I absolutely have a passion for and love talking about the Holy Spirit. It seems to me He may be one of the most neglected persons in the Church, which boggles my mind. We talk about God the Father and God the Son on a regular basis, and that's fantastic, but few people know much about God the Holy Spirit. I think people know more about Moses or Abraham or Paul than they do about this Person of the Godhead.
Why is this? John 16.7 says, "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." Sounds like He's kind of a big deal to me! Jesus says that it is to our advantage that he go so that the Helper (Holy Spirit) may come.
I honestly believe that if the Church and believers got this understanding of the moving and power of the Holy Spirit, and allowed Him to move in and through it/them the way He desires, there would be a shift on the earth.
I don't dare go into all the theology and what we know of the Holy Spirit; it would take too long. But I have this burning desire to help people understand Him and His moving a little better...because the Holy Spirit is moving today!
I am tempted to go in depth about the movings and workings of the Holy Spirit. But to summarize, there are two movings: dwelling and baptism. The dwelling of the Holy Spirit happens at the moment of salvation, when the believer is born in the Spirit. Through this, He makes us more like Christ and enables us to do our Fathers will.
Why did Jesus say that it would be better for him to leave and for the Helper to come? Wouldn't it be better to have Jesus there, in person? For a moment, you would think so...to have the Son of God, in the flesh, walking on the earth. But think about it this way. The Holy Spirit lives in us, and what's better than having God in us? To talk to Jesus on earth, you would have to fly to where he was, wait in line to talk to him, and then maybe get a question in. It's not that Jesus wouldn't want to spend all day talking to you, but there are six billion other people who would be vying for his attention. With the Holy Spirit, we have unlimited access to God, no matter where we are. How awesome is that!
The second moving is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which happens to a believer at some point. What I would like to emphasize is that this filling is for ALL believers. That's right; Gods desire is for you to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Acts 2.34 says, "For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." Do you see that? It's for all who are far off...to everyone whom the Lord calls to himself? Sounds like every believer to me.
So why, if this gift is for all believers, are so many missing it? It is so important that believers be baptized. Not only does it speed up the process that makes us more like Christ, but with it comes the power to witness and the gifts of the Spirit. I cannot express enough the importance of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that churches, leaders and believers all across the earth would eagerly seek the moving and power of the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that there would be a freedom for His moving. If there was, just think of what God would do through His Church for His glory!
A relationship with the Holy Sprit is a unique one, and one that I enjoy cultivating with each day. That relationship must be protected, nurtured, developed and guarded. You won't regret for a second the effort you put into the relationship.
God wants to maximize His power through our lives, but we must be willing.
Pray for the baptism if you have yet to experience it.
Seek it.
Have an open heart and an open mind.
Have faith; it is essential.
Be obedient.
It is Gods desire for His children to be baptized, and we should all eagerly desire it. If you have not, seek it. Don't be discouraged if it doesn't happen the first or fifth or tenth time you have prayed...keep praying and it will happen. If you have been, cultivate your relationship with the Holy Spirit. It's a two sided relationship; a communication that goes both ways.
The Holy Spirit longs to work in and through your life!
A few years ago I bought my son some of those water capsules that you are supposed to soak in warm water and wait for a short time before an animal or car or a ‘surprise’ shape comes out of it. Well, he was so excited! Even though it was supposed to change into something within a few hours, the waiting time was so challenging because my son couldn’t wait to see what was inside of it! He couldn’t stop staying, “Mom…I just can’t wait to see what’s inside!”
A few weeks after this, I was thinking that this is often how it is when we impatiently wait for ourselves to make changes.
Do you ever feel like you just know you are spiritually making some changes?
Sometimes it can be challenging because we want changes NOW and it just takes time. It takes time for the Holy Spirit to do his work and bring about the beautiful surprise that’s inside of each of us. We all have gifts, talents, and strengths within us, but sometimes they are covered by a hard ‘capsule’ or what the Word of God calls sin. Sin of pride, anger, impatience, lust, or any other acts of the sinful nature.
In John 4, Jesus talks about living waters. Just like soaking that toy capsule in water, we must continually soak ourselves in the Living Waters!
That living water is Jesus! Time with Him each and every day...allowing Him to make changes within us moment by moment...step by step in this journey of life.
What does this look like?
Maybe it's the next time I am tempted to get impatient when a child does something real irritating, instead of getting so aggravated, I instead respond in patience and mercy.
