Hello MC Family, It has been 24 years since I have been back here. When I lived here my life had really taken a turn for the worst and it was just but the begining of a journey of destruction. So being here has flooded me with many memories as they come I cry over some and others I can laugh about. I't really amazes me being back here where I went to 7,8,9 th garde. It's such a blessing to be here and be at my son's dad's house and his step mom's and how we all get along and are able to sit and talk and laugh about the old times. So I have had alot of healing as well while I am here. Now today is my son's big day :) How exciting. I just wanted to touch base with everyone and let you all know how my visit is going. So that's about all for now. I pray that everyone has a blessed day.
Even the very hairs of your head are numbered. Matthew 10:30 Do you ever wonder if God has lost your address? Do you ever think perhaps He has lost track of you or even forgotten you altogether? God's Word answers those thoughts with a resounding, "Not so!" David, the psalmist, recognized God's thorough and intimate knowledge of us. Be encouraged by these words from Psalm 139 for today's reflection: O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit or stand. When far away You know my every thought. You chart the path ahead of me, and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment, You know where I am. You know what I am going to say before I even say it. You both precede and follow me, and place Your hand of blessing on my head. This is too glorious, too wonderful. . . . I can never be lost to Your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book! How precious it is, Lord, to realize that You are thinking about me constantly! I can't even count how many times a day Your thoughts turn towards me. And when I waken in the morning, You are still thinking of me! Before God created the universe, He already had you in mind. I pray that you all have a blessed day, and I will hopefully catch up wit everyone tomorrow. We have to be at the airport by 4 am and we leave at 6 am off we goooooooooo to az to see my first born getting married. :) special blessings, Tina
The church of Jesus Christ began with a group of frightened men in a second-floor room in Jerusalem.
Though they'd marched with Jesus for three years, they now sat....afraid. They were timid soldiers, reluctant warriors, speechless messengers.
Daring to dream that the master had left them some word, some plan, some direction, they came back.
But little did they know their wildest dream wasn't wild enough. Just as someone mumbles, "It's no use," they hear a noise. They hear a voice: "Peace be with you."
The one betrayed sought his betrayers. What did He say to them? Not "What a bunch of flops!" Not "I told you so." No "Where-were-you-when-I-needed-you?" speeches. But simply one phrase, "Peace be with you." The very thing they didn't' have was the very thing He offered: peace.
"Peace be with you."
John 20:19
Petition God today to fill your heart with the peace that you need. He will give you the desires of your heart if you but ask. He knows your heartaches, your dreams, your situation, your fears. Just take a moment and ask.
God loves us well. Out of love for us He gave His only Son to die for our sins. Out of love He forgives us, shows us patience, blesses us, provides for us, and never leaves us. We don't deserve any of His kindnesses, but He gives them out of love.
When we experience God's love fully, we are compelled to act on it. Out of gratitude and humility we respond to His love. In fact, the Bible teaches that our response to His love is somewhat of a litmus test of our salvation. If we respond with love for other people and obedience to His commands, then we demonstrate that God's love is in us.
In I John 4:11, the Apostle John writes, "Dearfriends, if God loved us in this way, we also must loveone another." He further explains that such love will compel us to:
-lay down our lives for others
-perform loving deeds
-pray for others
-practice righteousness
Yes, God's love is a compelling love. It compels us to love other people the same way God has loved us. What has God's love compelled you to do lately?
Father, I don't deserve Your love, but I am so grateful for it. May I show Your gracious and merciful love to others because I have experienced it so deeply.
9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four‑footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three [fn1] men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
21Peter went down and said to the men, “I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?”
22The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God‑fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter at Cornelius' House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached– 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen–by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues [fn2] and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. ACTS 10 *HOLDING ONTO THE PAST REVELATIONS OF GOD MAY KEEP US FROM DOING HIS WORK TODAY *IGNORANCE AND RELIGION MAY KEEP US FROM DOING GOD'S WORK TODAY *REVELATIONS BREAKS THROUGH THE BARRIER THAT KEEPS US FROM DOING GOD'S WORK TODAY. *OBEDIENCE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS US TO DO GOD'S WORK TODAY
