Read Acts 2:14-21
Title in NIV: Peter's explanation of Pentecost.

Vs. 17- "In the last days.." the Spirit will be poured out on all people including men, women and servants. I believe we are in the last days. The Spirit was poured out on many at Pentecost. There are 15 different nationalities listed with all having a different language. I read there were closer to 70 different languages represented. (I know there are many opinions about the last days...and that is ok.) I believe the last days started when Jesus died and ascended to heaven.

Vs. 18 Sons, daughters, men and women will prophesy. Prophesy is simply an inspired revelation about future events. We prophesy when we say "Jesus is coming back." We prophesy when we say there will be a new heaven and a new earth. We prophesy when we say our sins will be washed away (they already are). We can prophesy with bold confidence because we know God cannot lie and we know who wins... Rev 17:14 "They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings-- and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." I mess up at times but I AM a chosen and faithful, follower. Are you confident in that?

Vs. 19  There will be wonders in heaven and I can't wait to see them, but I bet they pale in comparison to seeing Jesus coming in a cloud. There will be signs on the earth too "blood, fire and billows of smoke."

Verse 20  Talks about the sun being turned to darkness. (also in Rev 16:10, 9:2; Joel 2:2,10, Matthew 27:45 (when Jesus died on the cross). Also, talks about smoke (Rev9:2) and the moon turning to blood (also in Matthew 24).

All these events/signs sound horrible, but if we are in Christ, we will call these things what Joel did…’great and glorious'.

Vs. 21  says ‘everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved.

QUESTION: What is more important?  Understanding what is meant by the 'last days', the smoke, the moon turning to blood, when the darkness will come and figuring out when Jesus will come? OR Sharing Jesus with those who need it and bringing a little heaven to those who live in hell on this earth. (Hell on earth I expect would be those who do not have a job and they have a family to support; the homeless; the addicted; some disabled; those who do not know the Savior; the hungry in other countries; the oppressed; on and on.)

How can you bring some heaven to people??

More on Peter’s explanation of Pentecost next week.

Answers to my question: What does the Holy Spirit manifest itself as? Fire, dove (Mt. 3:16), wind, sword of Spirit Eph 6:17. Can you think of any others?

Internet and Division

This is a special blog sent to special people who are my supporters. You may think I'm crazy, but you love me anyway. Thanks!! -Erin

I have two stories. Then I will connect them at the end.

Recently, I figured out how to search for blogs I might be interested in reading. That may sound easy peasy, but remember I am computer illiterate.
Story one: I searched the Internet with words like: Christian blog, faith blog, spirit blog (i tried to find mine but I guess it is buried under a mountain of other blogs). To my absolute, horrified amazement, I found blogs bashing Christians. Ok- I knew they were out there but never searched for or found them before. (I like my naivety and I also realize the depravity of the world.) I was curious about a blog and its post about someone finding an image of the Virgin Mary in a tree. The writer's first mistake was to clump all Christians into Catholicism. He assumed all Christians put stock in seeing images of the Virgin Mary in flakes of cereal or wet window screens. (We do talk about and appreciate Mary, but we don't light candles, have a shrine and ask her for things, but you know that). Then I read the comments!!!!!!! I was applaud at the disrespect, dishonor, filthy images and down right blasphemy of God's character the commenter's hurled. I wrote a message but could not make myself send it. I didn't want my e-mail out there for them to respond. I said, "The Christians who understand what Jesus is all about don't worship the created (like tree trunks and cereal). We worship only the Creator. As a Christian I can say I love all of you because you are beautifully created by God. I pray blessing on all of you because you are all his children." I'm sure that would have sparked 1000 negative comments and not made a dent, so I did not see the point.

Story two: As a Christian, we need support. We know how the world is and it helps when we feel like we are not alone. When we band together, we can find confidence we never knew we had. When we get support, we feel like our talents are not for nothing. I realize God should be enough, but it sure gives me a spark to keep going when others support me and love me unconditionally. The opposite is also true: It sure snuffs out my fire when others, Christians and family especially, don't support me and dangle approval before me based on my actions. I have both in my life and I praise God for both. I learn so much from both sides of the coin.

