tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80009832200325549102024-02-18T19:19:20.388-08:00Relationship Status: In love with JesusWhen I listen, I hear the Lord, here are some of our conversationsjoanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062494606303937122noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000983220032554910.post-60704339272383507772012-09-03T20:56:00.001-07:002012-09-03T20:56:35.590-07:00The Word of God is Sharper than any Double Edged Sword <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Tonight I can't seem to sleep. I keep thinking the same thought, "The word of God is sharper than any double edged sword..." *1 . {fyi: The references for the verses are at the bottom of the page.) The Word of God is our weapon, and we are in a spiritual battle to the death. Put down your sword, and you're a goner. When we want to get mad at someone, we need to remember that our anger doesn't produce righteousness.*2 Or when you want to indulge yourself with something that your conscience is saying 'no' to, remember that we are to live our lives in service to one another instead.*4 And that the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.*3 Without the word of God, these things cannot be brought to mind, they cannot bear the fruit needed to live a life that pleases the Lord. And if we aren't pleasing the Lord, then how are we to do His work that so desperately needs done? I would encourage every person who reads this to get out your bible, and pray a prayer similar to this one: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Lord, teach me, and make me usable for your kingdom, because I know that the harvest is great and the workers are few. In the power of your name Jesus, help me to let go of those things in my life that I've been clinging to, and won't yield to you. Help me to give all to you, take up my cross daily and follow you, speaking your word as it is given to me, and not being ashamed of you in this ungodly society. In Your Holy Name Jesus, and by your blood you shed for me, Amen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> The great commission is what we are called to fulfill. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28:19&version=NIV" style="color: #b2462d;">Matthew 28:19</a></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">The</span><span style="background-color: white;">refore go and make disciples </span><span style="background-color: white;">of</span><span style="background-color: white;"> all nations, </span><span style="background-color: white;">baptizing</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">the</span><span style="background-color: white;">m </span><span style="background-color: white;">in</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">name</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">of</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Father and </span><span style="background-color: white;">of</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">the </span><span style="background-color: white;">Son and </span><span style="background-color: white;">of</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Holy Spirit,</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"> It doesn't say go into all of the world and feed them, or clothe them, or make sure that they have health care. All of that is good, but we as Christians need to get a handle on the fact that presenting Christ to people, and making disciples needs to be our number one priority. Because he will make changes in their lives to help them, through us sometimes, or otherwise. I am a fanatic of taking care of people in true need, but I myself have gotten off track with presenting the word of God to people in love because of peoples need. I ask forgiveness of the Lord, and pray that He will help me, and my family{in Christ} to also be helped in this way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> We are all in a battle, and there are actually people dying every day around the world without Jesus. Heaven is real, and so is hell. Lord help us to be serious in our love, and professional in our witness of you and your Word!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #5c1101; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Matthew 28:19-20</span><br />
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<span class="text Matt-28-19" id="en-NIV-24215" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">19 </sup>Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24215A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24215B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-NIV-24216" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">20 </sup>and teaching<sup class="crossreference" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24216C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> them to obey everything I have commanded you. <b><i>And surely I am with you <sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-24216D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup>always, to the very end of the age.”</i></b></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*1 <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4:12&version=NIV" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: none;">Hebrews 4:12</a></span></strong><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">For </span><span style="background-color: white;">the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">word</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">of</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">God</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">is</span><span style="background-color: white;"> alive and active. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Sharper</span><span style="background-color: white;"> than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges </span><span style="background-color: white;">the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> thoughts and attitudes </span><span style="background-color: white;">of</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">the</span><span style="background-color: white;"> heart.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*2 James 1:20</span></b><br />
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<span class="text Jas-1-20" id="en-NIV-30287" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>because human anger<sup class="crossreference" style="vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30287A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> does not produce the righteousness that God desires.</b></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*3 <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:22-23&version=NIV" style="color: #b2462d;">Galatians 5:22-23</a></span></strong><br />
<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Jas-1-20" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*4 <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5:13&version=NIV" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: none;">Galatians 5:13</a></span></b></div>
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<span class="text Jas-1-20" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span class="text Jas-1-20" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="text Jas-1-20" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span class="text Jas-1-20" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> freedom</span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></b></b></span></div>
