Many in the Christian church set aside this day to pay special attention to and give passionate thanks for something we call the Gift of the Holy Spirit. It is called Pentecost and recalls the time when the Spirit of God made Himself known in physical form to both believers and unbelievers a few weeks after Jesus died, was buried, rose again and ascended.
Easter and Christmas are better known, but this is my favorite day in the church year. My life is so wholly blessed by the active involvement in my life of the Spirit of God.
At the resurrections the early followers of Christ were not happy to realize He was returning to the One who had sent him and with these worlds He comforted them: Let me assure you, it is better for you that I go away. I say this because when I go away I will send the Helper to you. But if I did not go, the Helper would not come. (John 16:7) I've been looking at several translations of this passage and the name for the one who was being sent to us included the above Helper, but also Comforter, Advisor, Counselor, Holy Spirit and Advocate in Court.
As usual, the words we think, speak and write are never wholly adequate to convey the greatness of God, but each of those names speaks to my deep need for help in knowing God better, opening my heart to better conform to God's plan for my life, to heal from the wounds that self-will-run-riot living has done to my person, my soul.
The Spirit of God helps me find the path where I draw closer to God, in deeper relationship with God while becoming brave and powerful in I seeking to comfort, inform, invite and love all the lonely, lost, angry, betrayed, frightened folks in the world seeking a better life, a shard of hope, the smallest light of truth, the way home.
Oh Spirit of God, thank You for the cherished gifts You lavish on us, both drawing us closer to God's love, truth, light, hope, faith, forgiveness, redemption, renewal and restoration while also nudging, prodding, empowering, and wooing us into lives of service and love for all our brothers and sisters in the Family of God. Thank You for coming to continue Christ's work in our hearts and lives. AMEN
Easter and Christmas are better known, but this is my favorite day in the church year. My life is so wholly blessed by the active involvement in my life of the Spirit of God.
At the resurrections the early followers of Christ were not happy to realize He was returning to the One who had sent him and with these worlds He comforted them: Let me assure you, it is better for you that I go away. I say this because when I go away I will send the Helper to you. But if I did not go, the Helper would not come. (John 16:7) I've been looking at several translations of this passage and the name for the one who was being sent to us included the above Helper, but also Comforter, Advisor, Counselor, Holy Spirit and Advocate in Court.
As usual, the words we think, speak and write are never wholly adequate to convey the greatness of God, but each of those names speaks to my deep need for help in knowing God better, opening my heart to better conform to God's plan for my life, to heal from the wounds that self-will-run-riot living has done to my person, my soul.
The Spirit of God helps me find the path where I draw closer to God, in deeper relationship with God while becoming brave and powerful in I seeking to comfort, inform, invite and love all the lonely, lost, angry, betrayed, frightened folks in the world seeking a better life, a shard of hope, the smallest light of truth, the way home.
Oh Spirit of God, thank You for the cherished gifts You lavish on us, both drawing us closer to God's love, truth, light, hope, faith, forgiveness, redemption, renewal and restoration while also nudging, prodding, empowering, and wooing us into lives of service and love for all our brothers and sisters in the Family of God. Thank You for coming to continue Christ's work in our hearts and lives. AMEN
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