Praise the One

Praise the One who is the Son

Praise the High and Risen One

Glorify His Name anew

He is the Way, the Life, the Truth

He who formed the land and sea

Existent from eternity

He who loves like none other

He is our strong and faithful Brother

He's the Lord of Lords and King of Kings

His praises we long to sing

Fully God and fully man

Lived free from sin till the end

Hung upon a criss-crossed beam

Died to set the sinner free

Daystar that shines bright and fierce

His glory fills the universe

Let us worship Jesus

He who was and is and is to come

Let us worship Jesus

The Author and Sustainer of Love

Let us worship Jesus

Who came from up above

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

“John baptized you with water,” he reminded them, “but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit in just a few days.” The Living Bible

In Ephesians 5:18, Paul exhorts us not to be drunk with wine, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Friend, our Comforter, and the One who gives us supernatural ability to live the Christian life.

When a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit she is given an outflow of power to minister to others. The Spirit convicts us of sin and gives us the ability and boldness to tell others about Christ. When we accept Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we become candidates for the infilling of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead, the third Person of the Trinity. He wants to lead you and me in our daily walk with Christ. He wants to use us to bring miracles to others. He wants us to flow in the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12).

Many Christian leaders teach that the baptism in the Holy Spirit occurs at salvation, but the New Testament clearly shows us that salvation and the infilling of the Spirit are two separate events. In Acts 8:12-17, Philip, the evangelist, prayed for a group of new believers. They received the baptism in the Holy Spirit after they had already become Christians. The initial sign that is common to all those who receive the outpouring of the Spirit is the gift of tongues. Tongues is an individual prayer language given by God to all that receive this empowerment of the Spirit.

When an individual becomes born again, he receives the Holy Spirit in his heart. This is like taking a drink of the Spirit. When that same person becomes baptized in the Holy Spirit, he becomes immersed into the body of water that is the overflowing power of the Holy Spirit.

The good news is that God wants all of His children to receive this experience. Jesus said that if we would ask for this gift, He would give it to us, not based on our works, but based on His finished work at the cross. All we have to do is to ask in faith, with the desire to please the Master. If you haven't already, would you like to pray to receive this gift? Will you take the plunge?

Dear Jesus,

I come to You and ask you to forgive me for all known and unknown sin. I turn to You and ask You to baptize me in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Come Lord and fill me. Come and immerse me in Your presence. Use me to minister to others in the power of Your Spirit. I thank You Lord for doing this for me. Amen.

The Door

The gift is free

Far as the eye can see

The promise land for eternity

Come believe

Come receive

You cannot buy your way in the door

Your best behavior can’t earn you a pass

Trust in Jesus He’s the Door

His forgiveness will last

Yes, we have all fallen short

Our sins too numerous to measure

Christ’s body was torn

Saving souls is His pleasure

He paid the ultimate price

His life as a ransom

So we could have new life

His act was not random

He did the Father’s will

Prophesied centuries before

He did the Father’s will

So we could open the Door

Come believe

Come receive

Let salvation be your destiny

The Earth

The earth is rich with nutrients

Seeds planted in the soil burst forth with goodness

Green shoots soon will bear fruit

The root word of humility is humus

Humus is the good earth

When we allow God to make us humble

Our hearts become fertile soil for God's word to take root

His word brings forth a harvest

Practicing His Presence

Here is something I believe the Lord spoke to me today.  I believe it will encourage you to practice His presence.

Tom, keep me in the center of your heart, the object of your focus. Pray to me throughout the day. Practice my presence. Develop a more keen ear to hear my voice. Watch for my vision – those inspired pictures that come to mind, that tell a story. I want you to be Spirit led. So draw near to me. Even in the middle of your busy days you can draw near to me. Value your time with me as the most important part of your day. It is the river that overflows into every area of your life. I will cause your life to spring up like the fresh flowers in spring. That which lay dormant in the winter seasons of your life will take root and grow yielding a tremendous harvest. Come to Me My son. Come to Me. I am with you.

The Day After Christmas

What was the day after the first Christmas like? I suppose Joseph and Mary's minds swirled with wonder. I'm sure they had little or no sleep the previous night. Their baby was born, and the angels had proclaimed His importance. As Mary pondered these things in her heart, the baby quietly cried for milk. Joseph and Mary sat amidst the animals, cuddling their little one. Mary gently satisfied Jesus' thirst. A sheep “baaed” then a cow “mooed”. Perhaps they were praising the newborn Son of God. Perhaps they too wanted to be fed.

Joseph smiled as he looked at their Miracle. He realized that this was the beginning of something special. He felt the weight upon his shoulders. He must train this child and lead Him in the ways of God. He must be a strong godly example for Him. Little did he know that this Jesus would lead not only himself, but all of mankind into a relationship with God the Father. Jesus would give his life for this cause. Jesus the baby will grow in wisdom and stature under the covering of His parents, but it would be through His relationship with God the Father that he would truly become all He was meant to be.

If you haven't invited the One called Jesus into your life, why not call on His name now. Admit your a sinner in need of His forgiveness. Forsake your sin and come to Him. Here is a prayer that you can pray. If you mean it with all of your heart, you will become His very own, you will begin a new relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You will find a love so full and real that it has transformed the lives of millions. And you will inherit everlasting life in heaven, when you pass on.

Dear Father God,

 

Thank you for Your love for me. Thank you for sending Jesus as a baby so He could grow and show me how to live. I acknowledge that I am a sinner. Please forgive me and wash my sullied soul. I need your mercy. Thank you for dying for me on the cross. I forsake my sin and I cling to You. Jesus be Lord of my life. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.  

I am Complete in Christ

I am complete in Christ

My sense of completion is not based on what I do

It's not diminished

When my grasp does not reach my ambition

It's not what I have or wish to gain

That makes me significant

My significance comes from

Being in Christ

I am complete in Christ

My identity is rooted in

The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ

When He died, I died

When He was buried, I was buried

When He rose, I rose

I am complete in Christ

It is good for me to develop my talents

It is good to serve the Lord

But my number one aspiration must be to know the Lord

I am complete in Christ

Even the act of praising and worshiping the Lord

Does not make me complete

If it lacks adoration that stems from a pure relationship with Christ.

I am complete in Christ

In Christ

In what He did for me upon that tree

In Christ I am complete