Many years ago I read through the entire bible from cover to cover. Back then I did it the old fashioned way by reading a chapter a day from the start in Genesis and ending following through the Book of Revelation. I shared with you that recently a former missionary came across my path and shared with me, how they as a married couple, read through the bible while being missionaries. Holy Spirit prompted me to follow their guideline that they used. They also showed me in their bible how many times they have read through the bible in this fashion. They entered the dates into their bible when they completed reading through each time throughout the years.
I am thoroughly enjoying the bible so much so this time around because it is true life and it still amazes me when I read a scripture verse or even a simple word that Holy Spirit just brings to life inside of me. I have read some of this very scripture not only when I read through the bible years ago but even when a pastor preached about it in church or if I was listening to a radio program or television preaching program.
For some reason Holy Spirit is prompting me at this time in my life to illuminate things in scripture now. It is so alive and full of life to me as I read it. There are times when I do not want to put down the bible and I want to continue on reading the next chapter when there is a really good section I am in. I.E. the story of Joseph or when God led the Israelites out of Egypt. There is so much rich history and gold nuggets tucked in the words that I am reading. It truly amazes me it truly does. The other interesting factor in reading the bible through in this fashion and manner is something I am reading in the Old Testament is somehow mentioned or correlates with another totally different section of the bible but it is the reading I am to read that day. Now, you cannot convince me that that is not the hand of God moving. It is. It amazes me each time that happens, I think to myself, wow that term or reference I just read over there is now being read over here. I guess you would have to just pick up the bible and start reading it in this manner to maybe understand what I am speaking about.
I am being most sincere when I share with you that I have never read the bible and seen what I am seeing right now. It truly is all about God's timing in my life to experience this right now. All I can say to that is AMEN.
I have read many books throughout the years and I must share with you that there is no more exciting book to read than the bible, there is action, comfort, encouragement, hope, and blessings that are there just for you. It also is a book of correction and warning too, to those that will heed it. Can you tell that I derive my strength through the reading of God's word. It is most alive today, it is not just some book you pull off of the bookshelf to casually read. Just try it you have nothing to lose by picking up the word of God and reading it, you will be blessed beyond measure.
Here is the format for reading through the bible by reading 6 different sections a chapter a day just try it that is all I am asking of you:
Genesis-Job 2 chapters a day
Psalm-1 chapter a day
Proverbs-1 chapter a day
Ecclesiastes-Malachi-1 chapter a day
Gospels-1 chapter a day
Acts-Revelation-1 chapter a day
Remember to put together 6 different colored ribbons and find a way to connect them all together and you will use each different colored ribbon as a marker for each section of the bible. Have fun and enjoy reading the living word of God. Peace to your day today.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Twice I Left Two Different Denominational Churches. Reason Being, How Can One Remain In A Church Setting That Goes Against What You Believe & Have Experienced In Your Own Life.
Now, I am going back many years with what I am writing about today. I was still a practicing Catholic when I became "born again." I have shared with you before that at the time I did not know myself as a born again believer because I was never taught that concept while being raised in the Catholic Church. It was not until I participated in an evangelism class and began to attend a non-denominational church. In the meantime, prior to that, I began to read the bible (at the time it was a Catholic bible) and there was no one training me or teaching me things of truth in the bible except Holy Spirit. I remember the time when I was reading scripture and it just came to life before my very eye's as I was reading. It was as if a light bulb went on inside of me illuminating the word of God to me. At the time it was showing me a verse that made it very plain and clear that once one dies and takes their last breath on earth they are then either in heaven or hell. It was in that moment that I realized there is no purgatory. I was taught all my life that purgatory was real and it was a holding place for those that did not make heaven right from the start and that others can pray to help get you out of there. Once you take that last breath here on earth you will either be in heaven or hell there is no holding place. That is a false doctrine to me now that I know the truth through the word of God. I was very concerned about this and I felt the only safe place to go to discuss this was in the confessional with the priest. I went because I knew that they cannot talk about this outside of the confessional, at least that was what I was told all my life.
