Good morning to all on this Sunday morning. Waine and I are in Thomaston, GA just getting back from Kingston, JA. We had a lovely week there and got a lot accomplished. Its good to be back stateside and good to be home. Waine has said that it has taken me a while to call Thomaston home but it is that. I feel right at home here in this house my beloved chose. It is home base for now and we have hunkered in. Georgia had a VERY cold spell while we were gone. Temperatures down to 9 degrees. Our patients still showed up to the office though. Couldn't add a picture this morning. My Blog has been acting weird but we will prevail.
I am continuing my journey in Acts 9 verses 1-31 "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers." Amen and may the Lord ad a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
Where God gives you a Vision, He will also give Provision. What an example of this phrase. God had a plan for the spreading of His Word, not only to the Jews in and around the Roman empire where Jesus lived, preach, died and was resurrected but to all the world and for this task he needed a Jew who could speak Hebrew and other languages. In comes Saul the tax collector who was both Jew and had Roman citizenship. Saul was well known among the Jewish hierarchy that sought to suppress the Word of God and the new church. He was chosen by Jesus because of his unique pedigree and also, I believe, was chosen because he had been so against the preaching of the Gospel. His conversion would draw many to this new faith because when some one so anti-anything is then converted the truth is then established much faster. What the early Church needed were converts that never new Jesus but was touched by the message He left behind. In Saul's case Jesus spoke to him directly.
This has been my EXPERIENCE as a Christian woman. In many instances in my life God has spoken to me directly; has given me visions of my future and the outcome of y prayers. It didn't mean that He always took a bitter cup from my lips; even in trials He gives me hope by reminding me that no harm will come to me or my seed. That everything that I touch and bless will be blessed. That I would not be given anymore than I can handle. My job through the trials is to leave the future to Him and to pray for direction moment by moment. It is during these times that I profess that I need not know the future, only the One that controls the future. It is during these times that I grow in m faith. I am going through a growth phase as we speak and I am encouraged by these scriptures.
It was true of Saul's time and it is true today. Remember that the early Hellenistic Church was rocked by Stephen's death and what God gave them to replace Stephen was Saul--a firebrand. Oh that we could have the faith to embrace that God has a plan for His Church and a plan for each of us individually. When we submit our will to Him and live within the confines of "the Church" we are not only safe we are blessed beyond measure. There are those who embrace the blessings of God through Christ but who have not turned their lives over to Him. They have a sad future. I have family members and friends who always ask for prayer in tough times but then don't remember the God of their deliverance in their "good times". Bad times and good times come in a twinkling of an eye and just as He got Saul's attention He will get the attention of all who are chosen. Wouldn't it better to come without having to be "blinded" to see? As Christians we are commanded to spread the Good News of the Gospel--unadulterated or altered. It is the inspired WORD of God and if He had wanted the message changed I am sure He would have done so. Our job is first to believe and then to spread.
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
It was true of Saul's time and it is true today. Remember that the early Hellenistic Church was rocked by Stephen's death and what God gave them to replace Stephen was Saul--a firebrand. Oh that we could have the faith to embrace that God has a plan for His Church and a plan for each of us individually. When we submit our will to Him and live within the confines of "the Church" we are not only safe we are blessed beyond measure. There are those who embrace the blessings of God through Christ but who have not turned their lives over to Him. They have a sad future. I have family members and friends who always ask for prayer in tough times but then don't remember the God of their deliverance in their "good times". Bad times and good times come in a twinkling of an eye and just as He got Saul's attention He will get the attention of all who are chosen. Wouldn't it better to come without having to be "blinded" to see? As Christians we are commanded to spread the Good News of the Gospel--unadulterated or altered. It is the inspired WORD of God and if He had wanted the message changed I am sure He would have done so. Our job is first to believe and then to spread.
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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