Category: Holy Spirit

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Holy Spirit Joy Love Ministry Prayer

Holy Spirit Contagion?

You can have an amazing influence for the Kingdom of God, just by being more full of Holy Spirit. I encourage you to ask to be being more full of Holy Spirit, now. Ask often!

One day, I was shown some possibilities when I was in a conversation with a gracious lady who had family problems that she was telling me about.

Suddenly, these questions came to mind, opening to me many possibilities. You might want to wonder, too. What might you see as possible in your life?

So…here are the questions that just…came to mind….

What do you think would happen if you were so full of Holy Spirit you were contagious with Holy Spirit?

What do you think would happen if you were so full of Holy Spirit your daughter caught it?

What about when your husband catches it?

Could you and your daughter be healed?

Could your husband be reformed and made new in Jesus Christ?

What would happen to your joy? Health? Well being? Confidence, faith, love…?

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Holy Spirit Love Ministry

The Dogs Wanted a Story

3 Dogs – Listening

It was a quiet night about two months after my wife and longtime best friend – suddenly died. In the middle of the night, I heard my dogs stirring. They had all gotten up – I think I saw the last of their waking up and moving. They were walking around in little circles and making somewhat pathetic little whining sounds.

I wondered what was going on. The house was okay, no problems or break-ins. They all seemed healthy, had eaten, had water; none were acting like they had to go out.

They kept milling around in small circles, making these little whining sounds. Very unusual. I had never seen or heard them do this, and they never all got up in the middle of the night, making small circles while whining.

I must have asked for help, because what I did next was highly unusual. I think, by hindsight, Holy Spirit was leading me.

I told them something, and then two true short stories. It went something like this:

First, I told them that my wife Britta was gone and they would not see her again on earth. In heaven, likely; but not on earth. Never again.

Second, I told them about something Britta had said to me one day. She asked, “When you get to heaven, what is it you want to hear?”

I had never thought about that before. I replied, “Well…probably…’well done, you good and faithful servant.'” I felt like I had borrowed someone else’s idea, stolen it, actually. But it is the best I could come up with.

One or two beats later, I asked her – and by this time, as I was telling about this, the dogs were all standing still now – not milling around any more. Silent and staring at me. So I went on with the story. I asked Britta, “What do you want to hear when you get to heaven?” I suspected she had really thought about this. It turns out that she had.

She told me, “All your previous pets are here, in heaven, waiting for you. Wondering where you’ve been all this time. And they are eager and keen to see you.”

Then I told the dogs about something else. About six people had come to me right after she died, telling me they had seen a vision. Most were similar. They saw Britta looking down from the Cloud of Witnesses, some said with one, others said with with two angels by her side. Saying that she was fine, everything was okay – even very good! And sometimes of sending greetings. Sometimes waving.

One of them, a Pastor of a good friend and a man of great integrity, told me that he’d seen two angels and the power from them was so strong it sent him stumbling backwards.

There was one interesting variation. One person saw Jesus next to my wife. Jesus gave her a puppy. (Something that made more sense if you knew how much she loved dogs and if you knew what she first wanted to hear when getting to heaven.) What a wonderful and personal gift!

After I told the dogs all that – it was as if this is what they wanted to hear – they each turned around, quietly making little circles as dogs often do when laying down. And quietly, they went to sleep.

I went to sleep also; I think we all did, having been comforted by Holy Spirit.

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Conversation with God Hearing God Holy Spirit Journal Ministry Prayer

Trouble Praying?

Photo by Sam Rios, through Unsplash

Does your mind wander? Do you have trouble keeping your attention on your prayer session? Do you get bored or not know what to say and do?

Is what you do or learned to do feel like an obligation that you are not keeping as well as you like?

When you have an honest and sincere two way conversation with God, prayer is empowering and exciting. Jesus surprises and delights; does not condemn. Accepts you and loves you as you are. Jesus equips you with whatever he calls you to do. It is never boring. Your mind will not wander. There is no sense of obligation. It’s natural. It’s supernatural. It’s as easy as a two way conversational prayer with our loving Lord.

How? First, by giving up any obligation or ideas about how you should pray. A good way to do this is to simply ask for – and receive by faith – more of Holy Spirit. Or simply deeply intend, right now, to put righteousness and the Kingdom of God first. Second, by conversing with God, having a two way conversation with our Lord.

