Heartfast!

I want to be 
heartfast. 

Feet flat 
knees flexed 
legs taut 
stand my ground. 
Knocked hard 
breath blown 
wind gone 
still be found 
in place 
intact 
lungs filled 
arms ready 
eyes up 
fixed firm. 
He’s why 
I’m steady 

His hand 
in mine 
lifegrip 
keeping me. 
I grasp  
His Word – 
Truth told 
lovingly, 
not just 
my own 
to hold 
but to share. 
Love's light 
bursts out 
flings fire 
everywhere. 

I want to be 
heartfast. 

Inside 
heart core 
King’s seal 
marks his own. 
Won’t melt 
can’t break 
sure pledge 
from his throne. 
Centered 
anchored 
hearthold 
riveted 
heartsight 
straight ahead 
one prize  
coveted -- 

Heartfast.

It was 26 years ago that I wrote that private testimony to what was my key goal: faithfulness to my King. That had been the driving impetus to my decision, when I was 12, to let go of childish wanderings that focused on other things. I truly decided to follow Jesus with all my heart, no turning back!

When we make a decision like that, we are actually moving into just the right position, one where the Master takes over direction and gives purpose to life. He also shows us what his Kingdom principles are, and mentors us daily so that we can learn to live them out. We are living in his Kingdom!

Contemplating this has given “The Lord’s Prayer” much more depth of meaning this year. I had heard this said before, but now it sings in my heart—especially after hearing Matt Maher’s song frequently:[1]

Father, let Your Kingdom come
Father, let Your will be done
On Earth as in Heaven
Right here in my heart

 Yes! That cry for the Kingdom to come, for Abba’s will to be done on earth as in heaven—through the years had I heard it as a cry out to God to rule the whole world and change it from chaos to perfect order. Adding those words about “my heart” to Jesus’ Prayer, in the song, broadens the impact in a way that is relevant to me right here, right now.

Dallas Willard has been one of those authors whose works have mentored me on my spiritual journey. There was a conference in 2013 to contemplate his teaching, and the book Living in Christ’s Presence was put together as conversations between him and John Ortberg during that time—a kind of resume of key aspects of Willards’ writings. The theme that struck me with renewed impact was this focus on the Kingdom:

“Jesus came as the kingdom bringer. His gospel was the availability of the kingdom. His purpose was to manifest the kingdom. His one command was to pursue the kingdom: ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God.’ His one plan was to extend the kingdom. But many people do not understand the phrase the kingdom of God, because it’s in archaic language . . .We don’t have kings in this country.”[2]

The key, then, is understanding that a king has dominion. God rules: he has dominion. We are made in the image of God, so we have some personal dominion and we do love to exercise it: my rights, my property, my space . . . This is why, Willard points out, it is hard to lead people. They resent having their personal dominion infringed upon. Then too, kingdoms intersect. They overlap in marriages, neighborhoods, nations. As we know, this leads to issues. Exercise of dominion leads to conflicts in this world.[3]

So why would we want to be part of God’s kingdom? Why would we want it to rule?  Because it is good. No more brokenness. The King is completely good. As Jesus said, it is like finding treasure. Willard speaks to this:

“The right vision of the kingdom isn’t just theologically accurate. It will awaken tremendous desire in you . . . a vision of what is true that evokes a desire in us that is stronger than our desire for anything else. . . There’s the kingdom of God and there’s the kingdom of earth, and Jesus’ plan is to bring up there down here.”[4]

So when Jesus said that the kingdom would not be coming with signs that everyone could see, he was talking about God’s dominion taking over a person’s life, their personal dominion. He said that the kingdom is right there among them, accessible  (Luke 21:20,21). He also said that it belongs even to little kids (Luke 18:16), those little ones that wanted to come to him.

The kingdom, our King’s rule, is available. It is “in your midst.” What we have to do is become like the child who decides that he does not have to have his own way after all: no, Papa was right, I need to let him tell me what to do. Then the Kingdom takes over our training, and as we learn to listen to the King we become his emissaries, as well as his beloved children! We leave a broken kingdom to become citizens of the one ruled by love, justice, compassion. And it is a kingdom where we have intimacy with the King. We don’t have to go through his brothers, his mother, his other agents. He knows everything about us and still has patience and good purpose in all that he does in us and through us; he invites us to come to him whenever we want. It could not be better!

Now, our part is to be “heartfast!” Devoted to the King. Looking forward to the day when the Kingdom will not only be available to enter, but will be in charge over everything and everyone around us. No more chaos. No more pain. Right now we do all that the King tells us to, cooperating with him to spread the news about it just as his first disciples and apostles did (cf Acts 8:12; 28:23,31).

Since the word “kingdom” is not always understood today in our circles, we can use language that fits the circumstance and the setting. “Wouldn’t you love to live in a nation where there was no racism or favoritism? Wouldn’t you love to know a person who would accept you lovingly for who you are and empower you to leave behind everything that has been dragging you down, entering a new space where you find health as well as rules that bring peace?”

I am just so grateful to have the Father’s Kingdom right here in my heart! Many of you know that privilege too. May others grab that free entry as the good news about it spreads, price of entry already paid—by the King himself![i]

[1] The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours)

Matt Maher • The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours) • 2022

[2] Willard, Dallas. Living in Christ’s Presence: Final Words on Heaven and the Kingdom of God.  (IVP Books: Downers Grove IL, 2014).

[3] p. 56

[4] p. 57,58

[i] Image found at www.pexels.com, credit to pexels-lucasleonelsuarez-22608904

Coming Close!

At last the Tabernacle 
was in place, 
curtains hung, 
priests consecrated. 
And in one awesome moment 
your glory, Yahweh, 
moved in. 

Not even Moses 
(who saw you  
on the mountain) 
could enter now. 
Your presence packed the tent 
with holy danger, 
essence of you 
made visible 
to sentient humans: 
fire, a mass of cloud 
residing, lifting, 
shifting terror into hearts. 

"Don't come too near! 
"Don't touch! 

Perhaps a girlchild, 
curious, 
crept near the tent 
to see what secrets 
might be leaking 
through the violet- 
and red- and blue- 
etched curtains 
holding you in, 
people out. 
But access was barred. 
No way in for her! 

Her mother's hand 
would have pulled her back. 
"Not there, dear one! 
It is Yahweh himself 
come to live among us, 
come to guide us 
with his Presence. 
Any who go near 
undesignated, 
unprepared, 
will die!”  

See the ringing robes
on Aaron? 
See the oil drip  
from his beard? 
Only he can go 
inside, into 
the holy place 
where God lives. 
Stay back -- 
watch from here!" 

Your glory 
was so close, 
so unknowable 
except by peripheral vision... 
but now you have become 
Immanuel, 
God with us! 