No one but Holy Spirit was teaching me as I read the word of God. Amongst other things was that I should not pray to dead saints or statues since I was now connected to Jesus. You are to pray to Jesus directly and not through a saint that is no longer alive. I also learned that you go to Jesus directly to ask forgiveness of your sins and not to a man in a confessional that gives you a penance to remove the sin from your life. Let me say it like this, a lot of my life I was taught these things and it was partly freeing to learn the truth but then it was also a bit alarming to know that what I was taught from birth up until this time in my life is not necessarily biblical. That was a real struggle for me since it all seemed to unfold and I found myself going less and less to the Catholic church for mass and going more and more to the non-denominational church to learn the word of God being preached from the pulpit. It was a gradual change over from what I recollect about that time in my life. I did not wake up one day and say to myself I am no longer a Catholic. A friend introduced me to this church and it was a gradual maybe attend once or twice then back to the mass and bit by bit I started to attend the church services more than the mass on Sunday. I had such a hunger for the bible and seemed to absorb the teaching of the bible and preaching of the word of God like a sponge too.
I remember the time when it was time to let go of my Catholic bible and search out a bible that did not have the extra stories in it like the Catholic bible had. The kindest couple that volunteered at the church book store helped me in this, I purchased a New King James bible for that was what our pastor taught out of. This couple never pushed me into a corner to get a new bible they gently guided me. At the time I remember almost feeling a bit like a traitor because I was letting go of that Catholic bible. Believe it or not I still have that bible but I do not read or reference it when I want to search something out in the bible. I kept it because even back then Holy Spirit gave me insights and I wrote some of them down in that very bible too.
I am very respectful if I should attend a Catholic mass for one reason or another (i.e. family function of some sort.) I have let go of some of the ritual practices in the mass and when it comes to receiving communion I do not receive it there because I want to respect their beliefs. I do not know if it is still so now but if you are not a practicing Catholic you should not receive communion so I do not receive it. If I am somewhere and feel Holy Spirit nudge to go forth with the others in the communion line, I then make that symbol (I think it is to cross your arms over your chest) and that lets the person distributing communion know to not give it to you but to bless you.
Second denomination I stepped away from was the Church of the Nazarene. I attended a church that neighbor's of mine attended. I found myself going to their bible studies and even attended a small group bible study in one of the homes of one of my neighbors. They noticed that I had musical talent with percussion instruments and I was asked to be a part of their praise team. I prayed about it and accepted. I even gifted this church with a musical instrument that was a rain stick sort of sound that came forth from this percussion instrument. During this time I was also sharing with a neighbor that also attended this church about being filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of praying in tongues. Now, mind you, when I would be on the altar during praise and worship I was silently praying in tongues as Holy Spirit would lead me. No one but me and God knew I was doing this for this is how I pray at times. Somehow the pastor and I had a conversation and I was basically told that I could not talk to my friend about praying in tongues or encourage them to receive it also. I think I was stunned and shocked at the same time. I learned that I do not think Nazarene's believe in praying in tongues and it was bible era stuff and not for today. I think I probably looked shocked when I heard those words come forth from the pastor's mouth. I was being told that I could not tell someone about Holy Spirit being alive in people today and not just the era of the bible. He was not mean about it or anything like that he just wanted me to not discuss this with one of his members of their church. I probably said it in my simple yet blunt way of responding this...I said I do not think I can be on your praise team anymore and I explained that the very thing that they do not believe in I operated in on their very altar while worshiping the Lord.
