We have been Cleansed!

Good Sunday to all. Waine and I are enjoying the great fall weather here in Georgia, where the nights are cool and good for cuddling and the days are warm. The fall colors on the trees are vibrant and you just want to be outside enjoying all the God provides. Waine and I are in GREAT health as are our children, grandchildren and Waine's mother Violet. Please send up a special prayer for Ms. Bertha and her family; her 98 year old father crossed over the River Jordan last night. He was able to celebrate his 98th birthday with his children 2 weeks ago and quietly met God face to face last night.

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 13 verses 15-27, "Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken. Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings the darkness, before your feet stumble on the darkening hills. You hope for light, but He will turn it to utter darkness and change it to deep gloom. If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the LORD’s flock will be taken captive.  Say to the king and to the queen mother, “Come down from your thrones, for your glorious crowns will fall from your heads.” The cities in the Negev will be shut up, and there will be no one to open them. All Judah will be carried into exile, carried completely away. Look up and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was entrusted to you, the sheep of which you boasted? What will you say when the LORD sets over you those you cultivated as your special allies? Will not pain grip you like that of a woman in labor? And if you ask yourself, “Why has this happened to me?”— it is because of your many sins that your skirts have been torn off and your body mistreated. Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil. I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind. This is your lot, the portion I have decreed for you,” declares the LORD, “because you have forgotten me and trusted in false gods. I will pull up your skirts over your face that your shame may be seen— your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution! I have seen your detestable acts on the hills and in the fields. Woe to you, Jerusalem! How long will you be unclean?” Amen and amen! My God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word!

Thank God for the Blood of the Lamb! Thank Jesus the Christ for His sacrifice for my sins. Thank the Holy Spirit who continues to comfort me and intercedes on my behalf through Jesus the Christ. These Israelites didn't have any of the interference we have. There is no difference between their weaknesses and the ones we find ourselves in. The only difference is that we are not judged by our behavior but by our belief in the redemption from SIN by the power of the Sacrifice made by Jesus. As soon as we confess our sins and accept Jesus the Christ as Lord, we are in a permanent relationship with God. All God sees is the His Son Jesus which keeps us in a positive relationship with God. The only thing that can separate us from the abundance of His love is our own behavior. Nothing, however, can separate us form the Love of God.

Waine and I were fortunate to be channel surfacing and happened on a sermon by Joel Olstein. He was preaching that Christians should remove themselves from negative influences, negative information, and negative people. These negativisms just fill us up with NEGATIVE Junk when we can withdraw ourselves and start filling ourselves up with POSITIVE thinking. I then reflected on how Satan works. He introduces a negative thought or emotion and then has you chew on it like a dog with a bone. Your involvement in the negative thinking then takes over as you convince yourself that bad things will happen. God tells us not to fret about anything but in all things give thanks. This is a spiritual muscle that takes practice and it starts with your willingness to leave negative influences behind. Unlike the Israelites who had to constantly work and give sacrifices to walk the Spiritual road, we as Christians have the Holy Spirit to guide us. Hallelujah and thank you Jesus! No matter what is going on in your life, it is not greater than Jesus. If you can't do anything else just say the name of Jesus over and over until Satan is no longer in your presence.

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; now 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

What Is Your Wineskin Filled With?

Good morning to all on this Thursday morning. Thank you for your prayers for Violet (Waine's Mom). Her shoulder has healed and she is much better. Tomorrow is Freddie's birthday so Waine and I will be in Orlando with Freddie, Tracy and the cherubs. Can't wait to see them. I was wakened by Joyce Meyers this morning so I have already been blessed. Her message was centered on perseverance and not becoming discouraged. Good lessons for me.

I am continuing my spiritual journey in Jeremiah chapter 13 verses 12-14 "Say to them: This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Every wineskin should be filled with wine. And if they say to you, ‘Don’t we know that every wineskin should be filled with wine? then tell them, This is what the LORD says: I am going to fill with drunkenness all who live in this land, including the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets and all those living in Jerusalem. I will smash them one against the other, parents and children alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no pity or mercy or compassion to keep Me from destroying them." Amen and amen.