Someone offends me...instead of letting it affect my mood or emotions, I give it over to God and extend forgiveness and grace.
I'm asking Him daily to soak away (chip away) any hard coating; i.e-sin that is preventing the inward fruit from coming out.
Ask Him to change you!
When He keeps showing us what's inside...it's beyond what we could ever dream~!
Love ya!
Stephanie
(Psalms 36:9 says, “For with you is the fountain of life, in your light we see light."-which is the power of the Almighty God, we are made new!!)
A few weeks after this, I was thinking that this is often how it is when we impatiently wait for ourselves to make changes.
Do you ever feel like you just know you are spiritually making some changes?
Sometimes it can be challenging because we want changes NOW and it just takes time. It takes time for the Holy Spirit to do his work and bring about the beautiful surprise that’s inside of each of us. We all have gifts, talents, and strengths within us, but sometimes they are covered by a hard ‘capsule’ or what the Word of God calls sin. Sin of pride, anger, impatience, lust, or any other acts of the sinful nature.
In John 4, Jesus talks about living waters. Just like soaking that toy capsule in water, we must continually soak ourselves in the Living Waters!
That living water is Jesus! Time with Him each and every day...allowing Him to make changes within us moment by moment...step by step in this journey of life.
What does this look like?
Maybe it's the next time I am tempted to get impatient when a child does something real irritating, instead of getting so aggravated, I instead respond in patience and mercy.
Someone offends me...instead of letting it affect my mood or emotions, I give it over to God and extend forgiveness and grace.
I'm asking Him daily to soak away (chip away) any hard coating; i.e-sin that is preventing the inward fruit from coming out.
Ask Him to change you!
When He keeps showing us what's inside...it's beyond what we could ever dream~!
Love ya!
Stephanie
(Psalms 36:9 says, “For with you is the fountain of life, in your light we see light."-which is the power of the Almighty God, we are made new!!)
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"Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'"
Isaiah 58.9
Isaiah 58 is a beautiful passage, and I would highly recommend that you read it. I am quite fond of The Message translation because the Scripture seems to burst forth right in front of you! It is certainly a chapter worth reading in full.
Over the last four weeks, we have been able to take a glimpse into the lives of four men in the Bible who showed faith, courage, and obedience. Abraham, Jacob, Moses and Ananias all responded with "Here I am," when the Lord called their name. They were in place, both in their walk with God and in their purpose, in order that they may be ready when the Lord called upon them. Don't worry if you feel you can't relate. Truth is, they didn't have it all together, either. God calls on anyone who is willing, and it is HIM who equips us for the task.
What we have been able to learn is that when God calls our name for an assignment, we must first be in a place where we are willing to hear from Him. Then, with immediate obedience, we step out in faith and courage to accomplish the task He has set before us, in His mighty power!
Today we turn the tables and look to our Father for this response. In Isaiah 58, we find a promise. Oh, I just love Gods promises, don't you?! Even though we don't deserve any good thing, he longs to be gracious to us. Beyond that, He promises us so much! We find one right here, tucked away in verse 9...that when we call out to Him, He will say "Here I am."
The phrase "Here I am" actually notes a person ready at hand to help. When we call Gods name, when we seek Him out, He is ready to respond! If Abraham responded so quickly when God called him to sacrifice his son, how much more quickly will God respond to help His children?
We don't have to fear if our prayers will fall flat. Or if we have too much baggage for God to hear us. And we certainly don't have to worry if God cares. Because He does...about everything! Even what may seem small in contrast to everything else, God cares if it matters to us.
I want to be careful not to take this verse out of context. It must be read in a way that it is linked to the rest of the passage, which would be necessary. There is much in the chapter that addresses an action on our part. To care for the poor, stand up for injustice, to not gossip and to be generous. "THEN when you pray, God will answer."
I want to encourage you to today, and every day henceforth, to call out the name of the Lord. There is power in His name, and in prayer. And when you do, watch God respond!
Isaiah 58.9
Isaiah 58 is a beautiful passage, and I would highly recommend that you read it. I am quite fond of The Message translation because the Scripture seems to burst forth right in front of you! It is certainly a chapter worth reading in full.
Over the last four weeks, we have been able to take a glimpse into the lives of four men in the Bible who showed faith, courage, and obedience. Abraham, Jacob, Moses and Ananias all responded with "Here I am," when the Lord called their name. They were in place, both in their walk with God and in their purpose, in order that they may be ready when the Lord called upon them. Don't worry if you feel you can't relate. Truth is, they didn't have it all together, either. God calls on anyone who is willing, and it is HIM who equips us for the task.
