My dear friends

It's Monday morning here in New Zealand as I write, my two boys are on school holidays, and I'm sitting in my comfy clothes, ready to write to you.

I'm armed with much coffee here, and I so want to chat!

This week I have kept on thinking "I want to talk about the Holy Spirit, and how he works in our lives." The unequally yoked life can be so serious and weighty, can't it? We get weighed down by all sorts of things. Especially the spiritual condition of our family.

BUT, the Holy Spirit brings a counter-experience to that. If we welcome him in, things happen to us that leave us wide-eyed in wonder.

Holy Spirit, you are so welcome here. On this blog, in this community, and in our lives.

The Holy Spirit is our comforter. And for us SUMites that is very meaningful. 

What's more, he has comforted us time and time again collectively in this community. This happens mainly through words he has whispered to us, and stories of things we've encountered that we share with each other. Many of the experiences we've had here as a community have been the Holy Spirit.

Jesus described the Holy Spirit as a helper, a comforter -- 

And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever (John 14:16, GNV).

But when that comforter shall come, whom I will send to you from the Father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth of the Father, he shall testify of me (John 15:26, GNV).

Yet I tell you the truth, It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away that comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will send him unto you (John 16:7, GNV).

The Holy Spirit is our intelligence system, our voice of truth in our lives, our compass. He testifies of Jesus to us over and over, he helps us, and tells us things to come (John 16:13).

There is so much to be said about the Holy Spirit ... Where would we begin? It's like talking about God, where do you begin? But the characteristic I'm thinking about currently is this beautiful and refreshing word: Comforter.

And so, for the next few posts I want to write a few stories about the comforting Holy Spirit in my own life, and some things he's shown this community: Comforting things.

This is short and sweet today. But, perhaps we can have a think about the following before the next post: How have you experienced the Holy Spirit as a comforter in your life?

This topic is making me smile. I can't wait to come back and talk more. Have fun thinking about this one, and I'll see you next time.

Ann

p.s. Thanks to SUMite Barb Twigg for the inspiration for this post.