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<span class="text Jas-1-20" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Jas-1-20" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly </span></b></b></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Jas-1-20" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">in love. </span></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-k_EaTIignU36A_2u-NDkRbtBwNZFdYCZVOseg90X8Skuy1a86ZNqSA0JglGj3WfsxlL6YZ_oo-zhB6Pcq9g11qMBVlJ85_0eRONZzwDw0K1rBlZwZ_YRR1NuctfTjxqHqbVWJjYSOTS/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-k_EaTIignU36A_2u-NDkRbtBwNZFdYCZVOseg90X8Skuy1a86ZNqSA0JglGj3WfsxlL6YZ_oo-zhB6Pcq9g11qMBVlJ85_0eRONZzwDw0K1rBlZwZ_YRR1NuctfTjxqHqbVWJjYSOTS/s320/056.JPG" width="320" /></a></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(This is my family who I love so much, my husband, 3 girls, and my son. </b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They were standing on a balcony hanging over a steep cliff. It was a little nerve</b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">wracking. I am </b><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></b></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">so blessed by them. )</b></b></div>
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joanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062494606303937122noreply@blogger.com2 Ohio USA39.730425729699952 -84.226684570312539.535042229699954 -84.5425415703125 39.925809229699951 -83.9108275703125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000983220032554910.post-67461552369058359742012-07-04T05:19:00.003-07:002012-07-04T05:19:57.580-07:00A Wonderful 4th of JulyIt's my 11th week running now, and I feel like if I ever quit, it would be the worst thing ever! Rascal the rabbit didn't make it. I called the wildlife center, and they said he was doing very badly, so they humanely euthenized him later that day. I think the rabbit did better than if I'd left him there because he was afraid until I got him. Compassion is something that I want to engrain in my children for animals and people. Even though it was just a rabbit, it really affected me. God bless it's little rabbit soul! Anyone who reads this, please pray for my brother who is serving our country overseas. I thank the Lord for him. Even though we're both busy and really don't talk much, I love him very much, and know that the Lord is using him, and with him through it all. My kids are watching Balto right now, so I only have a small window of "thinking time" before it's done. God bless you all, and make sure that the joy of the Lord is your strength today. God bless America, and draw us back to you Lord!!!!!!!!! Amen:)joanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062494606303937122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000983220032554910.post-29983345651465108932012-06-28T05:40:00.001-07:002012-06-28T05:40:48.132-07:00Please pray for Rascal the rabbit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Good morning! I've been running every morning for 10 weeks now, and this morning I ran into my first crisis. I believe that that Lord puts us into situations where we can do something for him. It helps us, and can help someone else. This morning I was over the half-way mark when I looked to the side of the road and saw a 'teenage' bunny flopping around. About the size of the palm of your hand was missing from its skin on its back with only muscle showing. We're taking him to Brunker's Wildlife Center in a minute. Pray for his recovery!!! God loves his animals too:):)joanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062494606303937122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000983220032554910.post-72494189907310841332012-04-22T05:06:00.000-07:002012-04-22T05:06:35.750-07:00Good morning, so I just woke up and had an interesting dream. I have a friend at church who will be getting married soon, and my dream was an impromptu wedding where the dress needed to be put together very quickly before she could walk down the aisle. I wound up helping put it together because I sew some, it was very pretty, but I wasn't dressed for the occasion , so I didn't wind up going to the reception or anything. Instead, I went outside and waited with a friend outside of a park, which had tennis courts. I man appeared to me, telling me about a zoo in the clouds that only certain special people were allowed to go to. I was special, and he said that the Lord had sent him. He looked like the kind of guy that had it all together, and very trustworthy. I thought that it was all pretty cool, and asked my friend if she would want to go with me to this zoo. She declined that she really did not want to go. I was shocked at why anyone would not want to go. So I called my mom, and told her about this man, and this offer. She sensed immediately that it wasn't right. She did her usual freak out that she does when she knows that something isn't r right, and being the stubborn daughter I hung up and said I could figure it out myself. I was already to go with the guy, and I told him that I had one last thing to do before we left on our journey. I said, you need to repeat after me. " Jesus is the way, the truth, and the Life. It is by him that we are saved because he is the son of God. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son...." The man began repeating with me, but by the time we got halfway through what I wanted to say, he began to get smaller, and smaller, and eventually disappeared completely. I realized then that the Lord had obviously not sent the guy, and that he was sent as a distraction. Nothing in this world is worth risking getting off the path that God has set for you, because through the work that the Lord gives you to do, lives will be rescued and people will be set free. Set on the right path, and the Lord will be glorified. Don't let the cares of the world stop you from being as fruitful as the Lord has for you to be. Look to him in all things.<br />
I thank the Lord for Godly friends, and my mom who are there to speak truth into situations. May the Lord help me to be a light to the truth in all situations.joanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062494606303937122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000983220032554910.post-81427393790175798102012-04-13T04:23:00.000-07:002012-04-13T04:23:13.678-07:00Beware!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQnEkAJaFQE9rjA1y_N2WGxQnBdE1VDiLDjz-9Re75RVy206SryCSP4_fpHlGJrVD6gGhQJKLUBPeFqAup_zEhYXVvD-GZzgKejGHAKGrWDKPl2RlhyBAAMh-ieGBSg3S0_OKEaBq3OEL/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQnEkAJaFQE9rjA1y_N2WGxQnBdE1VDiLDjz-9Re75RVy206SryCSP4_fpHlGJrVD6gGhQJKLUBPeFqAup_zEhYXVvD-GZzgKejGHAKGrWDKPl2RlhyBAAMh-ieGBSg3S0_OKEaBq3OEL/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>My little pound puppy "Fillie"</strong></span></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #4c1130;">Isn't she cute?</span> </em></div> Last night I was reading a little bit in Proverbs before I went to bed. There's always one verse that jumps out at me more than the others. Last night it was this: Proverbs 8:13 "<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">13</span></sup> To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."<br />
