Some old divine has pictured Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost. A man pushed his way through the crowd, and said: "Peter, do you think there is hope for me? I am the man who made that crown of thorns and placed them upon Christ's brow; do you think he will save me?"
"Yes," said Peter," 'whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall b e saved.' You are a 'whosoever'; if you call he will hear your cry. He will answer your prayer and save you." The man might have cried then and there, and the Lord saved him.
Another man pushed his way up and said to Peter, "I'm the man who took that reed out of his hand, and drove it down upon that cruel crown of thorns, sending it into his brow: Do you think he will save me?"
"Yes," said Peter, ''he told us to go into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, and he did not mean you to be left out; salvation is for you. He did not come to condemn men; he came to get his arm under the vilest sinner and lift him up toward heaven."
Another man, elbowing his way through the crowd, pushed up to Peter and said, "I am the Roman soldier who took the spear and drove it to his heart, when there came out blood and water; do you think there is hope for me?"
"Yes," said Peter, "there's a nearer way of reaching his heart than that: 'Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lo rd shall be saved.' " And the Roman soldier might have cried then and there, and might have obtained forgiveness and salvation.
If the Lord heard the cry of those Jerusalem sinners whose hands were dripping with the blood of the Son of God -- if he heard their cry and saved them, do you think he will hear your cry and save you?
D. L. Moody
As the congregation arrived for worship one Sunday, the pastor handed each of them a helium filled balloon. These instructions were given: Whenever the people experienced a "God moment" they were to release their balloons, like a miniature Pentecost celebration of sorts. It could be at any point in the service: during a hymn, a prayer, the reading of scripture, the sermon, the choir anthem--whatever moved them in the Spirit.
After a while a balloon floated upwards. Two, then three followed. At the end of the worship service, over half of the people were still holding onto their balloons.
For Christians "feeling the Spirit" is not just a matter of emotions!
In the May 4, 1984, issue of the Lutheran Standard,,a most enlightening exchange of letters between a mother and daughter is printed. The daughter is ready to leave her stuffy Lutheran heritage for a more emotional church environment. (Her comments should breathe new life into any reader whose religion is of the "stick in the mud" variety.) The mother responds by challenging her daughter to "brighten the corner where she is" rather than running off to seek greener pastures. (Her central point is, in Christ one has a faith which is stronger and more consistent than the vicissitudes of emotion and feeling.) Our salvation does not depend on our good works or our good feelings!
For Christians, "feeling the Spirit" is a matter of being caught up in the Spirit of Christ! This is not a vague emotion but a solid rooting in and constant reminder of what Christ has done for us. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ! Christ's Spirit is with us always, no matter how we feel.
"Several years ago engineers building a new bridge over the East River in New York, discovered that the wrecked hull of a ship, sunk many years ago, lay right where the center piers were to be built. Powerful machinery was brought in to remove the ship, but it would not budge. Then one of the engineers had an unusual idea-- why not have the tide raise the ship!!! Some strong cables were attached to the hull when the tide was low. the other ends were fasten to the barge above. As the tide came in, the barge gradually lifted the sunken ship. It was then towed out into the ocean and sunk at a spot that would not cause future problems."
God's holy Spirit is like the tide, it comes quietly, it comes slowly, but it come to use with enough power so that we might do the job God has called each of us to do. There is a power, a force that is the holy Spirit.
Prayer of ST. Theresa "Christ has no body now but yours No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good Yours are the hands with which He blesses all the world Yours are the hands Yours are the feet Yours are the eyes You are His body"
When Alexander the Great set out on his
campaigns, he divided all his possessions among his friends. Someone
said "But you are keeping nothing for yourself ." "O yes, I am." He
said "I have kept my hopes." William Barclay wrote "A person can
endure anything so long as he has hope, for then he is walking not to
the night but to the dawn.
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Several years ago there was an article in Charlie Shedd's column that I would like to share with you.
"Ken was a new editor of a newspaper in Beafort South Caroline. Because he had to move suddenly, he had to leave his wife and children home in Florida for awhile. This is his first editorial in his newspaper.
'My socks are getting dirty. My shirts need pressing. I forgot the shampoo. I'm getting tired of hamburgers and fries. I've seen all the movies in town. I miss my wife. My motel room is lonely. I want someone to talk with. I need a hug. I miss my wife. The simple fact is I cannot live without my wife. And I've only been away from her for 4 days. Now don't get me wrong. I've never been welcomed by so many dandy folks. But you'll excuse me for one little thing, please. You are not my wife. You don't cook for me. You don't clean for me. You don't iron my shirts. You don't love me. Anna, my charming chief-cook, bottle-washer, valet, entertainment committee, love and mother of my 3 girls is 300 miles away. You won't find ken sitting around a bar, shooting the breeze with the guys about the old lady. No, sir, not me.
You'll find me working at the Gazette or starring at the walls in my motel room. But just wait until Friday. Anna and the girls are coming for the weekend and I'm counting the minutes. I'll be wearing a wrinkled shirt and my stomach will be growling. When I see that car come up the road from Florida, I'll break into a big wide South Caroline grin and it will be seventh heave. For us there is something very positive about the institution of marriage. Not only are we lovers, we are darned good friends.'"
When the will of Henry J. Heinz, wealthy distributor of the famous 57 Varieties line, was read it was found to contain the following confession:
Looking forward to the time when my earthly career will end, I desire to set forth at the very beginning of this will, as the most important item in it, a confession of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I also desire to bear witness to the fact that throughout my life, in which there were unusual joys and sorrows, I have been wonderfully sustained by my faith in God through Jesus Christ. This legacy was left me by my consecrated mother, a woman of strong faith, and to it I attribute any success I have attained.
Blessed is the mother who understands her child, for she shall inherit a kingdom of memories.
Blessed is the mother who knows how to comfort, for she shall possess a child's devotion.
Blessed is the mother who guides by the path of righteousness, for she shall be proud of her offspring.
Blessed is the mother who is never shocked, for she shall receive confidences.
Blessed is the mother who teaches respect, for she shall be respected.
Blessed is the mother who emphasizes the good and minimizes the bad, for in like manner the child shall make evaluations.
Blessed is the mother who treats her child as she would be treated, for her home shall be filled with happiness.
Blessed is the mother who answers simply the startling questions, for she shall always be trusted.
Blessed is the mother who has character strong enough to withstand the thoughtless remarks and resentments of the growing child, for again, in due time, she shall be honored.