The marvelous thing about the Bible is that the characters of the Bible are not portrayed as angelic beings, free of mishaps or even sin. We see the real, the raw, and often the ugly parts of man – giving us to know that at our worst, there is still hope. Peter was the kind of guy most of us should be able to be encouraged by. He was impulsive, rash, spoke his mind, ready to please the Master, but had such strong opinions about how that should be done. He even got his feelings hurt in the Garden of Gethsemane and decided to run away from Jesus in His darkest hour, offended, even to to the point of denying him. But that same Peter, once he was converted, was able to convince three thousand in one day of the credibility of the life of Jesus, proving Him to be the long awaited Messiah.

So when Peter begins to talk about getting your life together, he speaks from a place of experience. He knows that often our acceptance of God’s Word in our head, still has a very long twelve inches to go to our hearts, and even more to penetrate through our earthly passions. And yet, because it is Peter, and because we have the hindsight to know that this robust, faltering, big-mouthed fisherman did indeed receive not only a personal “I forgive you” from the Master, but also a charge to continue on – mistakes forgotten – “You are still the man I want to feed my sheep” charge! And Peter, knowing that there are many of us like him, who need that same, “I forgive you” and that same “charge” to fulfill our destiny, reminds us:

 ⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

And then Peter tells us how to do that:

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor. 1 Peter 2:11-17 (NIV)

Notice the key words – TRUE, SIMPLE, DOABLE!

Amen, and Amen!

Maria

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.

But to those who do not believe,

‘The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,’

⁸ and,

‘A stone that causes people to stumbleand a rock that makes them fall.’^[

They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for. 1 Peter 2:-8 (NIV)

What this scripture speaks to me is that the reason people are stumbling and fall, is because we have rejected the chief cornerstone, which we know is Jesus. Receiving Jesus is and always was the plan of God for man’s salvation from the sin nature and the door that unlocks his destiny! When we reject the plan and the “open door”, we are subject to faltering and failing through life.

Now, at first glance, this appears to be something that would only apply to those who have rejected Jesus as their “Savior”. As I meditated on this scripture however, I began to realize that in a growth process, the laws of nature apply. If we are exercising with the goal to run a marathon, there are stages of development that have to take place. At any point, we can refuse to go to the next stage and counterfeit our goal. If we start off with a mile run, in order to prepare our bodies for a marathon, it is essential that at intervals we increase the length of our run. Our muscles must be brought into “receptivity” for an extended race. Trying to take a marathon without appropriate preparation can result in all manner of harm to the body, and soul.

The ninth verse of 1 Peter 2 says:

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

This tells me we have already been qualified for the race, WE ARE CHOSEN! Not only have we been chosen, but we are God’s possession, having received mercy to run this race. WE HAVE BEEN CHOSEN, WE HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE RACE, WE HAVE THE ENDURANCE (MERCY) TO RUN THIS RACE TO OUR DESTINY!

There is one thing that God did not take away from us when He gave us these gifts however, and that is free will. What I don’t think we as God’s special people don’t understand that even though we have BEEN CHOSEN, even though we have been QUALIFIED, and even though we have BEEN EXTENDED SPECIAL GRACE (MERCY), we still have to run the race!  And if we go a little further down in the BOOK, we find the words of Paul:

12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)

The Conclusion on Tomorrow…

Maria

For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and precious cornerstone,

and the one who trusts in Him

will never be put to shame.”(NIV)

This is somewhat of a dichotomy, because I don’t think you even begin to understand what this means, until you do begin to grow. So, we are commanded to grow, but unless we grow we don’t understand that the cornerstone of our spiritual house has already been given to us and this cornerstone will be the stone that will not only provide the anchor for this building, but will also keep our building secure at every level. So secure in fact that if we put our trust in Him, we will never be put to shame. (I don’t know about you, but I have been in so many “tight” places where it looked like my life was going to be a mockery, and then all of a sudden – what looked like “blind faith” gone awry, instead turned out to be another testimony for His glory!)

Peter goes on to say in vs 7:

“Now to you who believe,

this stone is precious.

But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, and,

“A stone that causes men to stumble

and a rock that makes them fall.”

 

We live the life of faith, “by faith”, which means that every time we run across something that stirs in our spirit (the world causes it conscience), we have to trust the leading of the Word, that has not yet been tested in our lives. In other words, when we get that uneasy feeling inside of us that makes us wonder what is the right path, our next step should be to “search the scriptures”, and pray,  to determine our course of action.

