Happy Sunday!
Our lesson in Children's Church today was, "Widening Our Horizons in Prayer". We are teaching the students about all aspects of prayer. Today we focused on moving out of our comfort zone, and praying for others. One minister used to say most people prayed for "us four, and no more". It's sad, but true, we tend to pray for ourselves and those we love. But God intends for us to make an impact on our world through prayer.
Last week, I was in Texas for my Aunt's funeral. This week, a co-worker lost her grandmother in Alabama, a dear friend lost her grandson in Minnesota, and one of my closest, long time friends lost her sister in Baltimore. Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Words escape me. The Word is my only consolation. It's my only tool to use in times like these. The Preacher wrote, "It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals. For you are going to die, and it is a good thing to think about it while there is still time."(Ecclesiastes 7:2, Living Bible). A good thing to think about? WOW!
Jesus said, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."(Matthew 5:4, KJV). This is a promise we can rely on. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, "What a wonderful God we have—he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us."(Living Bible). God doesn't waste anything. That sorrow you endured will come in handy when you are comforting another.
Psalm 30:5 says, "For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."(KJV). Another translation of this much loved and quoted scripture says, "His wrath, you see, is fleeting, but His grace lasts a lifetime. The deepest pains may linger through the night, but joy greets the soul with the smile of morning."(Voice).
Pray for others. Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Sunday, June 24, 2018
In Purpose, on Purpose
Happy Sunday!
2 Corinthians 5:8-9 Says, “So I say that we have confidence. And we really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord. Our only goal is to always please the Lord, whether we are living here in this body or there with him.”(Easy-to-Read Verizon)
My Aunt, Pastor Theaha McClendon transitioned from labor to reward last Monday. The recurring theme this evening at the wake was how she encouraged, taught, and loved everyone she met. We mourn, and yet we rejoice because we are confident she is with the Lord.
This excerpt from Ralph Marston also encourages us to live with purpose
Love and prayers, Cynthia
*******
The Voice of Your Purpose
Actions are an absolute necessity for meaningful accomplishment. So are dreams.
Actions are an absolute necessity for meaningful accomplishment. So are dreams.
For if you cannot dream it, and envision it, you will not achieve it. When it tugs at your very soul, that is when you will make it happen.
You are not an unthinking, unfeeling machine that can blindly serve just any agenda. Your effectiveness comes from your purposeful involvement with what you do.
There is a reason why you feel everything you feel. Those feelings are the voice of your purpose.
It is difficult and challenging to follow those dreams that flow from your purpose. Yet when the purpose is true, it will feel stronger than any challenge.
Listen to the voice of your purpose. Dream and do, and give to life the unique value that is yours to create.
-- Ralph Marston
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Abba Father
Happy Sunday!
Romans 5:7-8 says, "Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us."(Easy-to-Read Version). Don't miss this! We are so loved by the FATHER that he sent his only son to pay the price for us, even though we were not good enough to deserve it.
It's Father's Day in the USA. We take time to celebrate the men who have stepped up to the plate, reared their own children, and even raised the children of other men. We celebrate fathers, step-fathers, god-fathers, uncles, cousins, and neighbors who were willing to invest in the lives of children, and still invest in the lives of adults. They didn't discriminate in their love, they shared it with their families and ours. This is a godly pursuit.
Our lesson today in Children's church was about Famous Dads. Do you know the fathers that made the role call in the Bible? Adam, the first father. Methuselah the longest living father. Job, the father that lost 7 children in one day. Abraham, the father of faith. Jacob, the father that showed favoritism. Moses, the father that led the Israelites out of captivity. Joshua, the father that led them into the Promised Land. Boaz, the father that found a beautiful wife in an unlikely place. David, the father that was a man after God's on heart. Solomon, the wisest father that encouraged his son to stay away from evil men. I could go on and on. But I won't.
Fathers are unique. Fathers are special. Fathers are imperfect. Fathers are necessary.
