Author: Jayne Lawson

Katakolon, Greece

Jayne Lawson 0 Comment Travel

Katakolon, pronounced “kuh-TACK-uh-lawn,” is a seaside village on the Peloponnese peninsula. It is probably best known for being the gateway to the site of ancient Olympia, home of the Greek gods and the site of the first Olympic games.

Approximately 30 miles from Katakolon, Olympia is in the valley of the Alfios River, at the foot of Mt. Kronos. Here, the first Olympic games were recorded in 776 BC, and there was only one event… a 650-foot long footrace. As years passed, events like the javelin and discus throwing, wrestling, long jump, horse and chariot racing, and boxing were incorporated. The games were discontinued in the 4th century AD due to the rise of a Christian emperor who banned the competitions. It wasn’t until 1896 that the games were reinstituted in the Athens Olympic stadium.

(Clockwise from top-left: swimming pool, John in front of gymnasium, temple of Zeus, gymnasium, Roman bath, Phillippeion)

The archaeological site in Olympia is home to the Temple of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. Built between 470-45 BC, it once housed the majestic 42-ft high, 20-ft wide gold and ivory statue of Zeus.

The Temple of Hera, the queen of the gods, is also located here. It was built around 600 BC, and the Olympic torch is lit on the altar of Hera’s temple to herald in the games (below – temple is in the background, altar in the foreground

).

The original Olympic stadium track is approximately 192 meters x 29 meters. The stadium can accommodate approximately 45,000 spectators. There are no seats except for the a section in the grassy hillside for the judges. Others simply sat on the grass surrounding the stadium track.

(Below: top photo – stadium; middle photo – entrance to stadium; bottom photo; marble starting blocks in stadium0

Five interesting facts abut the Olympics
1. During July and August, the season of the Olympic games, a truce was called for an entire month between warring city-states to allow people to travel safely between their homes to Olympia (considered a neutral area) for the games.
2. When an Olympic winner returned to his hometown, he was usually given free meals for the rest of this life.
3. Others events at the Olympic games also included writing, poetry, and history readings.
4. The Olympic torch made its first appearance during the 1936 Olympics. It is not an ancient custom.
5. Nike was the goddess of speed, strength, and victory long before being associated with a running shoe.

Corinth, Greece

Jayne Lawson 0 Comment Travel

“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s.” 1 Corinthians 1:2

I was thinking of the apostle Paul during our trip to Corinth. It took about an hour or so for us to get to Corinth from Athens by bus, and I thought about how long it took Paul to travel there. To think that he probably walked nearly everywhere boggles the mind because the distances are so great. Even by boat, the trip would have been long. What great lengths he went to to get the gospel to people. I think of the Corinthians who struggled in their new faith, and how Paul must have loved them so much to invest not only his time into their lives, but his heart as well.

Paul came to Corinth on his way to Rome, and during his stay, he worked as a tent maker while he taught the Corinthians about Jesus. The Greeks already had a concept of god-mortal offspring as many mythological Greek god-human unions produced demi-god heroes such as Hercules and Achilles. They understood the concept of the resurrection also from examples such as the goddess Persephone who went to the underworld and then returned to the surface. However, they had no concept of a loving heavenly Father who sacrificed Jesus, His only Son, so that they could have their sins forgiven and receive eternal life! Paul hoped to change all that for them and give them true hope, something they could not ever acquire through their mythological gods and goddesses!

(Corinth Canal)

There were not any excursions into Corinth itself. The only tour that would take us near the city was a trip through the Corinth Canal. Just before heading to the boat for the trip, we stopped at a bridge spanning the canal. From here we could see the walls of the 19th century man-made canal and the passageway from the Ionian Sea to the Aegean Sea. Prior to the canal being built, ships had to sail around the Peloponnesian peninsula. At times, the canal closes due to the water level being too low from the winds, which are strong enough to alter the water currents. The ocean tides themselves only vary the depth of the canal by 60 cm at the most, so they don’t really impact the transit. The canal is about 4 miles in length, about 70 (bottom of water) to 80 feet wide (at the water’s surface), and a depth around 26 feet on average. It was dug at sea level, and it has no locks.

Here are some of our photos from the Corinth Canal.

(We stood on the same bridge you can see the people on in this photo.)

(This is the same kind of boat we rode as we made the transit.)

Layers of sedimentary rock, mainly sandstone and limestone, comprise the walls of the canal. The canal is in a seismically active area, and sometimes there are landslides in the canal, which can require closure for extended lengths of time.

