The Holy Spirit

Acts 2:2 (ESV)

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Today was a very windy day here in Central Florida.  If you’ve experienced a heavy windstorm, you know the power and strength of wind. It’s somewhat strange; you can’t see the wind, but you certainly can detect its power in the way leaves are blown around and tree branches bend and break.

Both the Hebrew and Greek languages convey vivid images of the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament Hebrew word for God’s Spirit (the “Spirit of Yahweh”) means “spirit” and “breath.” The New Testament Greek word also means “spirit” and “breath,” as well as “wind.”

In the story of Nicodemus, Jesus points out that the Spirit of God is like a wind that blows where it pleases; while lacking shape or form, the Spirit definitely has a will. And a person’s will is a key aspect of their personality.

Jesus’ likening the Holy Spirit to wind or breath also echoes the Spirit’s power as the life-giving force of creation. And Jesus makes clear to Nicodemus that the Spirit gives life to people who are spiritually dead.

The story of Pentecost not only represents the awesome power of God’s Holy Spirit; it marks the beginning of a new era. From Pentecost onward, the Spirit breathes new life into the spiritually dead, moving them to follow the risen Lord Jesus.

How is the Holy Spirit blowing in your life today? Listen for the Spirit’s breathing and moving as he gives you opportunities to be a witness for Jesus.

Dear Lord, breathe on us the breath of God, fill us with life anew, that we may love the way You love, and do what You would do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Packed with power

1 Corinthians 6:20  (ESV)

For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Ants are tiny little creatures, but they can lift up to 50 times their own weight. The rhinoceros beetle can lift something that’s up to 100 times its weight. That would be like a person lifting something that weighs about 9 tons. Or think of it this way—a polar bear weighs about half a ton, so it would be like lifting 18 polar bears. Even more impressive is the dung beetle, which can pull up to 1,141 times its body weight—and you don’t want to think about what that dung beetle is pulling!

God can pack a lot of power and strength into tiny little packages. In fact, He packs an unbelievable amount of power and strength inside you. You see, when you decide to follow God and become one of His children, He packs His Spirit—the Holy Spirit—inside you. Your body becomes a home to the Spirit of God! That is an indescribable gift, but it is also a huge responsibility.

You see, this gift of the Holy Spirit wasn’t free. “You were bought by God for a price”, and God paid that price when Jesus suffered and died on the cross. As a result, God expects you to take extra good care of your body. That means eating good foods, exercising, and getting plenty of rest. It means not hurting yourself with drugs, alcohol, or smoking. But it’s not enough just to watch what you put into your body. Honoring God means not using your body to sin. This means avoiding things like using your mouth to gossip or letting your eyes watch things you shouldn’t.

As a child of God, your body is packed with the power, strength, and presence of God’s Spirit. Ask Him to help you use your body to honor Him and do what He wants you to do!

Dear Lord, we know that no matter our size You still can use us in powerfully big ways. Help us to do great things for You today. I the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Be monopolized by the Holy Spirit

Luke 11:13 (ESV)

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

While attending Moody Bible Institute I read and learned a lot about D.L. Moody.  To this day the lessons I learned are influential in my personal life. One of the stories I read was about how D.L. Moody was preparing to lead a revival throughout England to which an elderly pastor protested and said, "Why do we need this 'Mr. Moody'? He's uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?"

A younger, yet wiser pastor stood up and responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody."

Do you truly want to be monopolized by the Holy Spirit? Let's face it -- the degree of fullness of the Spirit of God is in direct proportion to the intensity of our true desire. The reality of the spirit-filled life is -- we have as much of God as we truly want.

Let's seek to have a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. Let's allow the Holy Spirit to monopolize our lives and in doing so -- we'll be empowered to do the great things God has called us to do in these days!

Dear Lord, we pray that we would allow You to monopolize our life so that we can become the person You want us to be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Landmines

John 14:21 (ESV)

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

In a documentary mini series called "Against All Odds" a remarkable story is told about an Israeli platoon who found themselves in the midst of a minefield along the Syrian border during the Yom Kippur War. When the platoon realized they were in a minefield they pulled out their bayonets and started to dig out mines and to disarm them. Suddenly, a fierce wind began to blow, removing the sand from the minefield. Each and every mine was exposed and the soldiers ventured through the minefield unscathed.

