School of the Holy Spirit

In the days of my youth (in God) it was quite common for me to spread out all my Bibles and concordances on the kitchen table and spend hours doing word studies. I had an insatiable appetite for learning how to become the image of God on the outside. I knew what He had done on the inside but living it out is sometimes a whole other story. God ministered to me in such miraculous ways for many years while getting me grounded in foundational truths of the Bible.

Now I sit at my computer and use on-line references. Biblegateway even parallels any number of translations for me without my ever turning a page.

Word Studies
Word studies are a great way to get God’s thinking and heart on a given subject. I'll share one way this works for me.

If I am having a particularly difficult time grasping or (more likely) living out a Biblical truth that serves as a clue to me I need to spend more time in scriptures having to do with that truth or topic. For instance… there was a time I looked up every Greek word in I Cor. 13: 1-8. I wrote them all down (on paper at the time) and cross-referenced other scriptures having to do with God’s love. Then I looked up (and typed out) those verses in every translation of the Bible I had at the time. I ran across that typed out document yesterday and it brought back a lot of memories. I used that document for years to quote out loud to my own heart and head! It served as a tool for getting those truths deep in my heart where they became a part of me instead of words on the written page.

I can’t tell you how many relationships and situations that background has saved me. I was moved to go to all that extended study during a very difficult time in my marriage. At the time I knew I had to make some changes. One thing that has proven out over and over in my Christian life is when I wish someone else would change, it always comes back to me that needs to make some changes. Besides that, I've learned (sometimes better than others) that I AM THE ONLY ONE I CAN CHANGE. Spending my time mulling over God's words to me of His precious love FOR me is a doorway into the spirit realm. From there, you don't want to put any limits on God to lead you into worship and prayer that will miraculously change and adjust things on the inside. Things we don't even know need to be adjusted. That's just how He works when given the opening. That's why it's spiritual! Spiritual things are difficult to describe but they are the most real changes one can make. And when it is the Spirit of God doing the changing the results are always right and good and true and ... lasting.

Back to word study...

This method is so valuable and has taught me how to rely on God’s word and His Holy Spirit for the power to ‘be’ who/what God has given me the ability to be and called me to be. The Holy Spirit is our helper AND our teacher but we have to let Him be those things to us by using the tools God has given us.

We can't really expect that attending one or two church services a week is enough to go against the tide of carnality and worldliness we are faced with daily. We have to open our hearts to God every day and allow Him access to everything we are if we seriously want to make changes.

There certainly are many ways to learn God's word on our own. For me, I couldn't have made it through some of the circumstances life has thrown my way without roots firmly planted in God and revelation of His character. It has been my anchor in the midst of every trial.

What about you? Do you have ways you draw closer to God? What methods do you use to study God's word?

There IS a Bigger Plan

How easy it is to get focused on the small things of life like, well... my own small little world. Is anyone else plagued with the tendency to get burdened under the 'everydayness syndrome'? That's my very own made up phrase. Hey! Sometimes you have to do that.

And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY,

WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." Rev. 4:8

"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;

for You created all things,

and because of Your will they existed, and were created." Rev. 4:11

We go about our daily routines loaded down with our current stresses. We are all caught up in trying to 'get it all done' in the 24 hours we've been given. It is so easy to be consumed with our own affairs, our own troubles, our own ideas, our own families, our own jobs, our own desires... you get the picture.

After that I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse [appeared]!

The One Who was riding it is called

Faithful (Trustworthy, Loyal, Incorruptible, Steady) and True, and

He passes judgment and wages war in righteousness (holiness, justice, and uprightness).
His eyes [blaze] like a flame of fire,

and on His head are many kingly crowns (diadems);

and He has a title (name) inscribed

which He alone knows or can understand. Rev. 19: 11-12

I can so clearly remember when my three children were growing up and it seemed like every minute of my day was consumed with their needs. It felt like it was all I could do to get to the end of each day with some semblance of sanity. Even in those intense days I felt the tug of the Holy Spirit in my heart leading me to begin praying for God to broaden my vision. I wanted to be able to see beyond my own needs which seemed so great at the time. It was my desire to have more capacity for the bigger plan of God. I wanted to have God's heart for the world, for the nations, for the church, for His people, for His kingdom and just what was my part in all of this?

He is dressed in a robe dyed by dipping in blood, and the title by which

He is called is The Word of God.
And the troops of heaven, clothed in fine linen, dazzling and clean,

followed Him on white horses.
From His mouth goes forth a sharp sword with which He can smite (afflict, strike) the nations;

and He will shepherd and control them with a staff (scepter, rod) of iron.

He will tread the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath and indignation of God the All-Ruler

(the Almighty, the Omnipotent).
And on His garment (robe) and on His thigh He has a name (title) inscribed,

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Rev. 19:13-16

One of the ways God began to answer this prayer was by leading me to read the book of Revelation. I won't go into the sequence of how this came about for the sake of time but suffice to say that to this day - so many years later - when I find myself caught up in my own troubles, my own agenda, the requirements of life, my own small world ... it never fails that I hear the prompting of the Holy Spirit leading me back to those same passages in the book of Revelation.

