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,

throughout the world!

Hello and welcome...

Family in the United Kingdom,

in the area of the Phillipines and 

Angola Basin or Guinea Basin?!

Hey, USA, hi!  

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

let us hear from you via email!  Give me a shout out anyway! 

PRAY...for all in the world!

'You care for people and animals alike O LORD.' 

Psalm 36: 6b

   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.

***

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.” 

***

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.”

***

“The Kingdom of God is near you now.”

***

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." 

***

April 3, 2011

 Matthew 17: 1 - 13 

 Glory Revealed  

Matthew

Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain.  As the men watched, Jesus' appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became dazzling white.  Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.  Peter blurted out, "Lord, this is wonderful!  If you want me to, I'll make three shrines, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him.  Listen to him."  The disciples were terrified and fell face down onthe ground.

Jesus came over and touched them, "Get up," he said, "don't be afraid."  And when they looked, they saw only Jesus with them.  As they descended the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Don't tel anyone what you ahve seen until I, the Son of Man, have been raised from the dead."

His disciples asked, "Why do the teachers of relighious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?"

Jesus replied, "Elijah is indeed coming first to set everything in order.  But I tell you, he has already come, but he wasn't recognized, and he was badly mistreated.  And soon the Son of Man will also suffer at their hands."  Then the disciples realized he had been speaking of John the Baptist.  

*** 

Thoughts.....

Glory revealed...what does that mean to you personally?  Have you seen the Savior?  Have you experienced him in your heart?  Can you imagine what the guys thought when Jesus was light bulb brilliant?  It gives new meaning to General Electric's (GE's) slogan, 'We bring good things to life'.  Will you think of Jesus the next time you turn on a light bulb?  Let's look at this passage a little more.

'Six days later'.....Directly before, Jesus had just told the disciples he was on a journey of suffering, would die, and he would be raised on the third day.  Matthew 16: 21.  Pretty strange stuff.  Then Peter, grieved over the thought, said "heaven forbid".  Verse 22.   Then Jesus calls him Satan and tells him to get away from him.  Jesus says, "You are a dangerous trap to me.  You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God's."  Verse 23.  The stage is set.  The plans are in motion, and nothing and no one should get in the way.  The play should begin....will begin....and end....with an encore performance. 

Jesus goes on to say, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.  If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?  Is anything worth more than your soul?"  He goes on to say, "For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds.  And I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see me, the Son of Man, coming in my Kingdom."  Verses 24-28. 

Okay, so now...six days later...Jesus took Peter, and the two brothers, James and John (were they Jesus' brothers?) up a mountain.  Seems like a normal journey for guys.  And so they are hanging out.  All of a sudden, Jesus' appearance changed 'so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became dazzling white.'  Yo', suddenly not so much of a normal journey.  Picture yourself hanging out with friends and all of a sudden one of your buddies starts glowing.  Space creature....God moment....illness.....drug moment.....lightening strike.....WHAT?!  You're like 'Dude......'.   Rubbing your eyes?  Praying?  Leaving a puddle?  Gravy!  How often does something like this happen? 

Once.  That's how often that happened....once.  To Jesus.  For the world.  But the guys can't share it yet.  Kind of like Kartchner Caverns in Benson, Arizona.  They knew for years the gift they had been given, but had to get all ducks in a row before sharing it with the world.  Well, not exactly 'kind of like', but you understand I am sure.

And if that is not enough, some guys show up out of no where....beamed down....so to speak....for you Star Trek fans.  Anyway, so Peter blurts that he will build shrines for all three.  Frankly, I'm surprised the guy could speak.  I wouldn't be talking about shrines.....I'd be asking, "So what the hek is going on here!?"  That is, if I could speak.  I might not be able to....I would be in awe of the Savior.  I'd then be saying, "Dude............how.....cool."  I mean check it out....could you speak?  What would you say?  Would you recognize the Savior?  Would you look around, pinch yourself, make sure you were not dreaming?  Run?  Be scared?  Be humbled?  Be honored to have been given such a great gift as to observe the 'Greats' together? 

Then, as if that wasn't enough, more things occur.  A cloud moves over head ('do do do do' weird) and a voice from the cloud...note it doesn't say heaven....no one had a clue what was going on still....'and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him.  Listen to him."   Verse 5.  Wow.  I mean like WOW.  I'd just be shaking my head in bewilderment.  No, in amazement.   I'd be saying, "Un be lieve able".  Now the disciples are totally freaked.  They 'fell face down on the ground'.  Did they faint?  Did they drop in reverence?  In fear?  Me?  I'd be like, "Whoa....talk to me ....bring it on...I need some answers."  Not out of disrespect, but out of ..... needing some answers.  Respectfully  believing and expecting.  I'm guessing I'd be thinking 'don't leave me now....I am too close to the truths that will set me free'.   And what would be your thoughts at this point?  Would you faint?  Collapse?  Prostrate yourself in reverence?  Who is God to you?  And Jesus, what role in your life does he play?  Is the curtain lifting for the show to begin or is the curtain drawing to a close on your life?  Is your life in between acts?  Are you just playing at life or is this the real thing to you?  Wanna live forever?  Gotta have Jesus.

Jesus then went over to them and touched them saying "Get up, don't be afraid."  Did he give them a Holy touch, Spirit filled to awaken them, uplift them, bring them back to earth, so to speak?  He would be gentle for this act, no doubt.  We have no time frame, so cannot really know for sure.  We do know that when they 'looked', they saw only Jesus.  Then it appears they decided to leave.  I don't think I would have just gotten up silent and walked on.  Would you have been playing 40 questions?  I would have asked at least one.  I'd merely say, "So, Jesus, what was that all about?"  Or I'd be like "What's up with all that?" 

