Category: Holy Spirit

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Producing Beauty

When we lived in Spokane we were only a few blocks from the Manitou Park. It was a beautiful, peaceful place. There was a large duck pond (which the kids ice skated on in winter), walking trails, the famed flower gardens, the orchid hot house, a Japanese garden, large shady trees and rock building that had been used to house animals in the early 1900’s when it was used as a zoo. The sloping hills made a great place to sled in the winter and the bike paths encouraged you to stay fit in the spring and fall.

Each time I went, I would marvel at the beauty of those gardens and of the dedication of the staff to keep it lovely and inviting at all times. Hundreds of manhours went in to the cultivation and care of the grounds.

I, on the other hand, am a fair weather gardener and grounds keeper. I do love working in my yard but I become reluctant in the hot days of summer. I was noticing yesterday how I’ve let the mesquite beans and hollyhock stalks and seed pods make a mess in my front courtyard. It needs attention but the answer I gave myself is “I’ll get too it one of these cool mornings, not right now”.

Life’s like that.

We see how we want to be; the person we desire to become, but if we aren’t diligent in pulling out the weeds, picking up the debris, tilling the soil and watering what we’ve planted it will fall into disrepair.

A little sprout of anger comes up and we don’t pull it out because we justify our right to be angry. Then the leaves of sarcasm fall and make a mess but we don’t rake them up because “everyone knows I was just kidding”. The trash of unforgiveness blows in and it’s over in the corner against the wall and we say I’ll get to it next time I’m on that side of the yard so we leave it to rot and decay. And then before we know it we look across the yard and it’s a mess – little white lies, impatience, selfishness, greed, and anxiety are all spoiling the beauty of our garden.

“Put out of your life these things also: anger, bad temper, bad feelings toward others, talk that hurts people, speaking against God, and dirty talk. 9 Do not lie to each other. You have put out of your life your old ways. 10 You have now become a new person and are always learning more about Christ. You are being made more like Christ. He is the One Who made you. 11 There is no difference in men in this new life. Greeks and Jews are the same. The man who has gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew and the one who has not are the same. There is no difference between nations. Men who are servants and those who are free are the same. Christ is everything. He is in all of us.” Colossians 3:8-11 NLV

Time to get the wheel barrow out and begin cleaning up the mess. It will take effort to get it all cleaned up. A rake, shovel, pruners, and some good old fashioned elbow grease and sweat will be the tools to use. But don’t despair, we’re not in this alone. Christ is in us and He has provided all we need to make our life a beautiful garden.

“But the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith, 23 being gentle, and being the boss over our own desires. The Law is not against these things.” Galatians 5:22-23 NLV

The “want to” and desire are up to us and once we make that decision the Holy Spirit steps in and empowers us to get the job done!

“If Christ is in you, your spirit lives because you are right with God, and yet your body is dead because of sin. 11 The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. If the same Holy Spirit lives in you, He will give life to your bodies in the same way.

12 So then, Christian brothers, we are not to do what our sinful old selves want us to do. 13 If you do what your sinful old selves want you to do, you will die in sin. But if, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you destroy those actions to which the body can be led, you will have life. 14 All those who are led by the Holy Spirit are sons of God. 15 You should not act like people who are owned by someone. They are always afraid. Instead, the Holy Spirit makes us His sons, and we can call to Him, “My Father.” Romans 8:10-12 NLV

Happy Gardening!!

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Keep It Clean

I used to clean a home that was used for a vacation rental. I was surprised quite often by the way the tenants kept it. Some were neat and tidy while others were sloppy and never even tried to pick up after themselves. I find it hard to leave a hotel room without making the bed…

I like a clean and tidy house. It’s hard for me to sit and relax when I know that the bathrooms need to be cleaned or I can see dirty floors and dusty furniture. I’ve always been that way. It’s a part of who I am. My mom kept a tidy house and from what I’ve read, it’s a part of my heritage.

