Category Archives: Spirit

Sacred Silence

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The moon is full and bright this morning. The house is quiet. I can hear the cats paws moving across the hardwood floors. The coffee pot is making a clicking noise in the kitchen. Silence is sacred. It is the space in which God speaks. Prayer is often too much talking and not enough listening. If I have learned anything from the mindfulness practices shared during my “Cultivating Reverence for Living” sessions, it is to value silence. How I wish that I could let go of judgement and just listen. I wonder how much more I would have accomplished had I only stopped talking, stopped debating long enough to hear someone else’s thoughts. Or God’s thoughts, for that matter. I bring prejudgment to every situation. I admit this. It’s very difficult to be neutral on a subject. I wish that I could just stop and say to myself, “I don’t know everything about this situation. Let me listen so I may find out more.” This would save so much conflict in my soul. My reactionary attitude would then be replaced by a sense of curiosity.

Every time I react negatively, the cortisol levels rise in my body and adrenaline surges. My adrenals were not meant to be overused this way. The system was meant to take action only in a crisis, “fight or flight” mode. But activating it constantly with the least provocation is destroying my body from the inside out. Centering meditation, deep breathing, yoga and Qigong disrupt this ugly cycle. These practices allow space for silence and for prayer. In this sacred space of silence, the body and the mind are healed. Even Jesus went away to a quiet place to pray regularly. Shouldn’t we do the same?

My mornings to read the Bible and write offer a bit of this space. But it is not enough. During these times, I must watch the clock to make sure I am not late for work. I was so thankful during the mindfulness sessions at Seton Cove Retreat Center that there were no clocks on the walls. I had never noticed this when I have been there before. Surely this was done purposefully. It is a quiet space, a sacred space set aside for respite where clock watching is not allowed.

A physical place to go for silence is a blessing but a quiet inner space is a necessity. If I develop an inner space of silence, then nothing the world throws at me will be able to destroy it. I cannot create this space in my own power but God’s Spirit working within me is able. “Abide with me and I will abide with you.” The Spirit abiding in me creates an inner sanctuary. Let me go to this sacred place regularly and there I will find peace.

 

Putting on the Armor

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imageLast week at our Women’s Bible Study, we spoke of putting on the Armor of God. The author of our study, Chip Ingram, emphasized that there is no formula as some would propose, but wearing the Armor of God is a lifestyle. I agree with this wholeheartedly. There must be a regularity of purpose to stay clothed in the armor. To me this means reading my Bible daily and writing in my journal. It means praying throughout the day. It means worshiping and studying God’s Word together with other believers. We lift each other up.

The Wednesday evening Men’s and Women’s Bible Studies are powerful. We don’t realize how powerful we are with God in us. Putting on the Armor of God is like a soldier putting on every piece of protective equipment. It is purposeful and deliberate. To forget any piece, would leave the soldier vulnerable and in danger.

Life is full of temptation. It’s often not the “big” temptations that are stumbling blocks but the “little” ones. As I read the passage from the letter to the Galatians, this past Sunday, about the fruit of the Spirit, this was very apparent. Paul wrote of the sinful nature before he listed the fruit of the spiritual nature. He began with sexual impurity but included such things as hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition and envy. Who hasn’t succumbed to many of these? Pastor Carol said our job is to stay attached to the vine (Jesus) and not to judge other branches. That is God’s job, not ours. By staying attached, we produce Spiritual fruit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control. I’m glad self-control is on the list because this is often forgotten. The Armor of God protects us from the schemes of the devil often by giving us self-control. It is a power from within that is greater than we could muster on our own. The control within to say “no” when temptation in any form comes our way, is from God. I am not perfect by any means. Do I get angry? Do I envy? Every day I can fall prey to these sins. But God’s Spirit is working in me to change the old nature to a new, perfect nature. But I must stay attached to His power. I can do nothing but fail without Him. I do not have the strength within me for Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control. This fruit falls out of my reach. But God gives all these and more as a gift. If I desire His gifts with all my heart, they are mine.

Lord, help me to live out this Truth. Hold me close to You. Wrap Your loving arms around me and protect me as I go through my day. Put Your Spirit in me. I am Your child. Help me act like a daughter of the King!

In His Presence

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imageA new journal…a new day! I’m writing my first page while drinking a pumpkin/banana smoothie and eating a pumpkin spice English muffin for breakfast. Yum! It’s definitely fall. The mornings are crisp but the days are still warm. I was too busy yesterday with work to walk over lunch so I went out after dinner for a walk down to the turkey farm and back. The sun was setting as I returned home. The light across the golden soy bean fields contrasting with the stark blue sky is amazing this time of year. I took a photo last fall of the fields with the old barn across the road to try to capture it’s beauty but it doesn’t really compare to reality. I must hold the beauty in my mind’s eye to remember in dark days how absolutely spectacular the world can be.

