tysthatbind

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."  Acts 16:24-26 Dear Friends, My grandmother told me that "prayer changes things."  She said, "Steph, it don't get too big or too small that I don't go to the Lord about it."  You could discuss anything with her. She didn't flinch and she did not judge you.  She also, did not waver in the bottom line solution.  Of course, she would recount some life lessons to shed light on the situation.  She could offer practical advice. My grandmother was very wise.  This wisdom prompted her to bottom line everything with this: "Prayer changes things."  At the end of the day my grandmother knew what I have learned over the years. You have to talk and listen to God.  That

"And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.   And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him."          - St. Luke 8:24-25  Dear Friends, The disciples were afraid because of the raging storm. They felt that because Jesus was resting, asleep He was unaware or perhaps unconcerned about what they perceived as danger.  What they failed to understand or acknowledge during their time of panic is that as they called out to Him as Master, this very designation and title identified Him as the Lord of All. There was never a time when He was not in control. He is Lord of All. He was there in the beginning. Remember, the Word. Let there be... The water, the air, the light, the darkness, everything

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."  - II Corinthians 4:18 Dear Friends, A familiar hymn encourages us to: "Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God's unchanging hand."   If we focus too hard and too long on only what is front of us we can lose sight of the miracle.   Consider the bills that come in the mail.  When we focus on the stack of bills instead of the God who provides the provision to pay the bills we can miss the blessing.   I remember hearing a preacher say years ago: "Stop complaining about all the bills you have to pay and thank God you have the money to pay them." Well his words taught me a lesson. Even during times when I did not have the money I thanked the Lord for what I had trusting that He would make a way. Things are temporal.  Life as we know it is temporal.  Beaut

"God will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." - Job 8:21 Dear Friends, You may wonder sometimes when life's struggles get difficult if brighter days will come again.  When tears stream down your face and it appears as though grief will never subside, it is hard to picture yourself smiling or joking.  However, as has been mentioned countless times before, God specializes in the impossible. Consider Job who lost family, health, wealth, friends and in some ways his perspective.  Yet, he found God to be the Lord of restoration.  It is the same God who abides today:   "God will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." - Job 8:21 Keep trusting and believing.  He will not let you down. in Christ, Sis. Stephanie   

" Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." - Hebrews 7:25 Dear Friends, God is !  God is able.   He is able to save.  He is able to save to the uttermost.  His ability to save cannot be hindered.  Those that come to Christ Jesus, drawn to Him by God c annot be prevented.     "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.   It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ [ a ] Therefore everyone who has heard and learned [ b ] from the Father comes to Me." St. John 6:44-45  Jesus Christ the Lord made the uttermost sacrifice to provide for oursalvation.  " ... how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,  God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders,

" He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - St. John 1:11-13 Dear Friends, "The assignment should you choose to accept it..."  These words were always a part of the script on the television series Mission Impossible many years ago. An assignment was outlined and the individual agent or team tasked with it could seemingly accept or reject.  Somehow one always got the impression that rejection of an assignment would be accompanied by consequences Our first "assignment" on the spiritual journey that leads to salvation is acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.  It is up to the individual to accept  Him.  This is a personal decision.  For those who do well, for those by whom the Lord is well received, He gives power.

"But now, O Lord , thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." Isaiah 64:8 Dear Friends, As a girl I loved to put puzzles together.  Sometimes my mother would work on the puzzles with me.  It could be frustrating sometimes working on large puzzles with one hundred pieces or more. Perhaps you could get the ends put together, connect the borders.  However, getting the middle right, the heart of the puzzle all fitted together could be tedious and frustrating. Life is like that sometimes.  The fringes, the outline, the borders are sometimes easy to connect.  However, the middle the "heart" of the matter can be impacted by so many things.  We can sometimes find ourselves unable to connect with others.  Broken relationships, broken promises and betrayed trust can leave us struggling and wandering around as though in a maze. Thank God that He is the solution to every puzzle, any situation that may confound

" The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.   O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand." - Psalms 99:5-7 cf Dear Friends, " Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs , singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."    - Colossians 3:16 May the words of the following hymn encourage you in your walk with the Lord.                 Jesus Is All the World to Me                         -  Will L. Thompson Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, without Him I would fall. When I am sad, to Him I go, no other one can cheer me so; When I am sad, He makes me glad, He’s my Friend. Jesus is all the world to me, my Friend in trials sore; I go to Him for blessing

" O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God".           - Psalms 43:3-5 Dear Friends, I was thinking about a song my Auntie used to sing in the choir "I Won't Give Up."   She sang the words with tremendous power and conviction.  "I won't give up, friends all around and I can't find my way.  Even when my body is wracking with pain. When there is no money in my pocket. I won't give up."  The choir would come in "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, I won't give up!" I remember when I would direct the song I would have to count on my fingers to make sure I did not miss a NO!

