SATURDAY SACRIFICE: Nothing You Can Give and Don’t Forget God

This past week, I was talking to a close friend about the Holy Ghost. The conversation was really great! He expressed that he knew about the Holy Ghost and how he wanted it.

However, he added that he didn’t know whether he could do it.

This is the first time I ever heard someone say that, I was a little shocked a bit. For the reason that my close friend was talking about receiving the Holy Ghost, and speaking in tongues as if it were a skill you acquire through practice.

I immediately assured him that it is not us; it is God’s Spirit moving in us. There’s nothing we can give or do to receive the Holy Spirit. All we can do is repent, be baptized, believe and receive. God will do the rest.

VERSE: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ~Acts 2:38

Like, Simon in Acts 8:1-25, my friend thought that it was in his own power that he could receive the Holy Ghost. It says “when Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” ~Acts 8:18-19

Then Peter answered him and said,

 “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!”~Acts 8:20

God’s gift is free to us. It’s priceless.

 

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When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant.~Deutoronomy 31:20

In Deutoronomy God knew the Israelites once again will forget all the battles he brought them out of, and all the blessings he provided. So, he told Moses to write down a Song that he will give to remind the Israelites of who the true God is.

One part of the Song says, ¹⁰ In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste.
He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye,¹¹ like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft.

è We are God’s children; we are the apple of his eye. He provides, leads, and guards us every day and in every aspect of our lives.

¹² The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him.¹³ He made him ride on the heights of the land
    and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished him with honey from the rock,
    and with oil from the flinty crag,¹⁴ with curds and milk from herd and flock and with fattened lambs and goats ,with choice rams of Bashan and the finest kernels of wheat. You drank the foaming blood of the grape.¹⁵ Jeshurun^[c] grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek.

è Everything we have God provided because he is with us. He gave us a way to go to school, to get that car, to receive that A on the test. He led us to meet the right people so that we would have God’s favor on the job or in school.

They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior.¹⁶ They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols.¹⁷ They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God— gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your ancestors did not fear. ¹⁸ You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.

è A few weeks ago Chris talked about things we put before God. It says in the bible somewhere (can’t recall right now) anything put above God is an idol. Don’t forget who the true God is. Don’t forget who created you, and what you were created for. In everything you do, do it for God.

 

Stay in God’s Peace, not in pieces=)

Saturday Sacrifice: Hannah

Friday Fellowship: Encounter a Real God

Are you a grounded believer? Why? Traditions, rituals, rules and guidelines these are not what keep God’s followers grounded. In tough times these traditions, rules and guidelines tend to lose their merit. Eventually many people begin questioning the purpose of them and if God truly cares for the traditions, rules or guidelines. Our reading shares answers to why these men are grounded: Moses, Stephen and Job.

First, Moses he was told by God that he wasn’t going to the promise land, despite this disappointing news he was a faithful servant to God still leading Israel cognizant of this disappointment.
Why was he still a GROUNDED BELIEVER, serving God with this disappointment? The reason is because Moses once stood on holy ground and heard directly from Heaven.
^33 “Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.”

Secondly, Stephen was alone and speaking the truth from God to a proud hostile crowd. He corrected them boldly and the crowd began to shift to a violent mob.
Why would Stephen still be a GROUNDED BELIEVER, correcting a hostile crowd with God’s words and ignore the violent mob indications? The reason is because Stephen opened up his eyes and viewed Heaven. He encountered God, whom allowed him to see into Heaven.
^55 “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,”

Finally, Job this man was suffering in every facet in life and had not one thing except his breath which ailed him to be grateful of.
Why would he still be a GROUNDED BELIEVER, acknowledging God as his savior and still God? The reason which is not stated in our reading, yet inferred is because Job had some encounters with God, some indelible experiences involving God.
Job 19
^25 “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:”
^26 “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:”

Traditions, rituals, rules, guidelines, they will not keep you grounded they can make you feel good adding structure and an appearance to be applauded yet will they keep your faith rooted in tough times? Real answers lead to real results.
Our examples today say, seek God until he reveals himself. God must be real in your life to be a GROUNDED BELIEVER. It’s ok if you have not encountered God, but if you make that decision saying God I need you to be real to me. God sent his only son to die so he could connect with you and I. Think about that and his word guarantees you will succeed in finding him.
(I share one of my encounters with God  in the “Testimonies” tab of this  website)
Jeremiah 29:13

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Thirsty Thursdays: Choices

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Every day we make choices, what to eat, what music we listen to, what team we root for, our political affiliations etc.  Some are relatively insignificant while others can be monumental life altering decisions. Every choice we make ends in a result, usually one in which we hope is positive or works for our benefit. While not everyone everywhere shares the same rights, we all have free will to make certain decisions in our lives.

