Acts 2:12

Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

The Holy Spirit came in a powerful way. Everyone noticed. The believers had power and gifts they didn't have before. The crowds noticed because the Galileans were speaking in various languages, proclaiming the Good News. With God's power through the Holy Spirit amazing things happen. People notice. Non-believers are puzzled and everyone is amazed. I want to continue to be amazed at the work of the Holy Spirit through me and around me through the community of believers.

Prayer

Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

The apostles and followers of Jesus are waiting for the Holy Spirit who has been promised to them. They walked with Jesus. They saw amazing things. They were promised a comforter, a counsellor who would come. They watched Jesus ascend into heaven alive. The last instruction they received was to wait for the Holy Spirit to come (verse 4 and 5) and a promise that when He came they would receive power so they could be witnesses all over the world (verse 8). So they gathered together and waited.

I have trouble waiting. I get agitated. I want to find out the surprise, especially at Christmas. I want to see the results of what I am waiting for good or bad. This group was waiting. As they waited they prayed constantly. Constantly, I don't think I do anything constantly. Maybe I would have an easier time waiting if I spent more of that time in prayer. They also waited together. I have found that waitin gtogether is easier than by myself. I wonder what things would I see happen if during those times of waiting I "joined together constantly in prayer" with others who were waiting? I wonder how much more of the Holy Spirits power we would experience as a community if we "joined together constantly in prayer" before we acted?

This verse definitly grabbed my attention and has challenged me in my prayer life. I can't wait to see what God does as I try to obey.

How He Loves

I have been impacted recently by how much God truly loves me.  There are so many references to God's love in the Bible and it is overwhelming at times to actually try to comprehend the extent to which God loves His children.  If I think about how much I love my husband and children and try to equate that to how much God loves me . . . and then multiply that amount of love by the biggest number I can imagine . . . that's how much He loves you and I. 

Some of you may be familiar with a song entitled, "How He Loves", written by John Mark McMillan.  Here is a video of that song, with lyrics, performed by the David Crowder Band . . . it is very powerful.  I hope it helps you put into perspective how deep the Father's love is . . . for all of us . . .  

Bless the Lord

Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his Holy Name.

"As for man, his days are like grass"

"But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting."

Sometimes we stop there....but if we continue to verse 18 it is a continuation of this promise. "His lovingkindness is from everlasting to everlasting....."

"to those who keep His covenant, and who remember His precepts to do them".

OK - hope you are with me ladies. The words covenant and precepts are referring to God's Word. It's pretty hard to keep His covenant or remember his precepts and do them if we aren't in His Word.

Yep, huge amounts of blessings - who doesn't want God's lovingkindness - when we read God's Word.