Forgetting Those Things Which Are Behind

Good morning to all on this Wednesday morning. Waine and I are in Atlanta and have had a couple of weeks to catch up around the house before our travels begin again. The weather is still cold but no snow or ice on the ground. Did you see the Bears and the Packers game? You just got to love those Cheese Heads! Go Packers. Please continue to keep ET and his family in your prayers as well as JKS in your prayers.

I am continuing my journey in Philippians 3 verses 1 - 14 " Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by His Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:  (I was) circumcised on the eighth day, (I was) of the people of Israel, (I was) of the tribe of Benjamin, (I was) a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, (I was)a Pharisee; as for zeal, (I was) persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, (I was) faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Amen!

What a POWERFUL testimony Paul is providing! He was the Hebrew of all Hebrews--he was the man! Paul is telling the Christian Jews of Philippi that he, Paul, had obtained status and power even during the occupation of Rome. He had what all Jews coveted--he had Roman citizenship. He could freely go where all Romans went. He didn't have to carry the burdens of Romans when met on the road as other Jews did. He even persecuted Jews for the Romans and then, and then and then he, Paul, had his Damascus experience--he met Christ on his Journey to Damascus, had never walked with Christ before the Crucifixion but when confronted by Christ on the Road to Damascus, Saul become Paul. He went from persecuting Jews to converting Jews. (Acts 9: 3-9) That's why Paul understood FAITH and SPIRITUAL matters. Paul knew Jesus had been crucified and yet here was Christ ministering unto him. Paul knew that Christ was considered a great prophet but now he experienced Christ as Lord. Paul knew that the Pharisees disparaged Christ, but now he knew how wrong the Pharisees were. Paul had been anointed and as his faith grew he came to know Jesus, up front and personal. I can high five that! Once you know Jesus and experience His love for you there is no going back! We forget sometimes as Christians how good we have it because we still have to live in this world and be bombarded daily with the world. It is so easy to lose sight of the CROSS as we focus on the "wind and the waves". Paul tells us to admonish one another to REJOICE! You may say what do I have to rejoice for? Well if you can't rejoice about anything rejoice in the fact that Jesus was born, He lived, He was crucified and died and then, and then, and then HE AROSE FROM THE GRAVE so that you and I could be saved and have eternal life with Him! Hallelujah what else do you need to rejoice over. Everything else--the car you drive, the home you live in, the money in your pocket, your love ones, your status--everything else is temporal and fleeting--your life with Christ and for Christ is FOREVER!!!!! Each of us has their own journey to fulfill. I am encouraging you to let go of your past, where fear exists, and PRESS on to YOUR CALLING. If you don't know what your calling is just ask Jesus and He will tell 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. Amen.


Stephanie

Are you watching out for the interest of Christ?

Good morning to all on this glorious Monday morning. Waine and I had a wonderful weekend in Tampa attending a conference sponsored by the Association of Black Cardiologists. We saw some old friends and Freddie and his family came up on Saturday from Orlando so we had Kai and Hailie with us as well. What a treat! When grandchildren wrap their loving arms around your neck and squeeze you, there is no better feeling. Made us miss our other grandchildren all the more. Please continue to keep ET and his family in your prayers. Please keep JKS in your prayers; she indicates that her condition is actually getting better! Praise God and in Jesus name!

I am continuing my journey in Philippians this  morning, chapter 2 verses 12- 30, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the Word of Life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.  But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.  I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.  And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.  But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.  For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.  Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.  Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me." Amen and amen!

Paul is talking to the Christian church in Philippi and to the Christian church today! We are to be without grumbling and arguing; we are to rejoice in all things because we SHOULD BE HAPPY AND ELATED WITH EACH BREATH WE TAKE, THAT OUR GOD IS SOVEREIGN, IN HIS HEAVEN, AND IN LOVE WITH US! Did you grumble yesterday, I know I did and I now will make a conscious decision this day to be about God's work and my day without fear or grumbling. I am sure that Paul is admonishing the Philippian Church because word got back to him about what was going on there; he is about to send Timothy who has been his right hand man while imprisoned in Rome to continue the work that Paul started--to focus this young Christian church on the task of Kingdom building, which is at hand. He is also sending back Epaphrodtius who was sent to Rome from Philippi and almost died. I am sure that his illness/imminent death was some of the source of the Grumbling and Arguing. These early Christians had to lay down more than their ego to ensure that the Word of God was preached! Many lost their physical life to ensure that the Gospel according to Christ was spread. So too should we "Die to Self" daily to ensure that the Gospel of Good News is spread daily.

