Thankyou…
…to MerishaJanke forhertranslationfromGermaninto English.
…to myhusbandBruno:Timeandagainyoulovingly encouragedmetocontinuewriting.Withoutyou,the publishingofthisbookwouldhavetakenwaylonger.
…to IreneandWalterHeidenreich foryourfriendshipand encouragement.ThroughyourlivesIhaveseenwhat friendshipwiththeHolySpiritlookslike.
…to allthekidsandadults,forsharingwithmeyour experienceswiththeHolySpirit,andgivingmepermissionto sharethemwithothersinthisbook.
…to Lisa,myeditor:Youremovedquitesomemistakesand helpedmeto‘beautify’mysentences.
…to mysisterBirgit foryourvaluableadvice,correctingmy spelling,andstandingbymyside.
…to theFreeChristianYouthCommunity –foreverything thatIhavediscoveredabouttheHolySpirit.Thankyoufor yourencouragementthroughoutthewritingprocess.
…fromallmyhearttothe ‘HeavenlyTeam’,myFatherGod, RedeemerJesusandtheHolySpirit,myDivineFriend.
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TableofContents Imprint3 Introduction4 Thankyou…5 AbouttheAuthor7 ForewordbyWalterHeidenreich8 DiscoveryPagesallabouttheHolySpirit10 Chapters 1TheHolySpiritLeadsUstoJesus13 2TheHolySpiritShowsUstheFather21 3TheHolySpirit,aDivinePerson31 4TheHolySpiritFillsUs41 5TheHolySpiritandHisPower51 6TheHolySpiritGivestheSecretLanguage61 7TheHolySpiritShowsInvisibleThings71 8TheHolySpirit,theWorld’sBestComforter81 9TheHolySpiritandHisSecretPlan99 10TheHolySpirithastheGreatestPowerintheUniverse111 11TheHolySpiritMakesYouBold123 12TheHolySpiritGivesOutHeavenlyGifts133 13TheHolySpiritentrustschildren145 14TheHolySpiritandtheHeart-Secret157 15TheHolySpiritChangesUs167 References 179 6
AbouttheAuthor
BaerbelLoeffel-SchroederandherhusbandBrunolivein Luedenscheid,Germany,wheretheyareapartofthe"FreeChristian YouthCommunity"(www.fcjg.de/en/).Baerbelisalicensednursery schoolteacherandhasgainedalotofexperienceinvarious children’sministriesovertheyears.FormanyyearsBaerbelwasthe directorofakindergardeninGermany,andcarriedresponsibility forthechildren’sMinistriesatFCJG.
Sheisawell–knownandpopularauthorforchildren’sbooksand audioplays.Themainobjectiveinherstoriesisforchildrento experiencetheChristianfaithintheireverydaylife.
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BaerbelLoeffel-Schroeder
Forewordby WalterHeidenreich
TheHolySpirit,mymysteriousFriend!Whatachallengingtitle forabook,evenmoresoachildren’sbook.
Writingsuchabookforkids,familiesandespeciallyChristian children’sministriesandchurchesislongoverdue.JesussaidtoHis disciples,“IgototheFather,butIsendyouthisFriend,theHoly Spirit”(accordingtoJohn16:7).AndthishappenedonPentecost, theJewishThanksgiving.
ButcankidsalsoexperiencethisHolySpirit?TheBiblegivesusa definite"Yes!"Tomentionjustoneexample:Mary,themotherof Jesus,wasa13-year-oldteenagerwhenshehadanencounterwith anangel.Theangelspoketoher:“Mary,theHolySpiritwillcome uponyou,andthepowerfromtheMostHighwillperforma mightymiracle.Youwillconceiveababy,eventhoughyouarenot withanyman;becauseofthat,thebabythatyouwillgivebirthto
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willbeholyandcalledSonofGod”(accordingtoLuke1:35).And thisisexactlywhathappened.ThroughthepowerofGod,avirgin becamepregnantandJesus,theKingoftheJews,wasborn.
JustthisonesupernaturalinterventionofGodhascontinuedto changehumanitytothisday.
ThroughoutthewholeBibleweseetimeandagainhowtheGod ofIsraelputsHisSpiritevenonveryyoungpeople,inorderto revealHimselftothem,andtomakehistorywiththem.
