The Holy Spirit

There are so many things to say about Him. The bible says that the Holy Spirit is a teacher, giver of life, comforter, He searches all things, and He leads us into ALL truth.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14: 26 ESV)

The Holy Spirit is the best friend you can and ever will have. He knows everything about you. He is all around. You can't run away from Him. He is a gentleman. He loves to love on you, and He longs to work deeply and GENTLY inside of you. He is everything. He is the giver of life. He is the breath I breathe every single day. He is the reason I can smile, He is the reason I can laugh, He is the reason I can love, He is the reason why I have strength to get up and do what God has called me to do. He is the one who loves me so much that He can speak to me about my life now, and what is to come. He loves me so much that in an instant, I could be in a room that was just a room, and He can take me to a place with Him and show me things that He wants me to know. He can sweep me away like no one else can. It blows my mind that God wants to have an intimate friendship with us. The very God that became flesh to die for ME, died on the cross, resurrected, and became the King of all Kings; and HE wants to have a close intimate friendship with ME.

Thinking about this idea is overwhelming, in the sense that it is so overly profound. 

When we get to know Him, we dig so much deeper into God and who He is. The spirit says and reveals things as the Father does. "But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets." (1 Corinthians 2: 10 NLT)

God longs to share His heart with the people that are willing to listen. Especially with the people that have given it all for the cause of His kingdom. Once you've given you life to the one that gave His life for you, and you trust in Him, there is room to be filled with what God wants to say, there is room to receive it. It all starts with the choice to give it all. 

Their have been times in my life, where I could just be so overwhelmed, and just cry. But God, still speaks to me in the low places of my life. Your situation does not make you disqualified from receiving from the spirit of God. God makes a way to speak to you at any point in your life- High's and low's. 

The spirit of God is gentle, but when he gives true conviction, it's as if there is someone breathing strong wind into your heart, which is full of power and strength, but it is sweeter than wine. "Kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine." (Song of Solomon 1: 2 NLT) 

When the Holy Spirit speaks with His love and kindness, it's as if I am receiving the biggest kiss in my heart. He smothers me totally and completely, and I could just cry and cry. Because HE is good. The Holy Spirit is not rude. He is NOT condemnation. "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus." (Romans 8: 1 NLT)

The Holy Spirit gave me a vision and He showed me this long silver sword, with baby blue jewels on it's hilt. In the spirit, I'm asking God, "What does this mean, Lord?" And the Holy Spirit was saying, that He is a team with the word of God. Without the Spirit of God, the word of God is just words. "The Spirit of God makes the word of God come alive." - Bill Johnson 

He was saying that when we use the word of God to minister to other people, we must be Spirit led. When we try to take control, we automatically give ourselves the control of what His job is in the first place; to convict the heart of man. As people of God, we need to be led by God. When we hold that sword, and we try to convict people, we can very much pierce people's hearts the wrong way. We cannot carry the job of the Holy Spirit because it is His job to do the convicting, not ours. All we must do is stay connected to Him, be fervent, and carry it out exactly the way He says it knowing that He is God, He is good, and HE can do anything. Having the confidence to know that He is who He says He is. When we hold the sword and let Him take control, he points it in all the right directions and it pierces the heart of man the way it was meant to. 

The Holy Spirit and the word of God are a team.

The Holy Spirit is my Helper, and my comforter. Their have been times in my life where I just didn't even know what was up and down anymore. I didn't know what to do, or where to go. Everything seemed as if it was a downward spiral. With God, there is no such thing as that though. He always comes in and picks you up, and saves you from that. He is a HELPER. He will save you, He will have your back, He will protect you, He is the answer when it seems like everything is falling apart. Just knowing that He is everywhere, and He is for you, He is the solution to the problem or the situation. "He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 47: 10 NIV) 

That's what He wants us to know. He wants us to know that it's going to be okay. That it's not going to last forever, whatever pain you might be struggling with today, He wants to give you warmth, He wants to hold you, make you smile, comfort you, and give you peace that surpasses all understanding. 

The friendship with the Holy Spirit is something so divine, and vital to have. He is our source of life. He is understanding. He is love. He is peace. He provides for our every need. He wants to reveal himself people! It is fascinating to see how God is reaching out to His people, revealing His glory all over the world. He is looking for the people who will give it all. That's where friendship with God comes in. In a life of worship, when you give it all for the sake of His kingdom. "God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones He confides in." (Psalm 25: 14 MSG) These are the people that the Holy spirit trusts. The people that are willing to give it ALL for the sake of HIS kingdom. Friendship with the Holy Spirit is for the worshipers of God. 

He loves you and is for you. He understands where you are at. Nothing is a surprise for God. Please understand this. You will get through whatever it is you are going through with His strength, His love, His counsel, and His help. He is for you. :)

Sharing my heart.

I feel like I haven't blogged in years. But, I'm back! Honestly guys, I just want to share my heart with you and where I've been with the Lord and where I am now, and just things that are in my heart.

