Holy Spirit

Hearing God in Daily Activities

Laurie Russell — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:40:36 -0800

I attend a Bible study on Thursdays at our church. We are reading through the Bible and as you can imagine, we have lots of questions. Some of the hard ones that baffle the minds of scholars, others are common to many and a number are based on curiosity alone.

We covered I Chronicles this week when someone asked the question, “Why was David able to hear God’s voice so clearly?” Was it because he and God have a special relationship or was it reserved just for David? Is this something we can have too?

This spurned talk and theories as we tackled the topic - the Holy Spirit – positioning ourselves to hear God – knowing His voice and many other explanations were discussed. But how do you know it’s God’s voice that we are hearing and not our own chatter that rambles around in our head?

We are clear in that the Holy Spirit doesn’t tell us anything that contradicts the Bible but what about the silly little things that happen during the day, like, “Should I stop home and make a ham sandwich for lunch or should I save time and hit a drive-thru in order to begin my errands sooner?

Now this may seem like a frivolous question but it’s the exact one that entered my head after Bible study. In attempt to hear God I did a generic prayer, “God, how’s the best way to use my time?” I didn't hear anything but as I was passing near our home, I felt a “leaning” to make lunch there. But I had a long “to do” list and didn’t want to waste the time “getting out of the car.” (Yep, I wouldn’t have done well in ancient times where I’d have to kill my meal first.) So I chose the easier of the two. I went for fast food.

Now I won’t go into details, though it’s tempting, but let’s just say I had a fender bender that left the front bumper of my little Subaru with a scratch and a small dent on the rear bumper on a Tahoe, meaning…it was my fault. Thankfully it was minor and no one was hurt but as we waited for the police I found myself asking, “God was that ‘leaning’ to stop at home You telling me to go home?” If I had of, I would have avoided a ticket.

I thought another thing we discussed at Bible study. God wants to talk with all of His children. Those who hear Him clearly are often the ones that are focused on Him and know His voice.

In my family life, I want to speak with both of my children. I love them equally. I can have them both sit on the couch in order to tell them something, however, if one of them is looking at the TV, distracted by it, he or she will not hear me as clearly as the one looking at me and focusing on what I’m trying to communicate.

I was distracted by my “to do” list and I chose to tune into it instead of the direction God was giving me. My mishap could have been avoided if I had focused are recognized the "leaning" as God direction. I wouldn’t have interrupted the lady in the other car’s day and I would be $85 richer.

I wrote a similar blog on this recently but the consequences were more serious http://bit.ly/hUAKX7. Here I am dealing with it again. Maybe God is trying to tell me something. Slow down. Look left and right and listen for His voice. He’s trying to tell me which way to go.

Do you ever hear God speak to you in a leaning?

Is it easy or hard for you to trust and follow it?

Call Vignettes- A Series of Surrenders 6

Crissy Brooks — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:36:00 -0800

Not all surrenders happen in a moment. Some surrenders have come over time, as Jesus continues to invite me into a deeper relationship with him. The notion that God interacts with his people directly has fascinated me since I was little. I couldn’t understand what adults meant when they talked about God speaking to them. How did you know it was God and not your own crazy thoughts? What did you have to do for him to talk to you? Should you talk back? I had so many questions about the interaction. In Junior High School I would lie in bed at night and practice hearing from God. I would lie on my back and look up at the ceiling and say, “Lord, I want to hear your voice like adults say you speak to them.” And then I would lie quietly. I would examine each thought that came into my head, “Nope, that was my thought.” “Nope, that was definitely me.” And on and on until I fell asleep.

In those moments looking up at the ceiling my mind often wandered to the events of my Jr. high day- school and soccer practice and time with friends. I remember weeping for my friends, crying out to God for them. I was overwhelmed by a physical pain in my chest, like my heart would burst as I prayed for them. I don’t think I ever heard from God in those moments, but He was forming a love and compassion for my friends, a couple of girlfriends in particular whose families’ lives were really difficult. I came to understand this as a burden for my friends. God gave me a love and care for them that, as a 12 year old, were not in my capacity. I invited them to youth group and camps and prayed with great fervor for these friends. Looking back, I can see now that although the Lord didn’t speak to me directly, he was putting his heart in me, guiding and shaping my life as I sought him.

