Don't Answer to Sin!

Good morning to all on this glorious Monday morning. All is well in the Kong household and Waine and I had a wonderful time in Kingston these past several days. Please continue to pray for ET and his family and thank your for your prayers for mine. Satan is busy and desires to keep confusion alive; let the peace of God rest, rule and abide in your hearts and homes this morning so that His will is done for you! Pray believing in the outcome and thank Him for all his mercies and grace.

I am continuing my journey in Matthew 27 verses 11-26, "Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He gave no answer. Then Pilate asked Him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against You?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent Man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of Him." But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. 'Barabbas," they answered. What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify Him!" "Why? What crime has He committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify Him!" When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this Man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" All the people answered, "Let His blood be on us and on our children!" Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified. Wow! May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Holy Word.

And the crowd shouted "Crucify Him!" not once but twice. Boy what hatred the crowd had for Jesus. That kind of hatred is only produced by Satan and Sin who cannot stand in the midst of Jesus the Christ. What is funny is that Satan was once one of the greatest angels and still did not understand the Word of God and the  Love of God for all Mankind. If Satan understood the scriptures, he would have realized that neither he or sin could kill Jesus, the Christ. He would have realized that Christ gave of His life willingly so all you believed could have eternal life. Just as the Jews cried "let His blood be on our hands and on the hands of our children", Jesus' blood covers the door post of all who believed in the Power of His Name then and throughout the ages. You and I are the direct recipients of His love. Jesus was victorious on that day because He submitted to the will of His Father and endured sin so that we might have eternal life. That is some sacrifice and love; just thinking about His love should motivate you to love others despite the hurt they may have caused you through their sins. Even Pilate could have had eternal life if he had confessed his sins and declared Jesus as Lord. You see Christ always looks at the BIG picture. He does not dwell on the insignificant and every thing is insignificant compared to eternal life with Him.

Whatever sin you are holding onto today, just let in go. It is not worth your suffering one more day. Repent and let the love of God cover that sin and cover you. Don't crucify the love of God in your life; instead fan the flames of love with forgiveness and forgetfulness. God has not only forgiven us, as soon as we repent He forgets the sin because it is covered by the Blood of Jesus. Hallelujah and amen! Be blessed today because Christ has sacrificed so that we can all have the abundance of living that a life with Him affords.

Stephanie

Sin Takes No Responsibility!

Good morning to all from Kingston Jamaica! Waine and I are in Kingston, enjoying our friends and each other. All is well in the Kong household and God continues to bless us beyond measure. Continue to pray for ET and his family and pray for all the families of the world. Family is no small thing. It is the glue that binds our lives one with another and the glue that God made to bind society. Remember that He made them male and female to be a family!

I am continuing my journey in Matthew 27, verses 1-10, "Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound Him, led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate, the governor. When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. I have sinned, he said, for I have betrayed innocent blood. What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money." So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on Him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me. May the Lord add a blessing to the reading of His Word. Amen!

Isn't that something. Judas realized too late that Christ was the Son of God who had come to take away the sins of the world. Judas, however, still did not recognize that he, Judas, was just a minor actor in this most important Play, the Salvation of Mankind. Judas thought he could influence the process by returning the silver that was the price paid for the betrayal of Christ. What Judas didn't realize, was that what was set in motion was not influenced by Judas or the high priests; Jeremiah wrote about it hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus the Christ. Judas realized too late that the only thing he could claim was the result of his sin and disbelief!

Sin is just like that. Sin would have you believe that the sin you are contemplating or involved in, is this great mystery. Something that neither you or the powers of the universe can control. At the end of the day, when you have sinned, sin will look you right in the face and say "hey, I didn't tell you to sin, you sinned because you wanted to and you are responsible." And sin is correct, you and I are responsible for the sins we commit. It starts with what we put in our minds and hearts and proceeds from there. Judas' sin of conceit and dis-belief led to his own demise. What happened to Christ was the willing act of God so that you and I might live. Judas was a minor actor in his own play of destruction as we all are when we allow sin to rule our hearts and mind. The Good News is that we can repent of our sins at any time so that the God of the Universe can rule our hearts and minds and the fruits of the Spirit can dominate and our lives will be for the glory of God and not self. Don't measure your success on what can be gone in a day. Don't sell your soul for 30 pieces of silver--it is worth so much  more to Christ who, unlike the chief priests, took responsibility for our sins so that we could  again be in the presence of the Almighty. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice! Amen and amen!