IamsothankfulthatBaerbelLoeffel-Schroederwroteand publishedthisbookwithgreatboldness.Itwillgreatlybenefit everyonewhoreadsitattentivelyandopenly.Thankyou,Baerbel, forallyourchildren’sbooksandmedia.MaytheHolySpiritturn thisnewbookintoatremendousRevivalblessinginourcountry andbeyond.
LiamandtheJesus-Story
LiamisatKidsChurch.Heandhis friendsalwayssitveryclosetogether,in theveryback.They’veknowneachothersincetheywerelittle,and theirparentsallgotothesamechurch.
LiamcomestoKidsChurcheverySunday.Itisnormalforhim togothereandheactuallylikesit.However,healreadyknows mostoftheBiblestories,andsometimeshe’salittleboredbecause ofthat.Justliketoday.
John,who’sonstaffwithkidschurch,putsalotofeffortintoit, asalways.Rightnowhe’stellingthekidsastoryaboutJesus,the SonofGod.ParentsbroughttheirchildrentoJesussothatHe couldlayHishandsupontheirheadsandblessthem.
ThatmeansthatJesusputsgoodthingsfromGodintothekids’ lives.JohnissharinghowinthestorythefriendsofJesuswantto sendthechildrenaway.ButJesus,fulloflove,says,”Letthe childrencometomeanddon’tsendthemaway!”
John'seyesareshiningwhileheissharingthestory.Itseemsto behisfavoritestory,asoftenasLiamhasalreadyheardhimshare it.
LiamnudgeshisfriendBenandrollshiseyes.Ben'seyesflash andhesmiles.Heisalwaysupforanynonsense.LiamandBenare bestfriends.
“Doyouhaveyourphonewithyou?”Benwhispers.
Liamgiveshimamischievouslookandthenturnshiseyestothe frontwhereJohnisstanding.Atthatverymomenthe’ssharing aboutthechildreninthestoryandhowtheyruntowardJesus. WhileJohnisnotwatching,Liamtakeshisphoneoutofhis pocketandinconspicuouslyputsitintohisbaseballcap.
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Heopenshisfavoritegameonthephoneandtypesinthenamesof twoteammates:LiamandBen.Thenhestartsplaying.Inbetween hegivesJohna"well-behaved"lookandnodshishead.
Benhastolaugh.Then,notonlyBen,butalsotheotherboysin thelastrowstartlaughing.
Johncontinuestosharethestory:“Jesuslovinglylooksatthe children,putsHishandsontheirheadortheirshouldersand speaksstrengthandgoodthingsfromGodtothem”,hesays.
Liamhasalsoheardthatpartmanytimes.Butsomehowit's differentnow.Suddenlyhefeelsasifheishearingitforthevery firsttime.Heimagineshowitmusthavebeenforthekidsback then.WouldhealsohaveruntoJesus,ifhewouldhavebeenthere? Orwouldhehavestayedfaraway?
Bengiveshimasmallnudge.Thatmeans It'syourturn.
ButLiamslowlyshakeshishead.Hedoesn’twanttoplaynow. Heissuddenlyreallyengagedwiththestory.Hecloseshiseyesfor amomentandimaginesstandingbeforeJesusandhowJesuslooks athimfulloflove.
AndexactlyinthatmomentJohnsays,“Eventhoughwecan’t seeJesusnowadays,Heisalwaysthere.AndHewouldlovetobe ourfriend.WecansaytoHim:‘Jesus,Ialsowanttobeyourfriend. Pleaseforgivemefornotpayingmuchattentiontoyouuptonow. AndpleaseforgivemeallthethingsthatIhavedonewrong.'”
SuddenlyLiamhasthefeelingthatsomebodyisdrawinghimto Jesus.ItseemslikeJesusiswaitingjustforhim.Verysoftlyhe whispersashortprayer,similartotheonethatJohnsuggested.
AndatonceJesusisnotanymorejustastory.Liamsensesthat Heisreal.
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LiamhasheardthestoryofJesusandtheChildren(accordingto Mark10:13-16)manytimesalready.Whatwasdifferentthis time?
Andhowdiditcome?Haveyoueverexperiencedthatastory fromtheBiblesuddenlybecamereallyalivetoyou?Ifso,what wasitlike?
