One Word PAUSES ... Week 4

Anticipating Pentecost
May 19, 2024
by taking
PAUSES
to reflect on the
One Words for this week:

Fourth Week of Eastertide Day 22: Counselor - John 14:16 Day 23: Remind -     John 14:16 Day 24: Testify -       John 15:26 Day 25: Truth -         John 16:13 Day 26: Anointed -   Luke 4:18 Day 27: Love -         Romans 5:5 Day 28: Body - 1 Corinthians 6:19

These devotions each week along with these Pauses for Pentecost One Words & Scripture really help me to focus each day. You may notice that the same verse is used for Day 22 & Day 23 because both of these One Words are in this verse, yet in the book, Trevor Hudson takes the first part of the verse for Day 22 (and I found that the CSB & HCSB versions use the One Word "Counselor" whereas other versions use Advocate, Helper, Comforter) and the last part of the verse for Day 23 - you can compare here all the versions. Of course the Amplified expands on even more terms for the "Counselor" besides those listed it adds Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby for the Holy Spirit, Paraclete, who is all this and more. 

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you." HCSB

Paraclete
the Greek Word parakletos(line above the "e")
meaning
"someone who is called to come alongside someone else"
How wonderful this is to know that 
God the Holy Spirit
the third Person of the Trinity
has been called to our side
to support us who need 
Him
Holy Spirit is a personal being
and
He indwells every believer
Jesus
promises that the Spirit of God would come & indwell to
"teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus has told us"

We seriously need this MORE than ever in this time in which we live!
We are "empowered" to become paracletes to others in need.
<>
Looking forward to the messages this week
with these ONE WORDS as reminders
as we PAUSE & listen & reflect

* take note of the second part of the Prayer of St, Francis

" ... grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console ..."

Let us be "instruments of Peace - God's Peace" 
Let the Holy Spirit breath into us
the consolation that only Jesus gives
so we may console others
and there are many
who need us
"The Spirit personalizes the gospel when we face difficult situations,
when we don't know what to say, or when we are uncertain ..."
Let His Spirit lead, be present & active in our lives!

May these One Words draw you closer to the Holy Spirit alive in us!
(each week - but the ones for this week look powerful)
🙏

GLORIOUS GIFT of FORGIVENESS

This image was in my April 18th 📧
because in the "Jesus Always" devotional book; 
it is the devotion for that day.
Sharing part:

"... I want you to enjoy the wonder of walking through your life as My follower—totally forgiven! The best response to this wondrous gift is to live in gratitude, seeking to please Me above all else."

If you're at all familiar with Sarah Young's (1946-2023) writings, than you know that she writes as if it is Jesus/God speaking to you (as this was the biggest criticism of her writings).Critics write: "she speaks for God" or that "she hears from Jesus" and "brings His messages" to her readers.
Frankly, in my opinion, that's exactly what I appreciate when reading all her devotionals -for THAT reason. 
She takes the Word of God & speaks it to me/us.
I did not share this to debate her as an author,or against people (pastors) that criticize her.
But as I read that small boxed quote from her devotion,
I am thankful to read these words as if Jesus is saying these words to me!
It means so much more!
Sarah Young always shares what verses in the Bible 
her words are based or taken from:
(such as this one)
John 1:12: Acts 4:12 NASB; Romans 8:1-2
[and quite often those parts are in italics]

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12 NASB

"Thank Me for the glorious gift of FORGIVENESS. I am Your Savior-God, and I alone can give you this blessing. ... "

This is what's on the image (in bold) and also is the first line of the devotion & here is some more (not all, but some) in this two paragraph devotion in
"Jesus Always"
April 18

" ...  You receive FORGIVENESS and become My child by receiving Me and believing in My Name. This Name, Jesus, means the Lord saves." ... "Rejoice, beloved, for through Me the law of the Spirit of Life has set you free!"

I'd love to share the full devotion but I try not to as my way to respect the author & copyright.
<>
Truly
FORGIVENESS
is a 
Glorious Gift from God!
I believe my previous blog post, which links to my own writing on 
FORGIVENESS,
is a testimony to that gift in my own life from my earthly father. 
The other ones that I've written also do, but I did not re-publish all of themso I'm sure that many of them are still in draft.
Yet, once again, I'd like to state that reading the Scripture verses in God's Word and reading the devotionals that Sarah Young wrote, allow me to actually sense God comforting me through her wordsfrom His Word.
I know that her style may be controversial to somebut I, for one, benefit greatly from reading them.
Often we are encouraged to apply the Word or speak the Scripture verse as a prayer or respond to "what do you think God is saying to you?"when we are reading or discussing.
Isn't that what Sarah Young 
has so beautifully done?
[I've read the critics, now I'd like this -ism to end, as I would many -isms in our world today]
<><><>
As a NOTE, separate to this blog post, I'd like to let you know that I re-posted (which means I moved & published again) my original post from April 17th (so it's no longer there) to Fri. April 19th in order to publish it again with the links for all of the devotions by Christine Wyrtzen on Forgiveness for this past week. She may continue next week, but I'm already looking ahead to a new One Word for next week's FOCUS (on Mon.) and the ones for "Pauses for Pentecost" (on Sun. 6 pm). Rhythm for Reflection?