My name is arcelia and I am a worshiper and child of God!
I am enJOYing the peace with the Father I have through Jesus Christ, and I’m learning to listen and respond to His voice through His Word, and convictions by His indwelling Holy Spirit, in the midst of this chaotic and distracting world.
My purpose is to glorify God. By God’s grace, mercy and power I have been given these callings:
- The bride and helpmate of Billy since 1999
- A loving mommy to discipline and disciple two precious teens (17 & 15)
- A writer
- A vessel of mercy and grace at http://www.underhiswingsbaldwin.org
I enjoy giving first fruits to God spending time with Him in His Word and prayer, while practicing His presence daily. I also enjoy walking, writing, sitting in the swinging bench while the sun warms my face, spending time with people and anything that will propel me into a deeper relationship with God. In my past I was a military officer, business consultant, leadership/executive coach, and facilitator. Today, God uses those past experiences to build up the body of Christ beginning with my husband and children and extending to others through Biblical lay counseling for women and couples (with my husband). Since 2019 we have been serving in a ministry called Under His Wings where the mission is to provide a loving Christian home for at risk teenage girls, connect them to who they are in the eyes of God, and equip them with life skills essential to wholeness.
My goal is to GROW and finish the race set before me keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus Christ the Author and Perfecter of faith while proclaiming the Gospel bringing others to the One who sets the captives free: Jesus Christ.
I am not perfect and I am learning to be OK with that, when I remember God’s grace is sufficient for His power is made perfect in weakness. I’m the type of girl that can’t even clean a closet without praying, I easily forget where I put things, even if I just set it down. I have lots of post-it notes and papers with scribbles of thoughts and meditations throughout the house. You see, writing doesn’t come easy for me, I have to pray and ask for God’s help to communicate what my heart is trying to say.
I realize I need an outlet…a place where I can share what God has been teaching me. I have felt prompted by God to start this blog and I am doing this out of obedience to Him. Most of what I have to say has already been said; the words are in the Bible…they are just being revealed to me illuminating the darkest parts of my heart and mind, freeing me from the paralyzed state of bondage I sometimes put myself in, even though I have already been freed by the Truth: Jesus Christ. The name of this blog “Altar of Heaven” comes from the meaning of my name: arcelia. It wasn’t until recently that I realized the meaning of my name which reminded me of Romans 12:1
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
This blog is just one way I worship Him-knowing God desires obedience above sacrifice and I LOVE Jesus which makes it easier to obey. These posts are pages from my journal I call them ‘stones of remembrance’ reminding me what God has done for me…what He has done for you.
I invite you to come and listen and I pray you hear His voice and respond…
“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also i was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:12
Altar of Heaven 
February 27th, 2012 at 9:55 am
Congratulations! You have been nominated for the “Sunshine Award”. To learn more information about this award, go to http://canadianmommytime.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/sunshine-award/. Enjoy.
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March 11th, 2012 at 4:40 am
You are so sweet 😉
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March 11th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Your name means Altar of Heaven! Wow, goose bumps for me. Thank you again for all you do.
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March 12th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
I can’t believe I went over 30 years bfore I knew that lol but God’s timing is perfect. Thank you for all you do, you are such a kind-hearted person 🙂
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June 15th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
wow! altar of heaven,
it is where the royal and eternal blood of Jesus was offered!
I totally understand what you meant by
“I don’t post unless I’m inspired AND prompted by God”
at times, I delete posted entries too.
keep on sharing with us, keep on keeping on
– grace and peace
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June 22nd, 2012 at 1:34 am
Amen! I’m so glad you stopped by and I’m glad I found your blog! 1 Peter 4:11 is my prayer, even when I write…I know unless the Lord builds we build in vain and I want anything I do or say to count for His kingdom so that in all things He will be glorified! Thank you for your encouragement.
“Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11
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June 30th, 2012 at 2:19 am
Hi
I nominated you for the 10 Commandments Award you can go to my blog to get the instructions how to recieve and add to your blog. Congratulations
http://faithfulnibbles.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/the-ten-commandments-award/
God Bless
Marilyn
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September 2nd, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Marilyn, I am humbled by your nomination and give all glory and honor to God! I am {finally} praying about writing about receiving this nomination and will {finally} fulfill this request. Marilyn, I don’t always get to comment on your posts but I am blessed by them, especially because you share His Word. You are another one of the women God uses to fulfill the Titus 2 ministry. Thank you for your encouragement.
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September 4th, 2012 at 2:11 am
Arcelia,
Thank you for your reply and your encouraging words. It is always a blessing to know Christian sisters who love the Lord and are willing to share His love and the story of salvation with others. You are a blessing in my life.
Marilyn
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July 3rd, 2012 at 2:08 am
I had to come over here and find out more about the lovely soul who is so encouraging to me on my blog! Arcelia! I now have a name with your sweet words and picture. And I LOVE the story about your name. How wonderful!
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July 7th, 2012 at 1:47 am
You make me smile and I love how God made you. Thank you for being transparent and sharing what’s on your heart, I enjoy reading your posts!
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August 27th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Hi Arcelia, I just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog award because I love reading your posts. You can read about it on my post “Unexpected Blessings” at illumylife.wordpress.com Blessings to you.
Joy
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September 2nd, 2012 at 12:26 pm
Sweet Joy, I am humbled and thankful for your nomination remembering it is our Father who equips and fills me to write. All glory and honor go to Him! Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement as God uses this blog to test and refine me as I collect and ponder what He has done. I am praying about a post to write about this ‘unexpected blessing’ and I will fulfill the request. I thank God for you…you are one of my Titus 2 women He uses to encourage this new momma!
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November 7th, 2012 at 10:10 am
dear sister
you are really blessed person.
this generation is looking for completely dedicated like you. i mean the one who has offerd their body, soul, and mind as a living sacrifice.
you will impact this generation
God bless you sister
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November 25th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
Thank you Prabhakar, I’m praising God with you! This is what I heard from your comment:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:1-12
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December 3rd, 2012 at 3:39 am
I nominated you for the Sisterhood of the world bloggers award.
http://deepandwonderfulthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/12/02/sisterhood-of-the-world-bloggers-award/
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March 12th, 2013 at 2:32 am
Oh how did I miss this? Thank you so much for nominating me! I’m probably too late to respond eh? Praise God He is glorified here. Hugs my sister!
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February 16th, 2013 at 4:55 pm
Hi Arcelia,
I am in the process of putting together Christian testimonies. I can see that you have already written yours on your blog. Would you mind if I “borrowed” it to put it together with a list I am making?
God Bless,
robin claire
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February 16th, 2013 at 4:56 pm
ps – I would need to copy and paste it to a Page and Category all your own.
robin
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February 17th, 2013 at 3:16 am
Hi Robin! I am delighted to share what The Lord has done! Yes you may copy the testimony on the page…I also emailed you a copy just in case you want that one (its a bit longer) Thank you for sharing with others!
Psalm 105:1-5
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face continually.
Remember His wonders which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth..”
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March 6th, 2013 at 10:32 pm
Nice to meet you lady Arcelia. What a beautiful and inspiring blog. God bless you, your family and ministry.
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March 12th, 2013 at 2:34 am
Joanna, I am so thankful you took the time to read and I am blessed by your encouragement! May God continue to bless you and your family and the ministry He has entrusted you according to His glorious riches! Love, grace, and His peace be multiplied to you my sister.
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March 12th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Thank you lady Arcelia. And you’re welcome to come visit me. Peruse my blogs, “like” them, comment and or make yourself at home. A place where “iron sharpens iron.”
Much love sent your way.❤❤❤
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March 27th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
[…] You can find Arcelia’s blog: HERE […]
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July 5th, 2013 at 12:58 am
May God continue to bless this blog!! Thanks for sharing and I look forward to following 🙂
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July 23rd, 2013 at 12:52 am
amen. Thank you for stopping by and reading!
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July 22nd, 2014 at 8:12 am
Thanks to you for the word,Jesus is Lord
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July 22nd, 2014 at 8:17 am
Thanks to you for the word,Jesus is Lord remain blessed
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