Looking for Jesus

“I know you’re here looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here—he has risen victoriously, just as he said!” (Matthew 28:5-6 TPT)

Early one morning, I was out in the back yard with my dog. The sun was just rising, and the morning mist still hung in the air. The light filtered through staining the sky in brilliant hues of pink and orange. The trees swayed their arms, animated by the wind. The subtle scent of early spring flowers and new grass filled the air. The birds were awake and chirping loudly. It seemed like they were trying to outsing each other. I stood still and soaked in the moment. I’m always on the lookout for Jesus, but I don’t always notice Him. For a few minutes that morning, my heart became receptive. 

“Where is this risen Christ? Everywhere and all around us—in you, your neighbor, the dogwood tree outside, the budding grape vine, the ants popping up through the cracks. The whole world is filled with God, who is shining through even the darkest places of our lives.” (Ilia Delio)

Christ is everywhere and all around us--in each of us and all of creation. The whole world is filled with God. He is in the dark and the light, in the sick and the healthy, in joy and sadness. The risen Christ is present, but we don’t always notice. Receptivity to the Divine is a gift.  May each of us be blessed by the awareness of Christ in our surroundings. 

 

Forgiveness Is Key

“Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:12-13 NLT)

I am a skilled grudge keeper. I don’t forget anything, so it is hard for me to overlook bad behavior. I keep a tally of wrongs committed against me and charge interest. Needless to say, forgiveness does not come naturally to me. When I do feel merciful to anyone who has hurt me or my loved ones, I know the source is supernatural. It is as miraculous as if I, a short person who can barely jump a few inches off the ground, were to suddenly develop the ability to slam dunk a basketball. 

“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness." (Corrie Ten Boom)

While suffering is universal, individual responses vary. There are those who become sensitive to the vulnerability in others and develop more compassion and empathy. However, some people turn bitter and resentful in the face of adversity. They blame others for their troubles and feel the need to spread pain. Their experiences seem to trigger a covetousness for more of everything. Forgiveness is the key difference between these two paths. It is the antidote to the poison of resentment. It unlocks the shackles of hatred, bitterness, and selfishness. Like all other graces, it is a supernatural gift. 

Father, forgive us and help us to forgive others.

Million Little Miracles

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (Matthew 19:26 NIV)

A year ago, a friend had a liver transplant after years of battling cancer. He is doing well now. In a recent message, he mentioned the song “Million Little Miracles” by Maverick City, and how it resonated with him. Below is an excerpt of the lyrics and a link to the song: 

“All my life, I've been carried by grace

Don't ask me how 'cause I can't explain

It's nothing short of a miracle I'm here

I've got some blessings that I don't deserve

I've got some scars, but that's how you learn

It's nothing short of a miracle I'm here

I think it over and it doesn't add up

I know it comes from above

I've got miracles on miracles

A million little miracles

Miracles on miracles

Count your miracles

One, two, three, four, I can't even count 'em all

You held me steady so I wouldn't give up

You opened doors that nobody could shut

I hope I never get over what You've done

I wanna live with an open heart

I wanna live like I know who You are

I hope I never get over what You've done

It's not coincidence and it's not luck

I know it comes from above

I've got miracles on miracles

A million little miracles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Viiw6tGimHo

As I listened to the song from my friend’s perspective, I realized all the million little miracles that I take for granted: 

Every working cell and organ in my body, every hair on my head, eyebrows, eyelashes. 

The ability to eat, digest, and eliminate waste naturally. 

The health to walk, run, sleep, drive, talk, write, read, clean, cook, work, and take care of my loved ones. 

The capacity to go outside and see the birds, grass, trees, clouds, sky, ponds, and creeks. 

The blessings of food, a working car, a home, privacy, and safety. 

Too many miracles to count...

Even in the darkest days, God does not abandon me. 

I am held and carried by grace. 

Not because of my merit, but because of God’s goodness. 