I had to read a commentary on these verses because they were confusing to me. Why would God get upset with the response from the Israelites? Their response seems logical. I have been pondering this question for several days and then it struck me this morning. What God desired was for the Israelites was for them to ask Him what kind of wine should their wine skins be filled with? God knew that their wine skins (lives) were filled with every thing but Him. The Israelites had filled their lives with idolatry, wickedness wanton disregard for a life dedicated to worshiping Him. His response to their sin was to have Jeremiah tell them that they would be destroyed because of their wickedness. This story is repeated in the Old Testament over and over. God desired to have the Israelites in a spiritual relationship with Him and they continuously turned to pagan worship and behavior that was contrary to the Promise.

Likewise, what are our lives filled with. When we awakened, what fills our minds? do we wake up with praise for God on our lips? Do we awakened with worship in our hearts? Or do we waken with what has to be done in the day. What I think God desires is that we awaken and fill our hearts and minds with thoughts of Him. When we turn our lives over to Him, then He can order our steps and complete our day. when we turn our day over to Him, He will take this gift from our hearts and give us the most fulfilling day ever. Can this be done when have responsibilities, jobs, tasks to complete? Well I am going to find out today. I am turning my day over to God and let Him fill my "wineskin" according to the will He has for me today! Hallelujah and thank you Lord for this revelation and your LOVE for me. Thank you Lord that your plans for me will exceed any that I have planned for myself today. Fill me with your Presence and thank you that the Holy Spirit will comfort and fulfill me today. Amen and Amen!

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you. May the LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Stephanie

God: Your Flexible Band of support, protection and defense!

Good morning to all, SINCERELY!!!!!!! I have been ill for the past week. Last week Monday and Tuesday I was unable to get out of bed with fever, body aches, and generalized weakness. I thought I had the flu but as it turns out had a fairly serious illness. Thanks to the care of a loving husband, the prayers of many, and a physician son who reminded me that "if a physician treats themselves they have a patient for a fool" I am back to 100%. I have never been ill in my life and it has given me a healthy appreciation for the sick who awaken everyday and are not able to eat, or break a fever, or unable to rid themselves of pain. I couldn't even read because the ability to comprehend was clearly an issue. The past week is really a blur! But I am a testament that calling out to God works! There were a couple of times that I couldn't punch past the moment and told God I needed Him to move my mountain for me immediately. He reminded me that I need only ask. When Christians experience adversity, they do only need to ask and I am learning on my journey just how to ask.

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 13 verses 1-11 "This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy a linen belt and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.” So I bought a belt, as the LORD directed, and put it around my waist. Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time: Take the belt you bought and are wearing around your waist, and go now to Perath and hide it there in a crevice in the rocks. So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD told me. Many days later the LORD said to me, “Go now to Perath and get the belt I told you to hide there. So I went to Perath and dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it, but now it was ruined and completely useless. Then the Word of the LORD came to me: “This is what the LORD says: ‘In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. These wicked people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt—completely useless! For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘to be My people for my renown and praise and honor. But they have not listened." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

I looked up the definition of the word "belt" and found this wonderful iteration of this familiar word - "A Flexible Band of support, protection and defense". Isn't that a wonderful way of thinking about our Lord? Hallelujah! God is truly flexible--He was trying every which way to save the Israelites from themselves but to no avail. Likewise He deals with us with a maximum amount of flexibility to get us off the "dime" so to speak in our personal lives. All of us have the ability and tendency to put gods on the throne of our lives when we know God should be there 100% of the time--whether its anger, envy, unforgiveness, deceit or other such gods, we displace the true God from the throne in our life. But unlike the people of the Old Testament, we have the Blood of Jesus that covers this transgression. That still doesn't make it right nor does it absolve our need to be more mature in our Christian walk.

