It’s Pentecost Sunday and I’ve Got the Power!

With two of my grandchildren, we recently watched the movie “Bruce Almighty”, a spoof about a guy (Jim Carrey) who was complaining that God was treating him poorly. Soon after, God (Morgan Freeman) actually contacts Bruce and offers him all of His powers if he thinks he can do a better job. Bruce accepts and goes on a spree, using his new-found abilities for selfish use and sings “I’ve got the POW-ER!” Hilarious movie but when I say "I’ve got the power” it’s because of Pentecost Sunday and the power that was given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost Sunday commemorates the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and those in the Upper Room. It occurs 50 days after Easter (10 days after Jesus’ ascension to heaven), recorded in Acts 1:12-2-13. Pentecost fulfills Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit (John 16:5-15) and it launches the large-scale spreading of the Gospel. It was after Pentecost and the infilling of the Holy Spirit that Peter (the same one who denied Jesus, the coward, fearful, the impulsive activist) could speak with boldness and courage. Acts 2:41 records that he spoke to the crowd and some 3,000 people were baptized. Now that's what I call POWER!

Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, He said these words to His disciples ”When the Holy Spirit comes to you, you shall receive POWER." (Acts 1:8) How awesome is that? A couple of days ago I met with a young woman to encourage her as she was going through some pretty tough times. I told her how I weathered many storms of life because of the Holy Spirit's power that helps us successfully make it through this thing called LIFE. And, Holy Spirit gives us the POWER to share the Good News boldly and unafraid. That same power, the power of the Holy Spirit, is for believing and obedient Christians in our generation to turn our world around.

I believe the Holy Spirit, the one Who Jesus said, “I must go away so that the Holy Spirit can come”, is the answer to our actions AND reactions of faith and trust and love and power. How was it possible to be a strong and bold witness of Jesus Christ back in those days of such tyranny and oppression? How is it possible for us to overcome the challenges in our lives? How is it possible to experience John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

It is all possible by acknowledging and living in the Spirit! The moment we received Christ, the Holy Spirit not only came to indwell us, He imparted to us the power to overcome the enemy’s tactics. "Be filled" means to allow the Holy Spirit to produce his attitudes and actions in the life of the believer. We received an amazing gift of the Holy Spirit when we received Christ. In fact – a big bushel of fruit. Galatians 5:22 -- "The Fruit of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control." Just look at what being “filled with the Spirit” provides to us as we acknowledge Holy Spirit in our life.

People ask me: “What’s your secret?” “How can you always be so happy?” It is no secret. It is the natural product of embracing the Holy Spirit’s presence and fellowship that’s called “Living in the Spirit”. Through life's ups and downs, I can tell you I know peace. I know faith. I know comfort because of the Holy Spirit. Walking in dependence upon the power that is there.

Come Holy Spirit! Consume me! Won’t you pray this prayer with me today in celebration of Pentecost Sunday and Holy Spirit that lives in you? It's simply acknowledging His presence and His power that is available today.

“Dear Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, welcome into my life. I know you are living in me, and today I acknowledge that you are my helper, my counselor, my confidant, my comforter and my peace. I ask you to take complete control of my life. I ask for your fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to be evident in my life. Lord, I ask that you fill me to overflowing with your precious Holy Spirit – baptize me from the top of my head to the bottom of our feet – the same way you filled those in the Upper Room. I ask you for a radical transformation like the disciples had when they went from fear, anxiety, timidity, and concern to empowered people of love, faith, boldness, and courage. May I receive you fully and completely. I ask this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!!!

It’s Pay-it-Forward AND Pray-it-Forward Time!

Mentor – a trusted guide, coach, role model, counselor

I don’t know where or who I would be were it not for the mentors in my life from a very EARLY age. Since I was “early” in getting married (at 17) and “early” to have a baby (one year later at 18), I needed all the help I could get. I was so in love, but I was also so insecure and inexperienced when it came to every day challenges and struggles. Quite frankly, inexperienced in life….period. And, each challenge and struggle confirmed my ongoing mental monologue “What in the world am I doing?”

I needed someone older, wiser, experienced and confident to help me navigate some of those never-ending challenges. Someone I could call and ask, "How do you do this?" or "Have you ever experienced that?" without being judged. God was so faithful to give me two strong women who paved the way for me to become a confident wife and mom. Those women were my mother and mother-in-law. How many times did I call them and ask about “this and that”? Since I was the youngest of my friends to get married, I sure couldn’t call those girls for advice. They didn't understand breastfeeding or a baby's high fever. My “moms” were living, breathing gifts from God who were sent to a gal who desperately needed real-life answers and real-life prayer. They gave me both.

Through the years, God was faithful to bring so many other wonderful and wiser Christian women who graciously mentored me. They led me by example. They shared valuable truths on how to be a dedicated wife, manage a career, the must-haves of mothering and most importantly … how to experience an authentic, personal relationship with the Lord.

