'  “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." Adam was with Eve when Eve decided to disobey God's commandment and took the fruit from Eve. Astonishing. Adam had been with God first and still he ate what was present to him by his help mate. Another lesson? Instead of refusing Eve, Adam submitted to Eve. Was he afraid of losing her; did he love her more than he loved God? Was he looking for a convenient excuse to sin? All of the above! Remember when he was confronted by God Adam said "“The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Adam actually blamed both God and Eve for his own sin! Sin always likes company and one sin usually leads to another to cover the first. Its best to be obedient and avoid having to make excuses and lying.

I can honestly say the relationship between husbands and wives are very complicated and intertwined. Husbands are affected deeply by their wives and what their wives say and think. They can't help it. It was programmed by God. Husbands have very weak egos when it comes to their wives. The opinions, praise and disappointments of their wives affect husbands deeply. I used to think that unhappy wives were a result of inattentive husbands. I still think that but I have also grown to understand that unhappy husbands are a result on inattentive wives! Wives love your husbands as God commands and be a help and not a hindrance to them as your "reasonable" service to God. Help your husbands follow the plan of God for your family. Your husband does not need any encouragement to follow an alternative plan! Help your husband follow God through submission of your will first to God and then to your man. We are very powerful beings, we wives and it is time to be the women that God intended.

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; now may the LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; now may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen!

Stephanie

The Mind and Heart of Jesus

Good morning to all on this cold Thursday morning from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I am heading home where my beloved is waiting for me indicates that there is snow on the ground. I was in rainy southwest Louisiana yesterday and got chilled to the bone. I had forgotten what winter felt like. Please continue to keep ET and his healing in your prayers. Also pray for JKS's healing and a job for TK.

I am continuing my journey in Timothy 1 verse 12 - 20, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. " Amen.

Wow!!!!!!  Paul was a straight shooter that understood the depths of the love of God through Christ because PAUL UNDERSTOOD THE DEPTHS OF HIS DEPRAVITY AS A SINNER! I think Christians understand that when they were living in sin that this was not such a good "thing" for them but I don't think we understand just how much God abhors sin. God abhors it so much that WHEN JESUS TOOK ON THE SINS OF THE WORLD ON THE CROSS, HIS FATHER GOD, TURNED HIS FACE FROM JESUS. God hates SIN. Not just the act of SIN but the HEART of SIN. 

To give you a REAL recent example. My appointment in Louisiana yesterday was in Greensburg, LA. I had to be in Monroe today so I flew into Alexandria, LA and drove to Greensburg which is a 3.5 hour trek that I made in 2.45 hours (no comments about the driving please). I had my meeting and drove another 1.5 hours back to Baton Rouge because the roads going north were becoming icy from the recent winter storm. I changed my hotel reservations from Alexandria to Baton Rouge, got my King non-smoking room confirmed and was looking forward to a hot shower and comfortable bed after a long, long, long day of tedious driving. When I show up at the hotel I am given a king smoking which I decline after showing the hotel clerk my confirmation.  He insists that THIS IS THE LAST ROOM IN THE HOTEL. After 30 minutes of back and forth another customer walks in. I look at him and ask if he has checked in yet and am told no. I then say I am told that there are no rooms in the hotel only to find out that there is a king non-smoking that was held for him. Now this is when you can let the Fruits of the Spirit get to work or your Sin nature. Of the none (9) fruits Love, Joy, Peace, Long suffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control I can honestly say at that moment NONE were operating in me. In fact there was a war raging in me!  Was I going to demonstrate the love of God through Christ or was I going to be RIHT?  Was I justified in being upset? Doesn't matter--I am to demonstrate the love of Jesus at all times. So I am confessing that I did not represent my Savior well. I didn't cuss anyone, I didn't raise my voice but I was not Kind, long suffering, gentle nor did I promote peace. The guy that walked in demonstrated more of the Fruits than I did because he agreed to take the smoking room and did so graciously. I was convicted enough to thank the gentleman who took the smoking room.

As Christians we get opportunities to share our faith in all occasions and I know I have to work on my self righteousness. Yes you can be right and you can demonstrate the Fruits of the Spirit. Father forgive my sin and thank You, in Jesus name, for the opportunity of confession. God still loves me and He wants me to GROW UP!!!!! God has ordained me and has named me. I am to reflect His love to a world that needs it. I can do better and will today.

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Stephanie

Christ Jesus, Our Hope!

Good morning to all on this glorious Tuesday and thank you Jesus for waking me up. I work a clinic on Mondays and Tuesdays and have been praying to God to be able to wake up early enough to have my devotion and then exercise before I go to work and this morning He woke me up and help me get out of bed. Its also hard to leave my husband in bed as we love to snuggle in the morning; I have a special burden though to continue my exercise regimen because its good for me. Some one told me yesterday that the devil is a liar and the author of confusion; he works best when you are close to your goal but become weary. That is when you should press on to the mark even if you can't see the goal or understand what it is you are pressing toward. Faith is the Promise of things not seen and the Substance of things hoped for. My Faith will be rewarded today as will yours. Please continue to keep ET and his healing in your prayers as well as JKS for her healing. TK needs a job so please pray for her. I love you all and thank you for your generosity of prayers!

