As independent as we are, no one operates best by themselves all the time. We need people. In fact, we are hard-wired for community by the One who dwells in eternal community. And when we’re most honest with ourselves, we embrace our need for an intimate friend, one who will come alongside us through allContinue reading "Holy Spirit: Our Friend"
Holy Spirit: River of Life
Sometimes, Holy Spirit ‘falls’ on believers, like “showers of blessing to refresh” our souls (Acts 3:19-20 MSG). Or He falls like rain in response to true faith – like that of Cornelius and his household as Peter shared the gospel (Acts 10:44 NLT). In this way, Holy Spirit washes, renews, and restores, bringing new lifeContinue reading "Holy Spirit: River of Life"
Holy Spirit: Fiery Presence
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 myContinue reading "Holy Spirit: Fiery Presence"
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 specialContinue 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 (JohnContinue 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 IContinue 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 anchorsContinue 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 theContinue 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 everyContinue 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-struggleContinue reading "Holy Trinity: Diversity"