(Our view as we sailed through the canal.)

Next stop: Katakolon, Greece

 

 

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Jayne Lawson 0 Comment Travel

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” Psalm 100:1

Located along the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is an ancient medieval walled city with sandstone buildings with red-tiled roofs, narrow cobblestone streets, and fortified ramparts. It is currently thought that this area was inhabited as early as the 9th century BCE.

Dubrovnik is a city that refuses to die. Nearly destroyed in 1667 by a devastating earthquake, the people of Dubrovnik rebuilt their city. Bombed mercilessly in the late 1990s during the Serbian-Croatian war, the city once again restored itself in an enchanting Baroque style, and today, Dubrovnik is a major tourist site for the region.

The entrance into the old town of Dubrovnik is through the Pile (pronounced “pee-lay”) gate, which has been designated as a World Heritage Site gateway. As you walk the marbled pedestrian walkways, you can see the 15th century Onofrio Fountain, which still yields cool, potable water for the weary traveler!

(clockwise from top-left: Entrance to Old Town Dubrovnik, Onofrio Fountain, Main walkway, Bell tower, Pile Gate)

The Franciscan monastery, the order established by St. Francis of Assisi, houses a library with over 30,000 books and 1,500 priceless documents. Its Old Pharmacy is still in operation, making it the world’s oldest working apothecary.

(clockwise from top: monastery gardens, colonnade, Monk Jayne)

The Regent’s Palace, the 1673 Dubrovnik cathedral, and the massive city walls are all impressive structures to explore. In fact, if you don’t mind climbing 300 steps, you can actually ascend a stairway to the top of the city wall, and then walk the top of the wall encircling the town!

(clockwise from top-left: Regents’ Palace, palace sculpture, treasury iron chest, metal sculptures)

We also visited Cavtat, a coastal village about 30 minutes from Dubrovnik. It is situated on a beautifully serene bay, where the water is crystal clear, and you can see fishes swimming around, even at the bottom of the bay!

Five Interesting Things about Dubrovnik
1. It is the setting for the hit television series “Game of Thrones.”
2. Although it is part of the EU, the kuna is the official currency, and the euro is not legal tender here.
3. More than 1,000 islands dot the coastal region of Croatia.
4. Croatia was once part of the country Yugoslavia, as was Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Slovenia.
5. Hrvatska is the actual name of the country; Croatia is the English language name.

 

Next stop: Corinth, Greece

In Whose Steps?

Jayne Lawson 0 Comment Devotionals

“I and my Father are one.” John 10:31

My dad was a big man. His hands were massive when compared to my little girl hands. His shoes were huge, too. I would sometimes slip my feet into them and stumble around as I tried to walk in them. I remember sometimes I would stand on his feet and hold tight to his legs so that when he walked, I would be carried along with him as he moved about the house. As I held on, my backward movements would match his forward motion; I was completely in sync with him.

I have a Heavenly Father who wants me to walk in sync with Him as well. I wonder if my footsteps match His? Do I step where He steps? Do I go where He goes, or do I try to step away and head off on my own?

The word “Christian” means “little Christ.” Since I wear the label of “Christian,” I wonder if I am a “little Christ”? Am I following so closely to my Saviour that the two of us move as one? When I stand with Jesus, am I engulfed by His essence so that people see Him when they look at me?

There is a song that states, “You’re the only Jesus some will ever see.” Do people see Jesus in me? Am I and my Jesus one? I hope so.

        He drew me closer to His side,  I sought His will to know,

        And in that will I now abide, wherever He leads I’ll go.

       Wherever He leads I’ll go, wherever He leads I’ll go,

       I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so, wherever He leads I’ll go.

(from “Wherever He Leads I’ll Go” by B.B. McKinney)

 

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23

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In whose steps are you following?

 

Kotor, Montenegro

Jayne Lawson 1 Comment Travel

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.” Psalm 90:2

(The fjord approaching Kotor, Montenegro)

Earlier in the year, when we first visited Montenegro, I wondered where exactly was this place? I found out it was nestled along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, which is on the eastern side of Italy. If you were to draw a line parallel to the equator eastward from Rome, you would come to Montenegro. Geographically, it lies just north of Albania, west of Serbia, and south of Bosnia and Hertzogovina, with Croatia (our next stop) slightly northwest. It is a mountainous country with a Mediterranean climate, which means it has hot, dry summers and autumns and cold winters a little more inland.