We finished Paul's letters to the Philippians yesterday so let's explore Timothy. Timothy was one of Paul's early converts and was apparently from Lystra which is now in modern Turkey. Timothy was as a son to Paul and often served as his traveling companion. In the 1st letter to Timothy 1 verses 1-11 Paul writes "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope. To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which He entrusted to me." Amen.

It would appear that Timothy wanted to be with Paul in Macedonia but was needed in Ephesus to encourage the early Jewish Christians to change from their practice of learning the genealogy of Christ and their other Hebrew leaders to practicing the Spiritual legacy left by Christ. Remember the Hebrews were schooled in the law and judging each other by the law but Christ had fulfilled the law so there was no more need to dwell there. In fact Paul calls it "meaningless talk". Instead, Paul is urging Timothy to remind the Christians in Ephesus to practice instead SINCERE FAITH in the power of the resurrection of Jesus. What puts Jesus above all the prophets of the old testament or the LAW as Jews learned it, was that Christ was born, spent His life teaching the laws and commandments of God His Father, willingly died for our sins and then, and then , and then WAS RESURRECTED so that we were no longer going to have to be in bondage to sin and a slave to the law. The Jewish Christians of Ephesus were "stuck" in the laws of the past which prevented their liberation of faith. Since Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God, Paul is encouraging Timothy to stay in Ephesus and preach the Word of God to these young Christians so that their faith could be strengthened.

There is a message here for me. Unless I am about God's Kingdom building works and spread the good news of Jesus, that He died for us all, then there will be a multitude of people who will be judged according to the law and not by their faith. Paul is telling us that the law is not made for the righteous but the unrighteous who are described as "lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers". These are the folk that need Jesus and they are with us each day. This is our ministry and we have to set ourselves apart from them with our lives. If we walk and live among them and act like them that is not kingdom building. We are to let our life so shine that they will see the light and come toward it as a moth to a fire. We need do anything else other that to live our lives as God commands and that is in FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE and the greatest of these is LOVE.

Love someone today that you find hard to love; you will be blessed beyond measure!! Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen!

Stephanie

At the Name of Jesus!

Good morning to all on this Glorious Monday morning. Waine and I had a blast at a Superbowl Party yesterday with some dear friends. It was GREAT to see Green Bay win. I was sitting with a crowd of Steelers' fans and boy did I have to take some ribbing but all in good fun. Waine and I also attended a church yesterday and had great fellowship. The Pastor preached from Ephesians 3 verses 20-21" Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.". We serve a God who is able to DO IMMEASURABLY more than we can ASK or THINK! When you speak the name of Jesus, ask in the name of Jesus, believe in the name of Jesus, receive in the name of Jesus YOU will be blessed MORE that you can ask or imagine! Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah in Jesus name, let it be done. Amen and amen. Continue to lift ET and his family in your prayers. Pray and believe in his healing and pray in Jesus name. Continue to life JKS up in your prayers. Pray for her healing and pray in Jesus name; "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth!"

I am continuing my journey in Philippians verses 10-23 "I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."

Paul is closing out his letter to the Phillippian Christians and thanking them for what they "tangibly" did for him. He is also thanking them for their intent as well. He also reminds them though, that God has taught him (Paul) the secret of contentment and that is to rely on the ONE who is able to provide all that you need and for each situation. Paul is writing that the true blessing in the giving is for the one who gives and gives unselfishly because then the act of giving becomes as a "credit" to their SPIRITUAL account. I think Paul is speaking both figuratively and in real time. I am a firm believer that when you give unselfishly, not because you expect something in return, the act of giving allows you then to receive the kind acts of others. I also believe that our "mansions" in Heaven will be based on the life we lead here on earth and the generosity of spirit that we live by. At the church Waine and I attended yesterday, there is a monthly offering for the Community Fund. This fund is available to the "community" that is served by the church. If someone needs a gas billed paid or a light billed paid the church is there and that is how a church is supposed to work. Not for its own aggrandisement but for the benefit of the community in which the church has set up its ministry. I think alot of churches have lost site of their calling. Paul is urging us to be generous because the God of all is generous to us and without hesitation. Thank you for your prayers and diligence in praying with me for those in need. Thank you for your encouragement and thank you for your love.

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen.

Stephanie

 

The Recipe for a Victorious Life

Good morning to all on this Friday morning and I am claiming VICTORY for you and for me in Christ Jesus, amen and amen. I am in Lake Charles today and headed back home. There is supposed to be icy conditions on the roads so please pray for my safe travels. I awoke to Creflo Dollar this morning admonishing me and the rest of the audience to live a victorious life by surrounding yourself with the WORD of God. That God has a WORD for every situation in life and we only need to claim His words to live, live, live victoriously. Amen and amen. Please continue to lift up ET and his family and JKS and her family in your prayers. God id good every day and fortunately, fortunately, fortunately needs no help from us.

