The oil is not enough by V.Toussaint

Yesterday marked the beginning of Advent a time of hope and anticipation. a time of looking forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, of spending time with family and friends, of much needed rest and relaxation, and a time to reflect. It is also a time to be considerate of others who are less fortunate in our families, circles of influence and in the world. We are also reminded to be watchful of the second coming of Christ. Jesus said  "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour"-In the parable of the ten virgins  Five of the women had just enough to get into heaven and the other five were running out and non of them were keeping watch they were asleep. we as Christians are supposed to have our cups running over with oil. We are supposed to have more then enough to be able to share. But a lot of us are selfish Christians who only care about our own salvation and our own problems. We don't even make time to pray for others. The weakest in our churches, families, communities, and in the world need these prayers. The anointing from us needs to trickle down into their lives Psalm 133:1-3. When we do this we go from being Christians to being part of the body of Christ. We are in unity with Christ and his body. Unity brings anointing to heal and deliver the body of Christ. It creates wholeness Eph 4:13. When we are being selfish in our prayers we tend to look at our circumstances a lot and less at Jesus. Seeing him work in our lives is believing. We then tend to waver in our faith. But when our prayers become more aware of others needs and pray for those needs  the anointing begins to flow through us till over flowing and we can make an impact on those weakest around us. During this time we need to be watchful, prayerful, and selfless to have an impact that can make a difference in the body of Christ and will be eternally beneficial. So let's make this time mark the beginning of a more powerful anointing in the body of Christ because of a unified decision to make prayers for those weakest around us. 
Lord Jesus help us to be more sensitive to the needs of others and to be prayerful of all those who are in need in the world spiritually and naturally. Help us to leave our lives in your hands and trust you will care for us. Help us to keep watch and not fall asleep  In Jesus Name Amen.

Hands Held High by V. Toussaint

But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Exodus 17:12.  This passage  was set during a war. Moses said he would pray on the mountain while the people fought. But he became so tired that he could no longer hold his arms up to the lord. As his arms were high in the air the people were winning the fight. When his hands began to fall the people began to fail. So his servants held him up. Moses was the head of that family and in a time of crises he grew weary. As families our positions as head whether you are a husband and the head of your family or a single parent holding it all down on your own in times of crises we all can grow weary. The stone they put under him to sit is the rock. Jesus is our rock he came to give us rest. the servants raising the hands of moses is the church or your family members. When we go through crises we need a support system. when I see my husband going through a hard trial I get into my prayer closet and pray for him more then ever. I encourage him with scripture and affectionate support. If that does not seem to be enough I ask him to please seek counsel. I let him know he is not alone. As a women who was married before and have two children in my previous marriage I can tell you that as a single parent when I grew weary it could get very lonely. But I knew that if on my knees to Jesus I did not find enough comfort I had a whole support system in my church. My leaders, pastors, my sisters in Christ. They helped me pray and gave me encouragement. I always knew I could count on my family in Christ. Now that I have remarried I have taken what I learned to help my husband be the best head of household he can be and when he grows weary I step up to the plate and help him hold the bat and hit the ball out of the park. I make sure we go to church as much as possible and make sure we pray more then ever. I get in the word and I praise God in our circumstances. I carry the load! Jesus carries us and we should carry each other in love and prayerfully fighting the good fight of faith.  This holiday season look to be a support to someone if not at home then in church or extended family and friends. So many people suffer silently during the holidays try to be discerning and find out who may need some extra support this season. Then don't stop there make it part of your Christian walk. Seek to be loving and supportive. My husband is my great support when I grow weary and don't seem to be getting what I need from my daily devotions he sees and steps in to encourage me. I love him dearly for it.  Thank you Jesus that you put in our lives those who can support us in the hardest of times. Thank you that you are the rock of our salvation. That we can find rest in you and in your body when we need to. please continue to support us and bring those who will help us to carry the load In Jesus name Amen.

Drinking alcohol is not a sin Drunkenness is. By V. Toussaint

I have a bone to pick with all those Christians that point a finger at any brother in Christ who they find out has a drink occasionally and says you are sinning. I would love to know where in scripture does it say that you cannot drink alcohol. Do not put an alcoholic beverage to your mouth for it will cause you eternal damnation. I have never seen it. I will tell you what it does say , and you may double check it. I actually want you to. Proverbs 23:20 says  AKJV:  " Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat". ESV:  "Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat," 23:21 AKJV "For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." 1 Corinthians 6:10 AKJV "Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God."  Eph. 5:18 AKJV "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"   Drunk implies excess, not simple consumption. We all know a lot about what excessive alcohol can do in a person's life. We also know that it takes a lot to stop drinking once you become an alcoholic. But what about those who don't over consume and those who like to drink wine at dinner and do not drink till they begin to lose control of their faculties?  Why is it that they get blamed for drunkenness by other Christians? They haven't broken any biblical law, or command, or rule. Jesus drank wine and it was fermented and the fundamental leaders of the day (Pharisees) called him a winebibber. AKJV " The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a drunkard, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.'  Jesus drank wine. I heard one church say he was drinking grape juice. It would obviously be a surprise to them to find out that the  process didn't exist yet to turn wine into grape juice till 1869 By Thomas Bramwell Welch. He discovered  the Pasteurization process to prevent the fermentation  of grape juice. So yes Jesus did drink wine. In the region where he was living the climate was very warm which actually sped up the fermentation process. So if you brought wine made that morning, by noon it would be about the equivalent of a beer today. Look into it. If they accused Jesus of being a drunkard and today any Christian who chooses to enjoy a beer at a barbecue or wine with dinner is being accused of the same, then I would have to say that there are modern day Pharisees among us and to read the scriptures for yourself to see if you are right with God. That being said, if you find that you have a problem with alcohol, then you should refrain from drinking. This is not because drinking in and of itself is wrong but that your self control is an issue that you have to lay before God. If you are unable to drink responsibly, and for a Christian this means to avoid drunkenness, then you should not drink. This applies to all aspects of life. Everything in moderation is a good way to look at this. The focus in your walk should always be your relationship with God, not what people think about you. to read more on this subject checkout these links http://powerofaith.com/drinking.htm
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