If you found yourself in the midst of a minefield, but had someone with you that knew where every mine was and could guide you through, then you'd be sure to stay as close to him as possible! My friend, life is a minefield; and the enemy has planted mines all across your path -- the mines of temptation! You have Someone with you who knows where they are and how to guide you around them. But how closely are you walking with Him?

God's word and His Spirit equip us thoroughly for life and godliness. Obedience to His word and abiding in His Spirit we can avoid every deadly trap of the enemy and even if He calls us to martyrdom, we can go joyfully in His power.

But in the meantime, let's not ignore the presence and counsel of our Heavenly Guide. It's too easy to become distracted by fears, entertainments, and even real responsibilities. But all these can pull us away from Him....so that we suddenly find our foot on a mine about to explode under us. The discipline of practicing His presence was never more important than it is now in these last of the last days. The Bible warns that "because iniquity abounds, the love of many shall wax cold!" Let us stay awake, fully conscious of our Helper's presence. Led of His Spirit we will dodge every one of our enemy’s mines, and navigate both ourselves and others to safety, bearing fruit all along the way!

Dear Lord, help us keep our eyes on You so that we will be able to navigate through the mine filed called life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Perseverance

Luke 24:49  (ESV) And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

Knowing He was about to depart Jesus left His disciples with a final command: stay in Jerusalem, and wait...for the promise. Of the thousands who had witnessed His miraculous ministry and heard His amazing teaching, and the hundreds that had actually seen Him after the resurrection, we read in Acts that only 120 stayed and tarried until the promise arrived. But these 120 were steadfast. They waited the full term...

What would have happened if they had left after the 4th day? Or the 6th day? Or the 9th day? They would have missed the promise and the amazing blessing that came with it. But those 120 believers stayed - they stayed and pressed in until the Holy Spirit came!

Do you want the fullness of the Spirit in your life? Continue pressing in. Wait with relentless faith and patience. Perseverance is often the critical factor in receiving the promises of God. Our Lord will fulfill every good promise in His perfect time.

Dear Lord, help us to be strong and stay the course that is before us. Help us to not leave early.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The Lord's will

1 John 2:17  (ESV)

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

I read a story about an interesting experience from a new believer. She was still single at the time and wasn’t happy with her living situation. She was renting a room from a family in her congregation and wanted to get out and rent her own apartment. The only problem was that she was rebelling against a feeling she had that God wanted her to stay there for a season, to get grounded in the Lord and to be a blessing to this family. Still, she convinced herself that getting her own apartment would be a good thing.

After much searching, she found what she was looking for. Although it needed some work and the rent was rather high, she managed to bargain her way into fixing up the place in lieu of three months rent.

Six weeks went by and all the work was done. New tiling, carpeting, painting, curtains, it looked just fabulous and it was time to move in. As she finished unpacking and putting on all the finishing touches, she sat down and marveled at all her hard work. Yet she still battled this little still small voice saying “This is not My will.”

The next day she went to work. About midday, Rivka received a phone call from her new next door neighbor. “Water is gushing out of your front door,” she said, “You might want to get over here and check it out.” A sick feeling arose from the pit of her stomach as she picked up her things and dashed out the office door.

Sadly, it was true. The whole apartment had been flooded by a random break in the pipes outside of her basement apartment and much of her hard work and some of her belongings were damaged. When the landlords didn’t even want to pay for the cleanup, Rivka decided to take them to small claims court for the cost of her labor and damages (not to mention the three months of rent she never received). Without any explanation, the judge ruled in favor of the landlords. Even more ridiculous was that they didn’t even show up that day!

Truly, Riv learned the hard way that the bad feeling she had throughout this whole ordeal was the conviction of the Holy Spirit urging her to be obedient. She would be very careful not ignore that leading again.

Are you trying to get your way with the Lord today? Take this as a warning!

He will have His way one way or another. Give Him your heart again today. He has such great things planned.