I once read a book on a Norwegian family. The woman, who was a bit older than I, told stories about her Mom and her complusion for cleanliness. At one point in the book she said they moved into a home, it was clean or so she thought but her mother had them scrub the floors just in case the family that had lived there before wasn’t Norwegian and didn’t understand the importance of cleanliness the way they did.

Now I’m not that bad. My husband and children may take umbridge with that last statement. However, cleaning for me isn’t a chore, it’s enjoyable. I am thankful for my home and the things I have in it and want to keep them looking nice and not let them deteriorate or come to disrepair.

And with that confession I’m sure you are wondering how all of this applies to this morning’s blog. Let me draw the correlation.

I know that the dust seeps in and requires my attention. Then there’s the dog hair and dusty feet or food spills in the kitchen, dirty sinks and smudged windows. It all requires my attention. I would have a real problem if someone wanted to march through the house with muddy feet or walked through the rooms spilling garbage. More importantly, I would stand up to anyone that wanted to vandalize my home or bring in a bag of snakes and scorpions.

So how do you think the Holy Spirit feels when we let our actions, our words and our activities “dirty up” His home?

“You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit that you received from God and that lives in you. You don’t own yourselves. 20 God paid a very high price to make you his. So honor God with your body.” I Corinthians 6:19-20 ERV

We are a valuable dwelling place – a temple, as it were, for the Holy Spirit to live in and there are times we carelessly vandalize His home.

As I grow older I realize more each year how important it is that I keep my house clean. There’s no room for dishonesty, no room for bitterness or petty jealousy. I don’t want the garbage of lying, gossip, or criticism spread about and I certainly don’t want my dwelling to be vandalized by immoral living.

“And don’t make the Holy Spirit sad. God gave you his Spirit as proof that you belong to him and that he will keep you safe until the day he makes you free. 31 Never be bitter, angry, or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. 32 Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.” Ephesians 4:30-32 ERV

Take a look around. Is it time for a good cleaning? Make your earthly home a place of welcome and comfort for the Holy Spirit.

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The Power of Resurrection

As we approach Easter, our thinking has to be centered on the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. “Christ in you the hope of glory” as the Apostle Paul said. Truly think about that – Christ living in me! His life, His power, His provision, His strength!!!

What if Jesus had gone to the cross with the same attitude as many Christians today? “Father God, I know you said in your word that I would rise on the third day – I certainly hope so. I hope I’ve been good enough for you to do a miracle for me; I hope that I’ve been reading the Torah every day and that my tithes are paid up and that I’m spending enough time in prayer each day for you to keep your word! I hope my WORKS have made me worthy to receive from you.”

Hogwash!! Again to quote the Apostle Paul, “we are saved by grace through faith; it is not by works lest any man should boast but it the gift of God”. Period, end of story!

The new life we have in Christ is God’s gift to us – a gift! We receive it by faith and believe that God in His unconditional love and everlasting mercy has given it with no strings attached.

Now I can hear some saying “yes, God the Father did that for Jesus but I’m not Jesus”. You’re right you’re not but if you are born again, Jesus is living in you. Look at what Paul wrote to the Romans about living in the power of God.

“So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. 2 That is because in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you free. It made you free from the law that brings sin and death. 3 The law was without power because it was made weak by our sinful selves. But God did what the law could not do: He sent his own Son to earth with the same human life that everyone else uses for sin. God sent him to be an offering to pay for sin. So God used a human life to destroy sin. 4 He did this so that we could be right just as the law said we must be. Now we don’t live following our sinful selves. We live following the Spirit.

5 People who live following their sinful selves think only about what they want. But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about what the Spirit wants them to do. 6 If your thinking is controlled by your sinful self, there is spiritual death. But if your thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace. 7 Why is this true? Because anyone whose thinking is controlled by their sinful self is against God. They refuse to obey God’s law. And really they are not able to obey it. 8 Those who are ruled by their sinful selves cannot please God.