Whether wondering how to minister, how to engage in spiritual warfare, or to experience more of the Presence of God, how to lead, even how to follow leadership, how to intercede for others…whatever you seek to pray for, there is a solution that is powerful, effective, simple and easy. If it’s new to you, the initial learning curve is not that long.

Here are valuable resources for knowing about how to hear God better, and how to have an effective two-way conversation with our Lord. Crucial key – alternating rhythms of talking, then listening. Write both down – short term memory, no matter how vivid and strong, can evaporate rapidly.

These approaches are so good that you will do well to learn them.

When you have an honest and sincere two way conversation with God, prayer is empowering and exciting. Jesus surprises and delights; does not condemn. Accepts you and loves you as you are. Jesus equips you with whatever he calls you to do. It is never boring. Your mind will not wander. There is no sense of obligation. It’s natural. It’s supernatural. It’s as easy as a two way conversational prayer with our loving Lord.

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Stop, Look, Listen, & Write

P.S. From Mark Virkler, above, he gives us these Four Keys to Hearing God’s Voice:

Very simply stated, the four keys to hearing God’s voice are:

Stillness: Quiet yourself so you can hear God’s voice.

Vision: Look for vision as you pray.

Spontaneity: Recognize God’s voice as spontaneous thoughts that light upon your mind.

Journaling: Write down the flow of thoughts and pictures that light upon your mind.

Virkler, Mark. 4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice (Kindle Locations 172-175). Destiny Image. Kindle Edition.

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P.P.S. From the Immanuel Approach above, we have these notes:

Immanuel Approach Pointers – from video notes, he repeats these in each video at the beginning.

-1.  Immanuel truth: God is always with us, god is always glad to be with us, and God always wants to connect with us.

-2. Relational circuits: We have circuits in our brains that serve as the neurological hardware for running relationships.  And we can connect with each other and with God much more easily when these relational circuits are online and strongly active. 

-3.  Positive memories and appreciation: We can predictably, reliably, and consistently get these relational circuits online and strongly active by recalling and connecting with positive memories and then deliberately generating, or stirring up, strong appreciation. 

-4.  Interactive connection with God: We can establish a living, interactive connection with God by inviting God’s presence into the positive memory, asking God to help us perceive His presence, and then noticing whatever comes into our awareness.

-5.  The special value of God-connection positive memories: 

-Our relationships are memory-mapped – our relationships are carried in our memories.

-Reconnecting with memory recreates, at least to some extent, the same mind-brain conditions that were present at the original experience.

-Using positive memories that include an experience of God’s presence takes advantage of these two pieced of brain science. 

-6 Our brains are designed to work best in community: 

-Describing out internal mental content, out loud to another person, helps us to feel it’s importance and to recognize it’s meaning. 

-Including this piece in our Immanuel prayer will enable us to perceive subtle manifestations of the Lord’s presence that we might otherwise miss, and enable us to recognize and receive subtle interactive content from the Lord that we might otherwise miss. 

-7.  Immanuel Approach safety nets: At the beginning of the session we set up a positive-memory, appreciation, connection-with-God “home base” and then we can coach the recipient to go back to this home base if we get into trouble at any point later in the session, or if we run out of time at the end of the session and the recipient is still connected to unresolved traumatic content. 

-8. Splinter-free memories: It is really important to use splinter free positive memories for the safety net.

From Videos in the Resource Page at: https://www.immanuelapproach.com/

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Conversation with God Hearing God Holy Spirit Prayer

The Answer isn’t Always What You Think

When you are praying and seeking an answer, you are likely to get a good reply. God is like that.

Here’s what can be confusing. You get a reply. You think it is your answer. And in a way it is –

  • It may be a direct answer. All you need.
  • It may be an indirect answer. Something that leads you to what you are seeking. It’s your next step in your search.

Here’s an example:

I recently was looking for some information about my wife, her Social Security Number. There was a need for this. I had not memorized it. Could not find it.

Then Holy Spirit showed where I should look. I opened up that storage area and looked and did not find the folders I was looking for. Instead, I found something else that had the information I was looking for.

If I had not followed the lead I was given, I’d still be without what I was seeking. I followed the lead, thinking it was an answer. It was a lead to my answer.

I praise God for such wisdom in how to lead me to answered prayer. Through what I thought was the answer and yet was a lead or hint or clue that led to the answer and information I needed.

Thank you, Lord, for how you lead us!

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Holy Spirit Kingdom of God Ministry

Minister Before You Minister

https://www.findshepherd.com/Jesus-begins-his-ministry.html

Jesus would create a context where ministry could take place, and he often did this first. Before he did what people recognized as his official acts of ministering to the needs of particular people.