Dear Lord, help us not get in Your way today. Help us to listen to the Holy Spirit as He tells us what to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

We can do nothing without Him

John 3:8 (ESV)

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Often in the Bible you will see the word wind or breath. The root meaning of these words, both in Hebrew and Greek, is almost always Spirit. It is important to keep in mind that we can never dictate which direction the wind will blow. It would be absurd to think we could! The wind blows as it will. And in the same way, the Spirit of God blows where it wishes. Well if this is so, how can we be filled with the Spirit? Must we jump up and catch it and just hope for the best? No.

We need to be like a windmill. Windmills were designed to be propelled by the wind, no matter which direction it's blowing, in order to generate power. To be empowered by the Holy Spirit, we must do the same. We must be sensitive to which direction He is blowing in order make sure we are getting filled!

Let's submit ourselves once again to the Spirit of God today! Take heed to which direction the Spirit is blowing and be empowered to do the work He has called us to!! We can do nothing without Him!

Dear Lord, we pray today that we would be like windmill and let the Holy Spirit blow through us and use us in a mighty way. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Walking through the Swamp of Despondency!

Psalm 107:2-6 (ESV)

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,

    whom he has redeemed from trouble

3 and gathered in from the lands,

    from the east and from the west,

    from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes,

    finding no way to a city to dwell in;

5 hungry and thirsty,

    their soul fainted within them.

6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

    and he delivered them from their distress.

In his book, Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan has written one of the most beautiful allegories about the journey we all travel as believers. The book describes the hero, Christian, and his journey from the City of Destruction to his heavenly destination, the Celestial City. Now there's one part of Pilgrim's Progress that I want to focus on today -- walking through the Swamp of Despondency!

At one point during their travels, Christian and his companion suddenly find themselves there....in the Swamp of Despondency. Still bearing his burden, Christian, begins to sink in the mire. His traveling companion manages to get out, but he returns to the City of Destruction without giving aid to Christian. Christian is left all alone and sinking even deeper in the mire, until Help, the allegorical figure for the Holy Spirit pulls him free from the swamp.

Christian then asks Help why this dangerous plot of land has not been mended so that poor travelers might go safely to the Celestial City. Help replies, "This miry slough is such a place that cannot be mended."

How true it is in real life! As hard as we try to avoid them, whether young in the Lord, or spiritually mature...swamps of despondency seem inevitable, and we must struggle through them!

Charles Spurgeon once wrote to his students in the book, "Lectures to my Students", "Fits of depression come over most of us. Usually cheerful as we may be, we must at intervals be cast down. The strong are not always vigorous, the wise not always ready, the brave not always courageous, and the joyous not always happy. There may be here and there men of iron...but surely the rust frets even these."

There are times in our lives when we will struggle through the swamps of despondency -- but praise God that He has provided us a helper for those times of need! We need to press through, seeking and trusting the power of the Holy Spirit to pull us out of those nasty swamps, and set our feet back upon the Rock of our salvation.

Dear Lord, as we come across the struggles of life thanks for the helper that You have sent to help us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Do you want the fullness of the Spirit in your life?

Luke 24:49 (ESV)

And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

Knowing He was about to depart, Jesus left His disciples with a final command: stay in Jerusalem, and wait...for the promise. Of the thousands who had witnessed His miraculous ministry and heard His amazing teaching, and the hundreds that had actually seen Him after the resurrection, we read in Acts that only 120 stayed and tarried until the promise arrived. But these 120 were steadfast. They waited the full term...

What would have happened if they had left after the 4th day? Or the 6th day? Or the 9th day? They would have missed the promise and the amazing blessing that came with it. But those 120 believers stayed - they stayed and pressed in until the Holy Spirit came!

Do you want the fullness of the Spirit in your life? Continue pressing on. Wait with relentless faith and patience. Perseverance is often the critical factor in receiving the promises of God. Our Lord will fulfill every good promise in His perfect time.

Dear Lord, help us to continue to press on. Help us be faithful as we serve You. In The Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Does the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on you.