Not because of luck or coincidence, but by Divine intervention. 

Not because of the intensity of my faith or the consistency of my prayers, but because of the sacrificial love of Christ. 

What is impossible on my own, becomes possible with God. 

I’ve got miracles on miracles, a million little miracles. 

__

Through Grace

"Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]?" (Romans 2:4 AMP)

I’ve always wondered:

Why do some people have faith, but not others?

Why do some people suffer greatly, while others seem to do okay in life?

Why are not all the sick healed through prayer?

Why do some people repent and turn their lives around, while others self-destruct?  

I do not have answers to any of the above. Yet, I am aware of the following: 

God’s love is available to everyone.

God’s kindness leads us to repentance and transformation.

The gift of faith enables us to have a responsorial relationship with God.

Everything we are seeking in life–joy, fulfillment, purpose, meaning–is found through Grace. 

Without God, nothing is possible. With God, nothing is impossible. 

The Discomfort of Growth

“Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. ‘Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.’” ( Matthew 16:24 MSG)

When I read verses like the one above, I cringe. If I’m being completely honest--I want to be in the driver’s seat. I routinely try to run from suffering. I prefer self-help over self-sacrifice. I always pick comfort over pain. I would rather not face uncertainty. If suffering is the only pathway to growth, I would rather remain stagnant. 

And so does most everyone else. 

We are all like pigs wallowing in dirt. We are content to stay in the muck and call it a mud bath. Some of us may move to a slightly cleaner puddle once in a while. How can we reveal our true selves when we are covered in mud? How can we see where we are going? How can we not slip and fall?

Follow Jesus and He will show us how. 

He will escort the blind down unfamiliar paths. He will guide us through new territory, smoothing out rough patches. He will illuminate dark passageways. He will not abandon us. 

“I will escort the blind down roads they do not know, guide them down paths they’ve never seen. I will smooth their passage and light their way. I will indeed do it—they are abandoned no more.” (Isaiah 42:16 VOICE)

Surrendering

“Don’t worry or surrender to your fear. For you’ve believed in God, now trust and believe in me also.” (John 14:1 TPT)

Sometimes in battle, you have no option but to surrender. You feel ill-equipped, outmaneuvered, exhausted, and overwhelmed. You can’t go on fighting. But you can choose what you surrender to. 

Fear is a mean taskmaster. If you surrender to fear, it will enslave you and continually torture you. Do not give in to anger, resentment, bitterness, impulsivity, selfishness, self-pity, or despair either. 

“God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can handle. But He always provides a way of escape so that you will be able to endure and keep moving forward.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 VOICE)

Surrender to God. Trust Him. He is merciful and faithful. You may not be able to handle some things on your own, but you can handle everything with God. He will provide a way of escape so that you will be able to endure and keep moving forward. 

The Tough Middle

“Before every person lies a road that seems to be right, but at the end of that road death and destruction wait.” (Proverbs 16:25 VOICE)

Midlife is a time of reevaluation. By this time, we have worked hard to achieve what we thought would bring us happiness. Yet, we find ourselves asking: "Is there more to life?” Many of us project our dissatisfaction onto our circumstances. We pursue more temporary highs in the hope of finding fulfillment. We choose paths that seem right to us, but lead to more disappointment.

In the midst of a crisis, it is hard to recognize that what you are going through is not unique. Pulling yourself out of a pit is also difficult. Seek wise counsel. Even those who are intelligent sometimes allow their emotions to cloud their discernment. Examine your feelings of dissatisfaction. See where they point, and find healthy ways to address them. Thoughtfully navigating this tough middle stage can lead to growth while impulsive decisions can lead to destruction. 

Target Zone

“Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.’” (Job 1:8 NIV)

The Old Testament describes Job as a good man who suffered greatly. He was victimized by Satan, because he was a faithful servant to God. The New Testament tells us that Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert. A few years later, Jesus died a gruesome death despite doing nothing wrong.  