9 But you are not ruled by your sinful selves. You are ruled by the Spirit, if that Spirit of God really lives in you. But whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ. 10 Your body will always be dead because of sin. But if Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life, because Christ made you right with God. 11 God raised Jesus from death. And if God’s Spirit lives in you, he will also give life to your bodies that die. Yes, God is the one who raised Christ from death, and he will raise you to life through his Spirit living in you.” Romans 8:1-11 NIV

In Christ, we (you and I) have been set free from the law of sin and death. Yes, we will sin but we aren’t enslaved to it any longer – we have a greater power living in us, the law of the Spirit. And yes, our physical bodies will die but we will live forever with the Father. In fact, our eternal life started the day we accepted Christ as Savior. Because our spirit was born again and our spirit will never die.

Sin controls us as much as we allow it. We have power over sin.

“The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you[a] free from sin and death. 3 The Law of Moses cannot do this, because our selfish desires make the Law weak. But God set you free when he sent his own Son to be like us sinners and to be a sacrifice for our sin. God used Christ’s body to condemn sin. 4 He did this, so that we would do what the Law commands by obeying the Spirit instead of our own desires.” Vs 2-4 CEV

We were powerless but now we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. When circumstances arise that make you think you “have to sin” or that you can’t resist or overcome, remember this – you are a new creature in Christ, old things have passed away and all has become new.

Paul wrote the Book of Romans to give us all insight on how God the Father sees us. He sees us victorious and filled with power. It’s not our own work but the work of the Holy Spirit whom the Father sent. He sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen and empower Jesus and after Jesus went to heaven the Holy Spirit was sent to do the same for all believers.

“God raised Jesus from death. And if God’s Spirit lives in you, he will also give life to your bodies that die. Yes, God is the one who raised Christ from death, and he will raise you to life through his Spirit living in you.” verse 11 ERV

The same Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us now and He is working to quicken (make alive) our mortal bodies, bringing us resurrection life over the power of sin and death.

Thank God for Jesus’ resurrection and thank God that His resurrection power lives in us!

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Boldness

Yesterday I told you the story of a man who had been crippled from birth. In a matter of moments, he was healed and walking around in the Temple with Peter and John praising God for His marvelous power.

This miracle caused no small stir. People were excited and the religious leaders were upset, to say the least. They came to break up the crowd that had gathered to hear this man’s story. They arrived with the head of security – really?

“The apostles were still talking to the people, when some priests, the captain of the temple guard, and some Sadducees arrived. 2 These men were angry because the apostles were teaching the people that the dead would be raised from death, just as Jesus had been raised from death. 3 It was already late in the afternoon, and they arrested Peter and John and put them in jail for the night. 4 But a lot of people who had heard the message believed it. So by now there were about five thousand followers of the Lord.” Acts 4:1-4 CEV

Later in this chapter we are told that Peter and John were brought in before the council to defend themselves and that the man who had been healed was there too. Can you imagine his dilemma in all of this. Begging at the Temple gate, no problem. Get healed and praise God, gets you hauled into court, big problem!

Peter spoke boldly to the council.

“The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were, and they knew that these two apostles were only ordinary men and not well educated. The officials were certain that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But they could not deny what had happened. The man who had been healed was standing there with the apostles.

15 The officials commanded them to leave the council room. Then the officials said to each other, 16 “What can we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about this miracle, and we cannot say it didn’t happen. 17 But to keep this thing from spreading, we will warn them never again to speak to anyone about the name of Jesus.” 18 So they called the two apostles back in and told them that they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus.

19 Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him? 20 We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:13-20 CEV

I love the response! We can’t keep quiet about what we have heard and seen God do.

This should be a mandate for each of us as Christians. What have we seen God do in our lives? How many times have we been in trouble, hurting, sick, desperate and God has come through to deliver from whatever danger we have faced? We have to be bold – bold as a lion, and tell of what God has done.

“The wicked are afraid of everything, but those who live right are as brave as lions.” Proverbs 28:1 ERV

Where did these men get this boldness? Just a few weeks prior they had been out in fishing boats, going back to their old lives. They didn’t know what to do or where to go because Jesus had been crucified, now they are standing before the religious council saying “we won’t back down”.

Jesus had given them a final instruction before going back to heaven.

