Life as the Spirit Says

A lot of things are not right with the church in the US.  One thing I noticed, for some; the approach that's taken when teaching the word of God has become more of a procedure as opposed to a lifestyle.  Since when did Religion and Spirituality become so different?  When in history, did religion start to be defined as purely ritual?  When did some of the church adapt this ritual?  How can the supernatural power of God, something we cannot fully fathom with our human minds, be labeled and limited into a man-made manual? Why has this manual emphasized 'things to do' and not 'a Christ-centered lifestyle' ? There's a difference between bullet points, and a way of life.

One of many inspirations for this write is the book of Acts.  At Pentecost, Jesus' disciples received the Holy Spirit. They received the gifts of the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues, performed miracles - the whole deal.  Immediately, you see interaction in a highly spiritual sense.  The presence of God was activated inside them. The Spirit overflowed and they did many works by the power of God.  The book of Acts paints a picture of truly living in the Spirit.  The disciples followed and listened to the Spirit.  Numerous times, it's said by the disciples :  "The spirit lead me", or The Spirit told me to", or "The Spirit is saying"..  They're listening to the Holy Spirit, they're in communication with the Holy Spirit, they follow the Holy Spirit without hesitation, and they enjoy Him.  When it says: The Kingdom of God is in you, that's the Holy Spirit.  His ineffable joy is released through the Holy Spirit.  God's will is released through the Holy Spirit.  Someone may be called to go here, or do this, or talk to this person, etc - it's all for a bigger purpose.  And all the time the church is being multiplied rapidly.  They are playing a part in God's plan.

What would happen, if we transferred our motives to living in His spirit, so that we may play a part in His plan? I look at "Christian's", then I imagine God longing for them to choose to experience Him more. Yes, He could just sweep down and turn everyone to Him like He did with Saul, but all things happen in His timing.

There is nothing wrong, with asking for the Holy Spirit. There is nothing wrong with stirring up the Holy Spirit, wanting Him, enjoying His presence.  God, wants just that. He wants you to experience Him. He wants to pour out joy in you. He wants you to experience His love, and transform you.

The Holy Spirit is our guide, our teacher.  It is how we live life.  If anything, it could be described as a very spiritual sensation.  Does that sound like it can be done by you? Does it sound like it can be limited, boxed in, written down, distributed, mass-produced?  The only way it's mass-produced is through the bible, and those very words are holy and God-breathed.  No man can take the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, and put it in procedure form for people to do, so that they can get into heaven.  Because when heaven is thought of as something you have to earn, then something's not right in that thought process.  This is one way how Christianity is misrepresented.

But I loved reading Acts. I loved hearing the disciples say: "The Spirit told me", I loved to watch them go places because God told them to. In fact, at one point one of the disciples was transported to another location.  The Holy Spirit is the way we communicate with God. It's through that communication that our bond with Him is strengthened, and naturally, His power will be portrayed in us.  The Holy Spirit is the one who changes us, influences us, loves us, brings us closer to Him.  The only thing that separates us from something so amazing, is us.

It breaks my heart when I do it; when I separate myself from God.  God can bless me with His presence, and then I turn around, and do something for the world.  God can bless me, with arms wide open, and I walk away, to the world.
And I never understand why, He keeps taking me back home.  His Spirit is the only true satisfaction. Nothing compares to His presence, His grace, provision.  And yet, we still, as Christians, live in the world, one way or the other.  It's time for the Church to choose God in everything we do. To long for Him in all ways.  For this is a way of life, not something to just think about on Sundays.

I remember one time (this is just one example) I was really feeling the Holy Spirit.  I was praising Him, I was in prayer, the flow was so sweet - it was like a stream in my life. Every second and every breathe, was given to God, as a sacrifice.  And in return, His spirit fulfilled me, in every way.  Then, some friends wanted to go to the movies. I didn't go out a lot at the time.  I didn't want to disappoint my friends.  I went and we watched a movie. When the movie was over, I felt empty.  My mind was focused on worldly entertainment.  For those 2 hours, my mind was intrigued by Hollywood art form.  I don't have anything against movies - I still love movies.  But the point is, is that it interfered with my flow of communication with Jesus.  It was then that I realized, that sometimes the Spirit is sensitive.  The Holy Spirit is not always going to be a strong presence, that dominates your lifestyle.  It takes constant conditioning, so that we ourselves have to become more and more sensitive to His still , small, voice.  Like in Kings, with Elijah, God's presence was described as a still small voice. Our minds can wander and drift in so many different ways. Especially, since we're raised by this world that puts so much value on everyday things.  Every day, I attempt to think of something as big as my career, and say, It's nothing compared to living in the Spirit.  I look at my car, all the stuff I bought saving up with hard-earned money; Lots of equipment, big computer, speakers, instruments.. At the end of the day, am I saying , it's nothing? Am I saying it's nothing compared to living in a supernatural God? a God so big and so loving, that we can't even wrap our minds around Him? His ways and thoughts are above ours - He created us - yet we have the guts, to shift our attention away from Him? Even if, we experience Him, and recognize who He is, we have the audacity to turn our faces? What really satisfies us? What really pleases us? Are we running after God concerning all parts of our life?. Or do we do it occasionally, shifting our attention away at times to enjoy temporary things. Why shift our attention away from the highest and constant love, to only fill our minds with temporary man-made things?  For this whole life is temporary, an irrelevant fraction compared to the everlasting peace found in the Kingdom.

