The Promise of the Spirit

Is there a shortage of God's Spirit? I think not. Although there are some who act as if there is. At one time, people couldn't fathom such an outpouring such as we have today. Moses once said to Joshua, "Oh, that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them" (Numbers 11:29)!

If he only knew...

However, I find it a shame that there are still many who do not know God's Spirit has been poured out on all flesh. In my travels, I meet people from a diversity of backgrounds. There are some religions in which the Bible is never read by their members; it is only translated from the pulpit. Others insist on the letter of the Law, but refuse to believe in the gifts of the Spirit, therefore quenching what God could do among them.

Hearts cry out for God to reveal Himself, yet how can He if there is a lack of faith and understanding? 

Did God not promise? Does He not make good on His promises? "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37-38). Jesus said this concerning the Holy Spirit, whom His believers would receive. 

Ezekiel prophesied of the Spirit's indwelling when he said, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God" (Ezekiel 36:26-28).

A heart of stone represents something dead. A heart of flesh represents life. What could possibly turn a dead stone into a living stone? This can only be done by the Spirit of the living God poured into the heart of man. 

Paul encouraged us to rely on, and perceive as truth, the ability of Christ's indwelling: "If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:10-11).

Do not underestimate the power of the Spirit within you -- or the mere fact that you, as a believer in Jesus Christ, are filled with His Spirit. Jesus was once dead, but is now alive because of God's indwelling Spirit. "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, BEING PUT TO DEATH IN THE FLESH but made alive by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18). 

Jesus died an actual physical death. You and I have not suffered the consequences of death as of yet. Therefore, Jesus is our example of God's ability to take the dead and raise them to new life by His Spirit. He has promised to give strength and quickening to our mortality. How? By His Spirit which has a fixed position of co-habitation within us.

This news of God's Spirit within us is true and not a lie. We must believe in and walk in this truth. "You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. [This] anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is TRUE, and IS NOT A LIE, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him" (1 John 2:20, 27-28). 

Jesus gave gifts to mankind in the form of pastors, evangelists, teachers, apostles, and prophets for the purpose of building up His body. Yet, none of us have the privilege of walking 100% of the time with those anointed by God for this task. So God saw the imperitiveness of providing One who would walk with you daily, teaching you all things. This not unlike a mother or father explaining this or that to an inquisitive child, in response to their wonderings of things unknown to them.

Paul was an apostle. His letters to the churches were for the purpose of encouragement and teaching. In one such letter, he said, "Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This 'letter' is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts" (2 Corinthians 3:3, NLT). 

The same is true for you and I today. 

God's law was once carved on stone and put in the hands of His servant. Now His Spirit has been branded on the door of every heart that will believe on Him for salvation. This indwelling of the Spirit of the Living God replaced the tablets of stone which proved to be heavy and burdensome for the carrier.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17).  

We have discovered God's Spirit was poured into every believing heart. Therefore, "...where the Spirit of the Lord is..." -- our heart -- "there is freedom!"  Liberty and freedom are the complete opposite of bondage. Before Christ, our hearts could be likened to waste places forsaken and overgrown with briars. After Christ, the terrain changed. "The Spirit poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness became a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest. Justice will therefore dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness will remain in the fruitful field. The work of [this] righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever" (Isaiah 32:15-17).

The Spirit's indwelling in our heart became both fact and feeling. Assurance depicts a refuge. Refuge is in fact a place of security, and a sense of trust. "Oh, that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them" (Numbers 11:29)! Moses experienced God's assurance through His Spirit and greatly desired others to know Him this way also. He had a desire for God's people to know peace that passes natural understanding. He had the same desire God had.

The prophet Joel spoke on behalf of God's heart when he declared, "It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh" (Acts 2:17). God accomplished His desire. 

Gone are the days of wishing God would put His Spirit within all men. The work has been accomplished. No wonder Jesus said, "It is finished."

Daphne Delay

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Great Back to School Idea

For all you moms who love great first day school pictures here is a link to some great free "back to school signs" for each grade level.

http://www.moneysavingqueen.com/July-2013/Free-First-Day-of-School-Printables/

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Chicken Tortellini Soup

Chicken Tortellini Soup

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound carrots, chopped
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3 quarts chicken broth
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1(9 ounce)package cheese tortellini
6 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
1 (12 ounce package) frozen green peas

In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add carrots, onions, celery and garlic and cook for 8 to 10 minutes,stirring frequently.  Add chicken broth, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.  Increase heat to medium-high and bring broth to a boil.   Add tortellini; cook for 10 minutes. Stir in chicken and peas; cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or just until chicken is heated through.