And I, girlchild, 
can run into the place 
where you  live 
and, fearless, 
call you "Daddy." 
And you, on  the mercy seat, 
forgive my brazen heart, 
my unawareness of  
your majesty, 
my ignorance of glory 
(pressed down, 
running over). 
You wisely wait to show me 
inklings of the truth 
when I can bear it 
and still come close, 
chosen, set aside for you, 
no curtain now 
between us!

We are free to enter the Holy Place and talk personally to King Yahweh, our Father! It was not that way until Jesus changed the rules.

In 2001 (when I wrote “Coming Close”), Moïse and I were translating Exodus. The construction of the temple brought us multiple challenges as we tried to make the complicated details comprehensible in Nyarafolo. Before that, I had never had to digest how important it was that the place representing the Presence of the Holy One be completely “set apart.” It was literally inaccessible to ordinary people. Only designated priests, washed with water right there at the temple, clothed in prescribed garments hung with bells to announce who they were, and only when they had offered the required sacrifice for sin did they have the right to enter the Most Holy Place behind the curtain—and only at certain times. In Exodus 40 we are told that after the tabernacle had first been set up by Moses, not even Moses  could enter when the glory of Yahweh descended and filled it, confirming his approval and his Presence.

But when Jesus died, an incredible miracle happened that showed that he truly is the Way to God, the one who gives access to the Holy One. He was suffering on the cross, and creation was definitely reacting:

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Lk. 23:44-46 NIV)

That curtain that separated ordinary people from God’s Presence was torn! His self-sacrifice paid for sin once for all, and now we who have accepted that forgiveness can freely enter his Presence, drawing near to our God and Father! It is because he has made us “holy,” consecrated, set apart for him.  A new way into the Most Holy Place has been created. The author of Hebrews makes this truly explicit:

10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. 11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, 16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” 18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.  (Heb. 10:1 NLT)

That says it all. Let us draw near—go right in—entering freely into God’s Presence whenever we want, delighting in his loving welcome! He is never too busy to receive us. And that applies to us individually and also when we are in a crowd, praying. Ever since the curtain was torn, the one prerequisite is that each person has accepted the complete forgiveness offered to them. So “let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusing him!” There is just one great High Priest, and he is our Abba, “Daddy”!

Did you go in today? He is never too busy to receive you. It is true that his glory as Eternal King is beyond anything we can imagine or handle on our own. But he has made us welcome by Jesus’ sacrifice and our acknowledgement of its essential work on our behalf. What a privilege—not to be neglected or held lightly!

Still Praying

Patience. 
Waiting. 
Longing for movement 
in the mist that blinds us, 
sends us to the corner, 
still praying. 

Patience. 
Loving. 
Putting up with tantrums 
and the obstinate 
stupidities of loved ones, 
still praying. 

Patience. 
Persisting. 
Keeping on in spite of 
constant irritations, worse yet, 
in face of outright pain, 
still praying. 

Patience. 
Hoping. 
Willing to hold on 
to “someday”, over the long haul, 
no short-term gains in sight, 
still praying. 

Patience. 
Trusting. 
Knowing Yahweh to be good 
clear through, coming through 
for me and for his truth. 
Still praying.

Patience. 
Begging. 
Asking him to radiate 
his power into my deep inside, 
so that I can endure. 
Still praying.

Have you been there too? Stuck in a hard spot, begging for help? Deeply concerned for the physical or spiritual well-being of a loved one, crying out for intervention? Scared of the chaos that doesn’t go away in your country, city or church, pleading for resolution?

I wrote this poem over twenty years ago, and I’m still praying for some of the subjects I had in mind.

Whatever our concern, when we realize that divine action is desperately needed, if we believe that our God is King of Everything, we turn to him. Without shame we run to the Throne, throw ourselves down before him, and beg.  It’s called supplication or petition, but I sometimes find those words weak. In some cases I might bring before the King a petition, signed by friends or family or the pastor. But many times I am bowing before him, pleading in desperation.  And not just once; it can go on and on for years.

So does it even matter? Why are we told several times in the Word to practice this kind of prayer? And how can we do it constantly, without stopping?

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Eph 6.18 NIV)

Wow! That certainly is comprehensive:  all occasions, all kinds of prayers, always keeping on praying, for all the Lord’s people! Is that possible to carry out?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Phil 4:6 NIV)

Once again, we are to pray in every situation that hits our anxiety meter, calming it down by begging the King for resolution. Qualification: we are to be giving thanks!  Yes, instead of just “casting our cares” on him, we must remember to thank him for listening to us, for caring enough to let us keep on coming to him with our requests (notice that the word there is “requests,” not “imperative demands”). We are to come with confidence, aware that Abba will receive us and listen, grateful that he loves us and that he is already informed.

We know that because of the Prayer Circle that we contemplated in the last two blogs: the Spirit lives in us and tells Abba God what is going on and what concerns us, presenting our case; Jesus intercedes for us (Heb 7:25) as our advocate (1 John 2:1); the Father loves us and makes his home in us through the Spirit (John 14:23). He is Sovereign, and he will respond in accordance with his good purpose. Because he is the supreme ruler, is completely good, and is love in its true essence, his purpose is often beyond what we can see in our time and space. Much of his purpose is what we are waiting to see happen when he makes all things new, both human believers and this broken world. This is a confident assurance, “hope” that is based on solid truth. That is why the context of how he answers our prayers matters:

25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  (Rom. 8:25–29 NIV)

God’s purpose is that we might be made like his Son, Jesus—fully mature, healthy, completely set apart for him and for what he plans. So we have an excellent reason to pray with patience, hoping and trusting and begging for his gift of strength and understanding of his will so that we can make it to the finish line. That is what Paul said he and his companions were doing:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Col 1:9-12 NIV)

When we are getting to know God more and more intimately, we learn how to live according to his purpose. It is important to see that this is an ongoing process, not a one-time-done job: We are bearing fruit, growing in knowing God, being strengthened, giving thanks. When we are relying on him, walking through life with an inner focus on him, there is natural conversation between us. Obviously, Paul and his coworkers did not blab prayers every minute of every day, although they were “continually” praying for these believers. As Charles F. Stanley puts it:

“First, the apostle did not mean that we should walk around all day mumbling to God. Rather, he taught that we can live in a constant attitude of intercession, even as we go about our daily routines. Of course, some days we’ll pray much more than others. But regardless of the particular items on our ‘to do’ list, we can maintain a natural, ongoing conversation with the Lord that encompasses our whole lives. God has called us to be people of prayer, and regular communication creates intimate fellowship with our Savior. . . When we develop a prayerful outlook, eventually our communication with the Lord becomes our first instinct in every situation — not only when we face a challenge or encounter a difficulty.”[1]

Imagine having a “constant attitude of intercession”! It could be like this: I hear voices shouting at each other in a house across the street; I pray. I meet up with a friend and am deeply hurt in the conversation; I bring it to my Abba, thanking him for consoling me when he reminds me that Jesus was insulted many times during his life on earth. I have been asking the Spirit to touch someone whose heart is closed to following Jesus, and they post yet one more thing on social media that shows their rigid stance; I bring it to the Prayer Circle and beg for intervention, thanking the Father that there is still an open relationship between me and that person. I am cooking a birthday cake for a grandchild and pray for their growth in their faith, thanking the Lord that they have already asked to be baptized.