Deuteronomy 30:15-19 “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 but if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed…19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses…”.

These verses stood out to me because it brought me back to something we discussed in my Tuesday night bible study. We have to make a choice; we cannot casually serve God. Either we will submit and serve or reject him. Just going through the motions is not okay. Yes we have free will so yes we can choose to drift or do things our own way but don’t be shocked by the results of your choices (HELL is real). Do not confuse BAD DECISIONS with BAD LUCK; you reap what you sow. No you or I will not be perfect, we will mess up along the way, but God knows our hearts and intentions. He is a forgiving God. So through our mistakes we should repent, strive to become better and more Christ like.

Pop Culture has people screaming Y.O.L.O., which stands for You Only Live Once (as if before people thought we had multiple lives smh). Yea we have one life here on earth and it will pass, what we do for Christ is what will last. So while living this life I plan on loving God, building a relationship with him, walking in obedience, becoming Christ like, growing spiritually, etc. Now days everyone is marching to movement…what are you standing for? I for one will choose life and prosperity over death and destruction. Whats your Choice?

Stay Thirsty My Friends!!!

Thirsty Thursdays: Ron

Warrior Wednesdays: The Importance of Obedience

Did you know The first 14 verses of Deuteronomy chapter 28 are about the blessings for obedience, however verse 15-68 are about the curses for disobedience? That is 53 verses dedicated to the curses associated with not obeying God's commandments. God found it important to devote 53 verses to the consequences of disobeying God's word which demonstrates the true importance of obedience. Disobeying leads to extreme hard ache and pain.  In order to receive his blessings we must obey.

Some of the blessings that God promises are found in a quote that we say often at my church. It goes as follows (read this part out loud) "I am the head and not the tail..I am above and not beneath...I am a lender not a borrower... I am rich, I'm filthy rich...rich in health, wealth, love and peace...I am in the right place at the right time under the right ministry and I know that's right!”

This phrase although modified comes straight from the blessings that God promised in Deuteronomy. "The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto the land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only and not beneath; if that thou harken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them." 28;12-13 These verses represent a few of the blessings associated with obeying God's word.

Obedience to God's voice and his commandants is imperative! Obedience can be the deciding factor between blessings and curses in your life.

Challenge: Think of the ways and areas of of your life that you need to be more obedient to God in.

Stay Blessed and Continue Warring for Christ!

Warrior Wednesday: Brittney

TRANSFORMING TUESDAY: Be A Witness

Do you witness to your friends? Do you spread the gospel of Christ? If you don't, is it because you are ashamed or is it because you fear rejection? Don't forget what God has bought you from and the possibility of where he is brining you to. Everyone has the right to know how GREAT God is!! 

Today's reading focused on the power of God through the act of witnessing. Often times most of us are afraid to witness or feel intimidated out of the fear that people might not receive us. This is mainly because a lot of us fear rejection. I remember growing up I always hesitated to witness to others about the power and love of God. I remember always seeing my mom and other elders in the church telling everyone they met about the power of God. I've always admired that about them because they seemed so fearless. I know when my mom used to witness to her friends and invite them to church they did not come to church initially but for some reason they've eventually came to church. Talk about sharing the gospel! Just Sunday my mom invited someone to church while in Walmart. I've realized that as I've grown older I have found is so much easier to witness to others. Now I don't hesitate to tell the world how good God has been to me!!! Life is too short not to and in reality, I wholeheartedly understand where my help comes from and I know for a fact I cannot do for myself what God CAN and HAS done for me.

It's no secret that I live for God and him only. I am more conscious of the things I say and the things I do. This is because witnessing is not going door to door and inviting people to church. Witnessing is in the way that you talk, the way that you walk, the way that you see, the way that you think, and the way that you hear; witnessing involves all 5 senses because it is a lifestyle. I say this to say that if you're going to preach about the goodness of Jesus and try to bring people to Christ you have to exemplify that type of lifestyle and that's with anything. It's kind of like endorsing a product!!! Ever wonder why celebrities who endorse products with commercials but never endorse that product in person??? Because it obviously can't be that great LOL! Think about Beyonce and House of Dereon....now we know that clothing line was not that great to say the least smh. She never wore her own product except for on a few occasions and we know why! Then take someone like P. Diddy, he wears his name brand clothes and has done so on my red carpet events, which shows us that it's a great or somewhat of a great product. That's how we should be when it comes to witnessing. Let's endorse Jesus and wear the goodness of his works in everything that we do!!! I'm talking about praying for your friends when they express hard times and worry, inviting them to church, and inviting them to bible study. I'm not saying we are going to be perfect because that's not true. What I'm saying is that we should strive to be more like him and inform others. And let's remember that God doesn't NEED us to endorse him, because he's God ALONE! But as Christians and people who claim to have a relationship with Christ, these are things we should do.

