S. Brenda Elfgirl - I was told I am an elf in a parallel life, and I live in the Arizona desert exploring what this means. I've had this blog for a while and I write about the things that interest me. My spiritual teacher told me that my journey in life is about balancing "the perfect oneness of a sweetness heart and the effulgent soul". My inner and outer lives are like parallel lines that will one day meet, but only when there is a new way of thinking. Read on as I try to find the balance.
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Day 232 Bible Readings – 1 Corinthians 14: 2-4 (ESV)
1 Corinthians 14: 2-4 (ESV)
“For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.”
In verses 2 through 4 from 1 Corinthians 14, Paul talks about the difference between the gifts of the spirits of speaking in tongues and to gift of prophesy. Paul tells us when you speak in tongues, you are speaking directly to Father-God because the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is within you. Speaking in tongues allows you to pray, praise and glorify Father-God directly. Paul tells us the gift of speaking in tongues will build you up and strengthen your relationship with Father-God. The gift of prophecy, on the other hand, is given to people to serve, build up, and strengthen the church.
I remember the first time I went to a Holy-Spirit filled church where people were speaking in tongues during the whole service. I was not used to it, and it seemed very strange to me. But after further study in the Bible and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I now know that these people were speaking directly to Father-God. I wanted to have the gift of speaking in tongues and I had friends pray over me, but nothing ever came out. And if something did come out, it sounded like I was speaking nonsense. It took me a long time to figure out that the nonsense I was hearing was my mysterious way of speaking to Father-God, and it was okay that I couldn’t understand my own prayers. My soul knows and Father-God knows my prayers. Praying in tongues lets me express my deepest feelings to Father-God and always moves me to tears. I feel so good after I pray in tongues because it makes me feel like I told Father-God what I want and need, and he heard me.
If you enjoyed reading my thoughts about these Bible verses, and you want to feel that you can pray about everything you want and need to Father-God and that he hears you because of your faith in Jesus Christ, please pray this prayer out loud:
Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Day 231 Bible Readings – 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 (ESV)
Song of Solomon 5-8, 1 Corinthians 13, Psalm 119: 169-176
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 (ESV)
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it
is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable
or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
I was reading verses 4 through 7 from 1 Corinthians 13, and
I was struck by how these verses can apply any relationship a person might
have. I know many people use these verses as part of their marriage vows, but using
these verses in any relationship will help to keep that relationship strong and
long lasting. I love all the friends that I have, but sometimes they do things which
irritate me so much that I no longer look forward to seeing them. I have a church
friend whom I love very dearly, but she is very insistent on having everything exactly
to her liking. I go early to church service and try to save seats for this one
friend as well as others. I do not like sitting in the front row including the
sides of the first row. Instead, I like to sit in the middle so I can see the
pastor and the front center screen. This friend came to service 15 minutes
before it started and looked at the seat I saved for her, then proceeded to
scold me for not saving her a seat in the front row. I was not happy about her
rebuke. The whole time she was speaking to me, the only thought in my head was
if you don’t like the seat I saved for you then you should come early and get the
seat that you want instead of relying on me to save you a seat. She knows I never
save seats in the front row, so my choice of seats was not a surprise to her,
but her scolding me was a shock to me. This friend has always been kind to me,
and we’ve had some amazing Holy-Spirit filled experiences together. But I’ve had
to repeatedly ask the Holy Spirit for guidance on how to forgive her for
complaining about the seat I saved for her. I know these verses stood out to me
today because Holy Spirit is guiding me to use these verses when I think of my complaining
friend. Love isn’t just a feeling or emotion. Paul says love is a deliberate
choice to act with kindness and compassion. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I
can choose to have love for my church friend and endure all the challenges in
our relationship because I value her as a fellow member of the body of Jesus Christ.
If you enjoyed reading my thoughts about these Bible verses,
and you want to choose love in all of your relationships because of your faith
in Jesus Christ, please pray this prayer out loud:
Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of
all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus
from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now,
I receive forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am
clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of
Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full
Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached
and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Day 230 Bible Readings – Psalm 119: 165-166 (ESV)
Song of Solomon: 1-4, 1 Corinthians 12: 27-31, Psalm 119: 161-168
Psalm 119: 165-166 (ESV)
“Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make
them stumble. I hope for your salvation, O Lord, and I do your commandments.”
In verses 165 to 166 from Psalm 119, King David tells us
that his great love for the words and laws of Father-God brought great peace to
his life. David emphasizes that it was the type of peace that brought him so
much stability in his life, that nothing made him stumble. The peace does not
come to those who perfectly keep Father-God’s law, but to those believers who
love the words of Father-God. If you love the words of Father-God, it means you
have a relationship with him and the Holy Spirit. Having a relationship with
the Holy Spirit means you have the guidance to avoid sin and errors in your
life. David then tells us if you have great peace which comes from having a relationship
with Father-God, you can place your hope in the promise that he will save you.
When you have a relationship with Father-God, you love him, and your faith is demonstrated
in obeying his words.
I know that since I’ve been reading the Bible every day, I
have a deeper relationship with Father-God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
My life is not trouble free, but I have a daily sense of peace that Father-God
loves me and is aware of everything that goes on in my life. When I make a
decision, I pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit so everything that I do in
my life will reflect my love for Father-God. I never want to do what Father-God
doesn’t want me to do because I love him so much, and I’m so grateful that I
feel his love for me every day. It’s the most amazing feeling to know that
Father-God loves you, and I don’t know how anyone wouldn’t want to have this
feeling every day in your life.
If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on these Bible verses,
and you want to have the feeling that you are loved every day by Father-God
through your faith in Jesus Christ, please pray this prayer out loud:
Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of
all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus
from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now,
I receive forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am
clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of
Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full
Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached
and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Monday, August 18, 2025
Day 229 Bible Readings – Psalm 119: 153-154 (ESV)
2 Chronicles 7-9, 1 Corinthians 12: 1-26, Psalm 119: 153-160
Psalm 119: 153-154 (ESV)
“Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget
your law. Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise!”
In verses 153 and 154 from Psalm 119 King David reminds each
believer that Father-God is aware our struggles, so we can call on him to
deliver us. David is also the example for believers to draw closer to Father-God
in times of trouble, and not away from the Lord. David reminds us that we do
not have bear our troubles alone because Father-God is always with us, and we
can call on him. David also tells us we need to always read Father-God’s words
and keep his laws when we are in times of trouble. We can rely on Father-God to
intervene for us in times in troubles, and trust in him to be our advocate. We
can rely on the words in the Bible to renew us, and for Father-God to redeem
us. Lastly, David tells us to remember the promises of Father-God in the Bible,
knowing that the Lord will always fulfill his promises to us. I like these
verses because David makes it clear that in times of troubles, we need to draw closer
to Father-God and not away from him and remember his promises to children.
If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on these Bible verses,
and you want to know that you are entitled to the promises of Father-God
because of your faith in Jesus Christ, please pray this prayer out loud:
Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of
all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus
from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now,
I receive forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am
clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of
Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full
Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached
and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.