That is how I want it to be! This is how the Word is speaking to me. May prayer be a “first instinct” in each situation!

It takes practice. It takes staying on alert as well as in communication with the Lord. One way I have found to practice it is to turn my morning walk into more than counting my steps; it has become a prayer walk too—praying for neighbors, the neighborhood, friends who come to mind, family, and thanking the Creator for all the flowers and trees. Mundane tasks can be turned into opportunities for thanksgiving and prayer as well. One excellent reminder that has come my way this week is this:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters (Col. 3:23 NIV)

When we can live like that, heart tuned in to this Prayer Circle that is praying for us, the Triune God who is our intercessor and guide, we are walking his Path in the right direction and praying “continually.” May it be so!

[1] From The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, 2nd Edition, NIV, https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/what-does-it-mean-pray-continually/ (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Prayer Circle

I'm not saying 
I will beg the Father 
on your behalf. 
He already loves you. 
When I intercede 
I will be lifting you 
into his lap for blessing, 
or, hearing from the Spirit, 
we will be conversing 
about how much you've grown 
and how to grow you next, 
or I will be offering, as always,
my purity as covering  
for your shame. 

When you have needs 
and come to him 
for answers in my name, 
I will corroborate 
your right to ask 
because you're mine, 
because you love me. 
And our one heart 
will hold you close 
within the circle 
of these prayers. 


This is amazing truth: Jesus prays for me!  Jesus prays for you, too! He intercedes for us, his followers! I am grateful, aware of my minute standing in this huge world. There are so many of us! Add to this the truth I contemplated last week, that the Spirit intercedes for us, and then think of God  himself, Yahweh, responding according to his purpose! I imagine it as a prayer circle as I work at unpacking the united conversation of the Trinity.

When I was a little girl growing up in the mountains of eastern Congo, breakfast with my missionary parents was a treasured moment. After breakfast they would be at work; we kids could run and play with friends, watched over by our Congolese nanny. It was at breakfast that we were together before the day began. They had a little box of Bible verses they wanted me and my younger brother Dwight to memorize. Reviewing them always highlighted one for me:

 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.  (Jas. 4:8 RSV)

I clung to that as I grew up, wanting to know him the way my parents did. I was trying to “draw near,” often wondering if I was making progress. A.W. Tozer wrote about this in The Pursuit of God, a library book I read as a young teen at boarding school. It stirred me deeply. And then as an adult, this truth hit me:

Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25 RSV)

My Lord Jesus is interceding for me! Because of my trust in Jesus, and his intercession showing his awareness of my struggles, I had been drawing near to God, learning increasingly how precious it is to know him better and better. And I knew that there are three persons in the Godhead. This revelation that Jesus would talk to the Father about me, standing up for me and explaining my needs, was a hard one to wrap my mind around. They talk to each other? How about the fact that our Advocate, the Spirit, is interceding for me too?

I began to relish this picture of the Trinity’s ongoing conversation about the believer who is attached to them. It is clear that the Spirit lives in that person to teach them how to live, to comfort them with his presence now that they are joined to God:

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever– 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you . . .25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  (Jn. 14:16-10, 25-26 NIV)

Jesus was painting a spiritual picture for his disciples: he is in the Father; the disciple is in Jesus (so he’s in the Father too), and Jesus is in the disciple through his Spirit living them. The Spirit helps them and intercedes for them:

 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Rom. 8:26,27 NIV)

I was contemplating that precious work of the Spirit in me, in us, last week in this blog. And I thought: yes, I will go on working through the inter-communication within the Trinity that is revealed to us, with Jesus interceding for us too. What a delight it was to go to church on Sunday and hear my pastor—my brother Brent Slater—circle through his explanation of Hebrews 13:8 to include this very truth that Jesus is, forever, our intercessor! He always intercedes, and never changes:

Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25 RSV)

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb. 13:8 NIV)

He made it clear that we future believers were also the focus of his prayer:

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, (Jn. 17:20 NIV)

He specified that the Holy Spirit is our Advocate, (John 14:26), and his disciple John underlined that Jesus is our advocate too:

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father– Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (1 Jn. 2:1 NIV)

This should not stun us—it just fleshes out the meaning of the unity of the three Persons who are one God. Jesus wanted his disciples to understand this, and I am deeply grateful that he used his disciple John to share with future believers those truths about their unity and its deep importance for us.  His own words, handed down to us by John in John 14-17, explain that Jesus and his Father are “one,” living in each other. Jesus’ words came with authority from the Father, and the Father was doing his work through Jesus:

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. (Jn. 14:10 ,11 NIV)

A bit later he made it clear that he would be sending the Spirit to live in them, and all that he would communicate to them internally would also be coming through the Trinitarian line, from the Father and Jesus to the Spirit:

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (Jn. 16:12-15 NIV)

Jesus’ words of comfort and revelation to his loved ones were sealed for us in his prayer to his father, which closes that passage. A key theme is, again, this “oneness,” a unity of persons. He prayed:

 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. (Jn. 17:11 NIV)

What a model of unity we are called to live up to: that constant unity that circles communication through the Spirit and Jesus and the Father! It is true that we can only do this through the power of God. His name represents the truth about him:  Yahweh means “the one who is.” He always has been and always will be. The way Pastor Brent put it in English, he is the “is-ing one”. And Jesus (whose name means “Yahweh saves”) is one with him, and the Spirit is their envoy to us, living in us.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (Jn. 14:23 NIV)

He said that he and the Father would come to his follower and make their home in that person. And how do they do that? They send their Spirit, the Spirit of truth:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever– 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (Jn. 14:16 NIV)

What a wonder this is! When we turn to God and come to him through Jesus, cleansed from our wrong-doing, he wants us to develop right understanding of his truth, but also to grow in our fellowship with him. When you live with someone all the time, especially in a place as intimate as inside us (where nothing is hidden, and all our thoughts and emotions are communicated), you get to know each other and a deep friendship grows. Trust and companionship lead to living out what has been agreed on. The fellowship of the Trinity is like that, as in the prayer circle (described in the opening poem).

He gave us family as an image of what this could be like: a husband and wife who become one, unified, and children who grow up loved by their parents. Our problem is that we are broken and the image we pass on can send the wrong message. When it is union with God—with the Father, Son, and Spirit—we can grow constantly in our experience of this fellowship. And as we come closer and closer to him, he will keep on coming closer and closer to us. He longs for us to know him and be part of that wonder, that unity. In order for that to happen we need to dedicate ourselves to it:

And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart. 20 “I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony, 21 that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. (Jn. 17:19-21 NET)

Most English translations of what Jesus said here say “I sanctify myself . . .so that they may sanctify themselves,” or else they use the word consecrate. All these words mean that God’s people must be “set apart” for God’s purpose, just as the priests were in order to serve and worship in the temple, where their furniture and tools were also “set apart” for that purpose. When we dedicate ourselves to follow Jesus, to draw near to the Father and to communicate with him through the Spirit by praying in Jesus’ name (John 14:13,14) and obeying his commands (John 14:23), then we can be “one” with God.

