Dear Ones,
Hope you had a great weekend! Today is more rain but everything is so green and fresh. I studied this morning, and made a veggie stirfry, and  Al’s cookies and soon going to my exercise class. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  Recently, we celebrated Pentecost and at church we had red paraments on the altar and pulpit and large red banners hanging, all with flames of fire. We were reminded of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the wondrous power He poured out on the believers after Jesus ascended. Pastor also preached on the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst.
   But the filling of the Holy Spirit was not just for those back then but for all of us today who know the Lord. More than ever, we need the power of the Holy Spirit to live in a world that doesn’t recognize Jesus and does not want Him to have a place in our schools and work places etc. How can we be bold and speak truth when there is so much opposition to God’s ways? We need the help of the Holy Spirit to live for the Lord in these turbulent times. The Holy Spirit is a great teacher but we must be willing to learn from Him and be a good student.
    I was reading an article on Crosswalk.com about the importance of the Holy Spirit for as it says in I Cor. 2:10, “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” The Holy Spirit who lives in us searches the depths of God and wants to reveal His ways to us. We can’t expect the world to understand and at times they will make fun of us, but let us press on to let the Spirit teach us His truths.
    Have you noticed how the Spirit can take a portion of scripture and make it so real? At times it seems like it is in neon lights as He reveals new things to us. We need to follow what He says to us, over the ways of what the world would say. We are not to rely on our own understanding but in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight our paths. (Prov. 3:5-6) As we spend time studying the Word, we can ask the Holy Spirit to show us the meaning of what we are reading and to apply it to our lives. We will gain wisdom and understanding but we must choose to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in obedience. As the song goes:”
“Holy Spirit Come,
Make My Ears To Hear,
Make My Eyes To See,
Make My Mouth To Speak,
Make My Heart To Seek,
And My Hands To Reach Out,
And Touch The World,
With Your Love.”
   Challenge for today: Ask for the Holy Spirit to teach you God’s ways and to give you power to live in obedience and to reach out to others with His love.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy