I decided to like blue right now (thus the change in blog color)… like the sapphire pavement, only this is less sapphire and more midday sky, but oh well, it works.

Lately, I’ve been pondering the mystery of our friendship with the Holy Spirit, rather His friendship to us.   The words in red of John 14 have especially been whirling around in my mind… “I will not leave you as orphans… I will send a Helper to teach you and remind you of all that I AM.”    Today those words have been my prayer… for me, for Stephen, for the body of Christ… even when we do not know, He is there and ever faithful to instruct us in the Way and change us from glory to glory.   Our holy, sometimes hidden, Friend. 

If I knew how, I would include Isa’s song, “Holy Spirit Come,” right here.  I’ve been listening to it a lot today.  (From “Raw Sessions” by Isa)

If you love me, you will do as I command. Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true… you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you. I won’t leave you like orphans…the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you.    (Jesus in John 14)

(Journal entry March 2006): 

I have nothing to boast of except Him who lives within me… Christ in me, the hope of glory.  Weak and broken as I truly am, it has been graciously granted to me that I would hold within the most perfect and beautiful of Treasures.  In me, a vessel of earth and dust, God is alive and moving.  I have realized that all good things are born from the hidden places – a baby from the hiddennes of the womb, a flower bursting forth from the darkness of the dirty earth, a diamond hidden deep and dark in a lump of coal, a pearl under the sea in the cavern of the oyster’s depths… and love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control from the hidden power of the Holy Spirit making the bride ready for the Bridegroom.  Not only has He hidden me away, He has hidden Himself… but now I see.  Springtime has brought the blooms of things unseen.  And these flowers, this fruit wrought in hidden places, these are worth far more than the “experiences” of His presence that encourage me and keep me on the course (although I love those experiences).  These hidden treasures are what make me ready for Him and what ultimately make me His!  I am known by Love and it is the work of my Counselor molding and transforming me that I will be forever grateful for when I finally and fully see… glory will be revealed. 

Oh sweet Friend and Helper, help me even now.  Take those things that are His and make them known to me and in me.  Teach me.  Shape me.  Bathe me in the beauty of the Lord.  I am Yours.  I humble myself before You even now and say I am desperate for Your leadership, for all that You are and all that You do… for the fullness of God.  Oh Holy Spirit, I love Your ways.  Thank You.  All my fountains are in You.