Once when Paul and Silas were going to the place of prayer they were met by a female slave who had a an evil spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.  She followed Paul and Silas, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” Acts 16:16-17 This visit to the river was much different than Paul’s first when he met Lydia. Instead of finding a woman whos heart was open to the Lord, he found a girl who was possessed with pythian spirit. (Greek translation) The word python came to…

This morning as I was writing in my journal, my mind was filled with the list of all the new Covid travel updates. They seem to change daily and each change requires reconfirming every reservation and reassuring each client. In my frustration, I called out to God, “Oh Lord, I’m so tired of all the covid propaganda. It’s so hard to know what to believe because of all the lies and cover ups. Our government is corrupt, deceitful and ungodly. Social media is like a wild fire of words spreading quickly and destroying hope, joy and peace. It’s become a platform to debate, mock and force your own opinions.” As…

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? Do you remember the time or the place when you accepted Christ and invited Him into your life? Some people are coverted suddenly, others come gradually; some come publicly and others privately; some come with great emotion and other without much. Regardless of how, when and where it took place, the important thing is that you are able to say that you know without a doubt that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of your life and that you have…

One of the ways that I can relate with Lydia is that she was a business woman. She not only managed her household, but she ran a thriving business as well. It’s not easy working outside the home. Sometimes it’s a deliberate choice and other times a necessity. Regardless, the additional pressures to succeed add to an already full plate of responsibilites. What I admire about Lydia is that as a believer she used her business to support the cause. She not only sold her purple cloth – she served her Savior. She stayed in business so she would have the money to help God’s servants in their ministry and…

Daily, Lydia made her way to the riverside where she prayed and worshipped God. She knew that in order to successfully meet the stiff competition of the local traders, she needed grace as well as knowledge. Often we get so caught up in our daily affairs that we neglect what is most important, time with God. It’s during this one on one time that we receive peace and understanding. God is very willing to guide and direct those who are willing to take the time to ask and then follow through with His direction. How much better is your day when it begins with God? How many times have the…

Acts 16:15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. The word hospitality is a relative to the word hospital. Rarely do we put those two words together in our culture because the mental images they generate are so different. But a hospital is a place away from your home that is designated to bring healing and wholeness. Hospitality is not about a vacation, but about allowing your home and your presence to bring emotional, mental, and spiritual healing to others. Lydia’s first…

Have you every had moments when you knew without a doubt that you were in the right place at the right time with details falling into place in only ways that God Himself could have orchestrated? That’s exactly what happened to Paul and Lydia. Paul had been obedient to go exactly where the Holy Spirit was leading him and Lydia was worshiping God on the Sabbath in the only place that made sense with other believers. Their paths crossed and God’s will was done. The doors were flung wide open for an entire continent to hear the message of the Gospel. Not only was Lydia in the right place at…

When Paul and Silas arrived in Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia, they stayed several days. On the Sabbath they went outside the city gate to the river, where they expected to find a place of prayer. They sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.  One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.  (Acts 16:12-14) When entering a new town, Paul would usually stop at the local synogogue and share the gospel message. Upon arriving in…

I always find it so amazing when I’m able to see something from someone else’s perspective. Recently I had two situations where a different perspective changed my whole outlook. We moved next to the railroad yard a few months ago. The noise is incredible and has caused many sleepless nights. One night my granddaughters stayed the night. They also live near a train track and my oldest granddaughter often goes to her window to watch as the trains pass by because she is facinated with them. As she was looking out the back of the property she said “Grandma, you are so lucky to have seven train tracks by your…