“Serendipitous” is defined as something discovered or occurring by happy chance, a fortunate accident, or a beneficial coincidence. Some synonyms are: chance, accidental, lucky, unexpected, coincidental, and fluky. If we’re paying close enough attention, then we just might see past this superficial definition and instead see the “serendipitous” grace moments of the Holy Spirit, as He brings people into our lives at just the right time.

We’ve all heard the saying, “20% of the church does 80% of the work.” While, unfortunately, I can’t necessarily argue that statement, I wonder if the source of that statement could be linked to the number of people who simply and sadly do not know their spiritual gift. It is clear in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians — and to us — that each believer has at least one spiritual gift given to us by the Holy Spirit. Oh, how effective the Church of Jesus Christ might be if every believer actually manifested their gift!

If we’re paying attention… the Spirit of God is always and everywhere. These last three weeks have been a whirlwind of great highs and some sickly lows. From a deep dive Bible study at The Person & The Power Conference at Asbury, to understanding culture and the Gospel at The Assembly in Scotland, to shivering through the flu on my couch in the prayer room, it has been three weeks of watching the Holy Spirit work in all situations. Because He is always… and everywhere! We just have to pay attention.

I actually have really good memories of Halloween, from the stash of candy, to the “perfect weather” for trick-or-treating, to the haunted houses we used to have in our basement for the whole neighborhood. My memories are more warm and innocent than they are dark and sinister. But obviously, I am very aware of the Halloween debate that is argued among Christians, and I have my own history with Halloween since I’ve been a born-again believer. One thing I do know for certain is that Jesus wouldn’t be scared of Halloween. So whether we participate in the holiday or not, we can be sure that not even the “gates of hell” shall prevail against the Kingdom of God!

As a fan of bonfires, I confess that I do indeed use a fire starter at times. It’s a small block of wood that is treated just enough to burn long enough to start the rest of the wood on fire. In times of wind or dampness, it is a fire saver! Whether we know it or not, the Holy Spirit is our prayer starter. He is the initiator of our prayer life that should be reciprocal in nature, not a one-way monologue. As we are more and more aware of the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives, our prayer lives should become more and more intense and impactful!

One of the most misunderstood phrases in Christendom might just be “the fear of the Lord.” Images come to mind of a stern and even angry God looming large and ominously over His people as thunder peals and lightning flashes in the backdrop. And when we introduce the word “piety,” there is usually even more confusion added into the mix. In simple terms, it really comes down to the awe, the respect, and even the depth of devotion we have to the Lord and to His Kingdom. And the Holy Spirit is the key to all of that!

Just as Phillip was “sent” to a single, solitary Ethiopian eunuch in the middle of a desert to help explain the Word of God, so too are we to be ready to be sent by that same Spirit. Just as Phillip was “sure” of the interpretation of the passage in Isaiah dealing with the Lamb of God, so too are we to be sure of the revelation the Spirit will give us. And just as Phillip will most likely be “approved” on the day of examination before the Lord of how he handled the Word of God, so too should we strive for that approval as well. All of this is the work of the Holy Spirit!

“Inconvenient holiness.” Don’t you love this title? It’s true. God uses those “inconvenient” moments of our lives in order to grow us in our patience. As a part of the fruit of the Spirit, it is critically important to be open and willing to allow the Spirit to grow patience in our lives. So come, Holy Spirit, give me the grace to respond to daily disturbances with supernatural patience. Indeed, may every little inconvenience become an occasion for me to grow in great holiness.

Communion is a high and holy moment in the life of a Christian whereby we remember the saving work of Jesus on the cross. Unfortunately, much like baptism, we have tainted and distorted the purity and beauty of that sacrament by our humanness and our propensity toward legalism. May we allow the Holy Spirit to help us truly “do this in remembrance” of the One who willingly gave His life so that we may have eternal life. May we find great joy in partaking of the body and the blood of Jesus Christ in holy communion.

