Pentecost Sunday Revisited

Today is Pentecost Sunday, the Sunday set aside to remember the day of Pentecost, which was in actuality 50 days (hence the meaning of the word "Pentecost") after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, when God sent His Holy Spirit to indwell the gathered disciples, and all who would believe.

Here is our Pastor's message from today, which is from the book of Acts chapter two. If you take the time to listen to this, I am sure you will enjoy it and learn even more about the significance of this day. Our pastor is an excellent Bible teacher. 

 

Now here's another post that I wrote about Pentecost Sunday way back in 2017. As I re-read this story, I thought to myself, "you can't do any better than this today...why not share this again?  The message is still the same and still speaks to us today, five years later."  I am sure my friend Susie Klein won't mind if I quote from her book again either.  Susie isn't doing as much blogging these days and I miss her voice here, but her book is still available on Amazon.com HERE, if you would like to read it for yourself. I highly recommend it.  Susie's blog, "Walking Butterfly, a book about love," can still be read at this link.  Perhaps if you visit her blog and become her one of her "followers", we might be able to encourage her to do more writing!!

Here is my original blog post from 2017.  I had apparently just had some surgery previous to writing this.  At least then I had a good excuse for having "fuzzy brain". LOL.  Okay, read on friends, and I hope this will bless you today:

Original Post 6/4/2017:

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 , 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.

Back to the present:  

It is currently pouring down rain here on Still Waters Pond.  We sure needed the rain.  As the rain comes down and replenishes the earth and the pond, I pray that God's Holy Spirit will also "rain down" on us once again, and pour out His power upon us, restoring our strength and courage and energy to stand strong in the face of so much opposition in the world.  We truly need God's Holy Spirit power indwelling us more than ever in these evil times.

Our choir sang this song this morning.  I wish we had recorded us singing it along with the pastor's message above, but here's a recording of the composer of the song, Jamie Cortez, singing it with his wife.  

I hope you will enjoy it and sing along.

“Rain Down” by Jaime Cortez 

(Refrain) 

RAIN DOWN, RAIN DOWN, 

RAIN DOWN YOUR LOVE ON YOUR PEOPLE, 

RAIN DOWN, RAIN DOWN, 

RAIN DOWN YOUR LOVE, GOD OF LIFE.

 

Faithful and true is the word of our God. 

All of God’s works are so worthy of trust. 

God’s mercy falls on the just and the right; 

full of God’s love is the earth. 

(Refrain) 

RAIN DOWN, RAIN DOWN, 

RAIN DOWN YOUR LOVE ON YOUR PEOPLE, 

RAIN DOWN, RAIN DOWN, 

RAIN DOWN YOUR LOVE, GOD OF LIFE.

We who revere and find hope in our God

 Live in the kindness and joy of God’s wing. 

God will protect us from darkness and death; 

God will not leave us to starve.

 (Refrain) 

RAIN DOWN, RAIN DOWN, 

RAIN DOWN YOUR LOVE ON YOUR PEOPLE, 

RAIN DOWN, RAIN DOWN, 

RAIN DOWN YOUR LOVE, GOD OF LIFE.

God of creation, we long for your truth; 

You are the water of life that we thirst, 

Grant that your love and your peace touch our hearts, 

all of our hope lies in you. 

(Refrain)

RAIN DOWN, RAIN DOWN, 

RAIN DOWN YOUR LOVE ON YOUR PEOPLE, 

RAIN DOWN, RAIN DOWN, 

RAIN DOWN YOUR LOVE, GOD OF LIFE.

Amen!

The Secret Garden Chronicles-Open Our Eyes, Lord - Revisited

I originally wrote this a couple of years ago, and as I re-read it this morning I knew that it was something I needed again.  I'm not sure if I would say I've "hit a dry spot", but I haven't been quite as attentive to my writing and keeping  up with my friends' writing this week.  I think we all go through these spells when we just need to sit back and rest awhile and let God minister to us.  I've had a bit of an allergy or cold this week (most likely allergy due to pollen, dust, etc.), so I'm kind of not with it...but today we have someone coming to see our house so I have to get a move on.  We've about given up on trying to sell it...it's been almost six months with no good prospects, and we don't even have any good prospects on houses to consider moving to if ours should sell...so it's been a bit discouraging.  However, if the Lord brings us a buyer, I feel confident He will also provide a home for us to move to.  It's just the "not knowing" where, what, etc. that gives me a bit of anxiety.  So your prayers are appreciated especially today as we show our house to prospective buyers. May God's will be done in all things.  We know He's got us covered either way.