Then he gives them a directive on the way down the mountain:  "Don't tell anyone what you have seen until I, the Son of Man, have been raised from the dead."  Why do you suppose he wanted them to wait?  Too much publicity could spoil the plan?  More miracles revealed after the fact provides greater credibility?  Affirmation/confirmation that he lived and truly was the Son of God?  Stopping a murderous stampede because the time wasn't right?  What do you think?  You could make a movie out of this.  Oh....

I don't know about you, but no one told us what they all said, or that the disciples heard anything else, yet they ask, "Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?"   Maybe they heard more than was recorded or maybe they are trying to trick Jesus?  Or they may be sincere in trying to understand how this guy named Jesus could truly be God's son.  They believe the Old Testament prophecy and maybe are trying to understand how that was being applied/fulfilled/aligned.  I mean, they know him as a carpenter's son, but they've also experienced some pretty awesome stuff.  Enough to have the Bible, an historical documented outline of many people's lives, become the number one best seller of all time.  Plus, they've been on this journey understanding him as the Messiah.  They want to make sure all is as it should be....that no false prophet rises, that they aren't delusional perhaps.

Jesus gives a very simple answer.  "Elijah is indeed coming first to set everything in order."  (He refers to Old Testament scripture to further affirm who he is.)  Then he says, "But I tell you, he has already come, but he wasn't recognized, and he was badly mistreated.  And soon the Son of Man will also suffer at their hands."  It goes on to say that 'the disciples realized he had been speaking of John the Baptist'.  This further confirms Jesus' position because John the Baptist pointed the way to the Savior at his baptism.  Refer to Chapter 3 of Matthew.  Indeed, in Matthew 3: 15 Jesus said, "It must be done because we must do everything that is right."  Although he was addressing John baptising him, it was a prophetic statement indicating timing is everything.  Then, or here, in his current situation, and in many situations in between and after, he's all about timing, God's timing, 'so that the world will know and believe'.     

So where are you in your thought processes right now about Jesus?  Who do you say he is?  Do you see glory revealed here?   Does this provide further support for you to believe?  Or to share with others to help their unbelief?  Are you saying this is just a good fictional novel?  I assure you it is not a fictional novel.  "Why?" you ask?  I'll tell you.

Everything about Jesus in the New Testament was witnessed and is therefore now historical documentation.  Because it was written at different times by different people, it enhances its credibility.  Because many followed him and heard him speak, and watched him and witnessed him performing miracles, and have shared that information over time, it speaks to the integrity/credibility of Jesus, and Jesus as Lord and Savior.  The scripture used today shows you how God reveals his glory....Jesus.  Are you ready to bring God glory by believing in him and Jesus and Holy Spirit?  Is Jesus your Savior?  Is he Lord over your life?  If not, there is no time like the present to ask him to come into your heart, take control of your life, ask him to forgive you of your sins, and, ask him to heal you to make you whole.  You can find a prayer above, or on the prayer page in The Family Room, or just speak from your heart.  God made you, he doesn't care how you pray to him, as long as you just DO pray to him....to come into your life.  Won't you consider doing this today?  Right now?  There is no better time than the present.  Then rejoice!  Because anything you ask for in Jesus name' will be granted you, if it aligns with his will for your life. Truly, he will not deny you THIS request.  It will benefit you greatly:  mind , body, spirit and soul.  It will bring the Lord glory.  Bless him and be blessed!  Receive him today!    

I Can Only Imagine*

I can only imagine, what it would be like, when I walk, by your side.

I can only imagine, what my eyes would see, when your face, is before m.

I can only imagine.

Surrounded by your Glroy, what will my heart fell?

Will I dance for you, Jesus?  Or in awe of you be still?

Will I stand in your Presence, to my Knees will I fall?

Will I sing Hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine.

When that day comes, and I find myself, standing in the Son, I can only imagine.

When all I will do, is forever, forever worship You.

I can only imagine.   

***

Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, please show me every day how to bring you glory.  Please forgive me of my sins, heal me and make me whole.  I've not lived a life of righteousness.  I'd like to start all over again today.  Let today be the day for my new birth.  Come into my life...my heart.  Renew my spirit by filling me with your Holy Spirit.  Baptise me in the fullness of all Holy Spirit has to give me.  And then lead me on to help others learn the way...that you are the truth and the light.  That there is heaven, that your life and death are not in vain.  You are the resurrected Lord, the one and only.  Thousands of people have witnessed your life and many have historically documented your life.  Help me get through to those who say you don't exist, or you are only a prophet, those who don't believe.  Help me to give them new meaning in their lives.  Help me to help them see on the anniversary of this Easter season that 'you are risen...you are risen indeed!'  Thank you God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  Thank you for making my life whole. Without you I am nothing...with you I am complete.  Help me bring you glory.  Thank you yet again.  I love you.  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'.

***

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. 

It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!   

***

***

If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regularly to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptizing 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, 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!   

 ***

  Checks or money orders can be made out to

Trinity Missions

or the

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Note New Address 

Trinity Missions

P.O. Box 85042

Tucson, Arizona

85754

 *

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 Rhythms 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."

***

***

* I Can Only Imagine by Rita Springer from the Bonus Track of the Worship Together CD "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever".  Music and lyrics by Bart Millard p 1999 Floodgate Records.  Rita Springer appears courtesy of Floodgate Records.  www.floodgaterecords.com

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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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