Today is Pentecost; a day to give the flame of the Spirit permission to burn within us once again.
Christianity is a relationship with a God who calls us by name, who relates to us Spirit to spirit. It is not a religion where we simply follow rules. It is a love affair that is a two-way street; we can’t be the only ones talking. Jesus promised us that he would not leave us orphans when His body left the earth but he would still love, guide, comfort and counsel us by sending the Holy Spirit to each believer.
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This is not an allegory, a nice bedtime story. This relationship is not just for the saints. A vital relationship with God is the normal Christian life.
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Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit John 14: 15-17
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.…
John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
But if you are wired like me,this sort of intimacy with God takes decades.
I was wounded, full of fear, living in independent isolation as a result of not only my sin but as a victim caught in the generational mire that goes all the way back to Adam and Eve. It is a long journey to freedom, simplicity and joy. Thank God for his mercy and gentle guidance. Thank God he takes the initiative and I simply respond by taking baby steps, saying yes, till His presence burns within me, like a consuming fire of joy within my heart. The Spirit of God is a living flame of love , energizing, radiating from my inner heart to the world around me. I just breath, live in simple joy and the Spirit does all the work.
joy of nine9 
Reblogged this on Bob's Opinion and commented:
This is a great post, and worth reading, all Christians are called to honor and celebrate God the Spirit… it is His job to enable us to lift up Jesus…
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well said
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Well this is just beautifully lovely. ❤️
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bless your heart
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God thank You for Your mercy, and for abiding with us and in us!
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once again, you bring tears to me eyes..amen.. so be it
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You are right about burning with love. But, for me, it is not only an overpoweringly awesome joyful awareness of the Presence of God; it is painful in it’s intensity. It is painful partly because I’m aware of my total unworthiness to be in the Presence. And yet, because his love is tempered by his mercy I am able to withstand the intensity of that love searing through my body and soul joining with my small love and totally immersing me. I am sorry, I am unable to put this experience into intelligible words.
Being aflame with his love is something I desire with all my heart, yet I allow the world’s cares to crowd in too often. My Belovèd knows me as no other can and woos me at my own speed. To be in his Presence is all.
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you have expressesd this perfectly…the process IS painful as it burns away our false self
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