Soul Sister Time

The Effects of the Holy Spirit               Can you imagine that the very Spirit of God is given to humans who believe in God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection?  Just thinking about the Holy Spirit makes me realize that I can do better.  I am not left to my own resources when it comes to praying, having faith, obeying God, doing what He asks me to do.                 No one understands the depth of sin’s effect on a soul better than God.  Every action He takes has been to reduce the effect of evil that was unleashed into our world when sin was merged into His perfect universe.  We never saw it coming. Even Adam and Eve did not see what hit them.  God has counteracted with the effect of faith after sin by enabling sinners to be affected by His holiness through the Holy Spirit.  It is the power of God that brings about salvation.  It is the power of God that brings about healing, wisdom, abilities and more.  I know this power.  I have taught

              The first time the Holy Spirit came upon Christians was quite remarkable.   Not only were there supernatural sounds and sights but also there was a tangible reality—the people could speak in known tongues from all around the world.   Granted, they looked a little drunk as the very presence of God entered their beings, and Peter had to explain what was really going on.   Another evidence of the Holy Spirit was that 3,000 people responded to the explanation Peter gave about the Holy Spirit.   Those 3,000 were impacted by the Holy Spirit and wanted to follow His leading to repentance and baptism.               So why can’t I speak another language?   I have the Holy Spirit.   I never saw a vision or heard a loud sound like wind.   An unknown African author of the sixth century answered this question for me.   “And so if anyone says to one of us: ‘You have received the Holy Spirit; why do you not speak in tongues?’, he should reply: ‘I do speak in every tongue.   For

              Prophets foretold it.   Jesus anticipated the moment.   We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to all believers on the Day of Pentecost—fifty days after Easter.   After Jesus ascended to heaven the true believers, 120 in total, gathered in the upper room and prayed.   They prayed for nine days, and on the tenth day the Holy Spirit came upon them.   I’m not sure how prepared they were for God to move in that way.   They described it as if tongues of fire fell on them, and a strong noise like wind powered through the room.   Yet the unbelievers who witnessed it thought the best explanation was that they were all drunk at 9 a.m. in the morning!               I don’t think I realized the power of the Holy Spirit coming on me as deeply when I was seven as I do today looking back on the experience.   I describe the moment of my understanding as God is holy and I am a sinner, and my sin separates me from His love for me as if a light bulb went off.   It was sudden.   I

​               I love churches and I love serving in the church.  On family vacations each of my children would "put his foot down" and proclaim— “No more churches!”  I really can’t blame them because we did love to visit churches and see the effort and beauty that individuals put into creating a unique edifice to glorify God.  I decorated my home with beautiful church art.  Paintings, sketchings, replicas of glorious or simple buildings that represented a love for God filled my home and office. I have worked for churches for decades.  Church work is very rewarding, but it is not always easy.  First of all, church work never gets done.  When I worked as a counselor and shut the door to my office at the end of the week, I had done everything I could do.  I filled out all my forms, returned all my calls and made all my notes.  This has never happened since I have been in church work.  There is always more to do.  I never quite feel finished.  I just choose a place to sto