In Acts 5, the Apostles gained many followers as they were preaching the gospel. People were bringing the poor, mentally ill, and sick to them and people were being healed left and right. The high priest grew angry because they were gaining believers and so the apostles were jailed. However, God sent an angel of the Lord during the night to open the jail doors and the Apostles were released and continued to preach the gospel. That just shows you that when you are in bondage and serving God that he can free you from that to continue to do his will. Think about a time you were in bondage and called on the name of God and he showed up and made everything work out. I know for me I was recently hired for a judge and I felt like I was in bondage before that because I went on a million interviews and it took forever for me to get hired. I didn't get too discouraged because I knew God had a plan and his plan has had perfect timing thus far. The same is true for those of us who fear endorsing Christ; if we fear rejection but witness anyhow, God will honor our obedience.  According to Peter: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:29-32 NIV).

I've always found it interesting that people who don't have Jesus in their hearts always find a way to understand the importance of him. This is because they know people know how important and real Christ is. An example of this is when a teacher of law known as Gamaliel states, 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39 NIV). Someone who didn't believe in God said it right there: If your actions are a part of your purpose by God, then you are unstoppable. Always remember that! With God anything is possible...so why would you not endorse God through witnessing?

My Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for who you are and for loving me despite my many flaws. I pray that you continue to keep me and guide me and to give me the strength to face rejection, knowing that with you I am an overcomer. I pray:

• when people see me, they see you
• when people hear me, they hear you
• when people think of me, they think of you
• when people speak of me, they speak of you
• when people touch me, they touch you

Everyday Lord I am striving to be more like and you and I ask that you continue to draw me nearer to you. I would also like to pray for the victims of the Boston bombing and ask that you heal the wounds of everyone affected. I also ask that you bring this nation closer together because we are living in the end times. I pray for love, peace, comfort, wisdom, guidance, and direction. You are the truth and the life and if anytime is the time to serve you, Lord it is today. I ask that people seek your face in times of trouble and they rejoice you anyhow. Thank you for keeping me and for keeping my friend who is reading this. We love you. Amen!

It's Never Too Late To Transform Your Tuesdays!

Transforming Tuesday: Jamera

Merciful Monday:"You know my LIPS don't lie and I'm starting to feel it's right"

Have you ever told a “little white lie” and thought that it wouldn't harm anybody or that no one would find out? Sometimes we think that because we can’t see a lie causing harm, it won’t. But as the story we read today in Acts 5 indicates, sin separates us from God (see Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”)

Ananias and his wife Sapphira both lied to the apostles about the amount of money they were donating. They said they had sold their property and were giving all of the proceeds to the church. Most of that statement was true, but one little word, with a big connotation—“ALL”— was false. A lot of times that’s how we lie isn’t it? It usually isn’t blatant. We twist our words or use phrases that have certain nuances that make them untrue. (I know that’s how I lie, because it makes me feel better about lying in the first place L lol)

Why do we lie? Usually it is for selfish reasons. We want to have a certain image, we don’t want to be embarrassed, we don’t want to confront a problem…superficial things. In this case I think Ananias and Sapphira lied to make themselves seem more “holy.” Not holy in the actual sense as in their devotion and service to God, but holy in the worldly sense, as in one of those Christians that seeeeems to always do the right things (you know what I mean, right?!). But they were so caught up in their lie that they neglected to realize that they weren’t being the holy people they sought to be. They didn’t realize that God knows our hearts. God knows everything!

Psalm 44:20-21 says: “If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods, God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.”

1 John 3:20 says: “Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.”

Psalm 139: 1-6 says: “You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.  You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.”

Ananias and Sapphira both dropped down dead because of one small word that they really could have left out. Peter even said, “The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” (Acts 5:4). It is said best in Job 15:6, “Your own mouth condemns you, not I. Your own lips testify against you.” That basically means that with each lie, we are convicting ourselves. There is no need for a jury because God already knows all of the facts of the case.

