Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

THIS side of the door

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Yesterday, we contemplated the discipline that allows us to see with faith, the other side of the door from where we stand. That is, to remember and take great hope in the truth that these present struggles are temporary. Yes, there is pain and suffering, disappointment and sorrow. But have hope. Heaven will wipe away every tear and there will be no more sorrow.

But what about the here and now? Is there hope and faith that allows us to participate in the higher glories, the richer joys, right now? Indeed, though it is a disciplined choice perhaps not many are eager to whole heartedly pursue. I confess that sometimes it seems too much a chore for me. But in fact the real chore that tires me most is ignoring its truth and trying to find my own way.

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is upon us. Yes, we have to wait to experience it fully. But the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’s promised presence IN US, allows us to experience a real part of heaven right now, on this side of the door. We can practice using our spiritual senses in ways similar to our earthly ones.

We can be touched by and touch others with His grace.
He can ask Jesus to see others and ourselves through His eyes.
We can hear His Spirit speak to us in our troubles and joys.
We can wake up and smell the fragrant aroma of Jesus’ love.
We can taste the goodness of God.
We can experience more fully what Jesus has already accomplished for us and in us.

Yes, we are on the other side of the door for the present moment. But practice using your spiritual senses and don’t be afraid to let difficult times help you awaken to what is on the other side and available to you even now. They will help us experience the power of faith, hope, and love even now. The kingdom of God has come upon you. Luke 10:9

Check engine light

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I took the car in to the repair shop. The ‘check engine’ light had come on again. They put it on the diagnostic machine and it came back with, “engine below operating temperature.” Really? You know, at -24 degrees wind chill, I think EVERYTHING is below operating temperature these Iowan winter days! Sometimes that little alert light can be really crucial. Ignoring it could lead one to real danger! But in this case, the repairmen reset the alert light and sent us on the way at no charge. (Thanks guys!)

Don’t you wish WE had a built in ‘check spiritual engine’ light? It could come in handy when we are operating too much on our own power, instead of relying on the Holy Spirit. Or it could tell us the oil is low and it is time for a fresh anointing. It could warn us when our battery is worn down and we need spiritual recharging. Or it could flash repeatedly when we are entering dangerous ‘road conditions’.

Actually, God already thought of this when Jesus gave us His very Spirit to teach, guide, convict, and comfort us. This ‘alert’ never goes off unless there is a real cause and never needs resetting. It doesn’t flash a light so we have to train ourselves to listen for the warning. Like any soft whisper, we have to tune out the distracting sounds and events around us and lean in to hear a still and soft voice.

For your car, keep your eye on the check engine light. To make sure you are operating under the best of guidance, train yourself to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit throughout the normal routines of the day.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26

Do What Jesus Said: Accept the Spirit

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Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17

If I could go back and change one thing in my life, I would have discovered and pursued a relationship with the Holy Spirit much sooner. Instead of huffing and puffing my way through self effort and limited knowledge I would have sought the perfect help Jesus offered. Instead of getting to know God primarily intellectually, I would have accepted His free hand to come know Him more intimately. (It is a process even now.)

If there is one thing missing in the lives of Christians and in too many churches today it is the absence of the power of the Holy Spirit. This free gift, the absolute representation of Jesus Christ is available to all who call upon Him. Imagine being able to receive perfect counsel every time you ask, the exact comfort you need every time you turn to Him, and real power to overcome the difficulties of life at your fingertips. I’m pretty sure if the Holy Spirit were into the stock market or the knowledge of picking the correct lotto ticket we would all pursue Him avidly!

But we largely ignore the Holy Spirit, maybe because the idea seems so spooky. After all, we referred to Him as the Holy Ghost when I was growing up. Maybe we just have difficulty with the concept of talking directly to a loving God we don’t see with our eyes. Maybe we are just too busy. Maybe we just think we can do just as well on our own.

But we don’t. We read the bible, we listen to sermons, we take notes and try to apply them to our lives. We work hard to be better and better when we have time. But we don’t get very far before we realize it is a lot of effort without much results. THAT is why Jesus gave us His Spirit, because we can’t be Christ’s disciples in our own power. It is like shadow boxing: we wear ourselves out beating at the air.

Asking Jesus to be Lord of your life comes with not only the gift of eternal life later but real power now. And that power is the power of the gospel revealed to us by the Holy Spirit…at work, at home, in the marketplace, and in all arenas of Our lives. Do what Jesus said: receive the Holy Spirit and nurture a relationship with Him. It will transform your life.

Belief Trumps Attitude

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I am learning some important lessons in this journey. For example, as strength varies throughout the day and when appetite diminishes, I learn to eat my ice cream FIRST! 🙂

I have heard many folks say we have good spirits or a strong attitude in the face of this cancer. The simple truth is this:

“Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but with POWER, with the Holy Spirit, and with DEEP CONVICTION. The word of God is AT WORK in you who BELIEVE.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5,13

None of us get this right all the time. We all get distracted. (For example, getting up the courage to eat was sometimes a struggle for me during the chemo, as was forcing myself to walk at least a half mile on my weakest days.) But God’s Word promises there is real power available to those who believe it…power to live out our moment by moment lives according to what we believe.

I remember teaching a values clarification class on stress management years ago to a group of adults with mental illness. In the middle of the discussion, a young man raised his hand and asked, “So you are saying that whenever we act in ways that contradict our true beliefs, we will always experience stress?” Exactly!

Belief is an active word. It doesn’t just refer to an historical discovery of some principle. True belief drives us to present action despite what circumstances may present themselves. We choose to love in unlovable moments. We keep quiet when we are tempted to complain about someone. We reach out when we are inclined to withdraw. We believe even as doubts cross our mind.

When the Bible says ‘believe’ it actually means “Keep on believing.” We can’t simply rely on a past decision or experience. We have to keep believing in the midst of each circumstance, the great ones and the challenging ones. True belief reminds us of our passion and purpose and doesn’t let the storms of life distract us. True belief keeps us focused with eyes firmly fixed on our goal, so we can continue to press on toward the prize we seek.

Dealing with this Leukemia requires all the prayers that many of you are offering on behalf of Marcia and me. (It matters!) And it requires believing and acting on belief, in what is and always has been true, and always will be true.