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