It was actually first settled by the Romans in the fifth century BCE (formerly BC), and later fortified by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 535 CE (formerly AD). After Byzantine rule ended around 1000 CE, Austria, France, and Russia each had a time of governing the region until 1918 when Kotor became part of Yugoslavia. (Some of us remember that country!) Montenegro was part of that country until achieving its independence in May 2006.

(Symbol of Venice in the city wall)

Like most of the important ancient cities, Kotor was walled for its own protection. The old medieval city has a carved inlay in its outer wall of a lion with a book, which is a symbol of the Venetians. These walls stand 65 feet tall and 49 feet wide! Heavily influenced by Venetian art and handiwork, frescoes and gilded altars can be seen in St. Tryphon’s cathedral.

(Venetian-built wall around the old city of Kotor)

(city gate)

(“Pillar of Shame” – People who had committed offenses were shackled to this post for passersby to ridicule and throw things at them. I wonder how our world would be if every town had one of these today?)

Five interesting facts about Montenegro:

1. Favorite foods include seafood like squid, mussels, prawns, eel, and trout, and specialties such as “salata od hobotnice” (octopus salad) and “karadorde vasnicla” (breaded veal cutlet roll stuffed with cheese).

2. The old city of Kotor is built like a maze, and it is easy to get lost in its streets (a medieval corn maze perhaps?)

3. Local fauna include bears, deer, martens, wild pigs, wolves, foxes, and wildcats.

4. Montenegro boasts the largest lake in the Balkan region, Skader Lake.

5. Montenegro is not yet part of the European Union, but it does use the Euro as its currency.

(Part of the city wall)

Kotor has become one of my favorite places in the Mediterranean region because of its cobblestone streets, old churches, medieval setting, and rich maritime history.

 

Next stop: Dubrovnik, Croatia

My Safe Place

Jayne Lawson 1 Comment Devotionals

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

I love to travel to different countries. I love to experience the cuisine, the culture, the natural wonders of each land. However, no matter where I am, I don’t feel as same as I do when I am in my home country. The moment my plane lands in the United States, or my ship docks in one of America’s ports, I feel relief. I am in my safe place. I am home. As a citizen of the U.S., I know I will be protected from any enemy once my feet step upon American soil.

I feel the same way spiritually. When I am dangerously near wickedness and sin, there is nothing more relieving that seeking refuge in my place of spiritual safety. When I call upon the name of the Lord, I know I am immediately protected by His mighty power. His Holy Spirit brings to remembrance verses from the Bible that remind and reassure me of His promises to me. I don’t even have to run to Him. Why? Because He promised He would never leave me. His Word tells me that He is always with me, always keeps me safe, and always holds me firmly in His hand.

What I do have to do is maintain a relationship with Him through prayer, Bible study, and church fellowship. The more I fill my life with the things of God, the more peace I find in my “safe place” with the Lord.

The Bible frequently refers to God as my…

1. Shield – “But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. “ Psalm 3:3

2. Refuge – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

3. Hiding Place – “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in Thy word.” Psalm 119:114

4. Rock – “The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.” 2 Samuel 22:47

5. High Tower – “The God of my rock: in Him will I trust: He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my Saviour; Thou savest me from violence.” 2 Samuel 22:3

6. Fortress – “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” Psalm 91:2

7. Saviour – “I even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Saviour.” Isaiah 43:11

I need only call upon the name of the Lord to be safe from this world for no one cares for me like Jesus; no one loves me like my Saviour.

So let the storm clouds rage high, the dark clouds rise,

They won’t worry me, for I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God

He walks with me, and naught of earth shall harm me

For I’m sheltered in the arms of God.

(from “Sheltered in the Arms of God” by D. Wilson)

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety” Psalm 4:8.

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I am His, and He is mine. It just can’t get any better!

Just Another Ordinary Day

Jayne Lawson 0 Comment Devotionals

“Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.” 1 Kings 8:61

Today’s devotional verse was written during the reign of King Solomon at a time when the ark of the covenant was brought to the temple. After praying to the Lord, Solomon tells the people that their hearts must be complete in God, and to achieve that they must live according to the Lord’s laws for the rest of their lives as they are doing at that moment on that day.

When I apply this verse to my life, I think of Sunday as the “as of this day” for me. Sundays are special to me because this is the day that is set aside to worship the Lord with other believers, and I accomplish this by going to church.