Stephanie

 

Good morning to all on this glorious Monday morning. Waine and I will be headed back to Atlanta today so please pray for our traveling mercies. Continue to pray for ET and his family as he begins his chemotherapy today. I thank God for each and every one of you and pray God's blessings for you and your family today. Family is one of the most important units that God has given us and I cherish mine as I am sure your cherish yours.

I am continuing my journey in Matthew 26, verses 69-75, " Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!" After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away." Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. May the Lord add a blessing to the reading of His Word. Amen and amen!

Everyone has heard this story of Peter's great denial of Jesus. It has been recounted many times. I never picked up on the fact that Peter was confronted by girls! This is so reminiscent of the fear that Elijah had after he defeated the priests of Baal. Queen Jezebel sent word that she was going to have him killed and Elijah fled and lived in a cave. You see when we are focusing on our own strength and not the strength of God through Christ the smallest things can defeat us. That's  how satan works. He introduces doubt and fear; he has us focus on the waves of life and not the Christ who has conquered all. This is the same Peter who walked on water with Jesus. This is the same Peter who was the first to confess that Jesus was the Son of God. This is the same Peter who said he would defend Jesus with his life. This is the same Peter that was told that upon his faith the Church of God would be built. Christ uses our FAITH and not our actions. Peter understood immediately that his faith had been tested and he failed the test; he however did not fail in faith and belief. Peter loved Christ and became the evangelist that spread the Word of God to the twelve tribes. When you feel you have failed Christ, think of Peter and focus on your faith and not your behavior. If Jesus can use Peter, He can use us! Be blessed today by blessing others.

Stephanie

Do you See Jesus through Spiritual Eyes?

Good morning to all from Bainbridge Georgia. Waine and I have spent the weekend in Middle Georgia while I covered a pediatric practice. Previously the best hotel here was the Days Inn but the new Holiday Inn Express was completed so we were able to luxuriate in a 1 bedroom suite. They have this new contraption --a motion sensor fan in the bathroom! Every time you walk by the bathroom the fan comes on which is quite annoying. Why would anyone think that was a good idea? Waine and I head off to Jamaica next week so keep us in your prayers. Continue to keep ET and his family in your prayers as he starts chemo-therapy tomorrow. Prayer is healing and is good always!

I am continuing my journey in Matthew verses 47-68, "While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the Man; arrest Him. Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested Him. With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way? At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture Me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest Me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled. 

Those who had arrested Jesus took Him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, "This Fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are You not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against You? But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to Him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered. Then they spit in His face and struck Him with their fists. Others slapped Him and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?" May the Lord add a blessing to the reading of His Holy Word, Amen and Amen!

What was Judas and the High Priests afraid of that they would have to make up lies to kill Jesus? What were they trying to protect? How did they allow themselves to be used by Satan in this manner? Judas walked and lived with Jesus for three years. He witnessed the miracles; he saw the dead rise; he saw the multitudes fed; he saw the sick healed; more importantly Judas experienced the love of Jesus and still focused on the wrong thing. Judas never saw Jesus through spirit filled eyes!

This let's you know how Satan works. Satan convinces you that the very thing that will save your life is  not good for you. Satan looks for the person who is "seeking" truth and believes in his own powers of reason to find the truth. This type of reasoning will trip you up. The measuring stick of moral people is flawed--we can not measure the love and power of God through our moral eyes. We have to see God and experience God through our spiritual eyes. When you rely on your own reasoning you become like Judas--someone that is able to be convinced that  Jesus was just a "good man"; a good teacher; a man like Buddha or Siva. You may even be convinced that there are many paths to God and that your job is to live a good life. You would be wrong. As Christ said, The scriptures and prophets have to be fulfilled and the scriptures say that Jesus is the only path to God and all that want to see God's face must be covered by the "blood of the lamb".

