Apr 7

Apr 2

Mar 23

  • marcmadrigal
    marcmadrigal added a text contribution Hearts Turned Back to Egypt
    I can't get over this verse. I've read Stephen's speech many times but I never quite got it until I saw this verse. The whole point of his speech was to tell the Jewish rulers that even thought God had sent the Christ to redeem them, they were turning their hearts back to their religious tradition and hardhearted sinfulness. What a powerful statement! They would rather go back and live as slaves in Egypt than walk through the desert to the Promised Land. I know Stephen is talking… Read more »

Mar 13

Mar 7

Mar 3

  • marcmadrigal
    marcmadrigal added a text contribution The Gift of the Holy Spirit
    There are so many different words to describe the way that the Holy Spirit comes upon a believer: baptism, gift, receiving power, pouring out, filling. It means something altogether wonderful, a gift from God. I find it so encouraging that the gift of the Holy Spirit wasn't given just to those in the upper room but many different people throughout Acts. In Acts 2:38, Peter tells people in the crowd to repent and be baptized, and that then they will receive the gift of the Spirit. I wonder h… Read more »
  • marcmadrigal
    marcmadrigal added a text contribution Living Out Acts 2
    When I read these verses, my soul longs for this type of community to be expressed in my own time. The first believers had an eager desire to learn Jesus' teachings, to live and eat together, and even to pray. The only word that could describe their community was "awe." Miracles were the norm, new believers came daily, generosity was enormous. They met in public and they met in their homes. The truth of the gospel lit up their hearts and they were sincerely glad. God was praised.… Read more »

Mar 1

  • marcmadrigal
    marcmadrigal added a text contribution The Second Chance
    Our goal is to avoid sin and choose righteousness. Our business is to obey our Father. Our aim is to follow in Christ's footsteps. But sometimes we miss. Sometimes we stumble. Sometimes we take a wrong turn. Luckily we have a defender: Jesus Christ. He gets us back on track. He sets us up for success. He lends us his righteousness that we might be more and more conformed to his image. Avoid sin always, but we when we fall, let Jesus pick us up again and try again. Read more »
  • marcmadrigal
    marcmadrigal added a text contribution Carwash for the Soul
    When we confess our sin and bring it into the light, God sends us through a complete carwash for our soul. He purifies us, washes us, cleanses us, scrubs out all the dirt and grime, and makes us whole again. God really is bigger than our mistakes, and he will prove his faithfulness to him. There is nothing so dirty and evil that we've done that he is incapable of washing away. He pours out the blood of Jesus over us, deeper and more potent than any bleach or detergent. When we are ragged an… Read more »