Pizza Ranch Serves

​This morning our devotions focused on Jesus' early years AFTER his birth in the manger. We looked at his father Joseph, the often over-looked important figure in the nativity setting.

Prayer was a source of power in the life of the early church. The question I ask myself is, "Is prayer source of power in my life?" What about you, is it a source of power in your life?

When a person comes to know Christ, or when that person asks Christ to be the Lord and Savior of their life, Scripture says that the Holy Spirit will then live in, around and flow out of them. That doesn’t mean that person becomes perfect. We know that. But, the Holy Spirit does become that person’s helper, comfort, intercessor, counselor, strength, teacher, and power. It helps that person to pray and to spread the good news locally, regionally, and throughout the world.

At the Pizza Ranch Support Center, we've been working through the Book of Acts during our weekly prayer time. Last week we saw the incredible introduction of the Holy Spirit to Christians. They heard, saw, felt, and did things that were unexplainable​, or so they thought.

At the Pizza Ranch Support Center we’ve been working our way through the Book of Acts during our weekly prayer time. Since starting Acts 1, we’ve been anticipating the arrival of the great gift that Jesus said would be coming. That great gift is the arrival of the Holy Spirit; the gift that would live in, around, and flow out of all those who claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Do you ever wonder how to get closer to God? Or to be able to pray without ceasing? I believe it starts with a thankful heart. When we thank God throughout our day, not only does it help us pray more often, but it also provides a solid foundation of many other prayers.

In Philippians 3, Paul shares his history as a religious leader who knew the law and followed it as well as anyone, but he goes on to confess that he did not know the truth of who Jesus was until Jesus grabbed his heart. Paul shares that this truth, that Jesus is the one true Son of God and the only way to be saved from sin, became the rally cry for his life, and that he would “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”.

Studies have shown that businesses who practice a Servant Leadership operating system are more successful than those who don’t. There are hundreds of leadership and business books on Servant Leadership. The idea behind Servant Leadership it is alive-and-well in our culture today.

The Book of Acts starts off saying that Jesus’ birth, life and death was just the beginning. Acts 1:1 says: “I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach.” In other words, there’s a lot more to come. Scripture had to be fulfilled. Check this quick summary of Acts 1:

​Guest Post from our Director of Training and Development, Jason L: As we’ve continued on looking into the book of Acts, God called us to Acts 1:12-14

Acts 1: 8-11 tells the story of Jesus being taken up into the clouds right in front of the disciples before their very eyes.

Last week we heard about the Great Gift that Jesus was talking to his disciples about.  This Great Gift is the Holy Spirit, given…