Wow! I love when I start to read the daily sections of the New and Old Testaments before noticing that I'm starting a new book of the Bible...especially when it is the Book of Acts!
Acts is an amazing stretch of sermons, healing, deliverances, and bold proclamations by Jesus' followers. It beckons us to live beyond ourselves, to embrace the Holy Spirit, and to live as if we believe that the God of the Bible is the same powerful God in our lives.
The Holy Spirit is the connector between the Book of Acts and us. He is the person of God whom we have IN us to live and love THROUGH us, just as the disciples had when Jesus ascended into heaven. The life of a believer must be lived with a heavenly perspective, a holy hope, and a deep faith. Thankfully we have an account of how the early followers of Christ did it!
Be encouraged,
Becky
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Every once in awhile I will pray and the Holy Spirit takes over, I am not even sure what I pray but the feeling is the same. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. I have been meeting with some woman I gave bibles to a year ago Christmas. It was our last meeting and we all decided to have a conversational prayer. At the end we just sat there in awe of being in the presence of Almighty God.
ReplyDeleteWell, another cool thing happened this week. I am having a party at my home Saturday night. 8 women are spending the night. (my married daughters friends) I have been pacing myself and getting a lot of cleaning and organizing done but I am off track. My ADD acting up. LOL Anyway my son has been working for me sort of half hardily, I kept praying of ways to encourage him and some how ignite a fire under him.
Well ladies, it happened. I left him alone today with a list while I spend the morning at the doctors. Yesterday, I fell down the stairs on our brick patio with a glass vase in my arms. Our neighbor, who is my eye doctor made a house call to suture me up. I look like a mess, scratches, cuts, bruises (no broken bones, no glass in my eyes (my glasses protected me) I never could get used to contacts. I am sore, have some cuts on my face that the doctor said will heal nicely. Ok, Ok, the story is getting long. Praise God!!! My son felt needed and said Don't worry Mom, you tell me what to do and I will do it. He strung up lanterns and lights that look better than when we had a professional do it. Went grocery shopping, made dinner, the list goes on and on. Praying on our knees for our children really is the answer, God will take care of them. Have a nice weekend. I am feeling soooo blessed.
Robbie, my goodness. Glad you are overall ok.... but praise God it wasnt worse! Have a blessed weekend with the girls, and son!
ReplyDeleteMore later........
Laura
Robbie,
ReplyDeleteI just want to thank you for your post. I am glad that you are ok. But you ended it with just what I needed to hear because I am struggling with a couple of my children in similar ways and your words "Praying on our knees for our children really is the answer, God will take care of them." May God bless you and heal your cuts and bruises. Enjoy your weekend.
Becky, I just finished listening to the call and your prayer reached right into my soul. It was if God gave you a glimpse into my life this week and you knew what prayer I needed. Thank you for being faithful to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteLike you I usually don't pay attention to when I end a book and start the next. It is just a continuation of the story. So I went back to my journal on June 3rd to see what I had written. I had written that the book of Acts is one of my favorite books of the Bible. I am always encouraged by the activity of the Holy Spirit. It brings truth to me about the forgiveness of my sins that allows me to be where I am today. I did not come from a Christian home so that in itself is a miracle of the Holy Spirit at work in the lives around me and then in me.
I love Acts 4:13 when it talks about the apostles being just "ordinary" men. It reminds me that I am just an "ordinary" woman but God can use me.
I just finished the story of Stephen and his faith when he was being stoned. This is always an encouragement. I might not be stoned physically, but each day I face opposition from my daughter who has walked away from the Lord. This is my test to not be discouraged and trust in Jesus to keep his promises about bringing all his children home.
I want to share a couple of versus that stuck with me from my devotional I also meditate on. " 'Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.' " Jeremiah 32:17
"But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity." Jeremiah 46:27
I substituted my name in the last verse and it gave me the courage and grace I need to get through this summer. Thank you ladies for being here to listen to my ramblings. May God bless and protect each of you.
7/7 this week.
Hi all: Acts is wonderful. I decided to sign up for the Acts study at BSF next year, even though I have done it before. You cant read it too many times. I'm particularly paying attention to the highlights of Moses, as told in Acts, since I have been studying that section for another study.
ReplyDeleteRequesting prayer for major dental appointment Monday and financial stress again.
7 for 7 again this week.
Hi, everyone! I can hardly wait until I can participate more fully in this group. Two more days . . . but it will take nothing short of a miracle for me to get everything finished by the time grades are due!
ReplyDeleteRobbie, I'm so sorry to hear about your fall. I hope the weekend went well and you are mending
Laura, you've been in my prayers today. Hope the dentist appointment was easier that you thought it might be.
Lorraine, thank you for sharing your thoughts. What wonderful scriptures you've quoted here! Young people today have so many temptations, and the pressures to follow the crowd and do what is popular are so great! By ourselves, we are powerless to convince them that God's way is best, but we have to remember that we are not by ourselves. God hears and answers our prayers every day, and as Acts shows us, his Holy Spirit dwells among us today. Keep trusting and praying and believing!
God bless all of you!
I love your posts and read each one. Please know that i keep you each in my prayers. This weekend our family flew to Ohio to honor my mother-in- laws passing. It was a sweet spirit-filled weekend. I appreciate how you participate and encourage each other through this blog! Love you much. B
ReplyDeleteBecky, I meant to write and send condolences about your Mother-in-law's passing. I'm glad you had a blessed time in Ohio.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the prayers Wanda and all. I endured ten extractions, seven stitches and numerous injections today. I've only had to take two Advil for pain all day. Can't eat, not supposed to eat much, so I'm feeling a bit hungry but doing ok.
Laura, I am glad to hear your dentist appointment went ok. Sounds painful to me but God has heard our prayers.
ReplyDeleteWanda and Becky, thank you for your encouraging words and prayers. I have lived day by day on prayer since Oct 2006. I wouldn't be here today without prayer, trusting and believing. Thank you so much!