I love church! I love everything about it. I notice that when I am in church, I feel differently than the rest of the week. I don’t mean in a mystical way. I mean my spirit is uplifted, joyous, and “perfect with the Lord.” I am encouraged; I am inclined to lift my voice in praise to Him more readily than I do at home, and I am closer to God in many ways. It is abundantly clear to me that the gathering together to worship with other Christians is vital to my spiritual well-being as written in Hebrews 10:25. If I want to keep my heart “perfect,” or complete in the Lord and experience the joy of Sunday all through the week, I need to walk in His statues. Here are some examples that will help me keep His commandments in my own home “as at this day” just as I do in church.

  1. SING – “I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being” (Psalm 104:33). I can sing along with the hymns of the faith or bask in the their instrumental melodies as I do things around the house.
  2. STUDY THE WORD – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). I can make time to read the Bible in my home, take notes (just like in a church service), and meditate upon its words. I can be open to the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who can, by the way, teach on Mondays through Saturdays as well as He does on Sundays!
  3. FELLOWSHIP – “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). I can call a Christian friend for a chat, or I can even go visit them at their house! I can invite another believer over for a cup of coffee. I can even cuddle up with a grandchild and read a Bible story about Jesus with them! There are so many ways to spend time with other Christians that will encourage my heart!
  4. SERVE – “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2). I can share the Lord by handing out tracts or going on visitations. I can support missionaries through prayer and giving. I can write cards of encouragement to others. There are so many ways I can serve the Lord on days other than Sunday.

Doing these things “as at this day” all the time will help me have a heart “perfect with the Lord.” What an exciting challenge for me for every day of the week!

I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God,
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family,
The family of God.

(from “Family of God” by Gloria and Bill Gaither)

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Psalm 122:1

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Wherever God’s people are, there is the house of the Lord.

The Good

Jayne Lawson 0 Comment Devotionals

“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8

Do you ever ask yourself, “What should I do?” I do, but most of the time, I already know the answer to that question. Often, it’s just that I don’t want to do it. Choosing to do right “goes against my grain.” My sin nature wants its own way, but that way is a path that leads to destruction (Proverbs 14:12).

All through the Bible, God makes very clear what I should do, and the prophet Micah reminds me what God has already shown me throughout His Word. Verse 8 of Micah 6 is a reminder that I should be doing what is good in the sight of the Lord. Deuteronomy 12:28 states, “Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.” Micah reiterates what it is that is good. I should be just, love being merciful to others, and walk humbly with God. Sounds easy, but for me, it’s not.

According to the KJV Dictionary, being “just” means being “influenced by a regard to the laws of God, or living in exact conformity to the divine will.” I must act according to what God deems as righteous and true, and to know what that is, I must go to the Bible. It is there that God reveals His perspective on truth and righteousness, which is vastly different from that of the world. It is His truth and righteousness that I must incorporate into my life.

The KJV Dictionary defines “mercy” as “That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries.” This is a characteristic that I should love, which I do, especially when someone is merciful to me. Of course, when it is in regards to me showing mercy to others, it is not always as easy. Why? Because I have a sin nature that is contrary to mercy. Sometimes I want to dispense judgment instead of mercy, but that is not God’s way. Jesus told us in Luke 6:36, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” It is only through the work of God’s Holy Spirit in my life that I am able to be merciful to others. 2 Samuel 22:26 states, “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.” If I desire God’s mercy upon me, I must demonstrate mercy to others. I need not only to be merciful, but I need to love being merciful as well.

The last part of Micah 6:8 refers to walking with God. For me, this started with my salvation in 1968. Once I accepted Jesus as my Saviour, I begin to cultivate my new relationship with Him through personal prayer and the reading of His Word. I wanted to know Him better, so I took steps to achieve do so. I can remember when I first met Him. It was new and exciting, but as the years passed, my relationship with Him became deeper and more meaningful as I spent more time with Him. That’s the same as when we make new friends. They don’t start out being close. It takes time and effort to develop deep and trusting relationships. That’s exactly how it is with God.

My walk with God takes work because He wants me to walk humbly with Him. Humility is an understanding of who I am compared to who He is. Simply put, there is no comparison! God is completely worthy of all praise, honor, and glory, and I am not. Romans 12:3 states, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” I am a prideful person in my flesh, but the Holy Spirit keeps me mindful that pride is a sin, and that I must “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up”(James 4:10). To say I am unworthy is a huge understatement, but… (and I thank God for the “but” in this sentence) despite my unworthiness, He loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and desires to have a personal relationship with me! Knowing this compels me to walk more humbly with God.

Finally, I realize that obedience is not always easy, but it is best for me to obey God. Why? Because He will never lead me astray. As I focus my gaze upon Jesus, I see how He is my example to fulfilling those things that the Lord requires of me.

