March 3, 2019

    During Crisis, Planting, Watering, Nourishing....Be Patient    

Acts 24: 1-27

Acts

Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish leaders and the lawyer Tertullus, to press charges against Paul.  When Paul was called in, Tertullus laid charges against Paul in the following address to the governor:

"Your Excellency, you have given peace to us Jews and have enacted reforms for us.  And for all of this we are grateful to you.  But lest I bore you, kindly give me your attention for only a moment as I briefly outline our case against this man.  For we have found him to be a trouble-maker, a man who is constantly inciting the Jews throughout the world to riots and rebellions against the Roman government.  He is a ringleader of the sect known as the Nazarenes.  Moreover he was trying to defile the Temple when we arrested him.  You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself."  Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.

Now it was Paul's turn.  The governor motioned for him to rise and speak.  Paul said, "I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, and this gives me confidence as I make my defense.  You can quickly discover that it was no more than twelve days ago that I arrived in Jerusalem to worship at the Temple.  I didn't argue with anyone in the Temple, nor did I incite a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city.  These men certainly cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.

"But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a sect.  I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the books of prophecy.  I have hope in God, just as these men do, that he will raise both the righteous and the ungodly.  Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and everyone else.

"After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.  My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ritual.  There was no crowd around me and no rioting.  But some Jews from the province of Asia were there - and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me!  Ask these men here what wrongdoing the Jewish high council found in me, except for one thing I said when I shouted out, "I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!"

Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, "Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives.  Then I will decide the case."   He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.

A few days later, Felix came with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish.  Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus.  As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified.  "Go away for now," he replied.  " When it is more convenient, I'll call for you again."  He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.

Two years went by in this way, then Felix was succeeded by Porcious Festus.  And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish leaders, he left Paul in prison.             

***

 Thoughts....

1.  Admit your truth of whom you follow and worship.

2. Share your belief in THE WORD....Jesus Christ.

3. Share your hope in the promise of the resurrection of the dead.

4. Maintain a clear conscience before God and others.

5. Help others with your money.

6.  Sacrifice for God.

7.  Continue to practice your faith.

8.  Continue to share the gospel even in unusual circumstances.

9.  Share, with reason, regarding righteousness, self control, and the judgment to come (see John 15).

10.  Seeds always need watering - even a full grown plant requires water and nourishment.

11.  Do all this even during what feels like....or is....imprisonment.

12.  Be patient.  

*

Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit forgive me for my sins, so that I may be a cleansed vessel to which Holy Spirit would want to come, rest and have his being, to lead, guide and direct me.  Heal me and make me whole.  Lord God, Lamb of God, Holy Spirit, continue to lead, guide and direct me, knowing I live in clear conscience, albeit never perfect, and that your truth is my truth, as I reach out to share all you are and can be to others.  May I reason with your heart and embrace all with empathy and compassion as I share your hope for a more blessed tomorrow in the resurrection you've gifted, if only others will receive....you, abide in you, allowing you to abide in them, and worship you.  Through all this, let neither myself, or others, lose faith or patience.  I am trusting you, with faith sincere, that you will see me, and those who accept you, 'through'.   I thank you.  I praise you.  I love you.  Amen.

***

Grateful for God's lesson today?

We now have Pay Pal!  See below!

 Visit our NEW rooms in The Family Room!

Hey....we have a New Blog....'Truth On Main Street'!

Our Catalog Page is here....'Shoppe'!

Did you know there are 8 plus years (!) of 

'Thoughts....Archived'?

For when you need The Word any time of day or night!

***

 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 Rhythms 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. 

'All who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.  For you are all Christians - you are ONE in Christ Jesus.'  Galatians 3: 27

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

Teach tolerance....reach in acceptance....worship as one!

Respect....Embrace....Encourage!

***

***

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."

***

There is no better time than now to let God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit know how grateful you are for them being there for you, all they have done for you and will do, and, show thankfulness for being fed the Word of God, so you can know and obey him.   

Through your donations,

 people will be able to continue to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughout the world

and

lives will be changed!

Not only will people hear the Gospel preached, but healings will be manifested, food and housing provided,

water will quench thirsts, and medical care provided. 

Please consider donating your best gift possible today.

We now offer Pay Pal as a way to donate immediately and safely.  You'll find that option as you scroll down on this page.

Thank you and may God richly bless you!  

***

  Our Continual 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, animals, the earth, 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 ! 

***

You can now donate securely through Pay Pal!

Stand by - disabled

 

No gift is too small or too large to the Lord. 

*

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

000-000-0000

Monday - Friday

9 a.m.  -  11 a.m.

USA Mountain Time

****Temporary Issues****

Please note Trinity Missions or CoHS in your subject line.

****NO TEMPORARY CONTACT****

At this time,

due to security reasons, and my current employment,

all information of contact has been changed and deleted. 

Please understand.

 *

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 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.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

***

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.

 ***

NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

 *