Acts 15:36-41 (English Standard Version)

Paul and Barnabas Separate

³⁶And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."³⁷Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. ³⁸But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹And he went through Syria and Cilicia,strengthening the churches.

Is it wrong that I find comfort in the fact that the Apostle Paul fought with his fellow Christians. Here are two men called to do the same work, but they disagree on who to take with them. I have heard about many people who were called to the mission field and when they get there it's not the people who they are preaching to that they argue with. It's with their fellow missionaries that there is discourse. I find right now in my life that the worst fights are not with people who I try and minister to. It is within the church that I have the most complaints and an augmentative spirit. It is within my own family that I have the least amount of grace.

Father, as I seek to do Your will, may You give me a heart that has grace with everyone in my life. May my heart always be atune to how I should treat people. May I speak words that You would say. May my actions be things that You would do. I know that You can use even the bad things of this world to further Your kingdom. May You use my sin and mistakes to make Your name known. Spirit, give me Your spirit of kindness, gentleness, and self-control; yet give me a spirit that will fight for You and honors You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Acts 15:7-11

⁷ After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸ God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. ⁹ He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. ¹⁰ Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ¹¹ No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

As christian I often find myself putting on my self this burden. Do this not that. Be perfect, but not to perfect. This is the yoke that Jesus Christ has taken from us. Why do we still burden ourselves with such depravity? No one can live up to God's standards like this, but we try and make it an atainable goal. I find hope in this, "he purified their hearts by faith." All I need to is have faith. So easy, yet so hard. Paul will later echo this same thought when he writes to the Galations. Galatians 5:6 "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." I know I am called to love others. I know I am called to have faith in Christ. May God grow these two things in my heart, that I might be His light to the world.

Acts 13:44-52 (English Standard Version)
44The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"
48And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

This passage speaks to me on two levels. I know that I have a hard heart towards the gospel. I also know that I can use my tongue to tear down others very easily. I often find myself behaving like these Jews did. I don't want to hear the gospel that is preached to me. These men used "women of high standing" to destroy Paul's ministry. I have used my complaining and my tongue to tear down others ministry. I rejected God's word in light of my own gospel. This passage gives me great fear because it shows me what I am. This passage also gives me great hope. Despite my behaving like these Jews, God can still use this situation. I hope that I to can show God's light to the Gentiles. I hope that God can use this sinner to create order out of chaos and bring healing to people's bodies and souls through the gospel.

Father, please pour Your gospel into me. May Your truths fill my life. May I not be a person who rejects Your words. May I not be a person who tears down those whom You have sent to preach the gospel. Guide my tongue as I speak this week. May I be honest and truthful. May I always have Your words on my tongue and may I always be preaching Your gospel.

Acts 13:2-3 (English Standard Version)
2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

This is the begining of one of the most powerful missionaries story. It begins with a calling from the Holy Spirit. They heard the call while worshiping and fasting. I think this passage speaks to the importance of taking time to open up yourself to hearing the Holy Spirit. I know I live a busy life. I work night shift and I often will choose sleep over extra time in prayer or simply check my devotion off my list so that I can get on with the rest of my day. Some of the best moments of my life have been when I have been taking time with the fellowship of other Christians to listen to God. I love singing and worshiping the Father, but when we come together and worship God together something amazing happens. Because I work night shift I often have schedualing conflicts with my Christian friends who work during the day. I miss the fellowship I can have. I miss the oppritunities for Christ to say,"Here send her."

Dear Father, I ask that You would provide good Christian fellowship for me. Put me in places where I can join in fasting and praying with fellow believers who are seeking out the voice of Your Holy Spirit. Give me strength to focus on You and not on my own problems and tasks. Give my spirit rest in You. May I be close to You Fahter and not push You away. Help me to tell the story Your gospel to the nations. May Your love out pour from my soul into others.

Acts 9:1-19 (English Standard Version)

Acts 9

The Conversion of Saul

¹But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ²and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" ⁵And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. ⁶But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." ⁷ The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. ⁸Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord." ¹¹And the Lord said to him, "Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, ¹²and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." ¹³But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. ¹⁴And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name." ¹⁵But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. ¹⁶For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." ¹⁷So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." ¹⁸And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; ¹⁹and taking food, he was strengthened.

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus.

If only my spiritual life had the work ethic of Paul and the faith of Ananias. Ananias as he is going to the house let God know that he has some fear and teperdation in going to a legal killer of Christians. Yet with faith he continues on the path God had set before him and little does he know that starts one of the biggest missionaries of all times on his way. As I grow older, I can see my sin more and more. I am the greatest of sinners in my eyes. I am judgmental of others, lustful, proud, untrusting in God, and lazy. In Acts I am reading about how different people approch Christianity. Some is brings about their ruin because they are not honest with God. A different Ananias and his wife Sapphira fall down dead. Yet some go to meet their Father in Heaven. Stephen is stoned to death after he gives one of the most passionate and historical case recorded in the New Testament. Here in this passage we find just the beginning of one of the greatest missionaries of all time and my hear longs for the same. That I too would be able to spread the gospel through my own version of tent-making.

Holy Father, give me strength throughout this day as I seek to do Your will. Make my mind stayed on You and no one else. May the words that I speak and the things that I do reflect You and Your son. Bless us as the snow is coming. Please keep people safe in my community. Bless all the LPNs who were put out of work from my hospital. May You give them jobs where they can do well and can accomplish much. May they come to know that You are with them and put their trust in You. Bless me in my relationships with my patients. May You keep them safe and may the care that I give point them to You. Father bless my sisters as they are in school may they do well and not feel overwhelmed. Jesus be with me as I start school. May I be able to make good grades and give me understanding of the material. Lord, I ask that You would give me apportunities to spread Your word and to take a missions trip this year. Amen.

Acts 4:23-31 (English Standard Version)

The Believers Pray for Boldness

²³When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ²⁵who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

"'Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed'—

²⁷for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus." ³¹And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

The apostle after Jesus died and were filled with the Holy Spirit did some awesome things. Miracles were performed the like that had not been seen before. Thousands of people in a single day were converted after hearing Peter speak. People were hearing the testament of Jesus in their own language. With these great happenings came great persecution, yet this is the prayer that is prayed," grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

I find myself hesitating to speak the word of God, but I have to great excuse except that I am a coward and do not rely on the Holy Spirit. Women who rely on the Holy Spirit do great things with their lives and touch many with their words and deeds. I long and desire to touch and serve others as God calls me to, but I find myself lacking heart and just plain ignoring God.

Father, please change my heart. I wish to serve you with the strength that you gave Samson, the courage you gave Stephen, with the faith you gave to Paul. Change my heart that I might not sin against thee. Give me what I need to talk to and change the hearts around me so that they long for you. Give me a soul and mind that longs, seeks, prays after you. Lord give me faith. Jesus give me love. Amen.

Creation reminds us that we live in a broken world. Creation also reminds us that we were not always broken and promises us that we will not always be broken. ~ Pastor O'Neil

O Father, I thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I thank You for Your Spirit that is able to keep me from falling. May You bless me in my relationships with my family, friends, enemies, and my patients. Father bless me as I seek to love and communicate with the people in my life. Bless me as I seek love from others and as I seek to love others. Amen.