Tag Holy Spirit

Reference Points

Allen Frederick 5 Comments

Random Ramblings from the Resident Raptor
Insight from the Journey across the Sky
By Allen Scott
looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2Open Link in New Window
':sv:Simon Vouet -
Image via Wikipedia

Orchestra’s use them, choirs and choruses use them, professional and amateur musicians use them, sailors, travelers, navigators and builders use them. What are they? Reference points.

For the orchestra A 440 is the reference tone the entire orchestra tunes to, the benchmark for any fine musical performance. To a chorus it is a pitch pipe and to the musician an electronic tuner. Sailors looked toward the heavens and by using a sextant, sailed by starlight. Hikers utilize the compass. Builders would use a level and a plumb line. All are acting as reference points.

Without these reference points orchestras and choirs would be out of tune. Professional musicians would sound like beginners. Travelers would get hopelessly lost, and buildings would have crooked walls.

Slaves, hoping for freedom from a life of slavery in the south, were taught, from a young age, how to follow the North Star, to the place where that freedom lay. To think, in the vastness of space, God placed a steady reference point for all eternity. It is not surprising then that the wise men followed a star to the place where Jesus was born.

Our lives need reference points as well in order to navigate safely through this journey called life. Without a guiding light, a plumb line, or some other measuring device we really would not know how straight or crooked our journey was.

Without a point of reference we would be like a sailor lost at sea, or an orchestra out of tune. Without some sort of compass we would never know in which direction we were actually heading. Today GPS units, utilizing satellite coordinates, guide us safely throughout the country. These electronic marvels communicate constantly with orbiting satellites and recalculate our route as we travel the highway.

To the Christian what is our reference point? Is it a compass, sextant, plumb line, tuning fork, pitch pipe, a star? No it’s a cross outside Jerusalem. Without the death of Jesus on that cross, our sins would not be atoned for, and had Jesus not risen, we would be hopeless. The Bible, God’s word, becomes our road map and the Holy Spirit our GPS (God’s Positioning Spirit).

The church calendar acts as a point of reference as well helping to keep us centered on the reason for our hope, Jesus. Each season helps us to refocus on the life of Christ. We are currently entering into the season of Lent, the time of year were we focus on the death and resurrection of our Lord. It’s life from death, hope from despair, light in the darkness, and joy unspeakable and full of glory. From Ash Wednesday, through Good Friday, into Resurrection Sunday we journey again to the cross, the grave, and finally to resurrection.

The cross is the reference point to remind us of the great price God paid for our sins, and the love God has for us. For the lost, the cross stands as a beacon of hope, a compass pointing heavenward, a steady reference point for all eternity. Without the cross, I would be lost. Thank God for the cross, our reference point, and Jesus our guide.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)
Along for the journey
Related articles by Zemanta

December 31 edition of ‘Pop Goes the Gospel’

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

'Pop Goes the Gospel'

'Pop Goes the Gospel'

Welcome to the December 31, 2008 edition of pop goes the gospel.

This Month’s Feature Article

Mike Weaver presents Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue posted at COURAGE FOR TODAY, Mike offers up a memory from Christmas past. Sometimes we need to take a journey back in time in order to appreciate where we are in the present time. Read about Mike’s encounter with the silver Christmas tree and perhaps you will remember your own encounter of the strange kind.

In Family Life

Rich presents Always Be Thankful posted at Blogger For Christ . com.Rich reminds us all to ALWAYS be thankful. We may never know when it will be too late to offer up a word of thanks. Thanks Rich.

In Church Life

Yvette Nietzen presents Ministry opportunities are right in front of you posted at Fresh Wind Ministries, Int´l.Yvette, a frequent contributor to this blog carnival, once again comes through with a thought provoking piece about love. Christmas may be past but the Christmas Spirit of love should continue throughout the year, Yvette reminds each of us to not over look the ‘lepers’ of society for those are the very ones Jesus came to save. And never forget we were once just like they are lost without Christ.

Stephen Miracle presents 5 Inspirational Bible Quotes To Enhance Your Day posted at AltNoise.net, Stephen offers us 5 bible quotes to get us all thinking. If we just put into practice these 5 verses they could change our lives in 2009 for the better. It seems so simple doesn’t it and yet sometimes it takes all we have to just forgive those who trespass against us. Apart from the Holy Spirit that enables us it would be impossible to live the life that Christ would have us live. Thank God He offers His Spirit as a helper. Thank you Stephen.

