Stay in God's Love and Christ's Perseverance!

Good morning to all on this Sunday before Christmas. All is well in the East Coast Kong household.  I am getting over both bronchitis and conjunctivitis that has had me at 70% capacity for over 2 weeks. I finally had a night's sleep without coughing. Freddie and his family are sailing to Mexico on their Christmas trip and Waine. Aleron and I are planning on going to Orlando to see the babies during Christmas. God is good and in His Heaven and all is right with the world.

I am continuing my journey in Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians 3: verses 1-18. His last letter reads, " As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith.  But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. 

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.  For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.  For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”  We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.  And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer. 

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.  I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Wow! This chapter is an answer to prayer. I have had a heavy burden for some of my employees who bristle at working. Some of them are believers AND they believe they should not have to work AND be cared for by me. They bristle against admonition to work honestly for the wage they are paid. They profess with their mouth to know Christ yet their idleness is not a reflection of God's principles as outlined by Paul in this chapter. As Paul says here they are disruptive and negative in their thinking during the week but pew jumping, tongue clucking Christians on Sunday. I have had a heavy heart for them. My impression of all Christians is that we should be hardworking and generous and not idle or lazy. I am genuinely confused when you confront idle and disruptive Christians that they can literally look you in the  face and say "I am doing the best I can". What ever happened to I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me?

I am rebuking Satan on their behalf. The devil is a liar. I profoundly believe that Christians are to be victorious not because of our works BUT because of God's love and the Perseverance of Christ. It took unearthly courageous and conviction for Christ to become sin so that I might live with God. What profound Love!  Hallelujah! In being my brother's keeper I do not condone the behavior of idle Christians however I can rebuke Satan on their behalf. God does not desire that any Christian live in despair--we are to live in abundance 1st from and in our hearts and then in this physical world. We are to live like the child of the King--victorious in all aspects of our lives.

If this day does not find you in abundance of heart, soul, mind and body then turn your face to God through Christ such that the devil can be rebuked and the Holy Spirit can guide you BACK to your true life. Don't buy the hype of despair and disruption. Christ was born, lived and died so that we might live life and more abundantly. Stay in the love of God and Christ's Perseverance.

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

 

Don't Believe he Hype!

Good  morning to all on this beautiful Sunday in December. We are having record warm weather in Georgia. It was in the low 70's yesterday. Waine is able to play golf with short sleeved shirts. I trust everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. Freddie and his family and Aleron were in Thomaston with us and Freddie made the entire dinner. It was delicious of course. I heard this radio article during Thanksgiving week about celebrating "Friendsgiving Day". There are folk out there who would rather be with friends than family. I thought that was odd. How do you create lasting memories with folk that are not your family? Warts and all my family is my tribe and I am grateful for them.

I am continuing my journey in second Thessalonians 2 verses 1-17, "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,  not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 

 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the One who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie  and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.  He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." Amen and may God Add a blessing to the reading and hearing of  His Word.

Paul  was encouraging these young Christians NOT to be deceived that the raptured had taken place. Satan's counter attack on the young church was to spread rumors that Christ had already come to claim His church and therefore the "eternal" life of "Grace" through "Mercy" had already taken place. Not so! Satan is the great deceiver--the great "confuser" that takes portions of the truth to distort the Truth. For instance, God created the family from 1 man and 1 woman. We now live in an age where people would have you believe that the family can be composed of 1 man and 1 man, 1 woman and 1 woman, who then should have legal rights. Laws are being written to uphold an alternative family structure which in essence means that society is negating the Family as created by God to uphold a family created by man. This is the work of Satan and Satan alone whose entire existence is predicated on destroying the order created by God. Don't believe the hype!

As Christians it is our job to spread the Truth. I don't know why a man desires other men or women desires other women. I don't involve myself with  that debate. All I know is what God teaches in His Word. Sodom was destroyed because of their sinfulness and debauchery --one of the hallmarks of which was the lust of men after other men. When nature is turned on itself then you know that sin abounds. I believe firmly that when the order of life as God intended is upended then sin is in play. I see many Christians trying to compromise their view of homosexuality, Hollywood is trying to make us believe that it is ok if love is in play. That's when we need to go back to the basics--the Word of God. The truth is that we are all sinners saved by Grace AND we all need to repent and let the Love of God change us from the sin nature we are born with to the spiritual nature that comes through the sacrifice of Jesus for us. Don't believe the hype! God hates sin--He loves us as sinners and as sinners we are to repent and CHANGE.

As we move into this Advent Season, let's remember the REASON for the Season and proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all men and women. It is our job to present and the Holy Spirit's job to convict. We are to love all with the Love of God. Do something to defeat Satan today. Let the Love of God cover you and cover others.

