ruach

In our world today, we have become consumers. Consumers of information, material goods and food. There are thousands of bits of data that consume us every day. The Chinese have a belief about the “10,000 things of life” and those who study eastern philosophy understand that the Tao gave heaven and earth and everything else gave the 10,000 things.

On the other hand, Christian believers understand that God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1-2, tell us that, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. The Hebrew word for spirit, breath or wind is Ruach (pronounced roo-akh)

Ruach is the life force that surges through all things. God is the glue that holds us together. He’s the energy and life force that keeps our hearts beating every second. He’s the power of the Holy Spirit living in us that makes us speak an “awe” moment. God is the source of all we know to be and the forgiver and savior of all of us as fragile, sinful men and women who populate this planet. God is the Alpha and the Omega.

The world wants fireworks and millions of followers on social media. The world wants the sensational, the loud and the noticeable. Front headlines, top ratings and instant fame. God breathes His spirit.

In 1 Kings 19, “the word of the Lord came to him (Elijah), saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”

He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

So, are we awake to His voice? What are we doing here on this planet? Are we sensitive to His presence? Have we given our hearts and lives to Him? We are divine creatures. He created us. Let’s awaken our hearts and be drawn into His presence. Let’s be alive in Christ! Let Him breathe His Holy Spirit in you.

propinquity

In the business world, the most important element for success is not what you know and how amazing your platform can be. Rather it is simply having a large network. Connections. It’s who you know and who they know. It’s all about propinquity.

The term was first coined in 1950 by social psychologists Festinger, Schachter and Back. In the Westgate Study, the psychologists interviewed college students staying in identical dormitory buildings. They questioned them about whom had they formed the closest connections. Apparently, proximity made a difference because students demonstrated that other students living one or two dorm rooms away were closer friends than any who were farther away. Growing up, many of us can relate to the fact that if family and friends lived close by, we would spend more time with them and be closer to them, not only physically, but emotionally as well.

This Latin word - “propinquity” - could refer to either kinship or proximity. It is the state of being dear or near. I like to think that Jesus is both. We are God’s children and have been adopted by Him and we are born again as Christians into the family of God. The Message tells us in Romans 8: 15-17 that:

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!

As believers, Jesus is dear to our hearts, minds and souls and walks with us daily. And so, what are we doing with our connections - to God and others? Are we living with expectant adventure?

First of all, we need to accept Jesus as our Savior and we can draw closer to God. The spirit of the living God lives within us - that’s close! We only need to ask Him to fill us.

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father. Galations 4:6

Studying the bible, worshiping and praising God are other ways to stay connected. Being involved with others through acts of service, bible studies or different activities keeps us connected as well. Having faith and trust in our Creator moves us along in our faith journey. We can be examples of Christ as we connect with others. Let’s work on that propinquity with Jesus too!

roar

I recently watched a video of a young bear cub being chased by a mountain lion. The cub was running for its life and the lion eventually had it trapped on a log on the river. As the lion swiped the little face, it suddenly stopped, even though the little cub was inching backwards across the log. Out of the air, there was a thundering roar behind the cub and it joined in unison as the mountain lion slowly backed away. Mamma bear was roaring!

The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the heavens will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. Joel 3:16

God controls our destiny. He created and shaped us into what we are and who we are today but we have turned into a prideful ungrateful people. We go to church but have no personal relationship with Jesus. God is a jealous God and he forgives and longs for us to be protected, provide for us and return to Him. He is roaring!

Genesis 1 tells us that “in the beginning, God created the Heavens and the earth.” In Hebrew, earth is Aretz. The word is singular and finite where time and space can be measured. Shamayim, on the other hand, is Hebrew for heaven. This word is plural, infinite and we can’t measure eternity. To God be the glory. In Psalm 19, verses 1-2, even the heavens declare this!

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.

And so, let us roar to the world that we are His! Let us declare HIs glory! Let us sing of His wonders! Let the world know that the God we serve roars for us!

focus

It seems that life just seems to speed along and rather than taking time to wonder, observe, reflect or just pause or even stop, we continue to cruise along never really aware of what we’ve missed along the way. And when we do finally stop, we see a world full of rubble, breaking in many places - our connection to the earth, relationships with others and our spiritual lives - needing healing.

The media continually informs us at every moment we turn on the news that catastrophe is emminent from climate change, wars, poverty to sickness and despair. That’s our external world, but what about our inner, deeper selves?