For instance, he would preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God and often instructed us to do this and then heal the sick and free the bound.

He would ask questions such as, “Do you want to be healed?”

He would clear a room, maybe even a house, of people without faith for raising the dead – before raising the dead.

He would tell stories, parables. He would teach.

As a coach, teacher, leader, father, husband – in many roles and ways, I have noticed that the context seems to limit and control what can happen. If what is happening is not sufficiently good, re-create the context.

He created a context for ministry, with Holy Spirit, and you can, too.

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Hearing God Holy Spirit Learning

Follow Holy Spirit and Improvise?

https://achristianpilgrim.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/following-the-leading-of-the-holy-spirit-acts-413-21/

How do you start a small business successfully, minister successfully when the unexpected happens, adapt to changes in the classroom or with a family member – and deal with other situations no one can figure out in advance?

(I know small businesses are told to use linear business plans like large businesses, and this works out well only in certain instances. That’s another story.)

You improvise. Or follow Holy Spirit. Or best of all, do both!

How do you give a prophecy? Often, by opening your mouth and starting. Follow Holy Spirit.

How do you follow Holy Spirit?

  • One or two steps at a time. Discover, then walk more. Like moving in the dark with a candle.
  • In a non-linear way. You cannot figure it out in advance.
  • God loves to give us wonderful surprises!
  • God seems to make it up for you as you go along.

How do you Improvise? Here’s a start:

  • Agree. Don’t say, “No”. Don’t block what is going on.
  • Do something new, add to the action.
  • Don’t ask open ended questions.
  • Focus on the hear and now.
  • Establish where you are.
  • Be specific and add details.
  • Do something different – change!
  • Make it up as you go along, following in flow with your partner.

Make it up as you go alone. Pay attention and add something specific and clear. Focus on the here and now, being where you are. Be specific. Add something different!

You cannot work for linear plans to do improvisation. They just won’t work. Respond to what is in front of you, one step at a time. You cannot figure it out in advance.

Notice the similarity?

When following Holy Spirit, learn about and then forget the “rules” of improvisation. See how it goes, what you can learn, how you can do even better next time.

Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep listening and paying attention. Act on what you are learning, seeing and hearing.

I believe this is what Jesus did:

6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men

https://biblehub.com/nas/philippians/2.htm

You will be successful when you follow Holy Spirit and are willing to improvise.

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Conversation with God Discipleship Hearing God Holy Spirit Joy Learning Ministry Miracles

Rest and Dream

Rest and dream. Be inspired. Like Jesus.

Artwork by Greg Olson

Pause. Just rest and watch the sky.

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Holy Spirit Worship

Holy Spirit Leading – Insight from a Worship Leader

Jasper Wa Musungu Were (Gasper were) is on Facebook and is a Worship Leader in Kenya.

I asked him about his insights about worship. He said something significant, and I’m looking forward to when he says more.

Worship has different levels, he told me. When I asked about this, he said that sometimes Holy Spirit takes over the worship, at which time it goes to a higher level.

This makes sense. It’s important. In just a few words, he’s telling us something important. You can take an activity to a new and higher, better level when Holy Spirit inspires and leads – and when we are following Holy Spirit well.

This is especially valuable when we let Holy Spirit guide and lead our worship.

In Galations 5:16-23, Scripture encourages us to walk in line with, meaning to follow, Holy Spirit. When we follow Holy Spirit – letting Holy Spirit lead us – we experience Fruit of the Spirit.

So worship goes to an additional level when we invite Holy Spirit to take over and lead.

Fruit of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control is ours when we follow Holy Spirit in life.

Jesus gave us Holy Spirit as a Guide and Comforter. Holy Spirit reminds us of what Jesus taught, and points us towards and teaches us more about Jesus. Inspires us and brings us revelation.

What else can you accomplish in your life when you invite Holy Spirit? When you follow Holy Spirit? When you let Holy Spirit take over and lead?

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Fire Holy Spirit Joy Shaking

Fear not because of Shaking or Fire

Life is good! Fear not because of shaking or fire.

These are times of great shaking. That which can be shaken and removed, will be shaken and removed. That which can be cleansed or refined by fire, will be cleansed and refined.

Times of shaking and fire such as are now happening are hard, and scary, too. It is hard and scary, and will be for a while. Then it change comes. So persist. And there is another side to what is happening, too easy to miss when times are hard and scary. We are getting a foretaste of something wonderful.

