Keeping Your Focus

Good morning to all on this first Sunday morning after Thanksgiving. Waine and I had a house full of children, grandchildren and friends in Atlanta and although I was exhausted I was none the less content. I remarked to my husband that I needed a bigger  house and he reminded me that I feel that way once a year at Thanksgiving which is not a reason to have a bigger house. I think he is almost convinced to give me a bigger kitchen though. A special shout out to  my daughters, Tracy and Melanie who were the chief bottle washers. Without them I would not have been able to keep up with the cooking and serving. My husband and children remarked that it was the best turkey and dressing I have ever made, which made the effort expended worth while, indeed. I trust that this Thanksgiving found each of you in the company of people that love you and that you in turn love. If so we all have a lot to be thankful for.

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 15 verses 11-21, "The LORD said, Surely I will deliver you (Jeremiah) for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and times of distress. “Can a man break iron— iron from the north—or bronze? “Your wealth and your treasures I will give as plunder, without charge, because of all your sins throughout your country. I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not know, for my anger will kindle a fire that will burn against you." LORD, you understand; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering—do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake. When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty. I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails. Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the LORD. “I will save you from the hands of the wicked and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.” Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Apparently, Jeremiah was being persecuted for his ministry to the point that he (Jeremiah) was asking God not to forget about his servant. God assures Jeremiah that he should not worry or be distressed because God has made Jeremiah as strong as iron and bronze. However Jeremiah seems to be having a pity party-- he remarks that he used to delight and look forward to God's Words but now he was complaining about his pain and the reproach that he suffers at the hands of the Israelites that he had been sent to preach to. This is a beautiful passage on the power of long suffering through difficult times. Jeremiah had been obedient to God's commandments and he was human. I am sure as a Jew himself, he felt alone most of the time because he was fighting against a tide of idolatry. I am sure his life was threatened; he felt alone other than for the communion he had with God.  I am sure when God first commissioned Jeremiah to be His prophet to a sinful Israel, Jeremiah thought the battle would be short and the victory assured. As the journey lingered, Jeremiah became impatient and weary and had no problem voicing his concerns to God. God, in His graciousness, reminds Jeremiah that He has His back. He has fortified Jeremiah and would deliver him from the hands of the wicked. Jeremiah had only to stay focused on the task at hand and believe that God had every thing else covered! Hallelujah.

Don't let Satan confuse you this day as to whether your life has a meaning. God gives it meaning daily. Don't worry about the waves and forget the purpose that you were chosen for. Our job is to make our lives a witness for Christ and  not be distracted about the "waves" that surround us daily. I am a good example of this. I was very frustrated about lots of things a few weeks back. Instead of focusing on the blessings in my life I stayed focused on the frustrations. Focusing on your frustrations will take you eye off Christ and you will sink but thank God, Christ will reach out and save you even from yourself. That certainly does not excuse my behavior of losing focus however this chapter in Jeremiah let's me know that we all can become distracted when focused on the wrong thing.  If you are not feeling blessed today then I know your focus is on the wrong thing. If you feel animosity towards anyone then you have forgotten what it means to be forgiven. If you can't love those that have offended you then you have forgotten what Kingdom building is all about. Time to get refocused and give Thanksgiving for the Christ that has risen so that all might experience the freedom that is in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah and praise God.

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

Your Ark is Secured!

Good day to all from Kingston Jamaica. Waine and I have had a fun filled week in both Runaway Bay and Kingston and a much needed rest. We are packed and are on our way to the US; Melanie and her crew are already in Atlanta so we are looking forward to hugs and kisses from our grandchildren Audrey and Vincent upon our return to be joined in short order by Kai and Hailie. What a home coming to come back to. As you and yours enter this Thanksgiving week, we pray for your safety and blessings for your health and continued prosperity.

