Gentle Reader,
Fatigue drags me down. I am one with the couch. This is okay; everything that needed to be done today is done. The sun just begins to dip in West, filling the trees with golden light.
Linking up with Kate and all the peeps. We: inspire.
Go.
Inspire. A transitive verb, according to Merriam-Webster, “to influence, move, or guide.” The sigh that rises from deep within upon gazing at a sunset or arriving at the the top of a mountain. The pounding heart as the ears bask in the playfulness of Mozart’s “A Little Night Music.” The peace that descends as the eyes sweep across the serene beauty of Monet’s “Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies.” The creativity of God first, then others, pulls at something within and moves us to create.
Yet there is more.
The archaic definition, “to breathe or blow into or upon; to infuse (something, such as life) by breathing.”
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
– Genesis 1:1-2 (NKJV)
Ruach Elohim.
The Breath of the Creator.
All that breathes, all that lives, finds its source and sustenance in the Breath.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
– Colossians 1:15-17
He is the inspiration. He holds us together. Nobody taught Him how. Nobody instructed Him in the ways of air and lungs. Nobody gave Him an example of wind rustling prairie grasses, something He could copy or perfect.
Ruach Yahweh.
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.– Isaiah 11:1-2 (NKJV)
The Breath of the I AM.
The mystery of the Incarnation. The Man’s nose inhaled the air. His mouth exhaled the mind and heart of God.
The same Breath clears away the dust and the cobwebs that threaten to overtake our souls. The same Spirit now dwells in us.
It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
– John 16:7b (NKJV)
Never leaving, never forsaking.
Always inspiring.
Stop.
Sigh. Beautiful! Thank you! God is the One who inspires me always (and not always in the way that I expect!)
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“…not always in the way that I expect.”
Very true! There have been times when I have sensed Him in such a powerful way, times that caught me totally off-guard. He’s constant and yet full of surprises.
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The beauty of the Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit! This was beautiful. I found myself breathing in and out as I read. A peace washing over me. A reminder that God helped me get almost to the top of the mountain in Colorado in June! I felt like I could reach out and touch the sky. I’m in the 7 spot this week.
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I’m more of an “indoor girl,” as Jack so famously quipped to Rose in “Titanic,” but Paul was right when he wrote in Romans that creation reveals the presence and glory of God. There’s nothing like it for feeling close to Him.
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Marie, thi is just so awesome, how you segued into the deep and transcendent definition of inspiration. Do you have any idea how GOOD a writer you are? We all do! 🙂
And now I’ve got Eine Kleine Nachtmusik running around in my head, having temporarily sunk the Yellow Submarine.
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What a compliment, Andrew! Thank you. Now I’ve got a mash-up of Mozart and the Beatles running through my mind. It’s pretty awesome.
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Thanks for including the ‘archaic” definition of the word inspire. Wonderful post.
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I’m not really sure what makes a definition “archaic,” but I really enjoyed how this one brought out a totally different dimension of the word.
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So in love with the way you highlighted God’s inspiration!
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He is beautiful and mysterious and wonderful at all times and in all ways. 🙂
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This is beautifully written, Marie, and gives me such a sense of peace. So grateful that God’s Spirit is always there to breathe life into us.
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Amen, sister.
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I believe that all inspiration begins with Him.
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I do, too. He is the ultimate creative one. All that we are able to do comes directly from gifts and talents bestowed upon us by Him.
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How can we not be inspired by HIm, all that He is faithful do and all He has created! Great post!
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Yes, He is indeed faithful! Praise Him for that!
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Marie, how God nurtured my spirit and soul with your words. Blessings.
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I’m so glad! Blessings to you, too.
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I love this, Marie. Thank you for illuminating the word “inspire.”
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Thank you for reading!
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You have penned these words beautifully. Thank you for inspiring me today.
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I ❤️this—every word of it!
But this… “The Man’s nose inhaled the air. His mouth exhaled the mind and heart of God.” … took my breath away.
Well done, Marie. Beautiful.
Shauna
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Thank you, Shauna!
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Gah! I love every single word here! xoxo
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Aw, thanks!
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