I watched the HBO special this weekend on the ex-Beatle George Harrison "Living in a Material World". This man had a life long quest to enhance the spirituality of his life and increasingly turned to the religions of the East, the religions of Hare Krishna and Buddha, to find this fulfillment. In his song, My Sweet Lord, you can hear his longing to find spiritual balance and fulfillment. He was raised in the Catholic Church put did not turn to Christianity for this fulfillment. I also got my fill of the weekend press concerning the Southern Baptist pastor of Rick Perry calling Mormonism a cult and then have been bombarded with commercials concerning the diversification of the Mormon followers. I could certainly see the Fruits of the Spirit in those that were shown to worship Lord Krishna; I heard the testimonies of fulfillment of the people who were professing Mormonism. The angry white man who is Rick Perry's Pastor had neither!  Folks, Christians are the reason why so many people run away from Christ. They don't see the Love of God in us. Don't experience that we, as Christians, view God as our Flexible Band of support, protection and defense. They just see the strife and run in the other direction. Shame on us! We will have to answer for these transgressions. The Love of God and the knowledge that He is our belt should make us humble and introspective enough that His true love and identity shine through. Oh My Sweet Lord, that I could really come to know you and be your messenger!

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

Good morning to all on this 1st Sunday of fall. Waine and I are in Hawkinsville and just enjoying the beautiful weather and each other. Waine's mother, Violet, fell while trying to get into her wheel chair and fractured her shoulder. She is 89 and although frail still has her wits about her. Please pray for her healing.  I am reminded daily of God's Hand on and in my life and I thank Him for His mercies.

I am continuing my trek through Jeremiah 12 verses 5 - 17 "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Your relatives, members of your own family— even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you. I will forsake my house, abandon My inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies. My inheritance has become to Me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her. Has not my inheritance become to me like a speckled bird of prey that other birds of prey surround and attack? Go and gather all the wild beasts; bring them to devour. Many shepherds will ruin My vineyard and trample down My field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland. It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before Me; the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares. Over all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will swarm, for the sword of the LORD will devour from one end of the land to the other; no one will be safe. They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing. They will bear the shame of their harvest because of the LORD’s fierce anger. This is what the LORD says: “As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the people of Judah from among them. But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country. And if they learn well the ways of My people and swear by My name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—even as they once taught My people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people. But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it,” declares the LORD. Amen. May the Lord ass a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

In the previous four (4) verses Jeremiah was lamenting how it appeared that the evil doers prospered and basically God's response is that Jeremiah had to learn how to take the heat or get out the kitchen. God also brought some light to Jeremiah's complaint reminding him, that those folk who he was admiring for worldly riches would soon have their lives torn from them because of their disobedience; so while Jeremiah is busy wanting to be on the other side of the fence God was reminding him that in due season, that fence would be torn down, trampled, stepped on and the people put to ruination. This whole disobedience of the chosen ones greatly troubled God; their propensity for worshipping idols and false gods weighed heavily on our God. His heart is broken because His promise to Abraham was continually being challenged by Abraham's descendant so much so God is now opening the door to the "promise" to the Gentiles, "As surely as the LORD lives’—even as they once taught My people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people."  I praise God for that foresightfulness and His plan that all should benefit the inheritance He promised to Abraham through the sacrifice of Christ the Lord. Hallelujah!

Be careful when looking over the fence that you do not get confused with the landscape. Most of us have enough junk in of own backyard to deal with to be worried about the junk in someone elses yard. When we commit a request to God, He will honor that request and provide the abundance when we are ready to receive it. When it will further our Kingdom building efforts and more will come to know Him because of the light that shines in our life. As CChristians, we are to take on the entire armor of God daily so that we can fight the Good Fight and others will come to know God through us. Be encouraged and allow God's work to take hold in your life.

Now, may the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Stephanie

With What Do You Measure God's Love?

Good day to all on this 26th day of September. I had an entire weekend at home!!!!!!! Didn't know what to do with myself so Waine and I entertained which we hadn't done in more than a "minute". The weather is just so great! Its days like this that remind me why we love living in Georgia so much. Waine and I fellowshipped with friends at their church yesterday and were blessed! I was home by 10:30 AM and had the whole day ahead of me which was also wonderful. The pastor also taught from Jeremiah but not a passage I have come to yet so now I am looking forward to it. Also, two different people recommended that I read "Cutting for Stone". I haven't started reading it but wanted to pass on the recommendation.