When I started this Blog several of my friends and family wondered what was going on with me. I simply told them I had made a decision to BOLDLY LIVE for Christ and spread the Good News through a social media that could reach many people, this BLOG. Now my purpose is not to make sure I get a lot of hits on the BLOG, my purpose daily is to send it to the people that I am led to send it to. God's job is then to add the increase. My job is to labor in the field. I love laboring in the field and it is a daily struggle. I am so tempted to "start" my day with other things and I have to will my self to feed my Spirit first by giving thanks to God through Jesus and keep the world at bay.

Sometimes I read a passage and wonder what God wants me to glean. I have to keep reading and then while writing I GET IT. Sometimes I go months and "feel" like what I am doing is fruitless and then I am reminded that the Word is never spread in vain and will have the desired results as dictated by the Holy Spirit. My harvest season is very near that I am assured and I am encouraged. Our job is just to keep plugging away without GRUMBLING OR ARGUING in whatever vineyard God has placed you. Be encouraged today because God loves you sincerely and completely!

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.

Stephanie

Are You Bold Enough to Be Humble?

Good morning to all on this Thursday morning. Still ice and snow on the ground and God is in His Heaven and all is right in and with the world. My Waine is coming home to me today, please pray for God's traveling mercies for him. Continue to keep ET and his family in your prayers and continue to pray for JKS's healing. I am speaking this weekend so pray God's blessing on me.

I am continuing my journey in Philippians 2 verses 1 - 11, "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Amen and Amen! Wow I finally GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When God exalts you, when God raises you UP, when God rewards you it is on the basis of your obedience to humility--humility to His commandment to Love Him above anything and then to love one another as CHRIST LOVED US AND GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US. WOW! When is the last time you loved someone more than you loved yourself. That is to say, you loved someone inspite of being hurt or wounded by that person. I have someone in my life right now, and I am feeling so convicted as I right this blog entry, that is hard for me to LOVE. It is hard for me to lay hands on this person; it is hard for me to show affection for this person; it is hard for me to think kind thoughts toward this person; it is hard for me to be around this person and that means I am not humbling myself to the will of God. I am to love this person really love this person just like Christ loved me when I was in sin. That had to be hard for Him. God cannot be in the same space as sin yet Christ loved me through it  and Paul is saying that we have to love each other not because it is our nature to love--we have to love one another because we are One with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. We have to die to our own sin nature and have to exercise the Love of Christ that exists in us. EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE that which you do not want to do because of your commitment to obedience to Christ. I have to exercise my love for this person that I do not naturally love and the only way to do it is to be around this person. I have to make the effort to exercise my love for this person and I am going to humble myself in obedience to do just that. Then, then, then GOD WILL EXALT ME! When God exalts me then nothing in the heavens, on the earth or UNDER THE EARTH will be able to stop His exaltation of me. I can't wait. If I could go to that person now, at 6 AM,  I would and I mean it.

If you are wondering why God hasn't exalted you; exalted your business, exalted you ove your current trials and tribulations, you need to look no further that your humility. I pray that you are bold enough to be humble today so that He, Jesus, can exalt you this very day.

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.

Stephanie

Speak your Blessings today!

Good morning to all on this Wednesday morning. Another snow day in Atlanta and I am now sympathetic for the sick and shut-in. It has been a challenge to be indoors for three days. The YMCA is not open; it is not really smart to be playing Bowling With the Cars on the street so I have been at home cleaning closets, drawers and other "Honey Dos" that seem always to fall back to the back burner. Well, when the back burner is the only thing you have better fry something! I awakened late so immediately had calls to return (my wonderful husband) and emails to answer which is a way of dragging you into the "day" without properly greeting my Lord and Savior and having my quiet time. So I stopped, dropped and rolled right into the scriptures so that I could order my day and remain the person God intended. Continue to keep ET and his family in your prayers and JKS in your prayers. Please pray for Waine's safe travels back from Kingston Jamaica tomorrow.