In fact, we are already in getting a taste of heaven on earth. A foretaste, if you will:

  • God is already with us and in us; we are his people.
  • We have been being prepared as his Bride, and
  • When we experience God in us, with us or near us, even now, we have no suffering – even where there has been pain. Our Lord fills us with joy.
  • He has baptised us with refining fire, and we are, even now, being shaken. So it’s important to know what to do.
  • As usual, when we have heard God and do as he says, we and our works survive cleansing and refining – fire and shaking.

We can and will survive cleansing and shaking as we do as Holy Spirit says to us. We are already God’s people, and Immanuel is with us, Holy Spirit is in us, and when we follow Holy Spirit, we have Fruit of the Spirit – including love and joy. We experience love and joy!

Life is good! Fear not because of shaking or fire.

Let me show you, and make the case for this being true.

~ ~ ~

First, what is coming, and what I believe we already have access to a foretaste of:

All Things Made New

21 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, [a]John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said [b]to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (NKJV, Revelation 21: 1-5.)

What glorious and wonderful promises God makes to us! He will make all things new and dwell with us and we will be his people. New Jerusalem is “prepared as a bride for her husband”. He will be our God. No more pain….

How are all things made new? What happens first? I don’t really know, but here’s what makes sense to me. First, not everything lasts or survives.

What lasts? That which survives fire or shaking.

There are many biblical examples of fire for refining mentioned in scripture. And the baptism by Jesus mentioned in Luke 3:16-17 promises not only Holy Spirit, but also fire for cleansing.

16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.” NKJV, Luke 3:16-17.

The effects of such fire reminds me of shaking, where things that can be shaken will be shaken. What survives shaking lasts, as seen in Hebrews 12: 25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I [k]shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. (NKJV)

What survives fire and shaking?

We who listen to and do as God says! You and your works are much more likely to survive shaking and cleansing, even survive refining – when we have heard God and do as he says. (If this isn’t clear, review Hebrews 12 above, the first verse, verse 25.)

These are times of great shaking. That which can be shaken and removed, will be shaken and removed. That which can be cleansed or refined by fire, will be cleansed and refined.

I think we are already in process to get a taste of this. A foretaste, if you will:

  • God is already with us and in us; we are his people.
  • We have been being prepared as his Bride, and
  • When we experience God in us, with us or near us, even now, we have no suffering. Our Lord fills us with joy.
  • He has baptised us with refining fire, and we are, even now, being shaken.
  • As usual, when we have heard God and do as he says, we and our works survive cleansing and refining – fire and shaking.

We can and will survive cleansing and shaking as we do what Holy Spirit says to us. We are already God’s people, and Immanuel is with us, Holy Spirit is in us, and when we follow Holy Spirit we have fruit of the Spirit including love and joy.

Life is good! Fear not because of shaking or fire.

Categories
Hearing God Holy Spirit Joy

Letting Happiness Reign

Yesterday an excellent friend and ministry partner, Debi Mealey Pitcairn Flory, http://www.monentswithnettie.com/, reminded me I had not let happiness loose in her sight very much, lately. She was especially glad to see me letting loose with fun and happiness while we talked.

I didn’t recognize it then, but she was resonating with and saying what Holy Spirit was saying…. A very important thing.

Then, this morning, all of my three large dogs came to see me, very excited. Usually this means we should go out where I can watch them play – like children on a merry-go-round, they love to be watched when playing. It’s somehow very important.

I did something better, because in my mind’s eye I could clearly see D’s face and hear what she said to me yesterday. So I moved from computer and desk where the dogs cannot have good access to me to a nearby small couch. Now all three doggies can crowd around.

So I sang to them, using their names; telling them how good they are – all things they love. We played. Touched, tagged, and rubbed up against each other. I sometimes grabbed necks and kissed faces – right between the eyes.

They danced with happiness, and I let joy reign.

Later, while walking around (I recently stopped using aids to walk unless tired) I danced for the dogs! (I’d been doing what I call “chair dancing” for a while to Renaissance Dance and other delightful dance music, but I had not stood to dance in years.) Today I danced, standing. The dogs love it when I stand and dance. Go figure! <grinning>

All because of an excellent reminder from a brilliant friend!

How might you be a grand friend to someone today? How might you let happiness reign and rule for a while, magnificently, in your life?

What does Holy Spirit have to say to a friend of yours that you can agree with and say out loud? (You can ask and find out. A fine thing for you to be doing!)