We often fail to realize that once a lying spirit enters our heart, it replaces the spirit of godliness and of Truth, and ultimately that of the Holy Spirit (which is God). We inadvertently separate ourselves from God because God hates sin. Among the seven things that God detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family. Lying is mentioned twice! Yes, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, unfortunately it’s unavoidable. But next time you open your mouth to tell a hot one, think first about the spiritual and practical implications of one seemingly little white lie. Just ask Pinocchio, he knows what happens when you lie!

Merciful Mondays: Jael

^“For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors.” Deuteronomy 4:31

Salvation Sunday: Step up with boldness

Are you walking in Gods plan? Are you following and listening to God?

Today's reading in acts deals with stepping out in boldness. The author requests that we would be granted authority to speak out in boldness. Another question was for his people to perform miracles and step out in the path decided by God. Now, this weekend some of us went to Battle Cry. I had personally had an awesome time. God moved and I got some blessings. The theme of this weekend was relentless pursuit. Now, with this theme, the speaker talked about how Jesus pursues after His children with no hindrances. Now it is time for us to pursue God without any distractions or hindrances. Once we listen to God and let Him take control, he will start to reveal your purpose to you. Through the reading of His word, he will reveal and call you to a certain purpose. So then the next question is are you acting out in His plan? Are you trusting God? It's time to trust God and speak in boldness. It's time to put your faith into action. God is wanting his people to rise up in boldness. Some of the speakers said the fire that is being rebirthed within us needs to carry out where ever we go. This should become apart of our lifestyle.

I encourage and challenge you this week to walk in boldness and live it as a lifestyle. The prayer for this post is God I want to say what you want me to say. I want to go where you go. I want to pray what you pray. God, I want to be your open vessel.

Stay blessed!!
Salvation Sunday: Steven Gable

GUEST BLOGGER APRIL: Are You Serious About God's Will?

Our read stems from Acts 4 versus 23-37

The question we must all pose in life at one time or another is “are we serious about

God’s will?”

Are you serious about God’s will? No truly understand what you are answering before you just blurt out an answer. I desire you to boldly say yes but did you count the cost before you picked up your cross? We will come back to this question.

The verse picks up after Peter and John were detained and released by the chief priests for healing a lame man in the name of Jesus. Since the man was healed and the people were marveled and glorified God because what was done the Chief knew they couldn’t do anything to Peter or John because of the people. So Peter and John rushed back to their congregation and told basically everything they experienced. This is where it gets interesting; in unity they all lifted their voice and prayed

together the same prayer!

"O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them -- 25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor King David, your servant, saying, 'Why did the nations rage? Why did the people waste their time with futile

plans? 26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.' 27 "That is what has happened here in this city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius

Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 In fact, everything they did occurred according to your eternal will and

plan. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give your servants great boldness in their preaching. 30 Send your healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your

holy servant Jesus."

They prayed for boldness to teach the gospel! They prayed for power to perform miracles for the sake of their mission of the truth of Chris Jesus. The Lord honored them and after they prayed they were filled with the Holy Spirit! Everyone became one in heart and soul and saw none of their personal treasures as

their own but each others.

These people were so serious about God’s will they gave up their lives and property for each other so no one would lack. A touching sentiment when you reflect that we live in such a selfish world. If we were serious about God’s will then our duty to our brothers and sisters in Christ would be to make sure none of us lacked, spiritual food or physical. It is not easy. Remember Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him? And then each time he said feed my sheep. 

My dare to us all is to feed each

other, love each other and grow with each other. Realizing that all we have is for the body of Christ! How different would it be to see the Lord moving among us like he has done in the past, today! Salvation came through the Jews but we have inherited it and let us remember God does not change, neither does he sleep or slumber. We have been washed from our sins. We have been given power in the name of our Lord! Jesus is King and let us make that transition to get on his way of things if we want to do God’s will. Be bold in Christ! He is the way, the truth and the life!

Are you serious about God’s will?

Love you all and I hope the Holy Spirit touched you!

Guest Blogger for April: Jihad

Saturday Sacrifice: Lack Confidence, Let Jesus be your Confidence

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. ~Acts 4:18-20

Peter and John were so fearless. Their life was hanging in the balance yet they chose to follow God never the less. The Holy Spirit was definitely burning like fire in them. Their faith in Jesus was unshakeable.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. ~Acts 4:13

Even the Pharisees realized that there was something different about these men.

The Bible says they realized they were unschooled, ordinary men, but they were astonished. Why? Because they had an X factor that separated them from ordinary men.

They had been with Jesus!

They heard and seen firsthand the miraculous wonders Jesus did. They followed Jesus everywhere he went. They had fellowship with Jesus. They were his family.

