Enjoying Simple Pleasures.*

The other day there was a post on my apartment door saying that the maintenance would be turning off the water in the building due to plumbing repairs. 
I thought, "no problemo." Yes sometimes I think in Spanish, and every now and then French, Japanese, and Thai. I am a multicultural kind of lady... I learned French in High School; Japanese in, how do you say it, oh yes, Japan. I lived there for under 4 yrs, and then I tried to learn some Thai from my Thai relatives...I can positively say, I wasn't good at learning Thai. lol Just ask my middle niece, she would probably love to tell you the truth about me. She tried teaching me Thai several years back...

Okay so back to my story....I thought I would be okay. Since I hadn't left the house for 2 days or opened the front door; I assumed the post was for that day that just passed.  So after I read it, I wadded it up and went to my neighbor's place and threw it away. No, I don't always throw things away at my neighbor's apartment, but I was on the way to her place after I took the note off my door.

The next morning

...I had to go to the doctor and also go to a shoe store. Well, I jump out of bed to go brush my teeth, and lo and behold, there is NO water coming out of the sink...hmmm. So I try the other sink, which happens to be in the kitchen...and yup, nothing at all...then I remembered that the notice did say that the water would be off on October 16, so I check my calendar...and another "lo and behold" moment happened. Yes, you guess it, it was Oct 16.  

So I am thinking, "man I really need to freshen up and get ready for my appts, and I really could use a shower."....and then a light bulb hits my head...yes in my life, light bulbs don't hover over my head, they hit it...I then remember the "Emergency" water I have stashed in the closet...I try to keep water handy just in case of an emergency...I know in other countries this is not considered an emergency, but it is for me...

Okay so I get a pitcher, a bowl, and the gallon of water out.
I rinse my electric toothbrush, tongue cleaner, and toothbrush for my retainer.
Brush teeth; brush tongue; brush retainer.
Rinse mouth out. 
Rinse toothpaste off of toothbrushes, retainer, and tongue cleaner.

Rinse face.
Wash face. 
Rinse face again.
Cool...no problemo....I am doing good.

So now I move my pitcher, a bowl, and the gallon of water (which is no longer a gallon) to the tub.
I take an old fashioned shower with a bucket of water.
I think, "man, I put too much shampoo in my hair;" it is still too soapy...

I try to rinse hair again. I thought I put pitcher of water over head, but it just poured down the drain. I felt so bad...I need that water and what a waste...that water didn't even touch me. "Waaaaiiiiittttt, I need youuuuuuuuuu..."
Rinse hair again.

There is still shampoo in my hair...
Rinse hair again.
Water all gone...

Man, I don't have enough water to use my hair conditioner treatment. Oh well, I can survive without it today.
I usually use water to rinse tub when I am done...not to mention the drain... I guess it all can wait...

1 gallon of water, completely gone...

I have been so spoiled living in the USA...That's just 1 gallon of water gone and yet it made me think of how much water I usually use when I take a shower, wash dishes, etc...

I remember taking a Mexico trip to Tecate with the Full Service Youth from First Assembly of God church (now known as North Hills). It was hard having the well water rationed at the Orphanage that we helped, for about 5 days; not to mention the lack of plumbing for the toilets. They had around 5 porta-potties outside for us...I do have to confess though, that I did find a running toilet and used it......Thankfully I was able to help clean inside the group homes for the children, yet I saw the other youth leaders and students that I came with, arrive at our housing completely dirty from helping mix cement, or something like that, in the heat of the sun. We all needed showers so we would be fresh and clean for when we would help minister to the people out in the streets in a different part of the city. We weren't able to use the showers because the well was running dry at the time; although, they did let us use one small bucket of water, every other day. And boy, I was thankful for that. You know on that mission trip, someone told me to bring baby wipes because I could use them to freshen up...and boy do they work...I have never forgotten that mission trip about 7 years ago.

Here I am complaining about the 1 gallon of water I had to use the other day because of an inconvenience...yet it reminded me of how thankful I am for all the necessities I do have. I may not own a car or a home, but I have running water, a running toilet, plumbing, a comfy bed, electricity, food for my cat and I, a roof over my head and other things that I enjoy like painting supplies for my art work, dvds, TV, extra pillows and blankets, etc...

