Image: “Smoke” by “Kotz” (used with permission) taken from stock.xchng Last night we had our home group. We started the session with one brother sharing some serious medical problems and requested prayer. Although that news was not at all positive, at a natural level, what we see at a natural level is not truth for it is merely temporal (2 cor 4:18)– truth is found in an unseen and eternal realm that God, in His great mercy grants the privilege of catching a glimpse of every now and then. Last night He did. Despite the bad news, the Father of Glory visited us - the Holy Spirit visited us in pure Joy! Now here is a contradiction, a paradox, wholly absurd for those uninitiated in the ways of the almighty. That in the midst of a dire situation the Father would cause us to rejoice, and laugh! That the Holy Ghost could blast us, in a divine visitation that cleanses, encourages, purifies and seizes your soul, even when circumstances point to the other end of the spectrum. A bunch of us, including the brother with the medical condition, ended on our knees laughing and rejoicing in our Father as He reminded us again and again, “I have not left you orphans, I have come to you (link)”! What great victory was achieved at Calvary, what great triumph we move in here and now, that pure joy can exist in the midst of trials. It is indeed a paradox of the Holy, that His saints can face battle with mirth, knowing that it is always the joy of the Lord that strengthens us, and the victory of our God that carries us forth. Technorati Tags: Paradox, holy laughter, Holy Spirit

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