So, yesterday I was back on the road again... a perfect driving day: blue skies, splashes of wildflowers, the scent of freshly mown grass, light traffic. About halfway I stopped to fill up the tank ... my car's and mine. After scouring the convenience store for the best deals I settled on a sandwich and a variety of drinks. I wanted to hug the cold bottle of water and energy drinks. I was HOT! Even a perfect day can be rather warm with the sun shining its glory.
With lunch on my lap and cold delight in its place, I headed back to the highway. Then, a red light brought me face to face with a homeless man seated on the median, his beaten up radio and sign keeping him company. My heart immediately showed me why I bought two drinks. Down went the window and the cold delight handed over.
This was the drink! : )
With the light already green and impatience inching up behind me (a police car!), I stepped on the gas and returned to the highway. The exchange took seconds, but it challenged me. I began to wonder ... what keeps me from giving? I mean, really ... how hard was it to give that cold drink? It wasn't hard. It wasn't hard at all! As I thought more about what had just happened, it occurred to me that the only difference between that man and myself is that I have people who care about me and are willing to help me. Maybe one other difference ... I have hope.
When that thought went through my mind ... my heart welled up. I have THE hope ... Jesus my Lord and Master. I have so much to give. We have so much to give! On Sunday, we celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit, living within us, uniting us to Christ. Spell that out: U-N-I-T-I-N-G us to Christ. Glory be! That man and I may not have a permanent place to live or a monthly income, but I have an inheritance that I can live on (and in) now and a home to live in (and with) now. Oh my! What we have to share!
Maybe I did share it. I shared Him in that green energy drink. I didn't get to say anything to that man on the median, but I pray ... God bless him - may God intervene and interfere in that man's life, and by the power of His Holy Spirit bring and keep him in right relationship with Him to change his character and his destiny.
Give God's blessing to someone today ... someone who desperately needs it. Give in Jesus' Name. +++
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Acts 2:1-4
I realize this is a photo of the Easter Fire from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem,
but it so illustrates what tongues of fire may have looked like
falling upon the 120 gathered in the Upper Room. Spectacular!
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
John 14:15-17
I was watching The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and this song began to play. Perhaps, because of these past 10 days of praying and looking and listening for the Holy Spirit, these lyrics came to life ... a picture of living life in the Holy Spirit. As those who believe in Jesus Christ, we are now the Temple of the the Holy Spirit. He lives within us! We have the deposit of heaven living within. "It cannot be anymore beautiful ... I can't take it in."
Blessed are you, O LORD our God, Master of the Universe, who sanctified us through Jesus our Messiah, upon You we wait to kindle the fire of Your Holy Spirit within us
A time of silence..
“I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever; (Psalm 145:1-2 NASB) I will pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and sing aloud of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:7 NASB)
I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted me and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. (Isaiah 63:7 NASB)
You did not leave yourself without witness among the nations, in that you did good by giving them rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying their hearts with food and gladness. (1)
You give to all life and breath and everything; (17) and the earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love. (18)
All the creatures look to you, to give them their food in due season. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. This your glory shall endure forever, and you rejoice in these works. (19)
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears me up; God is my salvation. (43)
You make me lie down in green pastures, you feed me beside the still waters; you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head, and my cup overflows. (44)
The lamp of God has shone upon my head, and by his light I have walked through darkness, and the friendship of God has been upon my tent [lives within us!]. (46)
You have provided me with everything to enjoy, (47) and have brought plentifully into my hand. (48)
Many a time I have eaten and been filled and have delighted myself in your great goodness. (49)
But especially blessed be the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed me in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (67)
You have brought me to your holy mountain, and made me joyful in your house of prayer, (303) and I found it good for me to be near God. (304)
I have reason to say that a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere, and that it is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness; for the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor; and no good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly: O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! (305)
I have sat down under your shadow with delight, and your fruit has been sweet to my taste; you have brought me to the banqueting house, and your banner over me has been love. (306) O Come, Holy Spirit. Come.
A time of silent waiting ... LORD, make your face to shine upon me and be gracious to me; LORD, lift up the light of your countenance upon me and give me peace.
O, Lord God, O Holy Spirit, Come to me and fill me anew. I wait upon you in the powerful Name of Jesus, AMEN. God bless you. +++
Chapter 4 1 Acts 14:17. 17 Acts 17:25. 18 Ps 119:64. 19 Ps 104:27-28, 30-31. 43 Ps 68:19. 44 Ps 23:2, 5. 46 Job 29:3-4. 47 1 Tim 6:17. 48 Job 12:6. 49 Neh 9:25. 67 Eph 1:3. 303 Isa 56:7. 304 Ps 73:28. 305 Ps 84:10-12. 306 Song 2:3-4. Excerpt From: Henry, Matthew. “Matthew Henry's Method for Prayer (ESV 1st Person Version).” Matthew Henry. iBooks. This material may be protected by copyright. Check out this book on the iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/matthew-henrys-method-for/id428439436?mt=11
Blessed are you, O LORD our God, Master of the Universe, who sanctified us through Jesus our Messiah, upon You we wait to kindle the fire of Your Holy Spirit within us
A time of silence...
“I give thanks to you, O God; I give thanks to you, for your name is near; I recount your wondrous deeds. (Psalm 75:1 NASB)
Let my soul bless the LORD, and let all that is within me bless his holy name; yes, let my soul bless the LORD and forget not all his benefits. (Psalm 103:1-2 NASB)
I thank you that in Jesus Christ you have made an everlasting covenant with me, your steadfast, sure love for David, (217) and that though the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, yet this, your covenant of peace, shall never be removed. (218)
That you have given to me precious and very great promises, that through them I might become a partaker of the divine nature; (219) and that the covenant Jesus Christ mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. (220)
I bless you that when the Lord Jesus went away, he sent his people another Helper to be with them forever, even the Spirit of truth, (210) who shall glorify the Son, for he will take what is his and declare it to them. (211)
That being exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, (212) he poured it forth as rivers of living water. (213)
Blessed be God for the signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, with which God bore witness to the great salvation. (214)
And blessed be God for the promise that as earthly parents, though evil, know how to give good gifts to their children, so my heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him, (215) that promised Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of my inheritance until I acquire the possession of it. (216)" Sing or play a song of worship to God ... or listen here.
Come, Holy Spirit. Come. A time of silent waiting ...
LORD, make your face to shine upon me and be gracious to me; LORD, lift up the light of your countenance upon me and give me peace. (88)”
In the powerful Name of Jesus, AMEN. God bless you. +++
Chapter 4 210 John 14:16-17. 211 John 16:14. 212 Acts 2:33. 213 John 7:38. 214 Heb 2:4, 3. 215 Luke 11:13. 216 Eph 1:13-14. 217 Isa 55:3. 218 Isa 54:10. 219 2 Pet 1:4. 220 Heb 8:6. Excerpt From: Henry, Matthew. “Matthew Henry's Method for Prayer (ESV 1st Person Version).” Matthew Henry. iBooks. This material may be protected by copyright.
Check out this book on the iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/matthew-henrys-method-for/id428439436?mt=11
So, yesterday I was back on the road again... a perfect driving day: blue skies, splashes of wildflowers, the scent of freshly mown grass, light traffic. About halfway I stopped to fill up the tank ... my car's and mine. After scouring the convenience store for the best deals I settled on a sandwich and a variety of drinks. I wanted to hug the cold bottle of water and energy drinks. I was HOT! Even a perfect day can be rather warm with the sun shining its glory.