Luke 11:13 (ESV)

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

D.L. Moody has been influential in my personal life.  Since attending Moody Bible Institute in the 80’s I have studied and read about his life and ministry in the 1800's. One of the stories I read was about how D.L. Moody was preparing to lead a revival throughout England to which an elderly pastor protested and said, "Why do we need this 'Mr. Moody'? He's uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?"

A younger, yet wiser pastor stood up and responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody."

Do you truly want to be monopolized by the Holy Spirit? Let's face it -- the degree of fullness of the Spirit of God is in direct proportion to the intensity of our true desire. The reality of the spirit-filled life is -- we have as much of God as we truly want.

Let's allow the Holy Spirit to monopolize our lives and in doing so -- we'll be empowered to do the great things God has called us to do in these days!

Dear Lord, Help us let You monopolize our life and the things that we do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Get our game on for the Lord

Luke 11:13 (ESV)

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

You've probably heard of tennis champion Boris Becker, but you may not know this. He had everything, talent, money, fame and every other worldly pleasure one could want, yet he still struggled with depression and frequent thoughts of suicide. "I had won Wimbledon twice before," he said, "once as the youngest player. I was rich. I had all the material possessions I needed ... It's the old song of movie stars and pop stars who commit suicide. They have everything, and yet they are so unhappy. I had no inner peace. I was a puppet on a string."

When we're not fully submitted to the Lord, we are puppets on a string in the hands of the enemy. We will never be satisfied. We will never have peace. We will never be accomplishing the purposes for which we were divinely created.

D.L. Moody said, "I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God's law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled."

Let's get our game on for the Lord today. Let's give our heart to Him yet again today.

Dear Lord, help us get in the game today. Help us empty our self of the things that get in the way of You working through us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Is there a sin in your life stopping the outpouring of God's Spirit?

Acts 2:38 (ESV)

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In 1935, Blasio Kigozi, a schoolteacher in Rwanda, Central Africa, was deeply discouraged by the lack of life in the church and the powerlessness of his own experience.

He followed the example of the first Christians and closed himself in for a week of prayer and fasting in his little cottage. He emerged a changed man. He confessed his sins to those he had wronged, including his wife and children. He proclaimed the gospel in the school where he taught, and revival broke out there, resulting in students and teachers being saved. They were called abaka, meaning "people on fire."

Shortly after that, Blasio was invited to Uganda to share with the Anglican Church there. During the 10 day Anglican meeting in Kabale, he called the leaders to repentance and many responded to his message. A few weeks later, Kigozi was called back to Uganda to attend the church's synod in Kampala, but on the way he contracted tick fever. Shortly thereafter, revival swept through the Church of Uganda throughout 1937 and then across the entire country. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been transformed over the decades through this mighty East African revival. It all began with a discouraged Christian setting himself apart to seek the fullness of God's Spirit.

Is there a sin in your life stopping the outpouring of God's Spirit?

Dear Lord, we want to repent from any and every sin in our life and let You fill us with Your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

The power of water

Matthew 22:29 (ESV)

But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

The provinces of New Brunwick and Nova Scotia have one thing in common: they share the highest tides on our planet. Imagine 100 billion tons of seawater flowing in and out of the Bay of Fundy daily, or, to put it in terms more easy to understand, 338 983 050 847 457 ten-ounce-glasses of water. I doubt we could drink that much in a life time! To tell you the truth, that amount of water is higher than all of our planet's freshwater combined!

The Bay of Fundy not only experiences a 50 foot tidal range, which is 5 times higher than the usual tides on the Atlantic coast, but in some parts of its Bay, the tide retreats as much as 3 miles. And these high tides and low tides happen, on average, every six hours and 13 minutes.

Scientists have found an explanation for this phenomenon. These high tides are especially due to resonance and to the shape of the bay. The water in this Bay has a natural resonance, or rocking motion, which they call seiche. It's kind of like when we get into the bathtub, and the water sloshes from side to side for a few seconds. In the Bay of Fundy however, it takes about 13 hours for the water to "slosh" from the mouth of the bay to its head and back again. In essence, the Bay of Fundy is like an enormous bathtub, with the ocean tides invading the bay every 12 hours and 25 minutes reinforcing this resonance!

