Open the Windows!

I live in the sticks as far as most people are concerned.  I do live on a paved road!  But I live 10 miles from the nearest town of about 1000 people.  A larger town is about 15 minutes away and Lincoln, NE is about 30 minutes away.  We also don’t have central air (just a window unit).  This is not because we live in the sticks (it is still uncommon in the sticks to not have central air), it is because our house is a couple years away from being 100 years old!  We will have central air sometime.  Cut us some slack, we just recently got power outlets put in upstairs!  Talk about living without something you are used to, all the rooms upstairs had was overhead lights, no outlets,  none.  Actually, part of the reason we have not put in central air yet is that there is no ductwork upstairs either, $$$$!

Anyhow, there is a point to this.  We have had some really HOT days here lately.  Our usual method to keeping the house cool (works great), is to open the house up at night to let the cool night air in, and close it up in the morning and turn on the window units (with outlets and new wiring, we put in one upstairs too!).  This is awesome and effective (I love open windows!).  BUT…. When the days are in the upper 90s and the nights do not drop down to 70, this does not work – the window units put in overtime.  When we went to bed last night you were still hit with a blast of hot sticky air if you opened the door.  Well, I woke up at about 5:30 and lay there listening to the fans and air-conditioner and remembered it was supposed to have gotten down to 65 last night.  

I shot out of bed and ran to the front door, and threw it open.  I was met with a blast of cool, crisp, delicious fresh air!  I scurried around the house throwing open all the windows and shutting off the air conditioner.  That cool soothing air sailed in like a gentle kiss.  With it came the chirping of the morning birds, the cooing of a few distant owls settling down for the day, and the soft whispers of the leaves in the gentle breeze…  Peace.

That is what prayer feels like.  That is what the right church or bible study feels like.  I believe that is what the Holy Spirit feels like as he sails through your heart and soul.

Right now the rising sun is streaming through the east window of this room, turning the whole room a soft and radiant, but glowing and gentle orange.  Like the gates of heaven opening up…

Oh to feel like this all the time…  Later it’s going to get hot again.  The air will steam up and we will sweat just walking to the car.  People’s moods will go down; Satan will sneak in when we are not looking.  We will get grumbly and grumpy; our hearts will feel diseased and sour…  

Don’t let that happen!  Refresh your soul and your heart and mind through praise, worship, thanksgiving, and prayer!  Let the cooling and refreshing breezes of Jesus come into your soul today, keeping you away from the humid cooking heat!  Jesus is always there, God is waiting for a word from us, waiting to come in!  Don’t keep him waiting!

There are times when God seems far away.  I ask what I did wrong, and to please, please, return.  I focus all my energy on God.  I pray for his peace.  And he comes in, rushing like a fresh night wind, cleaning and refreshing the sour staleness of my soul, taking up residence in my heart.  Just as the morning birdsong brings joy through the windows, the Holy Spirit brings joy into my heart.  Just as the early sun sets the room aglow, Jesus brings that glow into my heart and soul.

Please Lord, let us hold that glow and peace today.  Let us rejoice with the songs of our hearts and praise you.  Praise you for your blessings and beautiful magnificent creation!  Keep the glow in our hearts so that no evil can enter, let all evil be blinded by the light with which you have flooded our souls!

Ephesians  6:14-21  When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit .Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 2:18  Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Ephesians 2:6  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 

Romans 5:11  So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Romans 3:22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.  And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are."

Luke 1:47  How my spirit rejoices

in God my Savior!