Upon reading through ACTs this morning the following scripture made me think of what Marie Chapian posted on her facebook wall yesterday regarding prayer...If you are on facebook check out Marie's post.
"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying for to God for him." ACTs 12:5
How many of us pray so earnestly that God heeds that prayer and sends an angel to set a captive free?
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Beauty
A Day of Delights
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Without Objection
In the 10th chapter of ACTs Peter has a vision. While Peter is still pondering the vision the Lord speaks to him and tells him to get up and go downstairs that there are three men that He has sent looking for him. The Lord instructs Peter not to hesitate in going with them. He goes with the men to meet Cornelius the centurion. Upon meeting Peter, Cornelius falls at Peter's feet and Peter says to him, "stand up, I am only a man." There is so much in this passage but I want to really focus on what Peter says to the large crowd gathered there.
" You are well aware that it is against our Law for a Jew to associate himself with a gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came WITHOUT OBJECTION..."
When the Lord calls us to get up and go, we are to go without objection. In our human minds it may not make sense at the time but you can rest assured that God knows exactly what He is doing and if you follow his lead you will see the path He is blazing.
Peter had a vision that made no sense at all to him. While still pondering the vision, the Lord speaks to him and says get up and go. The Lord had already set things in motion with Cornelius the day before. The circumstances and timing are perfectly arranged by the Lord. Peter's eyes and heart are completely set on the Lord. He knows that whether things make sense to him or not when the Lord says Go he goes without objection.
Have there been times when the Lord has laid something on your heart or has come to you in a dream or vision and it made absolutely no sense at all to you at the time, but later by following the Lord's promptings you find that it made perfect sense?
Please do share...
The following is a scaled down version of a journal entry of mine from December 20th 2007 Titled
YOU WILL KNOW
Back in November of 2007, I had been selling jewelry and the Lord prompted me to hold a jewelry show for a specific reason which I did not fully understand. He had laid it on my heart to save the profits from the show that he was going to use me to help a stranger at Christmas time. So after the show I made a mental note of a $65 profit. For a month and a half I would occasionally ask the Lord , "who is the stranger?" The answer was always the same, " you will know." I will never forget it as long as I live... on December 20th I was awakened with this impression, "today is the day." We were at our cabin located just outside of a small river town. My 5 year old son and I got up and headed into town to purchase items for my husband's office party. We made three stops. At each stop, every person I saw, I would ask, " is that the One Lord?" over and over the reply was, "you will know." Our last stop was the town grocery store. Going down each isle, I watched everyone closely. As I continued to ask the Lord the same question, I could feel that I was being like a child in the back seat of the car on a long trip constantly asking, "Are we there yet?" The Lord never wavered He answered patiently with the same three words, "you will know." He was right of course. As I was coming down the last isle and stepping into the checkout lane there they were and just as the Lord had said, " I knew right away." An older couple in front of me. The clerk was scanning their items when all of a sudden the gentleman realized he had forgotten his wallet. They were very distressed. The Clerk was explaining to them that she could suspend their order. The Lord prompted me to ACT now, so I said to her, " God told me he was going to use me to help a stranger today, I will pay for it, how much is it." The clerks response was, " you just gave me chills." The clerk finished scanning and the total was $69. The couple just starred at me and then the female squeezed between the cart, introduced herself and hugged me saying, " you are an angel, you do not know what you have done." I replied, "Yes maam I do, I obeyed God." The lady behind me piped up, "Thank God for people who listen to Him." The female started to tell me their circumstances and I said to her that she owes me no explanation, Merry Christmas from God. I watched the couple walk out the door looking bewildered. I looked back at the clerk who was trying to ring up my items but was crying so hard that she could not see through the tears. She called out for someone to come complete my order then she looked at me and said, " Before you stepped into line the couple you just helped was discussing between themselves how they were struggling and going out on a limb spending this amount of money on food." As I exited the store I saw the couple driving away, the female blew me a kiss and the gentleman waved with a smile. The presence of God was hovering so strongly over that store that day that as I left the store, I realized that my body was trembling from His presence. He is the Orchestrator of perfect timing and circumstance, we just have to be willing to get up and go without objection and let Him handle the rest...
Lord I thank you for your patient, gentle, sweet nudgings...
" You are well aware that it is against our Law for a Jew to associate himself with a gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came WITHOUT OBJECTION..."
When the Lord calls us to get up and go, we are to go without objection. In our human minds it may not make sense at the time but you can rest assured that God knows exactly what He is doing and if you follow his lead you will see the path He is blazing.
Peter had a vision that made no sense at all to him. While still pondering the vision, the Lord speaks to him and says get up and go. The Lord had already set things in motion with Cornelius the day before. The circumstances and timing are perfectly arranged by the Lord. Peter's eyes and heart are completely set on the Lord. He knows that whether things make sense to him or not when the Lord says Go he goes without objection.
Have there been times when the Lord has laid something on your heart or has come to you in a dream or vision and it made absolutely no sense at all to you at the time, but later by following the Lord's promptings you find that it made perfect sense?
Please do share...
