Category Archives: Holy Spirit

a rescue shop within a yard of hell

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Jill

“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop, within a yard of hell.” For statements like this, C.T. Studd was called a fanatic by some. I read his words … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit | Tagged Advocate, C.T. Studd, Christian calling, Christian mission, Holy Spirit, John 15, missionary, persecution, rescue, rescue shop within a yard of hell | Leave a comment

room for the billions

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Jill

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared … And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged angels, heaven, Jesus' promise, John 14:1-3, new earth, new Jerusalem, Revelation 21, size of heaven, Steven Lawson | 3 Comments

Fear not the open wound

Posted on February 28, 2016 by Jill

Closure: noun clo·sure \ˈklō-zhər\ a feeling that a problem has been solved a feeling that a bad experience has ended and that you can start to live again in a calm and normal way. Moving on. Leaving the pain behind. Getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit | Tagged affliction, bad experience, closure, failure, goal of life, los, open wound, pain, pray, Sigmund Freud, trial | 2 Comments

happiness and rest…only as you look to Jesus

Posted on January 17, 2016 by Jill

“Looking unto Jesus.” Hebrews 12:2 It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged happiness, Hebrews 12:2, Holy Spirit, Jesus, look to Jesus, Morning and Evening, satan's work, Spurgeon | Leave a comment

lessons from inside the MRI tube

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Jill

“Are you claustrophobic?” the MRI admissions clerk had asked on the phone the night before. “Are you claustrophobic?” the MRI technician now asked as we walked toward the testing room. “Not really,” I answered both times. So with that settled, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit | Tagged anxiety, dismayed, frightened, God with you, Joshua 1:9, MRI, MRI scanner | 1 Comment

If the coming year asks you to wait

Posted on December 27, 2015 by Jill

“I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly pray … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit | Tagged 2016, Elisabeth Elliot, highest goal, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 38:15, spiritual lessons, the new year, Thy will be done, waiting on God, with wings like an eagle | Leave a comment

songs of Christmas

Posted on November 29, 2015 by Jill

Here in the U.S., the crazy Christmas shopping rush has begun. It’s all around us, drawing our minds and hearts toward consumerism frenzy. I need reminders of the true Christmas message. You probably do, too. So I’m thankful for two … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged Christmas carols, Christmas message, Christmas music, Christmas rush, Come Thou long expected Jesus, Justin Taylor, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, Red Mountain Music | Leave a comment

How can I know what to pray?

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Jill

If I’m a magnificently created yet small creature (which I am, and you are, too) and my magnificent Creator wants me to communicate with Him (which He does, and that very fact should stupefy us), then I should sit up … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged how do I pray, how to pray, Lewis, Matthew 6, Matthew 6:9-13, pray, Prayer, template, the Lord's prayer | 1 Comment

telling your testimony to your children

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Jill

“Fathers and mothers are the most natural agents for God to use in the salvation of their children. I am sure that, in my early youth, no teaching ever had such an impression upon my mind as the instruction of … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged born again, children, Christian parenting, Christian testimony, Jesus Christ, salvation, Spurgeon, teaching children, telling children about God, witness | 1 Comment

Love that turns the world upside down

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Jill

No one else holds or has held the place in the heart of the world which Jesus Christ holds. Other gods have been as devoutly worshipped; no other man has been so devoutly loved. (John Knox, 1513-1572) “…taking some wicked men … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged Chistian martyrs, Christians in the Roman coliseum, courage, following Jesus, Jean-Leon Gerome, Jesus Christ, John Knox, loving Jesus, place in the heart of the world | Leave a comment

Getting your but in the right place

Posted on April 13, 2015 by Jill

Some phrases stick with you. This morning I found myself thinking about one short sentence whose ten little words help me remember massive amounts of correct theology. God regularly uses its premise to correct my wrong thinking about Him and … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit | Tagged correct theology, God is good, God is loving, sovereignty of God, transformation | Leave a comment

A longing for another place

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Jill

Mounded grey clouds blew in, and flurries of snow fell and dusted this scene soon after I took this photo. The horses nibbled through early morning layers of cold, and as I watched the flakes swirl toward the ground, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus | Tagged C.S. Lewis, heaven, longing, The Problem of Pain, what am I looking for, what I was made for, yearning | 4 Comments

How do I make the right choice?

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Jill

Today we’ll have choices to make. Small choices mostly. But even though those moments may appear mundane and trivial, each will really carry with it a weighty choice. We’ll be faced with decisions like: Will I exaggerate my part in … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit | Tagged choices, decisions, Gospel Coalition, Matthew 16:23, Ray Ortlund, Satan, serving God, the Lord's work, three paths | Leave a comment

God’s hand in every trial, small or great

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Jill

In every trial, small or great: first of all and at once recognize God’s hand in it. Say at once “My Father has allowed this to come; I welcome it from Him; my first care is to glorify Him in … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Holy Spirit | Tagged Andrew Murray, blessing though trial, faith during trials, faith in God, God's hand, God's hand in trial, goodness of God, when God says no | 2 Comments

Christian snobs and words of warning

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Jill

In our early twenties, single, and both hoping to head overseas as missionaries, a girlfriend and I used to say to one another, “We’ll never drive a minivan.” We weren’t worried about an American lifestyle we thought we’d be leaving … Continue reading →