"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." John 17:20-21

Jesus is seen here praying for more than our eternal glory, but also that we may abide in unity, peace and love. He knows that united we stand strong, but divided the enemy can more easily attempt to pluck us of...f one by one. See, the enemy works best in isolation, which is why he tries to get us alone. Satan wants no positive reinforcement in our life. If he can get us to a place where we are alone, he is better able to attempt to control us with his lies. But when we know who we are in Christ and who He is in us, the enemy cannot control us because we are united with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not just praying for our success in sustaining a powerful vertical relationship with God the Father, but also our victory in achieving a strong horizontal relationships with those He gave us to journey through life with. So let's stop assisting the enemy in isolating ourselves from one another through slander, gossip, strife and general discord. Let's remember working together, united peacefully, we are a powerful witness to the world of God's love and a threat to the enemy. Divided we cannot stand against anything. When you stand united with Christ, His glory is revealed in your life and you become a living witness to His Word. His transforming power over your life will be so evident that the world will believe that truly Christ is among the living. So continue your journey in becoming one with the Father and the Son. Don't isolate yourself, but build a strong alliance with the Lord. United We Stand!

"Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back." 1 Peter 3:13-14 (MSG)

Everybody wants to be a winner. The football player wants to win the game. The runner wants to reach the finish line first. The politician wants to win the election. The soldier wants to win the war. There are those... who want to win the lottery, and others who want to win at love. What do you want to win? In our text, Paul compares the Christian life to a race that he is running, and heaven as the prize of the high calling that he wants to win. Paul is letting us know that he wants to win this race, and if we want to win, we must stay focused on the prize. He warns that others in the race will try to distract you, by coaxing you to follow other goals. Yet, Paul says, press forward, follow after, pursue with vigor, as following after a game. Because he longed to share in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Paul was committed to staying in the race. He was prepared to do, or suffer anything, so that he might obtain this wonderful resurrection. What about you; are you still in the race? We cannot run forward and successfully win the race, while looking back and holding on to the past. There are some things, some issues, and some people, that we have to leave behind, without looking back, so that we can win the race. Today determine in your heart that you want to win the prize that we run for, fight for, and wrestle for which is eternal life through Jesus Christ. This life is a life worth fighting for. So keep your eye on the prize and stay focused on the goal and whatever you do, don't turn back!


Pastor: Karen Washington
Visit us at http://www.elizabethamec.org

'Now, therefore, says the Lord.' "Turn to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God..." Joel 2:12-13

Ash Wednesday is that time during the Christian Calendar when we enter into a period of introspective self examination. It is the beginning of a 40 day journey of repentance, reflection, and a clarion call to "return" to a more intentional and committed relationship with ...God. The challenge of the Prophet Joel's short book is to repent, rend hearts and not clothing and return to God. He cites a plague of locusts that had ravaged the land of Judah. Both the human community and the natural world were affected by the catastrophic devastation left in its wake. The locusts were a wake up call. God was calling the people to repent of the public and private sins that held them captive. Spiritual playtime was over and it was a moment in time to get down to serious business. Just like the people of Judah, God is calling each one of us during the Lenten season to choose to live the faith we profess with integrity and hope. Is it easy? Absolutely not! Is it possible? Yes! It is possible by the grace and mercy of God! Joel means "Yahweh is God." That's the reason we can do it, because Yahweh is in charge and walking with us every step of the way. When we return without hesitation or reservation, and make that 360 degree turn back to the Sovereign One, God uses our lives to impact the world. In this season of penitence, fast to focus the body and mind on God; pray to experience the depth of God's power; and be still to hear the voice of the One who knows you and calls you by name!

Karen Washington
Visit us at http://www.elizabethamec.org