~A Mighty Rushing Wind~

As I was reading Acts this morning,  Peter and John had just been through the trial to answer the accusations of the council of religious leaders, over their healing of a blind man. They were beginning to experience some of the persecution that Jesus faced constantly.

What I see is no matter how hard pressed they were, because they had strong faith, stood firm on the word of God and were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were able to stand their ground and defend the truth with clarity and boldness.

^{Acts 4:8-11}
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? ¹⁰ Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. ¹¹ For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,
‘The stone that you builders rejected, has now become the cornerstone.
¹² There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:29-35 (NLT)

²⁹ And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. ³⁰Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

At no time do I see them walking in their own strength. I see their utter dependence on the power of God to give them courage and the supernatural ability to heal in his name.

The Believers Share Their Possessions
³² All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. ³³ The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.³⁴ There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them ³⁵ and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

And now there is unity. The people are one in mind, in mission and purpose. LOVE rules, God’s glory has pre-eminence, they are all walking boldly in their faith, living it, breathing it, speaking it , keeping it simple !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and then seeing the results

^{I believe we can all pray verse 29 b and verse 30:}

V 29b - "Give us O Lord, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.^{30 “}Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
We don't need to worry about how we will do it, GOD WILL DO IT !!!!!!!! 
We just need to get out of the way, let God clear out our junk, slay whatever hinders to let God's spirit have rule and reign in our lives and bodies.

We need a faith like Peter and John, and an utter dependence and desire for  God's power and precense. Then we have prepared a place for him to flow though each of us, an open channel for his power to bring total healing, salvation, life,  and hope to others.

God Bless anyone who reads this. FOTW

~ CONTENTMENT ~

"Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers,
and are famous preservers of good looks."
- Charles Dickens 

^{Philipians 4: 12-13
12} I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

^{1 Timothy 6: 6-8
6} But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Whether you have little or you have a lot, the secret to contentment is

depending on God's provision and strength, not your own.

Paul reminds us that contentment doesn’t happen overnight. It’s something that we learn. As our relationship with God develops over time and through experiences, we learn to trust God more and ourselves less. Paul knew that Christ would give him the strength to persevere in whatever situation he encountered (v.13).
No matter what you’re facing today, through prayer you can receive the strength to be content.

 

The world is filled with so much good
That brings us joy and pleasure,
But true fulfillment only comes
When Christ we love and treasure.

(Anon)

We find contentment at the same place we find salvation—in Christ.

~ blessings and peace - Follower of the WAY ~

The Plague of Self-Sufficiency

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet

and a light for my path.

(Psalm 119:105)

I read this today, as I was doing a little word study on the word ‘WORD’.. sounds like a tongue twister. Some people read the Old Testament and they see a vengeful God. I see a God desiring closeness, oneness and fellowship. This is how it spoke to me. I see myself and I see others in this piece of scripture.

A Plague of Hail
13 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 14 If you don’t, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth.
15 By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth.
16 But I have spared you for a purpose—to show you my power and to spread my fame throughout the earth.
17 But you still lord it over my people and refuse to let them go.
 18 So tomorrow at this time I will send a hailstorm more devastating than any in all the history of Egypt.
19 Quick! Order your livestock and servants to come in from the fields to find shelter. Any person or animal left outside will die when the hail falls.’”
20 Some of Pharaoh’s officials were afraid because of what the LORD had said. They quickly brought their servants and livestock in from the fields.
 21 But those who paid no attention to the word of the LORD left theirs out in the open.
22 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward the sky so hail may fall on the people, the livestock, and all the plants throughout the land of Egypt.”
23 So Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed toward the earth. The LORD sent a tremendous hailstorm against all the land of Egypt.
24 Never in all the history of Egypt had there been a storm like that, with such devastating hail and continuous lightning.
 25 It left all of Egypt in ruins. The hail struck down everything in the open field—people, animals, and plants alike. Even the trees were destroyed.
 26 The only place without hail was the region of Goshen, where the people of Israel lived.
27 Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he confessed. “The LORD is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong.
28 Please beg the LORD to end this terrifying thunder and hail. We’ve had enough. I will let you go; you don’t need to stay any longer.”
29 “All right,” Moses replied. “As soon as I leave the city, I will lift my hands and pray to the LORD. Then the thunder and hail will stop, and you will know that the earth belongs to the LORD. 30 But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the LORD God.”
31 (All the flax and barley were ruined by the hail, because the barley had formed heads and the flax was budding.
32 But the wheat and the emmer wheat were spared, because they had not yet sprouted from the ground.)
33 So Moses left Pharaoh’s court and went out of the city. When he lifted his hands to the LORD, the thunder and hail stopped, and the downpour ceased.
34 But when Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had stopped, he and his officials sinned again, and Pharaoh again became stubborn.
 35 Because his heart was hard, Pharaoh refused to let the people leave, just as the LORD had predicted through Moses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know this is directed at Pharoah, at the way he was persecuting Yahwh's people, but all scripture still continues to speak into our lives again and again. Why is this? Because human nature in and off itself desn't change, cultures, circustances etc may do, but the problems that face today are the same. Our  ruler can be our own hearts and minds...the things that we allow to drag us from the sanctuary...the things that take our eyes of Jesus, the things that stop us desiring and worshipping him, depending on him.

