Pick the fruit you're given.

This week I've been struggling to put a string of thought into one cohesive story. I feel like everything I write has been fragmented and hard to follow, and it could be because I'm traveling and enjoying Spain, or it could be because I'm distracted. Those of you who do read this, please pray for me and my family. There are a few things that are more conducive to my person than being totally encompassed by God. I've been writing a lot about where our authority starts, but I was recently asked "Where does your authority go?" If you've read Ephesians one of the most popular verses is 2:8, where it says that we are seated in Christ. It would seem to imply that our place of leadership is done in the lap of our Bridegroom. What it does not imply is the fact that this throne is a mobile throne, that flies around on the wings of Cherubim. Take into consideration the fact that in heaven there is no mention of stationary thrones, but that the people stay stationary on the throne. Who's to say that the thing that moves in heaven is the buildings, and not the people?

How else could I begin to answer than "Where does my authority go?" Well, we can start by saying "My authority begins and ends with intimacy and God's grace." Meaning while we are following God's grace and keeping track of where He takes us, we are under His authority, which is how we have authority. So to put it simply, when the throne moves, I move. When God's grace is poured out on the land, I am poured out on the land. When God prays I listen, and then I pray and agree with Him what He says. I have been deep in pondering about my relationship with the Holy Spirit. To me, while Jesus himself gave his life for us, what we have to interact with of His promise is the Holy Spirit. This is essential to our walk. The Holy Spirit is the one doing the work inside of us, through us, and with us, and yet we can't accurately say that the Holy Spirit has a gender. While Jesus himself says "He is called the comforter." Seemingly referring to the Spirit as a He, the first time the Spirit is mentioned in Genesis 1:2, the author uses a genitive feminine noun in the original Hebrew for "Breath." However, that doesn't necessarily mean that the Holy Spirit is referred to as a she, simply because of the fact that Hebrew nouns have Genders, like most languages besides English. Now, with the case of Mother Mary, who around there is a lot of controversies, because of her conception of Jesus, who is God, and the fact she has been worshipped as the mother of God it brings in a new nuance. In other religions such as Zoroastrianism, Greek Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, Indian Hinduism, Thai Buddhism the most powerful gods always follow the formula of a godly Father, a godly mother, and a godly Son. There are different stories and myths with each of them, but the formula stands in most traditional beliefs. 

Why is this significant? Because it is a trinitarian formula, one which every professing Christian believes, and one which our own religion has tried to follow, except it gets messy when we realize that the Holy Spirit is a 'He'. Because with our new formula, we have a Father, a Father, and a Son, as far as who is to be worshipped and praised. Now with that being said, that's what we see as far as being able to with our earthly eyes, but it's not entirely accurate, and if you are sensitive, really does not feel intuitive. So we must take it a step further. God through the prophet Moses says "like a mother eagle I will stir up your nest." Jesus Himself says "O, Israel how I desire to gather you under my wings as a Hen gathers her brood." There are many other times that God says He is 'like' a mother to us. Therefore we must take into consideration that this whole trinitarian thing is a much more layered subject to the traditional formula than even Christian's have figured out. It doesn't necessarily need to be controversial, we just need to realize that God has all the good qualities of both Father's and Mother's and Sons. You can say the same for Daughters in that matter. Often times in my own dreams the Holy Spirit shows up as a woman, whether she is old or young. To me, this simply means that I have a better outlook on women than I do men. It is who I prefer to talk to and receive advice from. It does not change the fact that I see God as my Father. However, it does tell me that God is more than willing to make a point. He's also very willing to meet you where you're at.

This is something that we as Christians must begin to learn, and really seek to understand. As a disciple I was very favorably met where I was at, and now that I've grown God has continued to show me his faithfulness in meeting me where I'm at with the introduction of new and interesting topics. The work has got to start somewhere, and I must be willing to do it. However, because I know that my God is in the work, it makes me all the more willing to do it and to keep treading. Because then, I know that what I'm doing truly has a purpose, and I'm not just doing meaningless things without Him.