I would not cross bounds of a denominational belief. I felt it was best to step down because at that point Holy Spirit would be stifled in my life under that type of restriction. I am not here to judge others but how can one sit under the leadership of one that does not allow the very thing in which you are blessed to operate in. I not only pray in the spirit, Holy Spirit also gives me interpretation of what I spoke or prayed. It made no sense to me the only thing I can equate it to was being told you cannot drive a car because they do not believe that driving a car is a real thing. Now in your mind you begin to question what they just said to you because you know that it is a real thing because you have operated in doing that very thing. You have two options at that point, you can either stop driving a car and accept their idea or you cannot accept that concept and continue to keep driving right. The choice really is yours. I believe in healing's and miracles are for today and not just bible times and praying in tongues or some may know it as praying in the spirit. How can I deny Holy Spirit when He flows through me to sit under the leadership of one that does not believe. I do believe that I was there at that church because I really did learn from the pastor and through the bible studies too. It was a place where I could share what Holy Spirit was teaching me as I also learned the word of God through them too. It sure did take me out of my comfort zone to get up on a platform during praise and worship to not just worship but be an active part of the music. I had to attend practices too. I am most thankful for the opportunity allotted me while attending this church for the season that I did attend. I was reading something in my bible just the other day and I came across a note I jotted down and the date I entered it into the bible margin from when the pastor was preaching. The date was 1/13/2002 and the notes were beside Psalm 23. These are the notes I jotted in my bible. Read 5 times a day if you're going thru some difficulty. in verse 6 the word goodness is underlined with this note that everything that is good. I also underlined the word mercy with the note steadfast love and kindness. Verse 3 righteousness the note was He guides me in what is right. At the end of the Psalm there were further notes: Christ leads through 1. the scriptures 2. gifted leadership 3. community 4. prayer/the Holy Spirit. I shared in love when I let the pastor know I had to step down from the worship team because I could not be on the altar praying in the spirit when I knew it was against their belief. I could not be asked to squelch Holy Spirit by denying that it is He that prays through me when He prompts me to pray in that manner either. If I no longer attended that church then I would be able to still share with my neighbor at the time for I would be doing nothing wrong since I no longer would be sitting under that pastor.
It is very important to be equally yoked with those you hang around with it really is. Can you see this through my story today, the importance of this? How can you not be true to Holy Spirit, who guides you through everything if you allow Him to? If He illuminates a truth to you through the scriptures then how can you possibly sit under the teaching of a religious doctrine of a church that is contrary to the word of God? It is either out of ignorance in the not knowing or you choose to not do anything about it out of wanting to stay in your comfort zone. How can you then chose to marry or date someone that does not have the same belief structure as yourself? All I can do is caution you to truly seek Holy Spirit for we all will be held accountable to God the Father one day and what will your answer be when He questions you as to why you did not follow the leading of Holy Spirit? I cannot answer this but I can encourage you to seek out the wisdom of Holy Spirit and if you allow Him to direct your path He truly will.
One more note of interest...I also attended a bible study on the Book Of Revelation at a Lutheran denomination church and I learned a wealth of information on this. Holy Spirit really moved in that study. So do not be locked in so tightly that you will not step out of your comfort zone to learn and glean from another outlet when it comes to gaining knowledge and wisdom. Trust Holy Spirit and if you truly do He will guide and direct your path and give you the unction to take that class or sit under a certain pastor because the safest place to be is in the arms of Jesus with Holy Spirit guiding you because He knows ultimately what the experience will bring into your life to enrich you. Step out of that old, stuffy, comfort zone you are accustomed to and take that leap of faith in Holy Spirit OK. The type of Catholic bible I had was the New American Bible St. Joseph Medium Size Edition.
A final note of interest...many years ago when one of my children was younger they actually participated in a Christmas play at another (different from the one I made mention of earlier) Church of the Nazarene and I came across the underlined words in my bible the other day that were the lines they had to read. Oddly enough, my friend that attended that church directed this play and they allowed me to work with the children with the musical instruments they would use for this play. Isn't it amazing how God can use you if you allow Him to?
No one but Holy Spirit was teaching me as I read the word of God. Amongst other things was that I should not pray to dead saints or statues since I was now connected to Jesus. You are to pray to Jesus directly and not through a saint that is no longer alive. I also learned that you go to Jesus directly to ask forgiveness of your sins and not to a man in a confessional that gives you a penance to remove the sin from your life. Let me say it like this, a lot of my life I was taught these things and it was partly freeing to learn the truth but then it was also a bit alarming to know that what I was taught from birth up until this time in my life is not necessarily biblical. That was a real struggle for me since it all seemed to unfold and I found myself going less and less to the Catholic church for mass and going more and more to the non-denominational church to learn the word of God being preached from the pulpit. It was a gradual change over from what I recollect about that time in my life. I did not wake up one day and say to myself I am no longer a Catholic. A friend introduced me to this church and it was a gradual maybe attend once or twice then back to the mass and bit by bit I started to attend the church services more than the mass on Sunday. I had such a hunger for the bible and seemed to absorb the teaching of the bible and preaching of the word of God like a sponge too.