When we face difficulties in life, as believers we are meant to seek the Lord, to plead to him, and invite him into the situation. We should lean on him and our prayers never cease. Oh how he delights in this communion with us…in the softening of our hearts.
But often Christians don't turn to God, instead we get angry, and retreat back tp the ways of the flesh in handling the problem. But experience has taught me, that getting ugly or trying to get even, does not fix anthing. It just causes even more stress and anxiety.

Even those who do seek the Lord in the storm, too often when its passed,  return to self-reliance. The very thing God doesn’t want. We coose to descend to the lower regions…to ‘self’ sufficiency, to the way of our minds, ego’s and the flesh…the land where there is no peace. Verse 21 'But those who paid no attention to the word of the LORD left theirs out in the open'
We leave ourselves, our lives and our families out in the open, when we turn from the ways of God and seek the ways of the world, when we turn to its ways for solace and comfort.

 Struggles and hurts, with always be with us, but the way we face them, the way we choose to walk daily doesn’t need to change. We can go from strength to strength in our struggles…and grow in our depth of intimacy with God. ‘We can know peace in the storm and the drought’...and will prgress in spiritual maturity.
 God has so much for us….but we need to want it, and desire him and his ways above all things, to worship him alone, to surround our ear and eye gates with the things of God and not this world.   He had spared us again. If only we would stay in that closeness with him, that communion, that place of safety, holiness and fellowship.

Whats preventing you from giving your all for God and remaining consistent. Who is your Pharoah? Whats keeping you bound and imprisoned?

Psalm 119: 98-109

Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.

98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.

99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws.

100 I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.

101 I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word.

102 I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well.

103 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.

104 Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

106 I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.

107 I have suffered much, O LORD; restore my life again as you promised.

108 LORD, accept my offering of praise, and teach me your regulations.

109 My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions.

Peace to anyone who reads this.
 Linda - Follower of the WAY

Y

Where is the Love? (2 Masters)

Messages come through to us in a myriad of different ways. I was with some friends last night, and this song was played.I found it refreshing, because its truth. We live in a blinded world, driven by greed, consumerism and materialism. Its everywhere and sadly even within Christendom. If most problems in the world were boiled down to there essence, we would find 'greed'and 'fear' as the root causes.

The bible speaks very clearly about whats important in life and whats not.

Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

On my recent visit to America, I had an experience that has stayed with me. I attended an event, which was pretty much a wash out, torrential rain had been forecast, and it didn't let us down. Many people didn't come because of the weather..and I suppose thats understandable. On one of the nights, when the wind was howling, and the rain bucketing down, some believers had arranged a church service. They gathered in a small group to sing songs to God and give testimony of what he has done in their lives. Initially I wasn't going to attend that little service, because of the terrible weather, and the only shelter from it, consisted of a building with a roof, but no sides. Then the thought came to me 'If my saviour could be born in a smelly old manger for me, then the least I can do is worship him out in the storm, so I donned my coat and went out there.
Well the singing was so beautifull and soft...(drowned out in part from the raging weather), and the sharing was from the heart and genuine. I truly felt the spirit of the Lord there...and I believe the others who stood around that night did too. It felt sort of like a sacred moment, because I knew that no matter what happened in life, believers in the Lord, don't need any props, we don't need buildings, we don't need sound systems, we don't need power pionts..all we need is each other and the word of God. The Spirit is whats important....and if its sweet and honest, then love is there too...and where there is Love, lives are changed and miracles happen. Its not about the money, money, its about the spirit and about Love.

