Part 2: The Holy Ghost Received

6th Day
Dear Diary

For the next several days, the seas were calm, but the weather was chilly. I decided to stay in my cabin and spend some time reading my new Bible. I flipped open to ACTS. I read about the Holy Spirit and the day of Pentecost when they spoke in tongues. I turned to the gospels where John the Baptist says that the one after him, Jesus, baptizes with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Then I read that God would give the Holy Ghost to them that ask for it:

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come… there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house… And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

…I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

…how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

I know he will give the Holy Ghost to me.

I read on to find out that the Holy Ghost and fire is what helps me to overcome sin in my life! It’s the Spirit of the Father, in us, to have power over Satan. Why wouldn’t everyone want this? I asked God right then to give me the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and let me speak in tongues.

It also says the Holy Ghost will lead you into all truth. Now, I not only look forward to meeting my Love, but receiving the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues.

It is so. I will be like my Beloved.

7th Day
Dear Diary

I left my cabin for breakfast. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There at a table was an old schoolmate of mine. She and I hugged. It had been seventeen years; how happy I was to see her. But…

Actually, I had hoped she wouldn’t remember many things about me or my past. I wasn’t very proud of the way I used to be. The drinking and the smoking. The way I had carried on.

We were happy to see each other and talked for quite awhile. She asked what happened to me; there was something very different and wonderful about me. She said I looked so happy and content, and I just gleamed! I didn’t know she could tell that there was a difference in me. I told her that I found my new love. I’m giving my life to him completely. Soon we would be one. She said that something has really changed in me and that she was happy for me.

But she did not really want to talk about
spiritual things, my love for Jesus.

I left to take a walk on the deck. The weather began to change, the wind picked up, it grew dark and it began to storm. I couldn’t believe how sick I felt! This is not what I expected on my journey to meet my love; smooth sailing, wonderful experiences. What if something happens and I don’t make it? Fear and doubt began to set in. Then I remembered:

For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Fear not, his blessed Word says, I will help thee.

I went back to my cabin to lie down. One of the crewmembers came to check on me. I asked if he knew the woman who stayed in this cabin the last trip. He said, “Of course! I’ll never forget her!” I said, “Why is that?”

His reply was, “She prayed for me and healed me! I had great pain in my back, and she laid her hands on me and prayed. The pain went away! She was gentle, but still held her own when it came to doing things right. She seemed to see everything the way God would see things. She never tried to force her beliefs on me, though. She just showed great love and kindness to me during her whole journey. She said she was going to meet her love, and that soon she would be one with him.” Incredible! Jesus prayed that we would be one with him just before he was betrayed. It’s in there, the GOSPEL OF JOHN:

…And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

…that they may be one… That’s a marriage.

After he left, I lay down to rest and closed my eyes. My tongue and lips started to move and words started to flow out of my mouth, words that I could not understand. At the same time, I began to weep as such a peace came from within! I can hardly describe it! I was receiving the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues! It’s true! I fell asleep for a while, so content. I love you, Jesus! I’m on my way!

I am baptized in the Holy Ghost.

8th Day
Dear Diary

I woke up refreshed and excited! I couldn’t believe what had happened to me the day before. The scriptures were true and so were God’s promises. Opening the scriptures again, my eyes fell on the fruits of the Spirit. Uh, oh! My display of anger the first few days was not among them. Reading and talking to God makes me feel better, but I still continue to have those same flare-ups now and then. It says to become Christ-like. How do I get rid of these things that are so hideous in my life? I still feel hatred for the way I was treated by my brother. And the one who stole my money. Hurt and mad. Sometimes I can’t stand myself. I said, “Holy Ghost, you show me. It says you will lead me into all truth!” I can’t stay this way and present myself like this to my Love, Jesus. I will only see him with a pure heart.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

…Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

I want to see him. I will become pure like him.
I must. But can I….?

The maid came in again this morning, to bring fresh towels. I asked if she could tell me more about this woman with the Bible. She said that Rose loved Jesus more than anyone she had met. If she ever wondered what Jesus would be like, Rose would have been like him. When she was going through a hard time, all others shunned her, except this woman. Rose, she said, sat and held her and listened and talked to her about Jesus.

9th Day
Dear Diary

I awoke to very rough seas. I tried to read the Bible awhile, but started getting queasy. I went to the upper deck and saw high waves rolling and rolling. The clouds were dark; the sails were flapping loudly back and forth. It looks like a storm. What if we sink? I held on, but things were getting worse. Are we going to make it? I was beginning to wonder if this journey was worth it! The ocean spray was getting me soaked! Maybe I shouldn’t go on, maybe I could get off the next time I see land. I went back down below deck to my cabin. When I got there, my room had been ransacked! My jewelry, and other things precious to me were gone! (At least I had put my money in the safe.) What a trip! I can’t believe this! I wish I had never gone on this trip!

I ran back upstairs. The seas were getting rougher. I thought I could see land way out there! If I could, I’d get off this ship and go to land! At least I’d be safe and warm. I never dreamt it would be like this! The next thing I knew, I slipped over the side! Screaming, I fell deep into the waters. What have I done? Struggling to stay afloat, I thought why, oh why, had I looked to that land? I began to panic. If I could just make it back, I would never doubt this journey, or God’s ability to take care of me again! Next thing I knew, a life ring was tossed to me. Thank you, Lord! I can’t believe his great mercy after I wanted to quit the journey and leave everything! I must swim and get back! As I was being pulled up, the seas were calming down, the clouds parted and a beautiful rainbow appeared above me. I knew in the Bible, the rainbow was a symbol that God keeps his promise.

