Giving

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. +++

The Holy Spirit is Come! ... Pentecost

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."

He is come. The Holy Spirit is come!

May your day be filled to overflowing.

Come, Holy Spirit. Come. ... Day 9

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

Come, Holy Spirit. Come. ... Day 8

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

Come, Holy Spirit. Come. ... Day 7

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...


“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 will praise the Lord, for it is good, it is pleasant, (Psalm 92:1 NASB) and praise befits the upright; (Psalm 33:1 NASB) yes, it is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night. (Psalm 92:1-2 NASB)”

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; and that my soul, my nobler part, knows very well; (22) for no man knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him. (23)

You have made me of that rank of beings which is a little lower than the heavenly beings and is crowned with glory and honor; (24) for it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand, (25) and the spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD. (26)

My body is capable of being the temple of the Holy Spirit, and my soul of having the Spirit of God dwell in it; (27) I therefore glorify you with my body and with my spirit, which are both yours. (28)

You, Lord, have formed me for yourself, that I might declare your praise. (29)

You take pleasure in those who fear you, in those who hope in your steadfast love. (Psalm 147:11 NASB)

I give thanks to the God of gods, to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:2-3 NASB)

You have loved me with an everlasting love; therefore you have continued your faithfulness to me. (287) You have led me with cords of kindness, with the bands of love. (288)

In this the love of God was made manifest, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that I might live through him. (126)

Glory be to God in the highest, for in and through Jesus Christ there is on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased. (125)

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
22 Isa 60:7-8.
23 Mal 1:11.
24 Rom 15:16.
25 Isa 11:9.
26 Rom 11:17, 23-26.
27 Zech 12:10.
28 2 Cor 3:15-16.
29 Rev 1:11-12.”

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/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=428439436

Come, Holy Spirit. Come. ... Day 6

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...

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit away from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (184)

Give me grace to put off my old self, which is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (125)

Let the world be crucified to me, and I to the world, by the cross of Christ. (126)

Give me grace, I beg you, to love you, the Lord my God, with all my heart and soul and mind and strength, which is the great and first commandment; (220) to hold fast to you in love (221) and to delight myself always in you; and therein I shall have the desires of my heart. (222)

Circumcise my heart to love you, the LORD my God, with all my heart and with all my soul, that I may live. (223)

O that God’s love may be poured into my heart through the Holy Spirit. (224)

Write your law on my heart, and put it within me, (185) that I may be a letter from Christ, written by the Spirit of the living God, not on a tablet of stone, but on the tablet of my human heart; (186) that the law of my God being in my heart, none of my steps may slip; (187) and that I may delight to do your will, O God, (188) may delight in the law of God in my inner being. (189)

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law and gospel. (152)

O that I may be filled with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (178)

Let the God who began a good work in me bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (143)

Fulfill, O God, your purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever: do not forsake the work of your hands. (144)"

http://goodtidingsassemblyofgod.blogspot.com/2010/05/pentecost-sunday-22nd-may-2010.html

Sing or play a song of worship to God. 

Come, Holy Spirit. Come.

A time of silent waiting ...

“I entreat your favor, O God, with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise, (85) for in your favor is life; (86) yes, your steadfast love is better than life itself. (87)

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 3
85 Ps 119:58.
86 Ps 30:5 (margin).
87 Ps 63:3.
88 Num 6:25-26.
125 Eph 4:22, 24.
126 Gal 6:14.
143 Phil 1:6.
144 Ps 138:8.
152 Ps 119:18.
178 Col 1:9-10.
184 Ps 51:10-12.
185 Jer 31:33.
186 2 Cor 3:3.
187 Ps 37:31.
188 Ps 40:8.
189 Rom 7:22.
220 v. Matt 22:37-38; Mark 12:30.
221 Ps 91:14.
222 Ps 37:4.
223 Deut 30:6.
224 Rom 5:5.

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

Come, Holy Spirit. Come. ... Day 5

"Having opened the wounds of sin, both the guilt of it and the power of it, and its remainders in me, I must next seek unto God for the remedy, for healing and help, for from him alone is it to be expected, and he will for this be inquired of by me. (1) And now I must affect my heart with a deep sense of the need I have of those mercies which I pray for ... "

- Matthew Henry

With hearts humbled from confession, let us seek our Father for the assurance of forgiveness, the assurance of his lovingkindness and steadfast love. Is this not the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives?! Is this not Him whom we seek to be God's Presence abiding with us, in us?

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...