As Christians (Christ followers) we need to abhor these things. Evil behavior and perverse speech should be obvious no-no's, however our society prods us on to be proud of ourselves, take care of ourselves because we deserve it for all of our hard work. Now I'm not into self loathing, but it's our Lord who takes care of us, and he deserves the praise and honor for all of HIS hard work. The work that we do really doesn't seem as hard when you put it into the Lord's hands before you do it. I believe that our first priority is giving the Lord honor in every area of our lives, and this is when the deceiver will have no place with us. The deceiver would want to tell you, " Your work is too hard, you can't do it. But if you actually DO complete it then you need to look at yourself in the mirror and pat yourself on the back because you are wonderful and worthy of the praise!!!" See how deceptive? On it's own, it seems so true, and is in a way. But how empty! But if you look at those couple of sentences and replace them with, "Your work is too hard, unless the Lord is in it. And if He's helping you do the work then you thank the Lord and praise Him because he's made you wonderfully out of His goodness, and He is worthy of praise!" We need to inject the praise of our Father into society, and let the Holy Spirit do His work in the midst. Let God be the one to pat you on the back:)joanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062494606303937122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000983220032554910.post-47254102559039896802012-04-11T05:35:00.000-07:002012-04-11T05:35:41.735-07:00A busy day Good morning<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">! Today I have a full day of conquering mount laundry and teaching abc's to my 4 year old who will be taking her kindergarten placement test next week (oh the stress!), and other cleaning and motherly tasks. Before I started my list, I wanted to write this. So I opened my bible, and took some time seeing what the Lord would say to me. I opened to the beginning of Mark, and read for a while. Mark is the action gospel. It's written in a way that the Romans, or gentiles would be interested. Romans were interested in action, thus the emphasis. I didn't really think much of what I read, as I've read it a lot in my life... I know the stories. But as I started doing the dishes I was thinking about everything that Jesus did. It was all so important. Though the way it is written in Mark, it almost seems boring: he was baptized, he was tempted, he called the disciples, he drove out an evil spirit.... To me it's a little boring this way, but so is my life when I think of it that way!!! She woke up, she made breakfast, she did the dishes, she gave a bath, she fed the dog, she made an appointment. But everything is very important, and you have to see the spirit in it, the love, the importance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23818" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">25</sup><span style="background-color: white;"> Jesus called them together and said, </span><span style="color: red;"><span class="woj" style="background-color: white;">“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="woj" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23819" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">26</sup> Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="woj" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23820" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">27</sup>and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="woj" style="background-color: white;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23821" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">28</sup> just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="woj" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: red;"> </span>And so, I pray that today everything that I do would be following Jesus in being "slave" to all(so hard to do). God bless you today in the same way! </span><br />
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</span>joanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062494606303937122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8000983220032554910.post-34335202432968022112012-04-09T19:00:00.001-07:002012-04-10T07:33:59.785-07:00My first blog<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; white-space: pre;"> </span>Hello, my name is Joan, and I love Jesus:) I have a wonderful husband, 3 girls, and a boy, and a Beagle named Fillie. My mom does a blog ^every day^, so I thought I might do one too, because the Lord gives me insights on things sometimes that could be useful to others, and maybe to you. I don't write a whole lot, but here goes!<br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> I was thinking what I would write if I were to do one today, so I opened my bible to the end of Mark, which was where it was open because we'd read the crucifixion and resurrection with the kids in bible study this week. I read Mark 16: 15-18, which is Jesus talking *(here it is for a refresher for you)</div><div><div class="heading passage-class-0" style="background-color: white; color: #5c1101; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px;">Mark 16:15-18</h3><div class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;">New International Version (NIV)</div></div><div class="result-text-style-normal text-html " style="background-color: white;"><div style="font-family: "Charis SIL", charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal;"><i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24889" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">15</sup> He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.</i> <i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24890" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">16</sup> Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.</i> <i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24891" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">17</sup> And these signs</i> <i>will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons;</i> <i>they will speak in new tongues;</i> <i><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-24892" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">18</sup> they will pick up snakes</i> <i>with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on</i> <i>sick people, and they will get well.”</i></div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I got to the part about drinking the deadly poison and not being hurt, I looked to the bottom of the page where they give notes on the verse, and it said that there was no occurrence of drinking deadly poison found in the New Testament. This jumped off the page at me and I really saw the Holy Spirit in it, because this is scriptural proof that the Holy Spirit is not done working in people now. Though I know this for myself through personal experience, maybe to someone this scripture could open a light on the subject. <br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I'll try to write on here as often as I can. May the Lord use me:) Also, I pray that the Lord blesses you with peace, and a joyful heart in Him. </div></div>joanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14062494606303937122noreply@blogger.com2