Gifts of the Holy Spirit and our writing

I think the Lord is more ready to speak through our writing than we realize.

I just finished reading, Charismatic Gifts in the Early Church--An Exploration into the Gifts of the Spirit During the First Three Centuries of the Christian Church by Ronald A. N. Kydd. It's his doctoral thesis at St. Andrews, Edinburgh, Scotland.

He writes a sad conclusion: These three centuries saw dramatic changes in the Christian church. In the midst of all this, the gifts of the Spirit vanished. There came a point around A.D. 260 at which they no longer fitted in the highly-organized, well-educated, wealthy, socially powerful Christian communities. The Church did not lose its soul, but it did lose these special moments when God broke into the lives of men and women.

Well, up to a point, yes. Every congregation is different. And I know we all see God's hand in our lives.

But for the most part, the strong presence and moving of God as the first church saw it--those who walked with Jesus and the eyewitnesses--was gone.

Another point to consider: Some who study Bible prophecy look at the world's political alliances and see Ezekiel 37 & 38 looming.

If it's the case, that could put us in the last church era of the Laodicean church of Revelation 3. That's the bad news.

The good news is, that's the reason we don't see more of the Lord's hand in our world.

But however much we do see, we could see more, I think.

He is knocking at the door of this church! Revelation 3:20.

I said all that to say, Let's let Him in! LOL In His fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Missionaries today come back from foreign fields telling of the moving of the Holy Spirit in wonderful ways.

If we pray to "be (Greek--continually) filled with the Holy Spirit," Ephesians 5:18, we might be surprised at what He will do in our writing. (And in our lives.) It would be more than interesting to find out.

art and adverbs

I was just thinking about art and adverbs! Weird? Not too.

I read someone's critique about how she may or may not want to use a certain adverb.

Well, of course, adverbs are a legitimate part of the tools of our trade. But, granted, we must be careful not to overuse them.

Same as in art. An artist has tools, and can't just attack a canvas creatively without an awareness of how to mix paints. Certain shades of red and green may be dazzling side-by-side, but if they overlap and become mixed, they can become a muddy brown or gray. We have to know a little about what we're doing if we're going to be satisfied with the result.

But I can't see rejecting a certain tool like an adverb because of overuse.

I can't imagine never painting with a certain color.

Having a Daniel moment....

Praying right now a la Daniel 9:20 and 2 Chronicles 7:14.... praying & confessing my sin & the sin of my people:

In the mighty name of Jesus--Lord, this land was started as a city on a hill, by people who loved you.... We've strayed so far from their ideals--and Yours.

Please forgive our sins, our selfishness, our greed, our idolatry of ourselves and our own pleasures.

Use us to inspire others to love you and the simplicity that is in Christ, and the guidance of your living Word....

Put Your person in the White House, please don't bring us to our knees with a bad president...

We agree with you, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord"....

Please, Lord, heal our land. Thank you.

"Where two or three agree...." Matt 18:19.