365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 229

In reading the seventh chapter in Acts, I was questioning along my reading why was Stephen reiterating the history of the Jews but as I read further I realized that within this history is the pattern of rejection and rebelliousness they had towards God. He was boldly attempting to show them that they were continuing with that pattern with how they rejected Jesus and how they are rejecting the apostles who are now speaking in His name. There can be truth spoken to us through our past history. I know my own testimony in coming to know the truth was through accepting the sins of my past as sins so that I could lay them at the cross. We continue that pattern set by the Hebrews of rejecting God and rebelling against Him. That first thing that needs to be conquered is this history. We have to recognize and accept that we have indeed been rejecting God and rebelling against Him. Not many of us will be boldly told to look at our past history to see the error of our ways but the truth will set you free. How can we be boldly share with others the truth that is shown in each of our own histories? Through the Holy Spirit…Stephen was filled with it and we can be too.

Acts 7: 55-56 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 

Have a Friday filled with boldness and the Holy Spirit!

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 348

I heard the news of the outcome of the election and went to the bathroom and cried. I am saddened by the direction our country is in and looks like will continue to be in. But I went to bed and woke up several times during the night with different words of songs coming to my mind. In the end, God helped me to get passed this moment in our history and see the bigger picture of his plan. He is in control and Jesus has already overcome. The war has already been won. Our real battle isn’t getting the right person elected but reaching each individual person out there that doesn’t know Christ or a “believer” whose view is warped or stagnant. If anything, how the vote went shows how much work we have to do for the hurting right here in our country. But it’s not about relying on the government to help the hurting. It needs to come directly from the body of Christ.  We have to be the example and teach that all our needs come from God and our reliance should be on Him. I am praying for the Lord’s guidance in how to reach out to the hurting, the disillusioned, the stagnant Christians and help them have their needs met through the body of Christ and not through the government.

Pslam 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.