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Friend or Unfriend?

During this summer with all four of my children at home, I did not know that I would have 4 more guests that would come and live in our home on a daily basis.  These four "new friends" were there at the brake of dawn sounding off their alarms until the evening singing lullabies rocking my children to sleep.  Our "four friends"  engaged my children in so many fun games I was even mesmorized by the creativity of our guests.  These friends connected them with old friends, some of whom they had not seen for years.  These friends were so smart they could answer any question and had the dictionary memorized.  I tried to be hospitable and treat them with respect, BUT THEN THEY WORE OUT THEIR WELCOME.  It was as if my children wanted to spend more time with their "new friends" then with their brothers and sisters or their parents.  I began to realize that our new friends didn't have many manners because they rudely interrupted a conversation between me and my children after breakfast by "tweeting."  I also realized that these "new friends" wanted to spend alot of time sitting on the couch, snacking on some chips and refusing to go outside and play.  My children started becoming very angry when I insisted that they go do their chores which meant they would be separated from their "new friend."  Their new friends started to affect their attitudes by making them distracted, irritable, impatient and easily offended.  And that is when I decided it was time for a family POW WOW and we were going to talk to our "four new friends"- the IPhone, the IPad, the IPod and the NintendoDS.

In Psalms 46:10, it says "Be still, and know that I am God."  In the midst of an age of technology we must have our guard up and not let devices become a "device" in our childrens' lives.  We must put
time limits on electronics so that they don't become their "new god."  We have a rule in our home that you can't get on electronics until after 1:00pm so that we can have some control.  We believe that electronics can be a blessing, but we want to make sure that our children are not being so entertained that they forget how to be quiet in his presence.  They must learn to quiet themselves from all distractions so that they know that God is God.  Help us Lord in this daily to control our "new friends" so that our children know God's voice better than Siri's.
Tricia Yanney

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Laughter Matters in Marriage

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.” ― Audrey Hepburn

I love people who make me laugh.  I honestly think it’s the thing that I like most, when my husband makes me laugh.  A happy heart is good medicine in a marriage.  Sometimes, I just take myself too seriously!  God knew just what I needed – my husband to be born with a silly bone and to have a great sense of humor built right into the fabric of who he is. 

Throughout our years of marriage, my husband has always been at the center of humorous, practical jokes in our family, goofing around with the kids, doing something silly and an unforgettable laugh that definitely has been passed on!  Laughter has been one of the contagious elements in our nearly 26 years,  ‘Happy Marriage Formula.’   Matter of fact, as I type this blog, I can hear each one of my children’s unique laugh.  I can hear my daughter Debbie’s laugh now!  Debbie has such an exclusive laugh, it was the only way we could find her in a grocery store ~ follow the laugh (true story!) 

Laughter Matters in Marriage!

Laughter is a strong medicine!  Proverbs 17:22 (Knox) clearly states, a cheerful heart makes a quick recovery.   It’s a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict.  God so fearfully and wonderfully made us that He approached even the smallest details with excellence; knowing laughter would trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.  Did you know that a good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes later?  Plus, here’s a bonus ladies, a good belly laugh decreases stress hormones – now that’s the wonder and awe of our God!  

He knew that humor would lighten the burden, enhance our relationship and keep us focused and alert, a necessary element in a happy marriage!    Take note the next time you laugh; nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into a balance than a good laugh.

Here are a few reflections I’d like to share:

Couples heading for an argument or disagreement, here’s a secret:  Humor and laughter can scatter tension and diffuse anger.

Couples who have been married for many golden years have learned that a special touch, a squeeze of the hand, a smile and a fun, playful laugh can diffuse possible tension.

I have fond memories of experiences of laughter in our family and marriage.  We’ve learned some lessons along the way.  One of them is to not become so obsessed with work and ministry that we forget to laugh in our home and with our family! 

So, lighten up on yourself and your family!  Relax, smile quickly and learn to laugh a lot.  A joy-filled heart is curative balm!       

Mary McIver

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