Serving God puts you on Satan’s radar. It’s like wearing a military uniform in enemy territory during a war. You are going to be more of a target than a person wearing civilian clothes. 

Even though I have known this for a while, I am still surprised and shocked when I see good people suffer. I question why God allows this to happen! I understand that humans are given the free will to make bad choices which may lead to the suffering of others. Even natural disasters and illnesses are often caused by choices made a long time ago. 

God restored everything to Job after a period of testing. Jesus was resurrected after His sacrificial death. If we can get through the tough middle period through faith, good will overcome evil in the end. 

 

Three Basic Questions

“Your Spiritual roots go deeply into his life as you are continually infused with strength, encouraged in every way. For you are established in the faith you have absorbed and enriched by your devotion to him!” (Colossians 2:7 TPT)

According to Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, 

most people struggle with three basic issues in life: 

Identity--‘Who am I?’

Importance: ‘Do I matter?’ 

Impact: ‘What is my place in life?’

Since these questions are complex, many of us avoid thinking about them. During the first half of life, there are so many things vying for our attention. Busyness may enable us to put off answering these basic questions, but our lives become more troublesome the longer we wait. 

Who am I? My identity is more than what others think of me. It is more than my name, career, status, accomplishments, experiences, and accumulations.  

Do I matter? As long as I assess my significance upon worldly standards, my feelings of relevance will wax and wane along with circumstances. 

What is my place in life? How can I make a positive impact so that my existence makes a difference? 

Our true identity, importance, and impact come from within, not from  shallow externals.  When our roots go deeply into our spirit, we are continually infused with strength and encouraged in every way. When we are established in faith, we are absorbed and enriched by our devotion to God. We can only find fulfillment through our union with Christ.  

Self-Respect

“I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.” (Romans 12:3 TPT)

If an expensive brand of car does not have a hood ornament that announces its worth, would it remain appealing? If clothes or accessories came with nothing to identify them as exclusive, would people pay exorbitant prices for them? If pictures and stories of travel and activities could not be publicized with anyone, would these experiences be less interesting? 

Humans have always used props for self-promotion. Cavemen probably embellished stories about their hunting experiences. Cavewomen most likely compared their jewelry made from bones and teeth of animals. Unfortunately, humans have not evolved much in this aspect. We still project false images to look important. 

We may be able to elicit attention, applause, or envy with displays of wealth and success, but public validation is fickle. The temporary high is disappointing. Our worth cannot be based on props, masks, costumes, and applause. It is natural to crave respect, but why do we settle for counterfeit versions that fail to satisfy? 

Self-respect is derived from being honorable--even when no one is there to observe you. It comes from staying true to an internal moral compass. Honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem. 

Prayer Paramedics

“They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, ‘Son, I forgive your sins.’” (Mark 2:3-5 MSG)

The term ‘prayer warrior’ is used to describe a person who commits to battle for others through prayer. This is a heavy responsibility. Since the Bible reminds us that the battle belongs to the Lord, perhaps we are not all called to the role of being prayer warriors. Perhaps some of us are called to the role of being ‘prayer paramedics’. 

A friend of mine belongs to a prayer group that meets over Zoom. Along with their own concerns, they take time to pray diligently for others in need. They remind me of the four men who carried a paralyzed man on a stretcher to Jesus. When these men couldn’t get through the door, they broke through the roof and lowered their patient down in front of Jesus.  I think of these ladies as ‘Prayer Paramedics’ --dependable, first responders who carry those who need healing to Jesus. They intercede for those who are weak, overwhelmed, disoriented, or lacking in faith. They are resourceful in finding ways to help even when there are obstacles in their way. 

“Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before!’” (Mark 2:10-12 NLT)

In difficult times, when we are too paralyzed to get to Jesus on our own, the bold faith of ‘Prayer Paramedics’ can lead to a breakthrough. When our faith is weak, these reliable intercessors lift us into God’s presence. They stay attentive until Jesus heals and revives us. Their diligence in prayer brings glory to God.

