1702 Chestnut Street, Buena Vista VA

Today, as I continued to focus on my family, I was blessed to join the Buena Vista Pentecostal Holiness Church for their online service. And from the very first words spoken, I knew God had me right where He wanted me.

“The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

How many of us need that reminder today?

We go through so many things in life that we cannot handle on our own, illness, heartbreak, uncertainty, waiting seasons that stretch us thin but the joy of the Lord never fades. It is not a joy based on circumstances; it is a joy born out of His presence. It’s a strength that holds us when we cannot stand on our own.

The choir began to sing those very words, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Their sound filled the sanctuary and, even through the screen, filled my home with the Spirit of God. That song became my prayer this morning.

Pastor then stepped forward with a fire in his spirit and a Bible open to Acts 11, preaching with a passion that reached straight to my heart. He spoke of the confusion that surrounded Jesus during His time on earth, how people questioned why He would eat with certain people, why He would speak to the outcast and the sinner. They couldn’t understand that a new covenant had come, one that extended beyond boundaries and bloodlines.

The Pastor preached about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that beautiful truth that the Holy Spirit now dwells within us. He reminded us that the Holy Spirit isn’t just something we talk about, He is Someone we experience. The Spirit was seen and heard in the early church. The same Spirit that fell upon the Gentiles in Acts 10 still moves today. The fire that descended in that upper room wasn’t just for a moment, it was for you and me.

He said something that struck me deeply: “The Gentiles were not excluded from grace.” That means none of us are excluded. Grace isn’t reserved for a select few. It’s not for the polished or the perfect, it’s for all who believe.

The Pastor encouraged the congregation not to look at speaking in tongues as “crazy stuff” but to seek understanding. As someone who has never had the gift of speaking in tongues myself, I could feel my heart open. I prayed, “Lord, if that’s something You have for me, I welcome it. Set me on fire like You did in the early church. Fill me with Your Spirit and let my life glorify You.”

Then the message turned to repentance.

Repentance leads to life. He broke it down so clearly, repentance is awareness, acceptance, action, and acceleration. True repentance is not just words; it is transformation. It is realizing that sin is not just what we do but what separates us from the heart of God. It is choosing to walk differently, to live differently, because of what Jesus has done for us.

He said something I’ll never forget: “Some of us don’t hate sin the way we should.” That convicted me. Do I hate sin, or do I tolerate it because it’s comfortable? Sin disguises itself as harmless, but it’s like BBQ sauce on a brand-new white shirt, the moment you stop being careful, it stains everything.

The Bible says to put others before ourselves, but how often do we rush through our days caught up in self? Repentance means slowing down long enough to see where we’ve drifted from the heart of God and running, yes, accelerating, back toward holiness.

The Pastor said, “True repentance is a progression toward holiness.” That line stayed with me. It’s not perfection we’re chasing, it’s Jesus. Every step of repentance moves us closer to Him, closer to eternal life.

When he spoke about forgiveness, I felt tears fill my eyes. “When we ask for forgiveness, God forgives us,” he said. “But too often, we refuse to forgive ourselves.” And isn’t that true? How many times have I carried the weight of my past, even after God has set me free? But grace means letting go. Grace means believing that God meant what He said when He called me forgiven.

This sermon made me pause and ask myself:

Am I walking in the fullness of repentance or just regret?

Am I progressing toward holiness or staying in comfort?

Am I living with joy, or am I letting the world steal it away?

Today reminded me that grace is for everyone. The fire of the Holy Spirit still burns for us. Repentance still leads to life.

I am so thankful for the fiery message, the heartfelt worship, and the reminder that God’s invitation still stands. I can’t wait to visit Buena Vista Pentecostal Holiness Church in person one day soon.

Until then, I will keep clinging to God and thanking Him for how far He’s brought me. I am nothing without Him, but with Him, I have everything I’ll ever need.