G.O.D. IN THREE PERSONS

Don’t you think it’s great how the word God is made up of three letters? There’s one letter for each of the three persons in the Trinity. Was it a coincidence? Or is the word God a divine acronym?

G can refer to the GIVER OF SALVATION. That’s Jesus. I can pray to Jesus in gratitude for his sacrifice of becoming human for my sake; for living a life that is an example for me; for dying a horrible death in order to save my soul. Thank you, Jesus.

O can refer to the OVERSEER OF ALL THINGS. That’s the Father. He keeps the earth spinning. He keeps the stars from falling out of the heavens. He makes sure the plants grow, the tides go in and out, the rain falls. Thank you, Father.

D can refer to the DOER. That’s the Holy Spirit. As a Christian, the Spirit lives in me. And one way God works is through me. I am His hands and feet in this world as long as the Spirit guides and directs me. And as long as I attune my thoughts and actions to His. Thank you, Holy Spirit.

If I pray to God, I can remember to pray to G.O.D. 

PRAYER: Thank you, God for who you are and all you are doing in me and through me in this world. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you pray more generally to one person of the Trinity? Why do you think that is?

PASSING OVER AND SETTLING IN

The Last Supper by Leonardo de Vinci depicts Jesus and his disciples partaking in Passover

Yesterday at sundown began the Jewish observance of Passover, remembering the time when The LORD, through the Holy Spirit, protected the Jews living in Egypt from the tenth plague—the striking down of every first born. 

On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and—I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. (Exodus 12:1-2, 6-7, 11-13).

In Genesis we see that the Spirit hovered over the waters. At Passover, the Spirit passed over Egypt.

The Holy Spirit does a lot of  flying and hovering, doesn’t He?

It didn't end at Passover. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit hovered over the believers and then settled above them “something like a flame.” Then the Holy Spirit indwelled in those early Christians, just as He does in each of us today.

The Holy Spirit  hovered and flew. Then after Jesus returned to heaven, the Holy Spirit settled and indwelt. 

This past Sunday began the Christian Holy Week—the celebration of God’s plan through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

As Jews observe Passover today and celebrate the protection of God’s people from the evil plans of Pharaoh, I praise God that His Spirit has not passed over me but is living and working in and through me even today.

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, thank you for being so active in this world. Thank you for what you do to protect your people. Thank you for indwelling in me today. Please attune my heart and mind to listen to your leading and then to obey. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? How do you perceive the Holy Spirit living in you?

NOTE: I will be guest blogging on the site of my writing colleague, Eileen Knowles tomorrow, March 27. Please visit me there tomorrow at The Scenic Route. But come here tomorrow too to visit another of my writing colleagues, Jon Stolpe who will share his thoughts about courage.

THE "TO BE" ATTITUDES: THOSE WHO MOURN

The second Beatitude is in Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.










WHAT IS MOURNING?

What? God wants us to be sad? That can’t be right.

Maybe God wants us to grieve so we will turn toward Him for comfort. No, that can’t be right either.

What then does the mourning refer to?

It means that we are to align our hearts to God—to mourn as God mourns. We are to grieve for our own sins and for how our sins grieve our Holy God.

It means to mourn for how we have hurt others.

for the misery of others.

for others who are unsaved.

The person who mourns understands that he has dishonored God. If I mourn for my sins, I recognize that my sins hurt God; that I am empty of righteousness; that I do not deserve salvation or heaven.

If I mourn I realize through the grace of God am I forgiven and approved.

If I mourn I have been convicted by the Holy Spirit. 

If I mourn, I desire to do what is right in the sight of our Holy God. 
　

THE PROMISE

The promise to those who mourn is to be comforted. When we accept Jesus, we are gifted with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Who is the Holy Spirit?

And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever. (John 14:16 AMP)
　

If we mourn—ask forgiveness, repent, believe—we receive the Comforter. The Holy Spirit will comfort us. Always. Because the Holy Spirit is always with us.

Mourning is a blessing, after all.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for making us teachable. We’re sorry when we hurt you through our sins. We know we don’t deserve your salvation. Thank you for saving us anyway. Thank you also for sending us the Holy Spirit to comfort us with your love. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? In what ways to you mourn on behalf of God?

THE PURSUIT

This post is part of the Christian Writer's blog chain. Our theme this month is "pursue" in honor of Father's Day and graduations. Please click on the links to the right to see what my friends have to say about this theme.

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We often think of the word "pursue" as involving a lofty endeavor. We pursue a goal, an achievement, a prize.