This then makes it possible for all those who are deeply attached to him this way to be one with each other, as well. May it be so!

I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one– (Jn. 17:22 NIV)

The Spirit Presents My Case

I know how you could work this out, Lord—

bringing some particular pressure to bear,

inserting in their mind this realization,

convicting them of sin and errors.

But you have not been taking my advice!

My hours in prayer, my carefully concocted plots,

have seemed to come to nothing, just so much

dust in light beams, dissipating, gone.

I’m growing a suspicion that you’ve smiled

at my smart strategies, my wishful webs,

seeing through them to the driving underlying

heartthrob in each one, the true main thing.

And, Spirit interceding for each need, each goal,

you’ve been about your business all along,

accomplishing your purposes your way,

working in each instance for my good!

Once more I’ve had an inkling of  

your crisis management, the way you draw on

resources I can’t know about, can’t work into my plans.

Who has ever told you something new, unknown?

Who has clarified your thinking, made you wise?

My Father, once again I’m mesmerized  

by how you do your weaving, subtle but intense,

and in your timing wisely work things out—

not always how I thought you would,

but you do give me strength when I am weak.

I hear you urging me to watch and wait. Your Spirit

guides, consoles me, tells you what is at stake.

The interconnectedness of the Trinity is a truth that changes everything for those of us who are attached to our God. He made us and watches over us, he is with us always, he lives in us, and at the same time he rules the universe. He rescued us fallen humans by becoming human and dying for us, but lives forever, and never left his throne while accomplishing that plan. He then made a way for us to have constant comfort and guidance and also instant access to his throne: his Spirit lives in each of his children. He coaches us, and consoles us when we are hurting. But as part of the Trinity, he also communicates instantly with God the Father; they are always on the same wavelength, with nothing ever interrupting them.

We humans are made “in his image” (Genesis 1:27). We have a physical aspect and a spiritual one, and our mind and “heart” work together, each majoring on certain tasks. But we are each one person. The different parts of our person work together.

Imagine we could witness the intercommunication happening in our own person:

My eyes see a post or an action, my heart leaps in compassion or anxiety, my mind thinks: how on earth can I take care of this? what should I do? respond? intervene?, my spirit cries out to Yahweh: Abba, help! Then, I respond as I am guided: I speak words out loud or write them and send/post them, or else wait in silence as I’ve been told to do. Depending on what happened my arms may reach out to act.

Thinking this through helps me understand better the astonishing revelation that the Holy Spirit, living in us, is actually our Advocate. He presents our case, our petition, to the Judge and pleads on our behalf—but does it in a way aligned with that Ruler’s will. He knows the Lord’s ultimate purpose and how that applies in the moment. He also  knows the supplicant’s need and what is really at stake so is advocating for their good.

This is the Scripture that most clearly explains the process:

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Rom. 8:26-29 NIV)

There are moments when we turn to our Lord and cry out for him to intervene, but are at a loss when it comes to seeing how our prayer could actually be answered. We find ourselves pleading, babbling. What we are unaware of is that the Spirit living in us is reinterpreting our petition and passing it on to the Father in a way that we cannot hear (passionately, without words), but he communicates the true need of the pray-er as understood by the One who directs all things for the good of his children. And that person, Yahweh, is searching our hearts to connect with the Spirit and hear what’s up.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Rom. 8:27 NIV)

And his ultimate purpose is that we become like Jesus. That is not usually our focus when we cry out in desperation. We want a certain outcome in this world. A mother praying for her wandering child wants to see them choose the Way, the Truth and the Life rather than the call of the culture or their wrong desires. When a man’s wife is severely injured in an accident he desperately wants to see her healed. When a conflict between factions erupts in war in a person’s country, they cry out for peaceful resolution and personal protection.

So what if the answer does not come right away, or the way they thought it would? That is one of our toughest struggles, waiting longer, or accepting a different outcome than what we longed to see. Our one solid comfort is knowing that we are loved by the Sovereign, and have direct communication with him at all times because of this union with him: his Spirit inhabiting us and advocating for us. We are never cut off from God. He is never unaware of our prayer, or of our weakness or need when we cannot even articulate a prayer.

He is for us, he is not against us. He is completely good, and he is love. He loves us with unending love that has no limits. Because of that, he wants us to grow beyond our current frailties into completely healthy strong sons and daughters like his Son, Jesus. Looking at it that way, our response must be to trust him. We don’t need to be afraid to let him know what we are dealing with and what we long to see happen—he wants us to tell him, at least to open ourselves to him when we cannot find words. The Spirit will interpret what is in our hearts and communicate it. We can run to him with gratitude because he always listens, his purposes for us are excellent, and he is our loving Abba. These truths allow us to be glad we have this close relationship with him, no matter what else we are dealing with:

Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16 NIV)

Prayer When Wiped Out

I admit it: I’m wiped out. 
Not enough sleep? Too much stress? 
Constant distractions? Deadlines? 
Whatever it is, you remind me: 
you restore my soul, my life, 
my being: me, who I am. 
Your Spirit breathes calm words 
into my consciousness, 
pumps gracious serum of truth 
into my arteries. I breathe. 
And you fill my inner being 
with the fact that you here. 
And where you are, there is health. 
there is health. And love.  
I let go and listen. 

Your essence of purity dissolves 
the clinging dirt accumulated 
by walking this narrow path 
surrounded by garbage. 
Your serenity speaks peace 
inside the swirling mist 
of multiple concerns, responsibilities. 
The reminders of who you are 
(most powerful of all, High King, 
my friend and my dear Abba) 
crumples my fears into a wad 
of inconsequential papers 
to throw away, knowing that 
if you keep track of each gray hair 
that leaves my head each morning, 
you also know about these things. 
And care. And you are good— 
all good. It is enough.

You’ve been there too—in those moments when a concatenation of tough stuff leaves you feeling wiped out. One of the best ways to deal with it is to remember that you are not alone! If you have entered God’s Family, you have become “united” with him, “one” with him. Yes, it’s hard to understand. But our Lord Jesus himself promised that he would not leave us alone. No! He would come to us, living in us through his Spirit:

Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever– 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you.  (Jn. 14:16-18 NET)

He is our eternal Advocate! There is a lot of discussion about how to translate this special name for the Spirit, “paraclete” in the Greek. English doesn’t have one word with all of the meaning wrapped in the Greek word, so we get “Comforter” or “Counselor” or “Helper” or “Advocate”. According to the Oxford Languages Dictionary, an advocate is “a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.” Similar words cited are champion, upholder, supporter, backer, promoter. I like understanding it that way, especially “upholder.”

