Foggy Sunshine

"Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and said to them, 'This is what is written: The Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later, and in His Name the message about repentance and the forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.'"  Luke 24: 45-47

This morning I stepped out my back door to find foggy sunshine - or sunny fog.  It was still cool enough for fog, but the sun in the east behind the mist promised to evaporate all humidity within minutes.    

The day after Christ rose from the dead, when women vowed they had seen Jesus alive and men still processed the empty tomb, must have been like living in bright fog - or in foggy sunshine.  The rays of hope broke through with 
"He prophesied His death . . ."   
     "He said three days. . .,"  
          "We saw Him with Elijah and Moses. . . "
               "He promised to rise. . .,"  
and began thinning the fog of doubt still clouding their thoughts:  
"He died,"
     "He was guarded," and 
          "Surely, He didn't mean literally . . ."   

Then testimonies of Jesus sightings began pouring in from around Jerusalem until finally, the day came when the last dewdrop of doubt disappeared. The Light broke through their locked doors and minds ajar to stand among them.  The disciples heard, saw, touched, and believed.  Jesus, alive, answered every need. Jesus alive, altered every disciple.  Truth outshone fear and the world began to change. 

Lift the fog of doubt hovering around us Lord.  May we come to You for every need.  Help us see You in every Scripture we read. May Truth rock our worlds and alter us from fearful to full of certainty in You and You alone. 
In the Name of Jesus, the One Who Conquered death


Luke 24:36-49

I Want My Own Spin Room

"'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty."

Zechariah 4:6

     A spin room is as necessary to politicians as the kitchen and bathroom are for the rest of us.  The purpose of the spin doctors in the spin room is to make their candidate (or politician) look good no matter what he/she does or doesn't do. They reduce lies into "misunderstandings," interpret lack of action as deep thought and planning, magnify fortuitous events into premeditated heroism, and let's not forget the one they seem particularly adept at: blaming others for the failures of their guys/gals. 

     I want my own spin room. 

     "Robin lost her temper because she's so passionate about blah, blah, blah," sounds so much better than "That woman was already as mad as a wet hen and ready to blow;' you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time." 

     "Mrs. Noland hasn't acted on that project yet because haste makes waste and she insists on having everyone on board to make the project a success,"  is better than "She procrastinated because she's a people pleaser and this project is going to be controversial." 

     "Robin's taking some time to recharge so she'll be a better servant to God and His people," sounds divine when the truth might be, "She's pouting and needs to get over it."

     We didn't get spin doctors but the Holy Spirit, Advocate of Truth, and Comforter.  He's not here to gloss over our mistakes or flaws, but to transform us with Truth.  He stands by us when we look good or bad, when we're popular or outcast, when we're winners or losers.  He comforts us when people misunderstand our stand for Truth, and He comforts us when we're repentant for falling for lies.

  "And I will ask the Father,

and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 

the Spirit of truth.

The world cannot accept Him,

because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.

But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you."  

John 14:16-17

"But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.

Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you;

but if I go, I will send him to you."

John 16:7

Father, You've given us Your Holy Spirit to guide us in Truth because Truth sets us free.  Truth sheds light - sometimes blinding light - but light in the darkest of places.  Your Spirit of Light and Truth lives in those Who believe Jesus is Your Son Who lived a perfect life, died a sinless death, and rose to live forever as King of Heaven and Earth. Let Truth shine out of us and help us rely on Your Spirit - not the tide of public opinion, not the flow of popular rhetoric, and not even on the power of people we think are closer to You than we are.  You alone speak pure, unspun Truth.  Help us hear and act on Your Truth for Your Glory.  Give us ears to hear and eyes to see what You alone can reveal through Your Spirit. And thank You, for the incredible gift of You with us always.

In the Name of Jesus Who sent the Comforter, the Spirit, our Advocate.