The bay's unique shape contributes to the high tides as well. As the bay becomes narrower and shallower, toward the upper bay (From 426 feet to 131 to be exact.), the saltwater is forced even higher onto the shores.

For many centuries people didn't understand the kind of power contained by the Bay of Fundy, and even less how to apply such a force in their daily life. After all, how could having the world's highest tides impact local lives for the better?

In 1984 the first tidal power station emerged in North America on the shores of the Bay of Fundy, in Annapolis, Nova Scotia, and since then, all over the world such tidal power stations are being built. Why? Because they are one of the most reliable natural resources! As long as we have a moon and a sun, they will generate electricity!

As Christians, we, too, aren't all that sure how to access the power provided to us by the Holy Spirit. Sadly, many of us aren't even aware that God is providing us with such power! But the Bible is specific: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you." (Acts 1:8)

But just as the power in the Bay of Fundy is useless unless we harness it, we too have to become familiar with the power God has provided us with.

Unlike the powers in this world, this power strives on weakness and unselfishness:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor 12:9)

It's power, however, is more powerful than all the atomic bombs in our world: "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Eph 1:18-21)

Isn't getting to know Him what it's all about? Remember there is beauty in suffering as well as in rejoicing, as long as we remain focused on the One who loves us way beyond reason.

The next time you drink a glass of water, remember: God has given you power through His Holy Spirit. He is the living water who will set you free!

Dear Lord, thank You for being the living water. Thanks for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pressures of this world

Romans 8:6 (ESV)

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

I have what is known as sleep apnea. Basically when my body is at rest, the air pressure outside my body is greater than on the inside causing me to not only snore, but to stop breathing all together which can deprive my brain of oxygen. To fix the problem, I sleep with a CPAP machine with a mask over my face that pushes air into my lungs. The machine creates a positive air pressure so that the pressure inside is greater than the pressure outside and I keep breathing and I stop snoring. Last night we had a huge storm with thunder and lightning. During the storm it knocked our power out.  After the power came back on I was setting the alarm clock on my CPAP machine and found it fried out by the storm. So for the first time in 5 years I found myself having to sleep without its help. The night didn’t go well and when morning came I felt like I didn’t sleep at all.

The CPAP machine forcing air into my lungs is a good thing and when it isn’t there the outside forces take over and causes my body not to run smoothly.

In our Christian we have the Holy Spirit inside us helping us resist the outside pressures that the world has to offer. 

The pressures of the world constantly try to force us and shape us into its mold. Just like I need the CPAP machine so I can get the sleep I need, we need the Holy Spirit to fill us so we can do His will. Like I found out last night if I don’t use my CPAP machine, it can’t help me. We can be guilty of having the Holy Spirit and not using the power He has given us to have a positive pressure to be able to stand firm against what the world has to offer.

Dear Lord, thank You that You give us a way to stand up to the pressures that the world has to offer. We pray that we would continually use that power so we can stand strong against the pressures. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Hank Greenberg's example.

John 16:13 (NIV)

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Have you ever heard of Hank Greenberg? Today after the Tigers blew a 7 to 3 lead and lost 10 to 8 I read this story of Hank Greenberg. The year was 1934. For the first time in 25 years, the Detroit Tigers were a strong team who had an excellent chance to play in baseball's prestigious World Series. Hank was a key player on a team that had come to rely on his superb skills at first base, and his strong batting, to win games. An important and decisive game was scheduled on Yom Kippur. Hank, the son of Romanian immigrants to the United States, announced that he would not don his uniform and play on this day, the most sacred of Hebrew fasts.

The city of Detroit was outraged. Citizens screamed that the Day of Atonement could be celebrated any year, but this year the Tigers may go all the way to the Series! Anti-Semitic remarks were viciously hurled, but Hank Greenberg remained resolute.

The Detroit Tigers indeed lost that day, although the team did secure the pennant that year. And Hank, when more rational minds prevailed, attained the respect of the community. In fact, a poem was written and published honoring the man who held steadfastly to his beliefs. The tribute ended with this verse:

Came Yom Kippur -- Holy fast day

world-wide over to the Jews,

And Hank Greenberg to his teaching

and the old tradition true

Spent the day among his people

and he didn't come to play.

