All Things In Common

Acts 4:32

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³² Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all.

Acts 4:32

King James Version (KJV)

³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

 The Book of Acts is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In it, many come to the faith and the Holy Spirit moves mightily. This book also provides a pattern for how Christians should be to one another, as described in the scriptures above. It seemed nice when reading about it, but it was hard to imagine it in real life. I actually got a chance to be a part of it and to see it in action last week. My church is small and I'd say, close knit. One of my sister/friends got engaged last Friday.  It was wonderful and the manifestation of God's promise.  So exciting!  Long story short, we (members of the church)came together to get them married on Sunday.  Yes, one week.  Impossible? Not with God!

We offered our time, talents, and resources; each adding his or her measure. One friend has a baking business, so she did the wedding cake and desserts. Another friend has a catering business - she did the food for the reception. Another friend has an event planning business - she did the decorations and set up for the wedding and reception. Another friend paid for the space. Another friend hosted the bridal shower and others helped with the location, decorations, money, etc. A friend helped get the dress, marriage certificate, and wedding bands, another sang during the ceremony, our pastor performed the ceremony and another did this, that, and the other...the point? We all love Jesus and one another, and we had all things in common and made them available for the use of all.  The result was a BEAUTIFUL and JOY filled couple, a WONDERFUL ceremony, and God in the midst of it. I am amazed, humbled, and utterly grateful to have been a part of the Father's plan in such a way. I am SO happy to have been a part of a very special day and to have been able to add my own part in some small way. I am so grateful for God's grace and to be a child of a Father who loves us so much. I am thankful He has chosen me for a covenant house and my church as a pattern. I'm crying again as I write this. Not only is God able, if He said He would do it, He is sure to bring it to pass.  

A Child of the King

On Sunday, my pastor was ministering on the Father, adoption as a son/daughter, and God's promises.  First, the best part that rings in my head is that His promises are always "Yes and Amen!"  When asked to heal someone, Jesus did not say no.  He said "Yes and It is so [Amen]".  This morning, I was under heavy attack and I immediately flipped to Romans 8: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit".  I read on for a few more verses, but the point is, because I am in Christ, I am not condemned.  I am a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.  I am a daughter of Abraham, a child of the King, adopted by God by His Grace.

Even when I was feeling down and out today and I thought matters were going to get worse, I just said, not even out loud, "Jesus, help".  Do you know a man named Amen, helped me?  No kidding.  My point is, God is there.  Even when you don't feel like, even when it don't seem like it, He's there.  As a children of the King, we have to walk in our authority, believe our Father will have us, and learn how to give up our own efforts and let Him do it.

Laying the Past to Rest

I was talking to God, praying, and thinking about things He told me and something in particular, I wondered if I had written down.  In my searching for an old journal where I may have written stuff down, I found entries from right before I got saved. All I can say is, WOW.  If it weren't my own penmanship, I would deny it was me.   What I saw?  Lots of hurt, disillusionment, yet a desire to do the right things with NO idea how to actually do it.  I mean, goodness, in those last entries, my solution to my loneliness and heartbreak over one man, was to get under another.  It would be laughable if it didn't make me so sad.  Reading those entries made me SO happy and so much more appreciative of what God has done in these nearly 4 years.  I am a completely different woman.

Not only is my life different, my outlook is different.  I have made much better choices, because I've finally begun to let God guide me.  It feels good to lay the old woman to rest. :-)

I Feel A Purging Coming On...

My life has been interesting these last few weeks to say the least, but currently I'm up thinking through some things and talking to God too. When I feel like this, I can almost guarantee a sore spot inside of me is about get touched and some sort of purge is about to take place. I guess I'm due. There's a few things in me, in my life that I have been kind of putting in the recesses of my mind because I feel I don't have time to deal with it or it's not that big of a deal. Wrong. Seems like it's about that time. :-/

When God purges something out of you or shines His light on a dark area, it's painful. It is not a pleasure to go through, but I can say I am ALWAYS better for it.  For this reason, I ride off of Proverbs 3:11-12 (NKJV): "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights."

So, what's next on the purge menu - truly the Lord knows. I could point to a few things, but the root is what needs to come out and I am rarely clear on what that is until it is revealed.  Here we go.