The connection: Shouldn't Christians stick together and support one another? Christians surely would not follow and support those bashing blogs ( I couldn't even support them with a comment of Truth), but how much more harmful is it when Christians don't support other Christians because of pithy things like the name on the building or musical instruments. Pick your poison and I call it poison because it divides and kills!!!!!!! We are to be unified. A precious lady I know said, "Unity has less to do with what we believe and more to do with Who we believe in." Not sticking with others who are following their God given desire is hurtful and lonely. It may cause one to think the other has a 'holier than thou' attitude.

I listen/read a little bit of everything. For example, a sweet lady comes to my house every couple of months from the Jehovah's Witnesses. We share bible verses together and even debated about something I said for a couple of months. I made a list of verses to make my point, she made a similar list. I finally said, "Let's stop this. Whether we agree or not, this is not a concept against what God teaches. (If you want to know the topic, e-mail me. I'd love to share, but not now.) It is not wrong nor is it a salvation issue. It boils down to our opinions being different." Then we agreed-- to disagree. Point is, she is a Christian sharing Jesus. I don't go from house to house. I stay behind my screen. In ways, she is bolder than I. KUDOS Kelsey!!

I read so much from Christian writers. Some are radical, some, I think, have it wrong, but they try hard. I read stuff from non-Christians too, like Deepak Chopra (I was studying why he was such a big deal) and Bonnie Goldberg, an author of a writing book I have. Many people have great ideas and concepts but they do not focus on Jesus. Bonnie focuses on the Buddhist religion, but her writing advice is solid. If I just refocus her thoughts, I can use them because I know Proverbs 16:3: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." I know some succeed who are not Christians, but their success has no eternal value and when the fire comes, their success will burn up. Not so with eternal plans that God has blessed (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

Therefore, I can listen/read other's opinions but I don't overvalue what they say. I can take those concepts that are TRUE and aligned then with the Lord and leave the rest. Some get so offended by 'the rest' that they miss out on some really good stuff. Just because someone is a different denomination, do not think that is who the Lord is saying we should not  associated with. That is Christians dividing Christians just like when Jesus was accused of being Satan when he drove out a demon. Jesus said, "If Satan is divided against himself, how can he stand?"(Luke 11:18) How can Christians stand if they find things about other Christians to divide them? I don't care if another Christian is poor, rich, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Pentecostal, black, white, Indian, Jew etc. I want them on my side in a fight against the Evil One!

So, work hard at being a Christian. Test everything. Don't just rely on someone to preach the Word to you and agree with every thing without thinking about. Don't just read or listen to what someone from your denomination writes or says (are they the only one's who have a connection to God through writing or speaking? Does God only give gifts to those in your building) Doing so does not stimulate your mind nor does it prepare you to give an account of why you believe what you believe.  When Kelsey and I debate, I am preparing for when I have to give and account in heaven or to someone who asks why I believe in God when times are touch. If you have never defended your faith, you might be tongue tied or at a loss for words when you are asked.

Also, support other Christians. Support family. We ARE Christians. The labels we give ourselves are not as important as Who we follow.

Do You Transition?

Heart Pours Forth

Do You Transition?

            Some people never transition from “I have to keep the law to be considered good and worthy of Jesus’ salvation” to “His grace is sufficient for me.” 

            The first attitude keeps score for themselves (and others). The latter attitude says “I will never be good enough. I will always fail because sin lives inside me, but because I have accepted Jesus, I appear righteous and perfect because of Jesus’ blood covered my sins. I will treat others as God’s children too.”

There is a very fine line between these two concepts and the key is MOTIVATION. What motivates you to do good deeds and live right? Is it the “I have to follow the rules” attitude or is it “I love Jesus and others” attitude?

People of both motives may look and act just alike, but their heart—the why—is very different. The why is what God sees. We cannot see the why for other people. We cannot judge their motives. Prov 16:2; James 4:11-12.

Life example: If you see a man on the street with a sign reading, “I’m hungry!” What do you automatically think? (Be honest before you read further.)

1) The Law Follower thinks:  He is not worth it. He does not contribute to society. He just wants hand-outs for nothing. He will just spend what he gets on the wrong things (cigarettes, alcohol). I’m not going to contribute to that. Workers deserve their wage and he is not working (Luke 10:7).

