Scripture testifies of the person of GOD’s Holy Spirit.

Genesis 1:2 GNB  “The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the power of GOD was moving over the water”.

Isaiah 61:1-4 GNB “The Sovereign LORD has filled me with His Spirit. He has chosen me and sent me to bring good news to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to announce release to captives and freedom to those in prison. He has sent me to proclaim that the time has come when the LORD will save His people and defeat their enemies. He has sent me to comfort all who mourn,to give to those who mourn in Zion. Joy and gladness instead of grief; a song of praise instead of sorrow. They will be like trees that The LORD Himself has planted. They will all do what is right, and GOD will be praised for what He has done…”.

Psalm 51:10-13 GNB  ”Create a pure heart in me O GOD, and put a new and loyal Spirit in me. Do not banish me from your presence; do not take your Holy Spirit away from me. Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach sinners your commands, and they will turn back to you.”

The Great Commission is the work of GOD’s Holy Spirit. Jesus sent the Comforter to us to guide us in the work of salvation. Therefore, there has been an unction put upon my heart to teach the concepts of the work of GOD’s Spirit. 

I sometimes forget that there was once a time when I did not understand the Holy Spirit’s work for myself. It is the responsibility of  GOD’s saints to impart teaching and wisdom to those who have not yet tasted of His Spirit. Therefore, GOD provided an opportunity for me through His servants to learn of Him.

I can remember the first time that I was exposed to the gifts of The Spirit. I was 24 years old and finally learning how to drive. My high school did not offer a full Drivers Ed program, so my Dad had tried to teach me and it had failed. I had managed to wrap the fender of his car around a pole and that was the end of that. When it became imperative for me to learn to drive I elicited the help of Dual System Driving School in Norfolk, Virginia. The instructor was Bob, a born-again charismatic Christian from Rock Church in Hampton, Virginia.

From the moment that we met–Bob took it upon himself to educate me in the ways of GOD’s Spirit. I was a Christian, saved at five-years-old, but I did not understand the work of The Spirit. I did not even understand that Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit were the same person. As we drove here and there, in the midst of teaching me how to corner, etc, etc; he talked to me about the Scriptures. I could hold my own here because after all, my Daddy was a preacher. Not much that this guy could teach me, right?

I was almost finished with my driving lessons. All that was left to do was night driving prior to taking my test. Bob picked me up and had me drive to his friend’s house for Bible Study. I thought that this was a bit unusual but did what he asked. Upon arriving, I was introduced to several nice Christians who proceeded to welcome me to study with them. I saw no problem here–so I joined them in a very interesting Bible Study in  First Corinthians.

After the study they started to pray, and this is where things began to get weird. At least to me they were weird. Someone was speaking in an entirely different  language, and not only was it unfamiliar to me but there seemed to be a change in the atmosphere of the room. It made my hairs stand up on the back of my neck. I was sitting in the back of the living room and could not escape so I was subjected to an hour of several people praying in what I now know to be tongues, and others giving interpretations.

After what seemed like an interminable time, Bob told me that we could go. Once in the car all was silence until he said, “Was that frightening to you”? My Protestant guns were ready to fire. Suffice it to say that he got both barrels. Bob suffered my fearful utterings, then said, ” I thought it time that you learned about the gifts of the Spirit. I have been listening to you talk about JESUS and GOD for two weeks–but you never mentioned The Holy Spirit”. He went on to tell me about the Third Person in the Holy Trinity and about His work with mankind. I was totally blown away. It would not be until three years later that fruit would grow in such a heavenly, sovereign way that I could not deny the truth of GOD’s Spirit.

My sister, Thalia, had invited me to another Bible Study. This time it was being held at a small local church called Friendship Baptist not far from home. I was reluctant to go because I had heard of the type of meetings they had. People were reportedly slain in the Spirit at every meeting, and lives were being changed. I did not want to be convicted because I knew that I was not living by GOD’s Word and did not want my life overturned. Thalia convinced me to attend.

The Bible Study was good, holy, and convicting. At the end of the evening there was an altar call and many people went forward for prayer. I did not want to be among them but something ( I now know someone) urged me forward. The line was long and I shook as I watched person after person hit the floor. I tried to turn back but the crowd was too thick behind me.

The Pastor was smiling at me as I arrived at the front of the altar. He asked me for my name and reached towards me, and that is all I can remember. When I came to myself, I was lying in the floor–and I could feel a Presence so strong that I was unable to rise to my feet.

