Thoughts from the weekend

Thoughts from the weekend:

Jesus is coming soon - I believe that wholeheartedly.

The next major prophetic event will be the rapture of the church.

The time to share our faith is now - if not today.

I appreciated the prayer "intensity" that I saw around the altars yesterday - as we prayed for friends and family to come to know Christ.

I am praying this week for all of the names that were given on the "Friends and Loved Ones who don't know Christ."

In fact, the thought just occurred to me:  I will bring them to our Tuesday evening prayer time (from 6:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.) - for us all to pray for the names.

I believe, I believe that we are going to hear wonderful testimonies of people coming to Christ (or rebooting their relationship with Christ) in the coming weeks and months.

The great secrets of church growth and unity:  Prayer.  Prayer.  Prayer.

Can I tell you something?  I walked away from the services yesterday just longing for next Sunday morning.  I feel an excitement in my spirit as to what God wants to do in us and through us!

Let's not ever, ever, underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lots of needs in our church family.  My heart breaks for those who are hurting.

The devil does not fight fair.

We had 11 visitors during the second service!

I am thankful for life.

We desire to be an Acts 29 church (28 chapters in the book of Acts - we desire to continue to see what God can do through the moving of His Holy Spirit).

The Holy Spirit is just that - He is Holy.

Mean, unforgiving people cannot be filled with the Spirit of God.

A person cannot have a mean and angry spirit and walk in the Spirit at the same time.

Conversely, the only way to forgive is to ask God for the fullness of His Spirit.

In John 20:21-23, Jesus appears to the disciples after his death and says, "Peace to you!  (Just) as the Father has sent me forth, so I am sending  you.  And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive (admit) the Holy Spirit!  (Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him) if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained."

The number one rule is forgiving sins is to receive the Holy Spirit, who provides the strength and ability to forgive.

In almost every case, we cannot forgive on our own.

If you are having trouble forgiving someone today, pray this prayer:

"Holy Spirit, breathe on me and give me the strength to forgive this person."

And then - let it go.  It does not good to go through it all again over lunch with friends or family - and rehash the whole thing. 

After you have forgiven - let it go; otherwise Satan will use it as an opportunity to nullify  your decision to forgive and rob you of your peace and blessing.

Love you all....