In Culture

ChristianPF presents What the Bible says about this economic downturn posted at Money in the Bible | Christian Personal Finance Blog.A must read for anyone who may be facing financial difficulties in 2009. ChristianPF offers solid biblical counsel in regards to how we should handle our finances according to God’s blueprint.

Rich Bordner presents Cross-less Christ posted at The Pugnacious Irishman, saying, Rich, a new contributor to this carnival, offers a well written post of a problem of our culture’s inability to call sin sin, or call evil evil. A good reminder that “why can’t we all just get along” is not a sound biblical basis in which to base your life. I hope Rich will contribute more posts in the future. Thanks Rich.

Brent Diggs presents Save Your Christmas posted at the Ominous Comma.Brent asks us to stop and consider What If? What if Christmas was more of a time of self-giving rather than gift-giving? Hmmm do we dare?

In Family

Tiffany Partin presents Electric Blankets vs. Cabbage Patch Dolls posted at Fathom Deep: Sounding the Depths of God.Tiffany’s post will give you that warm cozy feeling all over when you get done reading it. As a child we want what we want, but as parents we provide what is best. Sometimes what is best and needed is not what us children want and we rebel. But as we grow in God’s grace, and mature in our walk with Him we learn that His gifts are always on time and appropriate. The Lord truly shall supply all our needs. And when you think about it, that should be all we want.

Merry Christmas and may God bless you abundantly in 2009!
There you have it. This month’s edition of ‘Pop Goes the Gospel’ has gone to press. Thanks to everyone who contributed great articles to make this blog carnival a MUST READ.

So until next month. Keep blogging.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of pop goes the gospel using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: , .

Batteries Not Included

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org
Random ramblings from the resident raptor.

God, the God of Israel, is awe-inspiring in his holy place. He gives strength and power to his people. Thanks be to God! Psalms 68:35 (GW)

I do not know what I would do without batteries. I mean I need batteries! My watches, my various remote control devices, the alarm clock, the cell phone, the computer keyboard and mouse, the laptop, each of these devices require batteries to operate.

The only thing more prevalent in my house than batteries, are all the various power adaptors for my electronic devices. There is the TV, the satellite dish, the video recorder with the network adapter, and the amplifier for the surround sound. All these require a six socket wall adapter to plug them all in. Then there is the computer and all the plugs for all the peripheral attachments, the monitor, the speakers, the DVD drive, and the external hard drive.

I have about a dozen power adapters for Satellite radio and razors and rechargers for the cell phone. Even the home phone line needs to be plugged in. There is the network adapter and the wireless adapter for the cable modem and the list just goes on and on and on. How I wish for a wireless home. No more plugs to plug in.

I love the rechargeable batteries but I hate all their wall adapters. God forbid if you ever happen to misplace one, it really is no use trying one of the many others you have lying around because no two are alike. When it comes to power chargers one size certainly does not fit all.

Therefore you can imagine how delighted I was to find this hand-cranked flashlight a few months back. No batteries required and you do not have to plug it in to recharge it! All you have to do is turn the crank and you have light! I thought to myself, “This sounds like a good idea but will it actually work?”

Continue reading “Batteries Not Included” →

The Original High Speed Communication Device

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

 

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”

A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’ Acts 2:21Open Link in New Window (NKJV)

 

Holy Spirit Jesus God Trinity

Image by TheChristianAlert.org via Flickr

The Holy Spirit is the original High speed communication device. Instantaneously we can have contact with the Father via the prayer line to heaven. It is initially installed in all new believers in Christ. This high speed connection is always on and never gets a busy signal. There are no traffic congestions on the highway to heaven. There are no stop signs and traffic lights to hinder your call to heaven. There are however many obstacles to constant connectivity. Our wiring can get rusty from lack of use. We can cut ourselves off from this holy hotline by refusing to listen to the advice offered on the other end. Sin and deception in our lives brought about by the enemy of our souls can cause us to doubt in the usefulness of this heavenly hotline. Our own actions can cause the line to heaven to be severed. If we grieve the Holy Spirit it is possible to hinder our access to the heavenlyhotline. It is a toll free call but it does cost you the time and effort it takes to place the call. Jesus promises that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be heard and a answer will be dispatched.

