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!

Embracing understanding with open arms...so all may become one.

We welcome and embrace you loved ones in

the area of Great Britain,

 and the United States of America!

My site map is not detailed, so, if I've missed someone, or misplaced someone,

let us hear from you via email! 

   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 and Teacher.

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 teach, comfort, and guide us.
 
We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God.

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Who are God, Jesus and Holy Spirit?

God is our heavenly Father who created heaven and earth.  He gave us His Son, who died on a cross to allow our sins to be forgiven and give us eternal life becoming our Lord and Savior.  When Jesus died, Holy Spirit was made available to us to comfort, teach and guide us.

God in the beginning:  Genesis 1:1
Jesus:  Matthew 1, 2 & 3
Holy Spirit:  John 15:26

Are you one with God, Jesus and Holy Spirit?

If you have not accepted the Trinity into your life and you would like to, pray this prayer or use your own words from your heart:

“Dear Heavenly Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, please forgive me of my sins known and unknown.  Please come into my life, heal me and make me whole.  Give me a new life in and with you.  I wish to receive all that you have to give.  Baptize me in the fullness of your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn all I can about you to love you, and others, as you love me.  So I can love myself.  Thank you for giving me this new life.  Please send other Christians to surround me to help me grow and be strong to defeat Satan and the things of the world.  Help me to be worthy of your love.  Thank you God, Jesus and Holy Spirit.  In Jesus name I pray by and with the power of the Holy Spirit, dear Heavenly Father God.  Amen.” 

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If you have prayed this prayer, please email us at TrinityMissions@msn.com, so we can agree with you in prayer, praise God, and uplift you with prayer support.  We are thrilled to welcome you into the family of believers and encourage you to find a church home nearby where you can study, grow and fellowship with others.  Someone may need your support as much as you need them.  We are commanded to come together in fellowship to worship His majesty.

If you choose to fellowship with us via the web, we are honored to welcome you to the Church of the Holy Spirit.  We pray you will be enriched and uplifted in the fullness of the Trinity to their glory.  Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing from time to time.  As the website grows, we will have a special page for this purpose, and, you will be able to list prayers for all to see, so that we may come together as a body of believers, for ‘wherever two or more shall gather, there will I be.’   Don’t forget to send prayers of thanksgiving, as well as petitions of tears.  

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You are who I call ‘The Promise Children’, as in Romans 9:25-26 NLT:

“Those who were not my people, I will now call my people.  And I will love those whom I did not love before.  And, once they were told, ‘You are not my people.’  But now he will say, ‘You are children of the living God.”

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“The Kingdom of God is near you now.”

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The Apostle Paul gave us a “Prayer for Spiritual Empowerment” in Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT.  It reads

“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 resources 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.”  

Jesus told us to remain in his love in John 15:9-13 NLT:

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.  Remain in my love.  When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy.  Yes, your joy will overflow!  I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you.  And here is how to measure it - the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.” 

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August 29, 2010

Luke 9: 18-20 

  Who Do You Say I Am?  

Luke

One day as Jesus was alone, praying, he came over to his disciples and asked them, "Who do people say I am?"

"Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead."

Then he asked them,"Who do you say I am?"

Peter replied, "You are the Messiah sent from God!"

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Thoughts...

Who are you?  Do others see Christ in you?  By how you live, by how you love?  Do you give to and do for others in his name?  Do you bring glory to God by the choices you make?  Not even God expects you to be perfect.  He forgives our imperfections....our sins....of omission and commission.  So, too, are we to forgive the sins of others.  

What have you learned about who I am?  By how I present myself?  What have I learned about who you are?  By how you present yourself?  What has God learned about both of us?   

By what Jesus said, and how he presented himself, the miracles wrought in his name, and by his actions, Peter and others knew he was the Messiah...the Savior of the world sent by God.  Some could not attain such a thought based on their background perhaps.  A Messiah, born in a stable?  It could not be.  But a poor man living in the desert, back from the dead after having been beheaded proclaiming the Savior coming...well, maybe.  Risen from the dead...now that's a stretch. 

But AMEN!  He IS the Savior, the Messiah, King of the Jews and of the Gentiles!  He HAS risen from the dead, ALLELUIA!  We know him by his works....and his words.  

And who are you?  Who am I?  Who do you say I am?  Do I know who you are?  Certainly neither of us is a savior or a messiah.  But would people know who we in Christ by how we live, act, and have our being?  Would they recognize us as a child of the ever living ever loving God, Jesus, our Savior, Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Comforter?  Do you proclaim the Gospel in and out of due season?  Do you step out in faith and go where angels fear to tread?  Do you bow down to The Majesty in seeking HIS will for your life?  And following in his footsteps? 

"Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about this.  "For I, the Son of Man, must suffer many terrible things," he said.  "I will be rejected by the leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law.  I will be killed, but three days later I will be raised from the dead."  Luke 9: 21-22

Have you suffered many terrible things?  Have you been rejected by those in religious authority?  Has your character, your integrity, your reputation, your credibility of who you are in Christ been questioned?  Count yourself blessed!

God said in the prophecy of Hosea,  "Once they were told, ‘You are not my people.’  But now he will say, ‘You are children of the living God.”  Romans 9: 26  There is victory in Jesus.  Jesus was rejected as the cornerstone.  Are we not to walk in his shoes?  Should we then expect we will experience some of the things he did?  Should we count ourselves blessed?  Yes, unequivocably, yes!  It means we are attaining holiness.  Not righteousness....holiness.  It brings us closer to understanding him and therefore better loving who he is, that he is, and how wonderful he is.  To understanding the depth and scope of his love for us by what he had to endure for us.  And we should be grateful to endure as he did as well.  No less, would be less love...perhaps a lack of love...on our parts.

