Wait for the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 -- “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

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Jesus had instructed his disciples to witness to people of all nations about him. But they were told to wait first for the Holy Spirit. God has important work for you to do for him, but you must do it by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I can only imagine how excited the disciples were to get started. I know I would have wanted to run out and start my mission. Jesus commanded them to go tell people near and far about him and his Father; however, they first had to wait for the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit all of their efforts would have been fruitless.

Jesus calls each of us for a specific purpose. For some the mission takes them around the world, for most it is to reach out to people we come in contact with on a daily basis. I have always felt a calling to minister and inspire through writing and teaching. However, you and I, just like the apostles, have to wait on God’s timing and for the Holy Spirit to be with us in our task or it will be fruitless.

Dear Lord,
Please help me to obey, as the disciples did, and wait for the Holy Spirit to go ahead with my calling. I thank you for instruction and I ask that the Holy Spirit shows me the way and makes my efforts reach “to the ends of the earth.”

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One Word 2013

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Welcome 2013! I'm not really very big on doing new years resolutions. I believe that the beginning can start anywhere, so waiting until the beginning of the year to start trying to be better seems wasteful.

However, I was all geared up to do a bucket list for 2013, in fact I may still. I wanted a fun list of all the things we hope to do over the next year. It would include things like go to Disney World, continuously post my Daily Devotionals, go to a football game, etc. But then, I found this One Word 2013 Challenge and I fell in love with the idea.

It all began with Alece and an idea. Now you can view the fruits of her effort at One Word 365, an entire support community. This idea is instead of a laundry list of goals for the new year let God put a word on your heart to concentrate on throughout the whole year. In the beginning, it may be difficult, but as the year continues that word, that overarching idea, will influence your life for the better. That one idea, that focus, will touch every part of your life and at the end of the "new" year, you will notice a great change for the better.

Yes! This is an idea I can get behind!!!

The word God put on my heart for this year is Simplicity. I tend to get really stressed when many things happen at once or there is a lot of clutter. The word simplicity will affect many areas that I need to work on. It will help me not get involved in more than I can handle sanely, it will help me give things away that we don't need to relieve the clutter, it will help me be a better mother and wife because I can focus on them and only them during our time together instead of thinking of all the other things I need to do, it will stream line all of my over-abundant thoughts and allow be to simply be. At least this is the hope, the goal at the end of the year -- I have a long way to go.

What would your word be?

I want to thank Melanie at Only a Breath for making the amazing One Word Button and the beautiful image at the top of my post. She is willing to make buttons for anyone who is interested in joining the One Word Community, you can find out more about this HERE.

I am linking my One Word with Melanie@Only a Breath, Alece@One Word 365 and Create with Joy. I hope you will join me!

May God bring blessings and love for this New Year!

Christ Lives In You

Colossians 1:27 -- “For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.”

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The secret is: Christ lives in you! That is the Good News to share with the world! What an amazing God we serve that he created us, he loves us, but also, by accepting Jesus in faith, he dwells within us!

The Good News is for everyone to hear. In the times after Christ, the Gentiles were the odd man out. It took a lot of convincing for the Jews to accept that they were worthy to fellowship with them. However, Jesus dismissed prejudices when he came to earth, lived as a sinless man and died on the cross for ALL sins.

It is easy to feel unworthy of love and of God, but He wants riches for all of his children no matter where you come from or what situation you are in. Christ will not leave you wanting, he lives in the hearts of all who believe in him.

Dear Lord,
Thank you delivering the Good News for everyone to hear and for coming to live in me! Sometimes I don’t feel worthy to be your child, I know you want the best for me and I take assurance that you are with me at all times, helping me gain wisdom and sharing in your glory.

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Wordless Wednesday: 3 Going on 13

3 Going on 13

Happy Wednesday Everyone and Happy New Year! Check out my new series of Daily Devotionals!

Here's to a Blessed Year full of peace and joy!

In the Beginning

Genesis 1:1 -- “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

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The new year brings new beginnings, new resolutions and potential for a brand new start. At the beginning our slate is clean where anything is possible, anything can happen.  

In the beginning of time there was God. It was God who created the heavens and the earth. It was God who created us. In the beginning anything was possible. There was no sin, no reason for judgment. In the beginning, there was only God.

Genesis means “beginnings.” It is the perfect place to start at the first of the year. But Genesis with not about the “how” of the beginnings, it is about the “who.” It is the first glimpse we have of God. It is the first chance we get to see the Creator himself in action.

The entire Bible is one long character development of God. In the beginning we see our Creator. As we continue through the year, let’s remember that one very important fact, God created us because he loves us and desires a fellowship with us.

Dear Lord,
Please forgive me of my sins. As the new year dawns, allow me to begin with a fresh slate where anything can happen. Thank you for creating me and loving me. Help me to not lose sight of your love for me.

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