Resurrection Power!

We had an amazing Resurrection Sunday!  We are currently in Hawaii and Pastor McGriffin was asked to speak/preach/teach to the Samoan congregation that meets in our building.  Their service starts at 1:00 and ours starts at 4:30 so it was a back to back kind of Sunday.  The Samoan Pastor and a few other members of their congregation have received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  They are hungering for more of God and asked Pastor McGriffin to preach on that subject.

The Samoan service was filled with worship.  It was genuine and I know the Spirit of God was in the house.  The Sunday school children did an Easter skit and one darling girl did an amazing job speaking bilingually.

Pastor McGriffin gave them the full gospel and then it was time to respond.  The people flooded the altars with hungry hearts.  They did not go home empty!  Eight people received the gift of the Holy Ghost!

While the service was winding down I noticed a young girl near me.  She continued silently crying and I could see that God was really touching her.  When I next turned around she was gone.  After the service I found her and had a sweet conversation with her.  My new friend is Mary Ann and she is nine years old.  I told her that I received the Holy Ghost when I was 10 and she wasn’t too young.  She touched my heart so much!  There was a tenderness about her.  I told Mary Ann that I am looking forward to the Sunday when she meets me between services to tell me that she received the Holy Ghost.

We are believing God for a great revival in this congregation.  There are so many hungry hearts and I know God is going to fill them.

We had about 45 minutes to catch our breath before our service started.  It was a beautiful Resurrection Sunday.  Our Sunday school department also did a great job.  The littlest ones sang “He Arose” and one little guy arose many, many times!  It was priceless.

I’m so thankful for the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  The cross split time, but it’s the power of the resurrection that changes lives!

1968: Spiritual Outpouring

I couldn't find any details about my life in 1967.  I'm sure it included siblings and puppies!  I'm going to fast forward to 1968 for this week's post.

USAToday had a feature on 1968 - The Year That Transformed the Nation.  "History will have the final word, but if you consider the 1960s as a chaotic, tumultuous period of change, the year 1968 rises from that decade as the one of the most transformative and challenging. There are countless moments, some earth-shattering and groundbreaking, others subtle and nuanced, that define that year."

There was a lot of turmoil in our world - Both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy were assassinated.  North Koreans seized USS Pueblo, a Navy intelligence ship, in the Sea of Japan. Its crew was held captive under harsh conditions for 11 months.  The North Vietnamese launched the Tet Offensive, a massive military push into South Vietnam.  African-American sanitation workers went on strike in Memphis for better working conditions after two workers were killed while sitting in the compactor area of a garbage truck.  The Democratic National Convention in Chicago was marred by massive protests by demonstrators and violence by police and National Guardsmen.

There were also a lot of major steps forward - Apollo 8 astronauts became the first humans to orbit the moon. The crew shot photos of Earth from lunar orbit and, on television, read passages from the Book of Genesis.  Boeing unveiled the 747, the distinctive wide-body passenger and cargo jet. It started flying commercially in 1970.  Semiconductor manufacturer Intel was founded in Santa Clara, Calif. The company built the first microprocessor chip in 1971 and became a computer industry leader.

Under the good and evil category - McDonald's introduced its signature hamburger, the Big Mac, nationally after its first appearance in Pittsburgh.

But for a four year old girl in Fresno, California, the impact of 1968 can be found in Mom's Bible:

Kim - baptized in Jesus name by Bro. Murray Layne on Dec. 1, 1968;
received the Holy Ghost Dec. 2, 1968, Bro. Treadway preaching.

It has been almost fifty years, but I will never forget the night that my older sister received the Holy Ghost. She was 9 1/2 and I was 4 1/2. We were in the old sanctuary (currently the school cafeteria). A group of faithful ladies, including Mom, were gathered around her. God's Spirit was falling. She began speaking in a heavenly language.

Why do I remember this so clearly? I was standing in the middle of that circle and could not stop crying! I remember ladies comforting me, telling me it was okay. It wasn't until many years later that I understood my tears. I was truly feeling God for the first time. He was pouring out His Spirit and it was falling on ME - I just didn't understand what I felt.

So if you see tears well up in my eyes as I watch a child pray, now you know why. Joel 2:28 says, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh..." I'm glad that promise includes four year olds!