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

Encouragement through Good Deeds and Words

Good morning to all on this 1st Sunday in November. Its almost been a month since I last posted however God has been working with me and on me for the last 30 days to ensure I learn to live abundantly and live to reflect His love for me and for others through me. Nothing replaces the attention we pay to the details of our lives. It is so self intuitive however, we cannot leave the growth we need to do to others. We must address the areas of our lives that require attention on a daily basis. Thank God that He doesn't take His eye off the sparrow or on those that love Him and are called according to Hid purpose. Thank God that He keeps His eye on me. Please pray for traveling mercies for Waine as he travels to Jamaica next week. Join me in praying that God's protective hedge continues to be around him during his travels.

I am continuing my journey in the 2nd book of Thessalonians verses 1-17, "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.  Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,  and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. " Amen and may God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

 In Proverbs 23:7 Solomon writes ...As a man (or woman) thinks, so is he or she....". What is in our minds will be translated into words and deeds. If we have evil thoughts it will be translated into destructive behavior and ultimately the destruction of our lives. The Bible teaches that Satan roams this earth seeking to devour every soul that is not protected. Christ, through Christians, seeks to protect every soul and it all starts with our thinking, then our word and ultimately our deeds.

One lesson that became very cogent this week is that my thinking not only affects me it also affects those around me --no so much through my actions but more through the spirit of enmity or grace that that emanates through my thinking. Our thinking affects the atmosphere around us. It will affect it without the utterance of a single word. If you are thinking positively then everything around you becomes positive. If you are thinking negatively then chaos will rein supreme. I never saw this as clearly as I saw this week!

As Christians we are to be "uplifters". We are to be "encouragers". Yes we are to admonish folk to surrender their lives to Christ but it is not so much with words but more so through our thinking, our gifts of love and the strength of our unwavering faith. This allows the Holy Spirit to do His work and bring others to God through Christ.  To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love others. I never saw this as clearly as I do 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

He Will Provide Relief!

Good morning to all on this 1st Sunday of October 2015. I was looking back over my blog entries and was shocked that the last entry was the 1st Sunday in September. It has been a busy September but I had not realized it had been a month since I sat down to blog on my Spiritual Sojourn. Waine and I are in Thomaston and it is a rainy day in Georgia which means we were not rushing here and there to get things done before my beloved would be off playing golf. It has been a nice relaxed morning. I have been able to putz and my beloved is listening to Bob Marley and reading. A great morning indeed.

I am continuing my journey with Paul and Timothy in Thessalonians. We are now in the 2nd book 1st chapter verses 1-12 " To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:  Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 

God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels.  He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might on the day He comes to be glorified in His Holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the Name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

As Christians our EVERY DESIRE should be prompted by Goodness and our EVERY DEED prompted by FAITH.  I have been thinking about my faith lately as it relates to a project I took on boldly and with conviction. I am convinced that the Lord had Waine and I start this project and it was started without incidence. Good made the PROVISION for His VISION. Every obstacle was removed and we moved forward. Since the initiation of His Vision, it would seem that HIS VISION has been assailed by storms and challenges. At every turn my patience is challenged and like Elijah after his Triumph at Mt. Carmel against the priests of Baal, I just want to find a cave and hide.

I was not quiet about God's Vision for this project and therefore many knew the Power of God and His Promise to provide through our faith. So now my faith is again being tested and at a higher level. My faith is being proven through perseverance because God has brought me out of the cave to continue to plow the field that God has laid before Waine and I. What I have learned is that God's Vision is not static and my faith likewise cannot be static. As God's vision grows so is the requirement of my faith. Hallelujah! God's Vision is always expanding and likewise my faith has to expand with it and at every turn His provision is there.

As each step with God through Christ draws me nearer to His bosom, I am renewed through prayer. In this instance the prayer is constant--minute by minute--no blanket prayer --a moment by moment prayer to sustain me because the way is not clear. My comfort however is that the Cross of Calvary is clear and although I may not understand what tomorrow will  hold I rebuke Satan this moment because God's vision will be fulfilled regardless of my limited vision.

To know Him is to Love Him. To love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love you!

Stephanie

Pray without Ceasing!

Good morning to all on this 1st Sunday in September. I was reviewing my Spiritual blog posts and it has been a whole month since I last. I woke up this morning with a yearning for God's Word. I routinely fellowship with Joyce Meyers in the morning but even she says nothing replaces time alone with God, in His Word. Waine and I are fine and growing "old" together. That is a wonderful thought and I thank God for him, my children, my grandchildren and for you.

