“Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:” (Acts 26:1)
 
Sometimes silence is powerful and it can be more powerful to stay silent in situations then speaking out. However, there is power in our words. Sometimes we can believe that our voice does not matter. While we continue to wait for others to speak up for us. Why wouldn’t we wait for someone else to speak up? They might appear more confident, are a great communicator, or even have more followers. This should not deter us from speaking out since we all have voice. We all are meant to be heard.

Many important decisions in our lives can only be decided once we have courage and speak for ourselves. Though we might want someone else to speak out for us because it would be easier. Unless we speak out for ourselves and let our voices be heard then sometimes our needs will go unmet. There are several things that we can speak out against; unfair treatment, professional goals, or even simple things that you need. The best person to advocate for you about what you need is yourself. Though we have friends that know us and might know our needs they can only truly know what we need unless we speak truth for ourselves and our needs.

Even when it is hard to speak out for us, we can take courage for the Holy Spirit guides us with the words that we need to speak. We might not know exactly how to say it or the right words but, the Holy Spirit knows what needs to be said. When we do not know what to say we can also pray to God to give us the courage to speak for ourselves and be heard.
 
Heavenly Father, may you continue to give us courage to speak out for ourselves. When we do not know what to say may the Holy Spirit continue to give us the words and help us to be heard.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.” (Acts 9:31)
 
This is a great picture of the church it is spreading and growing throughout the region. Just within the city of Portland there are dozens of different churches although today many would consider Portland the least religious city in Oregon. When people think of Portland they might think of the slogan “Keep Portland Weird” not the growth of the church. The church is growing in Portland and will continue to grow.

As the church grows, we are to walk in the fear of the Lord. What does it mean to walk in the fear of the Lord? It does not mean we have to be afraid of God. It means we have a reverence and awe of God. His holiness, greatness, and majesty evoke a healthy fear in us. In our daily lives this could be choosing to be honest even if means not getting a job because we value God’s holiness. This can even be practicing self- control abstaining from alcohol or harmful substances because we believe that God wants us to take care of our bodies.

​We are intended to walk in the fear of the Lord while being encouraged by the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised us one who will comfort us, who also convicts us of sin, but also encourages us while we go through challenges to get better, continue through hard things, and even seek help when we cannot do it on our own. The Holy Spirit is there to encourage us and guide us on our journey of God’s grace.
 
Heavenly Father, help us to live a life worthy of your holiness, grace, and greatness. Holy Spirit, may you encourage us each day even when we face our toughest challenges.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
 
There are many ways we can define power. One way is observing power in how much money a person has and what they control. Another way is observing their position within a company if the person is CEO, they have the power to make various decisions within the company. Many have attempted at the 4-minute mile.

​To do a 4 – minute mile the person must be running at top speed the entire time. The person has powerful lungs. All these are different forms of power but, they all fade in a person’s life. The person who was CEO turns over leadership to another person, the rich person with money at one point will pass their money along in an inheritance, the person who once ran a 4- minute mile no longer can run that fast. There is one form of power that is promised to us and never fades.

Jesus promises us an even better power that enables us to do so much more and never leaves us. Power from the Holy Spirit it is a transformational power that changes us inward and outward not for our goodness but, as a witness to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The power of the Holy Spirit changes us from someone who was unkind to someone who is loving, jealous to celebrating friend’s accomplishments, selfish ambition to other focused.

The power of the Holy Spirit allows us to tell others about Jesus not only in our immediate area where we live but even further wherever we go. We can start small with telling friends, family, and even people we know about the saving power of believing in Jesus and when directed by the Holy Spirit even talk to people, we may not know librarians, clerks at stores, and even waiters. The power of the Holy Spirit is the best power that resides within us.
 
Holy Spirit, may you come and empower us to share the gospel of Jesus to those who have never heard of Jesus.
 
Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high”
Jesus

Waiting is never fun. It seems like we are always waiting for something. Waiting for clothes to dry. If you are at the doctor’s office, you arrive early just to wait in the lobby. We wait to hear responses if we got a job or not. Life is full of waiting. Jesus told the apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from on high. His wait did not include a timeframe which makes it even harder. I love to plan things I love planners and have dates set ahead of time. Unfortunately, this is not how God works he does not give the timeline but tells us just to wait.

I often think about this time of waiting for the apostles their savior had just died and ascended into heaven and they are unsure of what to do next but, he tells them to wait. I would have gotten restless and wanted to formulate my own plan or even left and came back.

They were waiting for the promise from the Father. When the day of Pentecost arrived, their wait was finally over the Holy Spirit descended on them. Their wait was for something they needed and could not afford not to have. The things they were going to do they could not have done by their own strength they needed to be clothed with the Holy Spirit to speak boldly, heal the lame, speak truth, cast out demons, and even change from wrongful paths.

When we decide to follow Jesus, he gives us the same gift the Holy Spirit. He enables to speak hard truths to a friend out of love, be bold and apply for a job when we have no prior experience, ask for help when we feel ashamed, and even take the first steps toward changing from harmful behaviors. Jesus knew for many of us today we are not able to do these in our own strengths we need help from someone who is stronger than us. He is there to guide, comfort, advocate, counsel, encourage, motivate, help, and change you. You do not have to do it alone.
 
Praying for you,
Stacy Watt