The Work of the Holy Spirit

 

     Stop for a minute today and ask yourself what you would tell others about Jesus? What has He done for you? How would you share a testimony? As you think about an answer to those questions, think about everything the Bible promises us about the Holy Spirit. He is with you every minute of every day. When you have some time, read through the following verses and take in the presence of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit:

Convicts: John 16:8

Seals: Ephesians 1:13-14

Testifies: Romans 8:16

Creates: John 3:5 and  2 Corinthians 5:17

Continues His work in us (Philippians 1:6) with:

Strengthens: Ephesians 3:16

Teachesand Counsels: John 14:26

Is truth: John 14:16-17

Intercedes: Romans 8:26-27

Gives Gifts: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4

Brings forth and grows the fruit: Galatians 5:22

     Feel the Holy Spirit’s comfort and intercession for you as He teaches and guides you into all truth, giving us just what we need every single day. Jesus is enough. He gives us all things. And the Spirit will speak and act through you to bring glory to the risen Son.

Jesus,

We praise You for the work of the Holy Spirit. Help us to listen for Your voice through Him today and please comfort and strengthen those in need on this day.

Amen

 

Increasing Glory

 

     As the Holy Spirit within us continues His work in us, our image become more and more like Christ. It is a miraculous and, sometimes, painstakingly slow process! You may notice a check in your spirit after an angry word, or a compassionate heart for someone you used to despise. The slow progress is not our work but God’s work in us. Let that give you freedom.

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you, will carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

     Let the following words encourage you as you live out the rest of your life. We are only getting closer to true life, not death.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces, contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:17-18

     Let that inner glory shine today, remembering it will be on the increase, even if we don’t feel it or recognize it in ourselves. I look forward to that. I pray these words will take away any fear of aging. Our inner life will grow ever brighter as we get closer to the full glory of God.

Jesus,

You tell us You are the light of the world, and as Your body in the earth, we reflect that glory. Show us how. Continue Your transforming work in each of us as we await Your coming.

Amen

The Truth of the Holy Spirit

 

     Growing up in the 1960’s and 1970’s in a Lutheran church, my ideas about the Triune God were way off kilter. I imagined Father God as a fierce-looking old man with a long white beard, watching and waiting for me to do something wrong. Jesus was, of course, my friend. We sang, “What a Friend We have in Jesus” and “Jesus Loves Me.”  I loved having Him for my friend. With His long hair and sandals, He fit right into the culture around me.

     Honestly, the Holy Spirit was rarely mentioned other than a vague reference to the “Holy Ghost.”. Sounded a bit spooky. Today the Triune God is made up of three distinct persons, all of whom I love deeply. Let’s look together at the Holy Spirit this week.

     He is alive and well, living in and working through believers.  He is our teacher, comforter, prayer warrior and His purpose is to bring glory to our Lord. Jesus explained the purpose of His Holy Spiri.                                                                                               

But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own. He will speak only what He hears and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Me, because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.  John 16:13-15

     The Spirit will guide us into all truth. The Spirit will open our hearts to the wisdom of the word of God. He speaks what He hears from Jesus. He glorifies Christ in all He does through us. He makes known to us everything that belongs to our Father in heaven.

Father,

Thank You for the gifts the Holy Spirit gives us, the way He works through us, and the ways He brings glory to Your son, Jesus.

Amen

 

Plans for Good

 

     Facing change is inevitable. Finishing a project, leaving a job, moving on from a relationship or saying an earthly goodbye, can be viewed as endings. God does not control our choices or our circumstances, but He uses them to teach, to discipline, to change, to transform and to lead us to the path He has ready and waiting for us.

     The power of Christ redeems, restores, re-invigorates and resurrects. What are you missing today? What has changed and left you unsure? What decisions do you have to make that seem impossible? God has a plan and an answer. And He always works for good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

     Has God called you to be His? His plan and purpose are waiting. He will find a way for you. And this plan is GOOD!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Jesus,

Teach us to trust You with our lives. Work in our indecision, in our doubts and help us to find a new beginning leading us closer to You.

Amen

Blessed Are The Caregivers

 

     Change is inevitable. Adjusting as we grow, adapting to marriage and kids. Dealing with sickness and disease. Caring for others can be frustrating, overwhelming, exhausting, valuable, loving and oh, such a blessing. Are you currently a caregiver?