THEN I saw a new sky (heaven) and a new earth,

for the former sky and the former earth

had passed away (vanished),

and there no longer existed any sea.
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem,

descending out of heaven from God,

all arrayed like a bride beautified and adorned for her husband;
Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying,

See! The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among them;

and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God.
God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more,

neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more,

for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.
And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new.

Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are

faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine).
And He [further] said to me, It is done!

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

To the thirsty I [Myself] will give water without price

from the fountain (springs) of the water of Life. Rev. 21:1-6

Now, mind you, I don't even begin to understand all this book offers. But there is something about the visions given to John of Jesus and heaven and the worship that takes place in heaven and the way the book ends that puts me in a completely different frame of mind. It transports me instantly out of my small world and its supposed issues and reminds me of God's big plan, of His love for the WHOLE world, of the price Jesus paid, of His soon coming return, of kingdom business, of what is most important in life.

I, Jesus, have sent My messenger (angel) to you to witness and

to give you assurance of these things for the churches (assemblies).

I am the Root (the Source) and the Offspring of David,

the radiant and brilliant Morning Star.
The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come!

And let him who is listening say, Come!

And let everyone come who is thirsty

[who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which

the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened];

and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come,

take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost. Rev. 22: 16-17

I've had my nose in this book of late.

Taste and See

Open your mouth and taste,
open your eyes and see—
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him. Ps 34:8

I bless you, Lord, with all my soul and all that is deepest within me. I won’t forget even one of your benefits. You forgive all my sins; You heal all my sicknesses. You redeem my life from the pit and corruption. You beautify, You dignify, You crown me with loving-kindness and tender mercy. You satisfy my mouth with good so that my youth, renewed, is like the eagles. Lord, You execute righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. You are merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in mercy and full of unfailing love!

Lord, You made the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that is in them. I will sing praises to You while I have any being! You keep truth and You are faithful forever. You execute justice, You set free the prisoners and open the eyes of the blind, You lift up those who are bowed down. Lord, You protect and preserve. You will reign forever.

It is good to sing praises to You. You are gracious and lovely; You heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. You are great, Lord, and of great power; Your understanding is inexhaustible and boundless. You lift up the humble and downtrodden; You take pleasure in those who honor You. You fulfill my desires because I fear You; You hear my cries for help and You rescue me.

Blessed are You, Lord, my rock and my strength, my steadfast love and my fortress. You are my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and it is in You that I trust and take refuge. Lord, you are on my side and You take my part; I will not fear. Out of my distress I called upon You, You answered me and set me free. You have delivered my life from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. My heart is firmly fixed trusting in You. You sent Your word and healed me and rescued me from the pit and destruction.

The works of Your hands are absolute Truth and justice; and all your decrees and precepts are sure, fixed, established and trustworthy. You have commanded Your covenant to be forever; Holy is Your name. I give great praise and thanks to You, Lord, with my whole heart.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let Your glory be over all the earth.

...'Til All I Do Is For You Alone

Thanks to mlm for covering for me last week. And a great post, too.

We had a marvelous vacation. I had lots of time to read my Bible, pray, meditate and “center my soul”. Each morning began the same for me waking before the sun crested over the distant mountains. With my Bible and my coffee, I greeted the day bundled up on the deck sitting in a rocking chair, contemplating the condition of my soul. There is just a connection that is alive and vibrant when I am outdoors with God’s creative beauty and it draws me into worship.

One of my favorite all-time scriptures is Jesus speaking in Matthew 11: 28-30, (from the Message Bible)…

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”

These words call out to me in a most tender voice. I can “feel” the breath of God washing over me with rest for my soul as He gently and lovingly says… “Come… I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”

Something of note here is that, as in most instances, He does the beckoning and we must do the responding. Once I yield my heart to His beckoning He can then do the work in me which I so desperately need. I think of it this way. It is very much like when I accepted Him as my Savior and truly surrendered my life to Him. I heard the message of the gospel and something in my heart leaped out for what was being offered. Personally, I refused this offer for many years and though many invitations were made available, I flatly refused. But then one day, when that same call came …. “Come!” … I heard it with my heart and I responded with… “here I am.”

At that precise instant in time, my entire life was forever changed for the best. That was a long time ago but the tender call remains consistent … “Come!”

There’s a lot of talk these days about “core strength”. It is the area where your center of gravity is located and where all movement in your body originates. The term references strengthening all the abdominal and pelvic muscles which results in improving balance, overall coordination and increased protection and bracing for your back. In other words if your core isn’t strong, the rest of you will be lacking in some form or other. A weak core can make you susceptible to poor posture, lower back pain and muscle injuries.

I see a strong similarity here to the core of our spiritual being. We often go about our daily activities without first going to the source of our strength to be built up in our “core”. When we worship God and take the time to give Him our love and attention, He somehow spiritually strengthens the center of our souls. When we live and breathe from that strengthened place, all other issues of life are braced up and balanced. We have energy beyond the normal and the ability to go the distance.

If it’s been a while since you responded to the call of your Savior to spend some valuable time with Him, I encourage you to do whatever it takes to set aside the cares of this world at least for a few minutes and answer His tender voice. There isn’t anything more important in your day or your busy life. You will be refreshed, restored and strengthened so you can run your race with joy.