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 15 verse 1-10, " Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go! And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: Those destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the sword; those for starvation, to starvation; those for captivity, to captivity.’ I will send four kinds of destroyers against them,” declares the LORD, “the sword to kill and the dogs to drag away and the birds and the wild animals to devour and destroy. I will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem. Who will have pity on you, Jerusalem? Who will mourn for you? Who will stop to ask how you are? You have rejected Me,” declares the LORD. You keep on backsliding. So I will reach out and destroy you; I am tired of holding back. I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the city gates of the land. I will bring bereavement and destruction on my people, for they have not changed their ways. I will make their widows more numerous than the sand of the sea. At midday I will bring a destroyer against the mothers of their young men; suddenly I will bring down on them anguish and terror. The mother of seven will grow faint and breathe her last. Her sun will set while it is still day; she will be disgraced and humiliated. I will put the survivors to the sword before their enemies, declares the LORD. Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth, a man with whom the whole land strives and contends! I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses Me." May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Wow!! I think we have a clear picture of the fate of folk who are outside of the Circle of Love of God made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ! These verses fore tell what is going to happen to those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior when He comes for His Church, we the believers! Just remember when Moses was preaching to Pharaoh and Pharaoh's heart was hardened against the people of God, plagues and catastrophe hit Egypt inclusive of the death of the 1st born of each Egyptian household. Only those houses with the Blood of Lamb drawn across the threshold were saved. So too the households of those who have not given their life to Christ when the rapture happens. That is why we as Christians should be working over time to ensure that we are able to witness to those who have not given their lives to Christ; the time is drawing neigh that the last days will be upon us! This is serious business and there are plenty of examples for us to pay attention to. Remember Noah? He labored for hundreds of years building the Ark and preaching with his life that the people needed to get ready for this flood. Each person was afforded the chance of safety and salvation up to the day the door of the Ark was closed. When the door closed their cries went unheeded and the destroyer was upon them. I am sure the Destroyer convinced these folk to continue to eat, drink and be merry. The earth had never seen rain so why should they believe that water from heaven would destroy them. I am sure just as the false prophets of Jeremiah's time told the people that they would not be destroyed, the prophets of Noah's day said the same thing. What are the false prophets telling the people today? How are we counter-acting these false prophets? Who will be saved?

As Christians we have to be bold about our faith and be willing to stand up and declare the Day of the Lord because once the door is closed it will be too late. Who will be on the other side of this door for you? Your Mom, Dad, sister, brother, husband, wife son or daughter. Waine once attended the 80th birthday party for a woman he knew. When she was asked what she wanted as a birthday present, she looked around the room and said very distinctly, "I don't want to have to be looking for any of my children in Heaven! I want to make sure you all have professed the faith in Christ that is necessary so that we can all rejoice in eternity forever!" That is my Thanksgiving wish for each of you!

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!

Happy Thanksgiving.

Stephanie and Waine

God Has Your Back and Ensures We Never Sees His!

Good Sunday to all of you. Waine and I are in Hawkinsville this weekend and will be heading to Kingston tomorrow for 10 days. I can't wait to get back on the island! Upon our return, Melanie and Don and their brood will be down for Thanksgiving week to be joined by Freddie and Tracy and their brood on Wednesday of the same week. This is the first Thanksgiving in along time that we will have three of our four children. I am so excited and can't wait!  Waine and I awake each morning and thank God for all the blessings He continues to bestow on our family and our Thanksgiving prayer for you and your family is that God's blessings continue for you.

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 14, verses 11-22, " Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people. Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.” But I said, “Alas, Sovereign LORD! The prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine. And the people they are prophesying to will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them, their wives, their sons and their daughters. I will pour out on them the calamity they deserve. Speak this Word to them: Let my eyes overflow with tears night and day without ceasing; for the Virgin Daughter, my people, has suffered a grievous wound, a crushing blow. If I go into the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I go into the city, I see the ravages of famine.

Both prophet and priest have gone to a land they know not. Have you rejected Judah completely? Do you despise Zion? Why have you afflicted us so that we cannot be healed? We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there is only terror. We acknowledge our wickedness, LORD, and the guilt of our ancestors; we have indeed sinned against you. For the sake of your name do not despise us; do not dishonor your glorious throne. Remember your covenant with us and do not break it. Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, LORD our God. Therefore our hope is in you, for you are the one who does all this. May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

These Israelites have finally come to their senses, however it is too late. God has pleaded with them for 13 chapters to turn from worshipping other gods and now their sin of disobedience has sealed their fate. Their pleas are falling on deaf ears and they don't even know it because the same prophets that encouraged them to sin are now telling them that God has not abandoned them. Their fate, along with that of the Israelites, is sealed. None of them will survive the drought and famine.  Thank God for the Blood of Jesus that covers our sins so that God never turns His back on us. Unlike the Israelites, Jesus has our backs and therefore we never have to see the back of God because He never turns His face from us. Hallelujah! What a wonderful promise. God never turns His back on us so what ever situation you find yourself in, PRAISE GOD because your deliverance is at hand 100% of the time. You only need to claim it. Unlike the unfortunate Israelites in Jeremiah 14, God never abandons us; His covenant with us is full proof because He only sees Jesus and His sacrifice when He , God, looks at us! Our life is complete and fulfilled. You only need claim it. God bless you and I thank God because His Promise is full and complete in you and me.