I say this because that attention shift can be harmful if it distracts the flow of the Spirit.  It's all about how far we are willing to let God take us.  It's all about how much we want to experience Him. How much do we long for His presence in our life?  Do we offer every breathe as a sacrifice to Him? We offer our lives, does that not include the breathes we breathe? Or the time we spend? Or do we go and watch a movie, when we could be experiencing God more and more? We could be conditioning our mind to be more in tune with the Holy Spirit, to do His will.  It takes a desire, a right heart, a willingness. It takes seeking, time, tears. It takes energy. And he pays it all back and more.  But the most important thing; we don't only do it to seek His presence, we do it because He is God. It's His will for us to live in Him. That's why He gifted us with the Holy Spirit. He's the Helper, the guide, to live our daily lives.  How far are we willing to go?

As we call upon His spirit more and more, the things that all churches tell you to do as Christians, come naturally.  Or, how the bible represents a christian lifestyle comes naturally. This is how people attempt to "manualize" the life of a Christian.  "Do good works, pray daily, feed the poor, clothe the naked."  All these are great things, yes.  But what are they when done with a wrong heart?  When we let the Holy Spirit impact us and teach us, naturally, we are going to pray, we are going to do good works, we are going to feed the poor, clothe the homeless, go places we would of never thought we were going to go. When we experience God, He softens our hearts for others. He plants a supernatural compassion in us. The Holy Spirit is expressed through us.  The characteristics of God, the Holy Spirit, is expressed through us. That's God, His characteristics, are being shown through us.  Through the Holy Spirit, it becomes a natural overflow.  It's my desire to become Spirit-filled and Spirit-led, as much as God is willing to allow, for the expansion of His kingdom.

Circus Act

Sometimes this life
is like a giant circus act.

It seems that everyday
we desperately attempt
to trapeze
and swing
and dance
over our problems.

But too often
that problematic fence is too high
the snares on top caught me by the gut.

This circus act
turned into a falling act

And as I plummeted to earth
the ways of man surrounded my throat

Here I am again,
And again they ask,
Would you like to dance?

Everything's askew
so what else could I do?
I'll say yes to a twisted view view
and attempt to dance the hurt away

Or to gather up what's left of my weight
and swing away my fate

I'll make a way.

How many times do I have to say
yet again
I can take the blade on top of the fence by the hand
and twist it into my own plan
Until my hands start to bleed

This isn't the way I thought it would be.

How many earthly dances will it take
to make me see
that these dances only trap me feet
so I can't move freely

Not like this,

How many dances will it take
so that a way of freedom will be here
permanently
like cement.
No comment.


I'm left with no other alternative
No power of man can defeat an evil snare
And these dances only tangle and confuse me
into despair
My body is full of tears
and only one thing can truly prepare
me and take me
out of misery.

So I plead
For the sake of life
Have mercy Jesus
and take me even if it's by the finger
Let your spirit linger
over my body
just for a time to
to destroy this evil trigger

But Yahweh,
Does more
He took my by the heart
and planted me apart
from any snare not of God
Holding me by the essence
of all I am
and breathing life through redemption
into His realm

And lets me soar above any gate
that holds any blade
for the sharpest of shears
can't go near
The light of God when he's near
and he's always here

Every breathe and every second
is testimony of His beautiful essence
The armor of God is always upon me
on my heart guarding me
Now that's what life oughta be
I can move freely.

Clearer Communication

God teaches us in interesting ways.  For the past year, I've tried my hardest to understand communication with the Holy Spirit.  It seems like there is always something that makes it difficult for me to hear His voice clearly.  Something always seems to filter the sound waves of the Spirit, so it comes in pieces, or jumbled dice.  It lead me to think that I need to dis-attach myself even more from this world.  To put away childish things so they are dead in my actions, dead in life. To the point where it wouldn't matter where I ended up, as long as the Spirit was with me, I'd be okay.

That was good, but it still wasn't the main problem.  It still wasn't what was stopping clear and coherent conversation with the Holy Spirit.

Turns out, Our minds can be one of the greatest barriers that hardens communication.  Even if holding the right intention, our minds can still draw attention away from just "spirit talk".

Three things come to mind that seem to effectively clear the sinuses of my spirit.  Of course, prayer is constant and necessary through these things.

1) Listening
Taking time to just meditate, and stir up the spirit is important.  Sitting, clearing your mind, and letting the spirit consume your body seems to re-vitalize and restore healthy communication.  

2) Simplicity
The simplicity part ties into with faith.  Some things we just know about God.  No matter what the situation, if we give it all to God, we have faith that God will answer and provide.  It's simple. It's black and white.  No matter what the situation, we can always go to God and say "Your concern is for my good" and leave it at that.  God is all good.  And even if we are confused about something, we shouldn't let our minds go into a never-ending theological discussion with God, for we know He has our lives in His plan.  And seeking His clarity is enough for Him to break through and speak to us.  It's harder for Him to break through and speak to us when our minds are at a fritz.
That's how it worked for me, anyway.  Simple prayers were more effective than complicated port-wine discussions with God.

3) And all things
All things.  Our life is to praise Him.  Every action and every second is to rejoice and be thankful in the gift of His Spirit.  No matter what the situation, the simple beauty of His provision is more than enough to be in thanksgiving.  to pray. and rejoice.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.