I am continuing my journey in Philippians 1 verses 12 - 30 "Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!  I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;  but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have." Amen.

FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN! Many Christians quote this scripture in many circumstances. I actually think Paul was talking about his death not in a literal sense but in a metaphorical sense although because He new Jesus Paul longed to be rid of this life and start his new one with the Lord. When we live for Christ and are an example for others with our life then others will come to know Christ through us and we are then fulfilling our  mission of Kingdom building. I also think Paul is giving us a clue that to Live for Christ you have to Die to yourself. It is SELF that becomes the portal for Satan. Satan has no portal to you other than through your "self"--when you crucify YOU on a minute by minute basis, your new life from Christ can take over and you begin to manifest the fruits of the Spirit.

For example I really never talk about my personal victories for Christ but will share with you this little story because it fits. In my last job, I had a pretty tough job and had to manage alot of people. I don't know if you know this but when you work for certain companies or entities that care for the needs of the poor, some of the employees that work for you do not have an attitude of services even when they profess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord. They are as Paul describes in this chapter, that they "preach Christ out of envy and rivalry" and not out of goodwill. "They preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter?, i.e for me to live is christ and to die is gain!These same "Christians" lie about their work ethic; they cheat their employers by arriving late and leaving early; they take company supplies like pen and paper and will complain about you because you are "making them work hard" and therefore are disrespecting their humanity. They will complain about you if you want to start a meeting with prayer and will use every ounce of their being to bring you down. But what does it matter, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Now you can buy into that--it is hard on a day to day basis to take this level of negative thinking and pressure, but you have to remind yourself why GOD HAS YOU THERE. If you think you are in any situation because of your merit then you are not living your spiritual life. Even when you think bad things are happening to you evaluate what it is that you think is happening. Remember only Satan condemns--so if you are experiencing condemnation then ask God to forgive your fearful spirit and remember God never condemns you. He may convict you and convince you about the JUNK IN YOUR TRUNK but He never condemns--that is Satan and all you need do is rebuke the Devil with the WORD OF GOD and he will flee from that WORD and you. God need no help being God and He will keep you insituation or take you out for His Good and the Good of the Kingdom. Our life here is just a short way stop even in abundance.

As the child of the King use your knowledge and faith to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of your abundant life. Speak God's truth to Power and if you cant say anything else just say the name of Jesus over and over. Christ has prepared a feast for you today so glorify at the banquet table and partake freely. Turn off the negative noise and speak your abundance into reality so that others will be blessed and God's Kingdom will be magnified.

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! Number 6:24-26 I have spoken your blessing to you today. Give it to others.

Stephanie

You are the Divine Creations of the Creator!

Good morning to all on this Tuesday morning from snow covered Atlanta! Second snow day but today I am going to get dressed and at least walk to the end of the drive way. I got cabin fever yesterday just being in the house. Waine is well in beautiful Jamaica with 80 degree weather but missing me ALOT which I think is a GREAT trade off. Please continue to keep ET and his family in your prayers and also JKS in your prayers. Thank you for your diligence of prayer on behalf of your brothers and sister in Christ Jesus. Amen!

Well I have been led to start a journey in Philippians, the letters from Paul and Timothy to the early church in Philippi. Chapter 1 verses 1- 12 reads as follows "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." Amen.

What a wonderful greeting. It is so uplifting! When was the last time you greeted a fellow Christian like that? When is that last time you greeted anyone like that? When was the last time you were greeted like that? Paul is overflowing with love and affirmation for his brothers and sisters in Christ. I'll tell you a story. This past weekend I went for my re-certification in Advanced Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. From the minute we got into class, the instructor who was an EMT, began to build us up. The first thing he asked is "How many are you are uptight about this re-certification process?" We all raised our hands and he immediately said, "relax you are all brilliant and know this stuff and will pass" and then began 8 hours of instruction and praising. Yes I knew the information. Yes I had been certified and recertified many times over 20 years and yet when faced with a test you always have your doubts. I could feel my self get more confident of my knowledge base as each hour went on. He was our cheerleader and at the end of the day I scored 100 on one test and 92 on the other. He changed my negative thinking into possibility thinking!  This is what Paul is doing with this salutation! When was the last time you were someone's cheerleader?