“You, Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. You are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. (25)

You are a God ready to forgive, merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, (26) who does not always chide nor keep his anger forever. (27)

You, you are he who blots out my transgressions for your own sake, and will not remember my sins, which I am here to put you in remembrance of, and to declare, in order to plead for mercy in Christ. (28)

And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, “The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression.” Please pardon the iniquity of your people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven even until now. (29)

For who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of your inheritance? You do not retain your anger forever, because you delight in steadfast love. O that you would have compassion upon me and tread my iniquities underfoot and cast all my sins into the depths of the sea. (30)”

Sing or play a song of worship to God ... giving thanks for His mercy and grace.

“I have sinned, but I have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, who is the propitiation for my sins, and not for mine only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (37)

It is God who justifies, who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for me, (38) and whose blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (39)

I desire to count everything as loss for the sake of Christ, and as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own, but that which comes through faith in Christ. (40)

This is the name whereby I, with your people, will call him, THE LORD IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (41) In him, Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. (42)

Heal me, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise. (73) Do not be angry with me forever, but revive me again, that I may rejoice in you. Show me your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant me your salvation. (74)"

Come, Holy Spirit. Come. 

A time of silent waiting ...

“I entreat your favor, O God, with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise, (85) for in your favor is life; (86) yes, your steadfast love is better than life itself. (87)

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. +++

1 Exek 36:37.
25 Ps 86:5, 15.
26 Neh 9:17.
27 Ps 103:9.
28 Isa 43:25-26 (v. KJV).
29 Num 14:17-19.
30 Mic 7:18-19.
37 1 John 2:1-2.
38 Rom 8:33-34.
39 Heb 12:24.
40 Phil 3:7-9.
41 Jer 23:6.
42 Mark 9:24.
73 Jer 17:14.
74 Ps 85:5-7.
85 Ps 119:58.
86 Ps 30:5 (margin).
87 Ps 63:3.
88 Num 6:25-26.

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

Come, Holy Spirit. Come. ... Day 4

A twist for today that I hope will encourage you onward in this vigil. I was reading a blog by Farrell Mason, and she quoted a poet I enjoy - Rainer Maria Rilke. The poem she shared fit perfectly with this longing for a deeper awareness of the Holy Spirit. I have included it in our prayers for today.

As well, I begin today to see the need for confession, repentance of things I think and say and do that keep the Spirit from His work in my life or even working through my life. So, today some prayers of confession from Matthew Henry.

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 know that if I say I have no sin, I deceive myself, and the truth is not in me; but you have said that if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (26)

I have set my mind on things beneath, which should have been set on things above, where my treasure is, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God; (70) these are the things which I should seek.

I have paid regard to vain idols and forsaken my hope of steadfast love; (71) have forsaken the fountain of living waters, for cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water. (72)

I have done away with the fear of God and hindered meditation before God; (102) I have not called upon your name, nor roused myself to take hold of you. (103)

I have come to you as your people come, and have sat before you as your people sit, and have heard what you have said, when my heart at the same time has been set after gain. (104) And thus have I brought the torn and the lame and the sick for sacrifice, have presented to my God that which I would not have presented to my governor; and have vowed and sacrificed to the Lord what is blemished, when I had in my flock a male. (105)

I have sinned, Father, against heaven and before you: (106) All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; (107) for the God in whose hand is my breath and whose are all my ways, I have not honored. (108)

O that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night (294) for my transgressions, and might in such a manner sow in those tears as that at last I may reap in shouts of joy; may now go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, and may in due time come home with shouts of joy, bringing in my sheaves with me. (295)

I know that if I say I have no sin, I deceive myself, and the truth is not in me; but you have said that if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (26)"

God speaks to each of us as he makes us,

then walks with us silently out of the night.

These are the words we dimly hear:

You, sent out beyond your recall,

go to the limits of your longing.

Embody me.

Flare up like a flame

and make big shadows I can move in.

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.

Just keep going. No feeling is final.

Don't let yourself lose me.

Nearby is the country they call life.

You will know it by its seriousness. [real-ness]

Give me your hand.

Sing or play a song of worship to God. 

Come, Holy Spirit. Come.

A time of silent waiting ...

In the powerful Name of Jesus,

AMEN.

God bless you. +++

26 1 John 1:7-8.

70 v. Col 3:1-2; Matt 6:21.

71 Jonah 2:8.

72 Jer 2:13.

102 Job 15:4.

103 Isa 64:7.

104 Ezek 33:13.

105 Mal 1:8, 14.

106 Luke 15:18.

107 Rom 3:23.

108 Dan 5:23.

294 Jer 9:1.

295 Ps 126:5-6.”

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

Come, Holy Spirit. Come. ... Day 3

My apologies for the lateness in the day... we offer this as an evening sacrifice to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy ... hear our prayer.

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...

