Feeling the Spirit Move

Do you know when you feel the Holy Spirit moving in you?  You may think I'm silly, but I really feel like it's those times that I get goosebumps.  The music or the message that I'm hearing  moves me, and I feel tingly.

How do you know when it happens?  Do you know if it's happening in your life?  I encourage you to think about how you feel when it does.

Live by the Spirit

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature."  Galations 5:16 (NIV)

Have you ever heard someone say, Man, by the time I get to church, I NEED church!  That is me.  I admit it.  But, to fix it, I have to admit it, and ask God for help. No one's perfect.  The only perfect one is my Redeemer and Savior.  I have flaws like many of the characters described in the Bible.  Like Peter, I have a want to be faithful, but often times my own humanness stands in the way.

To begin to lead the life of Christ, we have to live by the Spirit.  Let the Spirit fill you so that your actions are that of a vessel belonging to God, acting out His will. 

I always want to live for Christ, but I certainly need help.  Another name for the Holy Spirit is Counselor.  That's what I need.  Someone to counsel me on the way to go.  Prayer and study keep me in the correct mindset.  I find that when I let those fall to the wayside is when I'm not living in the Spirit, but of the flesh.

Lord, I want your Spirit to fill me up so there's no room for anything else!

His Eye is on the Sparrow

"Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows."  Matthew 10:29-31 (NLT)

It is so beautiful to me that I am so loved beyond comprehension.  He knows everything. Every. Thing.  He knows when a sparrow falls to the ground, and we are even more valuable to him than a whole flock of them.

Read Psalm 139.  It is so beautiful.  Read it aloud to really let the word's meaning ring.

God sees and knows every facet of your life.  He is powerful and present in everything - everywhere.  He is with us where ever we go, even if we try to hide in the dark.  Read those characteristics again. Sees, Knows, Powerful, Present.  This describes my awesome God, and he allows us to know him.  He wants us to know him.  He wants us to bring our every need to him.  The God that created the entire universe. (Pause.  Let that sink in.)  The God that created the entire universe loves you.

I've had this hymn, His Eye is on the Sparrow, stuck in my head for a while now.  I really paid attention to the lyrics and they say so much about our friend in Jesus and how he sets us free.  I've put the lyrics below so you can soak them up with me.

His Eye is on the Sparrow

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Training for the Race: Part III

"Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives' tales.  Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness.  Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next."        1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NLT)

Can you imagine how our lives and the lives of people around us would be transformed if we exercised spiritually?  We place so much emphasis on our physical appearance, that our spiritual side is left neglected.  Just as we need to exercise our bodies to keep them fit, we must also train to become spiritually fit.  How do we do this you ask?  Grow in the knowledge of God.  2 Peter 1:2-11 tells us how to know God better.

"As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life." 2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)  So, we can review the basics while learning more about Him.  We are to pay attention to the Scriptures to give us reminders of our basic faith, just as a coach reviews basics with their teams, and an athlete executes fundamentals.  Just as an athlete needs exercise and practice so as not to lose their abilities, we as Christians also need spiritual exercise and "practice."  We are to use our spiritual gifts and not neglect them (1 Timothy 4:14) so that our talents will improve, and bring glory to God's kingdom.  He gave us all talents of one sort or another, and we are to use them well. (Romans 12:6-8).

Strive to know Him more to become like Him.  We can change the world by starting with ourselves.  If we change the way we think, then we will know what God wants us to do, for His will is perfect.  I think the following verse is so important to apply in today's world.

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is."  Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Part III concludes my Training for the Race entries.

Training for the Race: Part II

"...But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.  No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven." Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT)

The crowd is cheering, the band is playing, coaches are yelling, players are moving around, but the athlete has to keep his focus.  He has to keep his focus on the task at hand to get the goal.  When he follows through, he makes the goal.

In the hustle and bustle of life, we can get distracted from our purpose, and end up just going through the motions.  Or, it could be a case of being caught up in traditions, and not knowing why we go through the motions.  As an athlete would in training, we must avoid the things that will distract us from being effective.  We should forgo any distractions in being in fellowship with Christ.  I for one, am very distracted by Facebook and my cell phone.  I have to make myself ignore them and stay focused on my study of God's Word, and have that time with God.  What is distracting you from God?  From your relationship with Jesus?

In the above verse, Paul is saying the goal is to be like Christ, and be all that He wants us to be.  Paul says to focus your energies on this to reach the goal, the prize, for which God is calling us up to heaven for.  I agree that it does take all your energy to strive for this goal.  A prayer I pray regularly is to ask God to fill my heart and mind with his Word and Spirit so that what comes out will be a reflection of Him.  It's not the easiest; human nature tries to take over, but I find that when I stay focused on Him, I feel a longing to be with Him and to be like Him.

Training for the Race: Part I

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."  1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)

Dedicated athletes train diligently to excel in their sport.  Spring football practice started yesterday in my town's high school.  It is about 4 or 5 months from when the season will start, but they're already out there training.  Just think of all the hard work that happens for the game - for the win - the prize.  Meetings to learn the plays, practices to put the plays into action, running to stay in shape, lifting weights to become stronger.  I would venture to say that some even watch their diet to be healthy as well.

Like athletes, Christians must also train to lead a Christ led life. We must also have self-discipline, self denial, and preparation.  We have an eternal prize at the end of our race, so we must not "run" aimlessly.  We have a purpose and a destination, so we must keep our eyes on the goal to win our reward in Christ's Kingdom.

When I think of ways that we prepare, I think of studying the Bible and going to worship and Sunday School to gain knowledge.  It's like the meetings the athletes have to learn their plays.  We have to know it to put it into action - live it and to pass it on . 

Self-discipline and self denial are ways for us to refuse worldly behavior and focus on Godly ways. As a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, we must deny worldly ways as to not defile God's temple.  Also, we must deny ourselves to be a follower of Christ.  Jesus said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.  If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life." Mark 8:34-35 (NLT)

Next time I plan to explore keeping the distractions from our race for Christ at bay.  Until then, keep running!

"And God will generously provide all you need.  Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others."  2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)

I grabbed a freshly laundered pair of jeans out of the dryer and put them on.  I just happened to have checked the back pocket.  Don't know why I did, but there was a 5 dollar bill.  It's not a ton, but it was just what I needed, and I didn't even know it at the time.

Later that afternoon, I noticed my son had a pretty bad bug bite on his leg.  It looked concerning, so I took him to the doctor.  The lady behind the desk told me, "I just need to collect your $5 copay."  Oh, man.  I ran out of the house without my wallet, but then I remembered I still had that cash in my back pocket.  I thought a prayer of praise and thankfulness that God had provided for even such a small need.