I experienced being on my first Jury this week. It was quite an experience, at first I tried to convince others that they were wrong in their thinking and I was right. It seems all we did was go around and around. That evening the Lord brought this verse to me.

Psalms 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

The next day, was an entirely different. Of course I needed to apologize to the other 11 jurors for my argumentative spirit and if I offended anyone I was sorry, that was not my intention.  My attitude changed.  Instead of my opinion I went over the judges instructions and what we were to base our decisions on.  Yes, people have different opinions, but we must go on the facts and the law.  It was an experience I will never forget and remember to seek guidance from the Lord and not others.

Leo Buscaglia:
Our talents are the gift that God gives to us… What we make of our talents is our gift back to God.

A Christian Perspective

Hawk Nelson

Go Fish

See Hawk Nelson and Go Fish at the 2010 Higher Ground Music Fes

2 Timothy 17

God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

John 14:13

If you ask for anything in my name I will do it for you so that the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son.

BUTTERFLY

The walls of the cocoon were all she knew.  For now….hopelessness, no light, no exit, only existence.  Lying dormant, this was to be her destiny.

God had other plans for Her!

She had been chosen to be one of God’s most beautiful creations.  So many miraculous characteristics yet to be revealed to her.  Someday she would confidently display her magnificence for the world to see.

God knew she must first struggle in her cocoon.  Others would question why she struggled to break free, unable to see what was taking place inside.

So many times God wanted to free her, knowing His creation was in pain.  But He knew that time was necessary for her wings to fully develop.

He knew that to release her from her cocoon early would mean fragility and failure to fly.

God could not afford to have His precious messenger crippled.  She needed her strength; she was about to become a witness of God’s magnificence to others.

God made certain she felt every change, every development of her metamorphosis so that when she emerged from her cocoon, she would be fully aware of her wings.  Only then would she use them to soar.

As the metamorphosis neared completion and the pain ceased, she began to understand the process that had been taking place in these times of darkness.  She harbored no resentment for the time spent in the cocoon.

In complete solitude she slowly emerged, her tender wings began to unfold.  Knowing she might be frightened, God made sure that the warmth of the sun was there to greet her.

The breeze eagerly embraced her in support, lifting her beyond all that she had known.

She glided effortlessly into her future as God looked on with pride.

She was indeed God’s most magnificent creature!

Gifts of the Spirit

• message of wisdom
• message of knowledge
• GIFT OF FAITH
• gifts of healing
• miraculous powers
• prophecy
• distinguishing between spirits
• speaking in different kinds of tongues
• the interpretation of tongues

Seven (7) Spirits of God – They are:

• the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2),
• the Spirit of Truth (John 15:26),
• the Spirit of Wisdom (Ephesians 1:17),
• the Spirit of Holiness (Romans 1:4),
• the Spirit of Faith (2 Corinthians 4:13),
• the Spirit of Love (1 John 4:8),
• the Spirit of Prophecy (Revelations 19:10).