Okay, here's what I wrote on 4/5/2017.  I know many of you already read this back then, but maybe it will still bless you again today like it did me!! Have a blessed and beautiful day my friends! We are thankful for some lovely spring rain that we sorely needed! Praise God!

Original Post 4/5/2017:

Dear Friends,  I know I've been rather lax in writing here lately.  It seems as though I've hit a dry spot, and haven't been able to "tune in" to what the Lord wants to tell me.  As I sat in the garden the other afternoon, this song kept coming to my mind:

"Open Our (MY) Eyes, Lord,

We want to see Jesus.

To reach out and touch Him,

and say that we love Him.

Open our ears, Lord,

and help us to listen.

Open our eyes, Lord,

We want to see Jesus."

And as I sang this song, from a personal place..(Open MY eyes, Lord...Open MY ears, Lord),
a sense of peace and calm came over my spirit, and as I confessed to the Lord that I felt rather "out of touch" lately, He comforted me, and helped me to know that He understood...and that He wasn't really that far away...and that He'd always be right there for me, no matter what I was feeling (or not feeling).    See, the beauty of this relationship with Jesus is that we don't always have to be "feeling something", or "doing something" to please Him.  We can just "REST" in Him, in the knowledge of His love and constant care and support no matter what we are going through.

Romans 8:1 gives the believer the assurance that when we are "in Christ Jesus", there is now  "no condemnation" to those who "do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

Romans 8:2

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free

from the law of sin and death."

Romans 8:11

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead

dwells in you,

He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."

Romans 8:14-17

14.  "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, 

these are sons of God.

15.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear,

but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we 

cry out, "Abba, Father."

16.  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

17.  And if children, then heirs--heirs of God 

and joint heirs with Christ,

if indeed we suffer with Him, 

that we may also be glorified together."

So, my friends, the assurance here is that if we are walking according to the Spirit of God, we belong to Him...we are His children...joint heirs with Christ...and even though we may suffer here on earth, we will one day be glorified with Christ.  

And if we read on in this chapter we come to this beautiful passage:

Romans 8:26

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.

For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought,

but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27.  Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to THE WILL of GOD.

28.  And we KNOW that all things work together for good to those who love God, 

to those who are the called according to His purpose."

It is my prayer that these words will bring hope and comfort and reassurance to any today who may be feeling a 

little out of touch with the Lord. Perhaps you don't know how to pray or what to pray for in the midst of your sorrow, confusion, or time of weariness. 

God's Holy Spirit is already working on your behalf...

He's interceding for you to the Father.

As I've been writing this above, I've been listening to the music that followed the original video posted above, and now the song that is playing is Hillsong's  "At The Cross", and I just had to stop and listen and worship the Lord...it fits so beautifully here in this place, especially as we prepare our hearts for Easter. I invite you to listen and be blessed....

At The Cross

Hillsong Worship

Oh Lord You've searched me

You know my way

Even when I fail You

I know You love me

Your holy presence

Surrounding me

In every season

I know You love me

I know You love me

At the cross I bow my knee

Where Your blood was shed for me

There's no greater love than this

You have overcome the grave

Your glory fills the highest place

What can separate me now

You go before me

You shield my way

Your hand upholds me

I know You love me

At the cross I bow my knee

Where Your blood was shed for me

There's no greater love than this

You have overcome the grave

Your glory fills the highest place

What can separate me now

You tore the veil

You made a way

When You said that it is done

You tore the veil

You made a way

When You said that it is done

And when the earth fades

Falls from my eyes

And You stand before me

I know You love me

I know You love me

At the cross I bow my knee

Where Your blood was shed for me

There's no greater love than this

You have overcome the grave

Your glory fills the highest place

What can separate me now

0

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Hillsong: At The Cross Song Lyrics http://lyrics-keeper.com/en/hillsong/at-the-cross.html#ixzz4dNrOEPvj

There is nothing more that I can add to this.  

Praise God!!!  

Amen!!

