| OzThoughts Friday 16th May 2008 I have driven into a few towns with a very low level of petrol in my tank. Only once did I not quite arrive in town with no petrol left. I was only about 1 kilometre (less than a mile) from a service station but I did not know that. I organised to get a can of petrol from a nearby house. People driving into the town of Roma from the east will notice a very strange looking building ahead of them. It is the Origin Energy power station which uses natural gas to produce electricity. (www.industcards.com/ cc-australia-qld.htm). A little further on and standing high will be seen the Big Rig. It is an oil rig and right beside it is the Roma Visitor’s Centre. The oil rig serves as a reminder that it was in the Roma area that the first oil was found in Australia at the beginning of the twentieth century. Commercial oil was produced for a while from various wells in the area. (www.thebigrig.com.au/ images/gallery6.JPG) Along the way to Roma, I had passed many windmills which provide power to pump water from way below the ground which is essential for both people and stock. Oil and gas are both necessary sources of power for living the lifestyles we have become accustomed to living. Jesus told his Disciples to wait in Jerusalem and … you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1: 8 NIV ©)Acts 2 tells the story of the coming of that power. From that moment on the Disciples and every other Christians’ living was transformed. The rest of the book of Acts continues to tell the story of the Holy Spirit’s powerful presence in the life of men and women. The evidence of living for Jesus will be seen as the Holy Spirit energises our living.PRAYER:Heavenly Father, thank you that you not only call us to live for you but your Holy Spirit enables us to do it. Amen.MEDITATION: Gracious Spirit, dwell with me;I myself would gracious be,And with words that help and healWould thy life in mine reveal;And with actions bold and meekWould for Christ, my Saviour, speak. Truthful Spirit, dwell with me;I myself would truthful be,And with wisdom kind and clearLet thy life in mine appear;And with actions brotherlySpeak my Lord's sincerity. Tender Spirit, dwell with me;I myself would tender be;Tender in my love for men,Wooing them to God again;With compassion pure and sweetLead the lost to Jesus' feet. Mighty Spirit, dwell with me;I myself would mighty be,Mighty so as to prevailWhere unaided man must fail;Ever by a mighty hopePressing on and bearing up. Holy Spirit, dwell with me;I myself would holy be,Separate from sin, I wouldChoose and cherish all things good;And whatever I can beGive to him who gave me thee.Author: Thomas Toke Lynch (1818-71)The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 212 Acts 4:23-33 (The Message) 23-26 As soon as Peter and John were let go, they went to their friends and told them what the high priests and religious leaders had said. Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer: "Strong God, you made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. By the Holy Spirit you spoke through the mouth of your servant and our father, David:
Why the big noise, nations?
Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth's leaders push for position,
Potentates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers! 27-28 "For in fact they did meet—Herod and Pontius Pilate with nations and peoples, even Israel itself!—met in this very city to plot against your holy Son Jesus, the One you made Messiah, to carry out the plans you long ago set in motion. 29-30 "And now they're at it again! Take care of their threats and give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31 While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God's Word with fearless confidence. 32-33 The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn't even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, "That's mine; you can't have it." They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them. ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` You can also receive OzThoughts from the following groups (which you are welcome to join): SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/ Poems from the Lord by Ailsa Yates: http://groups.msn.com/PoemsfromtheLordbyAilsaYates Please forward this to your friends. Thank you and God bless you with love, peace and joy. |
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