Tag: Holy Spirit

Hail to the Lion of Judah!

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Shalom to Israel!

Dear readers, I’m taking a break from the Bible Chaper 8:8’s study. My first actual speaking engagement was Saturday, April 27th. You probably knew about this event from my previous posts and sales page, and I want to share how it went. What a special day straight from heaven it was! 

I want to thank LiveMore Ministries for posting these photos on Facebook. My good friend Marta Cooper manned my book table and joyfully, graciously sold six books for me. My friend Pam Fowler was there for what I needed. My friend Delight Christman was an extra blessing, coming from Lowville, gifting me a lovely ceramic votive holder with bluebells on it. The Smithville women provided an excellent breakfast buffet, even offering cereal and oatmeal with both milk and almond milk ‐- along with crumb cake, a breakfast quiche, and fresh fruit ‐- offering something for everyone.

I will share the photos individually and explain them now.

This was from the press release. My husband John and I were each holding a book, I held the original, and John held the book from the second publishing. [He was cropped] By the way, if you have read my book, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, or any social network you use.

I was asked periodically during the weeks that  led up to this event if I was nervous, anxious, and prepared… well, I was too busy with life to be any of those things! I  had a good number of people praying for me, and I thank each one of you for your faithfulness.

I used the press release as a guide to jot some things on cards and put tabs in the proof copy of my book so I’d know where to find things quickly and the major things I wanted to share.  I decided which family pictures to take,  one of my parents, one of me with my four siblings, one with John and me with our children, and the collage I put together of our nine grandchildren. I also managed to make up a price list for the different versions of my book.  This all was challenging with my son Chris’s family coming to stay the weekend because my brother-in-law’s memorial service was also on Saturday. Thank God for Holy Spirit guiding and inspiration! I was blessed to be able to join the family after my speaking engagement.

Tammy Ditch, keyboard Joy Besaw guitar, Heidi and  Pam on backup

Tammy, Joy, Pam, and I made a great quartet to lead the women in worship.  I was so blessed to be able to help get us all in tune with the Spirit before I spoke. He really blended our harmonies well!

Heidi gets the spotlight

When I shared about “bananas and blessings,” I told about Cathy Connor gifting me with the cowboy boots, my former boss at the motel gifting me with the pants in a bag of cloths she gave me, and the beautiful sweater from the church rummage sale Pam and I attended last weekend. I said, “And this is how the Lord clothes us like the lillies of the field!”

I pray that everyone was as blessed as I was by all that went on at this event. It reminded me that in heaven, we’ll have eternity to spend time with each other. We all left with a small pot of peonies and a Save The Date card for the next LiveMore event.  You can check out their Facebook page and keep informed here:

https://www.facebook.com/LiveMoreMinistries?mibextid=ZbWKwL

I leave you with this prayer for Jerusalem from Psalm 122.

Psalm 122:6-9 NLT
Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. [7] O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. [8] For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “May you have peace.”[Shalom][9] For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.

Bible Chapter 8:1-8 passages in the book of Acts

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Welcome to the next section of Bible 8:1-8 passages. Let’s dive into Acts chapter 8.

Saul Persecutes the Church
Acts 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his [Stephen’s] death.
At that time, a great persecution arose against the church, which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

After the 120 who gathered in the upper room were immersed/baptized in the fiery Holy Spirit, hundreds upon hundreds of people were miraculously coming into the kingdom. All the things that Jesus told them would happen when He rose up to heaven were happening! This was a marvelous time to be part of what God was doing and the spirit of unity was strong within the body of Christ. Inevitably, we hear of persecution beginning with the arrest of James and John when they offered healing to the lame man at the temple gate. Next, Stephen was arrested and stoned to death, even though he was ministering to so many people and teaching with authority. God used this persecution to His advantage.

Christ Is Preached in Samaria
4 Therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

See how God caused the believers to scatter? He wanted the good news of Messiah to spread to all the world, not stagnate in Jerusalem. He is still scattering and shifting His people around to where we are needed. It is a privilege to be part of this new era in the LORD, heaven coming down to earth; the veil between the two thinning as we speak!

The following is what Jesus taught not long before Acts 8 occurred:

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

Saul didn’t know it yet, but the Lord was using him in spite of himself. The one who was holding the coats of those stoning Stephen became the one the Lord used to reach multitudes of people in the name of Jesus the Messiah. Paul’s letters in the New Testament are still drawing, encouraging, teaching and training people today.

God is able to use everything for His glorious plans, even our enemies. Let us pray for those who treat us badly. Let us pray for and speak blessing over those our hearts want to condemn. As I said in my book, Musings Along Life’s Journey, If I don’t pray for them, they will be damned. The eternity of hell is so horrid, I don’t want even my worst enemy to go there! I will be speaking about my book at Smithville Baptist Church in Adams, NY in April if you are able to attend. Here is the “Save the Date” card.

Pentecost Sunday

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This was an extremely busy week for us and I realized it’s Sunday instead of Friday; which is my usual day for posting. We had company for three days, garden re-structuring and planting, along with helping a friend fence in a garden area, weed and rock pick in both gardens, on top of our normal weekly activities. Oh, and Friday was set-up for our Saturday morning annual plant sale for our Garden Club. By the way, the plant sale went extremely well, and we finally got our Kia back from the collision shop; exactly three months to-the-day from when they towed it there after my February deer collision! It’s so like my Father God to make it an exact amount of time. Does God do this in your life as well?

Needless to say, I missed a day of exercise, two or three days of devotions, and had extra laundry due to all the work in the dirt and grass, as well as the towels and bedding from sharing our home. We have been eating very well, inspired by the guests being here; thanks be to God from whom all blessings flow!

Does your church celebrate Pentecost, fifty days after First Fruits (which is the day of Christ’s resurrection/Easter for Christians)? At our church we remembered and celebrated what the day of Pentecost, as recorded in the first chapters of the book of Acts, still means for us today. They challenged us to ask for another dose or new in-filling of Holy Spirit and the power that comes with it. One brother got up and exhorted us to get rid of the “old clothes” that fit no more since we have put on Christ. It reminded me of the basket full of knee, ankle, wrist, hand… braces and wraps we brought from our other house. I have worn most, if not all, of these through the years, but have not been able to wear them for the past few years; they no longer fit or don’t help anymore. I’m reminded my knee used to let me know when the weather was changing; it no longer does! I believe I’m experiencing progressive healing, praise Jesus!

Coming of the Holy Spirit

Acts:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

What “old clothes” do you need to get rid of? Ask Holy Spirit to show you. I know I need to do this, so join me as I pray:

Father, we have immersed ourselves in the things of this world and not kept our eyes focused on You and what You have for us. We have gone through our days forgetting to walk in the Spirit, desensitized to Your voice and presence. We are sorry. We realize Christ in us is the fullness we need to fulfill the plans You have for us, only able to be done by the Holy Spirit working in and through us. Holy Spirit, come as you did on the first Pentecost, like a mighty rushing wind, appearing as flames of fire on each one of us. Fill our hands with healing and our mouths with Heavenly languages that bring Your gifts and enablings alive in and through us. Fill us again. May words of knowledge and words of wisdom and prophecy, healings, signs and wonders flow from each of us to minister to those You place in front of us. We ask that the love of God would spread abroad as we open our hearts and hands to all You have to impart to us.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.