Just recently a copy of the Words of Life, a Salvation Army devotional book, has crossed my path again. Starting in the May to August book, retired General John Gowans is the new author. May’s subject is the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures. I am starting off a bit late with the daily readings so will attempt to catch up, however the thoughts are provoking and I feel I must linger to catch what the Spirit is saying to me.
Today, I read two pages and they were titled, the Gifting of the Spirit and the Unchanging Spirit. Taking a few moments to ponder each, I thought of how all the different people involved in planning for and shaping the WOW Celebration have each brought their own unique gifts into this project. The devotional thought calls us to celebrate the unique gifting of others. I am thankful for the gifts that Major Rose-Marie Leslie brings to this project. She is a woman of detail and logic. So she is perfectly fit for the logistics part of this event. She has worked with registration and even as I write this today is making the table assignments. We have a full house and a waiting list. She will attempt to seat divisions together, make those with wheel chairs and walkers comfortable by seating them with a friend, alert honorees and guests about their special seating, and get everyone in without crowding them. God bless Rose-Marie!
Then there is the special gifting of Major Dawn Rocheleau who will sing the part of Clair, a lonely woman who is invited to Home League, receives the gift of Christ, and has her life transformed. In the olden days we used to do open airs together and I witnessed the gift she has been entrusted with. Dawn would start to sing and the crowds would gather to hear her. We just finished a film shoot that will be part of the on screen video; I notice she is also a great actress with a beautiful smile.
On Friday we filmed a couple of sections and our artist, Guy Noland is bringing his gifts of cinema and production to the WOW Celebration. Spending the day with him gave me a new appreciation for his work and I know he will do a wonderful, God honoring job.
I think of the gifts of Josh Cowing and Richard Brown who will make sure all the video works on the day. Barry Frost is the director and we are beginning to set up rehearsal times. Neil Smith and Ivor Bosanko are helping get the music pulled together. Major Ivy Hood and crew are pulling the flowers together and will add those special decorative touches. Commissioner Heather Lang is preparing a devotional message. Commissioner Pat Swyers and Lt. Colonel Diane O’Brien will portray past and present leadership. (I won’t spoil the surprise here.) Artists have created banners for their divisions and commands. Individuals, groups and corps will be featured as women who dared to do something new. The staff of the Anaheim Grove, including those who are working with us to take care of details, create and cook our meal, and make sure our day is more than wonderful.
Programs are being designed and going to the printer this week. Tickets are going in the mail. Last minute touches on the script are being made. The video is in production. Rehearsals will begin. Praise God for the Holy Spirit, who is working in each of us to make this day happen.
Now as I was contemplating this, the wind blew stronger than the still small breeze and the trees were disturbed. Leaves began to fall and I startled at the noise. Ah ha! Words of Jesus came to mind. He was describing how the Holy Spirit works in people. “The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) The wind caught my attention and it was a God moment for me.
Let me explain. As I thought of these words of Jesus, I began to ponder them. The wind blows and we can see its effects and hear it pass, but we don’t control it. Sometimes the wind blows and is destructive like a hurricane or tornado its power is overwhelming to us. Other time the wind is gentle and sooths us during a hot day. The wind blows and stirs up things. The wind blows and fills the sails of a ship helping it on its journey. The wind blows and turns the blades of a windmill to produce water or energy. We cannot make the wind blow. We can counterfeit it by using fans, but there is nothing like a real wind blowing. We can make all the preparations for the wind to blow at the WOW Event, but only God can send the Holy Spirit to blow on us. My prayer is that God will send the Holy Spirit to come and blow to stir up our hearts, to fill our sails and help us on our journey. I am praying that the Holy Spirit will blow and help us be productive for the
If you are going to be there, join me in praying. If you are not able to be there, join me in praying. We want this time together to honor God and make a difference for Him.
Thank you!
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