     Adapting, adjusting, acclimating to change in your life? I have been doing so for the last 40 years. At age 30 I was diagnosed with a rare eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. It is a degenerative disease that begins with night blindness, followed by loss of peripheral vision.

     God has been with me through it all and He just happened to choose the perfect partner for me as well. It is impossible to list all that my husband does for me. As my eyes deteriorate, he assists in reading fine print, in picking up after me, in finding things I just can’t spot anywhere, leading me around whenever we are out and about, not to mention, doing all of the driving.  Luckily, we can laugh about much of it and most days, honestly, I don’t even think about it!  

     Of course, there are times we both get frustrated, overwhelmed and there are times I just need to cry it out. Tears can release tension and help in healing.

     Nothing tested our patence more than our recent trip. Steps everywhere! Eighteen leading up to our unit. Two steps into the living room and two steps into the bathroom area. Many steps down to the pool and even more to the ocean. Whew! Needless to say, we needed to accept the reality and get on with it. Very slowly each day, we made it work.

     My friends also tote me around with no complaint. How blessed am I! We need to be reminded, always, that we need each other. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I have discovered that others really do want to help. We are blessed to be a blessing.

“I will bless you. I will make your name great and you will be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2

   Thank you, Nip, for loving me unconditionally and thank you to all the caregivers out there giving it their all. May God continue to bless you always.

For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Dear Lord,

Accepting our weaknesses and allowing others to assist, isn’t always easy, but the body of Christ surrounds us with love. Today I praise You for finding the perfect spouse for me and for his kindness and patience each and every day.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Suffering Superheroes

 

     Our superhero, Gavin, became quite ill right after Thanksgiving. An ear infection hadn’t cleared up with the first antibiotic and he suffered from stomach pain and fever. He missed several days of school. After a few visits to urgent care and the doctor, he was found to be constipated and is now doing well.

     He taught me a valuable lesson on one of those sick days spent with us. He had little energy and had not eaten much for a few days. He gave a valiant effort in playing his super-hero games. I found a plastic snowflake ring that he manifested into the Green Hornet’s power ring. As we sat by the window, he noticed the ring “deflected” the sun and turned the ring into colors. Our six-year-old is not only a cute super hero but a brilliant one as well.

     He remained tired and weak throughout the day. I coaxed him to the kitchen table and tried to get him to eat a couple bites of my chicken noodle soup. He laid his head on the table and said, “Nana, I had such a fun morning. Thank you.”

     Even then, he was grateful. This gesture of thanks stopped me in my tracks and brought tears to my eyes. Maybe we need to look up in our suffering and offer praise and thanks to God, for any little thing in our lives. Gavin taught me that valuable lesson. After all, even suffering super heroes need to be surrounded by love. Let’s be grateful.

Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Lord,

Thank You for the gifts and lessons we take in from our grandkids. Protect them as they grow and we pray they grow to love You as much as we do.Thank You for loving us. Help us to remain grateful even when it is difficult.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Adapting to Change

 

     This has been and will be a week of extremes and contrasts. As we left the Bahamas on Saturday, the temperature was 75. Landing in Minneapolis, we came face-to-face with -7!  Quite the change. Our cab driver in the Bahamas mentioned it had been a little cool. 75 degrees is cool? He could not grasp our description with our type of cold and the fact we could cut a hole in the ice to fish. He said he had no plans to travel beyond Miami.

     We adjust throughout our lives from season to season, from age to age, from our first hellos to our last goodbyes on earth. Each season brings change. Just as the Byrds sand “Turn, Turn, Turn,” you can read through our life experiences in Ecclesiastes 3.

     This week marks Gavin’s 7^th birthday and my best friend Shelly’s 70^th. Shelly and I toddled around together at age 2 and here we are toddling into our elder years together. We will celebrate the life of a wonderful woman who died at age 93 on Friday and celebrate a wedding on Saturday. Such reminders of the passage of time, the contrasts in life and how we continually adapt, acclimate and accept life as it happens.

     Take in the moments of life right now. Celebrate when you can and mourn when life gets tough. God understands and will walk beside us, ahead of us and behind us as we live.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way. Walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20b

The Lord will watch over your coming and going,, both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8

     Whatever the season, no matter the age, in any circumstance, at all times, Jesus is there.

Lord,

Thank you for the reminders this week of new beginnings, of earthly goodbyes, of celebrating youth and old age, of friends and family and new experiences and people. Thank You, too, for the beauty and magnificence of Your creation.

In Jesus name,

Amen