I have never been the same. Nothing changed overnight except my understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work and a growing awareness of His presence inside of me. As time progressed, everything in my world fell apart and then GOD mended it. It took several years for me to fully understand and to receive the gift of tongues, with other subsequent gifts from GOD’s Spirit. Everything that has happened in my life since that time has been walked through, prayed through, and resolved through The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They have been my Comforters through two difficult pregnancies, a bout with the spirit of cancer, removal of my gallbladder, debilitating back pain, and my husband experiencing two major heart attacks. Miraculously, my husband and myself are in full recovery. GOD has been my deliverer and provider through all of these things. Now I face life changing events that promise a renewed future and dedication to The Trinity’s work and Persons, and I can only say ‘ “Thank You, Holy Spirit”.

Next Installment: The Proof of The Third Person

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             Does it sometimes appear as if living a Christian life is an unattainable goal? Are you stymied at the thought of giving up all worldly desire for the cause of Christ? Are you concerned about the everyday provision of food, shelter, and clothing?

In Matthew 6:31-34 NKJV Jesus says: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or, ‘What shall we drink?’ or, ‘What shall we wear?’ (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

             Human beings like to borrow trouble, or at least it can appear that way. We are so caught up with concerns about tomorrow that today does not get full attention. After all, how can you concentrate on the tasks of the day if tomorrow’s tasks are already occupying most of your attention? Why anticipate pain before it appears? Why assume that all will not be well before you have prayed for deliverance?Jesus is continually interceding on our behalf. He knows our needs long before we do. Trust Him to provide.

            Jesus teaches us to give all of our concerns about basic needs of life to Him. He is our Jehovah-Jireh, our provider, the helpful one in time of need. Sometimes we are so busy taking care of these things for Him that we can delay anything happening at all. It is not easy to turn everything over to Jesus, especially when we feel guilty because we do not feel as if we have given enough effort into providing for ourselves. Somehow we feel as if GOD would not be willing to provide for us if we do not first take the physical initiative. The whole key is to ask Him for provision first, then follow His lead through His Holy Spirit to it. This is an entirely different approach, isn’t it? You are not being lazy, you are being faithful.

           When troubles come, learn to lean on the one who died for you. Stop trying to think of every conceivable way that you can make things happen. Let go and let GOD happen.

                                                                                God Bless you, Charlene  

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Psalm 121 has always been one of my favorites. This is a  Psalm of God’s protection of His people. When I lie down to sleep at night or while working at different times of the day, this Psalm comes to my mind and my heart. It is a Psalm that is meant to be shared. I pray that it blesses your heart as well.

                                                                                                                        Charlene

                                                                    Psalm 121

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; He that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon  thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul.

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

How can I despair when I read the message of this Psalm. It is a surety to me that GOD is on my side. His unconditional love for me surpasses any love on this earth. That is why I must praise Him. That brings us to another Psalm…

                                                             Psalm 77

I cried out to GOD for help; I cried out to GOD to hear me.

When I was in distress, I sought the LORD. At night I stretched out 

  untiring hands, and my soul refused to be comforted.

I remembered you, O GOD, and I groaned; I mused; and my spirit grew faint.

You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.

I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;

I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit

inquired. Will the LORD reject forever? Will He never show His favor again?

Has His unfailing love vanished forever? Has His promise failed for all time?

Has GOD forgotten to be merciful? Has He in anger withheld His compassion?

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.”  I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your might deeds.

Your ways, O GOD are holy. What GOD is so great as our GOD? You are the GOD who performs miracles; You display your power among the peoples.

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people. The descendents of  Jacob and Joseph.

The waters saw you , O GOD, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.

Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.

Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters. Though your footprints were not seen.

You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

This is a Psalm that brings the reality of GOD into my life. I can identify with the Psalmist–for I have also cried out in the night and have had the reassuring presence of GOD’s Holy Spirit comfort me. Life is not guaranteed to be easy and the further you stretch your borders of belief, the harder the struggle and the harder things may appear. As it says in this Psalm–remember the deliverance from trouble granted before, and trust GOD that help is on the way. 

                                                                                                            Charlene

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The Women United Gift Store is open for business. I have ordered to check out the process and will showing you the item I ordered when it gets in. Feel free to order what you wish.   Charlene

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Introduction to Sisterhood  April 23, 2010

Sisterhood: Connecting Women For GOD’s Glory

God created woman. She was beautifully and wonderfully made in His image, and even though subject to the Fall—through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, today’s woman is privileged to inherit into the Kingdom of GOD. Hebrews 9:15 states:”… Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”

Church women have the capacity as sisters in Christ to unite their hearts and minds together in worship, celebration, service, and encouraging one another. The fruit produced is the Garden of GOD’s Heart, and Jesus makes each flower bloom in its own way in its own time.       