Sermon Notes: Being Led By The Spirit

Today we welcomed our Pastor back to church after his being out, as he called it, "having technical difficulties".  We thank the Lord for continuing the healing process in his body, and trust that soon he will be back to 100% again.  Thank you again for your prayers during this time.

So beautiful this new wooden cross on the altar, built  by special request especially for the church by my son.
So proud and thankful for the work he does.

Our scripture lesson today was from Luke 4:1-13, better known to us as "The Temptation of Jesus".
Immediately following Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist, "Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness."  (Luke 4:1)
And if you know the story, you know that Jesus was tempted by the devil for forty days.  During that time Jesus ate nothing, and when the 40 days was ended, He was hungry. (verse 2)

So this was when the devil came to Jesus and began the temptation. You can read the "conversation" between Satan and Jesus in verses 3-12.  With every single temptation that the devil threw at Jesus, Jesus had an answer ready, based on the accurate understanding of the holy scriptures.  Satan tried his best to twist the words of the scriptures to use them for his own advantage against Jesus, but Jesus knew better and each and every time He put Satan back in his place.

Finally, in verse 13, the scriptures say, "Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time."   Notice it doesn't say that the devil left Jesus alone for good, but only until he could come up with another more opportune time to try and trip Him up.

This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the 40 day period of fasting and following the Lord "in the wilderness" so to speak, leading up to Easter Sunday. (The 40 days of Lent do not include the Sundays during that period).

The 40 days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness was actually the preparation time for Jesus to begin His full ministry.  Notice Jesus was LED by the Spirit.  Why did He go into the wilderness?
Most of us would not intentionally get ourselves into a situation that would be so obviously dangerous.  Yet, in this period of Lent, we are asked to do this for 40 days, just as Jesus did.

So what is Lent? Is it just the giving up of something?  In the Old English, the word Lent meant "Spring"...the season of Spring.
In this regard, Lent could be considered a kind of "spring cleaning" for our souls.  It is a time for followers of Jesus Christ to fully rely on God and God alone during a time of soul cleansing.

It's not about giving up something, but it should be instead a time to make room for more of Jesus in our lives....More quantity and quality of time with the Lord.
It is a time to be more dependent on God and not on things.
Some ways to do this:

• Read Bible
• Pray more
• Focus on Forgiveness...who do we need to forgive?
• Be led by the Holy Spirit as we seek forgiveness and to forgive those who may have hurt us.
• Be more self-giving instead of selfish

Remember: God never leaves us alone.  He is always there to give us life more abundantly as we are following Christ, being led by the Holy Spirit.

The devil wanted Jesus to break His fast, and he promised to give Him power for selfish reasons...

(see Luke 4:6-7)

If Jesus had done what Satan tempted Him to do He would have been saying NO to God and the Resurrection that was coming.  Then where would we be?

How about us?  Without obedience to Christ we would be left completely alone.  Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit, not by His flesh.

God has given us that same Holy Spirit to guide us and keep us going in the right direction.

In II Corinthians 12:10, the Apostle Paul says, 

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Now let us look at Luke 4:14-15, following His temptation and fasting in the wilderness, 

"Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.  And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all."

Note that He went in "the power of the Spirit"...God was with Him...

• God is there for us...we can depend on Him at ALL times.
• We can TRUST that God will be with us always

We need to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us through this time of preparation...

The more we depend on God, the stronger we become...

It is God and God alone Who sustains us.

So, during this time of preparation, let us be LED by the Holy Spirit while we prepare our hearts for the ministry He has for each one of us.

Our choir sang this beautiful old hymn during our time of communion. Such depth of meaning in these words. I hope you will sing along with me as we continue our time of remembrance of the Lord's Crucifixion and Resurrection.

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Sermon Notes: FUMC, Interlachen, FL, Pastor A.C. Myers, 3/10/2019

Please Note : I want to repeat this disclaimer here...the notes, outline, and content included here are based upon my own personal understanding of the message that was being given. I am not attempting to completely quote or reproduce this message or any other message I've shared previously. Just as each person reading these notes may glean insights and thoughts that seem to directly apply to one's own situation and interpretation, my own delivery of these messages is skewed by my hearing and translation of what is being said. Some may read my notes here and wonder if they were hearing the same message as I...and I say, God speaks to each of us as He wills...there are things He is trying to get across to each individual that may be entirely different than what the person sitting next to you in the pew is needing to hear... That is how the Holy Spirit works! He knows what we need to hear and how to apply it to our hearts. So it is with that understanding that I present these sermon notes to you.