I remember the time when it was time to let go of my Catholic bible and search out a bible that did not have the extra stories in it like the Catholic bible had. The kindest couple that volunteered at the church book store helped me in this, I purchased a New King James bible for that was what our pastor taught out of. This couple never pushed me into a corner to get a new bible they gently guided me. At the time I remember almost feeling a bit like a traitor because I was letting go of that Catholic bible. Believe it or not I still have that bible but I do not read or reference it when I want to search something out in the bible. I kept it because even back then Holy Spirit gave me insights and I wrote some of them down in that very bible too.
I am very respectful if I should attend a Catholic mass for one reason or another (i.e. family function of some sort.) I have let go of some of the ritual practices in the mass and when it comes to receiving communion I do not receive it there because I want to respect their beliefs. I do not know if it is still so now but if you are not a practicing Catholic you should not receive communion so I do not receive it. If I am somewhere and feel Holy Spirit nudge to go forth with the others in the communion line, I then make that symbol (I think it is to cross your arms over your chest) and that lets the person distributing communion know to not give it to you but to bless you.
Second denomination I stepped away from was the Church of the Nazarene. I attended a church that neighbor's of mine attended. I found myself going to their bible studies and even attended a small group bible study in one of the homes of one of my neighbors. They noticed that I had musical talent with percussion instruments and I was asked to be a part of their praise team. I prayed about it and accepted. I even gifted this church with a musical instrument that was a rain stick sort of sound that came forth from this percussion instrument. During this time I was also sharing with a neighbor that also attended this church about being filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of praying in tongues. Now, mind you, when I would be on the altar during praise and worship I was silently praying in tongues as Holy Spirit would lead me. No one but me and God knew I was doing this for this is how I pray at times. Somehow the pastor and I had a conversation and I was basically told that I could not talk to my friend about praying in tongues or encourage them to receive it also. I think I was stunned and shocked at the same time. I learned that I do not think Nazarene's believe in praying in tongues and it was bible era stuff and not for today. I think I probably looked shocked when I heard those words come forth from the pastor's mouth. I was being told that I could not tell someone about Holy Spirit being alive in people today and not just the era of the bible. He was not mean about it or anything like that he just wanted me to not discuss this with one of his members of their church. I probably said it in my simple yet blunt way of responding this...I said I do not think I can be on your praise team anymore and I explained that the very thing that they do not believe in I operated in on their very altar while worshiping the Lord.
I would not cross bounds of a denominational belief. I felt it was best to step down because at that point Holy Spirit would be stifled in my life under that type of restriction. I am not here to judge others but how can one sit under the leadership of one that does not allow the very thing in which you are blessed to operate in. I not only pray in the spirit, Holy Spirit also gives me interpretation of what I spoke or prayed. It made no sense to me the only thing I can equate it to was being told you cannot drive a car because they do not believe that driving a car is a real thing. Now in your mind you begin to question what they just said to you because you know that it is a real thing because you have operated in doing that very thing. You have two options at that point, you can either stop driving a car and accept their idea or you cannot accept that concept and continue to keep driving right. The choice really is yours. I believe in healing's and miracles are for today and not just bible times and praying in tongues or some may know it as praying in the spirit. How can I deny Holy Spirit when He flows through me to sit under the leadership of one that does not believe. I do believe that I was there at that church because I really did learn from the pastor and through the bible studies too. It was a place where I could share what Holy Spirit was teaching me as I also learned the word of God through them too. It sure did take me out of my comfort zone to get up on a platform during praise and worship to not just worship but be an active part of the music. I had to attend practices too. I am most thankful for the opportunity allotted me while attending this church for the season that I did attend. I was reading something in my bible just the other day and I came across a note I jotted down and the date I entered it into the bible margin from when the pastor was preaching. The date was 1/13/2002 and the notes were beside Psalm 23. These are the notes I jotted in my bible. Read 5 times a day if you're going thru some difficulty. in verse 6 the word goodness is underlined with this note that everything that is good. I also underlined the word mercy with the note steadfast love and kindness. Verse 3 righteousness the note was He guides me in what is right. At the end of the Psalm there were further notes: Christ leads through 1. the scriptures 2. gifted leadership 3. community 4. prayer/the Holy Spirit. I shared in love when I let the pastor know I had to step down from the worship team because I could not be on the altar praying in the spirit when I knew it was against their belief. I could not be asked to squelch Holy Spirit by denying that it is He that prays through me when He prompts me to pray in that manner either. If I no longer attended that church then I would be able to still share with my neighbor at the time for I would be doing nothing wrong since I no longer would be sitting under that pastor.
