Speak Truth To Power!

Good morning to all on this Monday morning. It was pretty hectic this weekend. Waine and I snuck off to Orlando to see the Munchkins. It's been pretty cold in Georgia. Last week it was down in the single digits in the morning. Its supposed to be warmer this week so we are back to having a typical winter. The practice is going fine and now that school is back in session fro the winter break we have a lot of sick kids coming in daily.

I am continuing my journey in Acts 9 verses 32-42 "As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda.  There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.  “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.  All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.  In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.  Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon." Amen and may he Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

Signs and wonders! Christ promised His disciples that they would be able to do all He had done and then more and it would appear that the "ACTS" of the Apostles described just that. Peter and the other disciples were able to convert large numbers of Jews and Greeks because of the miracles they performed--healing the lame and infirmed. Raising people from the dead. They were able to do this through the power of Christ. This account specifically states that Peer prayed and THEN commanded Dorcas to rise. Peter enlisted the power of the Holy Spirit and then SPOKE TRUTH TO POWER. Many people both Christians and not often voice why these powers are not with us today. I am not one of those. I don't need to know why some things happened in the time right after Christ ascension to believe that there is a God and our salvation comes through Christ, His Son. I KNOW that the redeemers lives and that He is here to assist me today with my own "Dorcas and Aeneas" issues. I am to ask believing and not doubt the power of God to provide the PROVISION for His VISION. I am to ask as if what I am praying for has already happened. Not compromise His power through my actions which means my unbelief. When I take matters into my own hands, I am not exercising my faith. My job, our job as Christians, is to channel the love and thus the Power of God through our obedience. I think these accounts are reminders to us that God is real and He provides real solutions so that others might come to know Him through our obedience.

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 WORD!

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

Cross references:

1. Numbers 6:24 : S Ge 28:3; Dt 28:3-6; Ps 28:9; 128:5
2. Numbers 6:24 : 1Sa 2:9; Ps 17:8
3. Numbers 6:25 : Job 29:24; Ps 4:6; 31:16; 80:3; 119:135
4. Numbers 6:25 : Ge 43:29; Ps 25:16; 86:16; 119:29
5. Numbers 6:26 : Ps 4:6; 44:3
6. Numbers 6:26 : Ps 4:8; 29:11; 37:11, 37; 127:2; Isa 14:7; Jer 33:6; Jn 14:27

Worship in Spirit and Truth-Take on the whole Armor of God!

Good morning to all on this 1st Sunday morning of 2014! Waine and I are in Kingston, Jamaica and as I write this blog entry my beloved is off playing golf and I am enjoying this morning in  our "love nest" in  a sleeveless shirt sitting in 75 degree weather. My devotion for the week has been to give thanks for all things and my outlook has improved greatly. Its great to give thanks and to witness the glory of God!  There is record cold temperatures throughout the country and I am thanking God for the wonderful, warm weather on this little island that we love!

 

I am continuing my journey in Acts chapter 8 verses 1-40 "And Saul approved of their killing him (Stephen). On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.  Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city. Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery.  But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,  because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.  When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that He may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” After they had further proclaimed the Word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. 

 

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”  And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. " Amen and may God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

 

All through the scriptures we encounter both true and false prophets. It was common that magicians could amaze people with tricks and feats. I know most of us believe that these accounts of people appearing and disappearing are not literal, but I believe in a Spirit world. Christ talked about it a lot. In the old testament God would talk with Satan all the time about the protection of His chosen. I believe in the "spiritual warfare" that Christ and the early church disciples talked about. I believe that what we see with our eyes is just a small portion of the LIFE that exists. I think the bigger part of our lives exists in the spiritual life that cannot be seen with our physical "eye"  but can be "sensed" and felt in our souls.  This is the essence of this chapter. The acts of the apostles as told in this chapter is in terms of the power of the Holy Spirit and also they meet Simon that channels the power of the dark spirits.

 

As Christians we are to arm ourselves daily with the whole armor of God. In Ephesians 6:10 we are told "Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." We are told to expect spiritual battles daily and how to overcome and be victorious!