Thank you God for simple pleasures...and thank you God, that I live in the good USA. Please forgive me for all the times I complain. Lord, thank you!!!

p.s. To all my friends who have laughed at me for keeping "emergency" water; it came in handy...and I even had the softest hair that day without the hair conditioner.


(This was written in Oct 2012)

Just A Simple Poem*

My Lord, my God,
I learn of you
through books, church, friends, and listening to you.

My Lord, my God,
I live for you
with my heart, soul and even my mind too.

My Lord, my God,
I worship you
at church, at home, and through those songs of praise.

My Lord, my God,
I trust in you
and try to follow you in all your ways.


Thank you, My Lord and My God!


9/25/12  @ 1 am

God, You Made it All*

Oil Painting by Expressive Praise

God, You Made It All

You made the beautiful oceans,

the calming seas,

and the flowing rivers

that are in every nation.

You made the gorgeous blue skies,

the enormous trees,

and the blossoming flowers

that enhance your creation.

You made the amazing cheetahs,

to the smallest ant,

and all the various animals

that roam this big earth.

You made the tiniest person

to the tallest human,

and all those in between

who have been in the process of birth.

God, you made it all.

Your creativity is beyond my human imagination.

Your love of color and variety is everywhere you are.

You have painted the earth into existence.

No one else could do what you have done.

You are truly amazing.

8-20-12

2:45 am

What Do you Smell?*

God, you made the beautiful fragrance of blossoming flowers that enhance my senses.

You created our sense of smell to enjoy even the different foods we prepare.

You flood our souls with peace like rivers and unconditional love that is oh so good.

You have even made the hint of rain producing some kind of scent.

You created our nose to behold the most beautiful aromas of this world.

You made even our senses to enhance life so much more.

Even the smell of meat barbecued, outdoors, makes our mouth water.

Lord, thank you for thinking of even small things like this to pleasure us.

But God, why?  Why did you create the skunk?

Don’t you know that the skunk stinks?

Remember, you created the skunk to spray and be smelled for miles?

It’s not a pleasant aroma that feels my nostrils.

           

And yes, I am grateful that I have a sense of smell. 

Thank you that you made our senses to enhance life so much more.

Thank you that I can smell, see, hear, taste and touch.

I think the skunk was made to remind us....

Actually I can’t think of anything good that it could remind me of,

Except that I still have my sense of smell. (lol)

One time my friend and I saw a skunk coming towards the building;

We jumped out of our seats so fast. God, I bet you even chuckled that night.

Not only do you have all your senses, you have the best one of all...the sense of humor.

8-20-2012

3:30 am

Hmmm Interesting!*

 (photo by Expressive Praise)

Last night when I spent my alone time with God, I started thinking about how I should be 
more intimate with God. I tried thinking of people in the Bible I could research who had an intimate relationship with God and I could follow their example. You may think it sounds strange to ask about who has an intimate relationship with God because some people associate intimacy with their lover or sex. I am not talking about that kind of intimacy.  

In the Webster's New World Dictionary and Thesaurus, it defines intimacy as very close or familiar; deep and thorough; and private or personal.

When I say I want an intimate relationship with God, I mean that I want a very close and deep relationship with Him.  I want to know Him more. What does God like? What does He desire for me? When one has an intimate relationship with someone, he/she will try to learn all about that person. What do they like? What are their goals or aspirations?  What are their hobbies? What do they do outside of work? Are they a Christian or are they totally against God? What is their favorite color?  What do they like to do for fun? What is their favorite meal? How do they like to spend quality time with you?  One can not learn about the other if they do not communicate to each other. 


I sometimes imagine God sitting beside me and talking to me. I try to sit still and listen to His quiet voice and then, I communicate with Him. I will tell Him things that I like about Him (praising Him) or I may share a need that I have for me or others (interceding). Other times I may just talk excitedly in my thoughts or out loud and just tell Him all the great things that are happening in my life. I know this may sound crazy because He already knows everything. Yet it's in those times that when we stop and communicate with God, that they may be the most precious moments we have with Him.  But if we are doing all the talking then we are missing out on LISTENING to HIM about HIS desires, HIS love, and HIS will. HE desires a two-way communication.

Okay, so getting back to my little Bible study I did. I desire to have a strong, intimate relationship with God.  Because I want to be as close to God as I can, I tried to think of someone in the Bible who had an intimate relationship with God. While trying to think of people, I came to the conclusion that Enoch must have had an intimate relationship with God, so here it goes.

When I first started researching information about Enoch, I did not realize that there were two of them in the Bible.  I started studying one of them in Genesis 4 and realized I was researching the wrong one. The first Enoch you hear about is the one who is the son of Cain also known as the son of Adam and Eve. Cain was not a good person because he killed his brother Abel, so therefore, his parents, Adam and Eve, had to have another son, Seth, who would be a family link from Adam to Jesus' birth.

I want to talk to you about the second Enoch that is in the Bible; this "Enoch" is the son of Jared.  First, we read in the paragraph above that Seth is a son of Adam and Eve. In Genesis 5:6 Seth had a son named Enosh and then Enosh had Kenan; Kenan had Mahalalel; and Mahalalel had Jared. When Jared was a ripe age of 162 years old, he had Enoch. Enoch was the sixth person born in Adam's line from Adam to Jesus.  So now we know that Enoch's dad is Jared. We don't know much about him except after he had Enoch, he lived 800 more years and had sons and daughters.  I wonder if he was still having children while he was at the age of 789. What kind of father was Jared to Enoch and his siblings? Were Jared and his wife strong believers in God?  Did they teach their children to serve God? How was Enoch's mom in all of this? Actually how OLD was she at the time all of her children were born and how many were there? Were they changing diapers at this old age? 

It doesn't mention the age of Enoch's mother, let alone her name. I think anyone having a husband for over 800 years deserves to be named. You know, she could have died at an earlier age after all her kids were born. We will never know, until we get to Heaven. Okay so now Jared dies at an old age of 962 years. Wow, I wonder what they used for wrinkle cream back then. Did he have a lot of people at his funeral or did he outlive his friends and family? Sometimes I think that 40-50 years on earth is a long time; I couldn't imagine living 800 more years. Wow, that just seems so long!

In Genesis 5:18-21, Enoch lived only sixty-five years before he had Methuselah. I said "only" sixty-five years because it just seems so young compared to the age his father was when he had Enoch; Jared was 162 years of age. Sixty-five years sounds like a baby when you think about that Jared died at 962 years. Any way, after Enoch had Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years and had sons and daughters within that time frame.  The Bible doesn't mention that Enoch walked with God before Methuselah so I wonder what happened in Enoch's life to get him to that point of wanting to walk with God. Was Methuselah one of those miracle babies that was going to die and they needed lots of prayer to keep him alive or did something else happen around that time?  I was thinking that he might have had some kind of encounter with God or some kind of closeness or intimacy with God. Did Enoch's parents train him to live a godly life? Maybe at one time, Enoch was living for God, but when he became a teenager or young adult at the age of 65 (lol), maybe he started living the way his parents taught him to live. We can only speculate at this time because not much is said.

In Genesis 5:23-24 "Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years.  Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."

Can you imagine that being in the news about you or I.  NEWS FLASH!!! "Susan lived 365 years. Susan walked with God; then she was no more, because God took her away."  I can just see the headlines now, making fun of this event or doing some kind of report on a mysterious missing person of some UFO sighting that must have abducted Susan. 

The Bible does not mention how he disappeared or how he was taken. It just says that Enoch walked with God and then God took him. Period. He's gone; The end... but why? Why did God take Enoch away?

Hebrews 11:5-6  "By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Can you imagine one day, your father or your husband had just disappeared? Did Enoch's wife or children get the warning ahead of time that he was leaving this earth? Did his wife look for him everywhere and were the police investigating what happened? Was there a search party for him? Was his wife or children not pleasing God like he did? Wow, he was walking with God and then poof, he's gone; because he pleased God.  Does God still take people off of this earth when they are walking with God?


What do we know about Enoch?  The only other thing I could find about Enoch was in Jude 14 where it says that Enoch prophesied. Okay, so we know that Enoch had children, a wife, and many siblings; plus he walked with God and he prophesied. That's about all we know. 

