Ruach

I found myself digging deep when I read Isaiah 61 today. I ended up reading commentary that explained the original Hebrew definition of Ruach (Spirit). It really opened my eyes to the text. Ruach in Hebrew generally means wind, breath, mind, spirit.

When applied to God, the word Ruach indicates creative activity (Gen 1:2) and active power (Isa 40:13). The Spirit of God also works in providence (Job 33:4; Psa 104:30), in redemption (Ezek 11:19; Ezek 36:26-27), in upholding and guiding his chosen ones (Neh 9:20; Psa 143:10; Hag 2:5), and in the empowering of the Messiah (Isa 11:2; Isa 42:1; Isa 61:1).

That said I began to look at Isaiah 61:1 as The Ruach (wind, breath, mind, spirit) of the sovereign LORD is on me. My prayer today is that I will be sensitive to the Ruach of God in my life....

Isaiah 61

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

Refined

Fall on the Rock and be broken? Seems like a strange thing to pray for, but I find that the more I dig into the Word the more I realize that unless I am broken I can not fully submit my life to God. If I want to be used by him I must hold nothing back and fall on the rock of Jesus. Only then can God refine me..............


Luke 20:17-18

17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone"?

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Refined

Zechariah 13:9 (NIV)

9 This third I will put into the fire;
I will refine them like silver
and test them like gold.
They will call on my name
and I will answer them;
I will say, ‘They are my people,’
and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”

Water

Water that I may thirst no more..............

John 4:13-15 (NIV)

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

Adventuring With Christ

Adventuring With Christ!
This is how my friend Orchidy Boyd ends all of her emails. Every time I read this my heart jumps a bit at the thought of stepping out in faith and taking an adventure with Christ. Orchidy is a missionary based in Laticia Columbia who spends three quarters of her time deep in the jungle of the Amazon living among the Yagua tribe. I met Orchidy last year on a flight. That meeting has turned into many emails and phone conversations. Long story short I will be taking a short term mission trip to visit Orchidy in June. I am always amazed how God connects lives in such a creative way. Last week I was flying home from Charlotte NC. On the phone the night before my wife asked me if I had had any cool God encounters. I said I had not, then it struck me that I had not prayed about it. I said a simple prayer. "God, give me a chance to share your love". I boarded my plane and sat down. I was reading Psalm 16 in my bible when a flight attendant approached me and asked if I would mind trading my isle seat for a middle exit row seat. They needed to move a few people around. I said sure and moved up a few rows. I continued to read Psalm 16. The gentleman to my right said that is good book. I agreed and we began to talk. Within a few min the man sitting to my left joined the conversation. The Amazon trip came up and they asked me to share. I shared the story about meeting Orchidy and about making the decision to take a trip in June. Each of them shared how God was working in their lives. It was an awesome time. Then something amazing happened both men reached into their wallets and handed me wads of $20 bills. They both felt that God was prompting them to participate in my trip in June. I was blown away, I had not asked, I had just shared what God is doing in my life. I had prayed that God would give me a chance to share his love, and then I got to see God's love washing over me through two men I had know less than an hour.

Psalm 16

1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” 3 I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” 4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. 5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. 7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful[b] one see decay. 11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Called

Jesus was called into a life of service by his Father. From birth to death every step he took had purpose, focus, and a defined destination. Jesus understood his calling and lived it out. What is it that God is asking of you? At times I question, stall, attempt to negotiate, then I remember that my only job is to say Yes. And every time I do say yes, I am met with the realization that living for Jesus is so very sweet. Luke 4:18-19 (NIV) 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a]

Finger painting

This is my first digital painting. I created this on an iPad using my finger as the brush. Touch screens really take finger painting to a whole new level. While creating this my thoughts drifted to Jesus. By trade he was a carpenter. When he began his ministry he transitioned from building physical structures to refining and building the kingdom. this made me think about Ephesians 2:19-22

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

We are the dwelling/house of Christ. His spirit lives in us. Maybe at times our house/life gets a little messy, or needs to be updated/refined. Jesus is a trained carpenter. I can't think of anyone better to fix me up. My prayer today is that I would allow Jesus full access and give him creative license to remodel me into the dwelling he desires

Discipleship

Ever ponder what it really takes to follow Jesus in the way the Disciples did. The below verses paint a picture of total abandon. Jesus poured into them and in turn they poured into others. The cycle continues, but it requires the next generation to step up and say YES. These verses tug on my heart, but it is only through the faith and desire granted by God that I could ever truly follow in such a radical sold out way. I pray that God will continue to work on my heart and grant me the faith to simply say yes. “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” Luke 5:11 “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 “Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead.” Mathew 8:22 “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33 “Sell everything you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.” Luke 18:22