Monthly Archives: February 2025

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: FEB. 8, 2025

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I wrote yesterday about being vulnerable. Well, here goes a huge dose of vulnerability I must write out for today as my journey continues. This present time of being awakened to the critical importance of God’s Spirit’s leadership in my life has brought me to an awareness this morning I must share.

I’ve written often of my confusion, yet desire to better understand God’s Holy Spirit. Well, this morning God kindly pointed out something I’m now ready to hear and believe. God’s Spirit is STRENGTH. It is the POWER of God for God is Spirit. What I was awakened to this morning was my own lack of understanding about my spirit. All through my childhood I was told by dad that he needed to kill this spirit of mine. I never understood the meaning of that, but those words did their damage. I believed that spirit was weak and something to hide. (Even though, I treasured it inside of me for it seemed precious).

As I journaled today about wounds that still trigger me, God awoke me to the truth that worship, music, spirit are terms of POWER in His Kingdom. Only in flesh are terms such as muscles, hands, body parts, the proof of strength. As a young man I had come to believe that singing and working with my mind were all I could do. It was my best but still secondary to the primary strengths man is suppose to have. Being labeled “Hazel” as a teen by dad hugely reinforced this.

God wanted me to know today I can let this old, haunting belief go for good. He didn’t make me like dad because He wanted me like me and now I can be freer to do just that–be me committed and surrendered to be used for His Kingdom purposes not thinking this is all I can do. What a freeing message this is for me!

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: FEB. 7, 2025

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I have written many times of late about my need to grow in living in total submission to The Holy Spirit. How in the world can this be done? How do I stay in spirit during the day and not shift into my flesh? This happens so easily I never recognize it until much later in the day. Then I kick myself inside my emotions and apologize once again to Jesus and God’s Holy Spirit. Because of this new study I’m working through with 3 groups now, I have this ever before me.

This morning I was journaling about all of this. I had told the small group on Wednesday that I couldn’t find words to express this surrender keeping it solidly in place. I was in the midst of great confusion. So, in writing all of this out and then asking Jesus what He wanted me to know for today, this is what I heard Him tell me. “Living for me in spirit and truth is just what your Heavenly Father has commissioned you to do. He wants you to model Me this day as He sent Me to do so many years ago. This model is for you and for all My believers. Living in Spirit is how this is done. Living in Spirit prompts you to be vulnerable when you speak and not letting fear block your responses.”

There was more, but what hit me solidly was being vulnerable in all parts of my day. I doubt I’ve ever been vulnerable in my flesh. It is only when I submit to spirit that I am willing to be vulnerable. In fact, this is what hit me so boldly this morning. I know God wants me to be vulnerable and share what He puts on my heart. But living in flesh I don’t need to be that way–it isn’t fearful. Instead, I realize that in flesh is where I always stumble and often sin. Living in Spirit is being vulnerable. It is living in TRUST, FAITH, Confidence in God’s Holy Spirit’s leadership in me. This Jesus wants me (you and me) to live one day at a time for this is when His Holy Spirit is with us. Today I want to live this out!

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: FEB. 6, 2025

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As I re-entered the world of counseling yesterday I was awakened again to the intense needs we have around us which so quickly fade from our minds. Being gone 10 days from these needs seemed, at the time, important and it was important. I needed to be with my sis and I loved being with my grandson. But, coming back to the very place God wants me at this point in my life is humbly insightful.

Later in the day I met with a couple young men. We are starting a curriculum addressing porn and other aggressive addictions. In this group, the importance of having allies is brought out, similarly to how a sponsor is used in Celebrate Recovery. However, how an ally helps another is made much clearer. It is a model of walking along side the struggling one and helping them stay upright so one doesn’t fall into the pit. As I was meeting with the two I asked if they could be one another’s ally? They both wanted to be but felt like they were incapable. In Celebrate Recovery, where both of these young men attend, a sponsor is further down the path of recovery. An ally can be right there where you are but not struggling when you are. In helping another, one finds help for themselves seeing how they can be used by God’s Holy Spirit. We so often think we have to be “cured” before God will use us–wrong.

Before the session ended, they agreed they not just wanted to be each other’s allies, but they can be. It makes me tear up writing this now. Seeing God’s Holy Spirit at work is like no other. He gives hope when one thinks Hope is lost. How glorious our Heavenly Father is to give each of us His Son AND His Holy Spirit!