How do you think Enoch walked with God? When it says that he walked with God, I imagine him doing everything in his life he could, to please God. Are we pleasing God or are we pleasing our own earthly desires? Are we living on this earth just to fill space until it's our time to leave this earth, or are we living on this earth in doing God's will and pleasing Him.  Do we include God in our everyday life? or Are we just a Sunday Christian; do we pray and sing to God only on Sundays?


I challenge you (and myself) to walk with God. Be so close to God that you can listen to His heartbeat. When you are listening for a heartbeat on a person, you have to be still and be quiet so you can hear it beat. When is the last time we heard God's heartbeat? How can we please God, our creator? We are on this earth for a reason; there is a special reason why God chose us to be born? He did not have to include you when he created people and their souls. I mean, he knew you and I would be born ahead of time. I am pretty sure God could have said, "hmm,  I know the future and in 1994, Tanya will not please me so let's not even create her soul."  Thankfully He did not do that for probably none of us would be born and He doesn't want robots serving Him.  Do you like it when people do things for you because they love it or just because they have to? Now put those thoughts and ideas into serving and pleasing God. You will be amazed how enjoyable it becomes.

Oh, I forgot to mention: about the thing of how Enoch served and pleased God and then God took him. Yes, I believe that was a special case. I can't imagine God taking everyone away who pleased Him. It was something special that God did with Enoch at that time, and hopefully in the eternal future, we will see or understand why He did that. Be free to please God; He might just bless your socks off.


Note: If you would like to read information about the genealogy of how Adam, Seth, and Enoch are in the ancestry of Jesus, read 1 Chronicles chapter 1 (refer to verse 3) and also read Luke 3:38.

Note: all scripture in this post is from the (New International Version) NIV, 1984 edition.



Remember that you can leave a comment by clicking "Post a Comment" below. It will link you to a place you can type in your name and comment. Type in your comment in the comment box. Below that you will see "Please prove you're not a robot"  and then type the two words they request in the appropriate box. You will notice it says "choose your identity." Click on "name;" type in your name. Then click on "publish your comment." Thank you.

My Artist Biography 2012*

Although I specialize in oil painting, sketching, and photo greeting cards, I do enjoy exploring wherever else my creative senses take me. I have been a member of the Redlands Art Association since July 2011. Every time I talk to another artist or check out all the various, creative artwork at the RAA art gallery, I become more inspired in my artwork.

As for my love for art, I only dabbled in art classes when I was younger and focused on my poetry and writing skills most of my life. While admiring the sketches and paintings of others; it was not until later in life that I really found a deep interest in my own artwork.

In 2008, I wanted to try oil painting so I went to a craft store and bought an inexpensive, miniature oil painting kit.  After I painted a couple of sceneries, one of my friends politely said that I really could use some more help so she bought me a couple of books on how to oil paint. That was all I needed to fall in love with oil painting and the rest is history.

 My passion of nature artwork in oil painting and photography, is from the breathtaking views and inspiration God created. When I look at a huge mountain, admire a blooming flower, or just view the beautiful sky, peace floods my soul and all I want to do is capture that moment.

 In 2011, I painted a picture of a dove that is titled “The Holy Spirit is my Comforter.” With the help of my friend, we donated the painting to the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. The 24x36 inch canvas is now being displayed in the children’s cancer ward in the Infusion room. The oil painting was donated to encourage and give hope to children who have cancer and also to encourage their parents while seeing their child go through tough times.

For information, contact 

expressivepraise@gmail.com

My Heavenly Father*, my Real Father*

Here is a vision God gave me this morning. I am about 8 yrs old, my hair is in curled locks. I have a layered fluffy yellow dress on that bounces when I run. I can even see white tights with white dress shoes on my feet. I see myself running to my heavenly father's arms. The whole time I am running, I am giggling, smiling, laughing and so excited to see my heavenly father Abba. As I am running to Him, I jump up and He catches me without hesitation. He holds me with one of those tight hugs that an unconditional loving father gives to the daughter He cherishes. He twirls me around and we laugh together. We love each other...  (I don't know what loneliness, hurt, sorrow, disapproval, scared to death of abuse, abandonment or fear are, because my heavenly father didn't given me them.) I only know safety, closeness, fatherly love, and being cherished...it feels sooooo good.