 

We were having dinner with a friend last evening and this topic of conversation came up. I am a firm believer that our struggles are  not just in the flesh. I believe that the bigger struggle is the spirit battles that assail us daily. That's why we are instructed on how to guard ourselves properly. Have you engaged in something you knew was inappropriate only to say "why did I do that" or "why was I so mean" or "why did I speak so harshly". These are the spirit battles we must guard against. Remember you cannot see Satan and his minions but they are there  none the less so guard yourselves.  Bless yourselves also. You have the power to do that as well. You can bless your life daily, Bless all of your endeavors. Bless everything you touch. The disciples did and we can do even greater things. We just have to believe. This is why I always end my Blog entries with" 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

 

 



What Message are You Spreading?

Good morning to all on this last Sunday of 2013. Waine and I are in Thomaston and I have been up for a while--had to go the hospital for a couple of my patients. Waine has gone to church and after I have my devotion and write my blog entry I am going to try and get some sleep which is virtually impossible for me during the day. Waine and I just got back from Orlando where we spent a week with Freddie, Tracy, Kai and Hailie. It was a GREAT visit and I miss the rug rates already! 2013 was a GREAT year for Waine and I; lots of spiritual and economic growth. We pray your 2014 is prosperous, safe and full of spiritual and physical health.

 

I am continuing my journey in Acts 7 verses 1-60 " Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?” To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’ Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs. Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money. As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. Then ‘a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.’ He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die. At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for by his family. When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.  Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action. 

 

“When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites.  He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’ But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?  Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons. After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look. “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness. This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’ He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us. But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?  You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon. 

 

 “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.  But it was Solomon who built a house for him. However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me?
says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?’ “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered Him—  you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” 

 

 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.  But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

 

Stephen was stoned because he stood up to be a witness for God through Christ. Where ever the Word of God is spoken and lived, Satan will mount an opposition to it. The Sanhedrin or secular Jewish leadership certainly saw Christianity an affront and threat to their Power Base. The more the common folk heard the Gospel of Christ and the cornerstone of teaching that one should follow and worship the One and True God, the more at risk the Sanhedrin and its hold on the Jewish community. All Stephen was doing was recounting the very events that were foretold in the Jewish Holy Book of the tine.  The members of the Sanhedrin Court were well aware of the prophesies but did not embrace the fact that Jesus the Christ was the ultimate fulfillment of their scriptures to date. They thought they could silence the message by killing the messenger however all they did was provided more power to the life and testament of Stephen. What a powerful example set by Stephen. Stephen understood his role completely in spreading the Good News of the redemption that is possible through a commitment to Christ.

 

God is looking for some modern day Stephens! When is the last time you risked yourself to preach the Gospel of Christ. When is the last time God was pleased that you spread the truth about Christ despite opposing views. The furtherance of the kingdom rests on the shoulders of the Faithful --the time is drawing near that Christ will come to claim His Bride the Church. Will your love ones and friends be able to say they were made ready by your testimony? We each have opportunities daily to witness with our mouths and our lives. We can make a difference daily for others to come to know the Peace Like a River; the Abundant Life; the Glory who is God.

 

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



....And his face was that of an Angel!

Good morning to all on this Sunday before Christmas. As I am writing this journal entry Waine and I are busy getting ready to head to Orlando to visit Freddie, Tracy, Kai and Hailie. Aleron will join us on Tuesday. It is a blessing to be able to get away for a week and have the office covered. God has truly brought us a mighty long way!!!! Waine and I truly pray that your Christmas is filled with laughter, joy and the Spirit of God.

 

I am continuing my journey in Acts 6 verses 1-15 "In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”  This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.  

 

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." Amen and may God add a blessing to he reading and hearing of His Word.

 

I love this chapter. It is so practical! Although the disciples were growing in Faith and bold in their ministry, there were still practical events of every day life that had to be handled. The disciples were full time Ministry workers. They quit working their pre-conversion jobs and spent their entire time witnessing and growing the body of believers. They were now preaching in the surrounding land of Greece (Hellenistic Jews) and converting these Jews to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These Hellenistic Jews then began their full time ministry, quitting their secular jobs to devote themselves to the preaching of the Gospel and expansion of the kingdom. Their wives were complaining the bills were not paid and the children were not fed which were issues that needed to be dealt with and had been dealt with for the Hebraic Jews. So instead of fighting among themselves they came up with a solution appointing those among them to care for the needs of the families of the Hellenistic Jews and put Stephen in charge. God is always a particle God. When you commit yourself to the ministry of God, He will take care our needs even before we do. He can see "around the corners" and always has a solution if we keep our Spiritual eyes open.

