Good morning to all on this wonderful Friday morning. Waine and I are in Hawkinsville for the weekend and the weather is wonderful today so, yes you guessed it, Waine would be on the golf course with his golfing buddies. I had a chance to be in Washington DC on Wednesday and Thursday and enjoyed all the Cherry Blossoms--I had forgotten how beautiful Washington can be in the spring. Please continue to lift ET and his healing up. Please also continue to lift up JKS and her healing.
Well we have finished 1 Timothy and I am moving on to 2 Timothy verses 1- 12 " Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me His prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, Who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." Amen and thank God for this blessing!
Paul is providing ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL PROMISES that are available through Christ FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME! The manifestations of these promises became evident to us by the DEATH and RESURRECTION of Christ but were always there! What is blowing my mind however is that GRACE has been present and available before the beginning of time. That means grace was available to Satan as well if only, he had repented of his sin and accepted the majesty and authority of God through Christ. What a mighty and wonderful God we serve. Paul is also reminding us that we should "fan" the flames of our faith daily and then lay hands on each other as a GIFT of faith from one to another. I so believe in the Power of harnessing our faith together and God tells us that "where one or more are gathered together in faith and prayer" He will be there to share His Grace and Mercy with all of us.
I also believe that the prayers of parents, in this case the grandmother and mother of Timothy, will ensure that the salvation of their children and grandchildren are secured. I pray for my four children daily and pray for their salvation. I then pray for their spouses and our grandchildren. This wise woman once said at her 80th birthday party, I don't want to be in heaven looking for any of my children. I feel the same way. My parents prayed for me and my siblings. At times I am sure they could not see the results of their prayers, but they prayed anyway. Likewise, we are to be faithful in our prayer efforts.
All you of you will be rewarded in real time as you pray for others. You can also ask God to give your strength to others. Any of you who want to send your strength to me, I am open and willing to accept it! Through it all, we can rejoice for God's GRACE and MERCY is with us this day and each day whether here on earth or with God. When I think of the Love of God through Christ I feel happy! The world needs this antidote and it is the job of the Christ to let their life so shine that others would come to know the grace and mercy of God. Cheer someone up today with the Love of God.
Be blessed today and share your strength and love with others. Now 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.
Stephanie
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