Buddha was born, lived and died. Mohammad was born, lived and died. John the Baptist was born, lived and died. Elijah was born, lived and died. Jesus was born, lived, died,,,,,,,,,,, and rose again to live at the right hand of God! Hallelujah! He rose again so that you and I might see the face of God. Moral people will live and die and never see the face of God. Christians will see the face of God not because of our works or deeds, not because we are worthy but because we have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb. Jesus indeed is the Christ, the Son of God who instead of calling on the Legion of Angles to rescue Him, willingly sacraficed Himself that all of us could be "passed over" by the Angel of Death. We will live forever with the God who loves us because we confessed with our mouths and lives that Jesus is Lord. Do not be fooled by Satan. There is only one God and the path to Him is His Son Jesus the Christ who takes away the sins of the world. He was not worthy of death but died so that we could live. Have you ever sacrificed to that level? Died to yourself so that a higher good could live. When we resist temptation and the Devil flees from us, we are dying to our selfish nature so that a higher good can live. With the Power of the Holy Spirit, we can all be like Jesus and die to our selfish nature daily so that a higher good can come forward. I love you in Jesus name, amen and amen.

Stephanie

Do you have a Heart for God?

Good morning to all and as Waine and I head back to Atlanta this morning please pray God's traveling mercies for us! I was blessed with a sermon from Joel Olstein yesterday from 2 Kings 20. King Hezekiah was sick until death and asked God for deliverance. Hezekiah asked for a sign from God that confirmed the answer to his prayer and God had the earth spin backwards for 10 beats. Joel's emphasis was that we should ask for signs that confirm that God is going to answer our prayers and so as we claim our answers Joel encourage us all to ask for signs. So if you are ready to put your faith at a higher level then pray and ask for your sign!

I am continuing my journey in Matthew 26 verses 31-46, "Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of Me, for it is written:  'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will. I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times." But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me." Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with Me for one hour?" He asked Peter. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done." When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So He left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then He returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" Amen and amen.

Peter, Peter, impetuous Peter. Always saying what is on his heart and always falling short. There is a lesson here for us because as in the case of David, God looks at your heart 100% of the time and if you have a heart for God, He can use you. Our flesh is damaged good; our fleshly nature will always lead us unto sin which is why we are admonished daily to kill the flesh with the Word of God. All of us can fall into the temptations of sin; sin is exciting and exhilarating. Sin can satisfy the flesh--but only fleetingly which  is why you have to continue to sin, sin, and sin. There are many times you satisfy your flesh and then say "Why did I do that?" Christ tells us to sacrifice the desires of the flesh for a higher good. Christ also recognizes that it is not easy to withstand the desires of the flesh--He asked His disciples to stand watch with Him for 1 hour and they couldn't resist sleep. On the other hand, Christ went to the Father and asked that the Cup He was about to drink from be taken from Him. Christ asked three (3) times and each time submitted to the Will of the Father. As we all are aware, the Cup that Christ was going to have to drink from was not death, but sin. Christ had to become sin so that we could live. When He became sin then His Father could no longer be in His presence. The "Cup" was alienation from God and rightly so, Christ wanted the Father to think of a better solution than alienating His Son from Him. Having none, Christ was obedient to the Will of the Father. When faced with a life altering challenge this is an excellent example of how to pray for your cup to be removed. There is never any harm in asking and a greater good to be gained in submitting.

Last and not least, Peter is an example of how easy it is to say what your will do and all so hard to execute what you say. When giving spiritual advice its so easy to give others advice about this or that; its so easy to say how spiritual and believing others should be in a crisis until the crisis hits you. Just remember Peter and even if you fail yourself to 'trust and obey" know that God will always look at your heart in your hour of weakness. When you are stringer, ask for God's forgiveness and move on. The point is to move on from the sin and sin no more! Hallelujah for the Savior!  Be blessed today.

Stephanie

Breaking Bread with Christ

Good morning to all on this Sunday morning. God is in His Heaven and all is right with the world. Waine and I are still in Hawkinsville and will spend a relaxing day here. Waine actually met some golfers from Macon and they are going to meet up with him at the Southern Hills Country Club this morning. We are blessed to be together and God is continuing to bless our love and relationship. Continue to pray for ET and his family. God will sustain them and all of us through prayer and faith action on our part. I lift up my prayers for all of us in this, these last days.

