Good morning…
This eighteen inch wooden Willow Tree woman is the symbol I bought for myself the day I began serving as the Women’s Ministry Director at Northside Church in January of 2008. Her name is “Welcoming Spirit,” and she silently sits beside me in the wee hours of the night as I craft each blog post. As I stepped into God’s invitation fourteen years ago this week, I committed myself to remaining open to all, welcoming anyone from anywhere at anytime.
In the dark light of this new day, the symbol of my soul takes on a deeper meaning. She quietly expands from a descriptive noun to a discerning verb.
Yes, I am designed to be a welcoming spirit to everyone I meet. Yet, I am created by God for more than just my own best attempt to remain lovingly open to all. Much more deeply important, I am invited to begin each day actively “Welcoming Spirit.” Before all else, I am first and foremost called to welcome God’s Spirit to lead, to guide, to empower me as I live the life of Christ dispensed into my life.
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ continues to remind me of our essential bond. “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing” (John 15:5, MSG).
Day after day, I must ask myself, “Connected intimately with Christ, am I intentionally ‘Welcoming Spirit’ to lead, to guide, to empower?”
Might you join me in the discipline of “Welcoming Spirit” first thing every morning? If we remain at home in Christ as Christ is at home in us, then we will be infused with the powerful Spirit of our living Lord. United in organic oneness, the great Gardener of our souls will grow an abundant harvest in our ordinary lives. For through the eternal and living Word of God you have been born again. And this “seed” that he planted within you can never be destroyed but will live and grow inside of you forever (1 Peter 1:23, TPT).
“Separated, you can’t produce a thing,” whispers the Spirit through this sweet symbol.
…Sue…
