Have a Little Walk with Jesus!

Good morning to all on this last Monday of June 2014 and last day of June 2014. Waine and I were in Thomaston this weekend and went to service in Atlanta yesterday. The church had an outdoor service. It was very hot but actually the sentiment was great. Taking Christ to the masses. Tomorrow marks a Great Day for ZOe. We are buying the building we have been in for 2 years. We close tomorrow so continue to pray for us. Praise be to God for all the Great things He has done and continues to do in our lives.

I am continuing my journey in Acts chapter 24 verses 1 - 27, "Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.” The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true. When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. 

“After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’” Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs. Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison." Amen and may God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

These Jewish elders were just plain bullies. They were used to having their way and wanted to make sure that Paul was not around to upset the apple cart. They had no shame in lying or paying bribes as evident in the passage above that talks about Felix bringing Paul back several times hoping to be bribed. Bullies have one and only one focus--their needs. The sermon at our church yesterday centered on another bully, King Nebuchadnezzar who built a graven image of himself and commanded all who saw it to bow down to it. The three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not obey this order, even though they had been promoted and advised the king in his household. When the king heard this from other Jews jealous of the three Hebrew boys the king ordered them to come forth and bow down to the graven likeness of himself. The three Hebrew boys replied in Daniel 3 verses 16 - 18 ^"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”  The rest of the story is well known. The three Hebrew boys with shackled, the furnace was turned up 7 times hotter than usual so much so that the soldiers who put the three Hebrew boys in the furnace were burned and died. Shadrach. Meshach and Abednego were met in the furnace by Jesus! They had a little talk and walk with Jesus in the midst of the turmoil created by the sin of man. Not a hair on their head was touched. They didn't even smell of smoke. They walked out of the "hell" created by man unscathed, because of their faith!

The ultimate "bully" is Satan. He threatens us daily with calamity if we don't bow down to him. All I can say is Don't Do It. Remain faithful and have a little walk with Jesus. You may find yourself in the heat of battle. You may find yourself somewhere you dreaded going. You may find yourself in the very situation you prayed to be delivered from. Don't worry you will find Christ in all situations you find yourself in because He will never abandon you nor forsake you. Have a little walk with Jesus and tell Him all about your troubles, He will deliver you just like He delivered those three (3) Hebrew boys. Hallelujah. Never lose faith for He alone is worthy to be praised.

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

God's Providence: Man's Folly.

Good morning to all on this Sunday morning. Waine and I are in Thomaston and it is just gorgeous. Hot yes but also gorgeous. We had an old friend, Joe Hargrove a cardiologist from Little Rock visit us yesterday and it was good to catch up. We have known Joe for probably 30 years and it is amazing that when you have true friends, you may not see each other often but there is true warmth and feeling when you do get together. Aleron was named one of 40 young Medical Professionals by the National Medical Association. The awards are being given at the end of July in Hawaii but he will not be able to attend. Congratulations Aleron!

I am continuing my journey in Acts chapter 23 verses 1-35, "Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!” Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!” Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’ Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.  (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.) There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” 

The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot. They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.” But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?” He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.” The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.” 

Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.” He wrote a letter as follows:  Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix:Greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.  I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.  I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him. So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,  he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

When you are in the Will of the Father, nothing and I mean nothing that men try to plot against you will work. I have been witness to this in my own life. When you put your life and future in the God's Hand nothing that the evil one puts forth against you can defeat you. Let's face it. The Bible tells us that Satan's major job is to roam this earth seeking to devour all that exist. His plan is to have as many of God's creations dwell with him in eternity without God. Satan then thinks he will be the supreme ruler and not God. I am sure that even Satan now realizes his folly however because his nature is evil he cannot stop himself. He no longer has free will to turn from his sinful nature because he has become sin. Wow--an epiphany.

Likewise, God is love and can only be love. When we are not in His love then you know that sin abounds somewhere in your life that blinds you to the true love of God. God can't be anything but love. God cannot exist or dwell anywhere there is sin. He keeps His promises and unless you read His Word you have no earthly idea what those Promises are. One of His promises is that no calamity will befall the chosen--and just like in Paul's case He will protect you from others and yourself. He will protect you from your natural tendency to hurt others and yourself when you submit your will to Him. He will protect you from the ravages of disease, financial failures, lies and deceit when you believe and trust. Even when you don't God will only allow so much stress to affect you--only enough for you to turn your face to Him and receive the blanket of love and forgiveness through Christ.

If you find yourself in a mess today--even if its of your own doing, stop, drop and roll back into the arms of Christ, so like Paul a lesion of angels will be dispatched to protect you into a safe haven. Never fear the plots of people against you. Whom God ordained, He also predestined even unto death. God loves you best and will protect you --you need only ask.

Thank you God for being better to us then we are to ourselves. 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

Have you Seen the Light?