But the origin of the word pursue in 13th century Anglo French meant "to follow with hostile intent." Although we sometimes still use the word pursue to follow and track in order to overtake ("the kidnapper pursued his victim"), more often today the word is used to imply a higher purpose.

That original meaning though lends its sense of depth to the way we use the term pursue in the modern world.

As we pursue something of great meaning and value today, do we hold fast to the passion and depth of emotion behind our pursuit? Do we consciously allow that passion and depth of emotion to push us forward, urge us onward, following a path in order to overtake and then claim the prize?

In all areas of life, whatever we pursue, do we do so with deep intent? Do we pursue happiness to overtake it and claim it with passion? Do we do the same with everything that is important to us?

Do we, in fact, pursue life with the passion it is worthy of? Do we live each day according to the gift of grace and mercy given us by the Lord of Life? Do we follow the calling He has set out for us with the determination and persistence needed?

I confess I do not always live with passion. But I always live with direction, pursuing the life God has laid out for me--IF I FIRST seek His guidance. And then remain open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in me.

In fact, a much loftier and better thing to pursue would be to perfect the perpetual habit of seeking Him first.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we so want to live for you. Please show us the callings you desire for us. Open our hearts to your leading. Help us follow you as we pursue your goals for us. Let it be for your glory. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? What do you pursue with the depth of passion that hearkens to the 13th century definition? In what pursuit do you need more passion?

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today’s post is part of the Christian Writer’s blog chain. This month, our theme is “Savor.” Please visit my friends’ blogs by clicking on the links in the right-hand column.

April 1 is the one-year anniversary of From Carol’s Quill. Here are the stats:

1 year of blogging

158 posts

Six pages to the site

88 prayers based on the meaning of names

8,482 hits to the site

 + + +                 

The more important stats are not quantifiable. The goal of this blog is to encourage others in their faith in Christ. Whether I have done so is up to God to determine.

As I set out to encourage others in their faith, though something amazing happened. Writing about my faith has encouraged me.

• Preparation for blogging requires me to look around each day for parables about Jesus. When I look for Jesus, I find him.

• Preparation for blogging requires me to research and meditate on scripture. More head knowledge results in more heart knowledge.

• Preparation for blogging requires me to pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide my hands. More prayer and more attuning to the Spirit is always good.

Blogging has grown my faith; brought me closer to my Savior; helped me savor time spent with Him.

Is that not the way it is when we first set out to encourage others? We find ourself encouraged, stretched and strengthened through the process.


A few thank you's are in order:

• To my readers for your faithful reading and commenting.
• To the Christian Writers.com community for letting me join in the blog chain fun.
• To my Heavenly Father for using me in this one and only life He’s given me.
• To my Savior for the reason for my faith.
• To the Holy Spirit who has guided my hands this past year.

I look forward to another year of savoring the way God plans to use me for His good purpose. And savoring the friendships I make along the way.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunities you give us to share your love with others. Thank you for showing us ways to use technology for this sacred purpose. Holy Spirit, please give us words to express your love in this world. Let it always and only be for your glory. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? How do you use technology to encourage others?

FRESH AIR FOR THE SOUL

Today’s post is part of the Christian Writer’s blog chain. The theme for June is “Fresh Air.” Click on the links to the right to see how my friends look at this topic.

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Most days my bedroom window is open. Except on summer afternoons when it is shut tight against the heat.

Ah, but come evening, the blinds go up; the window slides open and the cool evening air slips through my screen and pushes the hot, still air up through the attic and out of the house.

Thanks to our remarkable whole house fan, it takes but moments to bring the temperature in the house from 90 to 70. And to return my mood from heat-induced grumpy to my very cool self.

Sometimes we don't get those cool evening breezes though. When that happens, it's not pretty in our bedroom. There's me, lying on one side of the bed—as far away from my heat-producing husband as I can get. Pillows turned every 5 minutes to the "cool side." The ceiling fan is on high. The nightstand fan is on high. The big box fan, perched on my dresser and aimed directly at me—is on high. Another box fan in the window. On high. And a cool, wet cloth on my hot, sweaty forehead.

The only good thing about those nights is that when the cool breezes return, I'm praising God and thanking Him for rescuing me from another night in the inferno and for sending me exactly the kind of fresh air I need.

Kinda like He did when He sent Jesus.