I am continuing my journey in Matthew 26 this morning, verses 14-30, "Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?" Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you." While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Amen and amen.

It would appear that the chief priests were making overtures to Judas for a while. Judas knew who to approach and asked if they were willing to pay him to turn over Jesus. Now this is on the heals of one of the disciples asking why Jesus was wasting perfume on Himself when it could be sold to be used to feed the poor. There is no indications from the scripture that Judas was the same disciple in both instances and it really doesn't matter. Satan works like this though. Satan will convince you that if your motives are good then if will justify your actions--NOT TRUE. Your motives and your actions both count which is why Christ admonishes us to live such that our lives REFLECT (action) the Fruits of the Spirit. No matter was motivation Judas had, his action was VERY WRONG!!!!! So the plot for the death of Jesus was set and Jesus determined to celebrate the Passover with his entire crew--even Judas. What is interesting to me is that Jesus broke bread with Judas and Judas stayed through the process. I think there is a lesson here. Judas obviously thought he did the right thing because he had no problem being in the company of Jesus and the other disciples. Judas was comfortable with his decision to betray Jesus and in fact was determined to stay in the presence of Jesus so that he could alert the high priest as to the most opportune time to capture Jesus. Judas had convinced himself that he had done the right thing. If this is not the most clear example of the subtly of Satan and sin. When we are not in communication with the Spirit of God sin will blind us into thinking that our sin actions are correct when in fact sin action will lead to destruction. Jesus likewise was comfortable period! He knew that everything works together for the GOOD and knew that Judas' action was necessary if the Old Testament prophesies were going to be fulfilled. I think he was giving Judas an opportunity to repent by confronting Judas with his sin--Jesus even love Judas. Judas did not repent and the Passover continued --- Judas was not covered by the blood of the lamb and is spending eternity with Satan.

The Jesus shared the bread and the fruit of the vine and He said something interesting. I had never read this scripture in this manner before. Jesus said "I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." Jesus will not have communion again until His Church is in Heaven with Him. I can't wait for that day--that GREAT COMMUNION-- when we all will celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus together. Oh and what a GREAT DAY that will be. Jesus breaking bread and sharing wine with all of us and then WE WILL SING A HYMN just as the disciples did that last communion with Jesus. Can you imagine the hallelujah chorus that will be. Can you imagine the sound of millions of us singing Hosanna to the Highest for He is King! Amen, amen, amen.

Be blessed on this the Lord's day!

Stephanie

The Alabaster Jar!

Good morning to all on this wonderful Saturday morning. Waine and I are in Hawkinsville and had a delightful meal last night in Perry GA at the historic Swanson house. If you all are ever in Perry GA stop by and check it out. Please continue to pray for ET and his family. His biopsy came back positive for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The great thing was that as he was being told the diagnosis and prognosis he began to pray for the physician that God would give the physician grace and knowledge. The physician is Jewish so it was quite a shock to the MD when ET started to pray because most Jewish people are still looking for the Messiah and ET already knows Him. God works through all and can conquer all. Please continue to keep ET and his family in your thoughts today and thank God for your health and strength. Proverbs 1:33 says " but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." Amen and amen!

I am continuing my journey in Matthew 26 verses 1 - 13, "When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He said to His disciples, "As you know, the Passover is two days away and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified. Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill Him. But not during the Feast, they said, or there may be a riot among the people. While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor. Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to Me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." Amen and amen!