To begin with, God is awesome. There's times in life where we feel far, and we feel that God is far away from us. The truth is, we control the weather in our spiritual realm. We are the sons and daughters of the most high King, we have his spiritual DNA in us. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7) One thing I love is that we serve a God who is all these things,love, power, and WISDOM. When we begin friendship with the Holy Spirit and we take time out of our lives to get to know Him, He showers us with love and wisdom. "What do I do in this situation of my life?" Ask the Holy Spirit. He is there to guide us into all truth and understanding. The Holy Spirit is sweet and a gentleman, he comes inside of us and works deeply and gently. Since he guides us into all truth, He WILL be honest and straight forward, ha! Only because He is our friend and counselor. His words shake and stir our hearts on the inside. When the Holy Spirit speaks to you, He speaks in the way that's best fitting for who you are. Thank God! Always there to help, and never to discourage.

We need to have faith, and truly walk in it. Believe me, I know it's hard, sometimes I feel like I don't even know what's up or down. God has given me the spirit or power to prophesy over myself that things will get better, because they WILL. When we are in the center of the glory of God, the only person who can take you out, is YOU.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (Psalm 84:11 NIV)

When we are under God's shield and will, he bestows favor and honor over us. We have everything we need under His shelter, when things get tough, will we just run out and see what the world can offer us? Or trust in Jesus and have faith that He is who he says He is?

People have their own views of God, I love viewing God as my daddy. Because that's what He is. He's loving and protective, and watches out for me. One passage of scripture I love is Romans 8: 26 MSG!

"Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."

When we don't even know what to say or think, God's spirit is already praying for us, because He knows us better than anyone, He is our loving creator, He's El Roi, He sees us for who we are, and loves us, with the good, the bad, and the ugly. He wants us to be honest in our worship, and live our lives loving on Him, and growing in friendship. God trusts his friends with His lovely secrets.

"God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones he confides in."(Psalm 25:14 MSG)

This verse changed my perspective, and its self-explanatory. When your friends with someone, you take time to hang out with them, and you share your heart, you laugh with them, you cry with them; That's what we need to do with the Holy Spirit. He's always there and longs to hear our stories, and about our heartbreaks, and our every-day things, because He wants to be in it, He wants to get into the middle of everything, ha! The good thing about the Holy Spirit is that every time He gets in the middle of the situation, He can't make things worse, He only makes them better! The Lord loves when we trust in him, because when we truly devote our lives to him and identify ourselves as children of God, He begins to trust US. Can you believe that such a beautiful, and perfect God would tell us His secrets from heaven?! It's mind blowing.

"My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?" (Galations 5: 16-18)

The Holy Spirit really just moved inside of me when I read this. So much of this relates to even me. We cannot be selfish, and that's such a natural thing for the human to want to be. That's the kind of society we live in. The thing is, part of God's character is a giver, He GAVE His one and only son so He could have friendship with me. Selfishness preserves for self, selflessness gives. If God is a giver, and His spirit lives inside of us, why are we not surrendering our lives? Why are we being selfish? When we learn to live being spirit-led, then we are truly being a little Christ. It hurts sometimes, but worship is this thing where we give to Him, but in return he fills us with His spirit, His love, His peace, His compassion, and everything we need. Just like God gave His son, but Jesus became the King of heaven and gave us eternal life. It's a two way thing. When we spin ourselves on Him, He gladly spins over us. He longs to be FOUND.

"God is stirring our hearts because He longs to be found." - Banning Liebscher

"He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father." (Ephesians 2: 18 MSG)

We have the same access to the Father as Jesus did, it's just we need to seek Him in faith, even in our days where we don't feel Him, He is there. Don't give up on Him, he never gave up on you.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. (Psalm 23: 1-3 NIV)

In the Father's heart, we have everything. He longs for us to jump into His could of glory and go away with Him. That's all He wants. He wants all of us freely because in return He gives us all of Him freely. In God's presence we are renewed, and crowns us with love and compassion (Psalm 103) Daddy-God wants to love you, and hold you, and share His secrets with you :) Just reach out him, because He is already reaching out His mighty hand to you.

What are God-worshipers exactly?

My question: What are God-worshipers like? Your answer: Arrows aimed at God's bull's-eye. (Psalm 25:12 MSG)

Worship is such a powerful thing, it's sending our praises from our hearts straight to the King himself. It heals people in all areas; but many people have the idea that worship is just the set that you get to hear every sunday morning, feel the presence of God, and then just go home and you're okay for the rest of the week. Well, that would be a negative.

Worship is obedience to God. It's saying I choose you over anything and I love you more than anything and everyone, and living a life of complete surrender to God. True worshippers of God worship in spirit and in truth, since God is spirit himself. It says in Psalm 25:12 that His true worshipers are the ones that are aimed at His bulls-eye. Agreeing with Him, and submitting to Him, having His joy in your life, and releasing the kingdom of heaven wherever you go. They are the ones that will be unashamed of the word, since God is the word, and the word is God; they will take it by force being unafraid.

God is sheer being itself-Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration. (John 4:24 MSG)

When we worship God, we don't have to pretend to be like anyone else. He wants US, to be who He has created US to be. We need to be true to who we are in Him. One part that really gets me about this verse is the last two words. When we worship God, we need to worship Him in adoration as well. A definition I found for adoration was fervent and devoted love. Fervent means having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit. Another definition was, hot; burning; glowing. Wow.

