Pat's View: Inspirational stories

  Have you ever noticed that some people seem impossible to stop? No matter what comes against them, they keep moving forward. That is Paul in Acts 28. The storm of Acts 27 is over. The ship has been destroyed. The passengers have barely escaped with their lives. Most of us would be ready for a long nap and a quiet season. Not Paul. The moment he reaches shore, he begins serving. When others would...

In Acts 27, I want to take you to an event that I absolutely want to hear all the details about when I get to heaven. I've read this story many times, and every time I do, I find myself wishing I could have stood on that ship and watched it unfold. Its a "more than" Story! This is more than a story about a storm. It's more than a story about a shipwreck. It's a miracle before the miracle. The wind...

Acts 26: The Testimony That Almost Persuaded a King Have you ever wished you could sit in the room and listen as Paul shared his testimony? Acts 26 gives us that opportunity. After years of false accusations, imprisonment, and delays, Paul finally stands before King Agrippa just like God told him! He is a prisoner in chains, yet he is not defeated. Instead of focusing on his hardships, Paul seizes...

Acts 25: Paul Preached the Power of the Resurrection In  Acts 25 , Paul is brought before the new Roman governor Festus. King Agrippa comes for a polite welcoming visit. Festus asks for King Agrippa's advice concerning Paul. It's only a single sentence, perhaps Festus, the new governor of Caesarea, hardly felt it worth mentioning, but he was processing his thoughts and asking for King Agrippa's ad...

If you've ever waited impatiently at the microwave or wished it would hurry up, then Acts 24 is for you. (And by the way, if you do that, you and I are on the same "wavelength". Snicker. Snicker.") Five days later Ananias the high priest, the elders and Tertullus a lawyer and skilled orator arrived in Caesarea. First, he flatters Felix, then makes 3 charges against Paul.   5 We have found this man...

Suddenly when the sound of one word, a single word hit their ears, rage filled the very atmosphere as they screamed "Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!" That one word that exploded the whole place into an uproar was "gentile".   We are starting in Acts 22, but we'll end up in chapter 23. 23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust into the air,   24 the comman...

We are beginning with Acts 21 and continuing the story into Acts 22. I love Scripture, but so often I wonder how the person in the story felt when they walked through the events that Scripture unfolds. In this story, I wonder… Did Paul tremble when he arrived in Jerusalem? Jerusalem! Oh Jerusalem! Such a SPECIAL place! The temple was here. Jesus walked here. He had precious relationships here. Pau...

When you open your Bible to the Book of Acts, the title likely reads,  The Acts of the Apostles. While the apostles certainly played a vital role, I am convinced Acts tells a much bigger story. From the opening pages, the book pulses with the life, power, guidance, and activity of Precious Holy Spirit. He is the One empowering ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things. He directs, speaks,...

If you knew your time with someone you loved was coming to an end, what would you say? What truths would you want them to remember? In Acts 20, Paul senses that a new and difficult season lies ahead. As he travels toward Jerusalem, he pauses to meet with the Ephesian elders one last time. His words are heartfelt, urgent, and filled with wisdom. Paul reflects on his ministry, warns of future challe...

Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22 BSB   How Do I Pursue Peace? 1. Trust God When You Are Afraid David was a giant killer, a mighty warrior, and a man who spent years being hunted by an unstable king who wanted him dead. Yet when David felt fear, he knew exactly what to do. "But...

Acts 19 Have You Received the Holy Spirit Since You Believed? Have you ever been asked a question that stopped you in your tracks? A question so important that it caused you to rethink everything you thought you knew? In Acts 19, Paul arrives in Ephesus and meets a group of believers. Instead of asking where they are from or how long they have followed God, he asks a surprising question: "Did you...

Acts 18: Facing Opposition Have you ever felt like giving up? Perhaps you've worked hard, faced opposition, and wondered if your efforts were making any difference. If so, you'll relate to Paul in Acts 18. As this chapter opens, Paul arrives in Corinth, one of the most influential—and challenging—cities in the Roman world. He finds new friends, works with his hands to support himself, and faithful...