This is what God wanted me to see:

God has taken my past hurt of not having that loving earthly father in my life and He is rewriting my past for me. God is my father and He invented a new childhood memory for me to have the rest of my life for my past. I need to focus on what my Abba father has given me as a young child to a young adult; His unconditional love, him wanting to be my Abba, my Father.

It’s as though I could see the little girl (me) from my past, running into God's arms and God lovingly throws me up in the air and catches me to give me a huge hug. I feel safe; I feel loved; I feel so much comfort.

Now that I have seen this vision, I realize that the soul of this little girl in me needed a healthy, loving daddy in my past memory. I always yearned for a healthy bond from an earthly father/daddy... With this vision, God made a new memory for me and He did overwrite the hurt and the unfulfilled longing I so wanted all of my life for a father/daughter bond from my earthly father. I now have a "daddy" memory from my heavenly Father.


Now I am a mature woman of God, a mature Christian. Maybe God wanted me to see that I do not need a "daddy" anymore because that empty longing of a loving father is now fulfilled in God,  the Father himself. Right now, I need a "Dad" and God is completely taking that place and role right now. I need a Heavenly DAD in this time of my mature life.

Dear God, my Heavenly Father Dad,

May you always know how much I love and adore you. Thank you for being there when my earthly one was not the father he should have been all of my life. When I was an innocent young girl to a young adult, things happened that should not have happened to me, but for some selfish reason on my earthly father's part, they were. Thank you God for the friends, pastors, and counselors you brought into my life to help me overcome so many different kinds of pain... God, thank you for helping me during the process of  when I had to learn to forgive my father, and helping me understand that I do not have to spend time with someone so destructive to my emotional health and well being. I realize that the people I bring in close to me should be safe, loving, and emotionally healthy people. Father God, I adore you and am relieved that you are my Eternal Loving Father, my Dad. From my past to my future, you are always there. Thank you!!!

Happy Father's Day, Dad. I love you!
Love your lovable and cherished daughter,

The Holy Spirit*

The Holy Spirit is a big part of my life. He counsels me, encourages me, edges me on to do what is right; He even helps me to not give into what is wrong. I am not perfect. I didn’t say I always obeyed Him. I wish I did, yet I strive to obey Him.

Thinking or hoping God didn’t just ask me to do something I don’t want to do; I tend to argue with Him. I always say, “but God...” and then I hear this voice in me that repeats what he wants me to do. I try to obey, but many times I fail the test. Please don’t take this the wrong way, now I am not saying I am hearing voices so please do not carry me away in a straight jacket...lol.. Let me make this clear; I hear ONE voice, the Voice of GOD...The Voice of the Holy Spirit prompting, nudging, and sometimes even pushing me to do what is right. Yes, I said "pushing" because I can be stubborn at times, or even scared, have too much pride, embarrassed, or just plain don't want to do what He asks. 

My precious cat: Buttons

Yet I notice that He always blesses me each time I obey Him. He doesn't give me a hundred bucks each time I obey Him, but He blesses me in different ways. Sometimes it is through a friend, a child's laughter, a beautiful sunset, or even helping me manage my bills, supplying my needs, helping me with good deals at the store, etc... There are even those times that I feel blessed through my cat Buttons. As I am typing this right now, he is scooping up water with his paw and bringing it to his mouth to drink. Aww, he is so cute, but let's get back to the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit also gives me the strength and power to help me overcome temptations. I hear this quiet voice, that tells me to not give in, and it is my choice to obey Him. I can’t blame it on the devil, an enemy or even a family member. If I don’t do what the Holy Spirit asks, then I am the one sinning. I believe it is very important to listen and obey the Holy Spirit’s voice, for it is the Voice of GOD.

The Holy Spirit is like a big brother without all the teasing, but yet He is greater than any big brother or person out there, for He is God. He is always watching out for me and He can do the same thing for you. Yet greater than all that, He is a part of the Trinity. The Trinity is God in three: The Father, the Son (Jesus), and The Holy Spirit.

 

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PART OF THE TRINITY

The easiest way to describe it is the way one of my former pastors from 20 years ago taught me. The Holy Spirit is like a watch. If you look at a watch that you used to wear on your wrist, before they invented cell phones, you would notice that there are three hands. There is the second hand, the minute hand, and the hour hand. There are 3 different hands with 3 different functions, yet all three make up the watch. That’s how it is with God. There is the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. There are three, yet they have different roles and they all make up God.