When we know who our Father is, our view on Him will never be the same. We are co-heirs of Christ.

Our worship should never be dry. When you let the holy spirit lead you in your worship, He will help you. He is our counselor, helper, and friend.

Worship comes from our heart. It's giving God all of our love and all of our affection. Our worship should be burning and glowing for Him. We need to be invisible worshipers in the sense that it should NEVER EVER EVER be us that people see. It's always about Jesus.

God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones he confides in. (Psalm 25:14 MSG)

This just blows me away, honestly. Lots of people know who God is by Him being the creator of the heavens and the earth, and by being almighty and powerful and I'm thankful that he is! But I also believe that God is Abba; Daddy. Living a life of worship is submitting to God always, but there is also such a relationship that is built between you and Daddy-God. It's the moments when no one is watching and you are just speaking to God, and He speaks to you. The moments where you just sing your heart out to God out of your love for Him when no one else is watching. Those are the moments when you encounter God in ways that are surreal. True worshipers know who God is. That's why there is a God-friendship. When you talk to your friends, you tell them how your day was, your plans for next weekend, and everything else that goes on in a teen's life. It's the same thing; just with God. It's talking to Him on the daily, telling Him who He is, saying, "I choose you over anything and everything." God LOVES when we speak to Him about anything honestly. When we love on Him, he's loving on us just as equally. When we tell Him that he's beautiful, He's telling us the same. So having a God-friendship is something that is just beautiful. God confides in true worshipers who are after his heart and want His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Those are the ones that He trusts because He knows that are willing to listen to Him and to obey whatever He has said for them to do on this earth.

There's moments where we can be in the presence of the living God, and just say, "Lord, I surrender! I'll do anything you ask me to do!" And when there comes a time where God wants you to do something that you're not comfortable with, eh, yeah, it gets pretty hard.

Living a life of worship is not easy. You're always sacrificing something. But every-time you sacrifice something, you're storing seeds in the spirit to bloom. It's a life of submission and adoration to God. It's dragging down Heaven to earth, and it's a life of being unashamed. God loves His true worshipers, for those are the ones that he seeks.

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. (John 4:23 NIV)

A lot of people tend to speak about having "The same heartbeat as God!" Half the time, people don't even understand the concept.

You have the same heartbeat as God when you live a life or true worship. When you choose Him, when you submit to His will, then again He confides in His true worshipers with His plans for the world. It's when you and God are one, and you agree with the spirit; that's when you have the same heartbeat as God. It's the same thing as being "Heaven-minded" in a sense. Agreeing with God and what's in His heart, agreeing with His will for earth as it is in heaven; that's being "Heaven-minded."

Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies;2 Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness;3 Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings;4 Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute;5 Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin.6 Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah! (Psalm 150 MSG)

We have a reason to worship God with every fiber of our being, he's everything we need in this life, and the next. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was and is, and is to come. He is our portion and He is our prize. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Since he lives in us, we need to be free in his presence, and worship Him fervently and in adoration. It doesn't matter what anyone says, because God knows your heart; what have you got to loose? Nothing.

I just had to use the Bethel: Loft sessions picture for this post. It was too perfect. :)

"Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

It is entirely true. When someone is in the presence of God, there's pure peace. It's this thick atmosphere, yet it's the lightest thing in the world. And that's just it, God leads us to green pastures, and still waters. It's pure paradise, and freedom. It says in the word that He "crowns us with love and compassion, a paradise crown." He is our Shepard, and we don't need one thing when we have Him. He satisfies all our needs. He is the light that we follow. He is everything. Sometimes we tend to forget that when something called, "life" gets in the way.

None of us are perfect, and we all have our days. We all have our high's and low's in life. But God will always remain. He was, and is, and is to come.

Some of us tend to be so worried about life and what it holds for tomorrow and all of that.

Well Phillipians 4:6-7 MSG says:

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

As human beings, it's hard NOT to worry! We deal with everyday life, and people, and jobs, school, and everything else in between! It's just a heart of surrender that we need to have. And trust in Him. When we surrender everything to the one who created us, things just click. He takes our lives in his hands, and he promises to give us hope and a future! Many times we are scared to surrender because of the doubts in our head. the "But when will it happen?" or the classic "what if' s" and, "buts." But we have to remember that we should not worry about tomorrow too much, because we don't even know what it holds. When we get into God's presence, things change. You feel an overwhelming love and peace. That's what happens when we put God in the center. We have peace. We get to know him better, and the more we get to know Him, and spend more time with Him, the more we understand who our Father truly is and how He is for us, and NOT against us.

God is our Daddy. He's always looking out for what's the best for us.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

That's right. He wants us to cast out all our worries on Him. When we cast it all down, things become lighter. And the word even says to cast out ALL our anxiety because HE cares for us. When we let Jesus take the wheel of our lives, it's amazing the ride he'll take us on.

Isaiah 26:3 MSG says: "People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don't quit"

When we keep ourselves focused on God and allow him to work deep in us, God keeps us steady.

Peace makes us whole, and peace is Jesus Christ.
-Angelis