Said Murphy to Mulrooney,

We shall lose the game today!

We shall miss him in the infield

and shall miss him at the bat,

But he's true to his religion --

and I honor him for that!"

Hank still teaches us an important lesson in how to live effectively. He decided what was important to him and, regardless of pressure applied, he honored his own values. Hank Greenberg -- not the team, nor the coaches, nor even emotional Detroit fans -- set his agenda. He let nobody lower standards he had chosen for himself. And though the team lost that day, the city of Detroit won because it gained an important role model in a young man who courageously followed an inner voice.

Choosing our own way may not always be easy. But effective living occurs once we decide how we will live our lives and, regardless of outside pressure, we honor that decision.

If you are struggling with a difficult decision today, what is your inner voice leading you to do? Perhaps today is the day you should start listening to that voice.

Dear Lord, we thank You for the Holy Spirit that leads and guides us. Help us to listen to that voice today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pearl Harbor - Alertness is Imperative

John 16:13 (NIV)

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Alertness is imperative. The failure of the United States at Pearl Harbor is a tragic picture of failed watchmen. United States officials and commanders failed to pay attention in the critical weeks, days and hours prior to 7:55 A.M., December 7, 1941. If those in strategic leadership had realized the necessity to listen and beware, the results of the attack on Pearl Harbor could have been drastically different.

In meetings with both the Secretary of the Navy and the President, Admiral Richardson of the Pacific Fleet alerted them to the danger of the United States fleet remaining at Pearl Harbor. He was wary that the Japanese would realize the United States military's vulnerability and would act quickly to take advantage of the situation. His warnings, however, were ignored and he was dismissed shortly thereafter.         

The commanders at Pearl Harbor, Admiral Kimmel and Lieutenant General Short, were alerted to the impending danger of war on October 16, November 24 and November 27. Not believing an attack was possible, they only took precautions against Japanese sabotage. In fact, instead of strategically moving to the logical point of attack in the northwest, the entire fleet was moored in the harbor. Some personnel were even allowed to go on shore leave. Would it have made a difference had they stayed awake and remained sober at their posts?

Four hours before the attack, a United States destroyer in the Pacific sighted a Japanese submarine. Evidently not being alert to the imminent danger, no one on the destroyer reported the attack. Also, an army private (practicing on the radar set after its normal closing time) notified his superior officer of an approaching large squadron of planes. The lieutenant, however, neglected to listen and beware, but instead passed it off as being the group of B-17s that was expected from the United States.

The enemy gained the greater portion in this attack. More than 2,300 American servicemen were killed and over 1,100 were wounded; two battleships were destroyed and six others were heavily damaged; several lesser vessels were put out of action and more than 150 United States planes were wrecked. The Japanese lost less than 100 men and sacrificed only 29 planes and five midget submarines. Their task force escaped without being attacked.

The lack of alertness and false estimation of the enemy's capabilities and intentions were primary reasons this attack resulted in such devastation. Military and civilian officials in Washington, as well as the commanders at Pearl Harbor, had failed to observe and pay attention to the many warnings of impending attack. Their neglect to listen and to beware of the approaching danger allowed the enemy's plans to be successful.

Frequently, we believers ignore warnings from Scripture and the Holy Spirit.  The cost is often great.

Dear Lord, we pray that we would not ignore the warnings that the Bible and Holy Spirit bring our way. Help us listen to the things that are there to lead and guide us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Tapping Into His Power

Matthew 22:29 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.

The provinces of New Brunwick and Nova Scotia have one thing in common: they share the highest tides on our planet. Imagine 100 billion tons of seawater flowing in and out of the Bay of Fundy daily, or, to put it in terms more easy to understand, 338,983,050,847,457 ten-ounce-glasses of water. I doubt we could drink that much in a life time! To tell you the truth, that amount of water is higher than all of our planet's freshwater combined!

The Bay of Fundy not only experiences a 50 foot tidal range, which is 5 times higher than the usual tides on the Atlantic coast, but in some parts of its Bay, the tide retreats as much as 3 miles. And these high tides and low tides happen, on average, every six hours and 13 minutes.

