Praying in the Spirit.

Well to set some context, my pastor has been preaching from Ephesians. Yesterday during church he talked about praying in the spirit. I felt like he was speaking directly to me and I got alot from this message that I thought I would share with you.

Ephesians 6:18 says "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,"

Praying at all times in the Spirit. What does this mean and what does it look like?

I remember my pastor saying that sometimes you wake up in the middle of the night and it could be the Lord saying "Why don't we spend time together now?" I hadn't thought of it that way before.

My pastor said that we should be making supplication, specific request for our brother and sisters for the cross. We shouldn't say that we will pray for them and then fail them by not doing it or forgetting about it. We should be coming alongside them. This convicted me. Too many times I have said "Sure I'll pray for you." or say on Facebook that I'm going to pray for them and then sometimes forget. I know I shouldn't be doing this. That's not right. Don't say you are going to pray for someone and then forget to do it. I've seen myself do this but now I've changed my ways. Now when I see someone post a prayer request on Facebook I'll stop what I'm doing and pray for them right then and there so I know that I really prayed for them and comment afterwards.

Praying in the spirit means that the Spirit helps us when we pray

Romans 8:26 says "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;"

I remember my pastor saying that if our prayer is a desire of/in the flesh, that the answer if already no. It must be His will and not ours.

Praying in the Spirit means that the Spirit prays on our behalf

Romans 8:27 says "and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

Praying in the Spirit means that the Spirit makes God accessible.

Ephesians 2:18 says "for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father."

Praying in the Spirit means that the Spirit gives us confidence when we pray

Romans 8:15-16 says "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,"

Galations 4:6 says "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

The Spirit moves the truly converted to cry out Abba Father, like a child talking to his or her daddy. There is intimacy and trust with their heavenly Father and it comes from the heart.

Last but not least my pastor talked about the devil trying to thwart this.

He said the devil may not come directly at you but may come to you through someone you know. I've seen this happen to me before. Satan using one of my friends to attack me. Satan will attack you when you least expect it. My pastor said he's really good at guerrilla warfare. We need to be on the alert, aware of our surroundings. He won't stop if he think he's got a good hold of you.

No believer alone can stand alone in this battle. At the end of the sermon he asked the congregation these questions that I now ask you.

Who do you find yourself praying for everywhere and at anytime?

Is there anyone that you do that for?

My pastor said that he hoped that there was someone that you do that for. If you didn't have someone that you were doing that for, pick someone to do that for and start doing it immediately. Please consider what I've said.. Let's start praying more for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. They need all the encouragement and prayers they can get.

In The Blink Of An Eye

Well during the trip to Washington D.C I felt like I was in a dream. Somebody pinch me, am I really seeing these things? I couldn't believe I was finally here seeing history right in front of me. :)

There was only one moment that I was snapped back from this dream and into reality and it was in the blink of an eye.

Well we were in D.C for vacation. Everything was going nice and smooth except for that it was too hot for my liking...

We had been walking forever.. Dad sees people crossing the street even though it was a red Don't Walk ahead. So he thinks its alright and tells us to cross with him. Well I was tired so I was a little slower than everyone and was behind them. As I was walking behind them a crazy taxi cab driver decides to zoom up the street and honking his horn at me. He was coming down really fast and I was afraid that he was going to hit me. I made a dash for the curb as he almost nearly ran me over, honking his horn the entire time. Not sure what would have happened if I hadn't made a dash for the curb. He wasn't even going to stop for a pedestrian walking by but thought he had the right of way and everyone needed to get out of the way or else. That's not nice. At least in CA, most if not all people have the decency to wait for the pedestrians to get to the curb or they at least slow down. I have to say that was way to close and it happened but in just the blink of an eye. Now I have to say after that I was most grateful that I had not been struck by that driver that day and something worse had not happened. It wasn't my time yet. Praise God.

But even though I was in that scary experience I have to ask you this most important question..

Do you know what will happen to you if God decides to take your life away from you in a blink of an eye?

I know I will be spending eternity in heaven when that day comes because I have a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

But do you??

Do you think you are a good person?

Well here's how we can find out if you are a good person.

Have you ever told a lie, stolen anything, used God's name in vain, or always obeyed your parents?

Most likely you have done these things and not always obeyed your parents.

In your case according to the Ten Commandments which is God's Law would he find you innocent or guilty of breaking those?

Guilty.

Would you then end up in heaven or hell?

Hell

Does that concern you?

Well if it does... That's good.

Did you know what God did so that you wouldn't have to go to hell?

God sent his son Jesus Christ, fully God, fully man without sin to die on the cross. He paid the fine that we so rightly deserve for breaking his law and then three days later he rose again and forever defeated death.

Isn't that great?

What God requires of us is that we repent of our sins, make a 180 degree turn from them and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone to save us.

Jesus says "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me."

So repent today. He's your only hope!

Don't wait... You might pass away in just the blink of an eye. You don't want to wait till the last minute to find out. You don't want to be there on judgment day hearing God say "Depart from me I never knew you." Then if he says that you'll be spending the rest of your days in eternity in hell.

Don't miss heaven!

I'll leave you with this song by MercyMe... Thanks for reading this.

A Million Dollar Bill Adventure

So I just got back from vacation to Washington D.C, VA, and PA. Needless to say it was beautiful there. It's so much bluer up there than our CA and so many trees too. :) But that's not what this post is about.

Now I know a few of you know that I'm not that excited about having one to one conversations with people. Namely because I find them intimidating. Well I remember my dad saying that I might end up sitting next to someone on the plane and then I could have a conversation with them or give them a tract. I said No because then I couldn't get out of my seat and hide till they left and I would have nowhere to go. I would feel trapped. lol. I know that may sound a little silly but that's how I felt.