Note to Readers: I took the comment moderation off temporarily to see how things go. If I continue to get spam messages, I will have to put it back on.  I look forward to seeing your comments!  Have a blessed day.

Open the Advent Window to Let Others See Jesus in You! - Revisited

Open the Advent Window...

My sister, our cousin, and myself

This is a rerun from three years ago (2015).  It's interesting that this picture popped up today in my "Facebook Memories" from 3 years ago. I had forgotten that I had written this post from that special day. After re-reading it tonight, I wondered about that lady I met that day...and I was prompted by the Lord to pray for her and her family again.  And tonight I just learned of the passing of a dear younger sister to my precious friend Sharon...(Sharon is the one we've been praying for who has cancer...and now her sister has passed away very unexpectedly). I can't get to my friend right now to give her a hug, but I've sent my love to her in a phone call as soon as I heard the sad news. 

You know, when you've lost someone you love, three years really doesn't erase that grief.  I know this from experience. After four and 1/2 years there are moments when we still need that extra hug from someone who understands what it feels like to say goodbye to a dear child or other loved one...so note to self: Remember what this feels like and reach out to others during this season and let others see Jesus in You!


Original Post 12/11/2015:
Yesterday my sister, my hubby and I had the pleasure of visiting with a dear cousin and his wife from afar...meaning we live many states apart and rarely have the opportunity to get together. So this was truly special. After a delightful lunch we went out onto the porch of the restaurant to chat further and to take some family pictures.  We were having such a wonderful time together, laughing and snapping pictures of each other and carrying on like what we were...a group of people happy to be together.

We realized that we didn't have anyone to take a picture of our entire group, so we asked  the next people who came out of the door of the restaurant if anyone would mind snapping a picture for us. A lady volunteered, and so we posed and she very kindly took our picture.

Here we all are, smiling and feeling thankful for a stranger's kindness.

We thanked her as she started to leave, and she turned and said that they were on their way to another state for the funeral of her nephew, who had been tragically killed in an auto accident that week.  I could see that she was about to cry.  Suddenly I felt guilty for our giddiness in the face of her sorrow, but of course, we did not know.  The Holy Spirit prompted me to embrace her, and to tell her that we would pray for her. As I wrapped my arms around her, I could feel her holding on to me with such emotion...she truly needed that hug...and she thanked me for the promise of the prayers. It was as if there was a transference of energy between us in that moment of time...a Holy Transfer...and as we separated I was almost overcome with emotion myself.  I realized that I needed that hug as well...it was as if I could feel her pain and sorrow...and then it dawned on me.  It wasn't all that long ago that my own precious son left this earth for heaven and there have been many occasions that I truly needed a hug, and others were there for me.

After we all parted and went our separate ways, I couldn't get this dear one off of my mind. I wondered if she thought I was crazy for hugging a complete stranger.  But I realized that it wasn't really me...it was JESUS reaching out to her through me.  It was His Holy Spirit prompting me to action.  It was a divine sense of empathy, actually feeling her pain, that caused me to spring into action.

This Jesus, the "babe in the manger" whose birth we celebrate each Christmas, grew up to sacrifice His life for us...and He is acquainted with our sorrows and grief.  Isaiah the prophet told us long before Jesus' birth that He would do this for us:

Isaiah 53:2-4

"For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,

and as a root out of dry ground.

He has no form or comeliness;

And when we see Him,

There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Surely He has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows..."

What a comfort to know that our Savior knows our hearts and carries our sorrow!  This experience with this  perfect stranger yesterday ministered to my heart as well as I trust it ministered to her. And what can I learn from this experience?

• Don't be afraid to open your heart to the sorrow of others
• Listen to the prompting of God's Holy Spirit when He speaks to your heart
• Obey that prompting...don't hold back because of fear that you will be misunderstood
• Let others see the Jesus living in you! That is what Christmas is all about....Jesus came to earth to draw us to Himself...and to save us...and to live through us so that others will be saved and find rest for their souls.