Our heavenly father has laid out the blueprint for fatherhood. He understands how hard it is to have hard-headed, stubborn, and ungrateful children. He knows how easy it is to be misunderstood. He only wants the best for us, but we think he's out to get us. He wants us to prosper and be in good health, but we blame him for our calamity. And yet he still loves us, with an everlasting love.
Romans 8:15 says, "You see, you have not received a spirit that returns you to slavery, so you have nothing to fear. The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God’s own family. That’s why we call out to Him, “Abba! Father!” as we would address a loving daddy."(Voice). Galatians 4:6 says, "And because we are his sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, so now we can rightly speak of God as our dear Father."(Living Bible).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Romans 5:7-8 says, "Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us."(Easy-to-Read Version). Don't miss this! We are so loved by the FATHER that he sent his only son to pay the price for us, even though we were not good enough to deserve it.
It's Father's Day in the USA. We take time to celebrate the men who have stepped up to the plate, reared their own children, and even raised the children of other men. We celebrate fathers, step-fathers, god-fathers, uncles, cousins, and neighbors who were willing to invest in the lives of children, and still invest in the lives of adults. They didn't discriminate in their love, they shared it with their families and ours. This is a godly pursuit.
Our lesson today in Children's church was about Famous Dads. Do you know the fathers that made the role call in the Bible? Adam, the first father. Methuselah the longest living father. Job, the father that lost 7 children in one day. Abraham, the father of faith. Jacob, the father that showed favoritism. Moses, the father that led the Israelites out of captivity. Joshua, the father that led them into the Promised Land. Boaz, the father that found a beautiful wife in an unlikely place. David, the father that was a man after God's on heart. Solomon, the wisest father that encouraged his son to stay away from evil men. I could go on and on. But I won't.
Fathers are unique. Fathers are special. Fathers are imperfect. Fathers are necessary.
Our heavenly father has laid out the blueprint for fatherhood. He understands how hard it is to have hard-headed, stubborn, and ungrateful children. He knows how easy it is to be misunderstood. He only wants the best for us, but we think he's out to get us. He wants us to prosper and be in good health, but we blame him for our calamity. And yet he still loves us, with an everlasting love.
Romans 8:15 says, "You see, you have not received a spirit that returns you to slavery, so you have nothing to fear. The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God’s own family. That’s why we call out to Him, “Abba! Father!” as we would address a loving daddy."(Voice). Galatians 4:6 says, "And because we are his sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, so now we can rightly speak of God as our dear Father."(Living Bible).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, June 10, 2018
Depressed
Happy Sunday!
Our God is a Great God! He's the Master of Technology. It's been said he's the creator of the first technology...Faith. They say that if you need something, there's always an app for that! In the same way, there's a scripture for every human condition. But just like medicine will have no effect if not taken, and taken properly, the Word of God when not read, studied, believed, and acted upon will not work to cure the ills of humanity.
In light of recent events, let's talk about depression. A search for "depressed" or "depression" in the King James Version does not get any results. But searching in other modern translations does. Psalm 38:6 says, "I am bent and bowed down. I am depressed all day long."(Easy-to-Read Version). The same scripture in the King James Version says, "I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long."(KJV). The Psalmist was familiar with the "blues". But in the last two verses of this psalm he makes a bold statement. "You are the Lord God! Stay nearby and don’t desert me. You are the one who saves me. Please hurry and help."(Psalm 38:21-22, CEV).
Even though he was going through hard times, he knew that God is our Lord, and our Savior. GOD is ready, willing, and able to save us from any and every situation. Psalm 42:3-8 is another example..."Day and night I WEEP for his help, and all the while my enemies taunt me. “Where is this God of yours?” they scoff. Take courage, my soul! Do you REMEMBER those times (but how could you ever forget them!) when you led a great procession to the Temple on festival days, singing with joy, praising the Lord? Why then be DOWNCAST? Why be discouraged and SAD? HOPE in God! I shall yet PRAISE him again. Yes, I shall again praise him for his HELP.