The Spirit of the Lord hovers over the earth re-creating nature all around us. We see the seedlings sprout up after the devastation of fire destroys a landscape. Life is reborn. How can a person not believe in a creator God in the midst of all the wonders around us? Order comes out of disorder. The simple becomes complex. This doesn’t happen randomly. But how do I explain the existence of God in the first place? How did He come about? He is outside of time. He is eternal. It’s beyond anything I can understand but I know He exists as sure as I know that I exist. I don’t see Him but I sense His presence around me and within me. His Spirit hovers over me, re-creating in me newness of life, hope in times of despair, the ability to see beauty even in the darkness. This is a light that is beyond me but yet a part of me. A deep sense of joy and peace fill my heart. No matter what lies ahead, the Lord is with me. This is the reward of faith. It is not heaven, although that will be wonderful. It is His presence in the here and now. The kingdom of God is here. It is eternal and cannot be destroyed. It is invisible, yet everywhere, if only you focus the eyes of your heart to see it. <3

Recipe for Pumpkin/Banana Smoothie:

Cut up pieces of banana the night before and place in a ziplock bag to freeze for the next morning. Place the frozen banana pieces in a Nutrabullet or whatever you have to blend the smoothie. Add 1/3 c. of canned pumpkin purée and 1/3 c. of vanilla Greek yogurt. If desired, add a scoop of protein powder. I like Tera’s Whey Vanilla Bourbon. Sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice and add coconut or almond milk. I usually put in about 1/2 c. but this amount can be more or less to get the consistency you want. I add a package of Truvia to make the smoothie a little sweeter but honey would be good also. Blend and enjoy!

The Power of the Spirit

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imageI didn’t journal yesterday since I woke up late and needed to hurry to get ready for work. I don’t even remember hearing my alarm but I must have turned it off because it was set correctly. Luckily a voice in my head said, “You need to look at your clock.” It was 5:25 am. I generally get up week days at 5 am so it was not too late to eat breakfast and dress but not enough time to write before leaving for work. I’m glad something or someone told me to wake up or I would have greatly overslept. What is it that does this? I’m sure everyone experiences these gentle reminders or ideas that suddenly pop in your head from time to time. They are not easily explained and have a supernatural quality when it is a thought totally foreign to your normal thought processes. Is this the work of the Holy Spirit?

Soon my women’s Bible study group will be starting a new series by Beth Moore entitled “Breath.” It is about the Holy Spirit’s influence on the Christian life. I read a little of the first week’s lesson. The Spirit is spoken of synonymously with Power in many references in the Bible. Do we recognize this coupling of Spirit and Power in the 21st century? I think not. We have virtually ignored the power of the Holy Spirit in most denominations of the church except charismatic congregations like the Pentecostals. But many of them tend to focus primarily on speaking in tongues which is a small part of the whole work of the Holy Spirit. On Pentecost, ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven following the resurrection, the Spirit descended on the early church in a mighty way. Yes, the disciples and others with them in the Upper Room, spoke in other languages so everyone could understand their message. But their lives were also infused with knowledge beyond their education and the power to perform miracles. It was this dramatic change brought on by the Spirit that drew people to join the early church. On the day of Pentecost alone, they added 3000 to their number. What they witnessed convinced them of the truth of what was being said.

Why in the church today do we not see the Spirit moving in this way? I believe we don’t see it because we don’t look. The Spirit is at work behind the scenes but we fail to recognize it. We pass off unusual circumstances as coincidence. If we can’t scientifically explain something we tend to ignore its significance. The Spirit cannot be explained in human terms. It’s beyond our comprehension. But this doesn’ mean that it doesn’t exist.

When I have been open-minded and open-hearted, I have seen the Spirit act. It’s through these experiences that I am convinced of God’s existence. Not by what anyone has told me but by what I have seen myself. When God called me to help Shadrach many years ago, this was Spirit lead. I have no doubt of this. A voice spoke in my head saying, “This is what I want you to do.” The weight of unseen hands were on my shoulders. It was as real as if someone truly was standing behind me, hands resting on my shoulders and whispering in my ear. Yet no physical being was there. The outcome of listening to this voice has been phenomenal and the story is still unfolding. What Shadrach’s future holds, I don’t know but God does. I have a deep sense that it is something very important but also dangerous. My support of Shadrach was not just a temporary assignment to help him get his education. It is a lifetime commitment. I anticipate the next chapter with excitement.

