She’s like the wind...

This week’s text - John 20:19-23

The text this week is from John’s version of the Spirit’s arrival, and also will be read shortly after the Acts account of Pentecost - the spirit showing up as a wind and flame and Peter standing to preach after the disciples speak in tongues and 3000 are added to the ranks.

But the question for today is - how do we trust God when the spirit shows up as it will, like the wind? Of course, the irony is that our entire existence depends on the continued love of God and the sustaining and ongoing power of God’s creation, which is continuing now, in every cell of our body, in every galaxy of all the universe. What other evidence do we need than each continuing breath we breathe, each heartbeat?

But life is crazy, the world unpredictable< the future unseeable, and we do need more than just trust and hope in God. Thus, when the spirit does show up - we have inspiration and forgiveness and hope and love and Christ’s presence! But it is unpredictable, and combined with that, so is our perception, our receptivity to Gods’ activity. Just like going fishing, when a walleye bites, it is often hard to feel it! Now a bass or a norther, you know something nailed the line! but often times walleye just overtake the lure or subtly bite, and then you have to be paying attention. You have to know the difference between snagging a weed or bumping the bottom. You have to feel the difference between background noise and a solid signal - and that can take experience, patience, attention, and skill. (also why I’m terrible at catching walleye!)

What are some ways you might develop that ability?
How might you look for the Spirit’s activity and develop an awareness of God’s presence in your life?

Could prayer and reflection be useful here? How about conversations and reflection with friends or acquaintances whom you feel have this skill?

What might you hope to perceive as you listen for and look for God? How might resting in God’s presence affect you?

Prayer: Thank you God that you blow around like the wind - acting in obvious and subtle ways in our lives. Encourage us and strengthen our hearts to be open and vulnerable to you and your presence in our lives, neighbors, and the situations we encounter each day. Amen.

POWERRRRRR!!!

Waiting for God to Act

This week’s text is from Luke 24:44-53

Jesus instructs his disciples to wait for him to send them “power from on high” after he has started to finally explain to them what they have been struggling to understand - a story with which we are now very familiar. The son of God must suffer at the hands of humanity, die, and be raised again and in so doing bring forgiveness and reconciliation with God. This fulfills all that has been written so far.

So a couple things to reflect on as we get started this week: The first crucial act of the disciples, as the very first to receive the Spirit, the very first to hear the Gospel news from Jesus himself, is to sit down and wait.

Its a little anti-climactic. It is also crucial. The timing matters. What God is up to has strings laid out in every life of every one everywhere. The timing matters.

It is the same for us in our lives - whether it is as we begin to consider how and when to pick up pieces of our old responsibilities and lives as the Covid19 situations changes, or what it means in our spiritual and daily lives to await God’s action or God’s call for us to act.

Timing matters. God’s timing is not our timing just as God’s ways are not our ways. When have you had to wait on God? What was it like? did you feel cared for while you waited, like you were able to trust that God was acting on your behalf - or did you feel alone or abandoned, impatient with what seemed like an absent or impotent God?

The first act of the apostles was to wait for the spirit. Can we do the same?

Prayer: Lord God - thank you for that you act for us - that you know the right timing, that you see all possibilities, and that you have sent us a friend to aid us in this life as we make our way to the next. Give us patience and a sense of the bigger picture even when we are frustrated or feeling abandoned. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

Love helps us to see!

This week’s text is from John 14:15-21

When we love something - we see it in a new way. Now sometimes love can blind is as well - to the problems and to eh downfalls of something or someone, but Love is an entirely different perspective.

Jesus points that out in this text - “if you love me, you’ll keep my commandments.” this isn’t a conditional statement, if you do this… then you do this… it is a statement of how love causes us to trust and act towards others.

Love also gives us insight into the presence of the Holy Spirit which is also the presence of Jesus. A few verses later Judas (not Iscariot) Asks Jesus - why not show the whole world this way? And his response? Because love is what is necessary for insight, and even if the whole world were shown, they would not see without love.

1. In your life - what are some things you might see differently because of your love?

2. Do you think you see the more or less clearly?

3. How about when it comes to God’s presence in the world - whee does your love illuminate God’s activity?

Prayer: God, full our hearts with love that gives us insight into what you are up to in our lives and in the lives of others. Fill us with the humility to come alongside our neighbors with care and concern, and clear our eyes to see your presence and how we might cooperate with the good things you are doing in our lives. Amen.

What help would YOU send?

This week’s text is John 14:15-21

When it comes to recognizing the Holy Spirit in our daily lives - The way Jesus describes the Spirit’s role and activity in the world is extremely helpful. Jesus describes the Spirit doing for him precisely what he has done for God - make God plain to the world. The spirit does likewise for Jesus. And one striking thing about this verse is that Jesus describes Some of what we can expect from the Holy Spirit in the way he describes its

role in the coming days for the disciples after Jesus ascends. He reassures his friends. He send them support and help. Support that can make clear the presence of Jesus, presence that can motivate, renew, invigorate, comfort, send peace, and more. He describes that the disciples will certainly need help in the coming days.

1. Do you have friends whom you feel need help? What help would you send them?

2. Is there help you need right now? What sort of help do you need?

3. Are there ways that God may be sending help into your life right now? How?

4. Do you ever find yourself explaining things away? Explaining away the coincidence of an idea, or conversation?
   Do you explain away inspiration or motivation? Do you explain away the moments in which God feels close to you or there seems to be deeper truth or meaning to a moment?

The help and support we send to our own friends, the care and devotion we have for those we love, these are ways we can reflect on the ways the spirit is active in our lives, in a similar way. When might the Spirit have shown up in your life?

Prayer: Thanks you Jesus for the help you send us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Give us ever clearer eyes to see your presence in your life. Stay near to us and help us to continually grow to know you better. Thank you for your love and comfort to each of us. Empower us to share that love with others. Amen.

Down by the river...what is the truth?

The text this week is from John 14:1-14

If the truth is a person - it changes so many things. Can you imagine a universe in which insteD of the worst story you tell yourself about your intentions and your actions, the source and maker of the universe is in fact extending you love and the best interpretation? or when you don’t know what to do what the right thing is to do next, in fact, the truth knows you and, knows your story, and is there to help you through?

Prayer: Lord God, sometimes our fear and our worry cause us to judge others harshly, or to judge situations in black and white binary thinking. Yet you challenge us to love and see the world as you do - fulling knowing the story of each person and life in your path. Help us to consider the story of others in our journey to love and serve in your name. Amen.