What we have been able to learn is that when God calls our name for an assignment, we must first be in a place where we are willing to hear from Him. Then, with immediate obedience, we step out in faith and courage to accomplish the task He has set before us, in His mighty power!
Today we turn the tables and look to our Father for this response. In Isaiah 58, we find a promise. Oh, I just love Gods promises, don't you?! Even though we don't deserve any good thing, he longs to be gracious to us. Beyond that, He promises us so much! We find one right here, tucked away in verse 9...that when we call out to Him, He will say "Here I am."
The phrase "Here I am" actually notes a person ready at hand to help. When we call Gods name, when we seek Him out, He is ready to respond! If Abraham responded so quickly when God called him to sacrifice his son, how much more quickly will God respond to help His children?
We don't have to fear if our prayers will fall flat. Or if we have too much baggage for God to hear us. And we certainly don't have to worry if God cares. Because He does...about everything! Even what may seem small in contrast to everything else, God cares if it matters to us.
I want to be careful not to take this verse out of context. It must be read in a way that it is linked to the rest of the passage, which would be necessary. There is much in the chapter that addresses an action on our part. To care for the poor, stand up for injustice, to not gossip and to be generous. "THEN when you pray, God will answer."
I want to encourage you to today, and every day henceforth, to call out the name of the Lord. There is power in His name, and in prayer. And when you do, watch God respond!
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Here I Am
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Ananias...the one who started it all for me. It was reading in Acts 9 that I came across the account of the Lord calling out to Ananias in a vision, and Ananias responding with, "Here I am."
In the past few weeks, we have been able to take a glimpse into the lives of three men who said the same thing: Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. I don't know about you, but I have been encouraged and challenged by their example of obedience and courage...and above all, faith. As I have been in study for this series, I've heard the Lord speak things to my heart that I had never heard in quite the same way before. His Word is coming alive in me!
Ananias, the one that started it all for me, and the only example we will look at from the New Testament. Who is this man?
Ananias was a disciple of Jesus, and Paul later says, well spoken of by the Jews. I do want to address that this is not the same Ananias we find in Acts 5 who, with his wife Sapphira, sold his property, yet kept a portion of the proceeds for himself. His deeds were made known to the apostles, and at that point his life was lost. Nor is this Ananias, the high priest in Acts 23-24 who brought a case against Paul. No, indeed this is not the same Ananias we find in these two accounts. He was a man, perhaps not as well known as others we often think of, but without a doubt one of faith.
In Acts 9, Saul, who would come to be known as Paul, was on his way to Damascus. Verse 1-2 introduces Saul with, "But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem." Saul was not one to be trifled with, and you can be sure Christians knew his name.
On his was to Damascus, Saul encounters the Lord, is stricken blind, and is told to go to Damascus and find a man named Ananias. About the same time, the Lord comes to Ananias in a vision, calling his name. Then we hear it..."Hear I am, Lord." The Lord proceeds to tell Ananias to go to a man named Saul, and to lay his hands on him.
Ananias knew who Saul was, and even asks God about it. No doubt there is a hint of fear in his voice. But as we have looked at before, there is often fear when God calls us to do something. However, Ananias didn't run away or avoid Saul, as many may have well done knowing Saul's reputation. No, he went right away to find Saul.
I can't help but chuckle a bit. If only Ananias knew what was about to happen. If only he knew what God was about to unleash through Saul/Paul. I don't think he could have imagined it!
Ananias finds Saul, lays his hands on him, and Saul regains his sight. Immediately, Ananias prophesizes over him and baptizes him. He gets to witness the transformation of a persecutor into a mighty man of God. Knowing Saul's reputation, I can imagine that Ananias must have felt some sense of how big this time was.
I can't help but think how exciting it must have been for Ananias. He made himself available to God, and when called upon to do something fearful, he proceeded with obedience and courage. The result of his faith was the conversion of Saul into Paul. The impact Paul made for the gospel cannot be counted or imagined. I'm amazed at what that meant for Ananias, and what that means for us.
Before we conclude, it would be appropriate to make known that Ananias is mentioned once more, in Acts 22.12-16. Paul is recounting his conversion, and mentions Ananias, and even recounts the conversion with a bit more detail. We can learn from this example given to us through Ananias, and be encouraged to step out in faith and expect that God will use our faith to do great things for His kingdom.
