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Sunday, April 3, 2011

Day Twenty

                                                         THE ACTS
                                                       of the Apostles
                                           King James Version Holy Bible

JESUS' last recorded words have come to be known as the Great Commissions: "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (1:8). The Book of Acts, written by Luke is the story of the men and women who took that commission seriously and began to spread the news of a risen Savior to the most remote corners of the known world.
     Each section of the book ( 1-7; 8-12; 13-28) focuses on a particular audience, a key personality, and a significant phase in the expansion of the gospel message.
     As the second volume in a two-part work by Luke, this book probably had no seperation title. But all available Greek manuscripts designate it by the title Praxeis, "Acts," or by an expanded title like "the Acts of the Apostles.' Praxeis was commonly used in Greek literature to summarize the accomplishments of outstanding men. While apostles are mentioned collectively at several points, this book really records the acts of Peter (1-12) and of Paul (13-28).

                                                           Day 20

                                    The gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out.
                                                                         Acts 10-45

What kind of gift can you give your favorite gardener? Most gardeners enjoy receiving packets of seeds, bulbs, and plant containers. Tools are useful, as are getting books. But for something a little out of the ordinary, consider giving homemade, organic plant food, better known in gardening circles as "willow water."

For centuries, herbalists and gardeners have used this simple, homemade solution for propagating seedlings and stimulating growth in existing plants.

It's easy to make willow water, or willow tea, as it's sometimes called. Simply cut tender, new-growth stems and leaves from a willow tree.

Trim your gathered foilage to one-inch pieces, and place roughly three cups of the willow trimmings into a five--gallon bucket of water. Let the mixture steep for several days, then strain the tea--colored willow water into jars and refrigerate. This unsual gift is sure to please your favorite gardening friend.

Not many gifts are "poured out" before they become useful. But take another look at today's Bible verse. In fact, you may find it helpful to read Acts 10 in it's entirety. This section of Scripture recounts the apostle Peter's visit with Cornelius. As Peter preaches, the Holy Spirit is suddenly poured out on everyone listening--Jews and Gentiles alike.

Peter made himself available to the Spirit's leading. The Spirit, in turn, worked through the apostle's message to instill faith in the hearts of the many listeners. Many were filled with the Spirit and were baptized.

What do you think happened next? The Spirit continued His work-pouring out God's grace and mercy-through the words and actions of those new believers. And on and on...

Prayer suggestion. How can you better yield to the Spirit's guiding in your own life? What obstacles sometimes prevent you from passing on the Good News of salvation to others? Talk to your Lord about it.
http://www.orble.com/Winning,http://a1itsinthebag.blogspot.com,http://lindagjehoich.blogspot.com,http://listening4u.blogspot.com

The Holy Bible.

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