 

I have had times in my life where that high speed hotline seemed to have been blocked or otherwise rendered ineffectual. During those times it was difficult to remain fearless in waiting on that line to be connected again. I know from personal experience the angst that is present when the heavens seems like brass. When we are waiting for an answer it is hard to wait patiently. The enemy of our souls would have us think that God does not care and is ignoring us. The devil would have us doubt the love of God and His ability to help us in our time of need. The devil would have us think that when we need Him the most God is going to turn His back on us and leave us to struggle on our own.

All these are just static on the hotline to heaven. It is nice when we have a constant clear connection but at times there is a great deal of static on the line we must sift through. The noise and distractions brought on by this static can be very unnerving. God does care. He promises to be with us even until the end of the age. There is no where we can go to escape the presence of God for He is everywhere. Therefore we have confidence when we pick up the hotline to heaven that we will always have a connection.

Anyone who has had a high speed internet connection for any time knows that there are times when the connection is not available. Service outages are common, although infrequent they do occur. Service outages are common in the life of a Christian as well. Although God is always present we are also bombarded with the fiery darts of the evil one. These darts are meant to cause us to doubt God and His word. We need to rely upon the validity of God’s word which is our guarantee of His faithfulness. He gives us a service guarantee when He sends us His Spirit. The presence of God’s Spirit in our lives is our service guarantee from heaven. As long as the spirit is active in our lives then we have the assurance of heavenly protection.

Therefore do not disconnect yourself from the Spirit of the living God for He is your hotline to heaven.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)

 

 

Related articles by Zemanta

Songs of Faith and Devotion

 

The Keys of the Kingdom

Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions

Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent

Columbus Day, a Voyage of Discovery

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

Insight for your “Journey across the Sky”
A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Heb 11:8-10 (NKJV)

In the year 1492 Columbus set sail on a voyage of discovery. Being an accomplished mariner he had sailed the Mediterranean and traveled to parts of Africa, to Ireland, and probably even to Iceland. He boasted later in life, “I have gone to every place that has heretofore been navigated.” He knew the Atlantic as well or better than anyone, and he probably knew more about how to read currents, winds, and surfaces of the sea than do sailors today. Driven by what he described “a hand that could be felt, the Lord opened my mind to the fact that it would be possible … and he opened my will to desire to accomplish that project.… The Lord purposed that there should be something miraculous in this matter of the voyage to the Indies.”

Part discoverer and part missionary Columbus never gave up on his internal quest to seek that which others said could not be found. His was a journey of discovery. With a burning desire to fulfill what he felt was God’s purpose for his life, he tirelessly lobbied the courts of Spain for nearly seven years to be granted permission to set sail for the Indies. Finally permission was granted and the rest as they say is history. A devote Catholic Cristóbal Colón sailed the high seas, driven by the wind and an inner strength, to discover a new land.

We, like Christopher Columbus can also set sail on the winds of the Holy Spirit to find that inner strength that can only be found in our discovery of Christ. As we start this week let us set sail for new discoveries to the riches of God found hidden between the covers of His inspired word. If you feel you have sailed over the same seas many times and there remains nothing new to discover I want to challenge you to open up your heart and allow the Lord to burn a new hope within you. Allow the Lord to give you a new vision of a greater place, a greater purpose, a new insight in His word.

Perhaps like Columbus you too have been discouraged many times as you set sail on life’s seas to fulfill the Lord’s purpose for your life. Do not give up! For like Columbus himself said, “If it strikes often enough, a drop of water can wear a hole in a stone.” Although at times the wind may be blowing against you, do not give up. If the seas of life get tempest tossed, do not give up. If those closest to you rise up against you, do not give up. Although you may not be able to see the shore line do not give up hope because the Lord promises to be with you, to never leave you nor forsake you. You are not alone. If you are on a journey of discovery with God, you too shall find a safe haven in the midst of life’s storms. If you continue to seek the Lord with all your heart, mind, body and strength, then you too will discover new places in God. You too will find a new land.

Columbus knew in his heart it could be done, Abraham believed God to be faithful, both set out to discover a new place, a new land; they sought the fulfillment of hope. Neither were disappointed. Neither will you be if you put your hope in God.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Prov 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Like Columbus and Abraham and you too can sail into the unknown holding onto the hand of God. If you but trust Him, He will never leave you comfortless. He is your hope, He is your destiny, He desires for you to discover the riches of God through Christ Jesus.

Here’s to your journey of discovery! Ship Ahoy!

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)