It is very important to be equally yoked with those you hang around with it really is. Can you see this through my story today, the importance of this? How can you not be true to Holy Spirit, who guides you through everything if you allow Him to? If He illuminates a truth to you through the scriptures then how can you possibly sit under the teaching of a religious doctrine of a church that is contrary to the word of God? It is either out of ignorance in the not knowing or you choose to not do anything about it out of wanting to stay in your comfort zone. How can you then chose to marry or date someone that does not have the same belief structure as yourself? All I can do is caution you to truly seek Holy Spirit for we all will be held accountable to God the Father one day and what will your answer be when He questions you as to why you did not follow the leading of Holy Spirit? I cannot answer this but I can encourage you to seek out the wisdom of Holy Spirit and if you allow Him to direct your path He truly will.
One more note of interest...I also attended a bible study on the Book Of Revelation at a Lutheran denomination church and I learned a wealth of information on this. Holy Spirit really moved in that study. So do not be locked in so tightly that you will not step out of your comfort zone to learn and glean from another outlet when it comes to gaining knowledge and wisdom. Trust Holy Spirit and if you truly do He will guide and direct your path and give you the unction to take that class or sit under a certain pastor because the safest place to be is in the arms of Jesus with Holy Spirit guiding you because He knows ultimately what the experience will bring into your life to enrich you. Step out of that old, stuffy, comfort zone you are accustomed to and take that leap of faith in Holy Spirit OK. The type of Catholic bible I had was the New American Bible St. Joseph Medium Size Edition.
A final note of interest...many years ago when one of my children was younger they actually participated in a Christmas play at another (different from the one I made mention of earlier) Church of the Nazarene and I came across the underlined words in my bible the other day that were the lines they had to read. Oddly enough, my friend that attended that church directed this play and they allowed me to work with the children with the musical instruments they would use for this play. Isn't it amazing how God can use you if you allow Him to?
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Remember When I Shared With You Weeks Ago AboutThe Former Missionary Sharing With Me How To Read Through The Bible? I Have Been Following It & I Find Myself Enjoying Reading The Bible.
I shared with you weeks ago about how a former missionary shared with me how they read through the bible when they were missionaries. I followed Holy Spirit guidance and I began to read. I have read through the bible from cover to cover once before years ago but I find myself truly enjoying the bible reading it this way. Each time I pick it up to read it I am reading a chapter from six different sections of the bible. It amazes me how I could be reading something from The Old Testament and find that something correlates with it in The New Testament on that very same day with what I am reading.
This morning as I was reading I wanted to not put down the bible because I was so enjoying reading about how God came through so very strong when He used the plagues against Pharaoh to let His people be set free and leave Egypt. I am seeing all kinds of stuff in the bible by reading it. It is the most exciting book to read it truly is. I challenge you to pick up the bible and start reading it.
Prior to stumbling upon a scripture verse the other day I realized that I prayed that verse in my daily prayer time but I was wording it differently than the bible states it. Guess what I did? I copied the verse down and carry it with me so when I pray it now I pray it the biblical way. Amazing, simply amazing to me that what I prayed in my own words had the same intent behind it but it seems so much more clear with the words prayed from the bible. See, Holy Spirit really does direct one in their prayer time if you would just allow Him to do that. He knew the intent of my heart and I prayed it from my heart and now it is so much more precise since the intent is now connected with the correct words. I love the Lord so much, He cares so much for me that in the right time He allows me to see things in a clearer view. That just amazes me, it truly does.
I was blessed today to have the opportunity to share with a pastor and to even encourage them too. It amazes me how God sets up events in your life to not only be blessed but to bless another. Now, this truly had to be the working of Holy Spirit because in the natural I should have not even had the opportunity to connect with this pastor for it has been several years since I worked for an organization that indirectly connected me with this pastor. This pastor found my information that I left with them a few years ago and contacted me. I am telling you that it is all God's timing that caused this to be today. I was told that my voicemail greeting message encouraged them. Did you ever come across a person's voicemail greeting message that when you hear it it just blesses you? You can use your voicemail greeting message to encourage others. Let Holy Spirit guide you in creating a message of hope and encouragement for others to hear when they call you. Someone could be having a bad day and then they had to call you for one reason or another and you just lifted their outlook on life that very day just by your simple greeting on your phone message. I challenge you to go ahead and step out in faith and let Holy Spirit inspire you to update that voicemail greeting message you have. You just never know who will call you and how you will bless them with your greeting message.