After doing that, we proceed, by faith, that we are taking the proper course of action. By allowing that “capstone”, that the “builders rejected” to guide us we “never fail, or fall, (remember Romans 8:28); whereas this same “stone” according to Peter is:

“A stone that causes men to stumble

and a rock that makes them fall.

They stumble because they disobey the message–which is also what they were destined for.”

This is the portion that got my attention about today’s post.  It became so clear to me, “this stone hewed out the mountain” of God’s heart for man, when we don’t make Him the very “capstone” of our building, takes away the insurance of our building standing – and even will cause us to fall. Whereas when we take the message of this “stone” and obey this message we are able to live out our destiny! This is good news to me. Thus, what we think is blind faith is really allowing this “supernatural stone” that has the capacity to keep reproducing itself as stone upon stone to solidly and securely build our spiritual house into a building that towers above all others…. More on this tomorrow…

Maria

“always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth–men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.”2 Timothy 3:7-9 (NIV)

The other type is like the man who wrote our key scripture today, none other than the unpredictable yet lovable man of all seasons, Peter. Peter was impulsive, strong-willed, opinionated, and had emotions that ran the gamut. Yet this same man was eager to please, quick to repent, and resolute in learning his lessons. When he got it, he stood before all and because his “learned lessons” were for real, he was able to convince about two thousand in one day of what he believed!

This week we want to take a look at some of the truths that Peter was able to glean from his experiences, that are just as true today to those who are willing to yield themselves completely to the Savior Peter loved so much. In 1Peter we find these words:

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”1 Peter 2:1-3 (NIV)

If anyone knew about growth spurts, it was Peter. And one of the main things that he wanted to convey to believers was the necessity not just to “taste and see” that the Lord was good, but to delve into the fulness of just how good He is! Peter continues by saying:

“As you come to him , the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him–you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV)

Peter is letting us know that our life is likened to that of a house, being built for the purpose of becoming a holy priesthood – a house that does not do what it wants to do, when it wants to do it, so like the Peter BC (Before Christ); but becoming a house that is willing to offer spiritual sacrifices that are both pleasing and acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

This is the catch – many of us are willing to offer up sacrifices – o.k. Lord we won’t smoke anymore, but what’s a little wine; o.k. Lord I won’t watch porno anymore, but this is T.V., it’s not the same; – in other words – we determine the sacrifices we’re willing to make and then resting on our laurels, determine that God has to be pleased with us, after all, look what we’ve done for Him!

And really, what does it mean to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ Jesus? More on this tomorrow…

Maria

All the signs of life

They’re all around me with every heartbeat

I feel so alive,

I am joy and sadness,

Peace and madness

If only I can fight just a little longer

I know It’s gonna make me stronger 

CHORUS:

I just keep holding on to what I believe

Oh, I believe in you

Give me the strength to fight

And the heart to believe

When it’s hard to believe inyour

 VERSE 2:

Oh and these are the times when doubt’s tryin’ to creep in

And I need a reason that’s larger than life when hope seems hard to find

If only I can fight just a little longer

I know it’s gonna make me stronger

 CHORUS:

So I just keep holding on to what I believe

Oh, I believe in you

The above words are from the singer/songwriter, Jamie Grace and the song is called HOLDING ON. As I thought about what to write about my wife and all of the mothers on this Mother’s Day that song came to mind.

I began to think about the many challenges that Deborah has had to face in this young year of 2012 thus far. To those who may not know, Deborah and I lost 2 babies this year to miscarriage. This Mother’s Day will be one of mixed emotions. On the one hand we have 3 healthy and wonderful children, but the sting of losing 2 kids. GIVE US STRENGTH…

Deborah, God has granted you the strength and the heart to believe. Look around you and see the many people who you have helped to see their true potential. Yes, doubt is tryin to creep in, but the Father has said that he would raise up a standard. I am honored that the Father would bless me with a warrior woman to stand with me in this foxhole as we attempt to change the world. Your grace and tenacity is breathtaking and awe inspiring. When I thought about what my wife would like so long ago, I can truly say that you have fulfilled all of my expectations. I am taken aback of your ability to beunselfish at this critical juncture of your life. As you continue to cry those tears for the 2 that we will one day see again know that you have pleased the Father. I continue to pray for your strength and I know that after this quiet storm, WE WIN…NEVER GIVE UP, the Father is well pleased with you.