“There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?” But this I say, “O LORD, lift up the light of your face upon me [bless me with Your Presence - the Light of Your Face], and that shall put joy in my heart, more than they have when their grain and wine abound.” (220)

I entreat your favor with all my heart, (221) for in this I labor [seeking the deeper awareness of Your Holy Spirit in my life], that whether I am at home or away, I may please the Lord. (222)”

“Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands be acceptable in your sight as the evening sacrifice. (228)

I must beg for the powerful assistance and influence of the blessed Spirit of grace in my prayers.

"Lord, I do not know what to pray for as I ought, but let your Spirit help me in my weakness and intercede for me. (229)

O pour upon me a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, (230) the Spirit of adoption teaching me to cry, Abba, Father; (231) that I may find in my heart to pray this prayer: Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me, let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling; to God, my exceeding joy. (232)

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. (233)

This is what you, O LORD, have said, that you will be sanctified among those who are near you, and before all the people you will be glorified. (234) I therefore worship before you, O Lord, that I may glorify your name; (235) and therefore call upon you that you may deliver me, and I may glorify you. (236)”

For from you and through you and to you are all things. (237)

“I do not present my plea before you because of my righteousness, (238) for I am before you in my guilt, (239) and cannot stand before you because of it; (240) but I make mention of Christ’s righteousness, even of his only, who is the LORD our righteousness, (241) and therefore the LORD my righteousness.

I know that even spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God only through Christ Jesus, (242) nor can I hope to receive anything but what I ask of you in his name; (243) and therefore bless me in the Beloved, (244) that other angel who put much incense to the prayers of the saints and offers them up on the golden altar before the throne. (245)

I come in the name of the great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, who is able to sympathize with my weaknesses, (246) and is therefore able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (247)

Behold, O God, my shield, and look on the face of your Anointed, (248) in whom you have by a voice from heaven declared yourself to be well pleased; Lord, be well pleased with me in him. (249)”


Sing or play a song of worship to God. 

Come, Holy Spirit. Come.

A time of silent waiting ...

In the powerful Name of Jesus,
AMEN.

God bless you. +++


220 Ps 4:6-7
221 Ps 119:58
222 2 Cor 5:9
228 Ps 141:2.
229 Rom 8:26.
230 Zech 12:10.
231 Rom 8:15.
232 Ps 43:3-4.
233 Ps 51:15.
234 Lev 10:3.
235 Ps 86:9.
236 Ps 50:15.
237 Rom 11:36.
238 Dan 9:18.
239 Ezra 9:15.
240 Ps 130:3.
241 Jer 23:6.
242 1 Pet 2:5.
243 John 16:23.
244 Eph 1:6.
245 Rev 8:3.
246 Heb 4:14-15.
247 Heb 7:25.
248 Ps 84:9.
249 Matt 3:17.


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

Come, Holy Spirit. Come. ... Day 2

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...

"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! (13)

O you whose name is the LORD, who alone are the Most High over all the earth! (14) O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you (15); my God, and I will praise you, my father's God, and I will exalt you. (16) O you who are the true God, the living God, the one only living and true God, and the everlasting King! (17) With your redeemed people I confess your great name: "The Lord our God, the LORD is one." (18)

Sing or play a song of worship to God.

O God, "You are good, and your steadfast love endures forever. (97)

Your steadfast love is great toward me, (98) and your faithfulness endures to all generations. (99)

You have proclaimed your name: The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. (100) And this, your name, is my strong tower. (101)

You are good and do good, (102) good to all; and your mercy is over all that you have made. (103) But truly God is in a special manner good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. (104)

O that you would make all your goodness pass before me, (105) that I may taste and see that the Lord is good; (106) and your steadfast love may be always before my eyes. (107)"

Come, Holy Spirit. Come. 

A time of silent waiting ...

In the powerful Name of Jesus, 
AMEN.

God bless you. +++

13 Rev 4:8.

14 Ps 83:18.

15 Ps 63:1.

16 Exod 15:2.

17 v. Jer 10:10; 1 Thess 1:9.

18 Deut 6:4.

97 Ps 136:1.

98 Ps 117:2.

99 Ps 100:5.

100 Exod 34:6-7.

101 Prov 18:10.

102 Ps 119:68.

103 Ps 145:9.

104 Ps 73:1.

105 Exod 33:19.

106 Ps 34:8.

107 Ps 26:3.

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=1

Come, Holy Spirit. Come. ... Day 1

I begin ... or may I be bold enough to say, We begin ... a 10 day vigil for the Holy Spirit to fall afresh in our lives. I didn't know how to start and then, my friend, Nancy, shared this book with me, Matthew Henry's Method for Prayer. (great price ... FREE on iBook! See link below.) I opened to the first page and there it was ... the way to begin to pray, to be attentive to, to "Walk. Stand and Wait."... with vigilance ... for a deeper awareness and renewal of the Holy Spirit in my life. Worship. Adoration. Praise.

