Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer!

Good morning to all on my 1st posting for this new year 2015.Waine and I are in Thomaston this weekend enjoying our house and each other. We have had a cold snap in Georgia this week. Temperatures got down to the teens and we had freeze warnings.  It didn't stop my beloved from paying golf though. I am lifting up my little great nephew , Kenzo, up this morning. He has a virus and isn't feeling well so pray for his recovery. I am praying that you and your family are blessed in 2015, far and above what you can ask or think because that is God's promise to His faithful.

I am continuing m journey in Romans 12 verses 1- 21 " Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Amen and may God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

What powerful instruction Paul has given us. Basically and simply Paul is telling us to use all of our time worshipping God and fellowshipping with one another and let God take care of the rest. That is not to say we are to be idle--to the contrary we are to be active and active in a way that is pleasing to God which simply means living in a manner that promotes and extends His Kingdom. Paul was certainly active. He was preaching the Good News to all the Gentiles and Jews throughout Asia, Asia minor, Rome and its provinces. He was teaching new Christians how to live. Not by toiling and strife but through faith and prayer. Paul is reminding us that we can do nothing without the power of God through Christ. We are to concentrate on our spiritual life--that life which is tethered to God and to meditate on those spiritual matters that will further the kingdom of God. Then God will add everything else we need and bless us in this earthly realm far and in excess of our imagination and desires.

Its all about perspective. When I began to pray in BELIEF, my life changed and it happened immediately. I began to live my life as if my prayers had been answered. I stopped living my life hoping for things to happen and instead lived my life as if my prayers were answered. In short I began living my life through faith! When hard times came to shake my faith I would just give those hard times up to Christ and claim victory. Now every time a Christian decides to live in Faith, Satan becomes very busy to try and shake your faith. He will have you believe that your desires are impossible and that God really didn't mean for you to have that dream. This is when you need to start rebuking Satan as Christ did and rebuke Satan with the Word. Remember Satan cannot be in the presence of God and likewise God will not be in the presence of Satan. When you align yourself with your heavenly Father through Christ NOTHING can assail you and nothing will be denied you.

If you are a Christian and are not content and joyful, then there are areas of your life you have not turned over to God. I would suggest you do so that you can be whole and complete. Nothing is to hard for God--nothing. He is the author and finisher of Life and your life in particular. Be joyful today no matter your affliction. Be faithful and pray believing that your deliverance is at hand.

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