It’s been my turn now for many years to pay it forward and pray it forward as I have mentored many younger women in my own circle of influence. Some women were older than me and I mentored them in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Some of those gals were searching for Mr. Happily-Ever-After. A few were transitioning from newlywed bliss to marriage-plus-career reality. And others needed sound advice on how to raise their kids while trying to stay sane. And, now, many are widows who need help navigating their life through singleness. Oh the lessons I learned in the process that I was able to share with them what NOT to do and what to do so they wouldn’t make the same mistakes I did.

In both seasons, being mentored and being a mentor, I’ve learned so much from smart, hard-working, gracious and tenderhearted women, who, just like me, still need godly advice every now and then. What would happen if we embraced each season of life looking to mentor others with the same excitement and tenacity we’d expect from a woman who mentored us?

Mentoring is for each season of life. Maybe you’ve been looking for a godly woman to come alongside you. Start with praying for your soon-to-be mentor. Even though you don’t know her yet, God does. She may be older and wiser and she knows what it is to face life's challenges. Then, be willing to mentor someone else. Your gifts and talents can be used to be a blessing to a woman who’s also longing for a mentoring relationship.

It’s Mother’s Day weekend and what better time to reflect upon those women who imparted life into you – via birthing you in the natural or the spiritual and the everyday course of life. Now…go and pay it forward and pray it forward to some young girl, teenager or woman who needs a loving, caring and devoted mentor. Thank God for their good influence on you. Regardless of your age or stage in life, mentoring is always available to you!

Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith.”

1 Timothy 4:12 “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Celebrating THE NAME

I'm so grateful to be with my girl this weekend before her birthday on Monday (tomorrow).  One day isn't enough to celebrate her -- I need several days.  What a precious treasure she has been to me.

We already had a beautiful son who was 2-1/2, then it was almost time for our 2nd child to be born. Back in those days, most of us didn't know ...boy or girl... until they were born.

Even though I knew I would be thrilled with either (it was going to be Robert David if he had been a boy), I had a glimmer of hope that a little girl would be born to us.  I'll never forget my husband exclaiming...."Sweetheart, you've got your girl!"   How grateful I was then, and how grateful I am today that God gave me her.

I'm remembering the anticipation we had for the day when she would be born.  Of all the names we thought about if we had a little girl.....we finally decided on Staci Michelle.  Staci means "resurrection life" and Michelle means "close to God".  WOW!  God certainly guided us to that name, because she has been true to those definitions.  In so many ways, she brings resurrection life to just about everyone she encounters --  helping people experience a fresh new life from one of rejection, defeat, depression, darkness, pain, and indifference .....because she is so "close to God" and that closeness magnetically draws them closer to HIM.

I don't tell you this to impress you, but to impress upon you how important it is to calculate, ponder, pray for and get God's vision for your children, AND the name you give them.  He had that vision for His Son that gives us a perfect  example to follow.  Staci,  being born in December, draws my attention to Gabriel's announcement to Mary in Luke 1:30 "And, behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and you will call his name Jesus."   I love that Isaiah 9:6 even gave definition to His name before He was born,  "And He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

What we name our children shouldn't be a mere conglomeration of letters that we put together as a convenient way to refer to them.  God proved that when He named His son Jesus --  that name that is ABOVE all other names, that descibes His personality and gives  interpretation of His character traits. He has lived up to His name and it gives us hope, life, and blessing.  Indeed,  names are important!   How awesome that His name is THE ONE like no other!

Feeling Some Nudges? Having Some "Aha" Moments?

So you've been feeling some nudges, hearing some still small voices, having some "aha" moments? I'd like to suggest that God is trying to get through to you! If you are tight in your relationship with God -- you go to Him in prayer and study of His Word, you embrace His love and care for you, you KNOW Him -- then, it's definitely Him, and I highly encourage you to respond to His nudges.

And, when I talk about "nudges", I'm talking about the Holy Spirit Who Jesus promised would come when He went away. "However, I'm telling you the truth. It's for your advantage that I'm going away, because if I don't go away, the Helper/Counselor won't come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." John 16:7.

I talk a lot about "being on assignment" -- and it's so simple to know what that assignment is when we realize He who knows everything about everything lives big in us. We don't have to jump through hoops or any other actions to merit His favor or love. He is our Father so we should just live "tuned in" to His nudges and still small voice and the "knowing" that He is leading and guiding us. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27

So, let's start following Him -- His little nudges. He has so much wonder and awesome experiences awaiting us -- let's start pursuing them. We could take the "safe" route and the easy way by living a mundane life, or we can follow God’s impulses that lead to the "above and beyond" in our lives. Let's tune into the nudges that God is giving us -- those nudges to live, pursue, hunt, give, climb, dig, jump, walk, run, research, and focus on the assignment -- the nudges -- and the "aha" moments will surely follow close behind!