Do you have a Heart for God?

Good morning to all and as Waine and I head back to Atlanta this morning please pray God's traveling mercies for us! I was blessed with a sermon from Joel Olstein yesterday from 2 Kings 20. King Hezekiah was sick until death and asked God for deliverance. Hezekiah asked for a sign from God that confirmed the answer to his prayer and God had the earth spin backwards for 10 beats. Joel's emphasis was that we should ask for signs that confirm that God is going to answer our prayers and so as we claim our answers Joel encourage us all to ask for signs. So if you are ready to put your faith at a higher level then pray and ask for your sign!

I am continuing my journey in Matthew 26 verses 31-46, "Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of Me, for it is written:  'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will. I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times." But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me." Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with Me for one hour?" He asked Peter. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done." When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So He left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then He returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" Amen and amen.

Peter, Peter, impetuous Peter. Always saying what is on his heart and always falling short. There is a lesson here for us because as in the case of David, God looks at your heart 100% of the time and if you have a heart for God, He can use you. Our flesh is damaged good; our fleshly nature will always lead us unto sin which is why we are admonished daily to kill the flesh with the Word of God. All of us can fall into the temptations of sin; sin is exciting and exhilarating. Sin can satisfy the flesh--but only fleetingly which  is why you have to continue to sin, sin, and sin. There are many times you satisfy your flesh and then say "Why did I do that?" Christ tells us to sacrifice the desires of the flesh for a higher good. Christ also recognizes that it is not easy to withstand the desires of the flesh--He asked His disciples to stand watch with Him for 1 hour and they couldn't resist sleep. On the other hand, Christ went to the Father and asked that the Cup He was about to drink from be taken from Him. Christ asked three (3) times and each time submitted to the Will of the Father. As we all are aware, the Cup that Christ was going to have to drink from was not death, but sin. Christ had to become sin so that we could live. When He became sin then His Father could no longer be in His presence. The "Cup" was alienation from God and rightly so, Christ wanted the Father to think of a better solution than alienating His Son from Him. Having none, Christ was obedient to the Will of the Father. When faced with a life altering challenge this is an excellent example of how to pray for your cup to be removed. There is never any harm in asking and a greater good to be gained in submitting.

Last and not least, Peter is an example of how easy it is to say what your will do and all so hard to execute what you say. When giving spiritual advice its so easy to give others advice about this or that; its so easy to say how spiritual and believing others should be in a crisis until the crisis hits you. Just remember Peter and even if you fail yourself to 'trust and obey" know that God will always look at your heart in your hour of weakness. When you are stringer, ask for God's forgiveness and move on. The point is to move on from the sin and sin no more! Hallelujah for the Savior!  Be blessed today.

Stephanie

The Power of One

Good morning to all on this beautiful Saturday morning from Bainbridge, Georgia. I am working here over the weekend and Waine came and joined me last night. This is a quaint little town; I saw churches still being used that were probably built in the 1800's by exslaves. There are large trees with moss hanging and the people are very friendly. This part of Georgia is so remote Waine's GPS couldn't triangulate a signal. Pray for our safe travels as Waine heads back tomorrow and me on Monday morning.

I am continuing my travels in Matthew, chapter 14, verse 1-14, "At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus." Amen and amen!

John preached the truth and was not afraid of the consequences of his truth telling. John had been preaching and making the way for our Lord. He had baptized Jesus and then was inprisoned specifically for preaching against the adulterous behavior of the Jewish "king" Herod. It would appear that Herod's lusts didn't stop with his brother's wife--Herod lusted after his neice. Now we know Herod, Herodias and this neice are now in hell where they belong for they neither obeyed the Law or were open to Christ but I don't think that is why John died. John died because it was his time. Regardless of the "power" of Herod, Herod's power was no match for the Power of the God we serve. John was not afraid of death, he knew where he would awaken. He knew his Saviored lived and that the Power of His life would provide the eternal rest and peace John so richly deserved.

Never fear the man that can harm your body--fear the God that can take your body and your soul. Hallelujah! If we are to be messengers for Christ, we must live boldly and confront the sin that exists in the lives of others. Satan will not be happy and at times you will feel threatened; take heart because that means you are on the right track!

Be blessed today in Jesus name, amen!

Stephanie

Our Life's Work Affirmed!

Good morning to all! The Blog, SojournSpirit is up but limping along. I need help with two things: 1) how to add a Guest Counter and 2) how to add spell check to my menu bar. Jillian and her family will be with us over the weekend and I am trusting that she will be able to assist me by adding the two things I need and this time I will pay attention. Sadly, one of my dear friends lost her husband on Saturday. Anthony and Brenda, pictured in white,  had been married for over 30 years and celebrated Waine and my 21st wedding rededication with us in Montego Bay in 2009. Brenda and I have been friends since college and Anthony is a second cousin. Anthony had been ill for a while but was a real optimist and felt that he was on the road to recovery. The great news is that Anthony knew Christ and will be waiting for Brenda and their children in glory. He will be missed in any number of ways by his family and friends so pray God's peace for them. God is good every day and when life gives us unexpected trials, He is the best.! Amen.

I am continuing my journey in Matthew 11 today verses 1-10, "And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding Hs twelve disciples, He departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. Now when John (the Baptist) had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." This was the highest honor that Jesus could bestow on John the Baptist, the affirmation of John's life and ministry. He was letting John know that his sacrifices were not in vain; the contrary was true. John's life and ministry had PREPARED the way for Jesus, the Christ! Remember, John the Baptist's mother, Elizabeth, was pregnant with John when Mary her cousin came to visit. Mary was pregnant with Jesus and it is said in Luke 1: 39-45 "At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby (John the Baptist) leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

John had been waiting all these years for his Savior to come and now he could die in peace for his time was finished. John had "prepared" the way and his Lord proclaimed that he had done a GREAT job. John had fulfilled his mission and could comfortably go to Glory as a good and faithful servant. Boy I want that proclaimation as I am going on to Glory--You good and fiathful servant--rest now and be at Peace. John had waited all his life to meet his savior and he would be given a chance not only to meet Him but to also baptize Him. God is always good to His servants and will give us the SATISFACTION of our hearts. Just remain faithful through the dark and lonely days, the prison of our minds and hearts. Do not be discourage today but be encourage by the renewing of your minds. God loves you this day and every day hence forward!

Pray God's Peace for our sister Brenda and her family today. God is smiling on her and this day she will know that the love of God will transcend all her grief!

Stephanie