As we look back over the last few weeks:
Abraham has convicted me to be willing to lay my dreams on the altar. Never has this been more necessary or been called upon me more than in the last few weeks as I have been asked to lay down my greatest dream, and it has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do. But I would rather lay my dream down than be disobedient to my loving Father.
Jacob's testimony has encouraged me to go forward when I am called, even in the presence of fear. To take a step into the unknown when I am called.
Moses has challenged me to proceed when called upon, even though I might not feel qualified. We can be sure that when God calls us to do something, no matter the task, He will equip us to do it. We must just step out and believe He will give us what we need, when we rely on Him, to go forth.
And in Ananias, also teaching us to step out when we are afraid, we see the possibility of what one act of obedience can do to advance the gospel, impact the Kingdom, and change many lives.
My prayer for you would be that God would stir something in your heart through this study. That you would be challenged by each of these accounts to step out in obedience and courage when you are called upon.
However, we are not done. Next we will conclude our study by turning the tables a little, and taking a look at an Old Testament account of God replying to His child, "Here I am." You wont want to miss it!
Category:
Ananias,
courage,
Here I Am,
obedience
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Do you ever find your mind wondering off in several directions? A certain worry or concern sets your mind in panic mode? I don’t know if it’s just a ‘Mommy’ thing, but when it comes to my kids, my mind can easily wander off before I know it. Just for example, a few days ago when I was brushing my daughter’s hair, I noticed a tick stuck to her head. I tried all of the tick removal ‘tricks’ that I discovered on Google, and after several attempts, I removed the tick. Well, the following day my daughter started complaining of a headache and not feeling well. That quickly my mind began to go in a million directions, “I wonder if her headache is related to that tick bite?” “What if that tick had Lyme’s disease?” “Should I call the pediatrician and ask them if I should be watching my daughter for any symptoms?” Seriously, my mind started going a million miles a minute!
Ever been there?
Maybe it’s some worries with your children. Your marriage. Or any of the other hundreds of things that can flood our minds and rob our joy?
An unusual doctor’s report on our child?
Your child looks like his heart is far from God?
A marriage that looks completely hopeless?
Aging parents with health issues-and a future that is looking bleak?
Financial difficulties?
Fortunately, I recognized this worry sooner than later and gave my motherly panic over to God. I reminded myself that it’s at these times in our lives where we have to continually meditate on the scriptures, Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he’s done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Did you notice that?
As we pray instead of worry and be thankful for all He’s done… then God is going to give us a supernatural peace that will guard our wandering minds! It's a supernatural peace-one that's given by our loving Father not a peace we can muster up on our own. This is the kind of peace I need at times my wandering mind has the best of me!
We need to fix our wandering minds on God-the maker of this world and the creator of the planets and stars. Let’s agree together today that the next time our minds begin to wonder and worry, we’re going to give it ALL to Him! I know we can trust Him! :)
Love,
Stephanie
More to meditate on: Philippians 4:8-9
Ever been there?
Maybe it’s some worries with your children. Your marriage. Or any of the other hundreds of things that can flood our minds and rob our joy?
An unusual doctor’s report on our child?
Your child looks like his heart is far from God?
A marriage that looks completely hopeless?
Aging parents with health issues-and a future that is looking bleak?
Financial difficulties?
Fortunately, I recognized this worry sooner than later and gave my motherly panic over to God. I reminded myself that it’s at these times in our lives where we have to continually meditate on the scriptures, Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he’s done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Did you notice that?
As we pray instead of worry and be thankful for all He’s done… then God is going to give us a supernatural peace that will guard our wandering minds! It's a supernatural peace-one that's given by our loving Father not a peace we can muster up on our own. This is the kind of peace I need at times my wandering mind has the best of me!
We need to fix our wandering minds on God-the maker of this world and the creator of the planets and stars. Let’s agree together today that the next time our minds begin to wonder and worry, we’re going to give it ALL to Him! I know we can trust Him! :)
Love,
Stephanie
More to meditate on: Philippians 4:8-9
Category:
courage,
encouragement,
prayer
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Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. Eph 5:1-3 MSG
Have you ever felt like your relationships were falling apart? Or simply barely hanging on at best? Wondered why your marriage and friendships seemed to always stay at surface level? Trust me I have felt like that before too. I have watched other women as they can’t stop talking about their “wonderful” husband they are so in love with and how fun marriage is and sometimes thought to myself, “why don’t I always feel like that too?” Other times I have sat in envy watching other women’s friendships and how committed they were to one another, again thinking to myself, “do I have a friend that close?”
