Good morning to all on this 1st day of April. Our daughter Jill is expanding her practicie today and we are very proud of her. Waine and I are packing up to head to Orlando after my clinic session ends. I am anxious to be with the babies! It has been raining for the past 2 days but today is supposed to be sunny so my beloved will get some good golf in. Please continue to keep ET in your prayers and pray for his healing and relief from pain. Continue to keep JKS in your prayers as well.
I am continuing my journey in 2 Timothy 2 verses 1-13, "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. " Amen.
Remember that Paul is writing this to Timothy while imprisoned in Rome. Paul is continually encouraging his disciple, Timothy, to keep his faith strong even while he, Paul, is locked up and chained. Ever the teacher, Paul is admonishing Timothy to keep his faith strong and to continue to obey the teachings of Christ and fight the good fight even though Paul is not with him. It m ust have been hard for Timothy because Paul was usually the one teaching and encouraging others to accept the diety of Christ. All Timothy had to do was be with Paul. Not it is left up to Timothy to proclaim the Good News knowing it may land him in jail too.
All of us have our own struggles. If we are human you will struggle. If you are a Christian you will struggle and there will be constant and consistent opportunities for us to have our faith tested. God will ensure that your faith is tested, not for His sake but for yours. He wants you to understand how to hold on to Him when there is nothing else to hold onto. This is when we learn the lesson of "If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself." And why does God want us to hold on to Him? It was the reason we were created! To receive His love and to give back that love withour own free will.
Some people say a good singer who has depth has experienced life's disappointments. Likewise, Christians with "depth" have experienced challenges that have shaken their faith and yet THEY REMAINED FAITHFUL to the promises that Christ made. When we are enduring, it is helpful to remember this saying, "This is not how my story will end!" If you are facing a life limiting illness and everyone thinks you are going to die, then its time to claim your victory of healing in the face of death and say "this is not how my story will end". If you are facing financial ruin and can't pay your mortgage and the bank is going to foreclose on your house, then its time to claim your victory in the face of foreclosure and say "this is not how my story will end". If your spouse has found another "love" and wants a divorce, it is time to rebuke the devil because he is a liar and say "this is not how my story will end". If your children have forsaken your teachings and are in the grip of drugs, it is time to rebuke the devil's hold over the lives of your children and say "this is not how my story will end". If you are coming under attack on your job because of your faith then it is time to start praising God more boldly because His gospel is being heard and say "this is not how my story will end". If your body is racked with pain to the point its hard to walk and get around, praise God for the pain and keep walking and say "this is not how my sotry will end". God is still God and He loves you and wants you to have a life of abundance. If you are not experiencing the abundance then ask that the abundance be revealed to you this very minute and claim your victory by saying "this is not how my story will end". Your story will end with VICTORY and it has to be VICTORY that you design with God. Leave all of these burdens at the cross so that you can unburden your heart and mind to experience the JOY that is yours today!
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. Amen. Sometimes the quickest way to get to your STORY is to pray for the happy ending for the story of others.
Stephanie
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