The following is a scaled down version of a journal entry of mine from December 20th 2007 Titled
YOU WILL KNOW
Back in November of 2007, I had been selling jewelry and the Lord prompted me to hold a jewelry show for a specific reason which I did not fully understand. He had laid it on my heart to save the profits from the show that he was going to use me to help a stranger at Christmas time. So after the show I made a mental note of a $65 profit. For a month and a half I would occasionally ask the Lord , "who is the stranger?" The answer was always the same, " you will know." I will never forget it as long as I live... on December 20th I was awakened with this impression, "today is the day." We were at our cabin located just outside of a small river town. My 5 year old son and I got up and headed into town to purchase items for my husband's office party. We made three stops. At each stop, every person I saw, I would ask, " is that the One Lord?" over and over the reply was, "you will know." Our last stop was the town grocery store. Going down each isle, I watched everyone closely. As I continued to ask the Lord the same question, I could feel that I was being like a child in the back seat of the car on a long trip constantly asking, "Are we there yet?" The Lord never wavered He answered patiently with the same three words, "you will know." He was right of course. As I was coming down the last isle and stepping into the checkout lane there they were and just as the Lord had said, " I knew right away." An older couple in front of me. The clerk was scanning their items when all of a sudden the gentleman realized he had forgotten his wallet. They were very distressed. The Clerk was explaining to them that she could suspend their order. The Lord prompted me to ACT now, so I said to her, " God told me he was going to use me to help a stranger today, I will pay for it, how much is it." The clerks response was, " you just gave me chills." The clerk finished scanning and the total was $69. The couple just starred at me and then the female squeezed between the cart, introduced herself and hugged me saying, " you are an angel, you do not know what you have done." I replied, "Yes maam I do, I obeyed God." The lady behind me piped up, "Thank God for people who listen to Him." The female started to tell me their circumstances and I said to her that she owes me no explanation, Merry Christmas from God. I watched the couple walk out the door looking bewildered. I looked back at the clerk who was trying to ring up my items but was crying so hard that she could not see through the tears. She called out for someone to come complete my order then she looked at me and said, " Before you stepped into line the couple you just helped was discussing between themselves how they were struggling and going out on a limb spending this amount of money on food." As I exited the store I saw the couple driving away, the female blew me a kiss and the gentleman waved with a smile. The presence of God was hovering so strongly over that store that day that as I left the store, I realized that my body was trembling from His presence. He is the Orchestrator of perfect timing and circumstance, we just have to be willing to get up and go without objection and let Him handle the rest...
Lord I thank you for your patient, gentle, sweet nudgings...
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Held Captive by Me, Me, Me
This morning as I read the account of Simon the sorcerer in the 8th chapter of acts, I saw that Simon after confessing his belief and being baptized was still held captive to his own desire to be great. His eyes were not on Christ and the good news of the gospel but on the miraculous signs and wonders that the Holy Spirit was working through the apostles. Simon had had followers himself who had considered him the "Great Power" as he had amazed the people with his magic. Now he himself was seeing the true Great Power at work and the scriptures state that he was astonished..
He witnessed Peter and John laying their hands on those who had been baptized that they might receive the the gift of the Holy Spirit. All Simon could think was that he wanted this ability and as you know when he approached Peter with money to buy the ability, Peter rebuked him and commanded him to repent and pray...A gift is a gift...Christ has already paid for it... no one can but it, no matter who they are or how great they may think they may be...
Simon was surely held captive by the all about me, me ,me mentality...
Don't be held captive, lets get rid of the all about me mentality...
Having said that know that God is still in the miracle working business, he has not changed. The thing is that when one realizes it begins to see and move in those miracles, one needs to remain alert so that one does not become caught up more in the miracles than in Christ...
As you read the passage did anything strike you about verses 15-17?
Lord forgive for any time I may have had a me mentality. I thank you for your grace, your mercy and the gift and the gifts you give to those whose hearts are set on you....In your name I ask it and believe it
He witnessed Peter and John laying their hands on those who had been baptized that they might receive the the gift of the Holy Spirit. All Simon could think was that he wanted this ability and as you know when he approached Peter with money to buy the ability, Peter rebuked him and commanded him to repent and pray...A gift is a gift...Christ has already paid for it... no one can but it, no matter who they are or how great they may think they may be...
Simon was surely held captive by the all about me, me ,me mentality...
Don't be held captive, lets get rid of the all about me mentality...
Having said that know that God is still in the miracle working business, he has not changed. The thing is that when one realizes it begins to see and move in those miracles, one needs to remain alert so that one does not become caught up more in the miracles than in Christ...
As you read the passage did anything strike you about verses 15-17?
Lord forgive for any time I may have had a me mentality. I thank you for your grace, your mercy and the gift and the gifts you give to those whose hearts are set on you....In your name I ask it and believe it
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Success or Failure
Todays Daily Delight Devotional readings:
Acts chp5-6 & Proverbs 16
Leviticus 3-4 & Pslams 47
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If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only be fighting agianst God. Acts 5:38
Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
No plan of God's can be thwarted.