Given this experience, I return to my original question of why we don’t see the Spirit move in this way on a regular basis. I know in my life I get too busy with other responsibilities and worries to really pay attention. I don’t pray consistently for God to open my eyes and ears to his presence. I ignore his promptings and become somewhat deaf to his voice. Prior to my Spirit experience involving Shadrach, I prayed, “Lord, show me what you want me to do.” My heart was fully open to his answer. I believe if I could remain in this frame of mind, I would see the Spirit move more powerfully. Yet I don’t seem to be able to do this. To perceive the Spirit, I need daily help from the Spirit.

As we start this new study, “Breath”, I pray that God will breathe his Spirit on me and all the women in my group. We have seen glimpses of God’s power through the doors he has opened for us in the Sheridan community. But like Moses, we want to see him face to face and experience his glory.

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the power of your love.”

Amen  

 

Holding on to Hope

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imageYesterday I started to write a post about hope but found myself stuck after the first paragraph. I have been so moved by the events of the past few weeks, I wanted to write something that would give hope in this  present darkness. It is easy to feel hopeless as the people of West Africa are dying of Ebola, as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas, and as religious minorities are being slaughtered by the militant Islamic group, Isis.  I left my writing, not knowing where to go with it. I was at a loss for words.

Writing is a funny process. As in any creative endeavor, one must start and then push through to open up the revelation of the mind.  Inspiration comes from within and without. It comes from things I see, things I hear and memories long buried in the recesses of my mind.  But then there is the inexplicable, mysterious insight that suddenly comes out of nowhere.  This is God.  I know it without a doubt.  There are thoughts that come out of my pen (or the keyboard of my computer) that are not from me.

Inspiration comes from taking God in like a breath through his word, his people and his Spirit and letting him flow forth.  Like breathing in and breathing out.

This is hope that God is as close as the air I breathe.  I inspire his oxygen and it travels to every cell of my body, giving life, energy and sustenance.  When all else is stripped away through persecution, disaster and death, he is still there within me.

Paul, to the church in Rome, asks:  “Who therefore shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written:  For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

How can we be separated from the air we breath if that air is the Spirit of God?  We can’t.  No matter what happens whether good or bad, he stands with us through it.  Our hope cannot be based on external situations because the world as it is will always disappoint us.  Our hope is based on that which cannot be changed, the loving nature of God.

My heart and prayers go out to the suffering people on the other side of the earth and right here at home.  We will all have trouble, no matter who we are.  It takes different forms but suffering is universal.  None of us is immune from it.  But my deepest prayer is that all those going through pain whatever it might be, will know that God is as close as their very breath.  Inspire/inhale his presence and hope and peace will envelope your heart and mind. You will be “more than conquerors” through any trouble that comes your way.

Walking With God

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I love to hike.  It’s definitely one of my passions.  I’ve hiked many Indiana State Park trails. Some of my favorites, I’ve walked several times such as Trail 3 at Turkey Run.  Parts of this trail take you through a creek bed that has carved out a narrow ravine. Hemlocks lean over the edge of the ravine and often a mist hangs in the air.  I feel as if I have been transported back into pre-historic time when I take this trail. There is such a peace and tranquility gained from walking trails in deep woodlands where in the spring brilliant wildflowers blanket the forest floor. On winter hikes at Clifty Falls, I am amazed at the sight of waterfalls partially  frozen as they tumble into the canyon below. The sunlight is almost too bright as it reflects off the snow and ice.  Away from everyday noise and stress, these are God’s meeting places.

It’s not difficult to feel like I am walking with God in these locations.  I have no agenda or distractions to pull me away.  Nature is God’s tabernacle. But what about the other 95% of my time spent in the “real” world?  How do I walk with God then?

The Bible is replete with references to people who walked with God:  Adam and Eve in the garden, Noah, Abraham, and Moses, to name a few.  They had close, intimate communion with God.  Is this type of relationship with God only a thing of the past?  I don’t think so.  I believe that this is the role of the Holy Spirit: to walk with each one of us in our daily lives.  But we have to choose to let the Spirit be our companion. Our hearts need to be open and we must leave space in our busy schedules to listen as well as tell the Spirit what’s on our mind, just as we would a friend.  If we didn’t take the time to relate to our friends, would they really be friends?  Probably not. To explain this relationship with the Spirit to someone who has never experienced it, is difficult.  It’s generally not dramatic as it was when the disciples received the Spirit on Pentecost with a strong wind and fire.  It is a subtle voice that gives you words to say in a difficult situation.  It is the nudge to give a hug to your neighbor who unbeknownst to you, really needs it at that moment.  It is the unseen hands on your shoulders and the thought that suddenly pops into your brain saying, “I want you to do this; you can help.”  I’ve experienced all these things and more throughout my life.  Deep in my being, I know these experiences are not just in my imagination but are from God.  They are real.