To the single mothers, I pray Boaz will come and present himself to you in coming days. Deb and I stand with you in agreement for this. I am thankful for your strength and your ability to, NEVER GIVE UP! I know it has been hard to walk this road, but I guarantee if you look back over the rough times you will see only one set of footprints in the sands of your trials. Continue to press forward, NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER GIVE UP on your charge as MOTHER. The Father is well pleased with you.

To those who never mothered earthly children, I pray that you continue to do your part in the maturation process of so many which the Father will send your way. You have a part to play and I pray that you will hear the Father’s heart when it is your time to Mother those who may not share your blood. NEVER GIVE UP, the Father is well pleased with you.

Happy Mother’s Day Deborah Christina Anthony…Mother, Wife, Friend and Confidant

GREATER…>DIE EMPTY!!!

We are all made in the image of God. Something I am grateful for when I look at my wife. Kaytee honestly is everything I could have ever asked for. Not just because she is a Finest thang the world has ever seen, a great cook, a domestic goddess; but because her attention to detail to make my life and our son’s life wonderful. I see what type of woman she is by the ingredients she is made of.

Perseverance! a need to get things done without straying away from the original plan. Leading by example, she shows her love taking all her energy to make her family happy. Knowing what’s important, giving her best in the things she’s holds most dear namely Micah. Caring and loving him with a passion that reminds me what God really wants for all of us. I love her so much and can’t stop but think what my life would be like if we never met. The attention to detail just wouldn’t be there.

I kind of admit that she definitely cured my adult ADHD. She woke me out of a dream that could have turned into a nightmare. We all have dreams of a lofty beginning but what of the end? What’s funny is that once she appeared on my scene Magically!! a screen play of possibilities appeared. I saw my future wife mother of my children “The keeper of my best interest” What’s even more amazing is they have all been true. I can never thank her enough for being the type of person who keeps me grounded and at the same times allows my dreams to flourish in the stars, “Kaytee –  as a man who can appreciate having fine things” in the words of the late Michael Jackson: “she is banging”.

I love you sweet pea

You are my gurl

4ever&ever

If there was a prayer to pray to give you all of the riches in glory in heaven, here on earth, I would pray that prayer for you; even though you would just give it to us again. Ma, you have always been there for me, and never let me get comfortable where I am, regardless of how well off I would say I was.

Thank-you Ma for number 1, instilling JESUS in all of our lives, because surely none of us would be where we are, or who we are with, without Him.

The ministry you have introduced us to is a blessing, and surely you will always be blessed.

I LOVE YOU MA, YOUR #1 LOVESON, MORRIS J

²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

²⁶ She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

²⁷ She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.

²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied…Proverbs 31:25-28 (AMP)

I

Though Tarcia’s Spirit as a Organizer/Administrator does get under any one’s skin without her particular set of skills, in 15 plus years I have grown to love and appreciate it. I know that her heart is so big that she like the Lord chasing’s who she loves. Tarcia will pursue the best in all of us. If you need help in any area that she is a expert in i.e. punctuality she is sure to let you have what you need and more to get you to be on time.

 ^10-31 A good woman is hard to find,

and worth far more than diamonds.

Her husband trusts her without reserve,

and never has reason to regret it…

She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast

for her family and organizing her day…

First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,

rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.

She senses the worth of her work,

is in no hurry to call it quits for the day…

She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,

diligent in homemaking.

She’s quick to assist anyone in need,

reaches out to help the poor…

When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,

and she always says it kindly.

She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,

and keeps them all busy and productive.

Her children respect and bless her;

her husband joins in with words of praise:Proverbs 31: selected passages (MSG)

When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,

and she always says it kindly.

She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,

and keeps them all busy and productive.

Her children respect and bless her;

her husband joins in with words of praise:

“Many women have done wonderful things,

but you’ve outclassed them all!”

Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.

The woman to be admired and praised

is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.

Give her everything she deserves!

Festoon her life with praises! Proverbs 31:25-27 (MSG)

Editor’s Note:For the next few days in honor of Mother’s Day we are posting expressions of love from men for the women in their lives. HeartLife Ministries is committed to honoring and strengthening the family unit and what greater honor than for our men to tell why they love the women in their lives. Enjoy!

^10]Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?

She is more precious than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband can trust her,

and she will greatly enrich his life.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:10-12 (NLT)