TheHelperComes
Jesussaid:“WhenIgobacktoGod,Iwill sendtheHelpertoyou.TheHelperistheHolySpirit.Youknow, therearemanypeoplethatdon'tevenknowMe.TheHolySpirit willshowthemthatsomethingintheirlifeisnotgoingtheright way,thatthereissin.Thesinisthattheydon’tbelieveinMe.The HolySpiritwillshowthemthattheyneedmyforgiveness.” (accordingtoJohn16:7-9)
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GodCalledMe
Asaverysmallchild,Ialreadyheardalot aboutJesusandGod.IknewmanyBible storiesandalsoknewalotaboutthe Christianfaith.ButmostofwhatIknewwasjustinmyhead,not inmyheart.
WhenIwasaroundeightyearsold,Iwaslyinginbedonenight inmyroom.SuddenlyIhadthefeelingthatGodwascallingme.I didn'thearaloudvoice,butfeltthevoiceinmyheart.Isensedthat GodwantedmetobecomeHischild.
Irantomymomwhowasinthelivingroomandweprayed together.IaskedJesus,theSonofGod,toforgivemysin.Iwanted GodtobecomemyHeavenlyFather.Thatprayerbackthen touchedmyheartsomuchthatIstartedcrying.Mymomsaid, “Youdon'thavetocry,thisissomethingthatshouldmakeyou happy.”ButIstillhadtocry.NotbecauseIwassad,butbecauseI hadexperiencedsomethingsoveryspecial.
ComingoutofSadness
AsachildIalwayswenttochurchwithmymomandmysiblings. Iwastheoldestoffourkidsandeverynowandthenhadtowatch overmyyoungersiblings.Ioftenthought, MomandDaddon't actuallylikeme.Theylikemysiblingswaymorethanme.Ijust alwayshavetohelpanddoallthework.
Baerbel
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AtsomepointIfeltadeepsadnessinme.Whensomething wentwrongandmyparentsscoldedme,forinstancebecauseI hadn’ttakengoodenoughcareofmysiblings,Ibecameverysad.I laidinmybedcryinganddidn’tthinkthatlifewasbeautiful anymore.WhenIdidn'tgetwhatIwanted,Ialwaysfelt, That’sso unfair!Ithenthrewmyselfintomybedandcried.
AllthatwentsofarthatsometimesIactuallydidn’twanttolive anymore.Itwasasiftherewereblackholesinmylifefromtimeto timeintowhichIfellandwasn’tabletocomeoutofitmyself.
Ialwayshadtowaitalongtimeuntilitfinallygotbetter.
Onetimewedrovetoafamilycamp.Theretheytoldusthatyou caninviteJesusintoyourlife.
Ithought, Willthatdoanygood?Imightaswelljusttryitout. SoIwenttooneofthestaffandsaid,“IwouldliketoinviteJesus intomylife.Canwepraytogether?”
ShemadeasuggestionofhowIcouldprayandIsimplyrepeated it.Myprayersoundedsomewhatlikethis:“Jesus,thankYouthat Youarealiveandloveme.Pleaseforgivemeofmysin.Iwantto livewithyou.”
Whileweprayedthistogether,Isuddenlyhadathought: God wantsyoutolive.Thethoughtsofdeaththatyousometimeshave arenotfromGod.Afterthat,ItoldthewomanIprayedwithabout thisthoughtandsheprayedthatGodwouldalsodelivermeofthat.
FromthatdayonIneverhadanythoughtsofdeathagain.The blackholesthatIexperiencedbeforehandalsonevercameback.
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Christiane
HowcanIinviteJesus intomyLife?
Godlovesussomuchandwantsustogetto knowHimasdivineFather.BecauseHeknowsthatthereissinin ourlife,Hethoughtupsomethingreallygood.HesentHisonly SonJesusintotheworld.JesusdiedontheCrossandtookallsin uponHimself.Wecanreceivethisgiftoftheforgivenessofsin whenwesay:“Jesus,pleaseforgivemysin.Iwanttolivewithyou.” Bytheway:WecanspeakwithJesusanytime.Heisalive. BecauseafterHediedontheCross,GodmadeHimaliveagain.
EverythingTornApart
Godhasforgiven_____allofher/hissins. Whenallofthesinof_____waswritten onapaper,thenGodtorethispaperapart andthrewitawayforever,becauseJesus tookallofthesinof_____uponHimselfontheCross.
(accordingtoColossians2:13-14)
InsertyournameintheBibleverseaboveandthankGodfor forgivingyoursin.Ifyouwantto,youcanwriteonapieceof paperwhatyou’vedonewrongandthentearitapart.That mighthelpyoutoimagineevenbetterthatGodtakesallof yoursinawaywhenyouaskHim.
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