“A Breath of Fresh Air”

With all of the cold weather we have been experiencing this winter, I have grown accustomed to seeing my breath when I go outside.  Seeing your own breath is a neat reminder of the complex process that takes place in our bodies when we breathe. Without oxygen, which enters our body through our lungs when we breathe, we would soon die.  The average person at rest breathes between 12 and 20 times a minute; totaling up to between 17,280 and 28,800 breaths per day.  Wow!  I am glad that my body breathes on its own and doesn’t depend on me to remember to do it!

Genesis 2: 7 says:  “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (NIV) Man did not become a living being or soul until God breathed into him the breath of life.  Without the breath of life, we were just a lifeless figure made of dirt!

Knowing all of this gives me goose bumps when I read these words of Jesus after He was resurrected and appeared to His disciples saying: “Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  As the Father had given life to man by breathing into his nostrils, the Son poured out the Holy Spirit by breathing onto his disciples!

As a result of these two Divine “breathing” events, we have a soul that lives forever and we have the power of the Holy Spirit… all this happening inside of us!  So when you go outside today and see your breath, be reminded of your Creator.  Be reminded that your physical breath, the one that you are seeing now, is temporary and will one day cease but God’s breath in you, your soul lives on forever!  Be reminded that His Son breathed out the Holy Spirit on his disciples to empower them and still empowers you today!  Be reminded that when you see your breath, you are still alive and able to give glory to God this day!  Amen!

 You Brother in Christ
Joey

“Breathe on Me “

Breathe on me, breath of God
Love and life that makes me free
Breathe on me, breath of God
Fan the flame within me

(Fisher Lucy)