” 4 While he (Jesus) was still with them, he said: Don’t leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. 5 John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…8 But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.” Acts 1:4-8 CEV

Before Jesus started his earthly ministry the Holy Spirit descended from heaven, like a dove, and empowered Jesus to do the work God intended for him to do. Jesus knew the disciples needed this same power and that’s why He told them to go to Jerusalem and wait. Wait, they did and the Holy Spirit came as Jesus said, bringing power and boldness. They became witnesses to the world, telling them about the saving power of Jesus.

Bold as a lion!

When Peter and John left the council they went back to the other followers of Jesus and told them what happened. They all joined together and prayed:

“When the rest of the Lord’s followers heard this, they prayed together and said: Master, you created heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them… 27 Here in Jerusalem, Herod and Pontius Pilate got together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel. Then they turned against your holy Servant[b Jesus, your chosen Messiah. 28 They did what you in your power and wisdom had already decided would happen.

29 Lord, listen to their threats! We are your servants. So make us brave enough to speak your message. 30 Show your mighty power, as we heal people and work miracles and wonders in the name of your holy Servant Jesus.

31 After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God’s message.” Acts 4:26-31 CEV

We should all pray such a prayer! “Lord, make us brave to speak your message in this day, in this time. Our desire is to be a bold witness for you. Bold as a lion!”

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Keeping Your Battery Charged

Every morning I pick up my laptop and share what the Lord has put on my heart for that day. After I post, I look at what others have posted overnight, read through emails and then do some research.

Inevitably, I will receive this message. “Power supply at 10%. Plug into power source.” And if I don’t heed the warning, I will get another one in a few minutes telling me I only have 7% of my power and if I ignore that warning the laptop just shuts down.

Yesterday I ignored those warnings with my phone and it shut down completely. I had to plug it in and wait until it was recharged before I could make a couple of calls and receive some texts that were important to me.

Do you ever feel that your battery is running low? Your power is in short supply and you’re about ready to shut down? I’ve been there many times and that weariness is my warning that I’m operating on stored power and need to reconnect to the power supply.

This morning I was reading in Luke. Jesus had just commemorated the Passover with his apostles. They had asked him about which one of them would have a greater position in His kingdom. They were looking to operate on their own power. Jesus warned them that they were going to face some of the biggest tests of their lives and then He led them out to pray.

“Jesus left the city and went to the Mount of Olives. His followers went with him. (He went there often.) He said to his followers, “Pray for strength against temptation.” Luke 22:39-40 ERV

Jesus knew what was coming. He would be arrested, falsely accused, beaten and crucified. He came to pray! He came to draw strength from the Father and He wanted the disciples to do the same.

“Then Jesus went about 50 steps away from them. He knelt down and prayed, 42 ‘Father, if you are willing, please don’t make me drink from this cup. But do what you want, not what I want.’ 43 Then an angel from heaven came to help him. 44 Jesus was full of pain; he struggled hard in prayer. Sweat dripped from his face like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he finished praying, he went to his followers. He found them asleep, worn out from their grieving. 46 Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray for strength against temptation.’” Luke 22:41-46 ERV

Jesus knew they needed to be connected to the power supply, the Holy Spirit. It was essential. All through His ministry Jesus didn’t do any miracles or teaching until He had spent time in prayer and been empowered by the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t want us to attempt anything on our own either.

We need to be connected. After Jesus rose from the grave and before He went back to heaven He gave the disciples one final instruction that would provide them with all the strength they needed.

“You saw these things happen—you are witnesses. You must go and tell people that they must change and turn to God, which will bring them his forgiveness. You must start from Jerusalem and tell this message in my name to the people of all nations. 49 Remember that I will send you the one my Father promised. Stay in the city until you are given that power from heaven.” Luke 24:47-49 ERV

Our mission, should we choose to accept it, is to give testimony of what God has done in our lives. Starting first with those closest to us and spreading out from there. Our family, our friends, neighbors, work mates…

Thank you Father for reminding me that my power is draining and that I have a power source with unlimited supply. I desire to stay plugged in to You today!

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