Stephen was full of grace and power---oh, to have that kind of reputation. Yet, the Freedmen (at least that's what they called themselves) disputed Stephen, secretly instigating others against him. They stirred up the elders and seized him to face the Council, to take his life based on perjury and hate~Acts 6:12. Stephen is one of the first martyrs after the Resurrection and many stand on his shoulders. Like my friend, Cyd Mizell, who was kidnapped and murdered along with her Afghan driver---January 2008. No confirmation of deaths was ever provided. Her face shines like an angel in my memory. Cyd taught English to high school students in Afghanistan and helped women learn income-producing skills, food-for-work projects, irrigation, rehabilitation, and health care. Hebrews 11:38 ~ Men and Women of whom the world was not worthy. Even in the face of danger, they served their God. Their love was so initimate with their Father.
Song of Solomons 1:1 - the greatest song of all. Our God proclaims His Love for His church through amorous intimate imagery. "I sought Him whom my soul loves." 3:1. And the foxes in verse 2:15 represent the difficulties that threaten our relationships. How true, it is the little foxes that spoil the vines every single day. May His Love not my loss be my center. May Christ draw us all up and further in.
I am reminded this morning to pray for those in leadership, and to do my own job (church secretary) for His glory.
ReplyDeleteSong of Sol. 1 - We are his beloved, beautiful in every way because He loves us so.
SOS 2:4 His banner over me is love.
Laying hands and commissioning to serve the people of God--some pray, some teach, some give portion to the widows. . .People taking care of people in the Name of God. . .
ReplyDeleteOur church just sent over 100 choir members on mission. Music is the universal language. Their calling (to sing) is being used mightily by God to reach the lost, to bring Hope to the hopeless, salvation to the poor in spirit.
Danger surrounds us, but there is nothing to fear if we keep our eyes focused on Christ. Even in the midst of death and accusation and pain, Stephen gazed upward and found his Strength.
Please pray with me today for my son-in-law who has a cyst on his lumbar spine. He is in a lot of pain and isn't a believer. Also, my best friend Cathy, has her cancer tests next week, and she has been through an inordinate amount of physical and mental pain these last three months. I would so appreciate you joining me in a prayer for them. Love you, Pearls.
You all express yourselves and the scripture we read so well. I am so blessed by the Word and then what each one of you glean. It helps to keep my focus on Him. The little foxes in our daily lives can truly eat away at the sustenance that we so need. By striving to keep Him first and utmost in our thinking it does help to keep the little foxes at bay.
ReplyDeleteAnnette, praying for your son in law and your friend. Would appreciate prayer for myself. I thought I pulled my lower back about ten days ago...I hurt terribly last Wed-Friday....to be brief, went to Ortho doctor yesterday...xrays show some degeneration in my spine but that is more than likely due to the lovely aging process we all are in. And then it showed a compressed vertebrae in my upper back....which I do not see how that could make the top part of my hip in my lower back hurt....anyway..having an MRI in the morning and seeing the doctor next Wed at 3 to talk about what he sees. I can "feel" your son in law's pain, not really,but do know that pain in your back affects your entire body much more than you realize. The muscle affected in my back is the one that we need to use to do oh, so much in our every day movements. So, I will pray especially for him and will pray that the Lord will use this to draw him to Himself.
Blessings on each Pearl today, May He show up in your life in small ways and big ways. HE is a Big God. Love you all...
You all express yourselves and the scripture we read so well. I am so blessed by the Word and then what each one of you glean. It helps to keep my focus on Him. The little foxes in our daily lives can truly eat away at the sustenance that we so need. By striving to keep Him first and utmost in our thinking it does help to keep the little foxes at bay.
ReplyDeleteAnnette, praying for your son in law and your friend. Would appreciate prayer for myself. I thought I pulled my lower back about ten days ago...I hurt terribly last Wed-Friday....to be brief, went to Ortho doctor yesterday...xrays show some degeneration in my spine but that is more than likely due to the lovely aging process we all are in. And then it showed a compressed vertebrae in my upper back....which I do not see how that could make the top part of my hip in my lower back hurt....anyway..having an MRI in the morning and seeing the doctor next Wed at 3 to talk about what he sees. I can "feel" your son in law's pain, not really,but do know that pain in your back affects your entire body much more than you realize. The muscle affected in my back is the one that we need to use to do oh, so much in our every day movements. So, I will pray especially for him and will pray that the Lord will use this to draw him to Himself.
Blessings on each Pearl today, May He show up in your life in small ways and big ways. HE is a Big God. Love you all...
Annette, my prayers go upward for Cathy---she has been through so much suffering. And also for your s-i-l. I read Spurgeon this morning and he was saying that there will be no squaring of affliction in heaven---it's all done here on earth. But afflictions cannot sanctify us unless our God uses it to His End. May the Author of their salvation draw them both close and make their hearts beautiful in the midst of their pain. Apart from God, we can do nothing.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mary Lou, I am so sorry for the pain you are experiencing that affects every move you make. Your prayer needs last week were huge too. Your story draws me to the words of Habbakuk for that is how you live. "Yet, I will rejoice in the LORD. I will take joy in the God of my salvation." You do! It is ascending problems for you just like in Habakkuk's day when he wrote: No Fruit/ No Oil/ No Food/ No Fields/ No Herds/ ~~~ No problem---you will take Joy in your God. Love you so!
Nise' - your heart is just beautiful going straight to our leaders. Touches me how we walk away from the same passage and God moves us.
Thank you all so very much for doing this with me. Every single day, it seems, I feel like I am reading this for the first time. That's God! I need him so!