Read Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

 I have read and skimmed over the 1^st Chapter of Genesis many times, yet I didn’t think anything differently about verse 26 until I was in my late 20’s. It already says that God made the light, the animals, the sky, the stars, etc... He made everything...All those verses talk about what God did. Yet in verse 26, it says, let “US” make mankind in “OUR” image. So who are they talking about in this verse? I believe it is talking about God as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God always existed. Jesus has always been the son of God which is part of the trinity. He wasn’t created the day He was born on this earth thousands of years ago. He already existed, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

John 1:1-5  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS GOD. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The Word was Jesus. Jesus was in the beginning, Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. It says all things were made through Him (Jesus). He was there even when God made all things.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR HELPER (COMFORTER) and is the SPIRIT OF TRUTH

John 14:16-18  NKJV   And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

(If you look at the above verses, notice how The Father, the Son, and the Spirit work as a team. They are God, yet they all help each other out in helping us. They all have a different role. Also In verse 16, different translations of the Bible have different words for Helper, such as in the newer NIV version, for Helper, it says “advocate,” in the KJV: “Comforter.”

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR COUNSELOR, TEACHER, and HE EVEN HELPS US REMEMBER THINGS

In verse John 14:25-26  “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. "

The Holy Spirit will teach you all things and will remind you things. Yes, in these particular verses, Jesus is actually face to face with the disciples and is telling them to not worry, they won't be left alone. The Holy Spirit is coming to town!!! Can you imagine, what these disciples were thinking? I would be distraught or devastated too if I was walking with a form of God (Jesus came down as man) and then He is telling me He is leaving. Yet He told them to be comforted because another form of God is coming down to them who is the Holy Spirit. Now this verse applies to us as well. because the Holy Spirit is our counselor and teacher, and will bring to our memory what you have read or heard from the Bible. The Bible is the written word of God.

OUR FATHER GOD SENT DOWN A GIFT who is THE HOLY SPIRIT.

In Luke 24:49 Jesus is telling his disciples that His Father (God) has promised Him that He will send them a comforter.

Acts 1:4-5   On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

So not only will they be anticipating a gift, but this gift will give them a baptism of the Holy Spirit.

THE EVIDENCE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 1:5,8  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit... But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 2:1-5  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

It says: all began to speak in tongues. It doesn’t say, some of them, or only the ones that God chose, it says all of them began to speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit was upon them. Also it does mention that they spoke in other tongues when they were enabled by the Spirit.

(NOTE: The day of Pentecost was a Jewish holiday called The Feast of Weeks. Many Jews came from all around to have a celebration).

Acts 2:18-19, 21 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. ¹⁹ I will show wonders in the heaven above...²¹ And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

The Holy Spirit is for you and I.

RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT IS FOR ANYONE WHO REPENTS OF THEIR SINS (AND is BAPTIZED) AND RECEIVES JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR.

Acts 2:36-40   “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” ³⁷ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off —for all whom the Lord our God will call.” ⁴⁰ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Peter is the one speaking in the scripture above. (refer to Acts 2:14).
So Peter is telling them, this Jesus you crucified, the one you killed, He is the one that is God; He is the Christ. Can you imagine that moment; thinking that you just killed God? Thankfully He rose again, but can you imagine hearing those words; You crucified the Christ, God. If I was there with Peter, I think my heart would have sank into my big toe and my head would have been spinning so much i would have thrown up. I would have those words in my memory forever and probably would have played them like a broken record. "God had made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Thankfully Peter also says that there is a way to overcome this. He says: Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ... for the forgiveness of your sins.  Webster's New World dictionary defines the word "repent" as to feel such great regret over as to change one's mind.  Jesus Christ saves our souls...Wow, have you really thought about that lately? Christ forgives us of the sins we do. What sin have you done recently? Each time we are sinning, it's as though we are nailing Jesus to the cross again....

Matthew 28:16-20     Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus has authority!!! He is always with us!!!

