Holy Spirit

February 16th – Romans 5:5

Romans 5:5

Have you ever felt too ashamed to come to God? Felt your mistakes too great or too many? I know I have. But Paul reassures us that those feelings are from the Enemy. Lies he tells us to try and keep us separated from God. The truth is, because God pours His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, we never have to let shame keep us from His presence. Instead we can approach Him with confidence, knowing that His grace covers every imperfection and failure. It’s a love that removes the burden of shame, reminding us that we are deeply valued and accepted by our Heavenly Father. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are cleansed, renewed, and filled with a profound sense of worthiness in God’s sight. As we embrace this truth, we are freed from the chains of guilt and self-condemnation. With hearts overflowing with God’s love, we can approach His throne of grace without fear. Because His perfect love casts out all shame, and invites us into a relationship marked by freedom and intimacy.

February 16th – Romans 5:5 Read More »

January 27th – Ezekiel 11:19

Ezekiel 11:19

When it comes to making a change, receiving Jesus as our Savior is the very best one we can make. For it not only transforms our present, but most importantly our future. The moment we accept the Lord’s invitation and welcome Him into our hearts, a most wonderful thing begins to happen. The Holy Spirit immediately sets up shop within us. He gets to work chipping away at our heart of stone, and lovingly mends the broken pieces. Breathing new life into our spirits, God’s Holy Spirit replaces our hardness with tenderness and infuses us with His divine presence. The result is a masterpiece of grace, love, and redemption, where the old is replaced by the new, and the beauty of Christ radiates from within us. Embracing this change is to step into a life overflowing with the richness of divine transformation and the joy of living in the light of God’s glory. For in the hands of the Holy Spirit, we become vessels of His love, grace, and power, radiating His light and reflecting His image to a world in need of redemption.

January 27th – Ezekiel 11:19 Read More »

November 8th – Psalm34:17-18

Psalm 34:17-18

God wants us to come to Him with everything both good and bad. But sometimes the pain is so overwhelming, we can’t put it into words. And when it comes to crying out for help, the best we can manage is a deep groan. Yet often, these groans are some of our most powerful prayers. Because they come from the heart. And are raw expressions of our deep anguish, and struggles. They communicate the depths of our soul to God, who understands our unspoken cries. His nearness to the broken-hearted is a source of peace and strength, offering a life line of endurance when we need it most. It reminds us that in our vulnerability and pain, we are not alone. His love and compassion envelop us, providing a sanctuary for our wounded souls. Even in the darkest of times, God remains a constant and unwavering source of comfort and healing, ready to mend the broken pieces of our hearts. And instilling us with unwavering hope, as we are confident the Lord will deliver us from our troubles.

November 8th – Psalm34:17-18 Read More »

November 5th – Romans 5:3-5

Romans 5:3-5

For Christians, hope is not wishful thinking but a robust, enduring virtue born from persevering through life’s trials. By lasting through the suffering and coming out the other side, our character is refined. And from this transformation, a resilient hope emerges. This hope is unshakable because it is rooted in the abundant love of God, which fills our hearts through the Holy Spirit. So rather  than seeing them as setbacks, we should view trials as opportunities for growth. A chance to develop a deep and enduring hope in God’s promises. Suffering comes for us all. Yet no matter what we face, we can embrace the challenge. Because every circumstance has the potential to shape us to to a better version of ourselves. And to strengthen our hope in God’s love and protection. It encourages us to glory in our sufferings. Because trusting in the process of endurance, leads to an ultimate outcome of hope that doesn’t disappoint. Because God never disappoints. And everyone of His promises are true.

November 5th – Romans 5:3-5 Read More »

August 9th – Colossians 2:11

Colossians 2:11

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.”

Unlike today where circumcision is done mostly for cosmetic reasons, to the Jews it held profound significance. As a physical sign of the covenant between God and the descendants of Abraham, it symbolized separation from the world and dedication to God’s laws. Circumcision served as a powerful reminder to the Jews of their identity as God’s chosen people. But as Christians, we are all His people, for we are circumcised by the transformative work of Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, the Lord circumcises our hearts by cutting away the sinful nature that separates us from God. A spiritual circumcision not carried out by human hands, but by the Spirit of God Himself. For when we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord, a profound inner transformation begins. Slowly the Spirit weeds out the garbage of our old self, so our new life in Christ can begin. A life marked not by outward appearance, but by the inward renewal of a heart, mind, and spirit, dedicated to knowing, loving, and pleasing God.