But do we need to undergo and endure?  No.  It is not something we are called to do.  It is something he already did for us and he also died for us, so that we might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  But it is something we will go through.  The world doesn't know him, but we do.  And even those in churches are human and can fall.  What then should we do?  Then is when we must pull out the big guns of love.  And give it full force.  We must not subscribe to the lowest of lows in attacking or assaulting as has been done to us.  We must address everyone with love as Christ first loved us.  We must show that we are indeed 'children of the living God'...'The Promise Children'.  It matters not how others treat us...they have to answer to God and maybe others.  It matters for us how we treat them and others....it matters to our relationship with our ever present Father who is God, Jesus our Savior and Holy Spirit our Redeemer.  It matters whether we can rise above and count ourselves among the counted in the heavens one day.  It matters that we can look our Savior in the eye and say, "I am...atleast trying to be....a good and faithful servant.

Everyday we make choices of what to do and how to do it.  In Luke 6:45, Jesus states it simply:  "A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  What you say flows from what is in your heart."  Taking from a reference from the New Living Translation Daily Devotion a while back it said, "Jesus reminds us that our speech and actions reveal the true underlying beliefs, attitudes, and motivations.  The good impressions we try to make cannot last, if our hearts are deceptive.  What is in your heart will come out in your speech and behavior."  And I say, no matter who you are, or what your title.  

Let me recount another scripture where Jesus' character was questioned.  It is in John 10: 22-38.  It reads as follows:

It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah.  He was at the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon's Colonade.  The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense?  If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." 

Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don't believe me.  The proof is what I do in the name of my  Father.  But you don't believe me because you are not part of my flock.  My sheep recognize my voice; I know them and they follow me.  I gave them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.  So no one can take them from me.  The Father and I are one."

Once again the Jewish leaders picked up stones to kill him.  Jesus said, "At my Father's direction I have done many things to help the people.  For which one of these good deeds are you killing me?

They replied, "Not for any good work, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, have made yourself God."

Jesus replied, "It is written in your own law that God said to certain leaders of the people, 'I say, you are gods!'  And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered.  So if those people, who received God's message, were called 'gods,' why do you call it blasphemy when the Holy One who was sent into the world by the Fathers says, 'I am the Son of God'?  Don't believe me unless I carry out my Father's work.  But if I do his work, believe in what I have done, even if you don't believe me.  Then you will realize that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father."

Are any of us gods?  Surely not!  But whether we speak plainly in sharing who we are, or show who we are by our actions, do indeed carry out the Father's work, so that others may believe in what you have done, whether they believe you or not.  Then they will realize that the Father [...The Heavenly Father God...] is in you and you are in the him. 

My Mother told me once to always do right and keep my head held high.  To always be able to look God in the eyes.  Others might say they need to be able to look at themselves in the mirror.  Or they need to be able to wake up in the morning.  In all my strivings, I have sought to do right.  Whether it was right by others' standards may not have always been.  But "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God" Philippians 3:14.  I will not say it does not matter what others think of me.  But it matters more what GOD thinks of me and whether I am worthy of his love and eternal life.  Don't worry for the 'morrow....pray.     

I've quoted the following from Paul so many times before, but I feel compelled to do so again.  From Philippians 4: 1, 4-9:

Dear brothers and sisters, I love you and long to see you, for you are my joy and the reward for my work.  So please stay true to the Lord, my dear friends.

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 experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

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.

***

Let Us Pray

'Most merciful God', Jesus, Holy Spirit,  I want to delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name.'  I want to love as you love and be as wise as you are, using discernment from you, Holy Spirit.  Help me please.  Cleanse me from anything that is not of you, and fill me to over flowing, that I might be able to fully love you and others, and worthily magnify your Holy Name.  Jesus I believe you are my Lord and Savior because I asked you into my heart forever ago.  I need you to show me how to best love you and show you that indeed YOU ARE Lord of my life, not me.  I want to show myself approved.  Help me to find time to read your word more and receive the fullness of you, Holy Spirit, that I may fully enact your word.  Help me to take action as you call me.  Help to not expect you to answer me rapidly, unless I manage to answer you rapidly.  Improve me to approve me.  Help me, and others, to recognize what is of you and what is of Satan.  Satan kills, steals, and destroys.  He causes and reaps havoc, turmoil, chaos and confusion.  Knowing this, let me, and others, be more cautious and look to you for strength, and truth, and rightness.  Help me show to others what you have taught me, to seek truth and love, and share that, and your life with others....not attack others with hearsay or twisted untruths, as I have been attacked.  And to do so gently with humility.  God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, 'let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me'.  My cheek has been turned so many times that my head has spun around and around and around and around.  I know there are others who feel this way, too.  Heal them Father, and then heal me, too, please.  Thank you.  You are the Lord of Heaven and Earth...and my Lord.  'And I long to worship you.'   Alleluia!  Let peace reign supreme.  Alleluia!  I love you God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  Thank you....very much.  There is victory in you Jesus!  Amen!                 

  *** 

More love.... 

  Benediction...Blessing

Let us hear from Paul 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 resources 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         

*** 

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."

***

  Our Current Cause

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, or animals, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member of, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart. 

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

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  Checks or money orders can be made out to

Trinity Missions

or the

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Trinity Missions

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. - 8 p.m.

Mountain Time

or

TrinityMissions@msn.com

Please note Trinity Missions or CoHS in your subject line.

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.

  ***

    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.

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