Yet I am standing here DEPRESSED and gloomy, but I will MEDITATE upon your KINDNESS to this lovely land where the Jordan River flows and where Mount Hermon and Mount Mizar stand. All your waves and billows have gone over me, and floods of sorrow pour upon me like a thundering cataract. Yet day by day the Lord also pours out his steadfast LOVE upon me, and through the night I SING his songs and PRAY to God who gives me life."(Living Bible).
Don't miss this! He was crying his eyes out. He had real life issues and concerns. His enemies were closing in, and laughing at him. But he remembered what God had already done. He stopped to think and asked himself a few questions! Yes, he was talking to himself, and he was also answering himself. He made the choice to meditate(to engage in contemplation or reflection), sing, and pray.
If you need help, ask for help. Don't suffer in silence, and don't allow the enemy to preach his perverted gospel to you. You are loved, by the Most High God. You are needed by others that are watching, even when you don't know they are watching. You are valuable, even if there is no one to tell you how valuable you are. You can do all things through Christ, but without him the cares of this world will be too much to bear. God won't put more on you than you can bear, BUT the Devil will try too beat you to a pulp. He will do everything he can to get you to quit, and give up! Don't fall for his lies. He is the Father of lies, so don't expect him to tell you the truth.
The Apostle Paul is a great example to follow. He went through more than most of us ever will, but he never gave up. 2 Corinthians 4:8-11 says, "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe.
Yes, we live under constant danger to our lives because we serve the Lord, but this gives us constant opportunities to show forth the power of Jesus Christ within our dying bodies."(Living Bible).
"I will move past my enemies with this one, sure hope: that with my own eyes, I will see the goodness of the Eternal in the land of the living".(Psalm 27:13, Voice)
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Our God is a Great God! He's the Master of Technology. It's been said he's the creator of the first technology...Faith. They say that if you need something, there's always an app for that! In the same way, there's a scripture for every human condition. But just like medicine will have no effect if not taken, and taken properly, the Word of God when not read, studied, believed, and acted upon will not work to cure the ills of humanity.
In light of recent events, let's talk about depression. A search for "depressed" or "depression" in the King James Version does not get any results. But searching in other modern translations does. Psalm 38:6 says, "I am bent and bowed down. I am depressed all day long."(Easy-to-Read Version). The same scripture in the King James Version says, "I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long."(KJV). The Psalmist was familiar with the "blues". But in the last two verses of this psalm he makes a bold statement. "You are the Lord God! Stay nearby and don’t desert me. You are the one who saves me. Please hurry and help."(Psalm 38:21-22, CEV).
Even though he was going through hard times, he knew that God is our Lord, and our Savior. GOD is ready, willing, and able to save us from any and every situation. Psalm 42:3-8 is another example..."Day and night I WEEP for his help, and all the while my enemies taunt me. “Where is this God of yours?” they scoff. Take courage, my soul! Do you REMEMBER those times (but how could you ever forget them!) when you led a great procession to the Temple on festival days, singing with joy, praising the Lord? Why then be DOWNCAST? Why be discouraged and SAD? HOPE in God! I shall yet PRAISE him again. Yes, I shall again praise him for his HELP.
Yet I am standing here DEPRESSED and gloomy, but I will MEDITATE upon your KINDNESS to this lovely land where the Jordan River flows and where Mount Hermon and Mount Mizar stand. All your waves and billows have gone over me, and floods of sorrow pour upon me like a thundering cataract. Yet day by day the Lord also pours out his steadfast LOVE upon me, and through the night I SING his songs and PRAY to God who gives me life."(Living Bible).
Don't miss this! He was crying his eyes out. He had real life issues and concerns. His enemies were closing in, and laughing at him. But he remembered what God had already done. He stopped to think and asked himself a few questions! Yes, he was talking to himself, and he was also answering himself. He made the choice to meditate(to engage in contemplation or reflection), sing, and pray.
