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

Giving Thanks In All things!

Good morning to all on this glorious Sunday morning. Freddie had his surgery on May 6th and is recovering without difficult. He is able to walk without a cane and is only taking Ibuprofen for pain control. He will get 2 more weeks of home PT and then outpatient rehab for another 4 weeks for his hip replacement. Apparently the surgeon had to take a chisel to release the head of his femur from this hip. When I saw my son hobbling it brought tears to my eyes. My brother Koichi is also recovering from his surgery. God is so good. The fear and worry about both of these surgeries took a toll on me and at the end of the day God prevailed. His protective cloak jus covered us. Hallelujah and amen. It has taken me a while to chose a chapter in the New testament and I am lead to 1 Thessalonians this morning.

Our journey begins in 1st Thessalonians verses 1-16, "Paul, Silas^[a] and Timothy. To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:Grace and peace to you. 

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.   For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.  You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,  and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

What beautiful WORDS! Before God I want to be remembered for my work produced by FAITH. My labor prompted by LOVE. My endurance inspired by HOPE.  Our practice ZOe is an example daily to me of this passage. Waine and I have been blessed because we went forward in faith with ZOe. We acted on faith and faith alone. We had no financial backing, we were in debt and had faith. The faith the size of a mustard seed that God instilled in both of us. We had to ACT on our faith in tangible ways. Secure a lease for a building, hire staff, purchase a billing system and in each step God parted the waters. With each step of faith He not only showed us the next step He gave us the next step. In retrospect we only took the first step and God provided the rest. ZOe is a labor of love. There are days when both Waine and I feel overwhelmed and at times question whether we are doing the right thing. There are days when the road map is not as clear and those are the days we go back to basics and lift our prayers to the ONE whose VISION we are promoting. ZOe is God's vision for our family and the communities we serve. ZOe is God's vision for the staff we  hire and this is what I am learning to keep in front of me. When I don't do that then fear and anger have their way with me and the true lesson of ZOe is for me to concentrate on my faith so that God's vision is fulfilled.

At the end of my journey I am looking forward to God telling me to sit down and take a rest for I have fought the good fight. I have endured the extra mile. I have remained faithful to His vision and hope that all men will come to know Him through my faithfulness. At the end of the day nothing else matters. Today join me in giving thanks for all things for today is set before you the BANQUET TABLE that God has set. Release yourself from doubt and sin so that you can enjoy the life God has in store for 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.

Stephanie