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
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