Subject: A little James Taylor Devo. :-)

For the next few days, I thought we’d spend some time concentrating on the Holy Spirit….

James Taylor sings a wishful song of romance and promise entitled You've Got A Friend and the lyrics are below: (sing along if you know the tune)

When your down and troubled, And you need a helping hand And nothing, whoa nothing is going right. Close your eyes and think of me And soon I will be there To brighten up even your darkest nights. You just call out my name, And you know where ever I am I'll come running, oh yeah baby To see you again. Winter, spring , summer, or fall, All you have to do is call And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah. You've got a friend. If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds and that old north wind should begin to blow Keep your head together and call my name out loud And soon I will be knocking upon your door. You just call out my name and you know where ever I am I'll come running to see you again. Winter, Spring, summer or fall All you got to do is call And I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend?People can be so cold. They'll hurt you and desert you. Well they'll take your soul if you let them. Oh yeah, but don't you let them. You just call out my name and you know wherever I am I'll come running to see you again. Oh babe, don't you know that, Winter Spring summer or fall, Hey now, all you've got to do is call. Lord, I'll be there, yes I will. You've got a friend. You've got a friend. Ain't it good to know you've got a friend. Ain't it good to know you've got a friend. You've got a friend. The only person who can fulfill the hope of these lyrics is the Holy Spirit.

From the Amplified Bible John 14:16 records Jesus as saying, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever”

Reflection: Consider the lyrics once again, this time focusing on the ‘forever’ Holy Spirit as your Friend. Are you in the habit of calling out to God’s Holy Spirit in your times of need? Do you call ‘out loud’? If you know the hymn “What a Friend We have in Jesus”, alternate these songs in your mind now and for the rest of the day.

From Bill in response....

Amen... you wouldn't believe how applicable this is to what I have been reading and meditating about. Read my blog from Monday... (if you dare, lol).

You know that I was a huge James Taylor fan when younger. His songs are very piercing relative to life and love and survival. Many times since becoming a Believer, I have heard his songs in a different light, thinking sometimes that he may have been a Believer as well. Knowing a bit about his life, I believe he was addicted to drugs for awhile and, of course, we know of his divorce from Carly Simon, etc. But, who are we to judge? While he was a drug addict, I was a lustful and uncontrollable youngster only focused on myself, but the redeeming mercy and grace of God through Jesus Christ has saved me and I pray that God has allowed him to see Christ ...

now, life is illuminated through Him and truth is evident in all of life, including songs written by James Taylor back in the 60's and 70's (ions ago, eh).

Indeed it is the Holy Spirit that is our true friend. He will 'brighten up, even our darkest night.' and 'I'll (he'll) come runnin' and 'keep your head together and call my (His) name out loud, soon I'll (He'll) be knockin' on your (our) door.'

This is most poignant; Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend? People can be so cold. They'll hurt you and desert you, they'll take your soul if you let them. Oh yeah, but don't you let them. You just call out my name ....

Isn't this a true observation of life as it is? People are so challenging, they are so needy, they are so influential in our life. We can't depend on all people. Even the closest and most loving of the people we associate with are human beings and can't be depended upon to have our best interests at heart. We know this because we know ourselves. We know this because all of us have been deceived and disappointed by our loved ones. And I have observed that the closest and most revered of our acquaintances can ... 'take your (our) soul if you let them... oh yeah, but don't you let them'.

Just call out His name, Jesus, and you know wherever He is (all around, everywhere as well as in our hearts), He'll come runnin' to see us again, to minister to us again, to comfort us again, to remind us of all things again.........oh, yeah, yeah.... you've got a friend.

Thanks be to God!!!! We've got a friend. You are amazing, God.....

Love you;

Dad