We welcome and embrace you, loved ones,

throughout the world!

Hello and welcome....

to our Brother(s) & Sister(s) in the area of El Salvador,

the area of the Hawaiian Islands, Northwest Christmas Island Ridge,

and from Canada!

Hey, USA, hi!

We miss all others not with us today and look forward to meeting more!

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

let us hear from you via email!   

May 15, 2011

 Obedience And Love 

Matthew 26: 39

Matthew

Jesus said to God, "My Father!  If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.  Yet I want your will, not mine." 

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Thoughts.....

Jesus knew he was to die:

Jesus said to his disciples:  "As you know, the Passover celebration begins in two days, and I, the Son of Man, will be betrayed and crucified.  Matthew 26:2   

You will die at some point....are you ready to meet God? 

He knew he would be betrayed:

Jesus prophesied and forewarned his disciples:  "One of you who is eating with me now will betray me.  For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures delclared long ago.  But how terrible it will be for my betrayer.  Far better for him if he had never been born!"  Matthew 26: 23-24

Will you betray Jesus?

Jesus knew he would be deserted:

"Tonight all of you will desert me," Jesus told his disciples.  Matthew 26:31

Have you deserted Jesus?

He knew he was to die, begged not to, but offered himself to the Father's will:

He prayed, "My Father!  If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me.  Yet I want your will not mine."  Matthew 26:39

And again he prayed, "My Father!  If this cup cannot be taken away until I drink it, your will be done."  Matthew 26:42

Do you offer yourself to the Father's will? 

Are you willing to say as Jesus did, "I want your will [Father]". 

Jesus told his disciples "Keep alert and pray.  Otherwise temptation will over-power you.  For though the spirit is willing, the body is weak".  Matthew 26:41-42.   

Take heed.

In what areas of your life are you not obedient and loving God and Jesus?

In what areas of your life is temptation seeking to, or is, over-powering you?  

Are you alert and praying?

In what areas of your life are you unwilling to love your neighbor as yourself?  "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind."  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important:  'Love your neighbor as yourself'.  Matthew 22:37-39 

Jesus asked his disciples...his friends....to "stay here and watch with me".  His 'soul was crushed with grief to the point of death' over his ongoing....upcoming tragedy.  Matthew 26:38

Are you watching out for your neighbor? 

He yelled when they didn't.  He said to Peter, "Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour?  Keep alert and pray."  Matthew 26:40

Jesus yelled at them.  He then spoke to one.  After he admonished a second time, he directed them to "keep alert and pray".

Do you keep alert and pray for your neighbor....that person you know who is hurting, suffering, in crisis, dying?

How many excuses can you come up with to keep from reaching out, staying alert, praying...loving? 

How many times should you ask forgiveness for the same offense?  Jesus told the woman at the well to go and sin no more, after he had forgiven her.  Impossible?  Apparently not in Jesus' mind.

There is a book called "I Love You THIS Much" by Lynn Hodges and Sue Buchanan and illustrated by John Bendall-Brunello.  It is for children, and, it shows a bear on the cover stretching out his arms as far as they will reach.  It is a precious book I hope you will take the time to read....and hold close as a keepsake to remind you of God's and Jesus' love.  That is, if every breath you take is not enough to know....he loves you still.

Jesus reached out his arms on the cross....as far as they would reach.  He was showing us how much he loves us....enough to die for us....to offer us forgiveness of sins and eternal life.            

Are you willing to die for him....with him?  Are you willing to obey God and Jesus?  And love....God, Jesus....others?  

Are you willing to stay alert and pray for another?

Who are you in church?  Who are you out of church?

I have a friend who is dying.  She has served the church and the parishioners devotedly and lovingly for years without pay, only from her heart.  She has had Congestive Heart Failure the whole time, yet walked to the bus and from to get to the church, and walked miles to and from the store, to the Doctors, if the bus didn't stop nearby....yes in 2011.  She walked because people didn't want to reach back.  She bowed down to many and picked up after their messes.  They thought she was paid....a servant.  She was a servant...still is....to God loving her neighbor as herself.

One day they got angry when she wasn't 'doing' for them.  They learned she was a loving servant not a paid servant.  And then they expressed anger at her instead of themselves.  These are people in a church.  People who wouldn't drive her places because she was a liability...she might die in their car and someone could sue them.  People from a church.