Song of Solomon 2:1 says:“I Am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valleys”. KJV

     What is more beautiful than a fresh, white lily–the rays of the sun striking rainbows on it’s flesh, the sweet dew glinting as diamonds. Jesus as the “Lily of the Valley” gives forth a marvelous fragrance as the source of miracles in our lives. He brings refreshing healing to us in times of crisis, in times of hurt and pain. Does your pain seem prolonged, even endless? Do your prayers seem to go unanswered? Trust in the divine miraculous intervention of the Living GOD! Not only is He willing and able to deliver you, but he will also shower you with fragrant blessings from on High. The lily in the natural world will fade from view–the “Lily of the Valley” will never lose His beauty, or His fragrance, or His heart.

     The miracles of Christ reveal GOD’s work of restoration–delivering and restoring His Creation. Making the blind to see; the lame to walk; the dead to rise is Christ’s way of showing the grace given to us. We are never deserving of the miracles in our lives. These miracles are gifts from above. Let us be thankful that we have a Savior who cares for His Creation enough to die for our many sins. That is the ultimate miracle.

Through Christ, we are given power to raise the dead, to heal, to deliver, and to set the captives free. The church is the bride of Christ and the church is composed of people, not walls. That is why it is so important to bear witness to share with others who are going through experiences that are similar to our own already delivered circumstances. Such is the power in ministry, and, for us assembled here tonight, the power in women’s ministry.

Women’s ministry addresses the desires and needs of our sisters whether they are spiritual, physical, mental, or emotional. As sisters in Christ it is our desire to pray restoration and deliverance into the hearts of those women entrusted to our care. It is through seeking connection to the LORD that we can experience the agape love revealed in Christ that is spiritual, selfless, and a model for us to follow.

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the LORD, and not unto men, knowing that of the LORD ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the LORD Christ.” Colossians 3:23 &24

Di Anne Giebler and Christine Stovey are here to share the heart of sisterhood with us tonight. Let us encourage them as they seek to bloom in GOD’s garden.

                                                             Charlene Kirst

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        Once again, Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of our LORD and SAVIOR is here. This is the season of recognizing the sacrifice that Jesus the Christ made for each of us to have access to eternal life. Through intercession, Jesus paid the price for all of ours sins committed and not yet committed. That we are not worthy of such unconditional love has been covered by His blood shed for the remission of sins. We are all loved beyond our own comprehension.

A striking portion of scripture that epitomizes this love is found in John 21: 1-25. Jesus had prepared hot coals and was cooking fish for the disciples as they struggled for a catch. Just as when they had first met, Jesus told them to “throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. When they did, they were unable to haul the net because of the large number of fish”. This was representative of the many “fish” or followers of Christ yet to be caught for the Kingdom of GOD.

As we contemplate the true meaning of Christ’s sacrifice we should focus on the “Great Commission”. First of all, Easter is for everyday and everyone. That the holy day is celebrated once a year does not detract from the fact that Easter’s message applies each day. We are as Christians to fish for others to gather them into the Body of Christ. GOD’s Holy Spirit guides our fishing methods as all are not the same. However, each method should contain the same message and yield the same result. Why make Jesus’ sacrifice and love nil? To give His act meaning is to spread the Word and the Joy of Salvation. Then we may partake of the Lord’s Supper just as Jesus shared bread and wine with His disciples before His death, and then shared bread and fish with them after His resurrection.

Easter should continue long after the calendar appointed time of its celebration. In a world and a time when men do not want to hear the Word of GOD, let us as followers of Christ continue to study, teach, preach, and spread the news of the gift above all gifts–Salvation.

                                                                          A Joyous Easter, Charlene

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The women are truly enjoying the teaching: You Matter More Than You Think by Dr. Leslie Parrott. We have been exploring our roles as women in GOD’S Kingdom by studying women in the scriptures–Ruth, Deborah, Mary, Mary and Martha, Tabitha and others.  We are also studying Paul, Barnabus, and Timothy as additional  examples of servant leaders. The goal is to inspire each other through teaching the WORD to be our best for the Kingdom as women ordained to do the LORD’s service. We will then apply these principles to our lives and the lives of those around us.

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I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.    Rev 3:14-20

Looking back we sometimes do not see where we have been.

Like the frog in the pot…

Put the frog in hot water he jumps out.

Put the frog into a pot and slowly heat it up… the frog will not jump out but he will end up cooked.

We become Laodiceans when we fall away from God’s Word. We become lukewarm pew sitters.

Not seeing the joy that we first had when we first came to Christ.

Looking back in the rear view mirror we can see where we have been in Christ and where we are now.

It is time to return back to Jesus, Our First Love.

Revival starts with each of us. 

                                                                                      Rev. John Kirst