If you need help, ask for help. Don't suffer in silence, and don't allow the enemy to preach his perverted gospel to you. You are loved, by the Most High God. You are needed by others that are watching, even when you don't know they are watching. You are valuable, even if there is no one to tell you how valuable you are. You can do all things through Christ, but without him the cares of this world will be too much to bear. God won't put more on you than you can bear, BUT the Devil will try too beat you to a pulp. He will do everything he can to get you to quit, and give up! Don't fall for his lies. He is the Father of lies, so don't expect him to tell you the truth.
The Apostle Paul is a great example to follow. He went through more than most of us ever will, but he never gave up. 2 Corinthians 4:8-11 says, "We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe.
Yes, we live under constant danger to our lives because we serve the Lord, but this gives us constant opportunities to show forth the power of Jesus Christ within our dying bodies."(Living Bible).
"I will move past my enemies with this one, sure hope: that with my own eyes, I will see the goodness of the Eternal in the land of the living".(Psalm 27:13, Voice)
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, June 3, 2018
Walk it out...
Happy Sunday!
I hope your week has been good! My week has been full, but good! I'm sharing an article from Barry Bennett. You know I love his Bible teaching. Hope you enjoy it as well.
Are You Walking By Sight? by Barry Bennett
For those with well trained dogs, a simple command brings forth instant obedience. Dogs can understand verbal commands, hand signals and even body language and inflections in the voice. The owner of a well-trained dog has faith that his commands will be obeyed. In many cases he doesn’t even have to see the obedience. He knows the dog will carry out the command.
However, the same owner who confronts a strange dog may give the same commands and signals but will only be able to judge the outcome by what he sees. With a strange dog the human must walk by sight. The dog may not obey at all. There is no assurance because there is no relationship. Without relationship there is no authority established.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)
Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Only in the realm of relationship and authority can we be certain of that which we don’t see. An instruction to a teenaged son to mow the yard while the parent is away should result in a mowed yard by the time the parent returns. If the relationship is strong and the authority of the parent has been established, there is no need to be concerned for the outcome. In the mind of the parent, the yard is mowed the moment the instruction is given.
In the same way, our faith walk with God is based upon our relationship with Him and our understanding of our delegated authority. God has given us authority over sickness, our emotions, our words, our thoughts and actions and within our sphere of influence. We were created to have dominion in the earth. We should be able to walk by faith, not sight, calling things that are not as though they are.
We should know that in the world of the Spirit, our words have authority. Demons tremble, sicknesses wither, favor surrounds us and blessings overtake us! But if we are unsure of who we are in Christ, we will continue to walk by sight. We will be ruled by circumstances and our own feelings and doubts. We may try to exert influence over the things that come to steal, kill and destroy, but we will only know if we are successful by what we see. Life can be like a big dog that we don’t know.
Faith begins with relationship with God. Relationship will reveal our authority in Christ. Like the Centurion we will be able to say, “I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Mt. 8:9)
Walking by Faith...love and prayers, Cynthia
I hope your week has been good! My week has been full, but good! I'm sharing an article from Barry Bennett. You know I love his Bible teaching. Hope you enjoy it as well.
Are You Walking By Sight? by Barry Bennett
For those with well trained dogs, a simple command brings forth instant obedience. Dogs can understand verbal commands, hand signals and even body language and inflections in the voice. The owner of a well-trained dog has faith that his commands will be obeyed. In many cases he doesn’t even have to see the obedience. He knows the dog will carry out the command.
However, the same owner who confronts a strange dog may give the same commands and signals but will only be able to judge the outcome by what he sees. With a strange dog the human must walk by sight. The dog may not obey at all. There is no assurance because there is no relationship. Without relationship there is no authority established.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)
Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Only in the realm of relationship and authority can we be certain of that which we don’t see. An instruction to a teenaged son to mow the yard while the parent is away should result in a mowed yard by the time the parent returns. If the relationship is strong and the authority of the parent has been established, there is no need to be concerned for the outcome. In the mind of the parent, the yard is mowed the moment the instruction is given.
