A Special Request for Prayer

 One of the ladies at church has a son who will receive a bone marrow transplant next month. He has been ill since his senior year of high school. He is 25 years old. His name is Clint Sheward and he has a rare form of Leukemia. He will be undergoing preparation for the transplant starting the Thursday before Thanksgiving, November 17. His mother told m e she thought the actual transplant would take place on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, November 29. All medical procedures have been/ will be done at the Cleveland Clinic. It is a miracle that they found a donor. His sister wasn’t a match and they had to go to the marrow registry in order to find one. My request is that you pray for Clint and his family. He and his mother will be away from home for at least three months. Also please pray for the donor and his family as well.

Acting Up In Church became very interested in this young man when Lora, his mother and a friend of hers came into the Sanctuary to pray at the altar one Saturday in early September. At that time they didn't have a donor. His sister wasn't a match. Lora couldn't be a match because she had Cancer herself, a few years ago. We prayed with her and her friend.

Some of Clint's friends put together a benefit fundraiser to help the family with expenses. Two and a half weeks ago that event took place.  They had a motorcycle ride, a chili lunch, later they had a euchre tournament, and a band. Throughout the whole day they had items( about a dozen gifts) on display for a raffle. They also had a 50/50 raffle, actually they had two drawings on this. Seven of us from Acting Up had lunch more or less together that day. (One man came late and some of us stayed and sat with him while he ate.)

Lora and her family would appreciate any prayers they might receive about this procedure and the pre transplant time as well as the post transplant time.

The Holy Spirit Poured Out

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,

but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing

of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured

out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Titus 3:5 (NIV)



We didn’t do anything to deserve our salvation. God extended it to us because of His great love for each of us. It is only when we realize this fact that we begin to appreciate the work God did through Jesus Christ.

God accomplishes this transforming of our hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit. He changes us into the person He can use for His purposes.

In 1985, I had a heavy burden in my heart. This issue caused me to have a degree of depression. I decided I needed to find another place to worship God. I did research on different churches near our home. I visited one located a half-mile from where we live. The people took me into their hearts. I learned of God’s love anew. I learned about the Holy Spirit.

My husband found the Lord because people of the church prayed for us. They accepted him just like they had accepted me and our son. God and His Holy Spirit guided me through several tough times while we were a part of that church. They were patient with me when I had a backset. At that time people would ask me how I was and all I could reply was, “Thank You” It was a verbal short-hand that sent a coded message. When I said it, I meant I couldn’t talk about it either because we didn’t have time or I was really having a hard time and felt they would be brought down by what I would tell them.

Although we attend another church where several of the members have come from our former church, I still feel close to God because of my discovering His Holy Spirit almost 30 years ago. I am grateful to God and His Holy Spirit for the changes in my life.

Dear God:

Thank You for seeing in me something that You could develop and then use me to work for You. Thank You for the guidance, wisdom and love that Your Spirit has been able to grant me.

By His Power

“‘Not my might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’”

says the LORD Almighty. Zechariah 4:6(NIV)


What does it take to survive in difficult times? The world says a person has to be physically strong; it also leads us to believe that we need to be rich-at least well-heeled. When I was in junior high school, we read about how people reacted to the crash of the stock market in 1929. That scene came to my mind on September 11, 2001. In 1929 the people seemed to not have any hope. In 2001, the people were trying to reach safety.

God tells us that we can accomplish things of lasting value only when we have His Spirit. What can we do to receive it? We can ask for Him to send His Spirit to us.

Once we receive God’s Holy Spirit, He becomes boss over our lives. At the bottom of the church bulletins in our yoked ministry churches, the following sentence is printed: “This service is subject to change by direction of the Holy Spirit.” We have seen this happen several times.

I once heard a pastor’s wife ask us what our world would look like if we listened to and obeyed the Holy Spirit in our daily living. Would any of us be able to commit to something so bold? One of the classic Christian books of all times, “In His Steps, What Would Jesus Do” by Charles M. Sheldon, deals with this issue of allowing Jesus and the Holy Spirit rule our lives.

Can you remember a time when you didn’t listen to or obey God’s Holy Spirit? I know I can. All we can do when we realize what we have done is to prayerfully ask for forgiveness and He will.


Dear Lord:

Please help us to sort out our lives and live for You with the help of the Holy Spirit. Help us to remain true to Your teachings and model our beliefs and Your ways before others. We will give You the praise. In the name of Jesus I pray. AMEN

The Counselor Testifies

I'm Waiting for a breakthrough.

“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you

from the Father, the Spirit of Truth goes out from the Father,

he will testify about me.” John 15:26 (NIV)



These words of Jesus explain the purpose of the Counselor. We learned, in John 14:16-18, He comes because Jesus sends Him. This Counselor comes to bear witness about Jesus.

