144.

Well. My heart is tender. I've got my soaking worship music playing. I'm looking out the window from the translation room at KCK, where most Wednesday's since May 13th, 2016 I have written BuyTheField each week. This will be the 144th BuyTheField. I am aware that a transition is coming where I won't be looking out this window as I write. "Papa, you have met me here in this room all these 144 Wednesdays. Thank you."

I am so thankful for God's word. It is changing my life. I can't possibly say, write or think anything about the Word of God that enhances it one bit. I am simply in awe of the gift of the Words of God taking me over. Taking me over. Let it be.

The end of the bible book of Luke closes with these words. "He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” And then in the bible book of Acts near the beginning he continues with these words. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

I begin with these words today to simply say this. He did it. The Spirit prompted Luke to write these words down and they happened. Jesus did suffer. He did die. He did offer forgiveness. He did send the Spirit in great power. They did wait. They did receive the Spirit. It did spread from Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth, including where you are reading now. HE DID IT. HE IS DOING IT. It's not fake. It's not fluff. It really is still happening right now.

And what is the "it" that He is doing? I know that it could be said in billions of different ways, but here are a few....

From the Words of God:

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus." (bible book of Acts, chapter 3, verses 19 and 20) (Ahhhhh. That is refreshing. Life changing refreshing.)

From the words of my new MJ, Martin Lloyd Jones:

"Christianity is supernatural. When we become Christians, it is not because we have done something, but something has been done to us; something changes us. Here is the phenomenon pictured in Acts: Unlearned and ignorant men and women could speak new words of life and courage and truth, heal a lame man and were filled with power. What happened to them? This is Christianity in a nutshell. It does not depend upon us; it is a power acting upon us and in us and in spite of us.

REVIVAL IS GOD ACTING! A phenomenon; ordinary, ignorant, uneducated men and women speaking with boldness and working miracles. It is God’s power- that is Christianty. Christianity is not something I take up; it is not something that I grasp with my great mind. It is God dealing with me, changing me, giving me new birth, giving me a new life, a making new men and women of us. Christianity is not something that you add on to your life; it changes the whole of your life beginning at the center. It is not an addendum or an appendix; it is not an afterthought or something you do on Sundays. It is not something you take up and put down. No Christianity is a power that changes men and women through and through." (Ahhhhhhh. That is refreshing. Unbelievably refreshing.)

More Words from God:

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." (bible book of Acts, chapter 4, verse 13) (Ahhhhhhhh. That is refreshing. Staggeringly refreshing.)

And some words from me:

Has the good news of Jesus ever done anything to you? Has it had any affect on you ever in your life? Have you ever stopped to think about your heart since you were born?

The only people who ever enter the kingdom of God are those who realize they are desperate, hopeless sinners who can do nothing for themselves, who are saved entirely and solely by the death of the Son of God for them and for their sins and by His rising again for new life.

All 144 have pretty much been saying the same thing.

There's more.