Like most preteens I was a complete mess of good intentions, attitude and self centeredness. I was so sincere in my desire to know God and so sincere in insisting I knew better than my mother. My already healthy ego was egged on by the youth leaders and family friends who affirmed by abilities as a leader, as a student, and as one with a call of God on her life.

I was everybody’s go to girl. If you needed to welcome a new kid to youth group, ask Crissy. If you needed a camp counselor, ask Crissy. If you needed someone to speak to represent the youth, ask Crissy. Bible study leader, Crissy. I began to think there was nothing I couldn’t do. I began to think they thought there was nothing I couldn’t do so I had better keep at it. I believed them when they said I was capable and I tried it all - all with a sneaking suspicion that all the praise would end if I misstepped. So I didn’t misstep. I did everything right: Took the right classes; had the right friends; did the right activities; listened to the right music; went on the right trips. It was fun and I was a shining star. Then I met Marguerite who was the first person to tell me that I couldn’t do it all..

When our church started early morning prayer gatherings at 6am, Marguerite, the pastor and I were the only ones who showed up. That’s when Marguerite told me there was something I couldn’t do. Marguerite was a wiry old lady who knew how to pray like no one I’d ever met. She told me that I couldn’t go on a mission trip without the Holy Spirit. “You can’t do it. You need the power! We’ve got to pray right now that you get the Holy Spirit before you go to minister. You just can’t do it without the power of the Holy Spirit in you.” I was nervous. And I was worried about the time. It was finals week and I couldn’t be late for school. But in that moment I didn’t know what was worse, telling Marguerite to stop praying or telling my teacher why I was late.

There was no getting out. Marguerite put her hands on me and started praying. “Speak it out,” she’d say. Speak it out. And I began praying, telling the Lord that I wanted all he had for me. I recognized my own inability to minister in power, acknowledging my frailties and desire to see him work miracles. And Marguerite prayed over me. She prayed loud. She prayed in tongues. She prayed earnestly. And she coached me, “lift your hands, speak praise to God, speak out what comes to you.” And I did, quietly at first, I started to speak words I didn’t know but they kept coming and Marguerite’s coaching gave me a boldness to keep on. And then she stopped praying and looked me in the eye, “now you’re ready to go on your trip,” she said.

As I left the church she was still calling out after me, “pray in the car, pray all the time, tell the Lord how much you need him. He will show you what to do. He will give you power. Speak it out…” I prayed with Marguerite for 19 years until she passed away last year. Every time I was with her I was reminded that I am frail and needy, yet God fills me with His Spirit and uses me to do His work in this world. Marguerite lived this truth every day. She was a woman fully surrendered to Jesus and her life continues to compel me to obedience and surrender. Who are the people who have shown you the way of surrender?

Prayer from the Mesa

Crissy Brooks — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:41:00 -0800

This week was our city prayer meeting. A group of us from different sectors gather monthly to seek the peace and prosperity of our city together. This month we were praying for the lonely in our community. We split into small groups and the pastor in my group started it off. "Lord", he prayed, "I'm lonely today." That was as far as he got. He hung his head, unable to continue. We sat in silence for a moment and then I reached out and began praying for my brother. It was as if his sincerity broke open our prayers. From there we prayed for others who may be lonely: single parents, seniors, prisoners, the hospitalized, , those far from home...it just kept going. As we prayed for each one, the Holy Spirit led our prayers, reminding us of others.

As our group prayed I could hear Marguerite, a 92 year old retired minister, begging God for revival. She prays with authority and the familiarity that comes with decades of walking with Jesus. I could hear my mom, in another circle, crying as she prayed and as we finished others commented on how the Holy Spirit guided the time and opened our eyes.

