GOD STILL MOVES - ALONG THE WAY

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

It's a slow process to change from a western / midwestern girl to a Jersey girl! Yesterday, reminded me once again, as I sat in my car at one of New Jersey's many intersections where more than 4 roads come together. It has taken a while to get used to everything NOT being on a North - South grid.

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I keep hearing, "Just remember that all roads come out from Philadelphia like spokes on a wheel, so that means that the roads in South Jersey are diagonal." Well that sounds good, except why do the roads say they are going North-South-East-West when they really are diagonal?!?!?? LOL

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So, as I am sitting at this intersection yesterday (like many days in South Jersey), I notice that there are 5 roads but not five name signs for the roads. How confusing is that? Which road is the one I need to take?

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Well, I have to say that I figured it out and continued my journey down the right road. That hasn't happened everytime in the two years that I've lived here. I have been lost numerous times! Yet, I am here to tell you that I am becoming comfortable and accustomed to being a Jersey Girl. I am finding my way!

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Okay! So, this gets me to my point. Not only are there many roads, both named and nameless, professing to be "the right way" to eternal life, there is something else that is confusing. In Christianity, there seem to be many different explanations for things.

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I invite you to walk slowly down this road with me, named THE WAY. Let's begin with the very first christians and see what happened to them and what the promise is for us. It's TRANSFORMING!

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If you have not read yesterday's post, be sure and spend a few minutes in it before tomorrow's post.

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Thanks for joining me on this journey!

GOD STILL MOVES - IN PEOPLE...HOW DOES HE GET IN PEOPLE?

WOMEN IN THE WORD WEDNESDAY

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How does God "live in a person's heart"? Do I pray Jesus into my heart? Does it begin at infancy when I'm sprinkled? Does someone need to lay their hands on me for it to happen? There are scriptures that can be pulled out of their context to make us think that.

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But what happened on the first day that the church began? Let's let the Word of God tell us. Let's read it together and then come back for the next month or so and we'll look at how God comes to live and work in and through us... His people.

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Acts 2:36-42
36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain

that God has made Him both Lord and Christ —

this Jesus whom you crucified."
37 Now when they heard this,

they were pierced to the heart,

and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,

"Brethren, what shall we do?"

38 And Peter said to them,

"Repent, and let each of you be baptized

in the name of Jesus Christ

for the forgiveness of your sins;

and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 "For the promise is for you and your children,

and for all who are far off,

as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself."

40 And with many other words he solemnly testified

and kept on exhorting them, saying,

"Be saved from this perverse generation!"

41 So then,

those who had received his word were baptized;

and there were added that day about three thousand souls."

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GOD STILL MOVES... TO TRANSFORM...

Once again, as I observe the brilliant colors of autumn, I am reminded of the similar amazing transformations that occur in the lives of christians who have given themselves over to the Spirit of the living God. I am thankful for the beauty of transformation in the physical and Spiritual worlds.
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Although I am not a scientist and do not understand all the many chemical changes that go on to make these transformations in nature happen, I do know that when winter changes to spring and when summer changes to autumn that there are many dramatic changes that also take place in the atmosphere. The psychiatric hospitals become full of people who "feel" differently. People with chronic pain "feel" the unseen forces step up the pressure on their bodies. It is the dramatic changes that we cannot see with the naked eye that cause the beautiful transformation of the leaves during this month.

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It is the dramatic changes that occur inside and out of a human being... changes taking place, not visible to the eye that cause the beautiful transformation of a person.
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Romans 8:5-13 says that...

• Pleasing God takes a dramatic change to no longer be controlled by our sinful nature because it is "hostile to God".
• Pleasing God means that His Spirit comes to live inside of us... not just taking up residency, but taking up presidency
• Pleasing God means that we are controlled by the Spirit of God and "have our minds set upon what the SPIRIT desires: life and peace..."
  
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What a great time, as we watch the brilliant colors of autumn, to commit to set or re-set our minds on what the SPIRIT desires...life and peace. It's transforming!!!

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Today, I choose to set my mind on what the SPIRIT desires.


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GOD STILL MOVES...BUT NOT THIS WAY!