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 12, verses 1-5 " You are always righteous, LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with You about Your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Yet You know me, LORD; You see me and test my thoughts about You. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter! How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, “He will not see what happens to us.” Wow. May the Lord add a blessing and understanding to the reading and hearing of His Words!

Do you think Jeremiah was a little miffed? Here he is preaching and living the Word of God and it seems that all the idolaters are prospering even though they do not obey God. Boy was this a revelation for me!  I often have these thoughts and often wonder why people prosper who have not given their lives over to God. I look at the people on Wall Street; look at the people in power and I have had the same conversation with God. At times I find myself in a "pity party" until the Holy Spirit remind me of the "measuring spoon" that I am using. The Holy Spirit also reminds me that I cannot appreciate my own bountiful garden when I am busy looking over the fence at someone elses' garden. The Holy Spirit then also CONVICTS me as to where my treasure lies and then I am humbled. These last several months have been a tour of my faith and the power of my faith. No one can write the end of any of  my "stories" just me and God and I truly praise God for reminding me daily of His Divine presence and intervention in my life and the lives of my family. If you have been measuring your blessings using any thing other than the FULL MEASURE OF GOD's GRACE then I would suggest you retire that spoon and ask God to really reveal all the blessing you are provided daily.  Get you head and heart into the Love of Jesus and I can guarantee you that your cup will run over!

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. Amen

God Has Your Back!

Good morning to all on this 20th day of September. Where has the year gone? My husband is always saying that the older he gets the more time seems to fly. This year certainly has flown by for us. Waine and I are in Atlanta and will enjoy a rare weekend at home and I am thanking God for this blessing. Its just good to wake up in your own bed sometimes. The weather in Atlanta has gone from triple digits to double digits and you can actually wake up and open your windows in the morning and again at night. Please continue to keep the US in your prayers and President Obama in your prayers. You know that God tells us to "owe no man anything except to love him". I am thinking that the debt problem we are having in America is a result of our sin and reliance on a lesser god, money. I am also thinking that America, and indeed the world, should turn to the one and only true God so that this monetary crisis can be solved.

That being said, I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah verses 18-23, "Because the LORD revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time He showed me what they were doing. I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying, 'Let us destroy the tree and its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.' But you, LORD Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You I have committed my cause. Therefore this is what the LORD says about the people of Anathoth who are threatening to kill you, saying, “Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD or you will die by our hands” therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says: “I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. Not even a remnant will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.” May the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

When men and women of God bring forth the Gospel we should expect to be talked about and plotted against. Satan cannot stand that the Word of God be preached to all the nations because that would mean his dominance and dominion in eternity is diminished. Remember that Lucifer fell because he wanted to be greater than his Creator. Instead of worshipping his Creator, he wanted the Creator and all the angels to worship him. His quest and struggle continues even today. There are so many 'gods" that are offered as role models to worship. I recently heard an NPR news articles that interviewed teenagers in Portland and Seattle who were actually idolizing Kurt Cobain, the rock and roll musician who abused drugs and then committed suicide. These teens were actually describing this disturbed musician as someone who should be revered and honored. I immediately began to pray for these kids because that level of confusion only comes from satan.

I also couldn't help but think that we as Christians are not doing our best at Kingdom building if our youth make demi-gods from the likes of rock and roll artists, sports athletes, movie and television stars. Christ and His message is not getting to the masses and because their lives have a void it gets filled with the "trash" of the world instead of the Good News that Christ died for our sins WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS. If you really stop and think about it what else could the world want if it really understood the Message of the Good News! The message of Grace and Mercy has to get out to this world so that our children will not be defiled by the evil one. Trust me, the world is becoming a very hostile place for Christians and the good that you would do is not going to be appreciated by many, but if its absorbed by ONE then that is one more person that will know the  Love of God.