The main thing to hold onto is that the Spirit does all that is connoted by these titles, comforting and counseling and helping us. And he lives in us. We don’t have to call him in his office and make an appointment. That makes all the difference.

Jesus also said that we “know him”!  How does that happen? Well, when someone lives with you and you are in the same family, you talk to each other—especially when you are in a love relationship. You share delights and concerns. If you don’t, you pass like shadows on a sidewalk. Your relationship is a legal one, but not at all personal or intimate. So to know the Spirit we need to pay attention to him and interact with him. He may be the one to address us about something, prompting us to take action or change an attitude. When we download our concerns, he hears; we need to listen to his response.

For me his answer is usually a reminder of promises or commandments in the Word. When I wrote my “wiped out” conversation above, I needed to take time away from the distractions that were wearing me out. I listened, and was restored, because I knew I was not alone; instead, deep inside I was being reminded that the King of the Universe, my Rescuer, was taking care of me. He has promised to be with me, and explained that his Spirit would be constantly living in me, at work in me.  I could feel the distresses being swept into a dustpan and thrown out. I knew that he had been there, aware, every stressful moment. Nothing I was saying was new to him, but he wanted me to confide in him. No detail escapes him, and I was reminded:

Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. (Matt. 10:30 NET)

I lose a bunch of hairs into my brush every  morning! What attention he pays to his own, knowing even how many there were! So, do I pay attention to him and all the comfort and counsel he gives? It has to be a two-way street to be a real relationship.

When I was growing up as a missionary kid, I loved participating in the regular “singspirations” that the local mission team would have. A hymn that my mom always wanted us to sing became one that often melts into my “inner jukebox” when I’m walking in the early morning:

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.[1]

When as a young teen at boarding school I began that early morning search for quiet outdoors, I would hum it. And I wondered what it meant to Mom, especially that shared joy that “none other has ever known.” Knowing Mom and her encouragement to us to spend time with the Lord, I think these words communicate that it was an intimate relationship, his with his Lord, so personal that others could not know it the way he did—yet they could be having their own personal relationship that was precious to them. Just private, interior, and treasured by each one.

Recently I was struck deeply by this farewell blessing that Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14 NIV)

Jesus’ grace, the way he gave me a gift I in no way deserve—salvation—is a precious truth. So is the love of God, shown in so many ways by the One whose very essence is love. But how about the “fellowship of the Holy Spirit”? I meditated on that as I walked outdoors one morning, and felt a strong reference to the deep relationship I have with this person who lives in me, listens to me, and prompts me to move in ways that matter. So do you, each one of you who knows him.

But when I looked up the verse in commentaries I found lots of discussion about the meaning of that last phrase about the fellowship of the Spirit. It could refer to this intimate relationship that a true believer has with the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus,  the Holy Spirit who lives in them. It could also refer to the fellowship that believers have with each other because they are each inhabited by the Spriti. I appreciate the voices that approve both meanings, and explain the order of the names of the Trinity with their attributes in that verse in 2 Corinthians 13:14 like this commentary does:

The closing call for God’s blessing is especially significant because it is the only place in the NT where God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are explicitly mentioned together in such a blessing. Paul highlights the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 8:9), the love of God (supremely demonstrated in reconciling the world to himself in Christ; cf. 5:18–21) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (i.e. participation in the Holy Spirit through being his temple and participation in the fellowship of believers created by him).[2]

Yes, both kinds of fellowshiip are key facets of believers being the home residence of the Spirit! Again, the Oxford Languages Dictionary gives a definition of “fellowship” that can strengthen how we understand it: “friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests.”

The Spirit is in us to unite us with our Father and Savior, and keep us guided according to his purposes, as well as comforted when we need it. We need to interact, to take advantage of this relationship. When we are together with another true believer, we are bonded together by our faith and commitment to our Lord. We’ve got to remember this and work towards more mutual acceptance and understanding—our differences should not divide us:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Col. 3:12 NIV)

Sometimes this may seem impossible—way too idealistic. But it depends on whether we try to live up to the Family standards that we’ve been given. When we put up with each other like this, with forgiveness and gentleness, we can maintain a harmonious and mutually respectful relationship. We have fellowship through the Spirit who lives in each of us. At the same time, we have this very personal interaction with God’s Spirit, with the benediction that comes from his ongoing work in us. It does take humility, compassionate patience and receptivity to what the Spirit communicates.

What a gift! We are never alone, and always have access to the Throne. Our Advocate is intimately connected to us, living in us, counseling us. Pentecost was the beginning of the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to never abandon us. That means that even our “normal” days are spent with him—not only crises when we cry out for help.

This is our daily, moment by moment, source of peace, restoration, and guidance. Thank you, Lord Jesus, Father and Holy Spirit!

[1] Charles A. Miles

[2] Colin G. Kruse, “2 Corinthians,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1205.

What Started at Pentecost

Filled! Not once, but forever! 
He came to me to live in me, 
to stay, always. 

He is the one who gives me power 
to do the work God planned for me— 
each day, his way. 

It started out at Pentecost, 
a day that changed the world, when he 
filled the disciples 

so that they could explain his truth 
to everyone, from anywhere, 
his Word understood! 

And now I know that he will show 
where I should go, who needs to know 
essential truth. 

I may not speak their language yet, 
but he empowers his messenger 
to learn, to grow. 

And he will make a way. He is 
always seeking the lost, his love 
always reaching.

If you know me, you can hear my testimony in those words. The Lord sent me to the Nyarafolo people, whose language was not yet written down. The prospect of learning it, figuring it out, was truly daunting. In fact most of our advisors told us not to try—the people were resistant to the Good News, they said, and there were other jobs we could do. But the Master had made the calling clear, and we persisted. Looking back, I am amazed that we held on to this goal. It had to be a particular plan of the Lord, one he empowered us to do. My husband was given one year to learn it, then was needed at the hospital. I was able to continue.Through the years he sent the helpers I needed, and opportunities for more linguistic training. When a few Nyarafolos expressed their interest in knowing Jesus, it became clear that we needed access to God’s Word in their language in order to teach them. So many of the concepts that are key to the Good News were absolutely new to them. Yet the Lord had prepared the way, and now they have two-thirds of the Bible, the rest is in process, and churches are growing!

That was all his plan, not one any of us foresaw. That was his Spirit continuing what began at Pentecost: filling believers so that people of every language group in the world could someday know about him and his love for them!

This purpose is not just for “missionaries.” Maybe you have not been one he chose to send to another country, to another language group. But he does want each one of his loved ones to be ready to share the truth across cultural and ethnic boundaries. Who has he put in your path who is an immigrant, or from a different racial group or social strata than you? Each one of us needs to be awake, ready to reach out, because our Lord himself made this a priority.