Titus 3:3-8     At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

God saved us, cleansed us, and renewed us through the Holy Spirit and Jesus.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

John 16:5-15 but now I (Jesus) am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin, because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. ¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

 The Holy Spirit guides you... He will talk to you... He may whisper in your ear, speak to you through a person, be real to you in a sermon or song, or just speak to your heart, mind, soul, or spirit. The Holy Spirit is a vital part to your relationship with God. He is our counselor, comforter, friend, teacher, guidance counselor; He is so much more than you can ever imagine.

LIFE THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

Romans 8:1-17  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  

(Note: I believe in previous times, people had to follow the law; they had to do all those burnt offerings and sacrifices so that God would forgive them. It was an act of repentance. We don't need to follow those laws anymore, because Jesus was the ultimate sin offering. When Jesus Christ  died for our sins, he was OUR sin offering. He died for us to be set free. JESUS was the ULTIMATE SIN OFFERING.)

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.


(Note: Usually what your flesh wants, is totally different than what your spirit wants. Seek what the Holy Spirit wants for you; die to your flesh. For example, try thinking about turning off the tv when your favorite program is on, and it's the season finale, better yet, it's the last, final show they will have. Now, think about praying instead. Do you think your flesh wants to turn off the tv. No Way, it wants to sit and watch that tv program. Dying to your flesh, is turning off the tv, and praying. What does the Holy Spirit want in your life? How can you seek Him more? What is your spirit crying out to do for God? Has God put something on your heart that He wants you to do?)


⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs —heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.


The Spirit gives life.
Children of God are lead by the Spirit of God. They are heirs of God, and Co-heirs of Christ. Think of yourself as a co-heir in Christ. I don't know about you, but that just totally excites me. I am an heir of God; my destiny is heaven. I will live with God for eternity...wow, how exciting. It just gives me holy goose bumps.
Now just think, you get rewarded with this too. No, I am not talking about receiving Holy goose bumps; I am talking about living in Heaven for eternity. This destination is for believers in the true God. Just take a moment to think how glorious that day will be when you will see the face of God without any filters.

I like to think of myself as God's princess. He is God, the Lord of my life, the King of kings, the Prince of Peace...He is Royalty!!!
If I am His child and have an inheritance to Heaven, then I am His princess for He is Royalty.





We serve a God who is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient...Thank you GOD!!!

You are a child of God, when you accept Christ as your personal saviour.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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Psalms 103:12 As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

All you have to do is believe that He is God and confess your sins...He will forgive you of your sins...and then clean you up to make you brand new... Once God forgives you of your sins, He doesn't condemn you; He removes them...that's it...


I am enclosing a prayer for each of you.

Dear God,
For all those who have read this blog, I pray you bless them and give them a sweet anointing on their lives. May they feel your presence in a strong way. May they sense you are so much greater than our minds can comprehend. Please bless them, strengthen them, and may they just feel you tugging and hugging on their soul and spirit. May you be their source of strength and peace. 

For those who do not know Christ as their savior, I pray that they feel your sweet, unconditional love and they will acknowledge you as their savior. May they know that you are the Ultimate God, and all they have to do is confess you as Lord and savior and repent of their sins.  In Jesus name, Amen






note: all pictures and paintings are by Expressive Praise, unless otherwise noted. 

Oh No Lord, Can I Start Over?*

Have you ever done something that you wished you had not done? Have you wished you could go back in time to erase what you did, and then start over and do the right thing? Have you done something that even people said that you might do if you stay on the path that you are on, but you didn’t listen to them? And you ended up doing the exact thing that you denied you would do? Boy, I have. Sometimes, I so wish I could go back in time, and change all of my mistakes or sins I have committed, and make everything right.

That’s what happened to Peter. No, I am not talking about your neighbor who cut you off while you were trying to park your car. I am talking about the Peter who was Jesus’ disciple in the Bible and was also his friend.  If you read Matthew 26:31-75, you will find that Jesus tells Peter that Peter will deny Jesus three times and then the rooster will crow. I can picture Peter thinking, I am his friend; I would never do such a thing. Never. Not even once. How could he think that I would ever deny him, my friend and master, three times? I feel hurt that he would feel that way. In the NIV Bible, it replaces the word deny for disown. Can you imagine any worse thing than to deny or disown Jesus? Jesus says that Peter will disown him THREE times. That same day, Jesus takes the disciples to Gethsemane where Jesus prays and his so called friends and disciples fall asleep. Then a little bit later, Jesus is arrested in that garden.

