Raised in the Catholic church, like all my young classmates, I walked past statues down a long corridor with glass stained windows at St. Mary’s cathedral to receive my first communion. Later, the Bishop confirmed me.  One day, as a broken 7 year old little girl, my emotions overwhelmed me, and I fell prostrate before this marble statue inside the church. Confused for being falsely accused by my parents, I wondered. “What can Jesus possibly do for me, He is dead.” My Lord Jesus has proven Himself faithful. He has provided truth, comfort, and abundant provision. The Spirit of God was in pursuit of my soul, and He has never left me. I remain His work in progress, and Jesus is my consistent Savior.  I can’t live without His amazing grace and daily mercies.

When I reached the age of 34, a Mexican neighbor invited me to a revival at his church. God knew my broken heart needed to hear the truth, and in 1985, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and given my first Bible. The word of God jumped into my soul, and I have never been the same. Forty-seven years have passed, and His faithfulness has been journaled! I know that Catholics respect Mary, for she was asked by God to bear the shame of an unwed pregnancy. With only her blind trust in God, Mary held fast to the STRENGTH that He gave her to withstand the rejection and condemnation that followed. As gossip encircled her, God knew she was a virgin. There is not one scripture that reports that Mary became defensive of her reputation. Humbly, she swallowed ridicule as she held tight to the experience God had given her with His angel. Mary believed that by God’s word, she would give birth to a holy Child and name Him Jesus. God chose Mary, an ordinary girl to trust His plan, purpose, timing and ways. The Girl I Was

The God-Man Jesus walked among mankind and obeyed His Father. Jesus was the perfect, spotless Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. Mankind’s redemption was set in place by God’s faithfulness and Mary’s trust and obedience. Mary never healed a person, her tears never raised the dead. Hebrews 2:17 spells out the perfect obedience of Jesus, not Mary. Like all of mankind, Mary was born in sin, therefore she was not perfect. The virgin birth told in Luke 1:34 was God’s plan. Only Jesus heals, only Jesus is called Lord of lords and King of kings. As Jesus gave up His last breath on the cross, the temple curtain was torn to give us all access to the High Priest, Jesus. The submission and sacrifice of Jesus for mankind’s sinful nature is the Truth and Jesus alone is to be worshipped. God Almighty in His word tells us to run from idol worship. 1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” Matthew 23:28 “In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” We confess our sins to Jesus as in 1 John 1:9 ” If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus is our High Priest. Hebrews 3:1 “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the High Priest.”

When Jesus gave up His Spirit the temple curtain was torn and the separation between the High Priest (Jesus) and the common man no longer existed. All of God’s children gained equal access to God through the torn curtain. Worship became a matter of the heart, not external actions, locations, or postures. By compulsion, out of our love for God, we worship Him as our spirit mingles with His. Our known transparency causes us to confess our love, worries, fears, faults and concerns. Truthfully we worship and we are set free and filled with His joy.

John 4:23-24 “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for baptizing me in the Holy Spirit. Wherever I am, He is with me. He who is in me is greater than He who is in the world. Holy Spirit, I ask that You make me aware of when I fail to be loving, kind, or patient. Help me to be quick to listen and slow to give my opinion. Grant me wisdom when I am uncertain. When I am confused, give me clarity. When I ignore God’s way, comvict me. When I am wandering, grant me counsel. When I am afraid, grant me peace. When I am in harms way,  grant me safety. When my flesh insists on my way, humble me with the fear of the Lord. I ask the Holy Spirit to come upon me whenever I stumble. Remind me that I am loved.

Let all we do, and all we think about honor God. Think about Who you are hoping to please  in every situation. When I’m critical, do I offend? Is it my pride that invokes anger? Do I entertain more doubts than hope? Criticism or praise? Do I assess the damage, or do I consider God’s way? To capture every thought about the fire, flood, and others – takes self-discipline. Invite the Holy Spirit to convict, correct, or protect you. Our thoughts in any situation REFLECT the condition of our heart. What does fill my heart? Mercy or quick condemnation? Compassion, or dismissal? Anger, envy, unforgiveness? Praise God for He invites us to examine the contents of our heart. He knows our motives. The Holy Spirit abides and shines a light. He is operating 24/7 to instruct, guide, comfort, and direct us in God’s Way. God’s thoughts are pure and above our opinions. Lord Jesus, we pray for more revelation of ourselves. Reveal to us what dishonors You. We humbly pray for more grace so that we can represent You well. Give us mercy, wisdom, and keep us from evil. AMEN

God tells us of the role of the Holy Spirit. Read John 14-16.

●Teach us all things

●Guide us into all truth

●Testify to our spirit

●Be our Helper

●Be our Comforter

●Convict and correct us

●Reveal future events

●Empower us

●Enable us

The fruit of the Holy Spirit produces in the life of each believer; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Spirit helps us in our daily struggle to walk in step with the Spirit.

A personal Vision from God.
Visible appearances of angels have been rare. BUT GOD — gave me a personal encounter with my angel when I was seeking help in my twenties while living in Houston, Texas. After sending out dozens of resumes, I was desperate for work and funds to pay my bills.  A Unity Church advertised a workshop on Angels, and I needed one, so I attended with 50 other curious folks. The speaker opened with a prayer. I humbly bowed my head. With my eyes shut, as the prayer was being said, all of a sudden, time stopped, I no longer heard the voice of the one praying. A brilliant image appeared before me, and I gasped in awe. His immense power overtook me as tears silently streamed down my cheeks.

My hearts desire was to learn about angels and God sent me one. Gentle hands extended from this mighty, light filled angelic being. His hands reached into my chest cavity, pulled out my shattered heart, lifted it up to God, then placed a new healed heart back inside me. I was stilled and silently trembled. When I opened my eyes, the 2 hour seminar was over, and people were leaving the church. God had dramatically performed a spiritual surgery on my heart that day. This once in a lifetime experience was what caused me to seek God with all my heart. To this day, I’m still growing in grace.

“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of God who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of HIS will, in order that we, who were the first to put our HOPE in CHRIST, might be for the praise of HIS glory. And you also were INCLUDED in CHRIST when you HEARD the message of TRUTH, the gospel of your SALVATION. When you BELIEVED, you were MARKED in HIM with a SEAL, the promised HOLY SPIRIT, Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of HIS glory.” Ephesians 1:11-14