John 3:8
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
The word 'spirit' in both Hebrew and Greek means 'breath' or 'wind.' Both a breath of air and a breeze are appropriate images for the Holy Spirit. (And so is a gust :-)
Like the wind, the movement of the spirit is not something that any of us can control. As Jesus said, 'the wind blows wherever it pleases." We don't know where it's coming from or where it's going. And this is exactly how the spirit moves in churches as well. God's Church is alive! It's not an organization, it's an organism! It's living, breathing and ever changing. I continually marvel at its complexity. I am humbly aware of how little control I have over any of it.
Often, I feel like much of my calling from God is to be a watcher on the wall; always searching & seeking for what direction the Holy Spirit is going to MOVE next. It does feel much like waiting for the next gust of wind and never knowing which direction it will come from, or which way it will go.
There are no words to describe how exciting it is once you sense a big gust of HS wind is beginning to blow! I imagine it to be about a billion times more exciting than what storm chasers experience when they spot a tornado.
It's as if you could turn around quick enough, you would get this brief but beyond description 'indescribable' glimpse of the Living God! WOW-How can you find words to describe how that feels? There are none!
But seeking out those glimpses of Him have become my complete, total obsession! Some days I can think of nothing else. Where is He? I look in every direction, waiting, hoping, seeking and praying to get one little glimpse of Him in each day. One little breeze, one small breath, one tiny touch of my Master's Hand feels like more than enough reward!
He used to chase me being the Hound of Heaven that He is, but now I am the one constantly chasing after Him. "Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)." I've tasted, I've seen and I want more, more, more of Him!
Ahh, that is one reason I love His Church so much! It is the absolute best place in the world to get indescribable glimpses of Him! He shows up in the faces, in the relationships and in the good works of His people. He also shows up in the broken hearted, in the lost and in the least of these. Every time I see even a hand reaching out to someone else in His name, I get to see HIM,
and I never cease to be in awe.
The Holy Spirit has been blowing like a strong wind recently at BHCC. It's been coming from all kinds of different directions and I have no idea where it's going! I guess I don't need to know. I'm just so excited to feel its intensity and to know that in it, I am getting daily glimpses of our Heavenly Father at work.
Here's just a few of the exciting areas He's been moving in:
We have launched FIVE brand new small groups since starting The 40 Days in the Word! We have over 50 adults participating in these small groups. That's amazing! God is moving in mighty ways in each of these groups!
We are launching a brand new young adult ministry at the Mosaic Cafe this Friday!
We are moving forward with our plan to relaunch the junior youth group! God is moving in people to step up and help lead this ministry!
We are starting a jail & prison ministry!
BHCC budgeted for Pastor John to become a full-time staff member as of July 1st, 2013. (Is presently part-time paid staff.)
The Mosaic Cafe Live Music Ministry is going extremely well!
Our worship team continues to grow!
In 2012, we not only met our budget, we exceeded it! We had the best ever year of giving! We more than doubled our offerings from five years ago.
The AMC theater we worship in is getting a TOTAL makeover which means BHCC Sunday worship is about to get a huge upgrade as well!
And that's just a few things the Holy Spirit has been breathing life into recently. The most important thing is we continue to see is more and more people finding salvation at BHCC, finding comfort, hope and most definitely LOVE at BHCC!
To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen!
So where have you seen God lately?