Now Jesus is before the Sanhedrin, which is the highest Jewish court in Roman times. The Sanhedrin say that Jesus is worthy of death. So as you can see, this is an intense meeting. He gets convicted and the result will be the death penalty, but He hasn't done anything wrong. Even though Jesus is God, he came down in human form. He knows what pain and sadness is. He could really use some friends right about now. Peter is in the courtyard listening to what the Sanhedrin are saying when he does the unthinkable. People start approaching him and asking him if he knew Jesus and was he a follower of Jesus. He says “no,” not once, not twice, but three times.” The rooster starts crowing and Peter remembers what Jesus had told him earlier. Peter feels horrible. He had done the exact thing Jesus said he would do. He denies Jesus three times. I can imagine him running to hide his face while weeping profusely until his eyes are blood shot and swollen.  I can see him replaying over and over and over the denials of Jesus, the rooster crowing, and the words Jesus had spoken to him earlier that day. His heart aches. The story doesn’t end there.  

Jesus dies and on the 3^rd day he resurrects. He doesn’t go to Heaven right away.  In John 21, Simon Peter and his friends go fishing. They catch absolutely nothing. Not even a teeny, tiny sardine. The next morning, a man stands at the shore and tells the guys to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. So they probably thought, “Well it wouldn’t hurt.” So they did it. The next thing you know is that the net is filled to capacity of fish. Not just any fish, large fish and 153 to be exact. At this time, all of them realized that the man was their Lord, Jesus. They all go to Jesus and have breakfast of fish and bread with Him. Remember, Peter had previously disowned Jesus three times. Jesus could have thought, “You know Peter, you are not invited because when I needed you the most, you denied even knowing me.” But Jesus didn’t; he includes him for breakfast. He talks with him. He fellowships with him.

John 21:15, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?”

Jesus: “...do you truly love me more than these?”

            Peter: “Yes Lord. You know that I love you.”
            Jesus: “Feed my lambs.”

            Jesus: “...do you truly love me?”

            Peter: “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.”
            Jesus: “Take care of my sheep.”

            Jesus: “...do you love me?”

            Peter: “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
            Jesus: “Feed my sheep.”

After the third time that Jesus asked him the question, Peter is feeling frustrated. He’s probably thinking, “Lord, you know that I love you; why do you keep asking me. I totally love you undeniably.” But remember before Jesus was executed, Peter denied him three times.  Maybe Jesus is counteracting the fact that Peter denied him three times, so he asks Peter how much does he really love him, and reinstated him.  Not only does Jesus forgive him, he spends time with him, and reinstates him. No, the story doesn’t even end there.

 Jesus could have said, “you know Peter, you denied me three times, I don’t want to have anything to do with you.” But he doesn’t do this. He includes him with all the disciples each time Jesus appears to them before he goes to Heaven. He even allows Peter to be there during the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28:16-20. This is where Jesus tells the disciples, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...” So Jesus includes Peter, to go out and minister to people. He is basically saying, “You denied me, but I forgive you. I know your heart; I know you love me. You were weak and now you are strong.  I want to include you to help me spread the gospel.” The story keeps going...

 
If you read in Acts 2:1 - 5:40, you will see that Peter is a leader, heals the sick, ministers to people and does even more. Even though he screwed up big time, and he couldn’t change the past no matter how hard he tried; he was still used for God’s kingdom to further the gospel. In the Bible, you can read more stories about many people who screwed up, yet God used them in mighty ways to do mighty things, after they repented.  (Repent is to feel sorry for; to change our mind and actions to not do it again).

 Dear God, help us lean on you when we commit sins we have done, temptations we succumb to, flawed characters that need fixed, and other things that we do that we wish we could reverse time and go change them. We can't change the past, but we can accept your grace as we repent. Lord forgive us as we change from the mistakes and sins we commit. Help us to keep moving forward when we do things that we horribly regret like denying you three times. Lord give us strength to live the life you want each of us to live and help us be a blessing to each other and especially to you, God. In Jesus' Name...AMEN


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