What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Sunday, June 4, 2017

It's Pentecost Sunday...



It's Sunday, and I know I should write something deep and spiritual. But to be honest, my brain is still a little fuzzy since my surgery...even though my surgery had nothing to do with my brain...totally opposite...but well, I won't give TMI.   Anyway, there really is something to "anesthesia brain". I realize that as I try to type here...you don't know how many times I am hitting the wrong keys and have to go back and rewrite words.  I find it is easier to just go sit in my recliner and read a book than to try and think and write and communicate.  But something drives me to at least keep trying...don't give in to it or it will become difficult to ever get back in the routine and groove...

Today is Pentecost Sunday...the Sunday set aside in the traditional church calendar to remember and celebrate the day that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, who were gathered "with one accord in one place..." (Acts 2:1).  Acts 2:2-3 tells us that

"Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, 
as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled the whole house where they were sitting...
Then there appeared to them divided tongues,
as of fire, and one sat upon each of them."

Now I know that all of Christendom has discussed and debated over this event ever since it happened...and many differences in church denominations have sprung up because of the differences in opinion over just what happened here and what it meant to all Christians everywhere.  I am not going to discuss that here, but what I do want to talk about is who we are in Christ...and what this means to each of us individually.  To do that, I need to look at I Corinthians 12:4-7
rr
"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are differences of ministries,
but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of activities,
but it is the same God who works all in all.
But the manifestation of the Spirit
is given to each one for the profit of all..."

This morning I happened to pick up my friend Susie Klein's wonderful little book, Walking Butterfly~Comfy Cocoon to Flying Free  (Available HERE on Amazon.com) and turned to this particular page (Chapter Ten, page 58), and I'd like to quote what Susie wrote here. I know she won't mind...she really is a very special friend of mine, whom I met through blogging several years ago...and we formed a very genuine and precious friendship that I treasure highly...  So here is what Susie says:

"The Father designed you for a purpose.
To be loved by Him and to share that love with others.

It really is as simple as that.  When we actually believe God loves us, it changes everything.
When you know you are loved, you are free to give away that love generously and abundantly.
You know there is more where it came from;
there is no need to be stingy or protective.  
Love is generous.

God likes your personality.  He thought it up and installed it in you.
Don't ask Him to change it for a bigger, louder, quieter or fancier version.
He wants to send His love to the world through your style and version.
Are you quiet, or are you boisterous?  
Are you methodical or are your spontaneous?
He enjoys that about you.
He won't answer the prayer to change the way you've been designed.
God has created you with love.
Like one of those tags that grandmas add to a hand-knitted sweater or blanket;
Made With Love.
You are made with love to share love."

I love this, Susie!  It speaks to my heart exactly what I Corinthians 12 is trying to get across to us (if you read the whole chapter)...We are created for the purpose of serving God with the gifts that He, through the Holy Spirit, has instilled in us.

Now, one may think that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have nothing to do with our personalities or how we were made...but I beg to differ.  I believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit enhance and build upon the qualities and traits God has already built into us.  The Holy Spirit takes our propensity for boldness and fills us with the ability to use that gift for God's Kingdom.  He takes our capacity for love and gives us the desire to spread His love wherever we are.  Whatever our particular gifts and strengths are, when filled with God's Holy Spirit...those strengths are magnified and utilized for His glory throughout the world. God made us in His image, with love, and when we become His children by salvation through Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit seals us and empowers us to become all that He intended us to be from the beginning of time.

Jeepers, "It's Sunday, and I know I should write something deep and spiritual!"  Wow!  I guess the Holy Spirit did intend for me to write something from His heart to ours...and I thank Him for the inspiration...and I also thank my friend Susie Klein for her very heartfelt, honest, and down to earth book that has deeply touched my heart in so many ways.  God is using her gift to bless you and me and others today as well...and I know Susie would be very humbled and blessed to know this.

Lord, I am so thankful for Your gift of the Holy Spirit, Who came down to us at Pentecost so many years ago, and Who continues to indwell, embolden, give gifts, and empower us today to serve You and stand strong in the face of countless foes and dangers in life.  Thank you for Your gifts that give us the words to speak when needed, the capacity to love others as You have loved us, and the wisdom to know what, when , and where to be available and at Your service.  Without Your Holy Spirit guiding us we would be lost and confused and unable to be of much help in any situation.  Our own personal traits and qualities are wonderful, but when filled with Your Spirit they become tools for Your glory in Your Kingdom.  Thank You, Lord, for taking the time to shape us and mold us after Your will.  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.


15 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness Pam, this is so wonderful! Thank you so much for the huge mention and for reminding me of our amazing Holy Spirit. I love you!

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    1. Thank YOU, Susie...for your wonderful gift of writing from the heart. I keep your book by my chair, and love to pick it up and read different chapters like a devotional reading from time to time. Today it just all clicked together.

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  2. Gee, Pamela! I think I could use a dose of that anesthesia you had! Seriously, this is a beautiful post for Pentecost Sunday. How delightful to know God's love for us. I think often about the verse that says all things were created for His pleasure and that I please Him. It pleased Him to create me. Thank you for sharing all this today.

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    1. I give glory to God, because my brain is so fuzzy I feel like I have to brush it to get it stimulated to do anything! LOL. So I KNOW this message was all from God to us today! Praise God...

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  3. Our Pastor had a good sermon/homily on the Holy Spirit for this Pentecost Sunday. A very important day for Christians everywhere. Your friend's words are very meaningful and you tied it to your scripture perfectly. So much for anesthesia brain! Giggling.

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    1. Isn't our God an awesome God? He can break through the fog and get His message across to us even when we are still scratching our heads and wondering where that came from! Praise God!!

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  4. Thanks for this beautiful post. God is pleased with the way he made our individual personalities, I agree, and I don't detect any brain fuzziness :)

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    1. Thank you Terra. Yes, God does all things very well...we are created in His image, and therefore that has to be good! Thank you for not noticing the fuzz. That's God again...He works even when I feel like I'd rather still be in bed!

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  5. I hope Pentecost was a blessing for you and your family!

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  6. Pam: It is God speaking through you. This is an excellent reminder of what Pentecost is. We should celebrate the presence of of the Holy Spirit and His presence each day.

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  7. Amen, Pamela! God has given each of us unique gifts, and the Holy Spirit gives us the courage, guidance and wisdom to use these to further His kingdom. I so hope my blog and my novels achieve this!
    Speaking of novels, I'll be mailing yours to you on Tuesday.
    Blessings!

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  8. First of all, I'm so sorry to just now be reading this, but obviously that was God's intention... beautifully written from your precious heart. Second... Please take care of yourself. Talk to your doctor about your delayed thinking.... there really is something negative about being put to sleep and how it affects our brain.... I saw the effects it had on my Momma. 😞

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  9. Thank you Pamela for blessing me this morning with your beautiful written post. May you keep being inspired by The Holy Spirit my friend.

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  10. Pam, thank you for the reminder about how God has created us uniquely and with a purpose. The Holy Spirit's role in empowering us to live a Christian life is so important. Without the Holy Spirit's empowerment, we're left to do things in our own power. I don't have what it takes do live as I'm to live without the Holy Spirit!

    Blessings!

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