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: FEB. 5, 2025

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I cannot even begin to describe in words this morning the joy of sitting at my desk and worshipping Jesus with worship songs playing in the background. I had thought it wouldn’t be any big deal to be gone 10 days without this blessing, but I was so wrong! Starting my day in my head rather than in spirit with Jesus is like nothing I can describe. God’s Holy Spirit so wants to join my spirit and yours too. I just cannot create in my mind what takes place when my spirit is awakened to Him.

As I began to read in I Peter this morning, Peter writes in chapter 1:5, …who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”; it stood out that we are shielded by GOD’S POWER. This power comes from God’s Holy SPIRIT.

I wrote only a month or so ago about starting my devotional time with worship music. Well, I took a 10 day break from it and I don’t ever want to do that again. Our minds cannot wrap itself around the truth of scripture for the truth is found in faith, trust, hope…. Only in these spiritual pillars can one find the POWER God promises to us. Our spirit recognizes our frailty in flesh our mind doesn’t want to admit. When we worship in spirit God’s Power becomes ours!

Lesson learned.

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: FEB. 4, 2025

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Today ends our trip. The last couple of days have helped make the trip a vacation. We have just relaxed and enjoy doing little of anything. The sunset cruise last evening was great fun. We met a young couple we sat beside. They told me that when they saw Kathy and me at the wharf waiting in line to board, she told her husband she hoped they would be like us when they got “old”. Now that’s sweet!

Getting back into the routine of home has already started. A young man troubled by his wife divorcing him wanted to talk this morning. That was important. An email came from the church office with a new request for counseling. So, it is time to get home.

It is a wonderful treat to take a few days away from life’s routines, but then it is also good to return to them. Thank You God for this little break. And, thank You that I get to return.

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: FEB. 4, 2025

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Yesterday was a marvelous day with our grandson Dante. We went to church with him which started the marvelous. The message title was saying Yes to Jesus. His reference was Moses’ life. It wasn’t until the last 40 years of his life that he fully said Yes to God. The first 40 were in Egypt, the second 40 were his years of fleeing, and then God confronted him at the burning bush and all things changed.

As I was listening to the message I had somewhat of a revelation of my own life. The first 29 years of my life were those of my abuse and then my first marriage which ended when I was 29. I was 58 (another 29 years) when we started Celebrate Recovery and I actually said I would not hold back anything about my life so God could use it if He wanted. Up to that point, I had always feared my position in education to be at risk if people knew my ugly background. So now I’m in my last “29” years which would end when I’m 97. We’ll just have to wait and see how this turns out!

God is amazing how He works. He truly does use all things for His Good if we will only say YES!

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: FEB. 2, 2025

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I haven’t been able to play the worship music in the background as I have my devotions until today. There have been others with us and I didn’t want the music to wake them. But, today it is just Kathy and me and the bedroom is far enough away I won’t awaken her. I worship so much better with this taking place. Little did I know how much this difference makes until I began this a few weeks back. It is as though the spirit of evil cannot be present when God’s Holy Spirit is surrounding you with His Very Own Holy Spirit.

Later this morning we will go to church with Dante. It will be such a treat to do this. We will do a little more sight-seeing the rest of the day. What a great ending to our time in California. God is so, so GOOD!

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: FEB. 1, 2025

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Our first trip to this part of California. I’ve heard a lot about Santa Barbara over the years but I’ve always pictured it similarly to the large cities of California. In reality it is much more rural here. Dante’s base is not far and we are staying in a beautiful place where I can look out and see country rather than skyscrapers. I love this. We will be here for 4 days and then head home. I’m looking forward to going to church with Dante tomorrow. Today we will see a good deal of this part of California.

Our grandson Dante is such a well-balanced young man, and thoughtful too! I wasn’t sure that ever ran through Lewis blood! He truly makes all of us proud. He’s 27 and still hasn’t found the right gal. He is looking and we are glad to help. He loves Jesus and wants to be sure whoever he does marry loves Jesus as her Savior and Lord. There need to be a few more characteristics, but this tops the list.

It is so nice to be a grandpa and have your grandkids loving Jesus. Nothing is finer than this joy!