So we got on the plane and guess what I got the plane ticket that had someone sitting next to me. lol. Guess God just planned it that way.

I sat next to a young couple. The girl sat next to me and she was about my age.

Well we had a nice flight and we just smiled at each other and that was basically it until about 40 minutes I think before we landed. Then she decided to have a conversation with me and with that we were chatting about life in general like we were friends. :D

Well dad saw that I was having a conversation with her and he wasn't going to let me just let the fish go. lol

He handed me a million dollar bill and suggested that I just say "Thanks a million for talking with me."

I shook my head no but dad wasn't going to let me get away with it that easily. He mentioned something to me about that I shouldn't be a chicken and then he said those words...

"Don't Quit."

Grr...

I don't like it when dad uses Don't Quit that way but then again I do like it. He reminds me of Steve Sanchez aka the Pusher during those times. Those words get me every time.

He knows that it's the only way I'll get out of my comfort zone and if he didn't know then now he does. Well I can be stubborn so it doesn't always work. lol.

Well not wanting to disappoint God or my dad and knowing that the Bible says "To Him who knows the right thing to do and does not do it to him it is sin," I took the million dollar bill from him and held it tight. Trying to relax all the nervousness that was dwelling inside of me.

Well I waited just a little while longer, just before landing and handed the girl the million dollar bill.

"Thanks a million for talking to me."

She looked at me and laughed and took the million dollars asking me what it was.

I told her it was a gospel tract. She giggled again a little nervous and said "Oh."

Silence...

And then I heard myself talking to her. What? Was that really me? I couldn't believe it. One more step out of my comfort zone.

I asked her "Do you go to church anywhere?" Wondering if she did since she lived in CA. Maybe if I asked her that then it would give me some background information.

She said "No, I don't." She seemed a little saddened as she said that.

"My husband and I got married 3 years ago and we haven't been going to church since we got married. You see I'm Armenian(I think that's how you spell it) and he's Catholic. We have different beliefs so we don't go to church since we don't agree on things there and don't have the same beliefs."

I said. "Oh. Ok."

I didn't know where to go from there so that's when the conversation stopped. It didn't go any further.

I never got her name but she did keep the million dollar bill that I gave her and put it in her purse. I hope that she will take it out and read the back of it.

We said goodbyes and hope you have a nice vacation and that was that.

Please be praying for her and her husband. That they would both come to repentance. Thank you God that I was able to step out of my comfort zone a little more that day and hand a gospel tract to the lady sitting next to me even if that meant I wouldn't be able to go anywhere to hide after I gave her the million dollar bill with the gospel that is worth more than that. :) May all the praise and glory be given to God.

Guard Your Heart

Guard your hearts my dear precious one
From the teachings of the foolish and worldly ones
Who like a snapping turtle or hissing snake
Will unbeknownst to you will lead you to an awful state
Away from purity of heart and mind and put it in a dreadful place

For your heart should be like a flower closed and tucked away
Hiding for whoever the Lord would so rightly choose to have to stay
Be not too friendly when a young gentleman or lady decides to look your way
But guard your heart and never give it away
And be patient and wait for when the Lord will have that true love come your way

For one who gives a piece of their heart
Will never get the piece back
and can be even more susceptible in a possible attack
and it might be harder to fight the enemy back.

So precious one come near
Oh please lend me your ear and hear.

Please, Please, listen to your mother and father's wise counsel
Even if it only be but a small ounceful
For they have been in the place you are today
They know what they speak of
They have experience this I can say
And they know how awfully lonely you might feel today
For they too once felt that way.

Better to be wise and listen to your parents
Then to be finding yourself in despair and distress
Since you gave all your heart away
Because you didn't think they knew what they were talking about and decided to be rebellious

Please Please listen to them my dears
For what advice they give will be very clear
They know what's best for they know you better than anyone
No Doubt about that.
Even thought it may not seem like that at first
You got to trust that they have your best in mind
And not your worst.

But even so much more.
You have to be patient and trust in the Lord.

He'll bring the right one someday
Just think you'll be praising God
Thanking him that you weren't foolish to give all your heart away
And that you didn't listen to that snapping turtle or hissing snake
Saying just one piece. Don't worry. Who cares? It's only a little mistake
Lots of others try people on only to just toss them away.
Like it is only a game

No dear No... We can't be that way
For that is how the world around us is
And we must not be like the world the Bible says

So be a light while you are single my dear one
and let the love of Christ shine forth from you
like the radiant sun.

He'll bring the two of you together in His own time
Just be patient and during that time
Guard your heart and your mind
He'll bring the right one in His own time.

Just be patient and wait..
Guard your mind and your heart
And don't ever give it away
Until the Lord brings the right one
And on that very special day
Together you will no longer be considered two but one
Together forever till death will you part
Faithfully serving your Lord and loving Abba Father

Then one day you'll be in your parents shoes and you'll look back
and tell your kids what your parents told you
I know what you're feeling right now.
I've been in your shoes.
and tell them it's better to guard their heart
Keeping it tucked away
Rather than giving it away
Because you need to patient
For true love awaits.


by Michelle Miano

Creation Gives Glory

Waves crashing, Birds soaring
Flowers bowing, Lions roaring
All the earth giving glory

I stand in awe of your majesty
as I survey everything before me

What a precious gift we have been given
for those who are truly living in Him
That precious gift is eternal life
Of whom God's only son Jesus Christ
Gave himself up as a living sacrifice
To pay the price
So that as slaves of bondage we could be set free
And born again as Children of God you see

Then we too could see through...

Waves crashing, the birds soaring
The flower bowing, and lions roaring
All Creation giving you glory.