The third person of the Trinity does the work of sustaining us of in our Christian walk while we are in this world.

When God speaks to us, it is through this Spirit of Truth. This Spirit guides us through each of our days, speaks to our hearts, and comforts us when we need Him.

Our Father told us through Moses that he would never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8) He promised Joshua to always be there for him (Joshua 1:5), as Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land.

I recently learned something about myself. I am not proud of this. I know this fact came to me from God. Before, when I looked at this particular situation, I made excuses for my lack of activity in this one area of life. I have to work on this. I believe that with God’s help I can correct this shortcoming. But, I know I have to do my part in making the change.

The Holy Spirit Empowers



God speaks and the Holy Spirit comes to Jesus after he was baptized.




“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit

comes on you and you will be my witnesses

in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,

and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)



Several years ago, a man at our former church used this verse as a way to instill interest in missions in our youth. He equated Jerusalem to our city, our neighborhood, or our part of town. He likened Judea and Samaria to our state or our region. He explained the phrase, ‘to the ends of the earth.’ as the work done worldwide.

Recently, as I prepared to work on this blog entry, I paused at the phrase, in all Judea and Samaria. “In Samaria?” I thought. That’s the region Jesus and all the Jews tried to bypass in their travels. The Jewish people believed they were the ‘chosen ones of God.’ Yes, they were and still are. But in Biblical times, they acted haughty about it. They considered the Samaritans inferior because some of ‘their’ people intermarried with inhabitants of that region.

The first Century Christians received the promised Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Because of this they were able to carry the message of God to all they met. From the world they experienced persecution. Because they had the Helper promised by Jesus Christ, their numbers grew.

*Is there a Samaria in our lives?

*Is there something we don’t believe we can do for the LORD?

*Is it something we don’t feel equipped to do?

*Or is it something that scares us when we think about it?

I believe, if we were honest, we would all say, “Yes.” I learned we can trust God’s Holy Spirit to lead us through these feelings of fear into a place where we can work for Him and help enlarge His Kingdom.

Dear Lord: We look to You for guidance. We lean on You for strength. Please help us as we decide on how to approach our personal Samaria, whether physical, mental or emotional. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN

The Holy Spirit Constrains




God can close the door on our dreams,
if those things are not in His plans for us.

 



“Paul and his companions traveled throughout

the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been

kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word

in the province of Asia.” Acts 16: 6-7 (NIV)



From time to time in my Christian walk, I have wanted to do something that I couldn’t.

*Maybe the time wasn’t right.

*I wasn’t really gifted in that area.

*God had other plans for me.



Reflecting on a few of those times, I realize if I had been allowed to do them, I would have been grieving the Holy Spirit. My life would not be what it is today.

It seems Paul and his companions had wanted to go into Asia. But God closed the door on their plan.

Several years ago, a close friend asked me to pray about the possibility of her and another lady starting a business together. I took the need before God; I prayed several weeks for this. I asked my friend about their decision. She told me, “It’s not going to happen.” I felt led to not pursue the topic. My friend had received her answer.

Since that time, this friend has had several illnesses in her family. For over a year now, she has watched over her sister who had two strokes and is in a nursing home. In years past, her husband went through two medical crises. Her sister’s late husband developed Cancer twice.

Several years ago, she worked for a small business in our area of town. The owner suffered a stroke. My friend, with the help of her husband, and another employee ran that business until their boss and his wife could get back to the running of it.

God had other plans for her. Had she started that business as she thought, she wouldn’t have been able to be there for her family.

In everything she does, she stands for God. Even though He constrained her that many years ago, Holy Spirit works through her.

John Speaks Of The Holy Spirit



John Baptizing Jesus.




“I baptize you with water for repentance,

but after me will come one who is more

powerful than I, whose sandals I am not

fit to carry. He will baptize you with the

Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Matthew 3:11 (NIV)



John the Baptist spoke to the crowd of Pharisees and Sadducees. His words prophesied the importance of the One who would come after him, the Christ.

He tells those listening that Jesus is more powerful than he. John speaks for us all in this statement. We can not compare ourselves to Christ at all. We belong to Him because of His grace.

More importantly, Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to guide our lives until He comes again to rule the earth.

Jesus told the disciples He would send a Counselor to them. (John 16:7) He continues by speaking of what this Counselor will do. (John 16:13)

How often have we not allowed the Spirit of Truth to work out things in our lives?

When have we not followed His leading?

Why are we so disobedient?

What can we do to correct this pattern in our lives?



Dear God:

Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit into our lives. Please forgive us when we don’t heed Him. We ask that You guide us to a better knowledge of Your Spirit in order that others may see You in us. We give you all the praise. In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN