notes from lisa...

 I don't know why, but today seems to be a day of Scripture revelation. Not complaining at all , but feeling inadequate--and knowing that I haven't really understood the magnitude of some verses (that I thought I understood) is humbling, as it should be.  Clearly, we’re ALL "seeing through a glass darkly" for now. In these non-glorified, dying bodies we will never grasp every bit of Scripture. We need changed bodies and souls to comprehend all of it. However, if you KNOW the Subject of the Bible...and not just the words of the Bible, then you can know more--a lot more .  God has and will (continue to) reveal some great and precious promises to His children--those who are born again AND seeking His truth, with the help of the Holy Ghost. "...He will teach you all things" [John 14:26]. Without the Spirit alive in our hearts, the Bible becomes a book of rules and regulations--and that is how we will treat the Bible in our interactions with people. With the ...

 I wish we could be a color-blind society; acknowledging and accepting of all cultures. Skin color has nothing to do with who any of us are. Unfortunately, that reality is not a lived experience in this nation. Skin color tells nothing of the heart within any of God’s children.  Black Americans (others, too, but I'm speaking about the experience that I know, at the moment) have longed to fit in, but were never invited. Whenever we have shown up, we're reminded that we cannot be a full participant. There's no permanent seat for us at the table. Our "seat" is brought in and removed, based on our adherence to the (invisible, but very real) line that has been drawn for us in America.  (Please don't stop reading--this isn’t a post about race). It's about how we must be reconciled to God and one another [ 1 John 3:10 GNT  " Here is the clear difference between God's children and the Devil's children: those who do not do what is right or do not l...

 I think I must have dreamt about Stephen last night. You know, the first Christian martyr--that Stephen. The name Stephen, means "crown". What a heavy crown to wear, or what a majestic crown to wear; it's all about perspective.  Of course, I had to read about Stephen when I got a chance today. Before I could read about his martyrdom, or even what led to it, I got caught up in the description of this newly appointed deacon. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles says, "...Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit...". I got stuck right there. I've been pondering how to share the Word of God concerning the Holy Spirit (Ghost) for quite some time, so it isn't strange to me that I'd get stuck there. You know, there's something about the Holy Ghost that makes people take notice when nothing else will.  This Spirit that we so often speak of--and claim to possess within, is not simple, or light, or easily overlooked. The Holy Ghost makes His Pr...