(see John 1:14-16) At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was made available to all who believed in Jesus. We received the Holy Spirit (are baptized with Him) when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. The baptism of the Holy Spirit must be understood in the light of his total work in Christians.
As this week ahead unfolds - remember . . . The Trinity is a description of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. If Jesus had stayed on earth, His physical presence would have limited the spread of the good news because physically He could be in only one place at a time. After Christ was taken up into heaven, He would be spiritually present everywhere through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent so that God would be with and within His followers after Christ returned to heaven. The Spirit would comfort them, guide them to know His truth, remind them of Jesus words, give them the right words to say, and fill them with power.
(see John 1:14-16) At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was made available to all who believed in Jesus. We received the Holy Spirit (are baptized with Him) when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. The baptism of the Holy Spirit must be understood in the light of his total work in Christians.
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Greetings everyone - two messages to share with you. This first one is from our NCC Board Chairman David Thompson and it is for your awareness. The second message is posted below David's note to us all. Good afternoon church, as I write this I have sunshine through my windows and rain on the patio, life at the lake. The one constant about Minnesota weather is if you wait a little while things change. Hopefully the mosquitoes all got Covid-19 and left the planet. And the frogs are starting to sing. Only God could make our world so special. His works are all around us, we need to keep looking, yesterday Cindy and I got our honey bees set up in their small nuc hive boxes. Watching them work is just amazing and to me proof positive that there is a God that set all nature in motion. I think God likes to watch His nature work. God likes to watch us as well. He is patient, kind and loving wanting us to turn to Him. We as people are made with a God shaped hole that only God can fill. We try to put all kinds of stuff in that hole but nothing stays there or is satisfying for any length of time. God is the only thing that can fill that spot in your heart. If you ask Him to come into your heart and forgive your sins He will. God fills the hole and you will have satisfaction that God is there and in control. Watching the news is scary. Looks like the world is in trouble and it is going to get worse. God was not surprised by this virus. Maybe God is trying to get the world's attention. Trusting in what man can do seams to have limited results. In Psalms 102:25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. God knows our world. He sent His son to bridge the gap that sin placed between God and us. When everything is going great we have little need for God. Well, today I believe we have a great need for God. In Christ the apostle Paul wrote in Phil. 3:7-8 But whatever was to my profit now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for who’s sake I have lost all things. Paul was filled with the Love of Christ. That same love is available to you. I don’t know what the final outcome of this virus is going to do here on earth. I’m placing my faith in God. I do my best to wash often, keep a distance and enjoy life. Faith lets me live in uncertain times, with the assurance that God is there. I still have to be smart about living. As I close I want to thank Pastor Stanley for his many years of service to this church. It was a blessing to be taught the word of God by you. Sometimes had to decode words like, winder or icebox, which had your sermons down to earth and real. Thanks Stanley, may God bless you and Sheila as you serve Him on your next calling. David Thompson, Board Chairman And second, some words to reflect on as we pursue our faith journey: Reflect on God’s Nature Overwhelming challenges can be an opportunity to throw ourselves on God’s faithfulness. When we focus on God’s love, wisdom, and power - we see a fresh view of our circumstances. God’s love pursues us. He sees our challenges as possibilities to enhance our understanding of Him. When bad things happen, we feel like God is doing things to us. We can’t understand why a loving God would allow us to suffer and experience loss. But the reverse is true. God does things for us — not to us. In love, He works things out for our good, helping us grow in faith, character, and maturity. God’s loving pursuit of us, led Him to the Cross. How can we doubt His motives when we suffer?
"You also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." Are we ready to walk into the goodness and provision of God? Sometimes it’s easy to allow bitterness, complaining and anxiety to build up, robbing us of our joy. The more we are asleep to our disobedience, the more we drift away from God without even realizing it. We need to wake up into the newness of life He has for us. That’s why it is important to examine ourselves to see where we fall short, to ask God to forgive us and set us free. He is merciful and gracious, and He wants to bring us into the Promised Land.
Start by remembering that He loves you. We have this wonderful promise in Colossians 2:12 Watch and Share a Celebration of Hope with Franklin Graham and Michael W. Smith
In these days of uncertainty, are you or your loved ones struggling with worry or fear? Do you have friends who don’t know the hope of Jesus Christ? Watch a special 30-minute Easter program with Franklin Graham and Michael W. Smith from Central Park in New York—and share this link with your loved ones. Watch Online May God bless you and your family this Easter Sunday! Jesus Christ is risen! —The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” —1 Peter 1:3, ESV Jesus says, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. “He does not say, “Make a cross or look for a cross.” Each of us has a cross to carry. There is no need to look for one. But are we willing to take it up, to accept it as our cross? Maybe we can’t study, maybe we are handicapped, maybe we suffer from depression, maybe we experience conflict in our families, maybe we are victims of violence, maybe alcoholism or drugs. We didn’t choose any of it but these things are our crosses. We can ignore them, reject them, refuse them or hate them. But we can also take up these crosses and follow Jesus with them. We adore you, O Christ, and we love you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the whole world.
Thank you Jesus that we’re healed by your stripes and saved by your blood for all our sins, past, present and future. It’s not about what you have or have not done! It’s what Jesus has already done for you. The cross is a place of exchange. Jesus Loves You! |
Author(s)These brief writings are a collection from various sources. We hope you enjoy them. Let us know if you have something that you would like us to post Archives
November 2022
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