From Death to Life

"And he said, "Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke 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. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave." 1

"Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.' The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit." 2

God's Word is Planted

Wind of the Spirit overtakes me;
My self crushed by the weight of the cross;
His flame consumes my impurity:
Forging His vessel from what was dross.

He offers faith to veil my new heart,
To shield it from the thrust of His Word:
It wounds, tearing my old self apart,
And then plants itself as it is heard.

He places my soul within His womb,
Nurturing it to new life in Love.
By wind and flame, He opened my tomb;
By faith and Word, He raised me above.

Now free, I dance in His womb with joy.
Released from self, I love without cost.
Renewed by faith, my heart will deploy
His hope and love to those who are lost.

The Spirit breathes life into the dead
Raising them up to new life instead.




(c) Paul Buis, 2000

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1. Kings 19:11-13
2. John 3:3-7