The treachery of men and women is always performed in the dark. The chief priests didn't even have the courage of their convictions. They wanted Christ gone but knew that timing was everything. What they didn't understand is that their timing fit God's timetable. The Passover represented the "safe" passage of the Israelites during the last plague that would destroy the first born of each house. When the lamb's blood was smeared across the door post of the house of each Israelite, the angel of death would pass over. Jesus is the Lamb of Life, the first and only born of the Family of God,  whose blood would be shed to save us all and the chief priests DIDN'T GET it. That's how it is with sin--we don't get it, we don't get the redemptive relationship available through Christ when we live in sin. Just like the physician in ET's case, they rely on their own knowledge and feel helpless when they are not able to offer a cure. When your physician has a personal relationship with God, instead of being helpless and defensive when faced with a disease with a horrible prognosis, they get into prayer battle mode with you and claim victory over your body and grave. We all have to die in this body; eternal life only begins when we leave this body however it is still an eventuality that is difficult to face. So when we pray for healing of a Christian what are we praying for? God is not man that He should lie or the Son of man that He needs to repent. God is true to His Word and if He said it so shall it be done. These priests just didn't get it. They had no power over Christ--Christ was a willing participant in His own death as He knew He had to become sin to pay the price for us and so He allowed Himself to be prepared for death and burial! Likewise, when we pray for a Christian's healing we not only send up intercessory prayers for longevity but more so for the preparation to face whatever cup that Christian has to drink from. Hallelujah! Whatever cup we have to drink from-Christ's sacrifice has made it possible for us to drink and yet live.

This no named woman with the alabaster jar was anointing Him and His own disciples didn't get it. They followed Him and still didn't get the essence of His ministry. They thought He was sent to earth to address poverty at the hands of the Romans; oppression at the hands of the Romans; inequality at the hands of the Romans. Christ was here to free humanity from the destructive force of SIN! Even though His disciples didn't GET IT--their lack of understanding didn't stop Christ from using them to spread the Good News. Christ looks at our hearts and not our outward behavior. This is a good lesson for all of us; Christ looks at our hearts; He is sensitive to our will which may not always catch up with our spiritual nature. He looks for our willingness to let go of the ways of this world and embrace the principles of the Kingdom. I thank God for the woman with the alabaster jar and I thank Him more for His sacrifice so that I would have the ability to see Him in eternity. This world cannot be all that we have to look forward to. This world will perish but the Word of God will last forever. He is neither a liar or a thief. He is true to His Word so claim His promises today for all your needs. Stop looking to the "Romans" for the answers to the mysteries of life. God will provide all your needs today and everyday. Claim a victorious life today. Be a blessing to someone today!

Stephanie

Are You on the Right Side?

Good morning to all on this Tuesday morning! Waine and I will be heading back to Atlanta today so please pray for our traveling mercies. We left a very sleepy Kai and his family last night and I am already missing Kai and the Princess Hailie. We had a chance to catch up with friends on Sunday night, Jesse and Wilma McGee, who were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. It was great to be with our friends and catch up on old times. Please continue to pray for ET and his family. Pray that God continues to work mightily through ET's faith and will give him healing and peace. God is God every day and is in control!

I am continuing my journey through Matthew 25, verses 31-46 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.' Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.' Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Amen and amen!

If you truly read this passage, the sheep actually separated themselves from the goats--or the folk that bear spiritual fruits separated themselves from those that do not. The people Jesus are describing as "sheep" are those among us that have an "attitude" of service and a heart full of love and kindness because they bear the fruits of the spirit. Yesterday I was on an airplane. The last two people to get on were a woman and her child. There were only two  middle seats left the one next to me and the one behind me. The woman was encouraging her child to sit in the one behind the row we were in and the child was obviously not comfortable with that arrangement. I was sitting there deciding I would give up my aisle seat so that the woman and child could sit together but before I could the gentleman behind me gave up his. I was convicted and I knew I was wrong for waiting to be kind. We should never wait to be kind to others; my spirit responded immediately with the correct thing to do but my flesh was weak and slow. I was being a goat and not the sheep. Sheep respond without thinking; they just follow.

As Christians, we all know the right thing to do--our Spirit is responsive to Christ 100% of the time. You have to  kill this old flesh daily so that  Spirit of God, the Spirit of Love and Obedience can shine through. The man who gave up his seat did more to convict me with his actions then a thousands words could have and I felt ashamed. I am determined to respond to the Spirit today and not my flesh. Remember that the world will know us by our Spirit and works. Kingdom building is about both. Love someone today that you feel doesn't deserve love; send out to that person what you would like in return and reap your rewards. When you pray for ET you are praying for yourselves.

Stephanie