I'm thankful for the outpouring of God's Spirit in 1968 and I'm thankful that He's still pouring it out today!

Sunday Snaps

I haven't taken a lot of pictures so far this trip, but I did take two yesterday.

Pizza anyone?

During church last night, Pastor McGriffin brought Michael Amodo to the front.  Michael received the Holy Ghost this past Saturday, January 16th.  Pastor McGriffin received the Holy Ghost on January 16, 1974, so they share a Holy Ghost birthday!

Hope you had a great Sunday!

Youth Camp Time

I knew when we started our Hawaiian Adventure that we probably wouldn't be home for Pacific Coast Camp this year.  Camp started yesterday and we are on an entirely different Pacific Coast!

I met my true love at Senior Camp 1989

I spent some time re-reading all my camp posts.  It's always been a huge part of my life.  The greatest happened 39 years ago today when I received the gift of the Holy Ghost on the very first night of Youth Camp 1974!  I'm so thankful for that.

It just so happens that this week is Hawaii District Family Camp.  We will be going to service on Friday night so I'll get a small dose of camp after all.  Praying that there will be a mighty outpouring of the Holy Ghost in every service at youth camps across the country this summer!

The DNA of Apostolic-Pentecostalism (Part III)

Last night was another great Bible study!  I am so thankful for the spiritual food we are receiving here in Hawaii - we are not going hungry.

Pastor McGriffin talked about being an Apostolic Pentecostal.  That means we are Apostolic in doctrine and Pentecostal in experience.  He didn't mention this, but I can think of many who are Pentecostal in experience (they love the moving of the Spirit) but do not embrace the Apostles' doctrine of separation from the world.  I want both!

The key verse last night was I Corinthians 15:10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."  I am the way I am because of grace.

Pastor McGriffin talked about being sanctified.  He talked again about the importance of holiness.  He spent some time talking about the tongue.  Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."  If our tongue causes someone to be lost, their blood will be on our hands.  The tongue is our most unruly member. When God gives us the Holy Ghost, He takes over our tongue!  Unfortunately, even after we get the Holy Ghost, we sometimes take our tongue back.  

The hour just flew by!  I am enjoying this series so much. 

One final thought - you cannot create a hybrid spiritual DNA.  You are either Apostolic-Pentecostal or you're not!

The DNA of Apostolic-Pentecostalism

Pastor McGriffin started a new series of Bible studies last week and they have been excellent!  The subject is our spiritual DNA.  It is what makes us who we are.  It has been passed down for generations.  Here are just a few of the notes I jotted down:

The old man is always lurking in the shadows.
We have His DNA, but our carnal DNA wants to take over.  Many people get discouraged and give up the fight when this happens.  It is a never ending battle, but it will be worth the fight!

Holiness reflects His DNA.  
Holiness is more than our outward appearance - much more!  It is our thoughts, our words, the intents of our heart, it is reflected in our calendar (making time each day for prayer.)  We must have holiness in our marriages (pornography is destroying many.)

Holiness is a love issue.
How much you love God is reflected in your holiness.  "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." I John 2:15

The Holy Ghost fell on holiness people.
The great revival that began on Azusa Street in 1906 fell on people who were called "holiness" people.  They had already turned away from the things of the world and were ready for an outpouring of the Spirit.
{I had never heard this!  It makes absolute sense that when the Holy Ghost was poured out in such a mighty way, it would be upon those who were drawing closer to the Lord}

God has always moved close to a people who are moving away from the world.

I'm looking forward to Part III next week!

November 18th ~ Happened This Weekend (Thanks a Day)

Everybody ought to go to Sunday School,
Sunday School, Sunday School.
The men, the women, the boys and the girls,
Everybody ought to go to Sunday School.

My earliest memories involve being at Sunday school.  I remember my teachers from the 2 and 3 year old class - Sis. Nettie Taylor and Sis. Irene Wilkinson.  The foundation I learned in Sunday school is what I stand on today.

Not just this weekend, but every weekend, I love being in the house of God!  For the first 27 years of my life I attended Truth Tabernacle in Fresno, pastored by Bro. Murray Layne and then Elder Vaughn Morton.  For the past 21 years I have been at Victory Tabernacle, Pastor Phil White.  I am so thankful for these three men of God.  Not once in my 48 years have I worried about the direction they have led.  I am safe here.  I can make it to heaven following men of God like these.