2) The Love, Heart for Jesus Follower thinks: I will grab a couple of dollars and tell him Jesus loves him. I will buy him a hamburger. I will tell him to use the gift wisely and allow God to judge me and him.

What category do you find yourself in?

After hearing our preacher, Michael Lum’s lesson, I’ve learned there is another way to transition too. We can transition into a free life with Jesus Christ or stay in our life of bondage.

You may be saying, “I am not in bondage or a slave to anything.” You are free to make choices, but have you made these choices?

1) Have you made the decision to forgive someone? If not, you are a slave to unforgiveness. Transition from unforgiveness to forgiveness.

2) Are you a slave to your past? Do you blame your parents and wish they had not raised you like they did. Do you feel like their upbringing contributes to your emotional unstability or unability not to trust? Transition from blame to breaking the pattern and effect it had on your life. Learn from it and do not repeat it.

3) Are you timid and enslaved I fear? Do you fear teaching a class, leading a prayer, asking a question or answering one, sharing Jesus to a stranget? Are you worried what people will think? You are wonderfully and perfectly made right down to your personality (Ps 139:14). If you do not believe it, you have big problems. You don’t believe GOD, you don’t trust Him and you make him out to be a lier. You don’t believe God can help you with your timidity because you think, “That is the way I am.” We all have things to overcome. Timidity is one of them. Transition from timidity to freedom and confidence with boldness God supplies to those who ask (2 Tim 1:7) (Heb 4:16).

4) Are you a slave to your desire to wanting the next new updated thing? Several times a year they come out with the new phone, gaming system, ipod, ipad, itouch. When do istop? This could apply to cars, jewelry, clothes, kitchen gadgets, shoes etc. Transition from the bondage for “I want” to the freedom of contentment.

To transition means to move. You can’t change by doing what you have always done. Do something different. It may be hard at first, but trust God for strength (1 Cor 13:10)

Going Deeper Causes Sadness

I've decided that as I mature with Christ and go deeper into his Word, I get sadder. As I have gotten deeper into a relationship with Christ I have become increasingly more aware of people around me.  More and more I think of others  instead of myself.  More and more life becomes less about me and more about the lives of others. The sadness comes when the people around me are hurting. When the people I love are miserable, I am miserable with them. Sometimes it is bad choices, sometimes it is an illness that they have no control over. But, seeing the people I care about hurting makes me hurt, too. Lately, even seeing people I don't know hurting, hurts me too.

Here is a list of Satan's footholds that make people miserable whether they know it or not. These things keep them in bondage, tangled up and bound to Satan's schemes me:
Loved ones who do not believe that Jesus is the Savior.
Marriages in turmoil.
Christians who hold onto anger and bitterness and think they have the right to not forgive.
People who do not hold God in high regard in their speech and actions.
People who quit (whatever) and do not press through to the blessings on the other side.
People who follow whims and the changing tide-- not stable in what they do.
Action do not match words.
People who are selfish and don't think of another's point of view.

At times I am guilty of all of these, too. Thank the Lord for mercy and grace. I want what He has promised, not what I deserve.

I could choose to focus on my life, my circumstances, my needs and wants. It might make me hurt less if I were to do that. But, I choose to be concerned about others and go out of my way to help them. I choose to continually pray for them. I could say I don't have time because  'out of sight it out of mind'  right? But Christ did not do that to me, he will not do that to me. He will intercede for me through all my shenanigans just as I will for others.

Even though I am sad Satan has a foothold in those around me (in area of my life too),  I also have a deep well of joy. I have joy in every situation (even bad ones) because I know God will use all things for good.  My prayer life has become stronger, deeper, and more frequent.  I have become more forgiving and sympathetic to the situations people find them selves in. I trust in God more and more because I know and see Satan attack the  'weak-in-faith' and I know God conquers all.  I read and study more.

Studying makes scripture fresh on my mind and during situations, scripture pops into my head. Here is a list of scripture that 'popped' in my head as I typed this:

Prov. 24:32 I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw.

Matthew 6:14 If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Romans 12:10 Honor others above yourself.

Phil 2:3 Consider others better than yourself.

Eph 4:27 Do not give Satan a foothold.

Romans 8:37 We are more than conquerors through him who loves us.

Heb 10:35 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.