Tuesday, December 15th Cindy Honeycutt
Acts 23-31
23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26 “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]
28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”[29] [b]
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
When I was asked to write a devotional I honestly have to say I had to Google it to see what a devotional is and how to write one. I have never written one before.
After reading some examples of one and summarizing Acts 23-31 it was obvious to me that I was proof of the words which speak to me. As a person who was not raised to spread the word of God but to believe the word of God I became my own personal advocate. I attend church for the word of God and the messages I hear that speak to me and my own personal life. It is then up to me to spread that word to others in my community of the goodness found at Wright’s Chapel. When Pastor Tillapaugh speaks to us in his sermons his message becomes relative. There are people who do harmful things in our world, our country, and our community and obviously do not know the power of God. When I am faced with adversity I look for the message from God. It may not be the message I want to hear, but it is the message I need to see.
As a teacher in our community of 30 years only in CCPS I find my nature more and more loving and nurturing. Each and every day I pray for my family, my students, and those who are near and dear to my heart. I find myself most times thanking God for his open arms. I thank him for keeping us safe and giving me another day to have a positive effect on those who I am surrounded by.
A practice I use with my students when I am getting ready to explain something unpleasant, always a behavioral issue, is I simply hold their hands. My students know something is going to be said that they may not want to hear. When I am done explaining the situation and we discuss how to solve the problem it amazes me how well the entire ordeal goes. Why you ask? It is because the love I have for my students is joined together by our hands….it is a message to them that at the end of this conversation I will still love you!! It speaks volumes to those who are joined by that simple connection. When we join hands and speak the word of God, we also are joined by a common love which is the love of God.
Acts 30 says Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
The next time you have “words” with a loved one, hold their hand first before either of you speak. Feel the power of God and see for yourself how the conversation ends. It is very uplifting!!!
Acts31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Therefore after your experience you find yourself shaken with the Holy Spirit and you will feel the power of God bodly!!!
Spread the work of God and spread your work as well. Wright’s Chapel has saved my soul and my life from many hard times just by instilling in me that God is always there for me to love, thank, and to behold!!