Thursday, June 12, 2008

Subject: Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Dear Mr. Greiner, 

I have been a born again Christian for almost 15 yrs. (July 4, l993) and have actively been seeking the Lord for the past couple of years since my atheist husband of 20.5 yrs. finally got saved.  We both attend a non-denominational- Calvary Chapel affiliate church in Whittier, California: Morningstar Christian Chapel -  morningstarcc.org

For months, the Lord has been leading me to finally get plugged into ministry at church.  Prior to this, my ministry through Jesus has led me to reach out to the lost, actively supporting relatives in the Philippines both financially and by way of care packages of food, clothing, shoes, and toiletries with the help of my immediate family also.
 

Yesterday, as I was filling out an application for ministry at our church, one of the questions asked was " have you been Baptized with Holy Spirit and how can the gifts you have received assist you in ministry?"   I always believed that salvation and the infilling of the Holy Spirit was a one time experience at conversion.  I immediately called our church and one of the assistant pastors explained this miraculous experience and to attend his ' new believer's class' this Thursday (today) as it was the study he was teaching. 

Since I have been ravenous for God's word lately, I decided to surf the internet for as much information as I could find concerning this topic after my conversation with the pastor.  And the Lord lead me to your webpage: "Becoming Empowered."   

I appreciate your thorough writings as only the Holy Spirit could in leading you to all truth and light of His word.  I have taken thorough notes, read Scripture, and prayed at the end with complete submission and humility and the result was a Baptism of the Holy Spirit as I wept joyfully. 
  

Last night after my regular prayer,  I sat quietly and asked God to speak through me and I began to have epileptic like seizures, which I have never experienced before.  Being a dental professional (RDA) for many years,  I know how strong the jaw muscle is and my jaw kept opening wide as I breathed heavily in.  My tongue began to wag about profusely without control as utterances came out.  My eyes, body, hands and arms twitched so hard I was afraid to wake my husband who was laying beside me.  This went on for what seemed like 2 hours. Tonight, I will attend pastor Lyle's class on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and repeat to him everything I experienced.
 

Thank you very much for sharing yours and your wife's experience in your letter to your church.  It was edifying and uplifting as I know and believe it glorifies our Father to the utmost.  Also, His Gifts to you with your artwork is amazing and beautiful!  May the Lord continue to richly bless you both as we serve a mighty and awesome God ! Hallelujah!! 

Sincerely indebted to His love and mercy,

Suzette Bashar

P.S.- Aztec Gold is simply the name of my favorite  Plumeria tree. "Like a tree firmly planted I'll be." ~ Suzette

Philippians 2:9-11 

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Subject: Baptism of the Holy Spirit 

Dear Suzette, 

Your wonderful letter was forwarded to me by my Office.  Thank you for sharing how the Holy Spirit used our website and my essay on the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" to release this empowering experience into your life.  Your story is precious and just proves how any of us can reach out to God, at any time, from any where and He will hear and move His hand on our behalf. 
 

It is a miracle you found my website on the internet by searching the words "Baptism of the Holy Spirit", since there are literally thousands of websites that discuss this empowering experience.  The Holy Spirit for some reason decided to direct you to us. (He did help me write my essay!)  Thank you Holy Spirit!
 

I trust your pastor and friends were blessed by your testimony.  There is great power in testimony, as you found out by simply reading our website essay and then praying to God with hunger and sincerity.  He loves to answer the prayers of His children, especially when they ask for the right things!
 

Would it be possible for me to share your letter on our website, related to my article on the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit"? It would be a great encouragement to others who are searching out this spiritual matter.
 

Thanks again for your kind letter.  You have begun a great adventure with the Holy Spirit, which only gets better, if you don't limit how He works and manifests in your life.  He loves to reveal Himself to His children who aren't afraid and won't set limits or restrictions on His activities in their lives. 
 

Just remember you will always be fine if you remember to always "test the fruit and the root" as Jesus instructed, regarding any spiritual experience, miracle or manifestation. 
 

I pray God continues to pour out His blessings, manifestations and gifts on your life, so much that they overflow onto everyoneyou meet!  In the name of Jesus.  AMEN!

In the King's Service,

Max 

Max Greiner Jr., Designs
P.O. Box 290552
Kerrville, TX 78029-0552 

(830) 896-7919
maxart@hctc.net
www.maxgreinerart.com

Monday, June 23, 2008

Subject: Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Dear Mr. Greiner,

Thank you very much for your kind response.  I am in awe as I marvel at the work God is doing in my life and the lives of others.  Please, by all means, feel free to share my letter to encourage others as it lifts up and glorifies the Lord.