In addition, to having a personal relationship with Jesus while he was on Earth, they now had his Holy Spirit living on the inside of them. This gave them power to walk fearlessly through life all for the Glory of God.

We have Jesus too. Nothing in this world can give us confidence like Jesus can!

We don’t need to fear man, debt, sickness, not being successful, school, the future, or whatever. Our life is in God’s hands.

Only HE is our confidence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay in God’s peace, not in pieces=)

Saturday Sacrifice: Hannah

Fellowship Friday: Truly Change Your Life

There was a man in the book of Acts desiring to truly change his life. He was lame from his mother’s womb and so he had people daily lay him down at the gate of the temple of God which was called Beautiful. Peter and John men of God were headed to this temple. By these references we know inside this temple God was moving, changing lives and manifesting his presence.
            This lame man wanted to change his life. His life was a daily cycle of being carried and laid down next to the gate outside the temple of God then proceeding to beg for money the rest of day.
Lame Man Diary (Imagined)
Monday carried me to the gate and laid me down. I asked all entering the temple for money, I got enough for today. Back again tomorrow.
Tuesday carried me to the gate and laid me down. I asked all entering the temple for money, I got enough for today. Back again tomorrow.
Wednesday carried me to the gate and laid me down. I asked all entering the temple for money, I got enough for today. Back again tomorrow.
Thursday carried me to the gate and laid me down. I asked all entering the temple for money, I got enough for today. Back again tomorrow.
Friday carried me to the gate and laid me down. I asked all entering the temple for money, I got enough for today. Back again tomorrow.
Saturday carried me to the gate and laid me down. I asked all entering the temple for money, I got enough for today. Back again tomorrow.
Sunday carried me to the gate and laid me down. I asked all entering the temple for money, I got enough for today. Back again tomorrow.
     The bible says the lame man one day asked for money as usual, but God intervened sending his servants. They knew exactly this man’s need for true change in his life. They commanded him in the name of Jesus to rise and walk. The thing that caused his cycle was his lameness so God gave him strength to get up and walk.
⁸ And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

¹⁰ And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

            God gave this man what he truly needed for change. His strength.

The things we seek may not be the solution to truly change our cycle in our lives. If this lame man was given a fortune of money he would be in a Palace or nice house of some kind, but eventually find a place to sit and dwell continuously saddened by his state of lameness. He would still be recognized as that lame man, just now a rich lame man. True change is found in and only in God. This world provides many things to attain or add, but only God is the creator of a new life. When you come to God he will give you a new life, a new direction, a new purpose, a new mind and
It will be his Holy Spirit that truly changes you.
The things of this world are earthly thereby only resulting in change that we earthly inhabitants recognize. When God departs his Holy Spirit within you, this is a heavenly gift that will truly change your life.

Thirsty Thursdays: FellowShip

Fellowship: Friendly association, especially with people who share one's interest; A group of people meeting to pursue a shared interest or aim. Fellowship is very important in the lives of believers.  It provides a sense of community, support, acceptance and belonging. It helps to further build the kingdom of God, while positively effecting our lives.

Peter, addresses the crowd explaining how they were all able to understand what was being said he goes on to tell them “36…God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” Acts 2:36. When the people heard this they were shocked and saddened and did not know what to do. Peter replies by saying “38 Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” Acts 2:38. Many accepted the message and were baptized. “44 All the believers were together and had everything in common 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” Acts 2:44-47

The community that fellowship provides is amazing. As seen in this chapter of Acts the believers all shared a common interest. As they did more and more together, more believers were added unto them thus increasing the Kingdom of God. For me personally, fellowship is one of the best parts of church. Life is not always easy and this walk can be difficult. Unfortunately, we do not always have the answers to our problems. Through fellowship we have a support system, a group of people we can lean on, who accepts us and will help us get through our issues. We do not have to face these adversities alone. The fellowship that goes on from Sunday service to my Tuesday night bible study and Wednesday night small group session is amazing. The open nonjudgmental forum provides an exceptional environment for spiritual growth. As we gain a better understanding of God's word and will for our lives, we are also afforded the opportunity to voice questions, cares and concerns. We share our knowledge and wisdom from personal experiences allowing us learn new things not only about each other but ourselves. The positive reinforcement, encouragement and support strengthens our relationship with each other as well as God. Fellowship is a vital part in self improvement, helping others and reaching the world for Christ thus building the Kingdom of God. 

Stay Thirsty My Friends

Thirsty Thursdays: Ron