She is now lying in a hospital bed and no one visits.  I visit, and call, and pray, and stay alert.  I've taken in her dog, become her 'real' friend, executive secretary, if you will, and then some.  I've been there and will continue to be there.  I'm closing up her apartment, taking over her responsibilities, finalizing her life.  Her priest visits.  He brought someone with him to pray over her....finally.  Well, other than the Priest and myself.  Oh, and someone did come and bring her a picture of Mary.  She's been in the hospital for a month and a half.  I don't understand.  I don't understand how people can call themselves Christian and not offer Christian charity.  Where are the flowers, cards, well wishes, phone calls, pillow fluffers, blanket smoothers, well wishers....the servants?  I've brought Eegees smoothies or whatever they are called.  Who else will bring the delicacies of love, devotion, tasty food(!)?  Who else will stay alert and pray?  Where are the CHRISTIANS?!

And where are the Christians for my other friend who dies alone at home from Cancer?  Who selflessly served the church all her life and donated beyond tithing to keep it alive?  Who reached out to everyone there and those leaving the doors behind to help keep them in touch and be reminded of a loving Savior?  A Matriarch in the church.  Although she doesn't want folks to visit her, she loves to get out and go for rides and lunch, and talk on the phone.  She adores cards, letters, and gifts.  Some days I wonder who else knows the meaning of friendship, of sacrifice, of obedience, of love.

And there is the neighbor who needs to get out daily and the other neighbor whose water filtration system broke and spilled water everywhere.  I was there....where were you? 

I am very blessed to have friends....real true friends who are there for me.  Those in a church, those outside of a church and Atheists.  I pray thanksgivings for all those in my life now, and who have been there in the past.  And I pray I will have friends to surround me when my times of trials come when my end time draws near.  Perhaps you should pray, too.            

Jesus stretched out his arms on a cross.  He's asked us to sacrifice as well.  Though we do not have to die for others, we must emulate him, and die to self, in obedience to the Father's will for the sacrifice he made for us...in thanksgiving. 

Do you think of someone.....and not stop to pray for them, or call, or go to see them?  Perhaps you should do this when you think of them.  Ask heavenly Father and Jesus what they want you to do for another today.  Isn't it time to lay your life down a bit?  You are going to die at some point.  I consider it prudent to "do all the good you can while you can".  I've said many times that, 'your end time may come before THE end times'.  Are you ready to meet Jesus and God?   Will they be able to say, "Well done, good and faithful servant?" 

There are many people in many churches of many differently titled denominations.  If the above is an example of what goes on church wide, is it any wonder why Atheists have so much fuel for their fire?  Come on people!  We CAN and MUST do better than this!  

Perhaps you are a loner and not a socializer.  It doesn't take much to do a little SOMETHING somewhere for SOMEONE.  Water the weeds in your yard...they'll appreciate it.  Thank the cashier at the grocery store.  Donate to a cause.  Start praying for residents of a local nursing home.  Pray for the paramedics and firemen and women in your town.  Have you thanked your postal person lately?  Volunteer at the local library or local hospital.  Send a card to someone you know needs encouragement.  Just reach out however you can.  If you are alone, you and others may need to know you/they are not alone....'buddy up'.

The point is to sacrifice, obey, do the Father's will.....LOVE....as a by-product of the greatest love.  And do it today.  Someone needs you and you need someone.  Their names are God, Jesus, Ralph, John, Debra, Bonnie, Jenny, Henry, Mike, Eric, Kim, Zaye, Herb, Jean, Priscilla, Raphael, Michelle, Marsha, Sara, Cara, Gene, Baby, Annie, Seth, George, Melinda, Merry, and there are more.  Ask God who needs you, if you cannot figure out who might.  He WILL tell you. Your job will then be to obey.  With love....as thanksgiving for love....real, true perfect love.  The kind of love given from a Savior who stretched out his arms THIS much on a cross to say he loves you. 

Desire his will today.

"And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'"  Matthew 25:40 

***

Let Us Pray

Holy and gracious Father:  In your infinite love you made me for yourself; and, when I fell into sin and became subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share my human nature, to live and die for me, to reconcile myself to you, the God and Father of all.

Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.

You stretched out your arms upon the cross, and offered yourself, in obedience to God's will, a perfect sacrifice for me and the whole world.

Thank you, Jesus, for the opportunity to receive eternal life....if I believe....in you....and that you died for me....and I do. 

Therefore I praise you, joining my voice with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, and who for ever sings this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted me as a living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, in being obedient to you and Jesus, I show you my gratitude, my devotion, my thanks, my love, my servitude to you and others.

Send me now into the world in peace, and grant me strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord.  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         

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

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

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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 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!   

 ***

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Trinity Missions

or the

Church of the Holy Spirit

and sent to

Note New Address 

Trinity Missions

P.O. Box 85042

Tucson, Arizona

85754

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

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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 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."

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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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