I am continuing my journey in 1 Thessalonians 5 verses 1 - 28, "Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,  for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.  Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.  May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.  Brothers and sisters, pray for us.  Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.  I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. " Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Paul is wrapping up this visit with the Christians in Thessalonica. He is leaving some instruction for them so that they can mature as a body and learn to re-energize themselves during his absence. Remember as new Christians they had to learn how to "live " by breathing in the Holy Spirit. Just as our physical body requires oxygen to function, our spiritual selves require the Holy Spirit to function. When we breathe we naturally get in the oxygen that is required and our lungs extract the oxygen with every breath. We don't have to think about breathing. It happens for adults 12-14 times a minute. Most of us don't go around having to remind our selves to take a breath or to exhale--we are hard wired to do so. Likewise as Christians we are to be hard wired to be in a attitude of prayer so that the Holy Spirit can provide us with the spiritual oxygen that is necessary for us to live. When we are in prayer the Holy Spirit has His best chance to replenish us. When we are with Him through prayer and thanksgiving, then evil has no room in our lives.  When Paul tells us to pray without ceasing, I think he means to be in an Attitude of prayer and thanksgiving all day, every day. Let your attitude of prayer be like breathing.

When Waine and I were in Cusco, Peru at an elevation of 11,000 feet we were reminded with each breath that our body was not getting the oxygen it needed. It was painful and we were spent and did not have the energy to move around. We couldn't fully enjoy the experience because of air hunger. As Christians we should get the sensation of "spiritual" hunger when we are not in an attitude of prayer and thanksgiving. As I mature in Christ this is exactly what I experience. I immediately feel "spirit hungry" when I allow myself to be out of sync with God through the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah I am maturing.

As you start your day, be in prayer with God and in thanksgiving lift your cares to Him who cares for you. I am in love with God through Jesus Christ and I thank God each minute for His love for me. To live and breath is Christ.

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.

Stephanie

Do not grieve. We have Hope!

Good morning to all on this 2nd day of August. I was looking back over my blog entries and saw that the last one was June 21. Boy that seems like a long time ago. So much has happened. Waine and I spent July 2-24 traveling first to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. It was a wonderful trip; full of sea iguanas, blue and red footed bobbies, sea turtles and the giant land turtles. The trip consisted of a cruise through all of the islands that Charles Darwin visited and then put pen to paper to theorize his treaties on the origin of the species. Then it was on to Lima, Peru and Macchu Picchu in the Andes Mountains. This was a MAGNIFICENT trip in the clouds. We mostly lived out of suitcases so its good to be back home. My siblings, Velma ad Koichi, had a mini-family reunion at Michele's house with their respective families and the pictures would indicate that a good time was had by all. Freddie and Aleron represented Waine and I.

I am continuing my journey in 1 Thessalonians 4, verses 1- 18 "As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you His Holy Spirit. 

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.  And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,  and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,  so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.  

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.  For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord’s Word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage one another with these words." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Paul is providing practical instruction and hope to the Christians in Thessalonica. These early Christians had to leave their old life and begin a new one with a Deity they had never met. Which is no different for us as Christians today. We first believe by faith and accept Christ AND THEN He is revealed to us. Then the journey begins as we walk each day in faith. Each day we have to renew are minds with God's Word as we suppress and kill the old person so that the new person, the person of God can come forth. It doesn't matter at what age you accept Christ, that sin nature is born with us and is as old as the original sin. Each little innocent baby has the seed of sin within them. The seed of sin wants to make each of us the master and commander of our lives as opposed to letting Christ sit on the throne of our lives. I have to suppress my old way of thinking minute by minute. When I am confronted by challenges Christ is maturing me not to react but to wait. Reactions just allows Satan to get busy through me and I know from experience that no good will come out of it.

As we die to our selves daily others will come to know Christ through our sacrifice. To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love one another. 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.

Stephanie

Let Us Strengthen and Encourage One Another In Our Fath!

Good morning to all on this Father's Day Sunday. Hope all the Dad's are appreciated today and all of you with Dads are doing the appreciation. I had a Dad. A self made man who strived to do the best for himself and his family. As he left his father's home at the age of 13 I am not sure if her knew what a Dad was supposed to be when he set upon his own journey but his Dad Landon, ha my Dad come up north because his outspokenness who have endangered his life. I met my grandfather Landon on only 2 occasions. I don't have a vivid memory of him other than he was a very quiet light skinned Black man who married a very dark skinned opinionated woman, Ida, who brought her own bag of dirt with her from Mississippi to come to Milwaukee on the 2 trips she made. The purpose of the dirt was to eat it. I really thought my father's parents were very strange. Waine never had a father either. His Chinese father, change abandoned his mother and her two young children and Waine did not see his father again until his mid 20's. Waine none the less is one of the best father's I know. He is caring, non-judgemental. Delights in all his children do. He loves them warts and all and when they make him feel special my husband is on cloud nine. He is also one of the best grandfathers a kid could ever have. He is playful and generous. He indulges their every whim. So how does a guy without a father or grandfather develop into such a Great Dad and Grandfather? He treats his of spring and their progeny just the way he imagined he wanted to be treated! My husband is just a Great Human Being. When we were first married, I gave my husband a Father's Day card and gift. He very lovingly accepted my love and gratitude and then about a week later, he mused that although the gifts and sentiment were lovely, he was not my father. I had to think about that for a while but then I understood. He was by best friend, my companion, my lover and keeper but the job of Father was for someone else. As I said Greatness comes in all kind of packages.