When you think about it the world has no problem tearing us down--shouldn't we at least build each other up? And we should do it because we are filled with the fruits of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. We have been set on a path of Good Work that will come to completion on the day the Christ takes us home so yes we should be positive each and every day and let that spill over to all we encounter. For a whole year I sent emails to our children telling them that they were the jewels in our crown and they are. I stopped not because they aren't; I stopped because I didn't think they appreciated it. You see I was focused on the wrong thing. They are the jewels in the crowns my husband and I wear regardless of how I feel. They are the blessings and affirmation of Christ in our lives and should be told so every day. I send love songs to my husband daily because I love him and appreciate him and want him to know. He doesn't have to guess. Sending out good words helps the receiver and the sender. If you want an immediate blessing, build someone up today. You all are wonderful people whom God loves and adores. Each of you are a blessing to me and others. You are accomplished and will reap the blessing that God has for you this day just open your hearts to Him and others. God loves you and so do I. Be happy and secure in that no matter where you find yourselves.

Stephanie

Your Well is Never Dry.

Good morning to all on this glorious Monday morning. Waine is in Jamaica and Atlanta is blanketed in a "winter wonderland" of snow! The winter storm did indeed put about 4 inches of snow in our little town and it is beautiful. I am not sure how much of the city will shut down but I am comfy and warm and in no hurry to get out there and play car soccer with other cars. Continue to pray for ET and his family. He starts his chemotherapy at MD Anderson today and I am praying and claiming victory for him. Continue to pray for JSK and her rash; please pray specifically that her clinicians will be able to properly diagnose her and then prescibe a therapy.

We finished Romans and I have not been led to another book of the Bible however I am led to share a wonderful passage in Genesis with you, chapter 26 verses 12-25 "Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.  Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.” So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, or Dispute, because they disputed with him. Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah or Quarrel. He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth or Room for All, saying, “Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” From there he went up to Beersheba. That night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well." Amen and amen! And Issac built an altar there and worshiped!

How many of us keep on trying and preservering even in the face of adversity? Look at Issac. God has blessed him 100 fold which just caused the King of the land to become jealeous necessitating Issac to move with his family and flocks of animals. He moves to a land that he knew because it was the land of his father, Abraham. Abraham had previously dug wells there so Issac knew there would be water for his family and his animals. So he had his servants dig the 1st well and the Philistines who had filled in the well in Abraham's time now claimed the well to be theirs. Issac then moved and directed another well to be dug that had been previously filled in and again the Philistines claimed the well to be theirs and again Issac moved on. Issac again directed his servants to dig another well and this time there was no dispute and he settled there, built a tent and worshipped God. 

Do you ever notice that there are people in your life that love to challenge everything you say and do? They just appear, like these Philistines did to challenge you over something they weren't even thinking about. They had forgotten about these wells until Issac dug them up and then they wanted to challenge Issac over them. Issac didn't quarrel; he didn't get into a battle over the wells he just moved on. Remember these were wells that Abraham had dug and Issac being his son were "entitled" to them. Issac also knew where to send his servants to dig because he already knew where the wells were--his daddy had been there before him! But Issac didn't quarrel. He knew that God hadn't blessed him with all this livestock only to let his livestock die so he kept digging until he found "his well". This third well had not be one that his father had previously dug--this well was one that Issac could claim as his own and look what he named it --Rehoboth or Room for All--Issac was neither bitter or selfish. His well was dug for all and he was willing to share his water even with those who had previously opposed him. What a great testimony to the Power of God! Issac understood some very important lessons:

1. God had blessed him 100 fold and in so doing could do it again, and again and again. God never stops being God and needs no help from us to be God. When God blesses you, He does not need you to protect the blessing that He has given you.

