Good morning to all on this Sunday before Christmas. As I am writing this journal entry Waine and I are busy getting ready to head to Orlando to visit Freddie, Tracy, Kai and Hailie. Aleron will join us on Tuesday. It is a blessing to be able to get away for a week and have the office covered. God has truly brought us a mighty long way!!!! Waine and I truly pray that your Christmas is filled with laughter, joy and the Spirit of God.
I am continuing my journey in Acts 6 verses 1-15 "In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." Amen and may God add a blessing to he reading and hearing of His Word.
I love this chapter. It is so practical! Although the disciples were growing in Faith and bold in their ministry, there were still practical events of every day life that had to be handled. The disciples were full time Ministry workers. They quit working their pre-conversion jobs and spent their entire time witnessing and growing the body of believers. They were now preaching in the surrounding land of Greece (Hellenistic Jews) and converting these Jews to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These Hellenistic Jews then began their full time ministry, quitting their secular jobs to devote themselves to the preaching of the Gospel and expansion of the kingdom. Their wives were complaining the bills were not paid and the children were not fed which were issues that needed to be dealt with and had been dealt with for the Hebraic Jews. So instead of fighting among themselves they came up with a solution appointing those among them to care for the needs of the families of the Hellenistic Jews and put Stephen in charge. God is always a particle God. When you commit yourself to the ministry of God, He will take care our needs even before we do. He can see "around the corners" and always has a solution if we keep our Spiritual eyes open.
Also what is predictable, is that when you submit your will to that of the Father and are faithful, there will be those around you to try and shake your faith with threats of harm but look what Stephen did. He just kept his eyes on the Cross. The accusations and threats did not bother him in the least. He had the "face of an angel". He was on the proverbial mountain top and KNEW from whence his salvation and strength came. There are times in my life when I have been "there". When I know with assurance that my "story" will end in victory. The winds and the waves that Satan sends your way cannot shake you because you have the "face of an angel". To have this face you are looking in the EYES of God. Of what a peace that you will feel. When you truly cast all your cares on Him you will have the face of an angel because you become the reflection of God's love. As you go about your work week seek the Face of God and have Peace!
To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love you! 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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