God is good all the time and all the time He is good. He just amazes me, He truly does. Can you tell that by my words and enthusiasm that Holy Spirit is doing something in my life? I cannot wait to read tomorrow about God showing up strong defending His people and how He did it in a great way. Ask Him to show up in your life and let Him defend you in a strong way too. Remember it states that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So, if He did it in the past, surely He will do it in the future and be assured He will do it for you today too.
Be blessed and pick up the bible today and share in the excitement of reading it.
This morning as I was reading I wanted to not put down the bible because I was so enjoying reading about how God came through so very strong when He used the plagues against Pharaoh to let His people be set free and leave Egypt. I am seeing all kinds of stuff in the bible by reading it. It is the most exciting book to read it truly is. I challenge you to pick up the bible and start reading it.
Prior to stumbling upon a scripture verse the other day I realized that I prayed that verse in my daily prayer time but I was wording it differently than the bible states it. Guess what I did? I copied the verse down and carry it with me so when I pray it now I pray it the biblical way. Amazing, simply amazing to me that what I prayed in my own words had the same intent behind it but it seems so much more clear with the words prayed from the bible. See, Holy Spirit really does direct one in their prayer time if you would just allow Him to do that. He knew the intent of my heart and I prayed it from my heart and now it is so much more precise since the intent is now connected with the correct words. I love the Lord so much, He cares so much for me that in the right time He allows me to see things in a clearer view. That just amazes me, it truly does.
I was blessed today to have the opportunity to share with a pastor and to even encourage them too. It amazes me how God sets up events in your life to not only be blessed but to bless another. Now, this truly had to be the working of Holy Spirit because in the natural I should have not even had the opportunity to connect with this pastor for it has been several years since I worked for an organization that indirectly connected me with this pastor. This pastor found my information that I left with them a few years ago and contacted me. I am telling you that it is all God's timing that caused this to be today. I was told that my voicemail greeting message encouraged them. Did you ever come across a person's voicemail greeting message that when you hear it it just blesses you? You can use your voicemail greeting message to encourage others. Let Holy Spirit guide you in creating a message of hope and encouragement for others to hear when they call you. Someone could be having a bad day and then they had to call you for one reason or another and you just lifted their outlook on life that very day just by your simple greeting on your phone message. I challenge you to go ahead and step out in faith and let Holy Spirit inspire you to update that voicemail greeting message you have. You just never know who will call you and how you will bless them with your greeting message.
God is good all the time and all the time He is good. He just amazes me, He truly does. Can you tell that by my words and enthusiasm that Holy Spirit is doing something in my life? I cannot wait to read tomorrow about God showing up strong defending His people and how He did it in a great way. Ask Him to show up in your life and let Him defend you in a strong way too. Remember it states that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So, if He did it in the past, surely He will do it in the future and be assured He will do it for you today too.
Be blessed and pick up the bible today and share in the excitement of reading it.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
What Happens When You Volunteer To Greet For A Very Large Youth Conference? God Blesses You!!!
Well, I have volunteered for several years now. It is a very large youth conference in which over 12,000 youth attend. I have found that the best and safest place to volunteer is where Holy Spirit prompts you to volunteer, that is where the anointing rests upon your life. For some reason He uses me in the capacity of greeting people, making them feel welcome. Not complimenting them with false compliments either. Did you know there are people out there that give compliments to others and they are not sincere? Some may compliment you because they think that is what you want to hear and they create the compliment to try and accomodate your desires and wishes. You can tell when it is not a sincere compliment. People are truly uplifted when a sincere compliment is given and received by the person the compliment is given to. It is amazing when Holy Spirit just gently nudges you to tell another that you like the top they are wearing, the color nail polish, etc. The best part of greeting is that you get to say Good Morning, Welcome, etc. things like that to total strangers and you get the privelege to greet them with a sincere, heart filled with love for others.