 

Resting in God

“Turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me.” (Isaiah 30:15 MSG)

In stressful situations, most of us attempt to make things happen according to our plans. We strive, strategize, manage, analyze, numb, check out, or seek distractions--depending on our personalities. These coping mechanisms may work temporarily but have no benefit in the long term. Instead of flailing about like children, if only we could learn to swaddle our agitations.

“Surrender your anxiety. Be still and realize that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 TPT)

It is impossible to relax when you are stressed out. The key to rest is trust. Turn back to God and stop your silly efforts to save yourself. Surrender your anxieties. Be still. Realize that God is in control. Trust Him. Strength comes from settling down in complete dependence on Him. Like a baby sleeping peacefully in her mother’s arms, rest in God. 

“O rest, in utter quietude of soul,

Abandon words, leave prayer and praise awhile;

Let thy whole being, hushed in His control, 

Learn the full meaning of His voice and smile.” (Mary Rowles Jarvis)

Waiting on the Spirit

“It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” (Zechariah 4:6 NLT)

Sailing a boat is easier on a breezy day. You adjust the sails and the wind does the work. When there is no wind, you have to paddle by your own strength...or wait. 

The Holy Spirit is like the wind. When the Spirit comes, all we have to do is adjust our sails. Without the Spirit, progress is hard. Our own efforts amount to paddling with our hands in a vast ocean. 

“When thou shalt allow My Spirit to have free course, when thou dost cease to interfere with My moving within thee, then those things which shall be accomplished both within thee and through thee shall be verily the Life of God. For My Spirit is the Spirit of Life, and My Spirit is the motivating power of Divine energy.” (Francis Roberts, Come Away My Beloved)

Waiting on the Spirit takes patience and perseverance. We invite Him to come, pray expectantly, remain receptive, and watch alertly. When we allow the Spirit of God to take over, when we stop meddling, amazing things happen. In our own strength we achieve very little, but through the power of the Holy Spirit we accomplish much. 

Signs of Insecurity

“Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron.” (John 13:3-5 MSG)

Jesus was secure in his identity. He knew who He was, where He came from, and where He was going. He lived with purpose. This allowed Him to serve others with humility. He didn’t seek external approval or put on airs. 

 "Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear to others. They fear exposure of their weaknesses and hide beneath layers of protective pride and pretensions. The more insecure you are, the more you will want people to serve you, and the more you will need their approval.” (Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life)

Pretentious behavior can be mistaken for confidence. Projections can create illusions that fool the majority. Like the little wizard in the Wizard of Oz who pretends to be more than he is, many of us spend our lives hiding beneath layers of protective pride and pretensions. However, truly secure people do not need external validation to recognize their self-worth. 

Why is this significant?

All of us desire to find our authentic selves and have meaningful lives. Yet, we rarely question the motivations behind our own behaviors or that of others. We only acknowledge that there is a problem when insecurities lead to harmful choices. We mistake false pretensions for true purpose. This leads us down dead-end roads to emptiness and dissatisfaction.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

Defining Greatness

“Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.” (Matthew 20:26 MSG) 

How do you define greatness? 

Personally, I admire people with characteristics that I aspire to have: Good parents, devoted spouses, endurance athletes, expressive writers,  those who are virtuous, self-disciplined, intelligent, articulate, kind, witty, consistent, authentic, impactful, talented, etc. 

Who would you say is the greatest of your friends? Why?

When it comes to my personal acquaintances, I define greatness differently. One of the greatest people I know has a servant heart. When she sees a need, she fills it--even when it is inconvenient for her. She doesn’t worry about whether she can do a job well enough. She makes herself available and does whatever she can. In a crisis situation, I would prefer to spend time with someone like her than an accomplished athlete or writer. From a worldly perspective, selflessness may not be considered great. But in personal relationships, goodness and compassion are extraordinarily impressive.