2. It was his job to obey and find water for his animals and family. It was not his job to get discouraged when his first and second attempts at finding water were not fruitful. It was his job just to dig.

3. When faced with adversity, he didn't have to be frustrated and question the adversity, his job was just to dig. When one door closed, he just looked for another one. He knew there was a well and he lost no time in negative thinking. He just keep digging.

4. When he was blessed with a well "HE PITCHED A TENT, BUILT AN ALTER, AND WORSHIPPED GOD". Issac gave thanks! He gave thanks to the God that blessed him with the well and the water and blessed him with his own victory! Up to the point of the second well, Issac was just rehashing Abraham's success. With the new well, God taught him about his own power through his own faith.

I am a firm believer that you should never give up no matter what the adversity is. No one writes the end to your story but God. You are the child of the King and when you trust God, you will be victorious no matter what the evidence is to the contrary. I also believe you can give up and block the power of God in your  life because you give in to your will and not the Will of the Father. God wants us to have a life of abundance so take the opportunity today to find your well.

Have a GREAT day and experience the love of God.

Stephanie

The God of Peace. The Grace of Jesus!

I greet you in the Name of Jesus, the Christ who died for our sins so that we might have a life abundant. I greet you in an attitude of service because this is the commandment from Christ and I pray that you will experience all the abundance that God has in store for you, not in the future but today. I greet you with the Grace and Mercy of Jesus and the Power of God His Father. I pray for the Holy Spirit to minister unto your needs this day and for Christ sake, I claim victory over the Evil One in Jesus name, amen and amen. I pray for your prosperity and that God will expand your territory today and bring favor to you and your family.

Good morning to all on this wonderful Wednesday morning. Waine and I are back in Atlanta and Freddie is here with us. Please keep Freddie and his family in your prayers, that God would sell their home and tracy will find a job in Atlanta.  Aleron is interviewing for positions in ER medicine in Boston so I would appreciate your prayers of safety and success for him. ET and his family are continuing the good fight. He has a second opinion exam at MD Anderson on Thursday, January 6 and I am and others are in prayer that ET's prayer request for a long life will be granted by God. His journey has been a blessing for me spiritually personally; I have learned to keep my eyes on the prize and humbly participate in the journey--never ceasing to pray and making my request known to God the Father in the Name of Jesus. Also keep JKS in your prayers that her rash will be healed and resolved.

We are finishing our journey in Romans with chapter 16 verses 1-27 "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of His people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.  Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.  Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.  Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. Greet all the churches of Christ send greetings. 

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. 

Now to Him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."

I was truly fed this morning by this last chapter in Romans! First to read about all the significant women in the early church was like food to my soul. They worked side-by-side with the men to spread the good news of Christ and risked their lives to ensure the growth of the early Christian church. We are instructed by Paul to continue this tradition AND CONTINUE IT WITHOUT STRIFE. All too often instead of greeting each other in LOVE and GRACE; instead of uplifting one another; instead of helping one another and greeting each other with a Holy Kiss we stand in judgement with one another. All gifts from Christians are like Frankincense and Myrrh; we should appreciate each other and the gifts of Christian conscience and spirit we come with. Do you know some Christians will hire people of the world before they hire a Christian and then wonder why there is so much dissension in the work place. Paul says "I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people."  Negative thinking will lead to negative outcomes!! We are to help one another at all times and not be in judgment of each other. If you don't like my singing, pray for me. If you don't like my praying, pray for me. If you don't like my insights, pray for me. Paul URGES us not to be naive and deceived.

Instead, instead, instead we are to rejoice with one another. Greet each other with a kiss. Be happy for the success of the other. Uphold each other in the name and power of Jesus. Pray for each other and struggle with each other for one purpose and one purpose only--Kingdom building. It is the job of the God of Peace to crush Satan under our feet and He needs no help. God is God all by Himself and does not need our help to be God!  The Grace of Jesus will protect us and give us abundance WHEN WE ALLOW THE GRACE, TO BE WITH US! Yes, we frequently step outside of the Umbrella of this Grace. 

Our job is Kingdom building. Our job is service to one another. To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to serve Him. To know Him is to Love Him. TO LOVE HIM IS TO SERVE YOU!

