Posts with the tag “holy-spirit”

Have you ever prayed for something and it just seemed to take too long? I got myself caught up in that feeling recently, even though I knew better. Happens to the best of us. Our human nature is very demanding and it’s patience wears thin. It wants what it wants when it wants it! We have to use temperance and self-control, and a good dose of the Holy Spirit, to keep our human “I want it now!” desi...  Read More

Noise is getting on my last nerve. What about you? The television is going, the cell phone is dinging (I know I can turn off notifications, but then I won’t know when I’m being notified!), everyone’s talking, and yes, there is an annoying bird squawking right outside my bedroom window. It seems hard to escape the noise and find a quiet place.Real confession. I am prone to escape to the closet or t...  Read More

Years ago, we went to a festival in the park. There were artists, food vendors and music. As I strolled around, I came across some eye catching artwork depicting the Garden of Eden and Creation. Flowing through the garden was this peaceful, welcoming river. As I stared at the painting, I could imagine sitting peacefully there listening to the water flowing. “A river watering the garden flowed from...  Read More

Sharon was fed up! She asked Michael several times not to track the dirt in the house when he came home from work. Especially on her new floors. What did he do when he came in? He never stopped for a moment to take off his shoes and clumped through the house leaving a trail of mud. She exploded and gave him a piece of her mind. She then stormed out of the house fuming and by the time she got to th...  Read More

Sometimes we heap great praise on people who do great things. It’s giving honor and praise to a person who has accomplished something extraordinary, like developing a new cure for cancer or doing some great feat like athletics. Our praise can go to such heights that we place the person far beyond any others, almost “putting someone on a pedestal” or exalting him or her.“Exalt”, a word that isn’t u...  Read More

“Hallelujah” is an exclamation of worship or a call to praise. It comes from a Hebrew phrase that means “Praise the Lord.” It’s a joyful expression of praise and thanksgiving to God. Honestly, a Hallelujah should be on our lips every day for all the Lord has done and is doing for us. But sometimes it’s hard to find your Hallelujah or even remember you had it.Have you ever gotten up in the morning ...  Read More

Sometimes, it is best to let Scripture alone speak. We don’t need to add words or interpretation. Today, let’s let the Word speak to our hearts about the beauty of the resurrection of Jesus as seen through the eyes of those who dearly loved Him. They were no different from us, just ordinary people who believed He was the Son of God, and that through Him, we could all be saved and have eternal life...  Read More

Have you ever been so sad and confused over something that you found it hard to move forward another day? Some of us may feel that way because of the issues COVID-19 has brought. Some of us may feel that way because we’ve had a defining life event that was so hurtful. Some of us may identify because we’ve lost something or someone so suddenly.Imagine you are one of Jesus’ disciples and it’s the da...  Read More

It’s Spring and old man Winter is being pushed aside slowly but surely. The earth is preparing for a new season of planting and growth. Isn’t it amazing how our outlook changes with the seasons too? We begin to feel light hearted and we excitedly look forward to getting outside and enjoying the outdoors after being cooped up for so long. There’s only one thing:  we need the spring—rain.While rain ...  Read More

Yes, it’s that time again. You are invited to a praise party today. The time: right now. The dress: whatever you have on. Please bring your worship, your best praise dance moves and a bag of shouts of Hallelujah! BYOM (Bring Your Own Music).It’s time for us to send the enemy packing. Just because we have trials and situations to deal with doesn’t mean that we should let our guard down and let him ...  Read More

There was a time in our history, when a man or woman’s word was bond. Words were important and not thrown around without integrity and truth. If he or she said it, you could believe it. They stood by their word. If a person broke his or her word or promise, it would cause others to lose faith and trust in whatever that person said going forward. Character was important.Many contracts and bonds wer...  Read More

We are weary of the pandemic and all the worries of the world. It’s so tempting to put our heads in the sand and pray it passes over us somehow. This is not the time to give up or to run away. It’s time to double down and invite the Holy Spirit to come into our lives and every situation. It’s time to push through and pray for the revival we need to get past it all. It’s time we allow the Holy Spir...  Read More