" And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one."        - St. John 10:28-30 Dear Friends, When I was a little girl we would sometimes play a game. I would hide a small object in my hand and then open my hand quickly and shut it.  The object of the game was to see if the other person could snatch the object out of my hand in the few seconds I held my hand open. In St. John 10:28-30 this is not a game being described.  Eternity is a reality.  Eternal life or eternal separation from God depending on the choice one makes.  For those who choose Jesus Christ eternal life is the spiritual reality.  Jesus holds us. God holds us in His mighty hands. There is no one greater than God.  The enemy is unable to grab us or pluck us out of the hand of Jesus and His Father, Our F

    "The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy." - Psalms 145:8 Dear Friends, "Lord we thank You for being so gracious.  We thank You for Your compassion.  We thank You for being patient with us and for the mercy You extend toward us day by day. Lord help us to behave graciously, compassionately and mercifully toward others.  Enable us to accomplish this in the simple things like giving others the benefit of the doubt; not being so quick to criticize; giving and not expecting anything in return; being kind in the face of rudeness; turning the other cheek. Lord, You are our example.  Help us Lord to be an example to others we meet along the journey. Help us to be living testimonies of grace and compassion; patience and mercy. In Jesus name we pray. Amen," in Christ, Sis. Stephanie    

" For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." - II Corinthians 4:6 Dear Friends, God commanded the light to shine !  Almighty God.  He commanded the light to shine out of darkness. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Glory! This light, His light shines in the heart of every born again believer.  He is the Bright and Morning Star!  The illumination of the the light of the Word of God brings knowledge. The knowledge of His will as revealed  through Jesus Christ allows us to view the Majestic grace of God . Hallelujah! As I read and meditate on II Corinthians 4:6 I am encouraged and seek to encourage you today to always remember you are connected to a Power source that cannot be depleted.   There is never a power failure with God.  There is no need for a back up generator. We do not have to seek multiple light sources.  He is All Power.  Po

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light."               - Genesis 1:1-3 Dear Friends, I love meditating on the "Let there be's" in Genesis.  God said: Let there be light and light appeared.  And so it continues today.  The Word of God is  the power source that creates, changes, and moves people, places and things. Nothing escapes His attention. "In the beginning God..." The same God, the Lord, The Spirit of God that moved upon the face of the waters abides ever present now.  He speaks to our hearts, into our lives. We only have to listen, trust and obey. "Holy. Holy. Holy. Lord God Almighty. God in Three Persons. Blessed Trinity. And God said, Let there be... in Christ, Sis. Stephanie

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20  Dear Friends, "Don't look at me!" These are words some of us would blurt out as children when something went wrong and we wanted our parents  to know that we were not to blame. Well these same words can be used in well doing when we want to point others to the One who bestows all blessing and gifts. Don't look at me!  Look at God!"  Didn't the choir sing good today?  Look at God!  Bro. Teacher really taught the lesson. Look at God.  Beautiful sunshine, didn't have to wear a coat today. Look at God! Health! Hope! Joy! Peace! Way out of now way! Strength for the journey! Look at God!   "...nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" Look at God! in Christ, Sis. Stephanie

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" - Ecclesiastes 3:1 Dear Friends, Can you believe it's already April 16? Where does the time go? Time just seems to fly by!  Do these statements sound familiar? Time. God blesses us with time.  I heard once that it is more important to think about investing  time than spending it.   That is something to consider.  It fits with the God given reality of sowing and reaping. How will you choose to invest your time. God has already made a tremendous investment in each of us in sending His Son Jesus Christ. How about sharing the good new of The Risen Savior with someone today. Invest in the life of someone else. Share your faith. It's about time. in Christ, Sis. Stephanie