MEDITATION MONDAY...
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As we begin looking at the Holy Spirit of God, I want to start with what He is NOT focused on! Although I was unable to embed this video on my blog, I would like you to link up to it here and spend some time meditating on what you see and who this has and is affecting. Please share it with as many teens and young adults that you can think of. Then, come back tomorrow as we begin to dig into scripture on this wonderful topic.
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MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL... DO YOU SEE JESUS IN ME AT ALL?
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http://www.dove.ca/en/?dl=/features/videos/video_gallery.aspx%7Ccp-documentid=9150719%7Cvideo-id=1&source=email#/features/videos/video_gallery.aspx[cp-documentid=9150719video-id=1]

GOD STILL MOVES

QUESTION: WHAT MAKES A CHRISTIAN WOMAN / MOM DIFFERENT FROM OTHER WOMEN / MOMS?

ANSWER: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the HOLY SPIRIT, WHO is in you, whom you have received from GOD? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor GOD with your body............"

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God still moves in and through His people who are willing to be poor in spirit and rich in His Spirit.

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TAMING THE TONGUE - ???Days 18 thru 30???

This study is deep, thorough, and needed for women everywhere (probably men, too). I got stuck on days 16 and 17, then I got sick and very busy and days 18 thru 30 left me in the dust. Our TAMING THE TONGUE challenge via our ladies Bible class is over and all I can say is I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE 30 YEARS TO TAMING YOUR TONGUE. Lots of study, meditation, discussion, prayer... just not enough time to digest it all in 30 days. I encourage you to buy the book and workbook and spend lots of time and study in it:

• 30 DAYS TO TAMING YOUR TONGUE by Deborah Smith Pegues

Here is just a taste of what you can expect in Days 18 thru 30:

• 18 - THE INTIMIDATING TONGUE
• 19 - THE RUDE TONGUE
• 20 - THE JUDGMENTAL TONGUE
• 21 - THE SELF ABSORBED TONGUE
• 22 - THE CURSING TONGUE
• 23 - THE COMPLAINING TONGUE
• 24 - THE RETALIATING TONGUE
• 25 - THE ACCUSING TONGUE
• 26 - THE DISCOURAGING TONGUE
• 27 - THE DOUBTING TONGUE
• 28 - THE LOQUACIOUS TONGUE
• 29 - THE INDISCREET TONGUE
• 30 - THE SILENT TONGUE

Although the workbook is wonderful, it's worth the purchase just for the "Daily Tongue Evaluation Log".

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May the Holy Spirit control your use of your 40,000 words per day:0). Please come back and join us as we begin a study of the Holy Spirit of God. Blessed be His Name!

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THERE IS A BATTLE RAGING

There is a spiritual war raging for our hearts and minds. As the daughter of an army sergeant, I am very aware that there are many battles within a war. In the last month, I have felt smack dab in the middle of a huge spiritual battle. Here are some thoughts:

• Yes, I have gone back to work full time!
• Yes, I am deeply involved in ministry with my husband, Steve, to many hurting people - WOUNDED HEALING...
• Yes, we have a daughter who suffers from 24/7 pain and is becoming more and more chronically ill.
• Yes, I have been involved in a study on TAMING THE TONGUE and the more I read, the more obvious it was to me that both I (and my sisters in Christ) have a very long way to go on this one.
• Yes, I have been studying, thinking, and praying about HOLY SPIRIT TRANSFORMATION and have become very discouraged by the lack of understanding of the Holy Spirit by christians.
• Yes, I have been wrestling with God much like Jacob in the Old Testament and asking "Why?"
• Yes, I have been spiritually, physically, intellectually, relationally, and emotionally exhausted to the point of PARALYSIS.

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Many of you have asked why aren't you blogging... why aren't you on Facebook much? Why did you not answer my calls? Why did you not show up at ladies class?

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All I ask is that you take me to Jesus! Pray for my family! Pray for me! The following two scriptures are where I am at today:

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Mark 2:1-12

"And when He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heardthat He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 And being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." 6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 And immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Arise, and take up your pallet and walk'? 10 "But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" — He said to the paralytic — 11 "I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." 12 And he rose and immediately took up the pallet and went out in the sight of all; so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore,

• having girded your loins with truth,
• and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
• and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
• in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.
• And take the helmet of salvation,
• and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
• With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit,
• and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
• and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

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Later today, I hope to post again, summarizing the last part of our study on the TAMING OF THE TONGUE. Tomorrow, I plan to begin a study on this blog of the HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. May He be glorified!