  • Jesus is just – “Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.” Isaiah 45:32
  • Jesus is merciful – “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 1:21
  • Jesus is humble – “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8
  • Jesus walks with God – “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30

Following in the footsteps of Jesus is often difficult for me. I tend to stray onto my own path, but through God’s Word, His Holy Spirit always illuminates the right way for me to go and draws me back to where I should be. As I strive to follow Christ, I must always be “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

If I want to do that which is “good in the sight of the Lord,” I know exactly who to follow!

Sweetly, Lord, have we heard Thee calling,
Come, follow Me!
And we see where Thy footprints falling
Lead us to Thee.

Footprints of Jesus,
That make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus
Where’er they go.

(from “Footprints Jesus” by Mary Slade)

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Take time to deepen your relationship with God. Read the Bible; say a prayer. It will change your life for the good!

 

 

 

Whom Shall I Fear?

Jayne Lawson 0 Comment Devotionals

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

There are plenty of things that justify being fearful in today’s world. Life-threatening diseases, unending wars, corrupt government, ungodly societal “norms” and acceptances, unstable finances… Sometimes it feels hopeless, but I must remember that what I feel isn’t always reliable or true. My heart is deceitful and desperately wicked at times (Jeremiah 17:9), and I cannot depend on it for accurate assessments. I must rely solely on what I know to be good, true, and right. Therefore, my hope must be in the Lord and His Word. He is what lights my way and dispels the darkness of sin from my life. God is my haven of rest, my protection from the fears of the world. He has given me hope through His Son and my Saviour, Jesus Christ.

When I am afraid of overwhelming obstacles in my life, I need to remember who God is. He is the Creator of all things – omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent! There is nothing my God cannot do, and He is the one who has professed an “everlasting love” for me! (Jeremiah 31:3). He is mine, and I am His! (Song of Solomon 2:16). When I focus on these truths, my fears fade away. When I remember that I am kept safe in the palm of His hands (John 10:29), I am no longer afraid, and I can face tomorrow without fear for I know God is in total control of yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

(from “It Is Well With My Soul” by H. Spafford)

“And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.” 1 Chronicles 28:20

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Feeling overwhelmed? Cast all your cares upon Him, for He truly does care for you! (1 Peter 5:7)

 

 

Such Sweet Comfort!

Jayne Lawson 0 Comment Devotionals

“But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.” Psalm 22:19

Sometimes I read a verse, and WHAM! I am amazed when I grasp the meaning as it applies to me! Today’s verse was written by David, and he is asking God to be near him and to hurry and help him. How does that apply to me? I realized that I don’t ever have to ask God to be near to me because He is ALWAYS with me!

During Old Testament times, God’s people did not have the Holy Spirit with them continuously. The Bibles records many instances where the “Spirit of the Lord” came to certain individuals for varying lengths of time (Judges 6:34, I Samuel 10:10, 2 Chronicles 24:20, and Ezekiel 11:5), but He did not indwell the believer.

It was during the time of Jesus’ ministry on earth that He promised to send the Spirit of God to His followers. He told His disciples that He was going to leave, but He would not leave them comfortless. Instead, He promised to send the Holy Spirit of God to dwell within them (John 14). It was not until Pentecost (after Jesus had returned to heaven) that the Spirit of God began to dwell within Christians on a continuous basis.

What does this mean for me? It means that I do not have to face the ups and downs of life alone… ever! God’s Holy Spirit dwells within me and is ready to do His work in my life. And oh, what a work He does!

Here are a few things the Holy Spirit does:

*Teaches and reminds us of what Jesus said (John 14:26)

*Testifies of Christ (John 15:26)

*Convicts of sin (John 16:8)

*Guides to all truth (John 16:13)

*Glorifies Christ (John 16:14)

*Intercedes for us in prayer (Romans 8:26-27)

*Seals us – marks us as God’s children (Ephesians 1:13)

*Regenerates and renews us (Titus 3:5)

This is so exciting to me! What unspeakable comfort to know that through the presence of His Spirit, God is with me always and forever!

I’m rejoicing night and day
As I walk the narrow way,
For the hand of God in all my life I see;
And the reason of my bliss,
Yes, the secret all is this:
That the Comforter abides with me.

He abides, He abides;
Hallelujah, He abides with me!
I’m rejoicing night and day
As I walk the narrow way,
For the Comforter abides with me.

(from “He Abides” by Herbert Buffum)

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

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How have you experienced the comfort of God’s Holy Spirit in your life?