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
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