The quiet, contemplative moments in the day are the ones when we feel the love. A simple act of kindness, a warm smile, the sun on the colored leaves are all touches from God. It’s the pause when we readjust the lens and focus on what’s really important. We shouldn’t just be seeking false gods and loving delusions; rushing frantically through the day and living fearfully in anticipation of what we believe from a newscaster, a politician or the neighborhood gossip.

As humans, we were created by God to glorify God. We can see the world He created and His eternal power and divine nature all around us - in a sunset, majesty of a mountain, power of a volcano, and fierceness of a storm. Those things should make it our desire to glorify the worthiness of God. All of His creation deserves the praise where it is due—to the creator Himself.

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”  Revelation 4:11

Perhaps we should be picking up the bible and receiving the message it offers. We should be listening to the voice of God. After we widen the lens, the vision becomes clearer and a deeper interior is revealed - convicting us to change - to pause - to stop. Slow the rush and rest and reflect. Change the pace.

“In peace I will lie down and sleep for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

watashiato

(n) curiosity about the impact you’ve had on the lives of the people you know.

We may never know how a kind word, a sincere smile or a statement of wisdom has influenced the life of another human being. Years ago, Max Lucado wrote a book called “How Happiness Happens”. He begins with the true story about ninety-two-year-old Johnny Barnes who would arrive at the edge of a traffic circle to wave at people from 4:00 until 10:00 in the morning.

He wasn’t looking for fame, money or food and he wasn’t part of a protest or picket line. He was simply making people smile.

He wears a straw hat and a salty beard. His eyes are bright, teeth white, and skin leathery and dark. The years have bent his back and slowed his step. But they haven’t siphoned his joy. He waves with both hands extended in front of him. His wrists turn from side to side as if he were adjusting the volume on a soundboard. He pulls back his right hand to retrieve a kiss and blow it in the direction of a taxi driver or commuter.

“I love you!” he shouts. “I’ll love you forever!” “Hello, there, darlin’. I love you!”

And they love him! Bermudans call him Mr. Happy Man. They route their morning commute to see him. If Johnny’s not standing in his spot, people call the radio station to check on him. If he happens to miss acknowledging some commuters, they often circle the roundabout until he waves at them. One morning a cranky woman was determined not to make eye contact with him. She wanted to wallow in her bad mood. But she ended up looking his way. When he smiled, she smiled.

Another sour attitude bit the dust.

Johnny’s philosophy is simple. “We human beings gotta learn how to love one another. One of the greatest joys that can come to an individual is when you are doing something and helping others.”

Wouldn’t you love to meet a person like him?

Better still, wouldn’t you like to be like him?”

In 2011, a documentary film was made called, “Mr Happy Man”. A group of businessmen erected a life-size bronze statue and Johnny’s impact continues to inspire others and make people smile.

Click on this link to watch the Documentary Mr Happy Man. You will simply love it. https://theshineblog.com/2021/04/30/mr-happy-man-the-man-who-was-positively-contagious/

What are you doing in your daily life to have an impact on the people you know?

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

beauty

There is beauty in a life. View black and white photos of elderly people where their faces mark the decisions they have made in their lives. Listen to singers reciting verses for the crowds and letting their tongues be like the pen of a gifted writer as words float on the air to eager ears. There are many soulful matters swirling around these days and because life is fleeting, we are to absorb with our eyes, soak up the music and let beauty wash over us as we ride the tides of change ~ especially in our world today.

The ugliness gets in the way of the beauty. Maybe we need a daily spiritual purging. When someone beats a rug, the blows are not against the rug, but against the dust in it. Rumi It’s when God walks through the rooms of our lives and shines the light on the messes - the dishes in the sink, clothes strewn on the bedroom floor and tufts of hair in the shower. Something has to change - the dirt needs to go. Evil creeps around sniffing at the air, messing things up and searching for a new victim. We have forgotten Eden, left it in the distant past and now live in our present paradise with our sagging couches, cheap idols and fences that separate us.

But when one sees the beauty that God sees, we can shine our radiant lights. Those who are blinded or get uncomfortable with those of us who shine too brightly, have shut themselves off from the Divine and closed themselves to the heavenly realms. They are concerned about self, ego and pleasures of the now. And where’s the beauty in forgetting that we are children of the Light made to shine God’s love through us? It’s time to pull out the prayer mats, ask forgiveness from the Jesus who is so readily accessible and transform the inner rooms and clean up our acts. It’s time to act like a believer!

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9