January 18, 2026
This gospel points to the fact that John’s baptism of water💦 for forgiveness of sins is different from Jesus’ baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire! 🔥We are praying for you (our children) that you are baptized with fire & the Holy Spirit through your personal friendship with Jesus.
After being raised in the Catholic Judeo-Christian Church my entire life (cradle Catholic) yet reading and studying the Bible (the last 15 years) one thing I do know is the Holy Spirit is unpredictable and we as humans may not know exactly when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire 🔥 The Bible says the Holy Spirit grew inside Jesus until his public ministry. John the Baptist heard from the Holy Spirit but we are not sure when. Paul received the Holy Spirit after his water baptism and the disciples received the Holy Spirit in upstairs rooms after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
Because this is a mysterious concept, we think it is important for you to know some of the signs that you may have an outpouring of the Holy Spirit or even small amounts of the Holy Spirit growing inside you. First off, and what pastors (as your parents we are some of your pastors) and priests love to speak of is blessings and perfectly timed answers to prayer that Squire Russel termed God winks. Secular people call these coincidences but thanking God and writing these blessings down so you remember brings joy and strengthens our friendship with Jesus beyond what any material gift could provide. It is also great marketing for the Christian faith.
Secondly, and isn’t ideal marketing for the Christian faith and what most pastors (even us as parents pastoring you) and priests don’t necessarily want to discuss with Believers is that when you are baptized with, Jesus’ Holy Spirit and fire, persecution from worldly, fleshy, jealous and envious people is inevitable. Jesus spoke of this persecution when talking to Peter and basically guaranteed this persecution for people who follow Jesus and are baptized by Jesus’s fire!
Jesus, himself, and Paul were both crucified because of this baptism of fire. John the Baptist was beheaded because of this persecution. More recently, Reverend Martin Luther King (in 1968) and Charley Kirk were shot because of Jesus’ baptism of fire and the Holy Spirit. The world does not like people who have been baptized with fire and the Holy Spirit!
But what I want you (our children) to know is not to be afraid of the persecution this baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire causes. People who are living in friendship with Jesus are really living a rich life! Living life to the fullest! Living their best life! Everyone at Charley Kirk’s funeral knows he is in heaven and as Paul said “He fought the fight, he ran the race! His job on earth is done!” I’m not surprised Ericka Kirk said he died with a small smile on his face! He lived his short life to the fullest because he was not afriad to do what God called him to do!
Take each good season, praise God and celebrate with family and friends as much as you can! Enjoy every second! If you can find time to write them down-DO! Then when the hard times and persecutions come because the Bible and Jesus promises hard times will come take them on one season at a time, one step at a time, one day at a time, 20 minutes at a time (Usha Vance), 5 seconds at a time (Mel Robbin’s). God has His way of working all of it for your GOOD! Romans 8:28
Turn, Turn, Turn By: The Byrds