" Commit thy works unto the Lord , and thy thoughts shall be established." - Proverbs 16:10 Dear Friends, Time management is best handled by God.  I work from both a paper and electronic calendar.  I use sticky notes and I make "to do" lists.  However, if I fail to present my day to God and commit the calendar to Him, things don't seem to go smoothly. This does not mean that when I  pray about the day I am free from stress, do not encounter detours, lost sticky notes and changes to my calendar.  What is does mean is that I am assured that whatever comes God will give me the direction, the peace and presence of mind to face any obstacles when I take the time to commit my works to Him. Proverbs 16:10 is one of my favorite verses.  I am a witness that if you lay your plans before God He will show you which way to go. Trust Him with the details!  in Christ, Sis. Stephanie

                                                                     "Rejoice with them that do rejoice..." Romans 12:15 Dear Friends, I was sitting in a class recently and someone posed a question, "Why are people so jealous of one another."   I don't know if anyone offered a real response. The question "hung in the air." The Bible teaches us that every good and perfect gift comes from God. There is no room for envy which breeds strife among the body of Christ. The remedy. Rejoice with them that do rejoice. Congratulate! Celebrate! Encourage!  The words "I'm happy for you" spoken in sincerity can uplift a sister or brother. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:10 in Christ, Sis. Stephanie .

                                          "But thanks be to God..."                                   -    I Corinthians 15:56  Dear Friends, Today is a good day to begin again. God's mercies are new every day. Sure mistakes have been made.   Perhaps, words have been spoken that you wish you could take back. But, thanks be to God...there is healing available. Forgiveness is available through Jesus.  The enemy loves to beat up on us. The goal is make us feel at the end of our rope, hopeless. But thanks be to God... I believe that in the twinkling of an eye a negative situation can turn into a blessing. I believe in miracles knowing I serve a miraculous God. I know that some would have written me off, counted me out long ago. But, thanks be to God...I'm holding onto my faith. Keep praying and praising! Keep looking up and worshipping the Lord. You thought you could not go on. But thanks be to God! in Christ  Sis. Stephanie

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." - Proverbs 18:24 Dear Friends, Today I have been thinking about my friends. Friends have provided support, fellowship, love and support over the years. Growing up I feel that my parents encouraged my siblings and I to be friends to one another. "Shew yourself friendly." It was and remains my aim to be friendly to family. I would often say "we had no choice being sisters and brothers, parents and child but whether we are friends that's another story!" I share this because all strong relationships take work to maintain. We must water them, pay attention, check in at least every once in a while. I taught my daughters early on while at the dinner table to look around at each other. I said to them: "your best friends are at this table."  I wanted them to think about and work to build and maintain a strong bond through

"Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray." - Psalms 5:1-2 Dear Friends, Several months ago I was sitting next to a little girl during Sunday worship during prayer. I didn't have my eyes closed. She peeked at me and said, "You are supposed to have your eyes closed during prayer!"   I had to smile. I was a little embarrassed that in her mind I was out of order and vowed to behave myself moving forward.   Closing our  eyes during prayer symbolizes shutting the world out and focusing on the Lord.  When we pray we want the Lord to hear us, We want to be focused in our prayers. We meditate on the Lord and His goodness.  We petition Our Lord and Our God to hear the petitions we put before Him. Close your eyes in prayer. Pause in your day to pray.  in Christ, Sis. Stephanie

" For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." - Job 19:25-27 Dear Friends, The choir sings a song that asks the questions: "Do you know Jesus? Does He live in your heart?"  It is such a beautiful song.  It is made even more beautiful when you can wave your hand and offer a silent or audible amen.  Yes, I know Jesus! Yes! He lives in my heart. The enemy loves to haggle Christians into playing a guessing game.  Salvation is not a guessing game.  My Pastor spoke in his sermon today about the finished work of Jesus Christ.  Hanging on the cross, making the ultimate sacrifice for you and I, Jesus spoke these words "it is finished."    It is already done.  We cannot add to or take away from what has been sett

"For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."         - Malachi 3:6 Dear Friends, God 's mercy never fails. Changeless. His love is constant. Changeless. His peace is enduring. Changeless. His grace is sufficient.  Changeless. Constant. Certain.  God is. Friends may come and go in our lives. Seasons change. We may change jobs many times throughout our work life. Moving from one neighborhood to another multiple times is the norm for many. However, the constant in whatever situation or circumstance is the unchanging nature of God. The declaration found in Malachi 3:6 is one of empowerment and consolation. It is due to the constant nature of the Almighty God, the certainty of His presence that we are able to endure. We are able to withstand the storms, the attacks, the disappointments and are not consumed by them because God does not change, At all times and in all situations we can rest secure in the ever present

"Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." - St. John 16:32-33 Dear Friends, As a young Christian there was a song I used to play over and over. I had it on a 45 vinyl disc. The song "Never Alone" was first published in 1895 and the author is unknown.   I played the song so much that listening to it became a part of my daily routine.  The words of the song reinforced the truth I heard preached and taught from scripture -- Jesus promised NEVER to leave me alone. Whether on the mountain or in the valley.  If you are in celebration or a time of sorrow, you are never alone.  This is a promise Jesus has given to us, He will never leave us alone. May the words to the s

"Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all that call upon thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications."        - Psalms 86:3-6 Dear Friends, Sometimes when I'm driving to work and approaching a traffic light I will pray, "Lord if possible please let me make the light."  Yesterday as I prayed while driving through traffic, three lights stayed green. God heard and answered my prayer. I was so excited. Each time, I said aloud in my car THANK YOU LORD!   Today the Holy Spirit reminded me that He controls traffic in my life. As I look to the Lord, The Holy Spirit lets me know when it's okay to move forward. He let's me know when to proceed with caution. He lets me know when to stand still.  God in His infinite wisdom guides us as we

" For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."  - Galatians 6:8-10 Dear Friends, There is a song that states: "I just can't give up now, come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me the road would be easy. I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me." On those days when you are weary and it seems like what you are doing isn't having much impact, take a rest but don't quit.  Keep sowing good seeds.  Keep speaking kind words. Show patience. Expect the best from others. Shed the light of Christ along the way.  Some results you will see in this lifetime.  Others you may never know about. Yet, the time is always ripe to sow

"And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,"       - Deuteronomy 10:12 Dear Friends, When you stop to consider all that God has done, He does not ask for much in return. Fearing God is to show reverence. It is a sincere, holy respect for the things of God. It is to hold in esteem the Word of God.   Walking with Lord is the acceptance of His instructions.  Obedience. It is yielding our will to His. It is praying for the Lord to order our steps and walking by faith the path he sets before us. This we do even when we can't " see" our way. The Lord requires our service. How does He want us to serve?  He wants us to serve with gladness. (Psalms 100).  This we do with the understanding that we are privileged to render service to the Almighty God.  Lord today we pray for righteous fear, that is reverence for yo

" And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:   But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead :"  - II Corinthians 1:7-9 Dear Friends, What does it feel like to be pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch, that one despaired even of life?  And, if one should find oneself in such a state, what to do about it? To be pressed into a corner and zapped of strength and filled with despair is what depression can feel like.  Christians are not exempt from depression.   King David battled it.  He posed the question:    Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise

" He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord , He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee." - Psalms 91:1-7 Dear Friends, In the presence of the Lord there is safety.  Today in worship service I listened to the music that helped to usher in the presence of the Lord. "Pass me not O Gentle Savior, hear my humble cry." The harmony of instruments and voices combined wi

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8 Dear Friends, Today sitting under the hair dryer I was trying to decide how to pass the time. Should I take a nap? Play a game on the iPad? Answer a few texts? Well, the Holy Spirit prompted me to close me eyes and be still. Then a portion of Philippians 4:8 was brought to mind "whatsoever things are lovely..."  First, I thought about a cardinal.  I get great joy when I see a cardinal. Lovely. I thought about snow covered trees. They make me smile. I imagine God took out His huge paint brush and painted the trees. Lovely.   Next, I looked up Philippians 4:8 and read the entire verse. I was admonished to think about: true things; honest things; just things; pu

"...we spend our years as a tale that is told." - Psalms 90:9b Dear Friend, What's your story? Mixed in with the joy and sorrow, would a reader see Jesus?   If the answer is I think so or I hope so, it is time to turn the page. Turn the page on the past. Turn the page on regret and missed opportunity. There is a fresh new page awaiting you.  I assure you that if you allow Jesus to outline the page, fill the calendar, write the script, the end result will be certainty.  Driving in to work this morning the words I heard in my spirit were these:  "Turn the page." Sometimes we get stuck on a word or phrase or become attached to characters in the book that is our life. Yet, there are seasons during which we must turn the page. Let go of old hurts, forgive. Live the abundant life Jesus intended for us. All that we need to live the Christian life is available in Jesus Christ. The instructions are in His Word. I encourage you today, turn the page. in Christ, Sis. Stepha