Tag: Holy Spirit

His reigndrops keep fallin’ on my head…

“True peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.”  Alexander MacLaren

For those of you who are music aficionados, you’ve probably already noticed I’ve taken the liberty of modifying B. J. Thomas’ 1969 hit song title “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” for purposes of this post. If you’re unfamiliar with this song it’d be easy to think the song speaks about life from a negative viewpoint based solely on the title. But that’d be an incorrect assumption because the despondency of the title doesn’t reflect the song’s overall positive outlook as proclaimed by the oft repeated upbeat and hopeful lyric “it won’t be long till happiness steps up to greet me.”

Likewise, I was recently greeted by an unexpected, but wonderful reminder of the Lord’s enduring and kind presence during an unwelcome walk initiated by my dog on a cold, windy, and rainy night. When you gotta go, you gotta go, you know? So, I put on my hoodie, leashed up McCartney (yes, named after the Beatle!) and out the door I reluctantly went. And, yes, in anticipation of the foul weather awaiting us I grabbed an umbrella hoping it would provide at least some protection from the rain.

I have to say that zigzagging up and down our street while my pooch meticulously searches for that oh so perfect spot to do his business is not a favorite pastime of mine even in pleasant weather. As you might imagine, the soggy conditions like we were experiencing that evening only served to add more distress to my already discontented mood.

So there I was dutifully following McCartney back and forth about the neighborhood avoiding the deeper puddles as best I could, when suddenly my attention was diverted to the warm, soothing glow of the image of the cross cast upon the inside of my umbrella by the nearby street light. Instantly I was joyfully reminded of His certain, ongoing presence in my life and the gloom of the dreary night cheerfully faded away.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I don’t pretend to know what you’re going through right now, but I do know that whatever it is, He is there and has not forgotten about you, His beloved child. Having experienced my five year old startup company failing in September, 2022, I can personally attest to that overarching truth for He has been with my wife and I every step of the way before, during, and since that life-changing collapse. So, be encouraged to take your eyes off the storm raging around you, and instead look to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2.)

Whenever we find ourselves worrying, our first action ought to be to get alone with God and worship Him…. We must realize that He is big enough to solve our problems. Warren Wiersbe

In and through these precious, life-giving words of scripture to follow, I pray you find the much needed faith, trust and hope you seek that only He can provide. May you securely rest in the comfort of His warm embrace knowing that even when it’s raining in your life, He reigns. Indeed, His dew drops of mercy are new every morning, a glorious and refreshing flood washing over us. Oh, my friend, what a Savior we have in Jesus!

The Lord appeared to us in the past,saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)

He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4 (NKJV)

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 (NKJV)

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NKJV)

1!1!1

“Let it Rain (Live)” by Michael W. Smith from the album “Worship.”

“Per-sway-did” or “Per-sway-dead”?

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 (NKJV)

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 13:9 (WEB)

“He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh.’ Behold Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rock before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire.  After the fire, there was a still small voice.  When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle, went out, and stood in the entrance to the cave.  Behold a voice came to him, and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’”          1 Kings 19:11-13 (WEB)

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”  John 10: 27 (WEB)

There was always some sort of wind blowing in this particular area I once lived in so the breeze that greeted me that winter morning was to be expected as I walked down a familiar stretch of sidewalk with our two dogs.  The breeze that day, however, was particularly light.  It was the kind of breeze you notice if you’re heading into it, but if you’re headed in the same direction with it you don’t notice it much at all.

As I continued walking down the sidewalk my eyes were drawn to the surprising sight up ahead of a wildly vibrating, swaying plant.  It seemed alive so animated were its movements which were akin to one of those inflatable, super-tall, madly flailing dancing characters automobile dealerships use to hopefully arrest your attention. Fascinating!

But what made this scene even more remarkable was that this plant danced alone even though it was surrounded by numerous other plants which stood there unmoved as if they were the plant manifestations of the stoic Easter Island statues.  The lone plant took notice of the faint breeze while all the other plants remained steadfast, unmoved, and locked firmly into place.

The visual contrast between the two groups could not have been any more stark and dramatic. The one danced with unrestrained exuberance as the almost imperceptible wind moved across it, yet the others seemed to be stuck in concrete unwilling and unable to move at all.

Sadly, truth be told though, can the same not be said regarding our response to God’s presence in our lives?  Some are moved to dance in His presence while others remain unmoved even though the breath of God moves across all.  As with the plants the difference between these two different groups of people could not be any more obvious as illustrated by these two scriptures:

“But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear.” Zechariah 7:11 (WEB)

 “David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.”  2 Samuel 6:14 (WEB)

God’s breath, His very presence,  moves across each and every one of us as 2 Peter 3:9 (WEB) points out saying, “The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

There is opportunity for movement towards Him for all in each of our journeys.  Yet, the truth is only a precious few acknowledge or react to His presence in their lives in a profound and transformed manner.  One is moved to dance in His presence all the while surrounded by others who rigidly standby in complete silence.

“When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging.  He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.  Some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.”  Acts 28:23-24 (WEB)

There is a still small Breeze whispering out to you, beckoning you to move in His direction.  We all have a choice to make.  Will you remain hardened and unflinching in His presence such that you are “per-sway-dead” to remain motionless?  Or are you “per-sway-did” to dance in His presence overflowing with the joy of the Lord?

“Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him in sincerity and in truth.   Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh.  If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell;  but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”  Joshua 24:14-15 (WEB)

 The Lord lovingly holds out His hand in invitation for this dance of your life.  Do you hear it?  Do you feel it? Oh my brothers and sisters I pray each of you take His outstretched hand and sway to the rhythm of His life-giving breeze of hope!

“Now the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.”   Romans 15:13 (WEB)

 “You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on the stand; and it shines to all who that are in the house.  Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:14-16 (WEB)

 

So, here we are a few years later and the message remains the same, but this time expressed in a video:  Some “leaves” move in the presence of His voice and are alive, but sadly some are decidedly deaf to His whispers and are dead.