The property our house sits on is full of trees, the beauty of which drew us in the moment we set eyes on them. Tall, sky-reaching pines and hardwoods – never have we had such grandeur right out our back door. Well, it turns out these beauties shed branches as a year passes, so myContinueContinue reading “Holy Spirit: Fiery Presence”
Author Archives: Shelley Linn Johnson
Holy Spirit: Breath of God
For every single one of us, there comes a moment at some point in our lives that we experience something so deeply, so profoundly that we are marked by it, yet when we try to describe it to a friend, words fail. When we attempt to convey all our emotions and thoughts of that specialContinueContinue reading “Holy Spirit: Breath of God”
Holy Spirit: Like a Dove
Act One: A Hovering We open the Bible to its first page, in the beginning, to see our eternal God ready for the work of Creation. Three-in-One: The Father makes the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). The Word, the Son, brings life and light into the world; through Him all things are made (JohnContinueContinue reading “Holy Spirit: Like a Dove”
Holy Spirit: Being and Doer
When you’re in the midst of your regular morning routine, listening to your favorite pastor read the passage of the day and your heart starts pounding, it’s time to pause it all. The video. Your routine. Your mind. And lean into whatever Holy Spirit* is saying or doing. I don’t know about you, but IContinueContinue reading “Holy Spirit: Being and Doer”
Holy Trinity: Into the Circle
One of the books I read in preparation for this series, Experiencing the Trinity, has a most intriguing subtitle: “Living in the Relationship at the Centre of the Universe.” Of all the ways to consider the Holy Trinity, I don’t think I would ever have imagined a book describing Him as a relationship that anchorsContinueContinue reading “Holy Trinity: Into the Circle”
Holy Trinity: Relationship
When we place onto God ideas of Him that are not accurate, our perception of Him gets built upon those false ideas. For instance, if we’ve only ever been taught that God is ruthlessly angry and out to smite anyone who doesn’t follow all His rules, we build our whole life of faith on theContinueContinue reading “Holy Trinity: Relationship”
Holy Trinity: Equality
Probably because of the famous line in our Declaration of Independence, Americans hear the word ‘equality’, and we immediately think of our rights: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…” Like siblings who vie for attention and everyContinueContinue reading “Holy Trinity: Equality”
Holy Trinity: Diversity
Perhaps one reason it’s so difficult for us to grab hold of who the Trinity is and how the three Persons of the Godhead function as one is the way they dwell together in such perfect love. There is never any jealousy or impatience among them — nor an ounce of tension or any power-struggleContinueContinue reading “Holy Trinity: Diversity”
Holy Trinity: Unity
In my twenties, I belonged to a group of church women who busted every negative stereotype of the ‘church-lady’. Rather than gossiping, they grabbed hold of the gospel and chose to live by it every single day. Instead of criticizing others, these ladies circled up and prayed mightily. They equipped our group with biblical knowledge,ContinueContinue reading “Holy Trinity: Unity”
Holy Trinity: Poetry in Motion
Despite liking poetry, I’ve never been very good at writing it or understanding its figurative depths. Yet I’m drawn to the rhythm of the lines, the play with words and sounds, the ebb and flow of thoughts. But give me an entire poem that’s a metaphor for something, and I’ll probably flounder. An English teacherContinueContinue reading “Holy Trinity: Poetry in Motion”