So, today's Advent message is to Open the window of your heart...and let others see Jesus in you!

That leads to pure JOY!  Jesus...Others...You... J-O-Y!!!

Sermon Notes "Just Like Them!"

Before I get into the message from Sunday's sermon,  I'd like to share these thoughts from my morning meditation beside the waters as I watched the mist rise up from the surface much like the Spirit of God hovering over the face of the waters:

Genesis 1:1-5

1. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2.  The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.

 And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

 3.  Then God said, "Let there be light";

and there was light.

4.  And God saw the light, that it was good;

and God divided the light from the darkness.

5.  God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.

So the evening and the morning were the first day."

What a powerful way to start the day! I Praise God for this gift.

This past Sunday was "Laity Sunday" at our church, and thus the Pastor was given the day off from preaching and our lay people took charge of the service.  This is also in conjunction with October being Pastor Appreciation Month.  Of course, our Pastors should be appreciated every month because they are there for us 24/7/12 months of the year. Trust me, I know...my hubby spent quite a few years in the ministry, and as the Pastor's Wife, I know what kind of hours the Pastor puts in.  But it is a calling...called to serve the Lord and His people, and any person who believes he or she has been called to serve in the capacity needs to be aware that it is a full time, life time commitment. Not something you can just walk away from, even when retired.... (and wives and family are a big part of this "calling". If you don't think you can take it, best not marry a pastor!)

All that being said, we appreciate our Pastor very much, and thank the Lord for his dedication to the flock of God at our little church.

In light of this special day, one of our laymen delivered the message entitled "Just Like Them",  from the scripture passage found in I Samuel 8:4-20.  In this passage the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel the Prophet and demanded that he "make us a king to judge us just like all the nations." (see verse 5)

Verse 6 says, "But the thing displeased Samuel when they said , 'Give us a king to judge us.'  So Samuel prayed to the Lord."

7.  "And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them."

God apparently was not surprised that His chosen people of Israel would demand a king to reign in place of Him.  Way back in the book of Genesis 35:11 He told Jacob (who was renamed Israel by God), 

"I am God Almighty.  Be fruitful and multiply; 

a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, 

and kings shall come from your body..."

Israel had rejected God's leadership. Their basic problem was disobedience to God.

• In Leviticus 20:26 God said to the people of Israel: "You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the people, that you should be Mine."
• Israel was called to be a holy nation, but they no longer wanted God to be their nation's ruler.
• They wanted to be like other nations with a human king
• They did not understand that only God's strength can make them flourish.
• 
  
• We, too, are disobedient to God and not listening to Him as a nation (and as a people)
• In Deuteronomy 28:1, God told Israel:
• "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth."
• But we, as a nation, have turned away from God. Our nation is divided.
• We are His people also, not just Israel.  
• Romans 12:2 says: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
• The world is corrupting our minds and our nation.  
• Our refusal to conform to world "values" must go deeper.
• Only when the Holy Spirit renews, educates and redirects our minds can we be firmly planted in Christ.
• We need to pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to lead us.
• 
  
• Read God's Word, the Bible.  Let God's Holy Spirit do His job of leading us.
• Romans 8:5 says:  "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."
• There are two kinds of people:  Those who let themselves be controlled by SIN
• Those who let themselves be led by the Holy Spirit.
• Ask yourself:  What would Jesus want ME to do? Then do it eagerly!
• Make God YOUR king, and follow Him!

Thank you to our layman and Sunday School teacher, David Perez, for this excellent message from God's Word. We are so blessed to have such excellent leadership in our little church.

Our Surprising Visit to Old Orchard Beach

Sunday Evening:  Just got home from our trip to Maine and trying to get caught up with everything and everyone!! I just looked at my blog for the first time since last week and was surprised to see that there was a post on it that I did not write!  Click HERE to see "Get Moving by Oswald Chambers".    Many of you commented on how much you appreciated this nice post...and here is my comment response:

"I am really having a good chuckle over this! My husband accidentally posted HIS daily devotional blog on my blog site while we were on vacation and trying to figure out how to post things. He somehow got onto my blogger dashboard instead of his own. I only had my phone with me, so I didn't even look at my blog until today when we got back home. Thank you for all of the nice comments. I have shared them with hubby. His blog site is http://simposiousblog.blogspot.com/ and he usually posts a devotional similar to this every day! It can also be found on Simposious.com Anyway, thanks for commenting on this! He appreciates your comments, and invites you to visit his blog daily! Now I will try to get caught up on my blogging now that we are home. I am WAY behind!!!!!!! But SO thankful."

