The Essence of Who I Am

    During this last hurricane season, we were without electricity for almost five days. That first night was exciting. The kiddos couldn't wait to use their flashlights. We ate and played games by candlelight, and while it was all fun and games that first night, it began to grow old by the next. By habit, we would enter a room and our hands would automatically go to the light switch. Nothing would come on and then we would remember that there was no electricity. Each night, we would sit in our cars so we could charge our phones and other electronics. All of our lights, appliances, and chargers were useless without electricity. They were all plugged into an outlet, but there was no power source.      In our walk with God, the Holy Ghost is our power source! Acts 1:8 says, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you..." The same power that rose Jesus from the grave living inside of you! Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples to

     The garden of Gethsemane. Jesus, knowing it is almost time to complete the task He was born to do,  takes Peter, John, and James with Him to pray. His heart is breaking and is full of sorrow. As flesh, He begins to pray, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." When He returns to His disciples, they are asleep. During His entire ministry, He has been giving them clues about what is impending, yet they sleep. Don't they know that life as they know it is about to change? How can they sleep at a time Jesus needs them the most? Why can't they stay awake and pray? Two more times, Jesus prays the same prayer and returns to find His disciples fast asleep. This last time, however, He tells them to sleep on. He no longer needs their prayers. His time has come. As He is speaking, Judas, one of His own, arrives with a crowd sent by the chief priests and elders. He betrays Him with a kiss worth thirty pieces o