Today Moise, my Nyarafolo coworker and I, just finished translating the book of Isaiah into Nyarafolo! (We are working long-distance, via the internet!) And in that last chapter I have noticed something that escaped my attention before. Lord Yahweh has explained that he is is aware that people are worshiping false gods. Nevertheless, he has a plan:

This is the LORD’s declaration. 18 “Knowing their works and their thoughts, I have come to gather all nations and languages; they will come and see My glory.  (Isa. 66:17b CSB)

At Pentecost, this plan was made clear when suddenly 3,000 people from many nations, who were visiting Jerusalem for the celebration of the Feast of Weeks, suddenly could understand each in their own language the truth being shared with them. Now it was being underlined for the disciples that God’s plan for the nations was taking off. Jesus had told them in his final words:

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 1 (Acts 1:7-9 NIV)

I am learning rich insights from a book I just ran across:  Unlocking the Secrets of the Feasts: The Prophecies in the Feasts of Leviticus, by Michael Norten. He explains the history and meaning of the feasts from Scripture and from his interviews with messianic rabbis as well as rabbis in Israel. Since we just finished the season during which the Jews celebrate the four spring feasts, let me just share his summary of some key connections between them and the way God was fulfilling their purposes.

The Feast of Passover was a time to remember the slaying of the Passover lamb as the Israelites were being freed from slavery in Egypt. The prophetic message that it held was fulfilled by the Son of God, Jesus, who gave his life to ransom anyone who would accept his gift of freedom (pp. 37,40). His death even occurred at the time of day that Passover lambs were being sacrificed at the Temple (p. 22).

The Feast of Unleavened Bread follows the Passover; the first day is a remembrance of the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai, laws that were given to make it clear that all of us break God’s laws—we are sinful. Leaven stood for sin. Therefore this feast teaches “the concept of being in fellowship with the Lord” (p.17), being purified. As Paul wrote to believers:

Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch– as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor. 5:7 NIV)

Then there is the Feast of Firstfruits, tied to the harvest of barley. It occurred during the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on the day after the weekly Sabbath, and that is when the Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead (cf. Luke 24:1-3)! His resurrection is tied to the “firstfruits” (p. 28)in ways that I did not previously understand. This is how Paul explained it:

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (1 Cor. 15:20–23 NIV)

Then there is the Feast of Weeks, that we know as Pentecost (fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits). This time the Jews were to bring to the Lord two loaves of bread, baked with leaven! Messianic rabbis told Norten that this bread now refers “to God’s people who receive the law and the Spirit,” (p. 36), both Gentiles and Jews. The Spirit purifies us, and we are now acceptable offerings to God. He descended visibly, with signs and wonders, at that Pentecost recounted in Acts 2, fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead at the Feast of Firstfruits! (pp. 40,41).

I love these connections that make clear God’s purpose to us as Gentile and Jewish believers today, in those historic feasts. We are now filled with the Spirit and empowered by him to do what God has planned for us, and to know his love that is so wide and deep that it reaches out to all people:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge– that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Eph. 3:16-21 NIV)

Yes, he can do more than all we ask or imagine! He has empowered me to participate in reaching the Nyarafolo, learning a language that is incredibly complex and challenging, working with his people there to bring the Word to them in their mother tongue. This is the God who is love, who loves all people, who gives us his Spirit to live in us and work through us. This gift is for each one of us who belongs to him. Amazing love! Amazing grace!

So, guided and empowered by the Spirit, let’s each do what he gives us to do!

Like Windsocks

Breath of God, 
caressing my soul 
with silk much  
lighter than air, fluid, 
warm from your mouth... 

Breeze of God, 
animating, 
stimulating growth 
and action, whipping 
up joy in the morning... 

Wind of God, 
blowing strongly 
out of Eden! 
Trees and humans bow 
before you, praising you... 

Gale-force winds, 
hurricanes, tornadoes, 
wrath of God?? 
His cleansing breath?? 
(Not for trifling with!) 

We study you, 
know reasons, 
consequences, but 
we cannot tell when, 
how you will come next... 

Like windsocks, 
we wait, are lifted 
by your Spirit, showing 
who you are to watchers, 
and where you are at work. 


“We are like windsocks”! We can only reveal the truth about who God is, who our Rescuer and Lord Jesus is, by being filled with his breath: his true Spirit. That breath pours life into bodies and brings empowerment to those who believe in Jesus.  Then, like windsocks, our lives can show how he is at work—the windsock cannot hang limp when the wind is blowing into it! It is easy to write these words, but they require much digging into.

In many churches all over the world, this past Sunday was celebrated as Pentecost, the day that the Holy Spirit was given to Christ-followers in a powerful new way that could not be missed. He had been present before, showing up in the Old Testament to work through various prophets and chosen servants., as well as active in the whole implementation of the incarnation and Jesus’ ministry. But now he was filling these believers with the ability to speak in other languages so that the Good News could be understood by all the people who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Weeks, also called Pentecost (from the Greek name, “fifty” weeks after Passover). The disciples that were gathered together received this awesome gift, all at the same time. The group included the eleven disciples, the women who had followed Jesus, Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers, and other believers—about 120 in all! Then a crowd gathered to try to figure out what was going on; it was made up both of Jews and of converts to Judaism, and no matter what their native language was, they understood the Message. Peter explained it in detail and about 3,000 believed and were baptized (see Acts 1:12-2:41)! They all received the gift of the Spirit as well.

From that time on, being filled with the Spirit accompanied each new conversion and baptism that was done in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit. It was definitely a key moment in the building of Jesus’ Church, his Family. They obeyed Jesus’ command and took the Good News to Gentiles who did not yet know about him. He had said:

therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matt. 28:19 NIV)

So why does this historic event get ignored in some of our Bible-preaching, truly solid churches? I think one reason is a lack of appreciation for its importance. It was a key moment when the Spirit’s indwelling of true believers was made visible as well as God’s desire to reach across all language barriers. Another thing that seems to hold some back is a reaction to “Pentecostal” believers who have gone to extremes, preaching that a person only has the Spirit if they have spoken in tongues.

I wondered about this myself when I was a teenager, truly devoted to Jesus and longing to grow deeper spiritually. I was a missionary kid at a boarding school attended by kids from other missions as well, some of which were more charismatic than our Baptist one. My questioning reached a critical point when a guest speaker at our mission’s annual field conference was a pastor from one of those missions, filling in for the one originally invited who had had to cancel. One day he offered to pray specifically with anyone who came forward for prayer for healing, empowerment, whatever. I watched the line grow long. Then when it was finishing I turned to Dad, sitting beside me, and told him I wanted to go ask for prayer to be filled with the Spirit. He nodded and accompanied me. I knelt before the pastor and told him my desire. He laid his hands on my head and prayed aloud.

I waited, then felt a new kind of peace filling my heart, and there was an almost audible Voice that spoke to me: “Hon, you already have me!”  I knew it was true! I stood up, thanked the pastor, and went away happy.

What Jesus had said about the Father’s gift of his Spirit resonates:

Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Lk. 11:11 NIV)

I had been asking, begging my Lord to help me to know him better. He had heard and had been at work. I just had not had that name for it: being “Spirit-filled”!