I thank God for you and may His Face shine upon you this day and give you peace.

Stephanie

Beginning Your Year In Faith

Good morning in this new year and on this glorious Sunday morning. Waine and I are still in Hawkinsville and I had a pretty busy day yesterday taking calls from anxious parents. Its has been 60-70 degrees all weekend and Waine has enjoyed two (2) rounds of golf each day. It was 17 degrees here about 3 weeks ago, so in the span of 30 days, this area of Georgia has seen major temperature swings.

Continue to keep ET and his family in your prayers. His spirits are high and his eyes are fixed on Christ. His specific prayer request is that God would grant him a long life and that he would be able to see his grandchildren grow up. God has granted this prayer requests for many saints so I am requesting that this be the specific prayer you offer up for ET. Several of you have emailed me to remind me that ET's life will be rich whether on this side of Jordan or the next; of this I am certain and I am also requesting that this brother's specific prayer request be offered up. None of us know the hour or the day we are called to the other shore. This brother has not heard that call yet and I am confident that because his walk with Jesus is so profound he will hear the call before any of us do, so please send up your prayers.

I am continuing my walk through Romans, chapter 15 verses 16-21, " But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.  But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”  Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.” And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”. Amen

Paul is moving on with his calling. He was chosen specifically because he was both a Jew and a Roman citizen. He had a kinship with the Jews in Roman; he was schooled in the traditions of the Hebrew faith and knew that most Jews were still looking for their Messiah, although Jesus had walked among them. He is now having to convince the Christian Jews of Rome to extend their ministry to the Gentiles that reside there. Paul also had to convince these Christian Jews, that the Kingdom of God was not only meant for the direct descendants of Abraham but for all the children of God who have been reconciled unto God through Christ. Paul's other task was to teach the Roman Christian church that being Jewish is not what will give them the promise of eternal life. They, the Roman Jews, would have to accept the Gift of Eternal life by surrendering their lives to Christ. Both tasks were daunting and revolutionary! Jews are taught from birth that they have a birth right; they are the "chosen" people because of their kinship with and through Abraham. These Jews were still looking for their Messiah and still lived out of the Old Testament. Paul's message is that Christ fulfilled all the scriptures and promises of the Old Testament and the world was now in a new chapter with its own commandments. For the church to grow these Roman Jewish Christians would have to mature and embrace the teachings of Christ. Paul's knowledge of the scriptures and teachings of the Old Testament is why he was chosen to grow the church of this new found religion--the religion of FAITH and not works. Paul's consistent message is to let go of the "old" and embrace the new!

The same with us. When each opportunity arises for us to exercise our faith we have to let go of the "Old" - our fleshly nature and embrace the "New" nature of FAITH. This faith is renewed and strengthened in only 1 way and that is the Word of God which is why I feed myself the Word daily. There are days I do not have a firm grasp of all that I read but I can tell you for certain, even when I am not sure with  my mind what I am reading, my spirit is still fed and my FAITH grows. Our natural  mind is limiting; we give in to logic and barriers all the time which is why most of us are not POSSIBILITY THINKERS OR LIVERS. We operate too much in the natural world and miss the blessings that are in front of us. If you want to reach your full potential then you have to dwell in the supernatural world where barriers do not exists. FAITH will take you there, and that is a promise from Jesus.  Someone mentioned to me that they noticed that I asked for prayers when I wanted people healed. They thought that was odd since I am a physician. Actually, being a physician has convinced me that healing comes from God and that he uses physicians to assit in the process. As in ET's case it would appear with the  natural mind that we are in the 9th inning with 2 strikes and 3 balls; or in the 4th quarter of a football game with 1 minute to play and it is the 4th down. Well I watched the Wisconsin/TCU game yesterday where the kicker for Wisconsin actually ran with the ball as opposed to punting it giving Wisconsin a 1st down. Well if man can come up with that; how much more can God do if not limited by our impossibility thinking.

As you exercise your faith on behalf of this brother, you are actually raising the bar on your own faith and in your own life. Nothing we send out, either positive or negative returns to us empty. Send your Faith out today for yourself and others. Live in abundance today!

Stephanie