I am continuing my journey in Philippians 4 verses 1-9 "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. " Amen and amen.

I can't wait to meet Paul; he was such a compassionate person; something I struggle with. I think when God was making me he only put a "pinch" of compassion in my mixing bowl. But Paul was actively asking the Christians of Phillipi to pray for Euodia and Syntyche--I don't know what those two sisters were going through but Paul knew that lifting them up in prayer was all they would need. There is POWER in just speaking in the name of Jesus, which was what Creflo Dollar was talking about. Instead of going into prayer asking for things, go into prayer to talk to God through Jesus and just praise Him for all that He is; all that He did for us when He became sin so that we could have eternal life; all that He does for us daily because He wakes us up in our right mind to PRAISE Him. We were made to Praise Him. We were made to commune with God. God created man so that God could walk in the garden with man and communicate with Him. He loves us that much! And when we communicate with Him, we are to REJOICE!!  REJOICE is the ingredient we need to have the PEACE we lack. PEACE is what we need to have our minds and hearts GUARDED. So Rejoicing leads to Peace which leads to Guarding our hearts and minds from the evil one. So again I say REJOICE, REJOICE, REJOICE. Don't mind where life finds you today--JUST REJOICE!!!!!!!!

Then, the, then keep your minds on things that are lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. You don't have to guess at what you should be thinking today because it is in the WORD of God. Focus on what is lovely in your life, what is admirable, what is excellent and praiseworthy. Don't waste one more minute on negative thinking, instead REJOICE. If you only have a penny in your pocket REJOICE!! There will be more.

Now may the LORD bless you, and keep you; may the LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen.


Stephanie

What's In Your Mind?!

Good morning to all on this glorious Wednesday morning. God is in His Heaven and truly all is right with the world. Waine has been under the weather for the past several days but is well now, thank God. The cold front that is gripping the south is very interesting. Another cold wave is coming through with temperatures down in the 20's. ET and his family is doing well. He feels strong and his faith is unshakable. Please continue to keep JKS's healing in your prayers.

I am continuing my journey in Philippians 3 verse 15 - 21, "All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. Amen.

What a wonderful insight Paul has for both Spiritual things and the struggles inherent in our Christian walk. Paul had already met Jesus on his own road and I think got an "instantaneous" vision of what life is like with Christ on the other side of Jordan. Paul often wrote of his longing to be with Christ. He KNEW the power of God first hand and desired to impart this knowledge to the early Christians in all of the Roman strongholds. Paul also knew that we as Christians see through this "veil" of an earthly mindset in which we give a lot of credence to the power of men over our lives. I have a dear friend who is struggling for recognition and respect from a boss who neither sees her value or appreciates it. She is the "go to" person and although she doesn't have a lot of formal education she is a smart lady that can work through problems by PROCESS AND CLOSURE. This is a skill that a lot of people and companies do not have and her boss doesn't have it. We were talking the other night and I was trying to encourage her to focus on what Christ will do for her and not rely on what her boss can do--I reminded her that God doesn't need our help being God but she wasn't hearing it.

I have learned long ago that in God's timing He will move heaven and earth for you--He will knock down institutions, He will cause the winds and waves to come forth or calm down, He will remove people of earthly power, He is God each and every day and plans for our futures because He loves us that much. He KNOWS each and every strand of hair on our heads. So why oh why do we Christians rely on earthly people and things.  Good lecture for ME too!

As of late I have been bothered by pains in my joints. Exercise didn't help, Advil didn't help and I kept praying and not always trusting God for my deliverance. The pain was so bad at times that I would hobble after sitting a long time and if I was on my feet for 8 hours seeing patients I would be in tears on my way home. I was on a flight to Houston and sat next to an African American woman. I never talk to my seat mates and usually have my nose in my Kindle or am knitting but for some reason I returned her conversation. It turns out that she is a physician and she begins to tell me about the Vitamin D deficiency that is prevalent in African American populations and that makes me share with her my joint maladies. She encourages me to take 10,000 IU of Vitamin D and watch how much better I am going to feel. Well I feel 100% better; no longer feel the pain in my joints to the point that I am hobbling and I thank God each day for that angel of mercy who was my seat mate! Yes I believe that it was God's Divine intervention for me. You just never know what God has in store for you if you just patiently wait on His answer, Hallelujah! God truly needs no help being God! He cares for you in each of the very dimensions you find yourself in. The old folk used to say "I am going to pray you up!" I think, they like Paul, saw the face of Jesus and learned the art of parting the veil  of our earthly thinking.

Now may the LORD bless you, and keep you; may the LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen.


Stephanie