I don't know what God has in store this weekend.  We had 3 baptisms and one new one receive the Holy Ghost last Sunday.  I'm praying for more of that this weekend!

Beautiful

I've been blessed to see some amazing sights in my life. The Colosseum and Pantheon in Rome.  The Rialto Bridge in Venice.  Cathedrals in Europe.  The Mall in Washington, DC with its many monuments ~ the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the White House.  I've crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and walked through art galleries with inspiring paintings.

I've also seen God's creation at its finest.  An unfolding rose and the turning leaves of Fall.  I've seen a hawk soaring overhead and watched a deer leap across my trail.  I've hiked to the top of falls in Yosemite and walked along the fine sands of the Gulf of Mexico.  I've walked the top of the Haleakala crater on Maui and kayaked a river in Kauai.

But there is nothing quite as beautiful as what I witnessed last night.  It was at the end of service, while we gathered for prayer.  Eight year old, Mariah, gathered with us.  She wasn't sitting quietly next to her mother, or even playing around with one of her friends.  Mariah was seeking God with her whole heart.  As tears streamed down her cheeks, I think God must have loved the sight even more because He came down and refilled her with His precious Spirit.

Something deep inside me is touched when I see a child praying.  I see such potential and feel such hope.  I know that God can keep them.  Yes, they'll face troubles in life ~ we all do.  But the scars that many adults carry due to a life a sin can be avoided in one so young if they will keep coming back to that beautiful place in God's presence. I know that God can turn lives around ~ He's so good at it.  But He is also good at keeping His children in the palm of His hand.  In my eyes, there's just nothing more beautiful.

Mom and Dad, have you prayed with your child today?

Youth Alive 2011

Another great Youth Alive has come and gone. Both services were outstanding! Bro. Jason Calhoun preached anointed messages both nights. Young people worshiping during song service and flooding the altars at the conclusion of preaching is a sight that never grows old!

Both messages were somewhat connected. Thursday night was about the Brook Kidron ~ where the people of Judah would take their false gods. The brook would then wash the false gods away into the Dead Sea ~ buried and forgotten. That's how God views our repented of sins.

Friday night was about choosing what lives and what dies. Best of all, one of the boys from our church got the Holy Ghost that night! I think Ricky is about 10. He's been praying earnestly and it was with great joy that our church learned about him receiving the Holy Ghost.

My one and only picture is of the wonderful Sis. Mary Ginty! If you haven't read her blog ~ you need to! (Sis. Meagan Rowell, you were just a minute too late, I didn't get you with my camera!)

Praying for America

I will admit that our country needs prayer, but today I'd like to introduce you to a young lady named America. She faithfully rides our van to Sunday school. Many of our young ladies have taken her under their wing and will bring her to church on Sunday night or other nights during revival. Rachel is teaching her a Bible study. She has the sweetest personality. I call her America the Beautiful or Beautiful America and she always gives me the sweetest smile. She and I almost share a birthday (she'll be 12 on April 25, I will be quite a bit older two days later...)

I had a conversation with her Sunday night, after she had prayed for a long time...

Me: I received the Holy Ghost when I was 10.
America: I'm gonna receive it when I'm 11, or maybe 12.
Me: It can be an early birthday present. It'll be the best gift you've ever gotten.
America just gave me one of her sweet, sweet smiles.

Please join me in praying for America... And Jenny... and Anna... and Jessie... and Evelyn...

Praise Report

Tonight during service Pastor White gave a quick update about the Missions Trip to Mexico. Bro. Glen Wakefield has been working with a pastor who recently received the revelation of Jesus name baptism. A large group from his church in Acapulco traveled to Puebla to be in services while our group was there. Many of them were seeking the Holy Ghost. During their final service Pastor White asked for any who were seeking the Holy Ghost to come forward, none did. That's just the way it is sometimes...

Bro. Wakefield called Pastor White after he got home. The pastor had called SO excited. On the bus ride back to Acapulco the Holy Ghost fell! EVERYONE who did not have the Holy Ghost received it on the bus ride home and all those who already had it were refilled!!! It's real!