Do you need an encounter with God today? Do you want to push away the troubles and demands of life, and take a break? Or do you just need a touch from Him today? Now is the time. Drop whatever you are doing, and let’s call upon the Lord to be present right where you are—in your car, in your room, as you are walking, wherever you are.Empty your thoughts and quiet your mind. It may take a moment, bu...  Read More

When we were kids, we loved a big downpour of rain in the summer because after the storm, we could run out and jump in the puddles. It was even more fun to walk along the curb in the water as it rushed down the street. Because I was Miss Don’t Want To Get Dirty, I would put my old sneakers on instead of going barefoot. Once we were done, I would walk home with squishy shoes, water just teeming out...  Read More

Waiting is a challenge, especially in our culture. We don’t have patience to wait and we can get a bit of an attitude if we have to. It’s time we take a pause and realize that there is actually beauty and blessings in waiting. In fact, it’s ten times easier to wait than to get all exercised and bothered, and still have to wait.Many things are worth the wait, and greater blessings often come in the...  Read More

We need to stay healthy, especially under stress. Over the past year, we’ve experienced just that as we’ve adjusted to the impact of COVID-19. Many of us take extra care to bolster our immune systems to improve our physical health. Taking vitamins like B, C, D, and zinc each day help. Our mental and spiritual health, however, are important too.Maintaining a healthy attitude and mental state increa...  Read More

“Delight,” a word that isn’t used much today. What does it mean to be delighted with someone or something? I get delighted when I see my granddaughter singing and dancing. I am delighted when I receive a gift from someone. To be delighted means to take great pleasure or keen enjoyment; to be greatly pleased.The best living example of someone who is delighted is to watch a baby. When a baby is deli...  Read More

Throughout the Old and New Testament, you’ll find many references to fire and the altar. God was the Fire in the burning bush and the Fire that led the Israelites at night to the Promised Land. Fire from heaven consumed altars laden with offerings to the Lord for sin. Tongues of fire came down from heaven upon Jesus’ followers when the Holy Spirit descended after His resurrection.Noah built the fi...  Read More

We’ve talked about the love the Lord has for us and the love we should have for Him; however, we cannot talk about love and ignore the other of the two commandments Jesus gave us: love your neighbor as you love yourself. If ever we need to heed those words, it is now. Facing bitter divisions within our country, our families and our neighbors, it’s time for us to return to His ways. He did not say ...  Read More

Yesterday, we talked about our need to get moving if we want to see change and the move of the Lord in our lives. We have to break out of our comfort zones and awaken the fire we have down in our bones for Jesus. In that fire and passion for Him, we will find a joy and peace that will overcome every crazy twist and turn of life.Does your soul burn for Jesus or has your faith and passion been reduc...  Read More

We are getting close to the Super Bowl and football is in the air. At least it is in my house. My husband was talking about the game with one of his buddies and since they both played professionally, they talked about being in the zone before big games. Basically, it means you desire to succeed so much that you focus in on the part you play, your position, until all you see is you reaching that go...  Read More

Every day we look for some sign of peace and unity for our country, our families and for us. What we’ve found is that we actually have to search for it or intentionally seek it because it doesn’t seem to come easy or naturally these days. Or so it seems. We are reminded, though, of that great feeling of peace when we see doves hovering nearby. For ages, they have been associated with peace, and th...  Read More

Everything around us is moving and shaking like an earthquake. We need the ever present help of our Father who can stop the shaking, but move in His way and His will. Help us pray this week for a great movement from Him to end the pandemic, the economic turmoil and the divisiveness that lurks in every corner. Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit across this land and the world. Only through His Prese...  Read More

Kathy was tired. Working in the hospital long hours with so much sickness was beginning to take its toll. She had pulled two doubles in a row and she hadn’t talked to her kids or husband in three days. On top of that, her emotional tank was beginning to reach empty and she knew she was running on fumes. She had to work. Her husband lost his job due to the pandemic, and even though he found a job i...  Read More

This is the third week of advent and it’s the week of joy. We celebrate the joy of Jesus’s birth, the joy of His resurrection and the joy knowing He will return for us one day. What is joy and can we really have joy in these times? Joy is great pleasure and delight. It is an emotion, not a conviction or a choice. It comes when we get excited about something magnificent. It comes from deep within t...  Read More