If you walked in you may have seen two dozen people in small circles, heads bowed. What we experienced and believe is happening is that God's Kingdom is coming and will is being done in Costa Mesa as it is in heaven. Who do you join with to seek God for your city? If you are in the Newport-Mesa area of California, come join us the second Wednesday of each month. It is the best work I did all week.

What if Jesus was on Twitter?

John Barry — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:36:50 -0700

Shifting pace stinks. I have been shifting gears far too much recently. And I bet you have too. That is why I think it is crucial that we find a new gear for discussing spirituality. So today, on Twitter’s Follow #Friday (for you Twitter virgins, the # sign is Twitter lingo), I am wondering who we should follow. Who should we look to for hope when gears change, the economy is rearranged, and life is certainly not the same? (Yep, I can rhyme.)

And what if Jesus was on Twitter? Would we Follow #Friday him?

Twitter is with some people all the time—on their iPhone’s and Blackberry’s. Many of these people tell you about everything going on in their lives. If their lives are interesting, or you care a lot about them, that’s pretty cool. Otherwise, it’s a little dull. (Hey, I am just saying it, all of you were thinking it.) I don’t have an iPhone or a Blackberry, so I only Tweet things from the office or home. (I know, I am in the Stone Age.) But before you iPhone users stone me, let me tell you why I don’t have an iPhone.

I have a hard enough time hearing Jesus already. I don’t think I could handle any more noise or distractions in my life. To most people an iPhone is a help; to me it would be a distraction. But if I could follow Jesus on my iPhone, that would be a different story. (Programs that let you study the Bible on your phone are definitely a help in this regard. In fact, I am nearly convinced to get an iPhone because of them.) So, don’t get me wrong, I think iPhones and Twitter are super cool; I am just suggesting that we need boundaries for the sake of our spirituality.

Like iPhones and Blackberrys, Jesus is with us all the time. One of the most powerful elements of Christ coming to earth is the fact that He brings the Holy Spirit. The Spirit then becomes our constant advocate and guide here on earth (John 14:16 –26), while Jesus (as the risen Son of God) is our advocate in heaven (1 John 2:1). If only I kept up with Jesus as much as I do with Twitter. So, here’s my pact. I am going to work at constant prayer, and I hope my suggestion of keeping an eye on the noise in your life will help you to do the same. Shut off the computer and turn off your phone sometime today. Try just listening to God. Because after all, he is a God who often shows up in the silence (1 Kings 19:11 –18).

I also think it is important that we don't forget that like iPhones are here and now—everywhere, all the awful things of this world are also here and now—everywhere. And there is no stimulus package that is going to make the pain go away. No president or senator who can fix us and make us whole. We need to believe in a God who is also here and now—everywhere. We need a God who is living and breathing with every follower of Him. A God who can make us whole. We need to replace sin, distrust, pain, grief and addiction with the Spirit. The Spirit is the great substitute.

What would the world look like if Follow #Friday was about following the leading of the Spirit? What would it look like if in several moments of every day we stopped everything, and made following Jesus the priority? What if we constantly renewed our belief in the Infinite God who is in everything? Drop me a comment and let me know what you think.

Something's Missing

Christianity 101 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:45:46 -0700

One the saddest verses in the Bible concerns the strongest man in the Bible: "But he didn't realize the Lord had left him" (Judges 16:20). In our pursuit of the abundant/full/enjoyable/overflowing life Jesus promises us (John 10:10), we often run full speed along the wrong path, choosing to rely on our own strength and abiltities--like Samson did--rather than the Lord's.

You'll remember that when Samson was captured by the Philistines, he was tied up, his eyes were gouged out, and he was put to work grinding grain. In other words, he lost his power, he lost his vision, and life for him was a grind. Samson's condition describes how many of us feel as rely on our own power rather than the Lord's. We stumble around, searching for the abundant life that seems to elude us. We have no spiritual power, we have no spiritual vision, and our life is a grind.

