Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Holy Boldness
I have been preparing this week to teach the Bible lesson at the Good News Club at my church and once again God speaks to me through His Word.
The disciples have been commanded to be witnesses to the whole world ( Acts 1:8 ) with a promise of receiving the Holy Spirt who will give them power. The Holy Spirit comes as promise to fill the disciples who appear to some to be drunk but Peter speaks to them with boldness these words.........
"....this Jesus, delivered up according to the foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless me. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him tone held by it....)
When they heard all that Peter shared this is how they responded:
"Brothers what shall we do? And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...''
I have read Acts 1:8 before and never really thought about how much power God has given me through the Holy Spirit. Why am I not witnessing like I should when I have the same power as Peter. He boldly spoke to the people and told them that they needed to repent. He didn't sugar coat anything and 3,000 did ask for forgiveness and received Christ that day! What am I, what are we, as Christians waiting for? God has given all the power we need through His Spirit to boldly proclaim the gospel. Too often we are gripped with fear and fear does not come from God. The enemy doesn't want us to share the truth. Don't let him have his way step out in holy boldness today and share the truth of the gospel. It's a truth that can change the world and transform lives.
The disciples have been commanded to be witnesses to the whole world ( Acts 1:8 ) with a promise of receiving the Holy Spirt who will give them power. The Holy Spirit comes as promise to fill the disciples who appear to some to be drunk but Peter speaks to them with boldness these words.........
"....this Jesus, delivered up according to the foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless me. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him tone held by it....)
When they heard all that Peter shared this is how they responded:
"Brothers what shall we do? And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...''
I have read Acts 1:8 before and never really thought about how much power God has given me through the Holy Spirit. Why am I not witnessing like I should when I have the same power as Peter. He boldly spoke to the people and told them that they needed to repent. He didn't sugar coat anything and 3,000 did ask for forgiveness and received Christ that day! What am I, what are we, as Christians waiting for? God has given all the power we need through His Spirit to boldly proclaim the gospel. Too often we are gripped with fear and fear does not come from God. The enemy doesn't want us to share the truth. Don't let him have his way step out in holy boldness today and share the truth of the gospel. It's a truth that can change the world and transform lives.
Friday, March 2, 2012
From Where Does My Help Come?
I was reading Psalm 121 this morning and was overwhelmed with what it says.
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."
My help comes from the LORD, Yaweh, the self-sufficient One, the maker of all things! How incredible is that?! The Holy One cares for me a sinner saved by His amazing grace. Then I go on to read verses 3-6.
"He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber or sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, not the moon by night."
God is watching over me 24/7. He doesn't get tired and need a nap or nod off when things get crazy. His watch over me is continuous. He guards me even to the point of not allowing even the slightest part of me to be moved. What a comfort to know that He cares so much for me.
"The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going our and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."
What a wonderful promise to be kept from evil and to know that God will be guarding my life. Both my coming and going forevermore! This gives me such encouragement to know that God loves me enough to keep watch over me and to care for me. Yes, my help comes from Jehovah Jirrah, my provider, King of Kings and LORD of LORDs the self-existent One who is the same yesterday, today and forever and the creator of both heaven and earth.
"I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."
My help comes from the LORD, Yaweh, the self-sufficient One, the maker of all things! How incredible is that?! The Holy One cares for me a sinner saved by His amazing grace. Then I go on to read verses 3-6.
"He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber or sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, not the moon by night."
God is watching over me 24/7. He doesn't get tired and need a nap or nod off when things get crazy. His watch over me is continuous. He guards me even to the point of not allowing even the slightest part of me to be moved. What a comfort to know that He cares so much for me.
"The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going our and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."
What a wonderful promise to be kept from evil and to know that God will be guarding my life. Both my coming and going forevermore! This gives me such encouragement to know that God loves me enough to keep watch over me and to care for me. Yes, my help comes from Jehovah Jirrah, my provider, King of Kings and LORD of LORDs the self-existent One who is the same yesterday, today and forever and the creator of both heaven and earth.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
A Submissive Heart
For many people the thought of riding a roller coaster brings excitement and exhilaration. They love the crazy speed and the unexpected twists and turns. I am not one of these people! For me excitement and exhilaration are replaced with an overwhelming fear of the unexpected twists and turns and the frantic speed over which I have no control.