The pastor at the church I attend and his family are very humble people. They have 9 children, 4 of them still live at home. The house they live in is provided by the church and its the most plainest, humblest house you could imagine. It looks like it hasn't been redorated since the 1970's and there are definelty no mod cons and nothing fancy inside it. The dishwasher looks like it came out of the ark...and I think its only fired up for special occasions. They always have people over for meals and they're the happiest looking couple I've ever met. In my opinion they live 'Its not about the money, money'...really and truly...and I find that inspiring in this world today. Its obvious where their treasure lays and where there hearts is.
Be Blessed,
Linda - Follower of the Way

A Living Temple

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven."
Mathew 6: 9 & 10

Doing Gods will should be our first and greatest goal in life.

Here's a true story from the book 'Praying the names of God' - by Ann Spangler

Lalani is a Sri Lankan woman who knows what it is to depend on God to provide for her. In 1986 she married Lionel Jayahsinghe, a former Buddist monk, who had converted to Christianity after reading a tract. Shortly after their marriage the two began a small house church, despite the opposition of local monks, who went door to door warning people against them. It wasn't long before Lionel started recieing death threats. One Friday in March 1988 Lalani heard a gunshot. Lionel had been shot in the face. her husband stumbled into their bedroom, followed by an assailant who stabbed him repeatedly. As she turned away to shelter her 11 month old son, she heard another gun shot.
After Lionel's death Lalani became determined to continue the work they had begun in their home, despite threats against her own life. During the years that followed, the church grew despite continued opposition. At one point the roof was burned and later on, in 1999, the church property was bombed. Today their are 1200 believers, that attend the church that she and her husband founded.
Not long ago Lalani travelled to another city..
When asked how things were with her church, she replied "Wonderful, Praise the Lord". later she gave a more detailed report, telling how the local opposition had that week organised a protest march against her church and then burned the thatch roof.
Stunned by this news, someone in the meeting asked why she said everything was wonderful. "Obviously she said enthusiastically, "since the thatch is gone, God must intend for us to have a metal roof."

What a remarkable statement ! Instead of complaining about her hardships (and they must be many) Lalani praised God, because she fully expected her heavenly father to turn these difficulties into a blessing for the church.
We should all reflect on the faith of this amazing and couragious woman. !!

Reading this devotional today got me to thinking about the way we gather to worship the Lord, and more specifically where we gather. For the Lord isn't living in a building. Yes he meets with us there, and he dwells within us..but he is also everywhere. So we can be alone or in company and still praise his name, worshipping him in spirit and in truth no matter where we are. Praise him for that and for freedom from persecution.
Praise God that he does not dwell anywhere that man can destroy.

In the old testament Soloman says in 1 Kings 8:27 “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built."

2 Corinthians 4:6 - 12
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

1 Corinthians 3: 16-17
"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple."


Blessings to you all - Linda Follower of the Way

The Narrow Road

Mathew 7: 13-14 The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Mathew 6: 19-21 Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

Compassion (from Latin: "co-suffering") is a virtue — one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy (for the suffering of others) are regarded as a part of love itself.

'A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.'
~ Abraham Joshua Heschel

'A love for humanity came over me, and watered and fertilised the fields of my inner world which had been lying fallow, and this love of humanity vented itself in a vast compassion.'
~ Georg Brandes

'At the end of the day, love and compassion will win.'
~ Terry Waite

'For me, forgiveness and compassion are always linked: how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed?'
~ Bell Hooks


The greatest example ever of love, was embodied in the person of Jesus. 'Our beautiful compassionate Lord'.

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman Mark 5:21 - 43

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
36 Overhearing[d] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.