 "And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you." Romans 8:11 God truly works in mysterious ways. Can you see all of the ways He works in your life?
Heavenly Father, thank you for our many blessings. Thank you for not forsaking us. Let Your words flow through me and not my own. In Jesus' name. Amen. So, we did not go to church this morning. We had that 'nor'beaster' come through New England. We probably got 5 to 6 inches of snow at our house Saturday, and it was pretty windy all afternoon and night. I prayed this morning and asked God if we should go to church today, which I try to do on a regular basis. We live about 30 minutes away. Anyway, I kept getting the same answer, No. I had no idea why, but we stayed home. Instead, I pulled up our church service on Facebook, and sang along with the Worship Team. When I opened the service on Facebook, my husband said something like, Hey, it is just like being in church. I said, Yeah, but not really, I don't feel the Holy Spirit here, or the Holy Spirit isn't here, something like that. So, I was singing along with the worship songs, and the Holy Spirit came over me, at home, and I began to sob uncontrollably while I was singing, still trying to get the words out. First, it felt like a sense of shame for the life I had lived, and then a sense of the love of the Father, who saved us by His grace, or favor, for no other reason than He loved us. God was reminding me that the Holy Spirit is inside us, believers, and, therefore, He is wherever we are. I mean, of course I knew that, but the Holy Spirit was reminding me. Perhaps, God told me not to go to church today, so I could be reminded of that, or perhaps He spared me the embarrassment of breaking down and sobbing uncontrollably in front of the church congregation. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Stop what you are doing. Raise your hands in the air. Give all glory, honor, praise and thanksgiving to God, Most High, the great I Am, and watch Him come right down where you are standing, and ". . . fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises." Romans 15:13 Romans 8:9 - But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Hallelujah. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
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"THE HARVEST" AUDIO BLOG Coincidence. What does it mean? "A situation in which events happen at the same time in a way that is not planned or expected." Merriam-Webster
First, as always, all honor, glory, praise and thanksgiving to the One True God, the living God. Let Your words flow through me and not my own. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen. Sunday after church, my husband and I went to Wendy's, as we sometimes do. I usually check the order to make sure it is right, but the sign on the window to pay said something like, Check your fries. If they are not hot, we will replace them before you drive off. So, I mean, that is like a warning, right, so I told my husband not to drive off until I check to see if the fries are hot. I checked them. They were hot. We drove off. We parked across the street, and I started handing out the food, and what the literal heck, they did not put my hamburger in the bag! So, we drove back across the street. I tried to go inside, but the doors were locked, and we had to get back in the drive-thru line, which was now about five cars! By the time we got up to the window, our original order was lukewarm at best, and they replaced both sandwiches and both fries. So, now we have two bags of food. Thank you, Jesus. We drove back across the street and parked to eat. We had no sooner started eating and a young man with a hoodie on approached the car. Out of habit, I locked the doors when I saw him at a distance, and he came right up to my window. So, I rolled down the window, and he said something like, Hi, I wanted to get something to eat over there, but I'm homeless and I'm hungry. I was fumbling for the bags of food to give him some, because I knew we had two bags of food. Then my husband said, Here he can have my sandwich. Thinking about it later, I should have said so many things to him. I should have told him that Jesus loves him, and given him the address of the church, at the very least. Lord, please, help me to be a better servant, in Jesus Christ. Amen. So, do you think it was a coincidence that we ended up with two bags of food, and then a young man needed food at that same moment? I mean, God even made it easy for us. We had the second bag of food right there! ALL glory, honor, praise and thanksgiving to God, Most High! Amen. Consider also that The Harvest Has Begun. Do you see that this 'test' at Wendy's is a part of God's Harvest on my husband and me? 1 Corinthians 3 14 "If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward. 15 But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire. So, 'Satan demanded permission to sift us like grain.' Luke 22:31. Also see my blog titled, 'The Demons Are Out.' God is separating the wheat from the chaff, and He will gather His wheat together in His barn, but He will burn up the chaff. Matthew 3:12 "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Matthew 13:33 The Time is at Hand. In God's 'test' for us at Wendy's, did we barely escape through fire, as in 1 Corinthians 3:15 above? Only God knows for sure right now. With time, I imagine we will know also, by the fruit we bear, an hundredfold, sixty or thirty. The Harvest Has Begun! Hallelujah! Praise God! Thank you, Jesus! Amen! God's Word tells us that we can have every gift of the Holy Spirit, prophesying, dreams, visions, healing, et cetera, but if we do not have charity, which is an agape love for all people, loving others as if they were ourselves, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ, then we have, and are, nothing. 1 Corinthians 13 1 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it benefits me nothing. 4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; 6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." We will say, Lord, Lord, Jesus, we did many things in your name, and He will say, Get away from me. I never knew you. Matthew 7 21 "Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.'" 'Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father...' What does this mean? What is the Will of God? "For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:" 1 Peter 2:15. In other words, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16 Apostle Paul gives us a long list on how to be good Christians: 1 Thessalonians 5 Christian Conduct ('Well doing') 12 "Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to appreciate those who diligently work among you [recognize, acknowledge, and respect your leaders], who are in charge over you in the Lord and who give you instruction, 13 and [we ask that you appreciate them and] hold them in the highest esteem in love because of their work [on your behalf]. Live in peace with one another. 