Good morning to all on this Father's Day 2014. My heavenly Father is with me always and has made it possible to see my earthly father, Emorrie again one day. Emorrie has passed and I miss him every day. I didn't quite appreciate how smart he was during his life time; I didn't fully appreciate the wisdom he impacted to me and all his children. I reflect on what he said daily; little snip-its come to mind when I need it. I have followed this same practice with my children and grandchildren and even though at times I don't feel like my children or grand children listen, I say it anyway so that when they can and need to hear what I tried to impart, it will be in their memory. Happy Father's Day to all of the Father's in my family and in the circle of friends I have. The father of my children is doing what he likes to do best--playing golf. We had a great morning and my prayer is that he enjoys himself immensely!

I am continuing my journey in Acts, chapter 22 verses 1-30". Paul is speaking, "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.

Then Paul said: I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ "Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of Him who was speaking to me. ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’  My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me. A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.  He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him. Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear Words from His mouth.  You will be His witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.  And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’ 

When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance  and saw the Lord speaking to me. ‘Quick!’ He said. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.’ “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.  And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’  

The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”  When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”  The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.  The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them. Amen and may the Lord ad a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

What were the Jews so afraid of ? They stoned Stephen when he proclaimed the Gospel and now they wanted to stone Paul. What were these people so afraid of. The Jews had been looking for their Messiah for millennium and yet when He came, they rejected Him as was prophesied in the Old Testament. In Psalms 118: 22 "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the Chief Corner Stone." The truth is that for the Jews to accept Stephen and Paul they would have to admit that they were guilty of rejecting the One who had been sent to provide a means of Salvation. The Jews had their own version of "salvation"--they wanted to be free of the Romans. How short sighted. God sent the Bridge across which when you cross, you are free from original sin that blocks our ability to live one with God. They rejected this free Gift, called Jesus and remained blinded by sin. That's the whole point of Satan's mission. To keep enough of us blind through sin so that we 1) don't accept the Gift of life, and 2) if we do then we do  not enjoy the abundance of Life that is offered as we walk in faith with God through Christ. 

Paul saw the light. He could have ignored it but it was a life altering experience for him. All of us have that opportunity. Many of us do and when seized upon our life changes--period! You may ask then why do I go back to my old ways. Just habit. We do the familiar because it takes faith and courage through faith to do the unfamiliar. I struggle with these issues my self, daily. What is familiar is to allow frustration to anger me. I can give into this or take a deep breath and allow Christ to blind me from my old ways and guide me onto a new path. Some folk may fall back into their addictions, what ever they  may be. Some folk may fall back into doubt. There are many pitfalls on our own road to Damascus, HOWEVER just like Paul God will blind us with His love and we need only give in to the 'Blindness" so that we can be lead back to our purpose--to love God with all of our hearts and to love one another just like God loves us!

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



The Lord's Will be Done.

Good morning to all on this first Sunday in June. Happy birthday to Hailie Christine Kong who celebrated her 4th birthday yesterday on May 31st. We had the kids last weekend so to say the least from sun up to sundown  it was a feast of hugs, kisses and little ones who started out each day with "GanMa and Poppop are you awake?". I miss them already. Children are what make your lives full and complete. It always motivated me to make memories special not just around holidays but on every occasion I could. Now our children are doing the same for their offspring and to our delight we are always included.

I am continuing my journey in Act, chapter 21 verses 1 - 40 " After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home. We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles."  When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”  When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples. 

 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly.  The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”

The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them. 

When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,  shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”  (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)  The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers.  The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!” 

As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied. “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?” Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.” After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he spoke to them in Aramaic." May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Recently, I have been challenged with the "what ifs" surrounding my practice. The "what ifs" at times can loom so large that it can not only stymie me they can serve to cripple me. When you are bombarded daily of all the things that can go wrong, it can be overwhelming. On the other hand I have also developed a Spiritual skill that I am able to tap into it. I just remind myself that God's will is for my good and not my destruction. God's will is for my prosperity and the prosperity of my family. He has shown me over and over again that His will is being done in my life and that His Will has blessed many through my faithfulness. Then like Elijah, I leave my cave of fear and allow the sunshine of God's love to roll over me. I am at once put at ease and I am able to rebuke Satan in Jesus name. Satan is a liar and the father of confusion. Just like Paul, I recognize when confusion is swirling around me; when that happens you have to stop, drop and roll so that you can have clarity of thought. God is always with us and He is a steadfast God. Unlike us, He never starts something and does not finish it. He is so consistent that we need not worry. He has us in the palm of His hand and all is right with the world. Never be confused will all the noise around you. Listen to the "still small voice of God" and remember that His Will be Done in all circumstances involving those who have claimed the Blood of the Lamb. "Death and Calamity" will pass you. You can rest , rule and abide forever and amen.

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. To know Him is to Love Him. To love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love you.

Stephanie