“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12
Yesterday we celebrated Pentecost and that brought a ‘back in the day’ Nebraska memory that brought a smile to my face. At my previous congregation we were reminded, if we had anything red, to wear it on Pentecost. IF you lived in Nebraska, your closet was filled with red shirts that had a white ‘N’ that on Pentecost, indicated your faith was based upon the words of the ‘Nicene’ creed. Every man, woman and child in Nebraska wore red on Pentecost.
On my first of three Pentecost Sunday’s spent in Haiti I heard the phrase ‘Respire sou mwen’ and it was being sung to a tune from the hymn ‘Breathe on me’ that I recalled hearing at my previous congregation in Nebraska. The hymn was written by Edwin Hatch who was a professor at the University of Trinity College in Canada and published in 1886 and as you read the words think about the girl in the attached photo and how the Holy Spirit is working in her life…and also in yours.
“Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do. Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure: until with thee I have one will to do and to endure. Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine; until this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine. Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with Thee the perfect life of Thine eternity.” May the Holy Spirit breathe upon you, the 24,000 children enjoying a Trinity/HOPE meal today and me as we continue along our journey.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay