February 29

It's been an extraordinary day -- again!

We began our "Holy Spirit" weekend at church today in our Alpha program[=Christianity for seekers and the saved]. Our evening program began with a shared meal. Two videos about the Spirit followed -- with a few questions to think about, about 'who the Spirit is for me'?

Who IS the Spirit of God for me? Who IS the Spirit of Jesus for YOU? * We are usually too busy to give those questions much thought, or, we take the Spirit's presence for granted just because 'He' doesn't stand out in any particular way that we should take notice --                                                                                            And yet, every breath we take is Spirit related. Every act of kindness, every word of forgiveness, every hope-filled thought -- comes from the Spirit!

How do we know? Jesus, God's Son = God incarnate, promised his followers his spirit before he died -- and stories that retell the experience of those followers after his death -- witness to his coming upon them as promised. They in turn, taught the world about Jesus and his spirit, who continues to give witness to God in the world.

Even today, we are not left to our own resources as some of the ancient Greek philosophers believed (Epicureans). While  many people of no faith still believe we are 'abandoned' by God here on earth -- WE BELIEVE God is still Immanuel = God with us, in the form of the Spirit of Jesus or as the Spirit of God, and that Spirit protects and guides us. That Spirit gives us faith and confidence to come before God himself. * It seems almost too wonderful to believe or imagine that the same God who created all things, still helps me draw every breath I draw -- !

We are never alone! Since Jesus' death and resurrection we have his spirit -- and we can experience a new life in that Spirit through 'being baptized' or by what others call 'being born again'  --

By the grace of God; by the Spirit of the living God within us, we should be thankful -- and know, God made all that we have and are, possible.                 Amen / Right on!