All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Christine's Blog – June 2009 Archive (13)

Paul appeals to the Jews

Greetings, Friends~ Today, we are blessed to read Paul's first recorded sermon--what a brilliant oratorical narrative it is for us to devour! Paul was masterful in relating to the Jews in the way they would receive it, using his intellectual style of evangelism. While his sermon has similarities to the speeches of Stephen and Peter as a historical retrospective, Paul's weaving in of prophecy and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ shows that Christianity is a defensible faith. So, pray with me--… Continue

Added by Christine on June 30, 2009 at 10:42pm — No Comments

Don't make crooked the straight

Acts 13.1-12 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and… Continue

Added by Christine on June 19, 2009 at 8:59pm — No Comments

Who is Earnest?

Good Day! Did you have a chance to read about the gift of encouragement yesterday? It is the gift that keeps on giving, you know. . . did you make a conscious effort to encourage someone? I pray so.

And, hey--are you thinking 'you have no idea, I'm the one that needs the encouragement right now, sister'? Well, when you get out of your own head, and encourage someone else... guess what? It brings some satisfaction your way; in fact, Proverbs 11 says that, "he who refreshes others will… Continue

Added by Christine on June 17, 2009 at 8:31am — 2 Comments

Is your middle name "Barnabas"?

Acts 11:19-30 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. When the church at Jerusalem heard what had… Continue

Added by Christine on June 16, 2009 at 9:22am — No Comments

Just the facts, Ma'am

Good Morning. Yesterday, in seeking to make sense of growth in Christianity down through the centuries, I took a simplified look at Christian denominations, and some of their unique beliefs. Several days ago, I wrote about six different Scriptural styles for sharing our faith--giving us the freedom to use our own natural bents and creativity for telling others about Jesus Christ. . . all of which is important. . . but, even more important is knowing what you believe as a Christian. When I was a… Continue

Added by Christine on June 15, 2009 at 10:40pm — 2 Comments

Not just for Jews any longer

What does a blanket of animals, a Jew and an Italian have in common? 'Give up? They are the main players in what the Lord has for us in today's passage. It is long, but I believe that reading the whole thing is valuable in order to grasp how God was stretching the apostle Peter, and then as a byproduct, the early Church.

Open your Bibles and read Acts 10 - 11.18, or click on: http://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Acts%2010.1-11.18&version=31

Good Day,… Continue

Added by Christine on June 11, 2009 at 10:44pm — No Comments

What's your style?

Please read Acts 9.23-43 in your Bible, or click on: http://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Acts%209.23-43&version=31

Glad tidings! A little archaic, but it expresses a little more joy than 'good morning', I think~

As we close out Acts chapter 9, there are a couple vignettes captured by author Luke--Saul's change of venue, the church experiences a little peace, and Peter assumes center stage again for a little while. Notice a couple pertinent points with me,… Continue

Added by Christine on June 9, 2009 at 10:10pm — No Comments

What about Jesus?

Acts 9:19-25 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?" Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that… Continue

Added by Christine on June 8, 2009 at 11:03pm — 3 Comments

Saul gets it straight

Acts 9:10-19 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come… Continue

Added by Christine on June 7, 2009 at 10:51pm — No Comments

Yes, Virginia, there is a devil

Good Morning.

My Bible is open to Acts 9, and I have also been reading everything I can get my hands on about Saul--so keenly interested in this man whose own course was changed in such a way that it changed the course of history for all of us since--but my heart is heavy and conscience pricked about another factor that impacts each of our lives. . . evil, and its origin. Oh, tis not such a popular topic, but one I feel compelled to write about today, as I see its ravages all around… Continue

Added by Christine on June 5, 2009 at 11:11pm — No Comments

The most radical conversion

Then Saul, still breathing out murderous threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul… Continue

Added by Christine on June 3, 2009 at 10:50pm — No Comments

ONE matters

Acts 8.26-40 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Then Philip ran up to… Continue

Added by Christine on June 2, 2009 at 11:08pm — No Comments

just an ordinary guy

Good Morning~

What can God do through one ordinary guy?

Well. . . apparently when he is filled with the Spirit, and obedient, quite a lot! Take a moment to read Acts 8.4-25, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Acts%208.4-25;&version=31;&interface=print

The order of names is noteworthy in the Bible. Throughout the gospels, Philip is always listed fifth in the order of disciples--so a 'middle of the pack' kinda guy, not your Type-A Over-achiever… Continue

Added by Christine on June 1, 2009 at 8:29pm — 2 Comments