Furnace of Fire

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!” (Daniel 3:26-27 NLT)

Three Hebrew boys were thrown into a furnace by the Bablyonian king Nebuchadnezzar. They came out of the fire unscorched because of their persevering faith. 

All of us go through periods of fire if we live long enough. The furnace of suffering is painful. Yet, there can be transformation in the process of going through the fire. We can either become unhinged by affliction or step out unsinged by the fire. Our character is refined by how we respond to trials. Our natural reactions may include fear, frustration, anger, confusion, resentment, regret, self-pity, and a whole host of unproductive emotions and behaviors. The grace of God gives us other options. We can access supernatural gifts of selfless love, generosity without expectations of reciprocity, peace that surpasses understanding, forbearance, faithfulness, and acceptance.  

 

Trusting and Flowing

“My heavenly guide brought me to the river of pure living waters, shimmering as brilliantly as crystal.” (Revelation 22:1 VOICE)

There is a creek in our neighborhood that has been rerouted to avoid flooding to nearby homes. The original creekbed was excavated and changed. The water flows in a different direction now. It would have been smarter to plan the homesites based on the river rather than changing the trajectory afterwards. 

Richard Rohr describes faith as the ability to trust the flow of God’s love:

“This is a divine process that we don’t have to change, coerce, or improve. We just need to allow it and enjoy it. That takes immense confidence in God, especially when we’re hurting. Often, we feel ourselves get panicky and quickly want to make things right. We lose our ability to be present and go up into our heads and start obsessing. At that point we’re not really feeling or experiencing things in our hearts and bodies. We’re oriented toward making things happen, trying to push or even create our own river. Yet the Big River is already flowing through us and each of us is only one small part of it. (Richard Rohr. Daily Meditations April 1st, 2022)

When I’m hurting, I get panicky and obsessive. The flood of emotions is unsettling. I want everything to be okay as soon as possible. Instead of trusting God, I try to dig tributaries and engineer diversions of my own making. 

The Big River of God’s love is already flowing through us. This divine process does not need to be rerouted, coerced, or improved. We just need to allow it, enjoy it, and build our lives around it. This takes immense confidence in God. 

 

Place of Battle

“We appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not in their place of battle. Be skilled at gently encouraging those who feel themselves inadequate. Be faithful to stand your ground. Help the weak to stand again. Be quick to demonstrate patience with everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 TPT)

Before a marathon starts, runners line up in corrals based on their pace. The faster runners are assigned sections in the front, and the slower runners are supposed to be in the back. This system enables the race to proceed smoothly and safely. There are always some runners who are out of place. They may prefer to wait with their friends before the start line. Some inexperienced runners may not know their average pace, so that might cause them to be in the wrong spot. Whatever the reason for their deviation, it is NOT due to laziness. Marathoners are far from idle!

In the battle of life, we are each assigned specific positions at different phases. There are times when we may be out of place. Perhaps we choose to be with our friends rather than stand alone, or we are confused about our purpose, or we feel inadequate or overconfident in our abilities. Whatever the reason, we don’t opt out of our place due to laziness. 

It’s hard enough to know our place in battle and remain at our assigned post. Instructing others who are out of place takes even more boldness. Most people do not respond gladly to correction. Gently encouraging those who feel inadequate or confused takes Divine assistance. But first, we must be able to know our own place in battle and stand firm in our own good convictions. Only then can we help the weak stand and extend forbearance and forgiveness to everyone.

Remodeling

“God is transforming each one of you into the Holy of Holies, his dwelling place, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in you!” (Ephesians 2:22 TPT)

I am friends with a home builder. He mostly works on new construction with an occasional remodeling job. His whole family is involved in the business. A few years ago, their adult son bought two older houses--one to flip for profit and one to live in. The father and son worked on both houses together. The flip house only got cosmetic changes--new paint, flooring, fixtures, appliances, etc. The house that the son wanted to live in was gutted and rebuilt. The walls were torn down, the electrical system was rewired, and structural changes were made. The cost for the second house was much higher, and the project took much longer to finish. Yet, the end result was amazing.