In the same way, our faith walk with God is based upon our relationship with Him and our understanding of our delegated authority. God has given us authority over sickness, our emotions, our words, our thoughts and actions and within our sphere of influence. We were created to have dominion in the earth. We should be able to walk by faith, not sight, calling things that are not as though they are.
We should know that in the world of the Spirit, our words have authority. Demons tremble, sicknesses wither, favor surrounds us and blessings overtake us! But if we are unsure of who we are in Christ, we will continue to walk by sight. We will be ruled by circumstances and our own feelings and doubts. We may try to exert influence over the things that come to steal, kill and destroy, but we will only know if we are successful by what we see. Life can be like a big dog that we don’t know.
Faith begins with relationship with God. Relationship will reveal our authority in Christ. Like the Centurion we will be able to say, “I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Mt. 8:9)
Walking by Faith...love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Planned
Happy Sunday!
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
I am so grateful to live in the United States of America. We have so many privileges and opportunities! God has allowed us to benefit from the sacrifices of brave men and women who fought and died for our freedom. We remember and celebrate them!
Nothing happens by chance. God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives. In Jeremiah Chapter 1, God told Jeremiah, "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations—that’s what I had in mind for you.” (Message Translation). Romans 2:11 says, "There is no favoritism with God." (Message Translation). That means he knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb too. He knew you and he has a plan for your life and well-being. Jeremiah 29:11 echoes this sentiment, "I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." (Message Translation).
Since God has an ultimate plan for our lives, he connects us with individuals that can sow into or invest in our lives. Think about it! Perhaps it was your kindergarten teacher, that loved you and made you feel special. Maybe it was a coach, a Sunday School Teacher, or the lady next door. God allowed your paths to cross at the right time.
God knows what we need in order to fulfill our purpose. He blesses us to be in proximity to great men and women who can share their testimonies and wisdom with us. Bishop Alexis A. Thomas once said, "Lessons are better borrowed than bought". We don't have to make all the mistakes, we can learn from the mistakes of others.
I'm grateful. Love and prayers, Cynthia
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
I am so grateful to live in the United States of America. We have so many privileges and opportunities! God has allowed us to benefit from the sacrifices of brave men and women who fought and died for our freedom. We remember and celebrate them!
Nothing happens by chance. God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives. In Jeremiah Chapter 1, God told Jeremiah, "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations—that’s what I had in mind for you.” (Message Translation). Romans 2:11 says, "There is no favoritism with God." (Message Translation). That means he knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb too. He knew you and he has a plan for your life and well-being. Jeremiah 29:11 echoes this sentiment, "I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." (Message Translation).
Since God has an ultimate plan for our lives, he connects us with individuals that can sow into or invest in our lives. Think about it! Perhaps it was your kindergarten teacher, that loved you and made you feel special. Maybe it was a coach, a Sunday School Teacher, or the lady next door. God allowed your paths to cross at the right time.
God knows what we need in order to fulfill our purpose. He blesses us to be in proximity to great men and women who can share their testimonies and wisdom with us. Bishop Alexis A. Thomas once said, "Lessons are better borrowed than bought". We don't have to make all the mistakes, we can learn from the mistakes of others.
I'm grateful. Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, May 20, 2018
Dead Men Walking
Happy Sunday!
One of my favorite scriptures is Galatians 2:20. I'll pause for a moment. Those of us that grew up in, and around the church should know this one by heart. I love it because it's poetic. It has rhythm and movement. It says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."(KJV). Because He loved me, the old me died on the cross with Christ, but by faith the new me gets a chance to live through Christ.
