Times refresing from the presence of the Lord

[jerry ralph]

“Fear of life in one form or another is the great thing to exorcise.”
WILLIAM JAMES

“Now brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you, even Jesus.” (Acts 3:17-20 NIV)

Having not written anything for a few days, I find sitting here trying to get going like pushing an old car to get it started. After a car has not run for a while and it has set in the same spot, it seems like the old tires get flat on one side and possibly sink into the ground just a bit. Once you getter rolling then it’s easier to get it started. I’m up and running now, don’t know if I’m hitting on all cylinders but we’re moving………………… This morning as my study brought me to the Book of Acts I was refreshed to read that “times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Just reading it and believing that the Word of God is true brought about a refreshing feeling to my spirit. The apostle Peter was the one who said these words, and they came about after the healing of a lame man who sat at the temple gate begging. The guy asked Peter and John for some money, and they must have been tapped because they told him “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6) Peter reached down by the hand and picked the guy up, and he immediately stood and walked. He even started jumping up and down praising God. The guy had never walked, he had been lame since birth, and everyone knew it, but here he was walking with Peter and John into the temple. As you might expect it caused a commotion and soon a crowd was gathered around. Peter explained the whole thing by stating that it was not by his own power that this man had been healed, but by the power of attorney that has been given to all of us. Peter and John used the name of Jesus, which is the same name we have the authority to use. Jesus told us to use his name. Peter then went on to tell the crowd that it was because of ignorance that they had denied Jesus. What amazes me is it that Peter had the perfect opportunity to accuse the people because of their ignorance, and he didn’t. What he did was use their ignorance as an opportunity for them to repent and turn from their old way of thinking. Peter didn’t just leave them there, he continued on telling them that “times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” And so true it is, it is like walking out of one room into another when we turn from our self-centered life and enter into the presence of the Lord. We can look back on our old life, but we don’t have to actually live it anymore. God truly does for us what we could not do for ourselves………….JRE

“In praying, we ask simply that throughout the day God place in us the best understanding of His will that we can have for that day, and that we be given the grace by which we may carry it out.”
BILL W. …………………….AA Twelve and Twelve, page 102

 

[justanobserver]

so, your like an an old car, huh?? well, the best cars I ever owned were older models that were easier for someone like me to maintain and operate. nothing like an inner tune up to get the spark firing!

I trust all is well with you and yours. was wondering where the daily Jerry thread has been.....