In my quiet time I pray for God's blessings of salvation and prosperity on those that have harmed me or grieved me. It took me a while but in so doing I have changed myself. There is less junk in my trunk. Just like Jeremiah, as obedient servants of Christ, we have to press on to deliver the Good News regardless of the consequences that people want to scare you with. God has you back, front, top, bottom and sides and He will take care of your enemies. When God fights your battles they are fought indeed. Don't get distracted today with the "noise" level of the world. Instead let your light so shine that others may come out of the darkness into the light. Be blessed today.

Now may the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace!

Stephanie



Breaking Your Covenant With God

Good morning to all on this 13th day of September. I hadn't realized that it has been 12 days since my last posting. No excuses. Waine and I are in Atlanta and enjoying the cool mornings that the fall brings. It has been a welcomed respite from the triple digit weather we have been experiencing in the South. We spent the last weekend with Kai and Hailie and their parents. They are two of the most enjoyable kids ever. Hailie can light up a room with her smile and Kai has Freddie beat for the "affection meter". My sister Velma drove from Miami to be with us and I appreciated her warmth and love for Freddie and his family. This is the age that I really enjoy my grand children and we are looking forward to Melanie and her family joining us for Thanksgiving. It is a real commitment on their part as they trek from Portland. Their presence will make this an especially memorable Thanksgiving.  God is teaching me daily about FAITH--the ability to believe in the substance of my prayers before they happen. I thought I had learned that lesson but since God is still revealing His truths in this area to me I accept His blessing and thank Him in advance for my abundance.

I am continuing my journey in Jeremiah 11, verses 6-17 "The LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow them. From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, “Obey Me.”  But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep. Then the LORD said to me, “There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to My words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant I made with their ancestors. Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes. You, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem. Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress. What is my beloved doing in My temple as she, with many others, works out her evil schemes? Can consecrated meat avert your punishment? When you engage in your wickedness, then you rejoice. The LORD called you a thriving olive tree with fruit beautiful in form. But with the roar of a mighty storm He will set it on fire, and its branches will be broken. The LORD Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because the people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and aroused My anger by burning incense to Baal." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Words.

These physical descendants of Abraham were given a COVENANT with God, Jehovah. The covenant was a PROMISE and had conditions - 1) love and serve the One True God, Jehovah and 2) obey His commandments. Now these physical children of Abraham were great at recording history and teaching them to their young. They knew the story of Abraham, of Moses and of Arron. They knew that they as a people were provided a covenant with God because of the faithfulness of Abraham and their other forefathers and what do they do? They start worshipping other gods and disobeying God Jehovah. They broke the covenant and in these series of verses God is telling Jeremiah to tell the Israelites that they would suffer the consequences of this breach in the Covenant. Just as Adam and Eve suffered the consequences of breaking their covenant with God, so too would the children of Israel. There is a lesson in this. God never breaks His covenants and covenants always comes with conditions.

We are the spiritual descendant of Abraham and we too have a covenant with God through Christ. The conditions are the same - 1) love and serve the One True God, Jehovah through Jesus the Christ and 2) obey His commandment to love one another just as we have been loved by God through Christ. When we breach this covenant relationship we allow calamity to enter our lives AND block the abundance that God has REALIZED for us. You see, we never have to wait on God for His portion of the Covenant with us. Once He speaks the covenant (eternal life through acceptance of His Son, Jesus the Christ) God has deposited His portion into our Spiritual bank. So why are there so many stressed out, unhappy Christians?  Simply put, we don't believe the Promise. We talk the Pomise but don't walk the Promise. We are always looking to FULFILL for some future date the result of the covenant when all we have to do is CLAIM AND THEN ACCEPT THE COVENANT BLESSING. I am reminded of the children of the Exodus. The Promised Land could be seen all during the time they wandered in the wilderness. A journey that took 40 YEARS was meant to take 2 days. Why?? The sins of the Children of Exodus!!

What "40 year" journey are you on? Tired of traveling. Tired of looking for your abundant future. Then STOP, DROP and ROLL and proclaim this day that your abundance has arrived! Hallelujah and I pray that you will realize this day the abundance that God has for you, not in the future but today.

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. Amen.

Stephanie