Psalm 118 - 12.9.25

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm 118:15, 16

“Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous:  The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!  The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things.”

OBSERVATION:  The author gave thanks to the Lord for being so good and for showing such great love over him when he was hard pressed and afraid.  God helped him triumph over the fear of his enemies. The psalmist learned to put his trust in the Lord, and when he felt weak and defenseless, God became his strength and Defender. The psalmist praised God, gave thanks and proclaimed what the Lord had done!

APPLICATION:  God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  His love never changes! How blessed we are that we can run to Him and be safe!  When we see God at work, and He answers our prayers, are we quick to give Him thanks and proclaim His good works? 

Because of the psalmist’s obedience to the Lord, he was able to experience God’s love and faithfulness.  He personally got to witness many of the mighty things God had done.

“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence Lord.  They rejoice in Your name all day long; they celebrate Your righteousness.  For You are their glory and strength.”  (Psalm 89:14-17a).

PRAYER:  I thank You Lord for being so good, loving and kind! May I be like the psalmist who couldn’t hold back his praises to You!  Thank You for blessing me with the ability to enjoy Your presence, and to be able to experience Your faithfulness.  Thank You that I don’t need to be afraid - because You are the God Who saves me!

“I will sing of Your great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations.” (Psalm 89:1)

Amen

- Robin Orefice

Acts 4 - 12.8.25

Scripture

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Observation

In this passage, Peter and John were preaching to the people that through Jesus, there is a resurrection of the dead. This disturbed all the religious leaders. They wanted to stop the message of Jesus being spread amongst the people. So, they had Peter and John arrested and questioned. But, something happened as Peter and John spoke to these religious leaders. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke with such boldness and courage that it amazed all these religious leaders. I mean, how can these two ordinary, uneducated men speak with such authority? It was then that they realized that these men spent a significant time with Jesus.

Application

When people see you, can they tell that you spend time with Jesus?

You know as a parent, it’s funny to see your kids develop similar habits, (some good and some bad), the more and more they spend time with you. Whether it’s the way they talk, the way they behave, the music they like listening to or even their facial mannerisms towards certain things, they begin to look and act just like you. The funny thing is they don’t even know it! 😆 It comes so naturally to them because they spend day in and day out with you.

I believe the same can be said when we spend some good quality time with Jesus. Day in and day out, we communicate with Jesus through prayer, reading our Bible and just allowing His ways to rule over our own. You begin to hang out with others who follow Jesus so you can help encourage and pray for one another to grow in your faith. You keep doing these things long enough, you become more and more like Jesus every day (sanctification). It’s only natural that we begin to talk like Jesus, walk like Jesus, act like Jesus, and even “glow” like Jesus because we are shining His light onto others. ☺️

So, my question to you out there is, can people tell that you spend time with Jesus by the way you act? If not, I want to encourage you to spend some good quality time with Him daily by doing the things I just mentioned. Allow the power of the Holy Spirit to transform you each day to become more like Him. 

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” -2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭

Prayer

Father God, thank You for coming out of the comforts of Heaven and sending Jesus to show us how to live. Thank You for giving us Your Word to instruct us and remind us of Your ways. Thank You for leaving us Your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, encourage us and convict us to repent when we wrong You. I pray for You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit today each and every day. May You continue to mold me and transform me to be more like Jesus each day. May others see it and be blessed by it. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.🙏🏽 

-Moses Gaddi

Acts 2 - 12.6.25

Scripture: Acts 2: 1-4

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Observation

The disciples were celebrating The Feast of Pentecost; The Feast of the Harvest. They were all together in a house when the Holy Spirit came upon each one of them like tongues of fire, then everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in other languages. There were many voices, one spirit. Their voices spilling out into the streets. People from all over, different nations heard their own native tongue. They were speaking of the wonderful works of God. They were not speaking opinions or politics; they were announcing the Glory of God. They were declaring the majesty of the risen Christ and speaking forth the mysteries of the Kingdom.

This was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2:28, In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

In the Old Covenant, fire would fall on altars, but we are now the altars. The fire of the Holy Spirit came to live in human sacrifices. There was an outpouring on all flesh, the Holy Spirit no longer behind the veil, no longer in silence.

Romans 12:1-2

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Application

God unlocked a new realm of power, presence and purpose for His people. A power that is still available to us today. We can experience the same power as the first church, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, their empty places were overflowing, their fears were replaced with boldness. Their doubts were washed away by His living presence. They were filled by the very breath of the Living God. The same spirit that hovered over the waters of creation, the same spirit that filled Samson, the same spirit that whispered to Elijah, the same spirit filled every corner of their hearts…and that same spirit lives in us.

When you ask Jesus to come into your heart, he not only comes in and takes residency, but He fills us with the Holy Spirit. He transforms our lives from the inside out…one heart at a time. He makes us into a vessel that can be used by the Living God. He fills the empty spaces; He heals and restores us.

The day of Pentecost passed not as a moment but as the opening of a divine river that still flows. What began from a sound from heaven in tongues of fire became a movement of hearts. A baptism of souls and the birth of a Holy People. The spirit moved gently but powerfully, gathering, filling, speaking, revealing and transforming. The breath of God fell upon flesh.

Prayer

Dear Lord, Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to teach us your ways, transform our broken lives and make us into your Holy People. Lord, help us to allow the Holy Spirit to transform our lives so we are truly a Living Sacrifice for you. We ask for a Fresh Fire to burn in our hearts and lives. We love you, Lord!

- Michelle Craig