14 We [earnestly] urge you, believers, admonish those who are out of line [the undisciplined, the unruly, the disorderly], encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak, be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper]. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always and delight in your faith; 17 be unceasing and persistent in prayer; 18 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. 20 Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning]. 21 But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it]." Sometimes things have to happen in your life before you realize what something means. This incident at Wendy's has shown me why it is so important to Wear the Full Armor of God, in order to withstand the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11-24 Also, what Apostle Paul meant when he said, "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." 1 Thessalonians 5:2. . . "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation." 1 Thessalonians 5:8 Have you seen God's Harvest in your life? Did you withstand the wiles of the devil? We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and confess to God: Romans 14 10 "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." "Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you." Revelation 3:3 I pray we all remember and repent, so we can withstand the 'test,' and remain steadfast in Jesus Christ, and obedient to God, until the end. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen. "BAPTISM" AUDIO BLOGDOWNLOAD GOD Proverbs 4 20 "My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings. 21 Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh." ***UPDATED FEBRUARY 7, 2022 see below***
Father God, thank you for loving us and not forsaking us. Thank you for Your Word and Your gifts, talents, miracles, signs and wonders. Thank you for these Testimonies for You with which you have blessed me, and that prove to me, and hopefully those who read them, that Your Word is alive, and that you truly have not forsaken us. Thank you for giving us ears to hear and eyes to see. Amen. Now, if you are like I was until recently, you probably do not know that there are two types of baptisms: Baptism in Water, and Baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire. ***UPDATE FEBRUARY 7, 2022: Sunday after church, God turned on another light for me. Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and Baptism in fire, are two separate baptisms. In other words, they do not come together, at the same time, or at least not necessarily. If you think about it, fire is passion. When you hear prophets, pastors, or ordinary people, speak with a passion for God, a fire for God, then you know that they have received Baptism in Fire. I still do not understand the differences completely, but I have a general idea about Baptism in Water and Baptism in the Holy Spirit, based on my firsthand experience with, first, water at 13 years old Thank you, Jesus, and recently, in the last few months, with Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Click here to read my Testimony about being baptized in water at 13 years old. So, what is Baptism in the Holy Spirit? How do you know if you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit? (courtesy of lwaog.net/) The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance: Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:1-6. The speaking in tongues that occurs from Baptism in the Holy Spirit is, in essence, the same as the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians, but is different in purpose and use: 1 Corinthians 12:4-10; 1 Corinthians 12:28 End quote. "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams." Acts 2:17 The differences I see between speaking in tongues in Acts and 1 Corinthians, without having studied the subject other than reading the Scripture, is that in Acts, it says, "in the last days," everyone will be given these gifts, including speaking in tongues, to bring as many people as possible back to God, by showing His miracles, signs and wonders through them. 1 Corinthians 12, on the other hand, is referring to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues, being bestowed on people whom "God has set in the church," church leaders, and is not specifically designated for "the last days." This week, while working on our church website, and reading about Baptism in the Holy Spirit, I realized that, yet again, God was at work in my life. God is Great - All the Time! Now, I started learning about the Pentecostal denomination only a couple of years ago, during the lockdowns, by watching Pentecostal prophets giving prophecies and sermons. Occasionally, one will speak in tongues briefly in a prayer, or sometimes someone else will interpret what they are saying. Then, recently, I heard someone speak about praying in tongues. It was a very powerful sermon. He said praying or speaking in tongues is a language only God understands, and it causes Satan to flee from you. Hallelujah! Amen. So, I tried. I started praying in tongues. All glory to God in the Highest. How to: Pray to God out loud as you normally would, in private. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you, and then open your mouth and let another language, or 'tongue,' come out. What does this have to do with my Testimony to God's Power? Well, I noticed over the last few months, and the content of my blogs show it as well, that I am being drawn more into the service of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Literally, I have received a download, if you will, of "an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, a deepened reverence for, and intensified consecration and dedication to, God's work; and, a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost," as described below in the experiences associated with Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Baptism In The Holy Spirit (courtesy of lwaog.net) All believers are entitled to, and should, ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father regarding Baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, as was the normal experience of believers in the early Christian Church. With Baptism in the Holy Spirit comes the enduement of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts, and their uses in the work of the ministry: Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 The benefits and experiences associated with Baptism in the Holy Spirit are completely distinct from, and after, the experience of the new birth, or Baptism in Water. Acts 8:12-17; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 11:14-16; Acts 15:7-9 With Baptism in the Holy Spirit come such experiences as:
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Melanie Garcia
Born again and redeemed by the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:19 Archives
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