He is not here.  He is risen!

  Luke 24:6

Welcome

to the

Church of the Holy Spirit

Current Sunday Scriptures below!

Archived Scriptures in The Family Room!

 Who We Are 

The Church of the Holy Spirit is a Christian church.

We believe in God the Father, Jesus the Son

and

Holy Spirit the Comforter, Teacher and Healer.

We believe that God made the heavens and the earth,

 and gave all creatures His son, Jesus,

who died on the cross to forgive our sins

 and

to give us eternal life.

We believe Jesus went to heaven, he is now seated at God’s right hand,

 and

that God gave us Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us.

 

We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God.

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April 19, 2009

Luke 24:13-34 

Have You Seen Him?!

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 Luke

On the day the tomb was found empty...two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles out of Jerusalem.  As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened.  Suddenly, Jesus himself came along and joined them and began walking beside them.  But they didn't know who he was, because God kept them from recognizing him.

"You seem to be in a deep discussion about something," he said.  "What are you so concerned about?"

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces.  Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, "You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days."

"What things?" Jesus asked.

"The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth," they said.  "He was a prophet who did wonderful miracles.  He was mighty teacher, highly regarded by both God and all the people.  But our leading priests and other religious leaders arrested him and handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him.  We had thought he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel.  That all happened three days ago.  Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report.  They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive!  Some of our men ran out to see and sure enough, Jesus' body was gone, just as the women had said."

Then Jesus said to them, "You are such foolish people!  You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.  Wasn't it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his time of glory?"  Then Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself.  

By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey.  Jesus would have gone on, but they begged him to stay the night with them.  As they sat down to eat, he took a small loaf of bread, asked God's blessing on it, broke it, then gave it to them.  Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.  And at that moment he disappeared!

They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts feel strangely warm as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?  And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem, where the eleven disciples and the other followers of Jesus were gathered.  When they arrived, they were greeted with the report, "The Lord has really risen!  He appeared to Peter!"     

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Thoughts...

Have you seen him?  If today you hear his voice, run to him!

He has called you by name...and you are his.  Isaiah 43:1

He is waiting for you.  Open your heart.  Open your mind.  See him.  Listen for his voice.  Open your arms.  Go to him now.  He loves you.  He forgives you.  He wants you to be freed from sin and receive eternal life with his love.  You have everything to gain, and nothing to lose.  Let him embrace you with the fullness of his love.  Be healed. 

"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."  Let each one who hears them say, "Come."  Let the thirsty ones come--anyone who want to.  Let them come and drink of the water of life without charge."   ***

Go now!  Run!  Into the arms of the blessed Savior.               

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Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus...I want to see you...I want to hear you.  Embrace me in your arms with the fullness of your love.  I need you.  Come to me today.  Thank you.  Please forgive me of my sins.  Thank you.  Grant me eternal live through and with you.  Thank you.  Lift me to new heights of spiritual fullness for your glory.  Thank you.  Let my life be an example of a life well lived and well loved with and by you.  Let everything I do be for your glory, Lord.  God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, come.   You've told me through Scripture and again here today, "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come."  Let each one who hears them say, "Come."  Let the thristy ones come--anyone who wants to.  Let them come and drink of the water of life without charge."  And the Angel in scripture said "Worship God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus."  ****  Let me always be one with you.  Thank you.  And help me to never waiver from telling others about you and of doing good for you as thanksgiving for all you have done for me.  Thank you.  Let every day be a new revelation of learning more about you...who you are, and, who you can be to me.  May I never let a day pass without sharing you...who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are...with the world.  I love you.  Thank you for loving me.  Amen     

*** Revelations 22:17

**** Revelations 19:20c    

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Jesus Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Alleluia!

 ***

Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation.  

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regulary to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:16 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our Current Cause

 We have a family in crisis who could desperately use your prayers and support.  The Mom, a good Christian woman, is young still...she just turned 50, and she has 3 young children under 15.  She has just been diagnosed with Stage 3 Breast Cancer.  Her husband died 3 years ago from Cancer, and her Mother, who has her own health issues, is trying to care for her and her children and help her along life's way.  They do not have enough money to meet their everyday expenses right now.  But I am confident that, with your help, we can find some balance for them.  If this touches your heart, we hope you will pray earnestly for her to be healed, and pray for her family.  And, if you would, please send any amount of money you can to help them.  Please note 'Elizabeth and kids' in your note line on your check and we will see that all funds go directly to them.  Please consider reaching out to help them.  I know they will be sincerely grateful for anything you can do to help.  

Please accept our sincerest thanks....and may God bless you.

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 Checks can be made out to

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Church of the Holy Spirit

P.O. Box 86076

Tucson, Arizona

85754-6076

If you have any questions, we can be reached at:

1-866-402-GIFT

10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Mountain Time

As we grow, you will have options for allocating your gifts.

In the meantime, we hope you will trust us to direct them to where the need is the greatest.

We will be integrating Pay Pal soon for your convenience.

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'

 "Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

  Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.

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 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

Scriptures may be taken from the New Living Translations website.

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