 

Also what is predictable, is that when you submit your will to that of the Father and are faithful, there will be those around you to try and shake your faith with threats of harm but look what Stephen did. He just kept his eyes on the Cross. The accusations and threats did not bother him in the least. He had the "face of an angel". He was on the proverbial mountain top and KNEW from whence his salvation and strength came. There are times in my life when I have been "there". When I know with assurance that my "story" will end in victory. The winds and the waves that Satan sends your way cannot shake you because you have the "face of an angel". To have this face you are looking in the EYES of God. Of what a peace that you will feel. When you truly cast all your cares on Him you will have the face of an angel because you become the reflection of God's love. As you go about your work week seek the Face of God and have Peace!

 

 

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

Cross references:

1. Numbers 6:24 : S Ge 28:3; Dt 28:3-6; Ps 28:9; 128:5
2. Numbers 6:24 : 1Sa 2:9; Ps 17:8
3. Numbers 6:25 : Job 29:24; Ps 4:6; 31:16; 80:3; 119:135
4. Numbers 6:25 : Ge 43:29; Ps 25:16; 86:16; 119:29
5. Numbers 6:26 : Ps 4:6; 44:3
6. Numbers 6:26 : Ps 4:8; 29:11; 37:11, 37; 127:2; Isa 14:7; Jer 33:6; Jn 14:27

 

 

 

 

 

Behold--I am God!

Good morning to all on this Sunday morning. Waine and I are in Thomaston and enjoying a lazy Sunday morning. Its so good to wake up next to and with your Best Friend! Its been cold and rainy in Georgia; good days to be in and reading a good book. My beloved is editing his first novel with a diligence that is truly impressive. The practice is going well; Flu season is every pediatricians' friend. Waine and I truly pray that this season finds you and your family healthy and in the comfort of each other's love.

 

I am continuing my journey in Acts 5 verses 1 - 42, "Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.  About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” "Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. 

 

The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.  

 

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.  “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”  At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.  “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging Him on a cross. God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” 

 

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

 

What a powerful story! What a powerful message! I was perplexed at the beginning of this chapter with the account of the death of Ananias and his wife Sapphira. It just seemed so harsh to have them die. They did give a portion of their wealth to the church, didn't they? Then I got it. God requires that we freely give of ourselves to Him. When we hold back any portion of ourselves, we deceive ourselves and we experience the "death" of our spirit. God doesn't need our money or our wealth--He doesn't even need us. He made us because He wanted to bestow His vast love to another being--us. He wants us to experience the vastness of His love and we can't experience it when we hold anything back. He is able to supply us with everything we need to be fulfilled. He opens doors that are closed; He covers us with protection; He elevates us to His purpose. We only need to "die" to self and acknowledge His presence and Power in our lives. His angels are dispatched to protect all of us who have professed that Christ is Lord.

 

He also allows the rain to fall on BOTH the just and unjust. Our job is not to worry about the outcome; our job is to be obedient just as Peter was in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus the Christ. I think the message of Ananias and Sapphira is clear. Deception will kill the spirit that lives within each of us. Whether a person wants to admit it or not, each of us are born with the Spirit of God within us. That spirit lays dormant and will eventually "die" if we don't get plugged into the Power of God through confession of our sins and acceptance of Christ as the only path to God, the giver of life. There is no other great being out there. The spiritual life and path is made whole through God and He states that the path to Him is made through Christ and Christ alone.

 

Many prophets have come and gone. When they crossed their own "Jordan" and they awakened into a new reality that there is only one God and His name is Jehovah. At His right hand is Christ who sacrificed all that  none should perish. If these prophets died and did not accept Christ as the path to God BEFORE their deaths, the gate is closed forever. What a waste and what a tragedy.

 

My prayer today is that if you don't have Christ as Lord of your life you make s change today. Don't be like Ananias and Sapphira and lie to yourself. Give your all to God and accept His Gift of eternal life and redemption.  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