This version of Method for Prayer prays Scripture using the ESV in the first-person. I've added a salutation derived from the Passover prayers. It is written in plural form. This we pray together, then the main body of prayer will be first-person. Another addition are two times of silence. Just, tell all the voices in your head that they can wait for a few minutes. Right now you want to be still and listen. OK, and one more addition ...  music ... either sing yourself or play it. Choose a song of worship and praise, one that focuses on Who God Is, and have it at the ready. Once that is done ... please, pray with me ... (bold, italic mine)

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...

“My spirit being composed into a very reverent and serious frame, my thoughts gathered in, and all that is within me charged in the name of the great God carefully to attend the solemn and awful service that lies before me and to keep close to it, I must, with a fixed attention and application of mind and an active lively faith [vigilance!], set the Lord before me, see his eye upon me, and set myself in his special presence, presenting myself to him as a living sacrifice, which I desire may be holy and acceptable to God and a spiritual service; (1) and then bind this festal sacrifice with cords up to the horns of the altar, (2) in such thoughts as these:

Let me now lift up my heart, with my eyes and hands, to God in heaven. (3)

Let me rouse myself to take hold of God (4), to seek his face, (5) and to ascribe to him the glory due his name. (6)

Unto you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. (7)

Let me now with confidence enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for me through the curtain, that is, through his flesh .(8)

Let me now attend to the Lord with undivided devotion, (9) and let not my heart be far from him when I draw near to him with my mouth and honor him with my lips. (10)

Let me now worship God, who is spirit, in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (11)”

http://goodtidingsassemblyofgod.blogspot.com/2010/05/pentecost-sunday-22nd-may-2010.html

Sing or play a song of worship to God. 

Come, Holy Spirit. Come.

A time of silent waiting ...

In the powerful Name of Jesus,
AMEN.

God bless you. +++

1 Rom 12:1.
2 Ps 118:27.
3 v. Lam 3:41; John 17:1.
4 Isa 64:7.
5 Ps 27:8.
6 Ps 29:2.
7 Ps 25:1.
8 Heb 10:19-20.
9 1 Cor 7:35.
10 Isa 29:13.
11 John 4:23-24.

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

Derailed for a moment...

http://media4.s-nbcnews.com

So, I was derailed for a moment. Not to worry, I'm back on track now. But, sometimes something blind-sides you ... something happens or someone does something or says something ... and even with all your effort, with all you've learned and practiced ... your journey jumps track. This jumping track is not always altogether a bad thing. Would I wish it on anyone? No. Would I invite again? No. But, when I stop and take stock of the situation, derailing helps me learn, helps me grow so that the next time it won't derail me. Instead, I will stay on track. So, what did I learn?

This whole thing about "Walking. Stand and Wait.", this whole thing about our journey in Christ, into Christ-likeness ... is a daily thing. Daily. D. A. I. L. Y. And, sometimes when we are attending to a specific way of following Christ, e.g. ridding our hearts of a besetting sin, changing a habit, practicing a new way of relating to God or to others or to yourself ... sometimes it takes a moment-by-moment attention. Sometimes it takes what a friend of mine calls vigilance.

Vigilance: the process of paying close and continuous attention, watchfulness, the state of keeping careful watch, alertness or attention with care.

With care. Hmmm. I'm adding to that ... with Love. With the Love of Christ ... from Him, for Him, for others, and for myself ... I practice vigilance. With the Love of Christ I "Walk. Stand and Wait." in order to gain Him and His ways ... the way of His Kingdom. Daily I remember His Love and forgiveness and mercy and grace. Sometimes, I have to remember this moment-by-moment. How will I do this? By the power of His Holy Spirit at work within me.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1256/4604189528_a93e4fc3e7_o.jpg

Today is the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ. Without Christ ascending to His Father, to God's right hand (place of authority over all things ... ALL things, even those things that need changing in us!) we would not have His Holy Spirit living within us. When Christ ascended to His Father, the disciples were sent back to Jerusalem to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Ten days later at Pentecost the Holy Spirit was sent upon those who believe in Him, who believe that He saves (the meaning of His Name, Jesus, is God Saves). That same Holy Spirt lives with and in those of us who believe in Him. With the power of the Holy Spirit and vigilant attention to how I travel this track, my journey and my life will change ... I will change ... to be more like Him. And, I will know His peace. If you believe, this is true for you as well.

The Church has observed and celebrated the Feast of the Ascension at least since the third century and possibly as early as 68AD. It marked a period of 10 days of vigilant prayer for the Holy Spirit to fall upon them. I think it's time we practiced this kind of vigilance again. Beginning today and lasting until Pentecost (10 days), I commit to pray daily for a greater awareness of the Holy Spirit that lives within me ... for His power to be at work within me for God's glory. What about you?