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

Abundance and not Abandonment

Good morning to all on this wonderful fall day. Waine and I are in Thomaston and have had a nice relaxing weekend. We watched the LSU/Alabama football game last night; Waine rooted for Alabama and I for LSU. Of course LSU won--but the defense on both teams were tough and awesome!!  I had the blessing to visit retired Senior citizens last week. What an eye opener!!! If you are over 55 and have your health, then praise God each day you wake up. If you are over 55 and have an active relationship with your spouse, your children and grandchildren then you are BLESSED!!! There are some very lonely people out there who just stay in their homes; they crave company and a simple conversation with someone who cares. Take some time this week to visit a home bound senior citizen and give of yourself. God will bless you richly. Also a GREAT book to read is the "Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks". You won't be able to put the book down and your life will be richer for it. Mackenzie, our oldest grandchild, wants to be a researcher/physician so I recommended it to her to read.

I am continuing my JOURNEY in Jeremiah chapter 14 verses 1- 10, "This is the Word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: “Judah mourns, her cities languish; they wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns but find no water. They return with their jars unfilled; dismayed and despairing, they cover their heads. The ground is cracked because there is no rain in the land; the farmers are dismayed and cover their heads. Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass. Wild donkeys stand on the barren heights and pant like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of food. Although our sins testify against us, do something, LORD, for the sake of Your name. For we have often rebelled; we have sinned against You. You Who are the hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays only a night? Why are you like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? You are among us, LORD, and we bear your name; do not forsake us! This is what the LORD says about this people: “They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins."  May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Thank God that the Blood of Jesus that covers us so that God will not SEE and therefore not REMEMBER our wickedness! For 13 chapters we have witnessed God asking these Israelites to turn their face to Him and not to the idols and false gods that they were worshipping. That is the one thing as humans we are charged not to do! There is only One God and His name is Jehovah!  For 13 chapters we witnessed God, through Jeremiah, plead with these folk to turn from their sin of worshipping false gods so that disaster could be avoided. We have witnesses Jeremiah's intervention on behalf of the Israelites with God and Now, Now, Now the drought is upon them. Their land is drying up. Nothing is growing; they go hungry and even the wild animals are starving and yet they do not turn from their sin of idol worship. Can Satan's deception really be that great? That even in the face of this destruction can human beings still rationalize that there is more than one true God? Amazing!

As Christians, we are immune to this type of alienation from God. He never turns His face from us nor does He give us droughts. So why do Christians experience "droughts"?? I have Christian friends who are going through some tough times and they think its because of some sin they committed. John 10:10 states "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. THIS IS A PROMISE!!!!!!! If their is confusion and despair in the life of a Christian then that Christian needs to evaluate why he or she is allowing satan to deceive them. Christians, have as a birth right ABUNDANCE!! We only need to claim it. So many of us have PAWNED our abundant life in the Pawn Shop called DOUBT. We only need to realize and REJOICE daily that God has a Plan of Abundance for us. Even if you are experiencing what you consider to be hard times, REJOICE and keep on rejoicing until you see clearly the abundance that is yours today. Joel Olstein's ministry is criticized by some as a "Cotton Candy" ministry--always emphasizing the Joy and abundance of Christianity. Why shouldn't we emphasize the JOY of Christianity?? No death can claim us; no destruction can claim us; no calamity can be fall us; no disease can destroy us; no financial ruin can befall us. God will turn time backwards for us IF ONLY YOU BELIEVE. Something so simple and YET SO HARD FOR MANY OF US. Why you ask? Because Satan will confuse you into thinking that God has abandoned you. Roman 8:38-39 says (and this is Paul speaking) "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Hallelujah!!

Don't get stuck on the street of Doubt. Praise God today for your abundance even if you can't see it. Really praise Him and be happy right in this moment. Don't worry for anything especially not tomorrow for all of us KNOW that tomorrow is not promised so don't act like it is. 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 and amen.

Stephanie