I cannot explain it other than this, when I am in greeting situations the anointing comes on me and it is as if I am walking in the destiny God has for my life. I come alive and truly enjoy blessing others with a sincere smile and greeting to them. It is the best feeling in the world when you are walking in what God has for you to do in your life. I guess I am an encourager to others and that then allows me to be used to bless others. Does that make sense to you? How can I describe what it feels like when you are actually walking in destiny with God...It is as though you have a desire or dream that God has shared with you and then when you walk it, it is that feeling of WOW, it is actually happening to me in my life. It is as though you have received that really awesome report (an excellent report that is) and it puts a smile on your face and an extra spring in your step. If you were a child it would be something that would make you want to skip instead of walk down the street. Does that make sense? I have no other words to describe it other than it is a part of what you are called and designed by God to walk in and there are just no adequate words to describe that wonderful feeling.
Do you know what anointing rests upon you? You should seek out Holy Spirit and find out for when you walk in it you will then know what I am talking about. If you do know your calling in life and you do operate in it then you know what I am making reference to and you can then share in the feeling I am speaking about.
Another word I thought about to describe it, you come "alive" it is this internal knowing that this is what I was created to do. It is amazing it truly is. You see, when you step out in faith to volunteer you think you are there to help others and that you are. God has a deeper blessing hidden in your movement to volunteer, I have found out that He always seems to bless me far more than I ever expect. This time, yes, I was blessed with just being able to greet the visitors and welcoming them to the venue location. There was a time when they said go ahead and step inside the event to see it for a few minutes. I went with another volunteer and they led me to the perfect spot, it was behind the stage area in which I was able to see outward all around those worshiping and it was during my favorite time of a service, Worship. I was so blessed to be in the midst and worshiping with over 12.000 youth. Yes, imagine that. Worship is what I do because God has placed that desire in my heart and I love to thank Him for all He does for me and then to have that magnified to worship with youth all loving Jesus. Amazing. I was once told that WOW stands for Worthy of Worship and that is the word I will use to describe that experience.
When you greet there is a bit of down time since everyone seems to enter the event like all at once and then there will be those that straggle in at other times. Then the rush comes again when they are released for that session. There was another time when they said go ahead and see who the guest speaker was. I stepped back in and caught a portion of the preaching and it was just what I was to hear. Speaking on Jonah's adventure. There was something that struck a note in me that he spoke of. When Jonah was on the ship there was all kinds of turmoil and a storm, etc. The speaker said something to this effect, If your boat is rocking or in turmoil you need to check who you allowed to enter your boat. You see, it was not the others on the boat that created this but the one person that was on the boat was Jonah that caused the upheaval. He was out of the will of God and he brought that onto the boat. Who in your life did you allow to enter or re-enter your life and all of a sudden there is turmoil in your life? I cannot answer that question but I do know this, it is not a good place to be, especially if it happens to be a family member or a close friend. Sometimes others will force their way onto your boat. If you like discontent and turmoil then accept them if you like peace and tranquility in your life then you have to deal with it. If you choose to allow turmoil in your life then you are the only one to blame. The enemy will use others to get to you especially if you are near or you are walking in "God given" destiny in your life. Use extreme caution. It is easier said than done, I will share that with you. This is when you need Holy Spirit to direct your path in that situation.
I know this for a fact because I have walked this and it is stated in the bible and I have found that this is very true, He does not give you a spirit of fear (timidity) but of power and love and a sound mind. So if you are experiencing other things other than that it is either two things creating the turmoil: you are running from God and what He has called you to do with your life (what He beckons you to do) or the enemy is strong on your trail because you are doing the very thing God created you to do with your life. Seek Holy Spirit and He will reveal it to you, He is so very gracious that He will even show you where the turmoil is coming from and how to stop it. There is action involved in this however. You must seek Holy Spirit, then listen to Him and then act upon it. When you do you will be blessed immensely. Also ask Him to remind you in the future if it should happen again so you can cut it off in the beginning so as to not drag it out long (that is, if it is an attack by the enemy.)
So, what are you going to do today? Seek Holy Spirit for direction and let Him bless you and take care of you too. Step out in faith in your area of "God given" talent and watch what He will do in your life. You will step back in amazement and awe and thank Him profusely as you do this too.