Scientists have found an explanation for this phenomenon. These high tides are especially due to resonance and to the shape of the bay. The water in this Bay has a natural resonance, or rocking motion, which they call seiche. It's kind of like when we get into the bathtub, and the water sloshes from side to side for a few seconds. In the Bay of Fundy however, it takes about 13 hours for the water to "slosh" from the mouth of the bay to its head and back again. In essence, the Bay of Fundy is like an enormous bathtub, with the ocean tides invading the bay every 12 hours and 25 minutes reinforcing this resonance!

The bay's unique shape contributes to the high tides as well. As the bay becomes narrower and shallower, toward the upper bay (From 426 feet to 131 feet), the saltwater is forced even higher onto the shores.

For many centuries people didn't understand the kind of power contained by the Bay of Fundy, and even less how to apply such a force in their daily life. After all, how could having the world's highest tides impact local lives for the better?

In 1984 the first tidal power station emerged in North America on the shores of the Bay of Fundy, in Annapolis, Nova Scotia, and since then, all over the world such tidal power stations are being built. Why? Because they are one of the most reliable natural resources! As long as we have a moon and a sun, they will generate electricity!

As Christians, we, too, aren't all that sure how to access the power provided to us by the Holy Spirit. Sadly, many of us aren't even aware that God is providing us with such power! But the Bible is specific: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you." (Acts 1:8 NIV)

And it is confirmed in numerous places of the New Testament: "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." (1 Cor 4:20 NIV)

But just as the power in the Bay of Fundy is useless unless we harness it, we too have to become familiar with the power God has provided us with.

Unlike the powers in this world, this power strives on weakness and unselfishness:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor 12:9 NIV)

"For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you." (2 Cor 13:4 NIV)

It's power, however, is more powerful than all the atomic bombs in our world.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…" (Eph 3:20 NIV)

So why are we refraining ourselves from asking the impossible? Is our faith that weak? But let us remember though, that all we ask should be done unselfishly and according to the will of God. (See 1 John 2:17 and 1 Peter 4: 1, 2)

Isn't getting to know Him what it's all about? Remember there is beauty in suffering as well as in rejoicing, as long as we remain focused on the One who loves us way beyond reason.

We can be assured that "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness." (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)

Let's take the time to reflect on our lives. Let's notice how our Heavenly Father has come through for us more times than we can count. He has always been there for us, but too often, we don't realize it. Let's ask Him to open our eyes as the apostle Paul did.

The next time you drink a glass of water, remember: God has given you power through His Holy Spirit. He is the living water who will set you free!

Dear Lord, thank You for the reminder of Your power. We pray that every time we take a drink of water we will remember the great power we have in You and all we have to do is ask You for it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Your Fuel Level is Getting Low

John 16:13 (NIV)

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

I enjoy reading the Focus on the Family magazine.  I read an interesting story some time ago about a man who bought one of those cars that had replaced warning lights with spoken instructions in a female voice.

In a soft voice, his "little woman"—as he called her—would say, "Your door isn't closed properly." "Your key is still in the ignition." "Your seat-belt isn't fastened properly."

On one occasion he recalled how the voice of his "little woman" said, "Your fuel level is getting low."

The driver thanked her and figuring he had sufficient fuel to take him a further 50 miles, ignored the voice and kept driving. A few minutes later, his "little woman" repeated, "Your fuel level is low." The further he drove the more often his "little woman" repeated her warning.

Getting frustrated, he stopped his car, searched under the dashboard, and found the appropriate wires. One quick jerk and his "little woman" was silenced.

Imagine the "grin"; that is "cha-grin" on his face when, a few minutes later his car spluttered and jerked to a standstill—out of fuel. One could almost imagine the grin on his "little woman's" face too!

We all have a little voice within. It's called the voice of conscience. It can get very annoying at times, and sometimes we "pull its wires." Then too late we discover we have run out of fuel.

Dear Lord, Thanks for the conscience You have given each of us. We pray that we would not ignore it but instead let it guide us to do the things that is right. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Highest Authority Possible

John 14:13 (NIV)

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

I read this story and thought it was a great example of being faithful to pray.

