The gifts of the Holy Spirit are amazingly spectacular and greatly to be desired. However, as the apostle Paul hastened to point out, without love, these gifts, awesome as they may be, are profitable for nothing. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all…..
God’s gifts to the Church are many and diverse. He gives spirituals gifts to believers at will and gifts people to the Church for the benefit of all. In 1st Corinthians chapters 12 through 14, the apostle Paul enlightened us concerning these gifts. Sign Gifts and Benefits of the Holy Spirit “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to…..
This picture grabbed my attention as I walked into our kitchen today and saw it on the refrigerator door. It has been sitting there for the last several years but today as I gazed at it, the year 2005 flooded my memory. Steve and I had just gotten engaged and were planning our wedding. We were so happy and so in love with each other! Today, as we look forward to celebrating our eleventh wedding anniversary next month, we are more in…..
Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5 NIV). I can imagine how very sad the chosen apostles of Jesus must have been as they watched their beloved Lord as He was taken up from them into heaven in a cloud. They had spent every day together for three…..
The Holy Spirit is uncontrollable, unpredictable, exciting, all-powerful, is everywhere at the same time and full of wisdom. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8 NIV). Those who are born of the Spirit have the opportunity to do great and mighty things through the power of the Holy Spirit if they give Him freedom…..
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29: 11-13 NKJV). Have you ever woken up from a dream or vision and knew that…..
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV). The Lord has called me and has sent me to share with you His heart for you. He has seen your oppression, your tears, your…..
Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need (Proverbs 21:13). The book of Proverbs tells us plainly that if we shut out the cry of the poor, no one will hear us or respond to us in our own times of need. If we however open our ears to their cry and show mercy and love, in our times of needs, someone else will come to our rescue. …..
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your…..
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 NKJV). The sight of Jesus stretched out upon the cross in my vision on the night of 8/7/16 is one that I will never forget. Seeing Him like that, so bruised and so sorrowful, drew me for a closer look. I will never forget the way He looked at me as He hung…..