Lord, in all that I do, I commit it to you. May I always be in line with your activity and not my own for with you there is no such thing as failure. In your name I ask it and believe it...
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Acts chp5-6 & Proverbs 16
Leviticus 3-4 & Pslams 47
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only be fighting agianst God. Acts 5:38
Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
No plan of God's can be thwarted.
Lord, in all that I do, I commit it to you. May I always be in line with your activity and not my own for with you there is no such thing as failure. In your name I ask it and believe it...
<><
Monday, February 15, 2010
ACTivate
We have walked through three gospel accounts of our Lord, read Hebrews and now here we are in the book of ACTs. We will at some point go back and pick up the book of Mark as the Holy Spirit leads us. Having just finished up the book of Hebrews, I want to remind you of the verse 11:1 before we get to far into ACTs.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see...
This is the A in the ABC's of CPR for the spirit. We can not ACTivate faith without ACTing on it. The theme of the book of ACTs is ACTing on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is through Christ that all power and authority was given and it is through Christ that we are given the Gift of the Holy Spirit. It was through the ACT of obedience to the command that Christ gave, "Wait for the gift my Father has promised," that the apostles received the promised gift. The promise as stated in verse 2:39 is for you and your children and all those who are far off-for who the Lord our God will call. There is a command that Peter gives in order to receive the gift, ask forgiveness for your wrongs doings in the name of Jesus Christ and be baptised. Through this obedient ACT of faith you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. I will tell you right now that it is impossible to live a successful Christian life without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If you are not plugged into the power source, you will not be equipped. God gives this to us so that we are well equipped to carry out anything that He has asked us to do. Revival and growth in the body can and will occur if the Holy Spirit is the one doing the leading...
There is no doubt in my heart that the Holy Spirit is breathing new life into those who have let their faith fall into the valley of dry bones...Maybe you have been out of comunion with the Lord for awhile, if so have you noticed a nudging, a pulling, a tugging on the heart? The Lord is calling you. Have you been involved in things that maybe you should not be, have you noticed an uneasiness that will not surrender? Your own spirit is telling you to get out of it and God is requesting that you to return to Him...How do I know this, because I have lived it...Don't put it off any longer...ACT now dear one...
Lord I thank you today for tugging on my heart and reminding me of who I am in you. I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I pray that those who may be experiencing that uneasiness surrender to you today and that they be fully and wholey revived through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Your name Lord I ask it and believe it....
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see...
This is the A in the ABC's of CPR for the spirit. We can not ACTivate faith without ACTing on it. The theme of the book of ACTs is ACTing on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is through Christ that all power and authority was given and it is through Christ that we are given the Gift of the Holy Spirit. It was through the ACT of obedience to the command that Christ gave, "Wait for the gift my Father has promised," that the apostles received the promised gift. The promise as stated in verse 2:39 is for you and your children and all those who are far off-for who the Lord our God will call. There is a command that Peter gives in order to receive the gift, ask forgiveness for your wrongs doings in the name of Jesus Christ and be baptised. Through this obedient ACT of faith you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. I will tell you right now that it is impossible to live a successful Christian life without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If you are not plugged into the power source, you will not be equipped. God gives this to us so that we are well equipped to carry out anything that He has asked us to do. Revival and growth in the body can and will occur if the Holy Spirit is the one doing the leading...
There is no doubt in my heart that the Holy Spirit is breathing new life into those who have let their faith fall into the valley of dry bones...Maybe you have been out of comunion with the Lord for awhile, if so have you noticed a nudging, a pulling, a tugging on the heart? The Lord is calling you. Have you been involved in things that maybe you should not be, have you noticed an uneasiness that will not surrender? Your own spirit is telling you to get out of it and God is requesting that you to return to Him...How do I know this, because I have lived it...Don't put it off any longer...ACT now dear one...
Lord I thank you today for tugging on my heart and reminding me of who I am in you. I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I pray that those who may be experiencing that uneasiness surrender to you today and that they be fully and wholey revived through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Your name Lord I ask it and believe it....
Sunday, February 14, 2010
A Noble Theme
Todays Daily Delight Devotional readings:
Acts chps 1-2 & Proverbs chp 14
Exodus chps 39-40 & Psalms chp 45
Comments may be placed here.
LOVE... Is there any grander or more noble theme?
Psalms 45:1
Happy Valentines day!!!
Acts chps 1-2 & Proverbs chp 14
Exodus chps 39-40 & Psalms chp 45
Comments may be placed here.
LOVE... Is there any grander or more noble theme?
Psalms 45:1
Happy Valentines day!!!
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About Me
- His Delighted Servant
- My faith is what moves me , it is enjoyable, irresistable, lovely and warm with a sense of mystery. Its like a summer day with a gentle breeze blowing my hair, like a butterfly emerging from a cacoon, like a flower pushing its way through the soil of the earth, like a hidden treasure waiting to be found, yes it is my faith that defines me and I am completely content regardless of what goes on around me...My life with Yeshua is like a well written novel that I can not and will not put down... My greatest desire is to be used by Him to touch hearts without religiousity, denominationalism or legalism. One heart at a time. God Bless All from Shelli