So now, after solving that little mystery, I'm thinking I do need to "Get Moving" back to work here and get caught up with you all as well as share some of our wonderful trip with you. If you are on my Facebook you've already seen a good bit of our time with our grandson Noah and his graduation celebration.  I may write more about that in a few days.  

This little trip evolved into so much more than what we expected it to be. There was so much packed into four days that I really don't even know where to begin.  In addition to spending that special time with our grandson and his mama, Hubby and I were actually able to carve out a little vacation time just for us, which is something we truly needed.

We decided to do some exploring in the area where we were staying, and had no idea that all of this existed in this part of the country!  About two miles down the road from our motel was a place called "Ocean Park at Old Orchard Beach, Maine".   If you are familiar at all with Old Orchard Beach, you may only know about the more popular spot where the pier is along with the amusement park and other shops along the shore. We did visit there as well with our Grandson and his mother that evening, but what I want to show you is a different part of Old Orchard Beach that is like take a step back in time to a whole different time and place...Check this link for more information about the history and current story of this community.

Since I missed out on "Friday Foto Friends" last week, this will be my post, because I don't want to wait until this next Friday to tell you about this place!!

 When we first arrived our intention was to go look at the ocean and beach.  We had no idea what other surprises awaited us!

 We stepped up on the dunes overlooking the ocean and beach, and then we looked back toward the town from that vantage point, and this is what we saw on either side...

 Who would think, looking at this expanse of shoreline, that there would be such an amazing collection of turn of the century (1880-1900's) homes facing the ocean?

 I mean, most of these homes are probably in excess of 100 years old, and they have withstood many a storm throughout those years...

So I'm saying to hubby here, "Come on! We need to go explore a little further..."

And as we walked the streets and drove a little ways as well...this is what we discovered:

 We drove down what was called "Temple Drive" and there are these large, very old buildings...we had no idea what they were or anything about their history.  This was the first one we came to:

The doors were open, and so I stepped inside, and this is what I saw...

 Hubby was waiting in the car so I could just take a couple of pictures, but I called to him and said "You have to come inside and look at this..."

As we wandered around we discovered this very ornate old grand piano...

 And this picture of the boy "Jesus"....(I thought later that it was interesting that the fire extinguisher was nearby...because Jesus is the One who saves us from the fire...)

 And another ancient picture of Jesus with the fishermen... and there are many other things that make us realize that this is some kind of church or religious education building...

(Meanwhile, I needed to find a restroom, and this tiny little room was actually named the "children's restroom"...don't you love this antique sink?)

 So our curiosity is really growing as we came back outside and walked to the next building, which is just beyond this interesting Bell tower...

 This picture does not do justice to the enormity of this octagon shaped building...

 Thankfully there was a gentleman outside working in the yard, and he shared the history of this place with us...(for more about that please go to the link given earlier in this post)

I can't begin to tell you how magnificent this very high ceiling is...and I'll bet when they sing in there they literally can make the "rafters ring"....

And then we went to the next building:

Inside this building were a lot of pictures about the history of this place, which was built by the Free Will Baptist Church back in 1881, and used as a summer Bible Conference Center as well as for other religious educational meetings, etc. These pictures show some of the people who came here back in the day:

 The old brass band marching down the street...

 An early view of the village:

Looking back at the "Temple"in the pines...

On the other side of the street were several homes, but this yellow one caught my eye:

 This house is named "The Prophet's Chamber", and is where visiting ministers stay

 Here are some other interesting facts and places along the street:

This house was across the street, and please read the little sign that was posted on the edge of the woods/yard below:

 I thought this was a cute idea...

This sign is posted on the tennis court:

 As my hubby and I further explored this little village, we were captivated by the beauty and peace of this sequestered place...which felt exactly like we had been transported back in time. We could just imagine hearing the powerful voices of those strong revival preachers of old, preaching the Gospel to the hungry souls who gathered there from near and far...and the choirs singing as the organ and piano swelled out the music, along with the brass bands and possibly even orchestras playing...the old time pouring out of the Spirit of God on His people...