Pastor Carlos T. Brown, Sr. of Word of Life Ministries in Collinsville, Illinois preached, "The Power of Pentecost". Act 2:1-4 says, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."(KJV).
Hopefully, you are familiar with this passage. But have you ever wondered why Jesus commanded them to wait for the Promise of the Holy Spirit? Acts 1:7 tells us why, "And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."(KJV). Jesus knew that we would need supernatural power to complete the task. Our purpose on earth is to be witnesses. I know that the word "witnesses" can easily be misconstrued. It may bring to mind old episodes of Perry Mason, grilling a witness on the stand in the courtroom. Or a witness to an accident volunteering their contact information for the police. Or perhaps, it brings to mind Jehovah's Witnesses on the local streets, or knocking on your door early on a lazy Saturday morning. But Strong's Exhaustive Concordance says this word witnesses really means "martyr". Don't miss this! Jesus was saying this mission would lead to death. For the Apostles, it was literal...for most of us it is figurative. This wasn't new for them. Jesus had been telling them this for three years. In Matthew 16;25, Jesus said, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."(KJV).
Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you ALL things, and bring ALL things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."(John 14:26, KJV). Don't miss this! Jesus is the Word. The Holy Spirit has come to comfort us, teach us, and remind us of the Word. John 14:27 gives even more comfort, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."(KJV). Jesus brought peace into an atmosphere of fear. He's still speaking peace to us now. Our society is filled with fear. Watch 30 minutes of television and 15 minutes of it will be ads for the latest and greatest medicines with deadly side effects, financial planning commercials to convince you to fear not having enough money for retirement, and breaking news about death and destruction. It's enough to create fear in even the strongest heart. But dead mean don't worry, they don't fret, and they don't hold grudges. Nothing bothers them. This brings us back to Galatians 2:20..."I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."(Amplified).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
One of my favorite scriptures is Galatians 2:20. I'll pause for a moment. Those of us that grew up in, and around the church should know this one by heart. I love it because it's poetic. It has rhythm and movement. It says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."(KJV). Because He loved me, the old me died on the cross with Christ, but by faith the new me gets a chance to live through Christ.
Pastor Carlos T. Brown, Sr. of Word of Life Ministries in Collinsville, Illinois preached, "The Power of Pentecost". Act 2:1-4 says, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."(KJV).
Hopefully, you are familiar with this passage. But have you ever wondered why Jesus commanded them to wait for the Promise of the Holy Spirit? Acts 1:7 tells us why, "And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."(KJV). Jesus knew that we would need supernatural power to complete the task. Our purpose on earth is to be witnesses. I know that the word "witnesses" can easily be misconstrued. It may bring to mind old episodes of Perry Mason, grilling a witness on the stand in the courtroom. Or a witness to an accident volunteering their contact information for the police. Or perhaps, it brings to mind Jehovah's Witnesses on the local streets, or knocking on your door early on a lazy Saturday morning. But Strong's Exhaustive Concordance says this word witnesses really means "martyr". Don't miss this! Jesus was saying this mission would lead to death. For the Apostles, it was literal...for most of us it is figurative. This wasn't new for them. Jesus had been telling them this for three years. In Matthew 16;25, Jesus said, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."(KJV).
Jesus said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you ALL things, and bring ALL things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."(John 14:26, KJV). Don't miss this! Jesus is the Word. The Holy Spirit has come to comfort us, teach us, and remind us of the Word. John 14:27 gives even more comfort, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."(KJV). Jesus brought peace into an atmosphere of fear. He's still speaking peace to us now. Our society is filled with fear. Watch 30 minutes of television and 15 minutes of it will be ads for the latest and greatest medicines with deadly side effects, financial planning commercials to convince you to fear not having enough money for retirement, and breaking news about death and destruction. It's enough to create fear in even the strongest heart. But dead mean don't worry, they don't fret, and they don't hold grudges. Nothing bothers them. This brings us back to Galatians 2:20..."I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."(Amplified).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
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