Author Archives: brocke

The Holy Spirit

Featured

Posted on by

How much do we take the Holy Spirit for granted?
I know I do.

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly
declared to be the epistle of
Christ ministered by us, written
not with ink, but with the Spirit of
the living God; not in tables of stone,
but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2 Cor 3:3

We spend a lot of time thinking about Jesus coming to this earth at Christmas. We read the gospels to see what Jesus did, how he thought, what he said, and we strive – rightly – to follow his example. We spend more time at the cross, at the tomb, celebrating Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter.

Consider that in the Trinity, both the Son and the Spirit are both co-equal and co-eternal with God, the Father. The Spirit is just as important and just as much a part of the Godhead as Jesus the Son is. The Spirit is not just a slice of God living in us. God doesn’t partition out the Spirit, a bite to each of us, like sharing a sundae where everyone dips in their spoon. Just as the Son died and rose for each one of us, the Spirit in full lives in each one of us.

We can read in Exodus how Moses went up the mountain to meet with God and how God gave him the tables of stone with the Ten Commandments. God also gave him many other laws about cleanliness, godliness, and worship. He gave Moses the building plans for the tabernacle. He wanted a place where the people would go to worship him and where he could come down to meet with them. When Jesus was here on earth, the people had the temple to go to for worship. It was built along the same lines as a permanent structure. People went to confess, to sacrifice, to meet with God, and God was there in the holy of holies to meet with the priest.

The curtain, up to 12″ think was torn from the top to the bottom when Jesus was crucified. The way had opened for humanity to approach God directly. The Spirit came at Pentecost to be that guide and comforter. Now, the Holy Spirit lives in us as the temple of God. God, in the person of the Spirit, is there to meet with us whenever we call on him.

So, going back to the opening paragraph, how much do we take the Holy Spirit for granted? Do we recognize this is God, not just some force, a voice, a moral compass. Jesus came as Immanuel, God with us. The Spirit is here as God within us. Both are persons of the Trinity with God our Father.

Returning to the Post

Featured

Posted on by

Hello everyone! I’ve had the opportunity to share my blog with a few new friends recently, and decided to come back and write once in a while. It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since I’ve written. Wow, there is a lot that has happened in those four years!

About eight years ago, I did a Bible Study with a group of ladies from my church. I learned so much about breaking free of perfectionism, pretending, prideful motives, false thinking patterns, dredging the past, etc. I wanted so many others to have this same freedom, but I knew that many of my acquaintances probably wouldn’t do this sort of Bible Study. I was reminded of the many Bible studies that have been adapted for our church, so I approached the publisher to see if we could do that with this. It was a no go.

Later, one Sunday in church, we had a service with one reading about a King in the Old Testament who began to reign at 8 years old while the priest at that time was 130. The New Testament reading included the account of Zacchaeus. I distinctly remember the minister saying, “God can use anyone. We would never have an 8-year-old president, and we would never stand for a 130-year-old elder. Whether we’re young or old or short like Zacchaeus, God can use us.” I felt that God was wanting me to adapt this Bible study so others could use it. We sang Trust and Obey at the end of the service.

The next morning, I was sitting at the mechanics waiting to get the tires rotated and working on the next lesson in this Bible study. I turned the page, and at the top, the author quoted Trust and Obey. Once we were finished going through it, I started working on adapting it, and when it was about 80% done, I ended up setting it aside as some things came up in life. It still sits in my computer 80% done, over eight years later. Just this past weekend, we sang Trust and Obey, and I thought of that unfinished Bible study.

Do you have things that you’ve started and set aside? Is it time to get them back out again? I truly hope and pray that at some point I finish that Bible study. First, I need to get past the spring cleaning, the graduation party, summer vacation, kids moving out to college. Maybe when the snow flies again, I’ll get it out. You see, there’s never a shortage of things to do, and yet, I feel the Spirit gently pulling me toward it. One of these days…

I don’t know how often I’ll post here, but I hope to reconnect with many of you. I’d love to hear your comments. What are you interested in reading? Devotionals? Mental health? Relationships? Bible study?

I’ll leave you with this – something that came to mind as I wrapped up an email I was writing a while back…

May your minds be free of worry
And your tongues singing praise
Your feet not set to hurry
And your life be full of grace
May your hearts be filled with joy
And your eyes be lifted up
With hands that work in his employ
Your souls basking in his love

Easter

Posted on by

In both the Good Friday service and today on Easter, the Saturday between was referenced. It’s hard to imagine what it must have been like for the disciples after Jesus was put in the tomb. We know the end of the story, but they didn’t understand it.

I’ve posted a poem I wrote a couple years ago, most likely around Easter time, though I don’t remember…
Check out Stuck in Saturday here.