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Christine's Blog (2,700)

Conscience. . . 'got one?

Today's passage - Acts 24.1-21 - Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: "We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in… Continue

Added by Christine on September 14, 2009 at 8:20pm — No Comments

Take courage

Acts 23.11-35 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Acts%2023.11-35&version=31&interface=print

Verse 11 - The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage!"

As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

vv. 12-35 ~ We left Paul, lying on the stone floor, exhausted, battered, discouraged, and wondering just how long he would be alive, doubtful he would ever make it to his desired destination--Rome.… Continue

Added by Christine on September 9, 2009 at 9:54pm — No Comments

In the city of Self Control, you are the governor

THIS is good stuff. . . take a look with me:

In Acts 22.24-31, Paul cleverly establishes that he is a Roman citizen, and he is brought before the Sanhedrin, (the Jewish ruling council) for trial~

Acts 23.1-10 - Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you… Continue

Added by Christine on September 8, 2009 at 11:20pm — No Comments

Have a heart like Paul's

Acts 21.40-22.21 Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic: 1"Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said: "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I… Continue

Added by Christine on September 7, 2009 at 10:41pm — No Comments

Courage to do God's will

Well, Good Day. . .

It took extreme courage on Paul's part to do what he believed was God's will for him. Perhaps all of the groundwork I have laid about surrender, trust, and wanting to know God's will for your life. . . all sounds good. . . intellectually. The problem comes in the doing, and sometimes in the 'not doing'. . . but the waiting for God's direction--waiting for God to come and rescue you. Perhaps this inspirational story will paint a picture in your mind, and give you… Continue

Added by Christine on September 3, 2009 at 9:49pm — No Comments

How do you know God's will for you?

Hello!

About ten years ago, I was at a crossroads in my personal life, and wanted to know God's will for me--particularly as it related to serving Him in ministry. I had been told about a book, Experiencing God, and so I carefully read it, its Scriptural support, and interviewed myself with its questions. I return to it as my solid resource on ascertaining the will of God in my life. Here is what the author says about knowing the will of God;

The testimony of the Bible from… Continue

Added by Christine on September 2, 2009 at 8:31pm — No Comments

Paul, Jesus, and Freedom

Happy Independence Day! Congratulations on your freedom. . .

Acts chapter 20 begins Paul's movement toward Jerusalem. . .

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Acts%2020&version=31&interface=print

In verses 1 - 7 We see Paul's ministry team travel from Ephesus to Troas. Once in Troas, the believers gathered to break bread together, and then Paul preached to the people. . . going late into the night. Luke mentions that there were many torches in the… Continue

Added by Christine on September 1, 2009 at 9:44pm — No Comments

L.A. Lakers and Mob Mentality

Acts 19.21-41 Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!” He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia. About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept… Continue

Added by Christine on August 31, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Spirits. . . Holy vs. Evil

Acts 19.8-20 8Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so… Continue

Added by Christine on August 20, 2009 at 10:00am — No Comments

John Wooden - Mentor

Good Day~

1. Pray that the truth and inspiration of God's Word will be revealed for you from this passage . . . 2. Read the passage 3. "What do you NOTICE?" Read it again, and highlight what strikes you 4. If it fits, pull it apart for application.

Acts 18.23-19.7 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native… Continue

Added by Christine on August 6, 2009 at 10:49pm — No Comments

LEGACY

Acts 18.1-23 Please open your Bible to read, or read from the New Living Translation -

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Acts%2018.1-23;&version=51;&interface=print

The basic summary of this passage is that Paul goes from Athens to Corinth, a distance of about 50 miles, where he meets Priscilla and Aquila, who had been run out of Rome by Claudius. Like Paul, they were tentmakers, so Paul lived and worked with them, and taught in the synagogue as well.… Continue

Added by Christine on August 4, 2009 at 9:10am — No Comments

Wisdom vs. Wisdom

Greetings! . . . More on Acts 17 - Paul's Visit to Athens

Have you ever heard the word versus used as a verb? You probably have, if your kids played sports. . . They say something like, "Tomorrow, we're versing the Dodgers." 'Not even a word, but you sure understand what they are saying, don't you? Well, today, we are going to observe Wisdom versing wisdom--Godly wisdom versing man's wisdom.

Yesterday, we saw Paul in Athens 'versing' all of the gods of earthly wisdom,… Continue

Added by Christine on August 3, 2009 at 12:15pm — 1 Comment

The day you made God smile

Good Morning~

Keeping our bookmarks in Acts 17, I want to explore this trait of Paul's that caused him to be so courageous--it seems like it was part character trait, part devotion, and part faith--it was his undying trust in Jesus Christ. Yesterday's briefing included some self-investigative questions--starting with the jumping-off point of total surrender of ourselves to God--including your thoughts about His love for you. Most Christians realize God is asking for us to surrender… Continue

Added by Christine on July 30, 2009 at 11:01pm — 2 Comments

Wanna' be like Paul?

My summary of Acts 17.1-15 - The young missions team of Paul, Silas and Timothy traveled further into Europe--to Amphipolis and Apollonia, and on to Thessalonica--the bustling capital city of Macedonia, with about 200,000 in population. Paul again started preaching in the synagogue where a number of folks responded to the gospel, which riled up some of the Jews who chose not to believe. Their jealousy compelled them to go to the officials with the accusation that the missionaries were causing… Continue

Added by Christine on July 24, 2009 at 10:21pm — No Comments

Praise God now?????? Yes, praise Him now.

Acts 16.16-34 - Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I… Continue

Added by Christine on July 24, 2009 at 11:24am — 1 Comment

A Place of Prayer

Good Day!

Yesterday, I commented that the missionary team of Paul, Silas, and Timothy headed into Europe with the gospel--let's look a little closer. . .Acts 16.12-15 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. (which includes parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, theRepublic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania and Serbia.) And we stayed there several days. (The ruins of Philippi are near modern Kavalla in northern Greece. It was… Continue

Added by Christine on July 21, 2009 at 10:03pm — No Comments

This is inspiring; Check it out. . .

Acts 16.4-10 - Paul's second missionary journey ~ 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into… Continue

Added by Christine on July 21, 2009 at 7:06am — No Comments

GRACE plus what?

Acts 15.1-35 http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Acts+15.1-35

v. 8 - God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them [the Gentiles] by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us [the Jews]

v.10-11 - Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

Good Day~

Okay,… Continue

Added by Christine on July 19, 2009 at 10:17pm — 1 Comment

Need encouragement? Be courageous

Good Morning~ Several of you wrote to tell me that the story of Jehoshaphat's faith, and how God rewarded it, was really encouraging for you--as YOU are 'in the battle'. Someone also commented quite astutely that it didn't really have anything to do with where we are in the book of Acts---well today, it will, as we finish Acts 14. You will remember in the verses just before these, Paul had been brutally stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead. Miraculously, he was able to travel the… Continue

Added by Christine on July 16, 2009 at 8:26am — No Comments

LIFESAVER

Good day~

lifesaver |ˈlīfˌsāvər| noun

"1 (informal) a thing that saves one from serious difficulty 2 a ring-shaped life preserver." Do you need a LIFESAVER? Sometimes when my back is against the wall, and there seems to be no place to turn, I read stories of people with great faith in the Bible, and take comfort in seeing how the Lord cared for them--how He heard from Heaven, and met them. One of my very favorite is found in 2 Chronicles, chapter 20. Does trusting God really pay off?… Continue

Added by Christine on July 14, 2009 at 10:07pm — No Comments