Storm approaching

Outside my window is a blustery windy day. Soon it will rain. I see the wind in the trees through the breaking dawn, and I see many shades of gray. Green gray, silver gray, brown gray, blue gray, and it might just be like any other dawning day except for the wind which has arrived like the conductor to command the orchestra. Under his lead the symphony begins, the branches are bobbing the trees are swaying and the leaves are twisting and fluttering on the branch holding on for all they are worth as they are still green.

In true God fashion, I was led to a great blog post this morning and it has been such an encouragement to me. Here’s the sharing link: http://www.drunkdreamer8.com/?m=200807 She is a favorite of mine.

She says, “In the midst of all that we are going through revelation falls out of the sky like rain. Hopefully you are not covered with an umbrella you will miss it.”

I can’t even sit to think anymore, without thinking of hurting people. I know of so many who are in need. So when she says ‘in the midst of all’ I see the vastness of the ocean, dense and wet. Money, health, peace of mind, trust and betrayal…we seek shelter.


She makes the point that our world is backwards to the world of God, our thoughts are not always His thoughts and stresses let the Spirit rain down, be covered by the Spirit of the Living Word.

“We need Gods open heaven on us, all that he has for us. That why it says in the bible Psalms 91:1 HE who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 91:2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;My God, in Him I will trust.” We will hide under his shadow, His shadow!! “

Time for Holy Spirit rain, cover us Lord, let us be refreshed.





P.S. Life inside a music box ain't easy... :0)

Life inside the music box ain't easy
The mallets hit the gears are always turning
And everyone inside the mechanism
Is yearning
To get out
And sing another melody completely
So different from the one they're always singing
I close my eyes and think that I have found me
But then I feel mortality surround me
I want to sing another melody
So different from the one I always sing

...but when I do the dishes...

I run the water very very very hot
And then I fill the sink to the top with bubbles of soap
And then I set all the bottle caps I own afloat
And it's the greatest voyage in the history of plastic
And then I slip my hands in and start to make waves
And then I dip my tongue in and take a taste
It tastes like soap but it doesn't really taste like soap
And then I lower in my whole mouth and take a gulp

...and start to...

Feel mortality surround me
I close my eyes and think that I have found me
But life inside the music box ain't easy
The mallets hit the gears are always turning
And everyone inside the mechanism
Is yearning to get out...

Pentecost, Holy Spirit, Tongues of fire

Wow. Today is Pentecost Sunday, the name Pentecost coming from a Greek word which means 'fiftieth'. I say wow, because this date is measured from Easter, and were already 50 more days into this year.

If you are of the Catholic faith, you've celebrated this festival probably all your life. As a matter of fact, it was a Catholic friend of mine who mentioned this to me, and I said, hm....what?

So I figured I better check this out.

"Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the followers of Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament. Jesus had told them to wait until the Spirit came to them.

Ten days after ascension, (Ascension Day marks the last appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection at Easter.)

50 days after the resurrection, the Spirit came. "
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/whitsun.html

I am interested all ready. Being a 'spiritual' person by nature, I strive to be "Christianly" spiritual by choice. I know Christ is my path, my only true path. So when I read the Holy Spirit came to the early followers in the form of flames on the head....?....I'm curious.

'And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit' (Acts 2:3-4).

So....first the fire appeared to them as cloven tongues, then it sat upon them, then they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Here's a little elaboration, this found at:http://www.orthodox.net/gleanings/pentecost.html,
They partook of fire, not of burning but of saving fire; of fire which consumes the thorns of sins, but gives luster to the soul.



This is now coming upon you also, and that to strip away and consume your sins which are like thorns, and to brighten yet more that precious possession of your souls, and to give you grace; for He gave it then to the Apostles.

And He sat upon them in the form of fiery tongues, that they might crown themselves with new and spiritual diadems by fiery tongues upon their heads. A fiery sword barred of old the gates of Paradise; a fiery tongue which brought salvation restored the gift. St.Cyril of Jerusalem (Catechetical Lectures: Lecture 17 no. 15)


Saint Symeon says that this mode of acting of the Holy Spirit - by means of a loud noise as of a rushing mighty wind, and with tongues of fire - was something unique. The Holy Spirit, he observes, comes very calmly, in the form of spiritual light, and evokes joy.

The power of the Holy Spirit, which is bestowed upon him who loves God and keeps His commandments, does not appear visibly in the form of fire, nor does it come with a loud sound like a violent wind - for this happened only in the time of the Apostles for the sake of the unbelievers.

Instead, it is seen spiritually in the form of spiritual light, and comes with all calm and joy. Guide to Byzantine Iconography, Vol. 1, by Constantine Cavarnos (Also found at http://www.orthodox.net/gleanings/pentecost.html)

What a great day to commemorate, the birth of the Church as we know it, it says on the day of Pentecost the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4), and the apostle Peter preached his first sermon, urging the crowds to repent, to believe in Jesus Christ as their Messiah and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (verse 38). That very day of Pentecost some 3,000 people were baptized and became the people of God (verse 41). The church had been born.

In my search to my pondering regarding Pentecost I found a great resource, Lecture XVII.Continuation of the Discourse on the Holy Ghost. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.ii.xxi.html