July 19, 2009

 John 14:27  

The Bad...Sad Days...A Way Out 

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John

"Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it be afraid." KJ

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Thoughts...

It's hard to know sometimes what is going on around us...except when it's bad.  That looms large.  And it's obvious.  When times are good, we don't pay attention...to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, the church, others around us, life in general.  We just seem to ride the wave.  But when waves crash...we know what bad really is.  We experience sorrow instead of joy.  Tears instead of smiles.  Fear instead of trust.  We forget about the part that comes before the above reference in the King James:  "Peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, giveth I unto you." Or as the New Living Translation states all of this:  "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives.  So don't be troubled or afraid."

I know...you're saying to yourself, 'How can I be at peace in the face of or in the midst of this drama?'  By praying.  Ok...I heard that...now you're saying, 'Oh right.'  Read on.... 

In the New International Version Philippians 4:6-7 Paul states:  "Do not be anxious about anything, but IN everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will [say WILL] guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  The New Living Translations phrases it this way:  "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.  If you do this, you will [say WILL] experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and  minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Let me expound on that a bit.  'IN everything' refers to in the midst of whatever it is that you are going through.  Not 'for' or 'because of'.  'WITH thanksgiving'.   By praying with thanksgiving, you are telling God you believe that he has given you what you have just asked for, even tho' it has not been manifested or happened yet.  You fully expect him to give this to you and you are very grateful.  HOWEVER, if you are not obeying him, doing as he has called you to do, he may not answer you the way you want.  He may not answer you at all.  He may leave you to your own devices, decisions.  He may be trying to teach you that although you think you have done pretty well for yourself up to this point, he knows that perhaps had you been attentive to HIS needs and what he wanted, you may not be in this particular situation, hence he is reminding you of who is who and what is what.  On the other hand, you may be doing so well doing for God, that Satan is attacking you for a job well done and he doesn't like it.  He will do anything to try and keep us from loving and obeying God and try to make us blame God for what happens to us.   

"So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.  Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.  Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.  Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.  Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts.  And you will always give thanks for everything [you have now received] to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 5: 15-20 NLT

Here we are being called to focus on God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, so we can learn what we need to be doing with our lives instead of running around trying to do things our way, which, if you are reading this intently with a lifeline, indicates you are in crisis looking for an answer. 

Jesus said, "All those who love me will do what I say.  My Father will love them, and we will [say WILL] come to them and live with them.  Anyone who doesn't love me will not do what I say.  And remember, my words are not my own.  This message is from the Father who sent me.  I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.  But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative--and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit--he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you."  John 14: 23-26 NLT

Obey. Obey. Obey.  And ask the Holy Spirit to come into your life.  And please....keep in mind, there is a fine line between doing for God because you love him and you are grateful for his love, and doing for God to get your own manipulative way.  Be careful here, folks.

So, am I saying that by just asking the Trinity into your life that all will be well?  NOoooooO.  I'm saying that it could get your bottom walloped.  I am also saying that, if you are going to be successful in life by God's standards, you must be born again into the kingdom of the everlasting ever loving God, not just in words, but in conviction of your heart and fullness of your heart as well.  And in my mind, true success is measured by having arrived in heaven.  We have his promise and assurance that we will, if we obey, [say IF WE OBEY] love him [say LOVE HIM] with our whole hearts.  Do not believe as some that once saved is always saved.  Not true.  Some seeds blow away or dry up, others produce fruit.  Are you producing fruit as defined by God?  Hmmmm.

Let's hear once more from Paul:  "And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter.  Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you."  [Say WILL BE]  Ephesians 4: 8-9 NLT 

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Let Us Pray

Hey, Lord, it's me again.  Times are hard.  Life is overwhelming.  I am so lost in my thoughts of nothingness.  I can't seem to think much at all due to all the issues crowding my brain.  I'm feeling weak and tired and scared.  But although I see by your message to me above that I don't have to fear, you know it's easier to say than to live.  But you lived through all that I am going through and more.  I can't imagine being nailed to a cross and stabbed and spit on and beaten and bloodied.  I can't imagine my life as normal or better sometimes either anymore.  But I know you have a plan for me and my family's lives.  I know your plans for us are to prosper.  I sure wish you would show me when and how.  Should I say how and then when?  I think I am doing your will.  Am I?  If not, you better tell me now.  I can't take being out of your will one more second.  I am not perfect though, so please take that into consideration.  I am not looking for excuses, I just want to make sure you are being realistic.  I know love is blind. Sometimes I am so grateful for your blindness about me.  I am ALWAYS grateful for your love.  Other times I fear you have lost total sight of me.  I know you call me to make responsible decisions.  I certainly try.  I can't control others around me, so you and I falter together....a lot it seems.  But I know you are giving me what I need, not necessarily what I want.  I am grateful for that...more than I can say.  But though I try...and do...some days there are still a lot of bad...sad days.  Satan sure is a pain.  I do wish you would rid the earth of him and most especially rid him from my life and that of my family's lives once and for all.  I will reread todays lesson and study more to learn more about you and how wonderul you are and can be to me.  IF I haven't fully accepted Holy Spirit, let me do so now.  Holy Spirit, please come into my life fully and completely.   I want to receive all the fruits and the gifts you have to give me.  I want to use those fruits and gifts for living life and for giving life to others for and with you.  Now help me Lord.  Keep me and my family safe from the evil one, Satan, the Devil, and all his adversaries, assigns, etc.  I've had all I can take.  I am so grateful you carry me, uplift me, and teach me.  Thank you so very much.  Now, grant me your peace...the one that passes all understanding and joy....I need joy, too.  And money while you're at it, to take care of my family and those you send me, Father God, Jesus my Savior, Holy Spirit my Comforter, Counselor, Teacher. Thank you.  I love you.  Amen.

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Todays Benediction

Let us hear from Paul once again as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resouces he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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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 NEW Current Cause

My family and I, and the church, are in crisis and could desperately use your prayers and financial support.  Due to medical concerns, employment crisis, and economic devastation,  I do not have funding to meet everyday expenses right now for the church, or home, nor those necessary to keep this website afloat, for those shut-in or needing spiritual support, nor the ability to help others along the way.  But I am confident that, with your help, balance can be achieved.  As God touches your heart, I hope you will pray earnestly for the church, my family and me, and send any amount of money you can to help.  Please note 'Church and Family' on your check, and, I will see that all funds get divided appropriately.  The church, I and my family, as well as to those to whom we reach out, will be sincerely grateful for anything you can do to help.  

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and may God bless you!

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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

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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.

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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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