The Secret Garden Chronicles: The Rushing Mighty Wind - Revisited

This post originated last year on 4/25/2017...but today is Pentecost Sunday...the day we recognize as the time when the Holy Spirit came upon the Disciples after Christ had ascended into heaven...and so I thought this message would be appropriate today...

Original Post:

Yesterday evening I sat in the Secret Garden watching the wind blowing the trees to and fro...and thought about how strong the trees were! It occurred to me that often times the trees are bent so far in the wind that it is a wonder why they don't break in two.  Of course, sometimes they do, if the wind becomes too fierce.  But on a day like yesterday (and even this morning it is still pretty breezy), the trees sway back and forth and always bounce right back into their original posture when the wind finally dies down.

While I was watching the trees blowing in the wind, these two Pileated Woodpeckers flew onto this dead tree nearby and stayed there long enough to let me catch a couple of pictures before they flew back into the woods, making a lot of racket as they flew!

 They don't really have anything in particular to do with this post, but I thought you'd like to see them since they came just at that moment when I was sitting there contemplating what the Lord would say to me...So there must be SOME significance to their appearing at that time!  It's not often that we can see two such amazing birds together at the same time like this!

Then the Lord brought this verse to my attention:

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it,

but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.

So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

John 3:8

Hmmm, maybe the woodpeckers do make a point here...they flew in out of the woods, but I'm not sure exactly where they were from, making a lot of noise, and then took off flying again, out of my view...and I could still hear their loud raspy calls, but couldn't keep up with where they flew...and the wind was so strong at times that I wasn't sure how the birds could even fly...let alone hear each other calling...

"So is everyone who is born of the Spirit..."...When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, His Holy Spirit comes from the Father above and fills us...like a rushing mighty wind...at least that is how the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, (see Acts 2:1-13)...

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, 

as of a rushing mighty wind,

and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

Then there appeared to them divided tongues, 

as of fire,

and one sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit 

and began to speak with other tongues,

as the Spirit have them utterance."

(Acts 2:1-4)

And there are times when His Spirit comes to us as a still small voice...

"And, behold, the Lord passed by, 

and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, 

and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; 

but the Lord was not in the wind: 

and after the wind an earthquake; 

but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 

and after the earthquake a fire; 

but the Lord was not in the fire: 

and after the fire a still small voice."

I Kings 19:11-12

And at other times He provides us with the right words to say at the very moment we need it:

Luke 12:11-12

"Now when they bring you to the synagogues 

and magistrates and authorities,

do not worry about how or what you should answer, 

or what you should say.

For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour 

what you ought to say."

I particularly love those two verses, because there are so many times in life when we feel like we are being put to a test...and we may have this happen much more in the future...when we will have to testify as to our faith in Christ and whether or not we are a Christian...and there are times when we will be uncertain as to what we should or shouldn't say...and God's Holy Spirit Himself will give us exactly the right words at precisely the right moment to respond to those who may question our faith. I don't have to worry ahead of time about what to do or what to say...I just need to stay close to the Father...and let His Holy Spirit do the talking.  Probably not a bad idea in many cases in life...with family members, friends, neighbors, antagonistic people....Let God's Holy Spirit do the talking through me...and not be so quick to think I've got all the answers already.   

There are also times in life when we are like those trees in the wind...being tossed to and fro and we become fearful that we might even break in two under the strain of the wind...whether it be the strain of sorrows, doubts, fear, health issues, family problems, or even temptations beyond our ability to cope... God says:

I Corinthians 10:13

"No temptation has overtaken you 

except such as is common to man;

but God is faithful, 

who will not allow you to be tempted 

beyond what you are able,

but with the temptation will also 

make the way of escape, 

that you may be able to bear it."

Not only that, but when we are at the end of our rope, feeling hopeless and abandoned by loved ones and friends and we don't know what to do or even how to pray...

Romans 8:26-27

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses, 

for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, 

but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us 

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Now He who searches the hearts 

knows what the mind of the Spirit is, 

because He makes intercession for the saints 

according to the will of God."

How thankful we should be for this marvelous gift of the Holy Spirit!  When Jesus left this earth to go to heaven, He did not leave us helpless or comfortless. As a matter of fact, He told His Disciples about this wonderful "Helper" before He was crucified, but of course, they didn't quite understand it at the time...but this is what He told them:

John 14:15-17

If you love Me, keep My commandments.

And I will pray the Father, 

and He will give you another Helper,

that He may abide with you forever...

The Spirit of truth, 

whom the world cannot receive, 

because it neither sees Him nor knows Him,

but you know Him, 

for He dwells with you and will be in you."

I started out writing this post, not sure where it was going, and just as these passages unfolded here before your eyes, God unfolded them to me.  I pray that these words bring hope and encouragement to you today, in this "post-Easter" season, just as I am sure these teachings and thoughts helped Jesus' disciples after He was taken up into Heaven. 

Jesus told His disciples in John 14:26

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

and in verse 27...

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you;

not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled, 

neither let it be afraid..."

There really isn't anything more I can add to that! So I will close here and say, "Amen!"