Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet of Jesus Christ as HE appointed to the New Testament church after the resurrection according to Ephesians 4:11-12
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Ephesians 3:20 Now unto HIM that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
The power that works in us is the Holy Spirit who guides us in what God would have us do and approve for us to do.
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In June, 2020, Pam Padgett and I talked about driving up into the nearby Rocky Mountains this fall when the leaves change color. (We live in Colorado Springs with Rocky Mountains about 15 minute drive to base of foothills.)
I didn't mention it to Pam, but I have a good deal of pain when I ride in my old 1994 car. And I have pain when I ride in her 16 year old car. So I wasn't sure I could stand to ride in either car for even an hour.
I was thinking about getting the car seats rebuilt with good padding. That could be done at car upholsterer.
(My 1994 car has 105,000 miles. Pam's SUV has 75,000 miles.)
Then the idea came, "Or you could just buy a new car."
"Yes, we could do that." I thought. (The house in Texas sold so we could easily pay cash for new car and have a considerable amount of money left over.)
(I didn't realize that was the Holy Spirit speaking until I started writing this.)
But this is one way the Holy Spirit speaks to us, by bringing gentle thoughts to our minds to show us what to do in the issue at hand.
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
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John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
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After hearing we could buy a new car, I asked Pam had she ever thought of buying a new car.
She had not.
(There were a couple of problems wrong with our two old cars. Mine seemed to be leaking something onto the driveway. And Pam's 16 year old car had a problem with the fan of the heating/cooling.)
Then Pam prayed, "God, I wouldn't even know where to start in looking for a new car."
Pam began praying often about a car, and she began to think about a new car.
I also began praying, "Are we supposed to buy a new car?"
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Then on the night of Thursday, June 11, 2020, I had a dream. "All of a sudden, I bought a new car. I was surprised. I had bought a Buick, but I didn't discuss it with my dad." (My dad was an expert in motors and I would never have bought a car without discussing it with him before buying a car. He died in 1982. Of course, God, the Father, would show what to do now. So be sure to ask God what to buy.)
I did not want to tell this dream to Pam because I didn't want to put any pressure on her. But I knew I had to tell her.
So when she came into my room the next morning after the dream, I told her.
I had already pulled up pictures on Internet of Buick, and of Acura, (which was the model of Pam's old car) and Lexus and Cadillac ... all SUV's because we needed room for Pam's 2 big dogs to go with us.
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By 12:30 noon that Friday, the day after the dream, we had gone out to drive cars.
I'm sure by then, before we reached the car dealer, each of us were praying, asking God to stop us from buying the wrong car, and to lead us to the right car for our needs.
I saw 3 criteria:
* Pam needed a car that she would enjoy driving in snow and on mountain roads. (I no longer drive.)
* We needed a car where the seats were as comfortable as possible.
* We needed an SUV so we could have the 2 dogs in a space behind the backseats.
We looked at each of these 4 brands of cars and decided on the Acura.
I thought of how God knows what we need and arranges to get us to do that thing.
(I would not buy anything unless I had the money to pay cash, which I do have since the house in Texas sold in mid-May.)
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It is by the Holy Spirit bringing thoughts to our minds that we know the will of God in the area in which we are working.
I Corinthians 2
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by HIS Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
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Another teaching consideration:
I do not compromise.
(Remember I had 3 criteria.)
When we were going to drive the Lexus:
I got into the passenger side of car. A computer screen was sticking up on front center of the dashboard. It looked like it would lower into the dash but it did not lower. It just stuck up on top of the dash. When I discovered it could not be lowered, I said to Pam, "There is no reason to drive this car. I won't ride in this when I can't see out the windshield." As we grow older, we often become bent over a little. I am 82.
We didn't even drive the Lexus off the lot.
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Next we drove the Acura.
- Pam liked driving it and it had good control for her.
- The seat was very comfortable, with Lumbar support. We drove up to mountains in canyon. I never felt any pain. But the interior was dark leather and my clothing began sticking to me.
- There was plenty of room for dogs.
(Sound system didn't suit me but I always take my new cars to Sound Equipment Specialist and they sound proof interior of car to help with road noise. And they add amplifier and usually add new CD player. So I felt we could fix that sound system with proper adjustments.)
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Next we drove the Cadillac SUV.
The seat was a serious problem, very hard and uncomfortable. We only went about two blocks and even Pam was having back pain. We couldn't get it back to dealer fast enough.
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Next Buick:
The seat was a little better than the Cadillac, although both are made by General Motors, so far as I know. We didn't even consider the Buick.
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We bought the Acura the same day and paid for it by check. They will deliver it on Monday, June 15.
You may recall how the black seats were hot in the Acura demo car. It turned out they had a new 2019 Acura, pearl white with ivory color interior. We drove it and liked it. We bought it, at a reasonable discount.
I've already arranged for sound shop to adjust the system in the car and to install an amplifier from my old car.
We are putting both old cars up for-sale and we will put the money for these cars into the ministry bank account.
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I hope this shows you how God leads us by the Holy Spirit.
And how God's way is exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or even think!
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