The bottom line is that something's missing, and it's no small thing. The "something" is the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus as the guarantee that he will give us the abundant life he promised (Ephesians 1:14). A passionate Christian life will seem like a myth if we depend on our own strength. By contrast, allowing the Holy Spirit to flourish in our lives will bring us vision, power, and purpose.

It's not that we've been totally ignorant of the Holy Spirit. We know that the Holy Spirit indwells all believers who put their trust in Jesus. And we know that in principle the Holy Spirit stays with us for good (Ephesians 1:13-14). But we have gradually become indifferent to his power in our lives and instead have chosen to gut through the Christian faith experience on our own. We've been depriving ourselves of the essence of what the Holy Spirit offers: divine strength and guidance.

The Holy Spiri may not "leave" us in the sense that we "lose" our salvation (although some may argue differently), but on a practical level, the effect is the same. When we live the Christian life in our own strength, it's as if the Lord has left us.

We aren't lacking information about the Holy spirit; we are simply living without his input. We are searching for spiritual meaning and purpose on our own, ignoring all the while that God is waiting patiently for us to rely on his Holy Spirit to guide us in the search and bring us into the passionate faith we so desperately desire.

God in the Salami: The Fine Line Between Faith and Fantasy

Joan Ball — Sat, 09 May 2009 20:04:38 -0700

I came across a funny story earlier this week...

A South Florida woman said she was cooking fried salami when she noticed the word "GOD" on the meat, Miami television station WFOR reported. Nancy Simoes said she had three pieces in a skillet and flipped one of them and saw the letter G. "Then got the O and I thought to myself how cool will it be if the third letter was a D."

Simoes realizes people may think she's crazy. "I can't make this up. ... it's there in the burn marks." For 20 years, her family has enjoyed fried salami for breakfast. Now Simoes is wondering how she will preserve the "holy" salami.

Martin and I had a good laugh over Nancy and her holy salami. The things people do to get themselves on television, I thought.

But then I thought again.

I’m laughing at poor Nancy. Yet, after years of Christian-bashing atheism, I have come to believe that a creator God allowed the sacrifice of his own son to redeem the sin-fallen human beings He created in His own image...and He did it in order to redeem them back to Himself. As if that’s not enough, I also believe in a holy spirit of God that comforts and counsels me and I seek guidance in the pages of a book that I believe is alive.

Taking off my believer-since-2003 hat and putting on the this-stuff-is-a crutch-for-the-weak-minded hat I wore for the 37 years that preceded my unexpected and unsought conversion, my current beliefs don’t appear to be much different than G-O-D in the salami.

That's why, when I hear my Christian brothers and sisters trying to use logic, reason, traditions and texts to explain a faith that operates in a realm beyond mere logic, I can't help but think their heartfelt and sincere attempts sound a lot like Nancy's claim, "I can't make this up...it's there in the burn marks."

No grand conclusion on this one. Just some observations that I hoped might spark some discussion. Let me know what you think.

Worshipers Before Workers

Nick Bogardus — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:23:51 -0800

4 But when dthe goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, enot because of works done by us in righteousness, but faccording to his own mercy, by gthe washing of regeneration and hrenewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he ipoured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that jbeing justified by his grace we might become kheirs laccording to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7

To teach that the filling with the Holy Spirit is given to the Christian to provide "power for service" is to teach truth, but not the whole truth. Power for service is but one effect of the experience, and I do not hesitate to say that it is the least of several effects. It is least for the very reason that it touches service, presumably service to mankind; and contrary to the popular belief, "to serve this present age" is not the Christian's first duty...

The primary work of the Holy Spirit is to restore the lost soul to intimate fellowship with God through the washing of regeneration...

God wants worshipers before workers; indeed the only acceptable workers are those who have learned the lost art of worship. It is inconcievable that a sovereign and holy God should be so hard up for workers that He would press into service anyone who had been empowered regardless of his moral qualifications...

Gifts and power for service the Spirit surely desires to impart; but holiness and spiritual worship come first.

A.W. Tozer, Tozer on Christian Leadership, February 25th.