About 8 years later I was with a woman friend very dear to me, a sister in Christ whose faith was dynamic. She asked me if I had ever really experienced being filled with the Holy Spirit—I knew that she spoke in tongues, and suspected that she wanted to be sure I had as well. When I told her about that prayer event when I was fifteen, she just smiled and became silent.

It has been through study of the Word that I’ve learned that the Spirit comes to dwell in us when we truly believe, but we need to let him do his work in us—producing fruit that comes through his Presence:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.  (Gal. 5:22 NIV)

And there are other gifts that equip us to do the ministry our Lord has chosen for us. We form a body, with different parts having different responsibilities and capabilities. He makes sure that the body can be healthy, fully equipped:

But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?  (1 Cor. 12:1 24-30 NIV)

Not every believer speaks in tongues! It is up to the Spirit to determine the way gifts are distributed:

 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Heb. 2:1 NIV)

However, we are truly wrong to ignore or minimize the essential truth that God sends his Spirit to dwell in us. We need him!  That is why Jesus told his disciples that he would not be leaving them alone, ever—he would be sending them the Counselor or Advocate:

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (Jn. 14:25-26 NIV)

And then later, he underlined the unity of God the Father, the Son and the Spirit.

13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”  (Jn. 16:1 NIV)

So to know the truth more and more deeply, we must be receiving instruction from the Spirit. And all three Persons of the Godhead are One, a perfect unity that we are all invited to portray. Jesus’ prayer tells us more than we can fully understand, but we need to believe it and open ourselves to it. He made sure that what he was saying was not just for those disciples present with him:

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one– 23 I in them and you in me— so that they may be brought to complete unity.  (Jn. 17:1 NIV)

He lives in us through his Spirit. And the unity of Father, Son and Spirit makes it possible for us to also “live in” them! I appreciate the NIV Study Bible’s explanation of how we can “live in” God: It is that organic connection that Jesus had just laid out for them, the image of the Vine and it fruitful branches. When we believers are firmly attached to God, we are strengthened to produce the fruit that he desires. A key part of that is demonstrating unity, attachment to each other through love.—we are all branches attached to the same Vine. And the Spirit produces love in us, an essential element (1 Corinthians 13).

We’ve dug up a lot of rich soil here! There is more to think through. But this week, let’s take Jesus’ instruction seriously and let his Spirit infuse us with what we need to accomplish his purposes, in unity with him. With the Breath of God in us, we can actually be like windsocks, blowing in the direction that he wills, revealing his work to others.

As Jesus said to Nicodemus, talking about a person who is born again:

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”  (Jn. 3:8 NIV)

Pentecost reminds us that this is for all who truly believe. As he breathes in us, bringing health and guidance, our lives should be indications of his indwelling work in us!

Shout the Joy!

I love you, Lord, my joy, 
not for all you give 
but who you are-- 
and yet your gifts 
drench me in kindness. 
Each one speaks 
the soundless words 
of a true lover 
delighting in the search 
for ways 
to slip his message to me. 
Joy wraps my moments, 
weaves into my days. 

Lights:   
candle flickers, lamp glow, 
liquid moonlight, firefly stars, 
sunbeams shafting into gold, 
fires in my husband's eyes 

Music:  my child's new song, 
mesmerizing balophones, 
rippling jazz, endless possibilities 
of tones and rhythms, harmonies 

Laughter: slapdash wordplays, 
comic kittens, shared delight, 
incredible good news 
spilling over into shouts 

Shouts of joy, indeed, 
the psalmist said, would be  
our true response to wonder. 
We mostly miss our cues, 
I know. 
The days grind on, 
our senses thickly cushioned 
against pain 
but also joy, 
for fear 
that it will prove 
capricious, 
all too transient, 
seducing suckers 
into silly passion. 
The world stays 
dressed in gray 
this safer way. 

But I am sight-starved 
for Reality. Wash 
the windows clean, Lord! 
Laser the lenses 
of my soul 
until I see truly 
all the love notes 
left for me 
in hidden places 
and right under 
my nose. 

May I hope in you, 
not in the sense 
of "maybe" 
but "I know," 
and freely gather joy 
until, heaping,  
these extravagant 
provisions overflow 
and bathe the hurts 
around me 
with healing balm. 

And so, Lord, may 
the inevitable gray 
be streaked with light 
in radiant jewel colors, 
swirled with melodies 
and pulsing rhythms, 
and always punctuated 
by clear laughter 
turning gladly into 
shouts of joy! 

Do you sometimes wake up to a new day but find joy elusive? That happens to me. Sometimes I know what is heavy on my heart. Other times it is just a kind of overwhelming fatigue. Whatever it is, how can I obey this command:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Phil. 4:4 NIV)

A few days ago I realized that I needed to shift my focus from my worries to my Lord and his blessings. Finding this poem that I wrote 23 years ago reminded me of how that practice changed things for me during a very tough time. I needed to shift my thinking to what he had given me to enjoy, to notice his creative handiwork and the loving essence of his character.

So today I began that same process while on my morning walk. What did I see? Green grass. Flowering bushes. Sunlight gilding the artistically crafted gray clouds covering it until it found a crack to break through. Young squirrels chasing each other up a tree. A pheasant calling from a rooftop. Dark violet irises blossoming in my yard and down the street.

And indoors, a hot shower and my favorite breakfast of homemade granola, nuts, fruit and yogurt. Glenn busy at work on the first-floor extension, preparing to put in the insulation. My computer working well, waiting for me to come work on Nyarafolo Bible translation with my coworker over there in Ferkessédougou, the Internet making it possible. Digging into Isaiah’s rich poetry with him.

When I count my blessings like this, joy rises. The joy of the Lord is always available; he has given us his Spirit who gives joy even when times are hard:, when we listen to his message, first the Good News of rescue, then also the blessings of knowing him: 

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. (1 Thess. 1:6 NIV)

Even Jesus was filled with joy by the Holy Spirit during his ministry when he took note of how God was at work:

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. (Lk. 10:21 NIV)

So let’s remember to wake up to his Presence, his goodness, his creativity, and find joy. I am constantly challenged by the many times in the Word it is mentioned that there are “shouts of joy.” Most of us don’t do that in our culture—some of us are learning! Why should we shout out our joy? 

The first reason that comes to mind is the focus of Psalm 65 on praise to the God who answers prayer, who fills his people with the good things of his house—this is the joy of connecting with him in worship. Then he also details wonders in creation like the mountains, dawn and sunset, rain, produce for food, water in streams and the glory of grasslands. Even the meadows “shout for joy” and sing (v.13). So shouldn’t we?