Likely you have found yourself there before as well. So often we begin to feel sorry for ourselves. We think if we could have married the right man or if we could just find that one faithful friend, our world would be so different, so satisfying. The truth is that while we continue to blame the other parties for our surface level superficial relationship experiences, we might ought to take a look in the mirror. I have had to do that recently as well. As I stared intently into the reflection of my own relationships, I realized that I myself had built up a wall around my life allowing no one to get too close. I’m not sure if it was a fear of rejection or a fear of disappointment, but either way it caused me to continue to keep all the people God wanted to connect me with at arm’s length. Then I read Ephesians 5:1-3. I realized I was being…cautious.
Let’s face it, most of us have experienced some kind of relational hurt in our past, present and too be sure it will be in our future. So often we allow those experiences to cause us to become cautious in relationships. To be cautious according to the dictionary is to: be careful, watchful, alert, vigilant, guarded, and wary. According to Ephesians 5 that was something Jesus was not when it came to his relationships. Instead it teaches us that he was extravagant, he went above and beyond what was reasonable when it came to loving others. I wonder today…which one are you. Cautious or extravagant when it comes to your own relationships. Do you constantly become offended and guarded? Do you feel sorry for yourself that everyone else seems to have deeper connections than you? Do you walk around with your guard up never willing to be transparent with others in your life? If so I want to challenge you…take a step of faith and ask God to teach you how to be extravagant. Initiate deeper levels in your marriage, family ties, and friendships. That means you will have to take chances on getting hurt because let’s face it people are sure to fail us. But when you and I connect with others like God has planned for us to do, it will be one of the greatest joys of your life.
Want to know how I think it’s going to happen for you? One important way: Don’t love someone to get something from them, but instead to offer something to them. If you change that one principal in your life you are sure to see satisfying fruit begin to form in each of your relationships. Jesus was a perfect example of love…Love Like That.
Xoxo
Justeina
Have you ever felt like your relationships were falling apart? Or simply barely hanging on at best? Wondered why your marriage and friendships seemed to always stay at surface level? Trust me I have felt like that before too. I have watched other women as they can’t stop talking about their “wonderful” husband they are so in love with and how fun marriage is and sometimes thought to myself, “why don’t I always feel like that too?” Other times I have sat in envy watching other women’s friendships and how committed they were to one another, again thinking to myself, “do I have a friend that close?”
Likely you have found yourself there before as well. So often we begin to feel sorry for ourselves. We think if we could have married the right man or if we could just find that one faithful friend, our world would be so different, so satisfying. The truth is that while we continue to blame the other parties for our surface level superficial relationship experiences, we might ought to take a look in the mirror. I have had to do that recently as well. As I stared intently into the reflection of my own relationships, I realized that I myself had built up a wall around my life allowing no one to get too close. I’m not sure if it was a fear of rejection or a fear of disappointment, but either way it caused me to continue to keep all the people God wanted to connect me with at arm’s length. Then I read Ephesians 5:1-3. I realized I was being…cautious.
Let’s face it, most of us have experienced some kind of relational hurt in our past, present and too be sure it will be in our future. So often we allow those experiences to cause us to become cautious in relationships. To be cautious according to the dictionary is to: be careful, watchful, alert, vigilant, guarded, and wary. According to Ephesians 5 that was something Jesus was not when it came to his relationships. Instead it teaches us that he was extravagant, he went above and beyond what was reasonable when it came to loving others. I wonder today…which one are you. Cautious or extravagant when it comes to your own relationships. Do you constantly become offended and guarded? Do you feel sorry for yourself that everyone else seems to have deeper connections than you? Do you walk around with your guard up never willing to be transparent with others in your life? If so I want to challenge you…take a step of faith and ask God to teach you how to be extravagant. Initiate deeper levels in your marriage, family ties, and friendships. That means you will have to take chances on getting hurt because let’s face it people are sure to fail us. But when you and I connect with others like God has planned for us to do, it will be one of the greatest joys of your life.
Want to know how I think it’s going to happen for you? One important way: Don’t love someone to get something from them, but instead to offer something to them. If you change that one principal in your life you are sure to see satisfying fruit begin to form in each of your relationships. Jesus was a perfect example of love…Love Like That.
Xoxo
Justeina
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