Tag: Holy Spirit

For now we see in part

On By Charis PsalloIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Photo: night on the lake

On the one hand I grieve over the way some self-appointed guardians of the extra narrow way are quick to disqualify other writers and speakers when they discover flaws; on the other hand I do worry about the under-use of the gift of discernment and a tendency for some people to turn those with a certain amount of insight into heroes or even idols.

Do we tend to place some people on a pedestal that is too high because they are like one-eyed men in the country of the blind? Do we ourselves install some people as gods and then stone them when we discover they are frail humans?

Perhaps the problem is not the person with greater, but still imperfect vision. Perhaps the problem is that not enough people realize they can learn to see better as well. Perhaps we need to pursue the Healer himself. Perhaps if we combined our glimpses of truth we could all see better.

Perhaps all of the adopted children in God’s family are meant to be royalty.

Two tiers

On By Charis PsalloIn Uncategorized4 Comments

Photo: babe in the woods

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.(Matthew 11:25)

I’ve heard some scholars worry that if people like mystics, and those believers who say the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit works through His people today, are allowed to have influence it will result in a two-tiered Christianity. The fact is we have already have accepted a two-tiered Christianity with those who are intellectually gifted enough to be experts on the scriptures seated a few notches higher than the rest.

The highly educated religious experts from the time when Jesus walked the earth were not oblivious to this inequity; it formed their power base. They killed Jesus to protect it.

Jesus pointed out that knowledge of the holy is not hidden from the humble with child-like faith. He still takes children on his knee and whispers the secrets of the universe in their ears.

Can you hear Him chuckling?

Fix my eyes

On By Charis PsalloIn Trees and forests, Uncategorized2 Comments

Photo: the upward road

Today as I awake to Pentecost Sunday I feel like blind Bartimaeus.

I sit by the roadside.

I’ve tripped again.

I cry out, “Jesus, son of David have mercy on me!”

I feel like I am an annoyance and embarrassment to everyone around me,

but I don’t care.

Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!

Master, this is what I want:

I want to see You.

I see all the needy people around me.

I see my inadequacies.

I see my sin.

How can I help anyone on this journey when I keep falling down myself?

Master, fix my eyes that I might fix my eyes on You!

Surrounded then as we are by these serried ranks of witnesses, let us strip off everything that hinders us, as well as the sin which dogs our feet, and let us run the race that we have to run with patience, our eyes fixed on Jesus the source and the goal of our faith. Hebrews 12:1

More

On By Charis PsalloIn Neither animal nor vegetable, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Green pots IMG_6888.jpg

Terracotta clay pots

Orange pots

At the garden center -pots

Blue triangle pots

Seeing all these pots at the garden center today reminded me of an old hymn from my childhood:

He will fill your heart today to overflowing,

As the Lord commanded you, bring your vessels, not a few,

He will fill your heart today to overflowing

With the Holy Ghost and Power.

Radiant Hope

On By Charis PsalloIn Flowers, Mountains7 Comments

Photos: Sunflowers on Eager Hill

May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope. Romans 15:13