And there is that hidden treasure in Psalm 23:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Ps. 23:5 NIV)

My cup overflows with his blessings! Included in those blessings is his provision of joy. We just need to be open to it and let the Spirit pour it in. When it overflows, that joy can bless others too. You can notice the gilded clouds of sunrise and share the wonder with a friend. You delight in the abundance of fruit from your tree and share it with a neighbor. You find out your hibiscus bush is blooming and shout out in wonder. You see the cross-stitched cross your daughter made for you, now a precious encouragement by your desk, and feel gratitude. Joy! Even if it is not “shouted” vocally, your heart can leap and express the message.

And when the news headlines make your spirits drop, these reminders can lift them up:

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the LORD. Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples with equity. (Ps. 98:4-9 NAU)

This also reminds me of songs that have strengthened me on my journey, like this one by Richard Blanchard:

Like the woman at the well, I was seeking
for things that could not satisfy.
And then I heard my Savior speaking—
“Draw from my well that never shall run dry!”
Fill my cup, Lord,
I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.   

Living water, Spirit-inspired joy: this leads to shouts of joy in my heart and sometimes out loud, an overflow that can bless others!






































































































































































He Holds My Right Hand!

You hold my hand, Lord, always: 
King of this whole world, you lead me, 
making my right hand your chosen tool 
so that each act becomes 
a holy service 
in your master plan. 

You hold my hand, you love me: 
Lover of my soul, you treasure me 
and nurture every gifting given 
and make each weakness 
a new way 
to intervene with strength. 

You hold my hand, you hold me: 
Father-love that cares for me 
that clears the rubbish from the path 
that grasps me tight 
when gale-force winds 
would sweep me off my feet. 

You hold my hand, you fill me: 
Spirit-love that fills me up 
and squeezes out the selfishness 
so that instead your love and joy 
reach out with grace 
to spread your peace.

Have you ever been in such a tough spot that you were in despair? Were you ever totally discouraged by corruption and violence that was hurting people you cared about? Maybe it wasn’t even that serious, but you were caught between some choices and needed clear guidance about what you should do.

I felt that way when war broke out in Côte d’Ivoire back in 2002, and during the long years following that when rebels held control of the northern region where we lived. They were desperate to maintain power, and there was no rule of law. On the other hand, the government in the south had not been meeting the needs of those in the north for years. The people around us were in a desperate state.

On the other hand, we were seeing our Lord work in us and in his people, challenging us to keep on reaching out in love to each other and to the oppressed around us. I know I could not have managed that hard path unless my Master had given me confidence in his constant Presence, along with guidance every day. That is when it became truly meaningful to me that “he holds me by my right hand:”

Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. 26 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (Psalm 73:23-26 NLT)

I was translating the Pentateuch with my Nyarafolo coworker; when we finished those we moved on to the Psalms. All through those parts of the Old Testament the “right hand” kept coming up, which struck me with new meaning because in the Nyarafolo culture they completely understood its importance. For them, like the Israelites, the right hand is the “good” hand, the one you use for action and for courtesty; the left hand is your dirty hand, used for wiping your nose and other body parts. You only eat with your right hand, the clean hand, not your left hand. This was a challenge for my husband Glenn, who is left-handed, but he learned to comply!

So looking at the occurrences of “right hand” in the Scriptures, I was learning that this was the hand of blessing (Gen. 48:13-18). When it is God’s “right hand,” it is also his hand of power and action (Ex. 15:12,20; Deut. 33:2). Then came the Psalms!  These verses are particularly comforting and meaningful to me:

I constantly trust in the LORD; because he is at my right hand, I will not be upended. (Ps. 16:8 NET)

You give me your protective shield; your right hand supports me; your willingness to help enables me to prevail. (Ps. 18:35 NET)

My soul pursues you; your right hand upholds me. (Ps. 63:8 NET)

. . .because he stands at the right hand of the needy, to deliver him from those who threaten his life. (Ps. 109:31 NET)

The LORD is your protector; the LORD is the shade at your right hand. (Ps. 121:5 NET)

Even when I must walk in the midst of danger, you revive me. You oppose my angry enemies, and your right hand delivers me. (Ps. 138:7 NET)

If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn, and settle down on the other side of the sea, 10 even there your hand would guide me, your right hand would grab hold of me. (Ps. 139:9-10 NET)

And then there is this verse in Psalm 73, that inspired the poem above:

But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. (Ps. 73:23 NET)

I began contemplating what difference it means, that he constantly holds my right hand. That is my hand of action, the one I can use to bless others, meeting needs or giving encouragement. It is the hand symbolizing right action that corresponds with his commands. Of course if I do not follow my Master’s directions, I could use it to hurt others, to do what is wrong. But if I let him hold my right hand and I pay attention to the way he moves it, that will not happen.

I remember the days my dad used to walk with me, holding my hand and keeping me from stumbling, showing me the beauty of nature or cities wherever we were. I remember holding my kids’ hands, keeping them safe so that they would not run out into a street or stumble. That is what God does for us when we are securely attached to him, and therefore we let his love fill us and give us guidance and strength.

That is what Paul was reminding his “son” Timothy about when he wrote to him, urging him to hold tightly to his faith and to courageously share the Good News with others:

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7 NIV)

When we remain attached to God, letting his Spirit fill us and direct us, we then have the power and strength that we need to accomplish whatever he wants us to do. It may be learning a brand new skill, like installing electricity (as in the photo above). It may be passing on what we’ve learned to others through words or by example. And Paul underlines that the Spirit fills us with his love, love that “reaches out with grace” to spread his peace to others. When we are filled with that divine brand of love it does not stay cooped up inside us. It promotes action and overflows for the benefit of others. We are no longer timid, but can push away fear or pride, exercising self-discipline to follow his directions and do just what he wants! The self-discipline part often means that we resolve to follow his lead, not just our own desires.

Thinking back through the truths brought out in the Psalms the imagery of the right hand, when we let God’s right hand take the lead, he keeps us from being upended, he empowers us to “prevail” when faced with challenges beyond our normal strength to deal with. When situations heat up, he is our “shade,” our protection, our safe place. Because he loves his own people, he actually grabs hold of us, wherever we are.

In Psalm 73, the psalmist admits that he was so overwhelmed by the evil around him that he forgot that God was his protection. It wasn’t until he spent time with the Lord that he remembered the truth:

“. . .at the time he was deeply troubled by the prosperity of the wicked and the struggles of the innocent. But a turnaround came when he entered the sanctuary. The sanctuary of God could refer to the tabernacle or the temple, where God made his holy presence known among his people. In other words, the psalmist’s experience of the presence of God recalibrated his perspective. He now realized that present realities are not ultimate realities.”[1]

So then the psalmist wrote:

21Yes, my spirit was bitter, and my insides felt sharp pain. 22 I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was as senseless as an animal before you. 23 But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me by your wise advice, and then you will lead me to a position of honor. 25 Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire no one but you on earth. 26 My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability. (Ps. 73:21-26 NET)

We each need to remember: he is always with us. He holds us! He directs our actions! He fills us with strength and with his love so that we can fulfill his purposes!

[1] Tremper Longman III, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, ed. David G. Firth, vol. 15–16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2014), 276.