Walking with God is a choice to walk beside Him, not in front of Him or behind Him.  It’s a partnership.  If a person walks behind Him, they can see what He is doing through other people but they are not a part of it.  They know He exists but they keep their distance and don’t get involved in His work.  If a person walks in front of God, they may be doing great work helping others but they may not be where God wants them to be or where they fit best.  They are leading the way, not permitting God to be in charge. Then there are others who just wander away aimlessly.  They are like sheep who keep their heads down while eating.  When they finally look up, the Good Shepherd is nowhere in sight.  Luckily, He is always searching for them to bring them back to Him so they don’t continue to be lost.  The best position is to be right beside God as a friend.  Every day He is there to give you advice and show you the right path uniquely suited just for you.  He cheers you on in the good times and is right there beside you to carry you through the bad times. The joy of this kind of relationship is unlimited.

Often, I think we look only to the future and think Heaven is the place we will be with God. But this kind of thinking forgets that Jesus said the Kingdom of God is here now, not just sometime in the future.  Eternity begins for each one of us at our birth, not at our death.  Now we walk with God through the Spirit, but in the future we will see Him face to face.  It’s only a matter of opening your heart and taking that first step…

The Eye of a Needle

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Recently I went with several friends from my Women’s Bible Study Group on a girl’s night out for dinner and a movie.  We went to see “Son of God.”   It was wonderful.  For what appeared to be a very familiar subject, the producers were able to add details not often included in movies dealing with the life and ministry of Jesus. I saw more personal portrayals of the disciple Matthew, Mary Magdalene, and Pontius Pilate than I have seen before.  I was particularly taken by the characterization of one of the pharisees, Nicodemus.  He was only one of two religious authorities along with Joseph of Arimathea, that we know became followers of Jesus.  As the story unfolds, we see that he is in close contact with the High Priest, Caiaphas.  Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court.  This is the same court that met at night to put Jesus on trial for blasphemy and then turned him over to the Romans to be crucified.  Prior to this fateful night, Nicodemus had numerous opportunities to observe the teaching and the miracles of Jesus.  While doing so he perceived that Jesus was no ordinary man. And he sought Him out in the secrecy of night to speak with Him.  It is to Nicodemus that Jesus revealed God’s great plan, “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” When Jesus was condemned by the court and was sent to Pontius Pilate, Nicodemus tried to put a stop to it. But  there were too many other voices against Jesus that night for Nicodemus to be heard.  Later we see Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea in the group laying Jesus to rest in the tomb.  The Bible doesn’t really say what happened with Nicodemus after the resurrection but I would surmise that his life was never the same again.

You would think that more of the religious folk of the time would have recognized Jesus but there were very few.  For most, He was a threat, not an answer to their prayers for a deliverer.   He didn’t meet their expectations. He didn’t come to make Himself a political king as they had hoped. But He came to become the King of their hearts.  Unfortunately most of their hearts were too hardened to let Him in.  But not Nicodemus’ heart. His heart was warmed by Jesus and he sought to learn more about Him.  His decision to do so must have cost him dearly.

The great majority of people who thronged to Jesus were ordinary folk. Many were quite poor and few were of any influence. They had little or no material possessions.  They had everything to gain and very little to lose from a worldly viewpoint.  When a rich young ruler came to Jesus to ask what he could do to gain eternal life, Jesus told him there was one thing he lacked. He should sell his wealth, give it to the poor and follow Him.  The young man couldn’t let go of his material wealth in order to gain a treasure that could not be bought.  Maybe this was why Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. But he also added that anything is possible with God.  Thank goodness for grace because otherwise I would be lost.  I see myself in Nicodemus.  By the world’s standards I am in the top 1% in material wealth, education and status along with many others in the United States.   I don’t believe Jesus begrudges wealth when it is used to bless others. But it can be a stumbling block.  When amassing  material possessions becomes our goal, then that is our idol.  We are told in the Ten Commandments to not worship idols.  When we worship money rather than use it for good, we place it above God.