God is transforming each one of us into His dwelling place through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. This project involves more than superficial changes. He will demolish strongholds, pride, and rebellious thoughts. He will rewire our minds to conform to His standards. He will remove anything that could cause harm. This remodeling process is costly, time consuming, and uncomfortable. Yet, the end result will be amazing.

 

Unresolved Issues

 Unresolved Issues“Keep creating in me a clean heart. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you. May you never reject me! May you never take from me your sacred Spirit!” (Psalm 51:10-12 TPT)

Have you ever seen someone act out in such a way that you wonder: What happened for him to behave this way?

Unresolved issues can fester over years, causing us to behave in ways that are self-destructive and damaging to those around us. Processing pain is deep and uncomfortable work. We feel ill-equipped to handle intense emotions within ourselves or our loved ones. Thus, it is natural to try and ‘move on’ by distracting ourselves or keeping busy. 

I used to think that time, therapy, medications, etc., could heal all emotional wounds. While there is value in all these modalities, some issues continue to remain unresolved even with these interventions.  Perhaps we need supernatural solutions for deep-seated pain. 

Human solutions can only resolve issues to a certain extent. The Spirit of God can examine our subconscious thoughts and heal our deepest pain. He cleans our minds and fills us with pure thoughts. He rises up within us to intercede for us, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.  

Lord, keep creating in me a clean heart. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you. May you never reject me! May you never take from me your sacred Spirit!

 

Stay On Track

 “Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to stay on track. God-defiers are always in trouble; God-affirmers find themselves loved every time they turn around.” (Psalm 32:9-10 MSG)

Have you ever had to stop on the shoulder of a road due to an emergency? The paved margins of highways are meant for temporary use, yet some people drive in these lanes. Most are looking to get back on the proper road but keep driving on the shoulder in hopes of getting ahead of traffic.

On the journey of life, there are times when you are forced onto the margins. A sudden crisis comes up, and you become sidelined. This is understandable. But when you start normalizing these margin lanes, you start driving down shoulder roads. You think you are being clever by using every possible way to get ahead, but it is just a matter of time before you end up in trouble. This tendency to keep living on the margins is not a matter of intelligence but of wisdom. Depending on your influences, you may have normalized driving on the shoulder lanes in many areas of life: finances, relationships, health, excessive behaviors, time and energy management, etc. Deep down, you sense that you are off-track, but pride and stubbornness keep you moving along until you run out of options.

Pride and stubbornness lead to defiance. God-defiers are like ornery horses who need bit and bridle to stay on track. If they don’t correct their trajectory, they will either run out of options or self-destruct. God-affirmers find themselves loved at every turn. They are encompassed in mercy and wisdom. Whenever they find themselves on the margins, they get back on track as soon as possible. They don’t attempt to get ahead by pushing to get their own way. Instead, they trust God to guide them. 

 

Wild Goose

“The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 NLT)

There is a pair of Canadian geese nesting in our neighborhood pond. Usually they just swim around sedately as I run by--but today they were honking loudly. I watched them more carefully because of all the noise. Geese can be unpredictable. They will attack without warning. As I got closer, they flew off on their powerful wings. 

The image of a dove is often used to represent the Holy Spirit. Doves are gentle and safe. They make soft cooing sounds. Nobody feels threatened by a dove. Celtic Christians saw the wild goose as a symbol for the Holy Spirit. Unlike a dove, a goose is unpredictable and difficult to control. It makes loud, honking sounds. Geese are vigilant, protective, and powerful.    

Both the dove and the wild goose may represent different attributes of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes He may come gently and whisper quietly. Other times She may be loud and unpredictable. The Spirit of God can be as pleasant as a breeze or as powerful as a tornado. Like the wind, the Holy Spirit will remain uncontrollable and unexplainable.