My wife and I had just returned from our honeymoon, and we were heading for the capital of the state where we were residing, to apply for my green card.

Having been born in Belgium, a green card was necessary in order for me to be able to stay in the United States. I had spent the last year teaching at a local college in a small town in that state, and I had a contract to continue teaching there the following school year. In fact, I was supposed to start teaching summer school in just a few days! The last school year had been considered legal due to a special visa granted to foreign students who had recently graduated from an American university. But the time on my visa was quickly running out. We knew we had to do something quickly.

We had already made one trip to immigration. We had gotten married in California, and just before leaving on our honeymoon, we had visited the local office. I was told that I would have to apply in the state where I would be residing, but I was assured that the process only took two weeks in California. Thanks to this information, we were able to have a stress-free honeymoon, and as we entered the Immigration office in our home state, I wasn't worried in the least.

I left shocked and shaking in my boots. I had just been told that it would take at least two years to obtain a green card, as immigration laws vary according to the state you live in! With summer school just days away, I would either be forced to work illegally, or I would have to break my contract.

We decided to contact a lawyer specializing in immigration issues. The initial visit cost us $500, money that we, as newlyweds, simply didn't have, and we were left no better off than we were when we entered the building. The future still looked grim. There was no hope in sight.

Back home, some friends suggested we contacted our local congressman. We did, and two months later, I had my green card. Why? Because an outstanding Congressman, a compassionate man who cared for his constituents, backed my application. His signature made all of the difference!

Having the backup of an important name can open closed doors. Prayer works in the same way. There is a reason why we are told to pray in the name of Jesus. When He allows us to use His name in this way, He is guaranteeing that He is backing up our requests!

"…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph 5:20 NIV)

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20 NIV)

It's hard to believe, isn't it? The Creator Himself, our Savior and Redeemer, backs up our prayers! And not only this, His Spirit plays an important role as well: "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26 NIV); "the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." (Romans 8:26-27 NIV)

We have an intercessor who helps us "in our weakness"! He helps us express our true selves in prayer, so that our words will reach to heaven!

Are you facing problems? Bring them to the highest authority possible! He cares for you!

Dear Lord, thank You that we can come to You in prayer.  Thank You that we are important to You and you are there when we are weak. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What Cargo Do Others See in You?

Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

I remember many times driving along on the highway and finding myself next to a car-carrier. One of those times I actually noticed the massive truck with movable ramps and hydraulic lifts that can carry ten or twelve cars at a time. What I noticed was the truck's paint was flaking off, as rust slowly digested the finish. The metal was bent and dented from years of hard work. Black stains marked numerous hydraulic fluid leaks. The truck looked so bad I was almost afraid that some of the "ugly" would rub off on to my car.

As I looked at the old beat up truck, I realized that I had seen hundreds of these trucks on the road before. But never once had I really noticed the truck itself. Why not? Because what usually gets my attention is not the truck. Instead, it's the load of new convertibles the truck is carrying, or the sight of a dozen shiny new Mustangs that catches my eye. Isn't it amazing how you can take a beat-up old truck, load it with shiny new sports cars, and suddenly all you notice is chrome and aluminum wheels and gleaming red paint? Isn't it incredible how the cargo actually makes the old truck almost look good?

When you give your life to Christ, you receive an amazing cargo, the Holy Spirit. And once inside your battered old life, he begins to produce fruit that wasn't there before. Gradually, you find yourself with a peace that you never knew before. You become more patient with your kids. You learn to control your mouth instead of shooting it off.

In Ezekiel, God makes this promise to his people: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." 

Over time, you actually start to become a new person. And while the physical body you wear is the same, it becomes less and less noticeable as your new "cargo" shines more and more brightly. One day you realize that the beauty on the inside has totally overwhelmed the body on the outside, and people are drawn to you because they desperately want what you have.

If you're trying to "enhance your image" or make yourself more attractive to others, maybe you should spend a little less time on your biceps and buns and a little more time on your soul and your spirituality.

After all, it's the cargo that makes the truck look good, not the other way around.

Dear Lord, we pray that we would focus on the cargo we carry so that we may be more and more like You. We pray today that those around us we see You through us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.