I am continuing my journey in Thessalonians 3 verses 1-13, "So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain. 

But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?  Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 

Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.  May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones." Amen and may God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Paul's heart was really concerned about the Thessalonians. He couldn't be with them to strengthen their "baby" faith so was worried that Satan would be able to turn them back to their old ways of living. Paul needn't have been worried. The Word of God had taken root and blossomed in Thessalonica and the early church there. There is a lesson here. We are to pray for one another and feed each other with the Word and Love of God. Not criticize each other or judge each other but encourage each other through the Love of God.

I come across folk every day burdened with financial debt; burdened with unruly children; burdened with illness and stress. In the flesh the first thing that comes to mind is that they bear the fruits of their labors and where they have placed the emphasis of their lives. Then I am reminded that if Christ had this philosophy, I would be bound for hell right now. His approach is to Love us out of sin! I was moved by the congregants of Mother Emanuel Church who were able to forgive this deranged child of God for killing their loved ones.  I think they realized that only Satan would sit and pray among believers and then try to kill the love out of them. Instead Satan and this young man have only served to bring the Gospel forward. Hallelujah!

Just like Paul, we can't control situations or people. Our job is to encourage and love and leave the CHANGE to God through the Holy Spirit. So pray for me that God's Hand will ever be on me; guiding me out of myself and into His Pure Love. I am sure I will be challenged this week as I look forward to my being able to remember this lesson.

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. To know Him is to Love Him. To Love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to Love you. Pray for me. Pray our nation!

Stephanie

Speaking Truth to Power!

Good morning to all on this glorious Sunday  morning. Waine and I just returned from Phoenix and Mackenzie's graduation. A real milestone. Our 1st grandchild has finished high school and will be off to college! Time really has a way of traveling fast. Freddie is already driving. We will see him next weekend for Hailie's birthday so It will be great to see him without pain. Thank you for your prayers for our family!

I am continuing my journey with Paul in 1st Thessalonian, second chapter verses 1-20 "You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you His gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews  who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy." Amen and may God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word!"

When we witness and profess, we should do so boldly because we are speaking under and with the authority of God. In essence we are speaking truth to power! I have heard ministers say this on many occasions and here it is in this passage. Paul is asserting publicly that he, Paul, has been approved and empowered by God through Christ to preach the gospel and the Good News that Christ died for all and through Christ we will be One with God. We are One with God immediately when we accept Christ as Lord! Think about that --we have the Power of God through Christ immediately--not in some distant future. So why do so many Christians live lives of defeat. I see so many person's of professed faith living lives of desperation; lives of anger and frustration; impoverished lives. We ought to be living victorious lives, and living life to the full. We should awaken each morning EXPECTING God's favor for we are the children of God and the rightful heirs of all His love. Not in the hereafter but right now. It requires the FAITH of a mustard seed.

I wear a charm on my bracelet of a mustard seed. It reminds me daily what it takes to TRUST God in all things big and small. Satan would have us be tied up and useless with worry. God tells us several things to do to remain free: 1) not to think about tomorrow--it is not guaranteed to you; 2) that if He clothes the flowers of the field and feed the birds of the air--He has us covered; 3) to cast all of our cares on Him because He loves us. What does this allow us to do--be free and live victoriously SO THAT OTHER MAY SEE OUR JOY AND BE DRAWN TO IT! We are to live this type of life. Not just talk about it but really live it.

Waine is fond of saying that I am one of God's Special People. My retort is that we are all God's Special People when we exercise our faith. It is like crossing a bridge in a fog. The more you walk the more the fog dissipates. The Faith Walk is very rewarding and at times scary because as you exercise your faith, Satan is busy increasing the issues in your life that then require you to exercise more faith. When I become overwhelmed I just go back to basics--I am the Child of the King and He loves every hair on my head. Remember this day that you are the Beloved of God. Live victoriously.

To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to Serve Him. To Serve Him is to Love you. 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.

Stephanie