I cannot explain it other than this, when I am in greeting situations the anointing comes on me and it is as if I am walking in the destiny God has for my life. I come alive and truly enjoy blessing others with a sincere smile and greeting to them. It is the best feeling in the world when you are walking in what God has for you to do in your life. I guess I am an encourager to others and that then allows me to be used to bless others. Does that make sense to you? How can I describe what it feels like when you are actually walking in destiny with God...It is as though you have a desire or dream that God has shared with you and then when you walk it, it is that feeling of WOW, it is actually happening to me in my life. It is as though you have received that really awesome report (an excellent report that is) and it puts a smile on your face and an extra spring in your step. If you were a child it would be something that would make you want to skip instead of walk down the street. Does that make sense? I have no other words to describe it other than it is a part of what you are called and designed by God to walk in and there are just no adequate words to describe that wonderful feeling.
Do you know what anointing rests upon you? You should seek out Holy Spirit and find out for when you walk in it you will then know what I am talking about. If you do know your calling in life and you do operate in it then you know what I am making reference to and you can then share in the feeling I am speaking about.
Another word I thought about to describe it, you come "alive" it is this internal knowing that this is what I was created to do. It is amazing it truly is. You see, when you step out in faith to volunteer you think you are there to help others and that you are. God has a deeper blessing hidden in your movement to volunteer, I have found out that He always seems to bless me far more than I ever expect. This time, yes, I was blessed with just being able to greet the visitors and welcoming them to the venue location. There was a time when they said go ahead and step inside the event to see it for a few minutes. I went with another volunteer and they led me to the perfect spot, it was behind the stage area in which I was able to see outward all around those worshiping and it was during my favorite time of a service, Worship. I was so blessed to be in the midst and worshiping with over 12.000 youth. Yes, imagine that. Worship is what I do because God has placed that desire in my heart and I love to thank Him for all He does for me and then to have that magnified to worship with youth all loving Jesus. Amazing. I was once told that WOW stands for Worthy of Worship and that is the word I will use to describe that experience.
When you greet there is a bit of down time since everyone seems to enter the event like all at once and then there will be those that straggle in at other times. Then the rush comes again when they are released for that session. There was another time when they said go ahead and see who the guest speaker was. I stepped back in and caught a portion of the preaching and it was just what I was to hear. Speaking on Jonah's adventure. There was something that struck a note in me that he spoke of. When Jonah was on the ship there was all kinds of turmoil and a storm, etc. The speaker said something to this effect, If your boat is rocking or in turmoil you need to check who you allowed to enter your boat. You see, it was not the others on the boat that created this but the one person that was on the boat was Jonah that caused the upheaval. He was out of the will of God and he brought that onto the boat. Who in your life did you allow to enter or re-enter your life and all of a sudden there is turmoil in your life? I cannot answer that question but I do know this, it is not a good place to be, especially if it happens to be a family member or a close friend. Sometimes others will force their way onto your boat. If you like discontent and turmoil then accept them if you like peace and tranquility in your life then you have to deal with it. If you choose to allow turmoil in your life then you are the only one to blame. The enemy will use others to get to you especially if you are near or you are walking in "God given" destiny in your life. Use extreme caution. It is easier said than done, I will share that with you. This is when you need Holy Spirit to direct your path in that situation.
I know this for a fact because I have walked this and it is stated in the bible and I have found that this is very true, He does not give you a spirit of fear (timidity) but of power and love and a sound mind. So if you are experiencing other things other than that it is either two things creating the turmoil: you are running from God and what He has called you to do with your life (what He beckons you to do) or the enemy is strong on your trail because you are doing the very thing God created you to do with your life. Seek Holy Spirit and He will reveal it to you, He is so very gracious that He will even show you where the turmoil is coming from and how to stop it. There is action involved in this however. You must seek Holy Spirit, then listen to Him and then act upon it. When you do you will be blessed immensely. Also ask Him to remind you in the future if it should happen again so you can cut it off in the beginning so as to not drag it out long (that is, if it is an attack by the enemy.)
So, what are you going to do today? Seek Holy Spirit for direction and let Him bless you and take care of you too. Step out in faith in your area of "God given" talent and watch what He will do in your life. You will step back in amazement and awe and thank Him profusely as you do this too.