To the early Christians, Jesus must have been like fresh air—sweeping away the cobwebs of legalism; brushing off the dust of disbelief; blowing away the despair of sin. Understanding the promise of salvation, forgiveness and redemption through Jesus literally does away with the threat of spending eternity in the inferno of hell.

Yes, there are a few crazy people who actually like triple digit temperatures. But for most of us, the still, hot air is suffocation. It is a baking of the soul; a crisping of the mind; a burning up of a peaceful spirit.

We need the cool fresh air of the evening to renew our bodies so we can prepare for the heat of the day ahead. Likewise, we need the fresh air of Jesus to renew our souls for a time that may be filled with an inferno of trials and worry. The blessed fresh air of Jesus flows through us by means of the Holy Spirit. It can refresh us. We need only to open the window of our souls and let it flow.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the variety you created in this world—day and night; light and dark; the heat of the day and cool evening breezes. Thank you, Jesus, for gifting us with your Spirit. Help us let your Spirit flow freely through us, restoring our souls with the fresh air of your love. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Are you invigorated by the heat or the cool? Was there a time when your experience with Jesus was like a breeze of fresh air?

FRESH AIR FROM THE SPIRIT

This blog post is part of the ChristianWriters.com blog chain. This month our theme is “fresh air.” See the links to the right and enjoy what my friends have to say about fresh air.

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This Sunday, June 12 marks the end of the Easter season on the Christian liturgical calendar.  Specifically, this Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost. Scripture tells us that Pentecost is the day Jesus’ disciples received the Holy Spirit. This supernatural event is recounted in Acts 2:

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

PENTECOST

The word Pentecost comes from the Greek word pentekoste meaning 50 days. Fifty comes from the root word “pent” for “five” as in pentagon, a geometric shape with five sides.

Easter Sunday marked Day One of the 40 days the risen Christ walked among us before taking his place in heaven. Fifty days after his resurrection, on Pentecost, he gifted his believers with the Holy Spirit.

The day we observe as Christian Pentecost was also celebrated before Jesus’ time by Jews as the Feast of the Harvest or Pentecost. For the 49 days after Passover, farmers set aside first fruits of their wheat harvest.

On the 50^th day, they would make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem to present their offering  and to celebrate the receipt of the 10 Commandments and the Torah—the first five books of our Christian Old Testament, also known as the Pentateuch or Books of Moses. The Feast of the Harvest, the Jewish Pentecost, was one of the most important holy days in Judaism.  

Even after Paul’s conversion, return to Jerusalem for Pentecost was an important event in the lives of the Jewish people. Acts 20:16 tells us:

Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.

COINCIDENCE?

Notice anything interesting about these two important Jewish holy days?

Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed during the celebration of Passover, when Jews sacrificed lambs to remember the preservation of the Hebrew people. Jesus’ sacrifice was for the eternal preservation of all mankind.

One of Jesus’ first instructions to his 12 disciples reported in Matthew 9: 37-38: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

This was followed immediately by Jesus’ instructions to the disciples to drive out spirits and heal in His name. To harvest people for salvation.

The Jewish harvest celebration of Pentecost coincided with the arrival of the Holy Spirit to the early Christians, which promised empowerment of all believers for God’s spiritual harvest.

Does God do coincidences?

FRESH AIR

Take a look at Acts 2 again:

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

The followers of Jesus were inside a house and yet the house was filled up with sound from heaven. It got everyone’s attention. After that, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is given to all of us when we receive Christ into our hearts. I’ve not seen a flame over anyone’s heads when they marched down the aisle during altar call, though. Nor have I heard the sound of a mighty wind within a closed room.

But when I am still, I can almost hear the sound of God; sometimes as a gentle whisper; sometimes as a mighty storm. I am reminded that He is in control, and that He is working in and through me, by the Holy Spirit.

Just as He did more than 2000 years ago with the new Christians shut inside a house.

To the early Christians, holding on to a fragile new faith, the Holy Spirit flowing through the house and settling upon them, must have been the very breath of fresh air they needed. Whisking away doubts and literally filling them with the power of God.

The Holy Spirit in us is fresh air to the soul. When we are open to its presence, it can flow as a gentle whisper or a mighty wind. Let us open the windows of our heart and let it flow.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for your power. Jesus, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit and for the power you instill in us. Remind us that you, Holy Spirit, as spirit, are fresh air to our souls, to our minds and to our faith. Use us, dear Lord, for your purpose. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you think it was a coincidence that the Holy Spirit was given to early Christians first on the day Jewish people celebrated both the harvest and the giving of the law? Do you even believe in coincidences when it comes to God?