Do you like to travel? Acts 17 takes us to 3 very different cities, let's visit them with Paul. Thessalonica sat on a deep protected harbor on the Aegean Sea. Ships from Rome, Asia Minor, Egypt and Macedonia docked there. Rome's Superhighway, The Via Egnatia, ran straight through the city making it a major travel hub. It was one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire — politically, econo...

Acts 16 How Do You Respond to Difficult Situations?   What do you do when you are facing a difficult or disastrous situation? Acts 16 shows us just how important your response can be. It's important, because how you respond can change everything! This chapter shows us an amazing miracle! It's one of my favorites!   Acts 16:16 One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave...

Can the Word of God and the Spirit of God help us in times of conflict? Conflict happens! In big churches. In little churches. And in life. We see wisdom operating in Acts 15 as people navigated through conflict. It is a beautiful strategy that can help believers navigate through conflict as well. Would you prefer to listen to this teaching? [] Acts 15: 1 Then some men came down from Judea and wer...

Aren't you glad the Word of God is powerful! It hasn't changed either. It is just as powerful today as it was when Luke wrote this wonderful book of Acts. God hasn't changed. He still delivers, heals and works wonders in the Earth. I am so thankful. We are in Acts 14 today. In this chapter we some of the struggles that Paul and Barnabus faced. But because they based their faith in Jesus, they had...

Welcome! In Acts 13 we are going to take some time to meet some people that God put together on the leadership team in Antioch. Precious Holy Spirit was building and structuring the church at Antioch. Luke tells us there were prophets and teachers: then he gives us a leadership list—Barnabas (a Levite Cyprus, prophet & teacher), Simeon Niger (likely African prophet & teacher), Lucius of Cyrene (No...

I'm so thankful that you have joined me on this journey of praying through Acts. Some people think it is the story of the acts of the Apostles. But I am convinced it is the acts of the Holy Spirit! Oh yes, God used people. And that's how He works today,   Precious Holy Spirit fills believers so we can be more like Jesus.   We are in Acts 11. In the previous chapter Peter had just done something he...

  Welcome! I'm so glad you are going me on this journey to pray through Acts. In Acts 10 we see 2 devout God-fearing men. Both were men of prayer. Each of the two men experienced a powerful vision which included clear instructions. Their obedience would take each of them out of their comfort zone. They were about to learn something on a personal level that they needed desperately. God was preparin...

Wow! I am awed every single time I read the account of Saul's miraculous and spectacular encounter with God on the road to Damascus. "Seeing The Light" takes on a brand-new meaning when you see what God did in Saul's heart. Saul was changed on that Damascus Road encounter! It was amazing! It was public! It was spectacular! Wow! I love to see and hear of radical transformations. • He entered full o...

Acts 8:1 And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen's death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. And those that were scattered preached the Word ever where they went. Phillip went to a city in Samaria and began to preach Jesus to the people. Most commentaries believe that this was no...

In Acts 7 Stephen is surrounded by an angry crowd, stirred up by false witnesses and jealous religious leaders, the high priest turned to Stephen and asked, "Are these charges true?" The charges were that he had blasphemed God and Moses. 2And Stephen declared: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in...

I hope you are doing well. I'm always so thankful to have this time with you.   Have the last few weeks (months) been hard? Problems?  Dizzying situations that make your mind swirl?  Frustrating people? Heartbreaking circumstances.    All around you?  Every whicha way you look? World Problems.  Political Problems.  Church Problems.  Family Problems. Sickness. Loss.    Anger.  Sin.  Just plain ole...

Acts 6 introduces us to Stephen. Stephen's name, according to NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible means crown. He is known in history as the first Christian martyr. He was chosen by his peers to serve as one of 7 elders to serve the needs of the people. He was known by them as a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. Look how God describes him in Scripture. 8Now Stephen, who was full of grace...

Acts 5 gives us a vivid close up of three very different groups of people. There is lots we could say about the deceptiveness of Ananias and Sapphira. Or the blindness and jealousy of the religious leaders. Their stories are important because they warn us to make different choices. But I want to take you to a wonderful miracle in this chapter. It is one of those events that when I get to Heaven, I...