This was all significant to us because in the back of our minds was a story we had heard about the founder of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, A.B. Simpson, (which is the denomination that we served in the ministry for many years), who had come to Old Orchard Beach and held Bible Conferences back in the late 1800's...and we wondered if this was the place.  Upon further research (unfortunately not until after we had left there) we discovered that A.B. Simpson had indeed been at Old Orchard Beach, but not at this exact location. The place where he had held those Bible Conferences that literally birthed the founding of the C&MA was a little further down the beach where the current Salvation Army conference center stands.  I guess you could say we were in the "right church but the wrong pew"... I wish we had known and could have visited there as well...here is a link to more info about that:https://theorchard.org/about/history.php

and a picture of A.B. Simpson from that time:

Click on this link for more info about this location:  http://www.seasidepavilion.org/default.asp

I also discovered this article on Facebook that shares a little more of the history of the whole Old Orchard Beach area from a spiritual perspective:  https://www.facebook.com/MaineAwake/posts/377991182288976    

I know I am overloading you with information today, (it is now Monday morning...I couldn't finish this last night as I was too tired from traveling...but there is so much here that I wanted to keep for my own recollection in the future, so I am writing it all down while it is fresh on my mind...something that is hard to keep...my mind...fresh...you understand, don't you??  :)  )

Perhaps what my hubby and I felt as we walked around and explored this little community was the continued Presence of the Holy Spirit of God, as He continues to reach out to people visiting this anointed place.  Yes, I believe it is a kind of a "Holy Place"...where God's Spirit has been very active in reaching souls for His Kingdom for many, many years.  This particular community of Ocean Park still holds special meetings every Sunday with visiting ministers from all over the country.  The place where A.B. Simpson held his meetings is also very active with current ministries and hold many concerts of contemporary Christian musicians, etc.   

All I know is that hubby and I felt so peaceful and relaxed there...we wished that we had more time to stay and participate in their services...which began for this season yesterday.  (They are seasonal just through the summer and early fall).  We went back the following morning after our initial visit and had breakfast at the little local Ice Cream Parlor:

And visited a wonderful little gift shop...

And admired some more of the local architecture and flora and fauna...

And then we had to head back to our little motel down the road and continue our visit with our sweet grandson and daughter in law, which was the real reason for our being there...but wasn't it wonderful of the Lord to give us this glimpse of His Presence in this place....it was something very palpable to us still over 130 years later from the time of the beginnings of these amazing ministries that continue to this day...

It reminds me of the verses in Genesis 28, when God is speaking to Jacob at Bethel in a dream:

Genesis 28:15-19

15.  "Behold I Am with you and will keep you wherever you go, 

and will bring you back to this land;

for I will not leave you until I have done 

what I have spoken to you,"

16.  Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said,

"Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it."

17.  And he was afraid and said,

"How awesome is this place! 

This is none other than the house of God, 

and this is the gate of heaven!"

18.Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, 

and poured oil on top of it,

19.  And he called the name of that place Bethel..."

Interestingly, after finding this verse and writing it down, I looked back up at that old picture of A.B. Simpson, which was taken of him and the people gathered around him as God led him to begin the missionary society that later became the Christian and Missionary Alliance at Old Orchard Beach so many years ago...and what does it say on the gazebo or booth where he was standing, but, "Back to Bethel"...   Wow!....

According to the reference in my Scofield Reference Bible for verse 19, it says:

"Bethel becomes, because of Jacob's night vision there, one of the significant places of Scripture.  To the Christian it stands for a realization, however imperfect, of the heavenly and spiritual contents of faith, answering to Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23."

Perhaps there was more to our feelings than what meets the immediate eye on the surface...perhaps God's Presence truly IS in that place...and His power is still reaching out to people of faith across the centuries of time...

I will stop here and let you ponder these thoughts. Perhaps you have had similar experiences in places that have been set apart as sacred spaces?  

Sorry this was so long of a post...but as I said, I needed to write it all down for my own benefit and to remember how special this was for us in the future. 

I'll be writing more about our visit to Maine in future posts.  This is enough for one day...

Have a blessed day...I hope to catch up with your blogs as I get settled back into the "routine".