August 9th – Colossians 2:11 Read More »

August 2nd – Colossians 4:17

Colossians 4:17

See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.

In Jeremiah 1:5 God says, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.” Each of us was purposely and hand created by God with specific gifts. And we are to use those God given talents towards completing the work the Lord gives us. Whether they be spiritual, intellectual, or practical, we are to use our talents to advance God’s kingdom and bring glory to His name. We all have a calling that is ours alone. Through prayer, reading God’s Word, consulting others, and following the prompting of the Spirit, we can discover that calling. And when we do, we are to passionately dedicate ourselves to fulfilling it. Whether through acts of kindness, teaching, preaching, serving, or any other form of ministry, we are called to use our gifts diligently. Finding great joy in knowing that our labor for the Lord is not in vain. Because by doing so, we become instruments of God’s love, grace, and truth. So desperately needed in our darkened and depraved world of today.

August 2nd – Colossians 4:17 Read More »

June 22nd – Luke 7:43

Luke 7:43

Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven. You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.”

Some hurts run deeper than others, and some wrongs harder to forget. But in His parable about the moneylender, Jesus tells us that no matter how we’ve been sinned against, great or small, we are to forgive. That’s not to say it will be easy. Forgiveness can be an uphill battle. But God knows the healing that comes along with letting go of grudges, bitterness, and resentment. And the sweet freedom it brings. Because forgiveness allows us to let go of negative emotions and liberate ourselves from the burden of the past. Forgiveness frees us from the pain of guilt. And studies have shown that holding onto anger and bitterness affects our physical and mental well being. One of the hardest things God calls us to do is forgive. Especially forgiving those who have hurt us the most. No doable in our strength. But through the strength of the Holy Spirit of God living inside of us, nothing is impossible! (Luke 1:37)

June 22nd – Luke 7:43 Read More »

June 15th – Acts 8:22

Acts 8:22

Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.”

John and Peter were laying hands on believers who were receiving the Holy Spirit. A sorcerer named Simon watched from the sidelines, convinced the two disciples were using magic. But after offering to pay for the same ability, Simon received a very stern warning about mocking God. Peter warned that we can’t buy or earn God’s love, forgiveness, and mercy through material possessions or external acts. No amount of wealth, influence, or offerings can purchase absolution for our sins. Instead, God desires a genuine transformation within us, a turning away from sinful ways and a wholehearted return to Him. Forgiveness is a gift of God’s grace, freely given to those who humbly seek it. And God calls us to understand that our worthiness for forgiveness is not measured by worldly standards, but by our inner repentance and our sincere pursuit of righteousness.

June 15th – Acts 8:22 Read More »

June 11th – Matthew 12:31

Matthew 12:31

And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.”

When my son was little we would talk about sin and God’s forgiveness. Then as children do, he would rattle off a list of transgressions asking if God could forgive each one. Of course the answer to each was a resounding yes. Then he asked if there was anything God couldn’t forgive. And sadly the answer to that was also a resounding yes. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit of God. As used in Scripture, the word “blasphemy” means expressing something disrespectful or evil about God. And the worst evil is the deliberate and willful rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit or a persistent refusal to accept God’s forgiveness and grace. This signifies a complete and conscious rebellion against our Creator, the ultimate source of love, goodness, and forgiveness. Out of His unending love and mercy, God wishes for none to perish. And so He sacrificed His own begotten Son to offer us eternal life. Only those who receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior will receive the precious gift of an eternity spent by the Father’s side.

June 11th – Matthew 12:31 Read More »

June 8th – Ezekiel 18:31-32

Ezekiel 18:31-32

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”

During the Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah, a musical horn called a “shofar” is blown. And the sound is a wake-up call to “Teshuvah”. Teshuvah is the act of repenting and turning back to the Lord. To give up the destruction of sin and live! Of the many awesome attributes of God, one of the greatest is love. And no more is His love demonstrated than in His gift of repentance. From the beginning, it has always been God’s desire that we all practice “Teshuva” and receive His gift of forgiveness and restoration. His heart aches for the wicked to turn aside from the path of sin which leads to death, and back to Him and everlasting life. Repentance isn’t always easy, but through the power of Holy Spirit, doable. That means we have the ability to not only feel sorry for our sin but to turn aside from that sin. So wake up! The Day of the Lord is near! Blow the Shofar! Repent and Live!

June 8th – Ezekiel 18:31-32 Read More »