Since being baptized in the Holy Spirit,  I have felt much closer to Jesus as I fervently share Him with others.  He has placed such a yearning in my heart to the lost.  Although we live in an affluent neighborhood, we have a neighbor who lives behind our house, kind of caddy corner, who has a violent temper and, perhaps, a drug/mental problem.  I have heard her use expletives, while working in my garden, as she screams at her 3 young children on a daily basis and fights with her boyfriend/husband(?).  It has become so alarming that I've reported her to the Orange County Social Services as I am certain she is abusing her kids.  Other neighbors are all aware of the detestable behavior this woman is living yet they turn away out of fear of repercussion.  In my past weakness and out of frustrated anger and deep sadness for her children,  I've asked God if he would smite her by making her choke on her spit which I am ashamed of doing. 

Since my baptism, the Holy Spirit has reminded me in Scripture about Mary Magdalene who had been delivered from seven demons.  I am now praying for my neighbor whom I believe is under the bondage of demons.  The Lord, who loves sinners, has given me a compassion for her by praying that she will come to know Him and be delivered also.

My prayer life has improved immensely as I marvel at these languages the Holy Spirit speaks out of my mouth.  I am still in awe that God can impart His grace upon a once wretched sinner like me.  It brings me to tears just thinking about it.

Speaking of deliverance, yesterday God performed a miracle before my very eyes.  Please know, that throughout my saved life, God's miracles were already occurring:  my salvation, my husband's, freed from ovarian cancer, waking up to each new day etc. My husband was out playing in a tennis tournament about an hour away.  It was around 1:40 pm and I was fixing a sandwich.  I turned around and saw my 5 yr. old dog dragging his hip/back.  He would take a step then drag, a step then drag.  I was shocked at what I was seeing so I bent down to touch him and he began to shake which meant he was in a lot of pain.  I tried to palpate his muscles but he kept nudging my hand away with his nose as he growled in pain.   It was Sunday and the vet's office was closed which meant I'd have to take him to the ER vet and pay 3 times the fees for the visit, x-ray and medication compared to our vet during regular office hours.  My husband's business has been slow and living on his income has been very tight.  Praise God, however, there has always been funds in the checking acct.(another miracle) when bills and our mortgage were due and we've never skipped on tithing as we believe it is essential to our obedience in Him.  God loves a cheerful giver.

In my panic,  I cried out to God and asked Him if it was in His will to heal my Jellybean, I would truly be grateful, as financially it was going to set us back besides the anguish of seeing my dog in pain.  So I laid my hands on my dog and prayed.  Afterward, I phoned my husband to let him know what had happened and he told me if I had to, just take the dog to the ER vet.  After we hung up, I closed my eyes again, sat down and prayed once again.  The still small voice of the Holy Spirit assured me that everything was going to be ok.  He said,  " I am with you.  Never will I leave you nor forsake you.  Jellybean will be fine, he hurt his back crouching to get under the bed to find a cool spot for napping."  I asked Him if it was ok for me to give Jelly half of a baby aspirin as he has had so many allergic reactions in the past.  Again, the Holy Spirit answered, " yes, you can give him the aspirin and it won't hurt him but he will be just fine." 

So I got up and went to the bathroom to get the aspirin and then the kitchen to get the jar of peanut butter to wrap the pill in.  Lo and behold, here comes Jellybean walking normal again and he even propped himself up on the kitchen counter to get his dollop of peanut butter.  I wept with joy as I fell on my face to the floor to thank the Lord for His goodness and deliverance.

After I had eaten my sandwich, I sat down to meditate on God's work and this Scripture was brought to my attention.  Numbers 23:19  God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent.  Has He said, and will He not do?  Or has He spoken, and will he not make it good?  God has given me His assurance that His promises to us are gold - solid - unchanging- immutable.  God is the same today as He was yesterday and He will be for all eternity.

This morning, more assurance came from these verses:  Hebrews 6:17-18 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.  Titus 1:2  in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began...Psalm 18:1-3  I will love You, O Lord my strength.  The Lord is my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies.

Psalm 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

Mark 16:17-18  " And these signs will follow those who believe:  In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

I believe wholeheartedly that God still performs tangible miracles to stir the hearts of the unbelieving and the skeptical.  You see,  my whole family and parents are still practicing Catholics.  They say they believe Jesus is God but they worship statues of passed saints and Mary.  It may take a miracle for them so their eyes will be opened and become born again.  As Catholics, they feel they are Christians but their lives speak otherwise.
As you say, " check for the fruit and the root."

I hope and pray that God will continue to manifest His will upon my life as I surrender to Him daily with a humble heart in complete submission to His plan for me.

Thank you for ministering to me and others with God's plan for your life.  It is an honor and a privilege to come before God's throne of grace.

Forever His,

Suzette