Our lives can sometimes seem like one giant roller coaster as we experience many unexpected events that sometimes seem to come at frantic speed. I am thankful that even though I am not in control of my life I know the One who is and I can fully trust Him. Unlike the fear I experience on the roller coaster, God gives me peace and joy in the midst of life's craziness. I have found that the key is completely submitting to Him. Romans 12:1,2 states it this way:
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
I am His child and I belong to Him and everything that I have, all my life, is His not mine. I am here to serve Christ and that means that I need to be ready to do whatever He asks me to do. I cannot show obedience unless my heart is totally surrendered to Him. What does a heart that is surrendered look like? It involves the following:
*a humble heart
*selflessness or denying self
*complete trust in God's sovereignty
*giving God complete control
*recognizing that we were bought and redeemed by God for His glory
*trusting that God knows what is best for us
*recognizing that Jesus is LORD of our lives and not us
Once our hearts are fully surrendered to God then we will be submissive to what He wants. And what He wants is complete obedience to whatever He calls you to do. This may take you out of your comfort zone. You may be asked to do something that is too big for you or that you cannot do in your own strength. That is when you realize you have to totally rely on God and His power and then you can give Him all the glory.
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
Our lives can sometimes seem like one giant roller coaster as we experience many unexpected events that sometimes seem to come at frantic speed. I am thankful that even though I am not in control of my life I know the One who is and I can fully trust Him. Unlike the fear I experience on the roller coaster, God gives me peace and joy in the midst of life's craziness. I have found that the key is completely submitting to Him. Romans 12:1,2 states it this way:
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
I am His child and I belong to Him and everything that I have, all my life, is His not mine. I am here to serve Christ and that means that I need to be ready to do whatever He asks me to do. I cannot show obedience unless my heart is totally surrendered to Him. What does a heart that is surrendered look like? It involves the following:
*a humble heart
*selflessness or denying self
*complete trust in God's sovereignty
*giving God complete control
*recognizing that we were bought and redeemed by God for His glory
*trusting that God knows what is best for us
*recognizing that Jesus is LORD of our lives and not us
Once our hearts are fully surrendered to God then we will be submissive to what He wants. And what He wants is complete obedience to whatever He calls you to do. This may take you out of your comfort zone. You may be asked to do something that is too big for you or that you cannot do in your own strength. That is when you realize you have to totally rely on God and His power and then you can give Him all the glory.
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
Easter Hymn of Praise
I am a sinner saved by grace
redeemed by the blood of the Savior
who bore my sins and took my place
Outragious love stretched across a tree
Sinless Lamb of God sacrificed for me
The price had been paid, the suffering cmplete
He said, "It is finished" and took His last breath
And the Enemy cheered at the Savior's death
But His death was not final, it was not the end
If it had been we'd have no hope my friend
Look and empty tome, a risen Savior!
The Enemy trampled under His feet
All Heaven cheers at Satan's glorious defeat
This is my Easter hymn of praise
as I give thanks to the One
who gave Himself to set me free
and whose precious blood now covers me.
Kathy Overholt 4-18-11
A Moment in Time
A Moment in Time
Life is a series of moments
Snapshots of memories
that shape and define us
One moment in time can forever
change us
transform us and redirect who we will
become
The following poem is about one such moment in time that forever changed my brother.
A Moment in Time
Curiostity compelled him to climb
up the drawers one at a time
What was in that pot upon the stove?
He just wanted to see
And that one moment in time
forever changed who he'd be
Boiling water burned his tender skin
creating scars inside that would never mend
Little boy toddler of two
when the pain became too much for you
you disappeared inside
where it was safe and
someone braver come and took your place
The brave one has locked you away
along with the painful memories of
that day
His lies still haunt you because
he promised to take away your pain
He said he would be your friend
Then he stripped you of your memories
and left you numb instead
I know this story seems sad my friend
but it is not the end
for there is One who
can heal the scars within
At just the right moment in time
God will send His light to shine
and set my brother free
changing forever who he was meant to be
Kathy Overholt 2011
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