After Nicodemus chose to follow Jesus, I am sure he lost his position on the High Court and the prestige it brought him.  Most of his friends and acquaintances would have seen him as foolish.  His new friends would have been the motley crew of Jesus’ followers who were from all walks of life and social station.  I wonder if his family believed with him or if Jesus became a divide between them.  Nicodemus had much to give up. It would have been a cataclysmic change for him.  But Jesus told him that he must be born again the night of their meeting.  With the Spirit’s power he was a changed man never to be the same again.

I have not been asked to give up much for Jesus. If situations occurred in which I was asked to give up everything, could I?  Would I be like the rich young ruler and walk away or would I boldly let go of it all as did Nicodemus?  I understand how difficult it is to go through the eye of a needle. I count on Jesus’ words:  “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” So I will depend on God’s Spirit to move through me as it did with Nicodemus, no matter what the future holds.

 

 

Open My Eyes

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When I was in the 4th grade you might say that I discovered I needed glasses by happenstance. That year my teacher, Miss Owen arranged the seating in her classroom in alphabetical order.  I am by nature a front row kind of person but since my name started with a “V”, I was relegated to the back row.  I found very quickly that I couldn’t see what was written on the blackboard.  Even though I made a legitimate case for being moved back to the front row, Miss Owen was not going to have any part of it.  This necessitated a quick trip to the eye doctor to find that I was very near sighted.  When I put on my new glasses for the first time, they made me a bit dizzy.  I was amazed on our drive back home that I could actually see the leaves on the trees. Before I put on my glasses, I never realized what I was missing. A new world opened up to me.

How we see the world, very much depends on how we look at the world.  My story is about physical vision but in her poem, “Aurora Leigh”, Elizabeth Barrett Browning describes what it is to have spiritual vision. She writes… “Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God: But only he who sees takes off his shoes, The rest sit around it, and pluck blackberries, And daub their natural faces unaware…”

I often feel like the one unaware, too busy picking blackberries to notice the evidence of the Holy all around me.  It’s not until I purposely slow down that I am able to look at what is right in front of me. It’s when I look back over my life that I then can see the fingerprints of God all through it.  Being aware has become much more important to me.  Awareness followed by action releases the power of God if we allow ourselves to be attentive to the Spirit. This is repeated over and over throughout the Bible. One of my favorite accounts of new found vision involves the conversion of the apostle Paul.

As Saul of Tarsus was making his way to Damascus with warrants for the arrest of the followers of Jesus living there, he was struck down by a bright light and was blinded. He heard the voice of Christ asking him why he was persecuting Him.  He remained blind for 3 days until he was visited by a believer named Ananias.  While Ananias was praying, he had a vision in which he was instructed by the Lord specifically to go to a certain location and lay his hands on Saul to heal him of his blindness.  Ananias knew who Saul was and feared him.  He questioned the Lord by telling Him that this man Saul, had been persecuting HIs followers.  But the Lord again instructed Ananias by saying, “Go!  This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”  Ananias obeyed the Lord and went in to Saul telling him, “Brother Saul, The Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  Immediately Saul was able to see again, was baptized and began preaching about Jesus who had turned his life around. Soon his name was changed to Paul and instead of persecuting the followers of Jesus, he became one of the most vocal of His disciples.

Paul was not only given the gift of his physical sight but the even greater gift of spiritual sight-the Holy Spirit.  This Holy Spirit had already been given to the other apostles and believers on Pentecost.  It came as a holy fire and caused them to speak in other languages so that everyone who heard them could understand.  For quite a long time, I held on to the belief that the Spirit only worked in dramatic ways as it did on Pentecost.  Surely this only happened in the times of the early church and didn’t happen in modern times. However, I have come to know through my own experience that the Spirit most often works in very subtle ways.  The Spirit is the nudge that encourages, the still small voice that instructs, and the warming of the heart that instills compassion.  The Spirit opens our eyes to all that God has prepared for us.  This is the holiness seen in every bush described by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. But it also is the holiness seen in each person, no matter their age, race or social status.  The Spirit opens our eyes to see like Jesus. When we begin to see the world as Jesus sees it, it changes us forever.  Oh yes, we can try to shut off the promptings of the Spirit, but it pursues us in the colors of every spectacular sunset, in the joy of every child’s laughter, and in the beauty of every sacred song.  We begin to see the fingerprints of God in everything.  And when our eyes are opened, we cannot nor want to go back to the way we were seeing the world before.

Just as I could not imagine seeing the world without my glasses, I can’t imagine not allowing the Spirit to open my eyes daily to the world God has set before me.  My vision is faulty. But the Lord is working always to perfect it, just as His vision is perfect.  As in the old hymn, I ask, “Be thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that thou art; Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, thy presence my Light.”