Contrary to popular but wrong belief, we do not have a “God on high.” Rather miraculously, we have a God inside! That’s the power and the awe of the Christian life. God has always desired relationship and communion with His people. How much more communion can one have on this side of heaven than to have God living within us! Let us fully embrace this truth, and then let us stay in awe of the One who dwells inside of us as believers!

The reaction to someone’s death, whether we deem them wicked or righteous, reflects how near or how far we are from God’s heart. May we ask the Holy Spirit to align our hearts to better represent God.

Allow these words of Scripture to sink deep into your heart. Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” May you allow the Holy Spirit to be the life-changing wind in your life!

Meet Emilio, a 77-year-old farmer from Sincelejito, Colombia.  As hard a working man as you will find and so passionate about protecting the land that he farms. A man who buried his 50-year-old son last year. A man who doesn’t know if he’ll be in Heaven… but wants to be. I have to believe that the reason I was on his porch sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ was because Emilio could not chase hope for himself. So God sent me to chase hope for him. Where might God want to send you?

It’s been said more times than it should be that there is an epidemic of hopelessness. Situations around the world where hope has been drained by poverty, devastated by drugs, and destroyed by violence. Situations that exist in a community of 40,000 called Tolu in northern coastal Colombia, South America. Situations that continue to fuel the passion of missionary Merritt Johnson as she and her husband Yeicol have committed to keep chasing hope for those who may have given up on hope.

Grace has been defined as getting what we do not deserve. Similarly, mercy has been defined as NOT getting what we do deserve. When Jesus told His disciples to “Be merciful, just as my Father is merciful,” He was speaking in the context of giving people what they do not deserve: kindness, respect, and even forgiveness. Chances are, we all need more mercy in our lives. So let us commit to asking the Holy Spirit for even more mercy, so we can do as Jesus exhorted and receive what the Father has for us.

One of the scariest Christian words to ever be uttered may be evangelism! Shudder and shake! Unfortunately, some of the ways of evangelism that we as the Church have developed and practiced probably weren’t exactly what Jesus had in mind when He told us to “go and make disciples.” The good news is that the Holy Spirit can and wants to give us the two greatest tools to help us in our evangelism efforts for the Kingdom. Grace and discernment will lead more people to the King and His Kingdom than anything else we can ever contrive or conjure. Let’s ask, let’s seek, and let’s knock for those two great tools, shall we?

In this broken and bruised world where hopelessness is easy to feel, it is critically important to draw from the right source of hope. So, of course, we turn to Scripture for the truth. There, we find that suffering is not supposed to be the cause of hopelessness, but rather can and should be the initiator of hope for all things.
And to no surprise at all, we also discover that our hope is the work of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Ghost all playing a part in giving us a hope that never disappoints.

In a long line of Bible verses that are taken out of context, Psalm 37:4 may rank in the top 10! So often we hear the word “desires” and think of things of the world: promotions, safety, security, good things like houses and new jobs, etc. But when paired with 1 Cor. 2, we get a better understanding of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives to align our desires with His so that when we serve in the Kingdom, we can truly take delight in whatever it is He has asked us to do. We can indeed delight in the Lord, as long as we allow the Holy Spirit to be in charge of shaping our desires.

You don’t have to travel to Alaska to be overwhelmed by God’s glory, but it sure doesn’t hurt! From snow-capped mountains to five-foot waves while fishing (think Deadliest Catch!), from sea otters playing hide and seek to strong, majestic eagles soaring right over you, this short trip to Alaska offered ample opportunities every day to join in with the trees as they “clap their hands” to the Creator of this rugged beauty. Again, you don’t have to travel to Alaska to be overwhelmed by God’s glory; just pay attention to where you’re at and ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes!

Coming at you from Joplin, Missouri, on a youth mission trip! As the youth have been serving the community in their hard work all the hot week long, Wednesday night provided the opportunity and invitation to allow the Spirit of Christ to serve them. As they were having their feet washed in a powerful supernatural moment, the youth were challenged to examine their “confidence in Christ” rating from 1-10 – confident in His love, His grace, His mercy, and in our salvation. Let’s be crystal clear: God wants us to live at a 10 – no less!