…I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant… And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant…

I know God keeps his promises. I am going on.

Back on board, in my cabin, I had to lie down to rest and keep warm. I had such a peace, knowing that God had kept me, in spite of myself. I love you, Lord!

Now I must finish my journey! I wanted to read some more. I hope no one took my new Bible! Great, it’s still there! I flipped open to the back, and was surprised to find a whole section in red print! This was a section on only the words that Jesus spoke.

I read for two hours. All of his words. These truly are the greatest words ever spoken! I fell asleep.

There is a hunger in me. I must read all of his words. I opened the Bible again to where it was written:

Leaving behind the principles and doctrines of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.

Another place says, Be ye perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

How are we supposed to do that? Nobody is perfect! Well, there must be a way, or he wouldn’t have said it. He did say:

He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, …Till we all come in the unity of the faith, …the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of…

And it reads, the stature of the fulness of Christ!

There is a way to perfection.

I’m convinced that the Holy Ghost will show me the things I need to change and get rid of, so I can become like Jesus. If I’m supposed to be one with him, I will have to be like him. Why didn’t anyone ever teach me this before? The Scripture is teaching me now. The Holy Ghost is leading me.

Later in the evening, I decided to get out of my cabin a bit, so I went up to dinner. As I sat down the waiter noticed my Bible. He said, “Where did you get that? I’ve seen only one other like that.” I answered that I had found it in my room. He said, “I know who owns it. Her first name was Rose.” He said he got to talk with her at length a few times. He said he loved God and went to church often when at home, but he never got very much out of it and didn’t understand all the ceremony.

She had explained that Jesus was a real man. He was born flesh and blood, just like you and me. He suffered just like you and me. I remembered the scriptures I read earlier in HEBREWS:

…but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Jesus did not schedule his ministry to be only
on the Sabbath. Jesus was led of the Spirit
and he did nothing but what the Father showed him.

His ministry was so down to earth, not full of pompous ceremony. He knew his Father, and said for us to be one with him and his Father. By overcoming sin in our lives, through the Holy Ghost, we eventually become perfect, and one with the Father.

How incredible! That’s worth the journey! Jesus came to bring us life by sending the Holy Ghost to dwell in us… to do that purging of all sin.

The waiter was so excited to be able to tell someone about this. He said the woman mentioned that she was no longer tempted by sin anymore. For years, she fought temptations, thoughts, and evil in her life. The Holy Ghost was faithful to show her her sin, and by much prayer, fasting and knowledge of the Word, gradually that self will began to disappear and then was gone. God spoke to her one day, “I have removed the ROOT OF SIN from your life.” Privately I thought, But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

I can’t believe what I am hearing!
I can actually fight sin
in my life? All of it can be gone?
And then I can become one with Jesus and the Father?

I went back to my room and read. I was so excited! In HEBREWS, it talks about chastisement: the correction of God. It says we must all be partakers of it. He says it’s not joyous at the time, but it will bring forth the peaceable fruits of righteousness! Sounds like it may not be easy, but if I heed to it, it will help me change. Everyone says God is love and he would never get mad at us or speak to us harshly. But from what I’ve been reading, he was pretty straightforward with people and Jesus sure didn’t seem too happy when he cleaned out the temple with a whip!

God chastises us because he loves us and he does it for our own good! He’s a good Father. I’m tired, but what a peace! I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

I love you, dear Jesus.

13th Day
Dear Diary

It’s been a few days since writing.

The other day, I awoke early to crewmen yelling to get our lifejackets on! Heavy winds were stirring up and rocks were on each side of us on a coral reef. We had been blown off course slightly during the night. We had sideswiped a huge rock and were taking on water!

Quickly I put on my life vest. I heard screams! I cried out for God to help me! I grabbed my Bible and a few things and put them in a plastic bag inside my life vest. By the time I ran up to the main deck, a fire had broken out. The ship began breaking up. Others were already in the water. The ship lurched and I fell in. Frantically kicking away from the doomed vessel, I heard a voice. I turned and saw a door pushed towards me. The voice yelled, “Grab this. Get on.” It was my uncle. I pulled myself halfway onto it and held on. I searched for him, but he was no more. No one was around.

I could see land but didn’t know how far away it was. The storm and waves were pushing me closer to the land. I wondered if I’d ever make it! I was so exhausted! Something, however, rose up inside me and gave me this deep peace. I knew that God would take care of me. I’d come to realize how much he loved me. I fell asleep. I don’t know how long.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I rest in you, my God.

I woke up on a sandy shore with a man running over to me. He yelled, “Are you okay?” I could not walk. I was exhausted. He picked me up, put me in his car and took me to a small clinic. I was hungry and cold, but very happy to be alive!

When I woke up from resting, I thought of my Bible. A woman came over to see how I was, and said they had found a plastic bag with me. Thank God! She told me that I was in Panama. I am so thankful God saved me and kept me!

I am alive!

15th Day
Dear Diary

I found out in the report on the wreck, that four died. One was my uncle. Next to my father, I loved my uncle the most. His good example made me know of my Love. He helped me begin this journey.

Because of a fever and dehydration, I’ve been at the clinic several days. The man who found me came to see me today. I couldn’t thank him enough! We spent quite awhile talking; he was so kind and gentle to me. I really like him.

The Journey Continues in Part 3