Who Is the Holy Spirit?

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — three in one — have been present and active throughout all of Scripture. As believers, we hold this truth by faith, and when that truth becomes revelation, it changes everything.

But who is the Holy Spirit?
And why does the Spirit seem to resist religion and the traditions of men?

The simple answer is this: in every denomination where Jesus is truly lifted up, His Spirit is present. The Holy Spirit moves where He is welcomed, and it’s through that living encounter — not ritual — that the body of Christ is drawn back into deeper relationship with God. It’s His Spirit that gives us the grace and power to live a holy life.

Jesus came to break down barriers of man-made religion and to invite us into something far greater — a living relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. When believers open their hearts without restraint, when churches welcome Him fully into their atmosphere, the glory of God becomes tangible.

That’s the difference between religion and relationship — between knowing about God and being born of His Spirit.

Does that mean those who still hold to tradition aren’t truly saved? I don’t believe that. If someone has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and has allowed His Spirit to begin transforming their heart, then salvation is at work. Only God sees the heart; only He can judge the process.

What I’m trying to say is this: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one — omnipresent and inseparable — but the manifestation of the Spirit becomes visible when faith replaces formality. The Spirit of God, the third person of the Trinity, lacks nothing. He carries everything that is good and true: healing, provision, answers, gifts, deliverance, and power.

When we allow the Holy Spirit full access — without inhibition or control — heaven touches earth, and the supernatural becomes natural.

I believe miracles are God’s way of revealing His glory, not to prove anything, but simply because He loves us.

So why don’t we see more creative miracles among believers today?

I’ve often asked myself that. Could it be that our divisions, our denominational lines, or our reliance on routine have weakened our faith and our awareness of the Spirit’s presence?

We can know of God, and know of Jesus, and know of the Spirit — but to truly walk in the Spirit is different. We live in a very natural world, and sometimes we forget that the spiritual realm is more real than what we see.

Maybe the key is found in this simple verse:

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

If we could quiet the noise — our constant thoughts, distractions, and the pull of social media — our born-again spirit could tune in more deeply to the voice of God. In that stillness, our spirit connects with His, and we begin to receive from the endless sea of His power, peace, and presence.

That’s where transformation happens.
That’s where heaven meets earth.
That’s where the Holy Spirit makes Himself known.

What Happens When Everyone Does What’s Right in Their Own Eyes

“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” — Judges 21:25

Have you ever looked around and thought, “What is happening to the world right now?”
If so, you might understand the Book of Judges more than you think.

Judges is one of those books that’s raw and unsettling — filled with war, betrayal, heartbreak, and moral collapse. God’s people had lost their way. Everyone followed their own truth, and the result was chaos.

It sounds a lot like today.

We live in a world where right and wrong are blurred, where people do whatever feels good in the moment — and then wonder why everything feels so broken.

By the end of Judges, even God’s chosen people were in complete disorder. One of the most disturbing moments comes when, in a desperate attempt to keep their people from dying out, they took innocent young women by force — believing that forcing them into marriage would preserve their tribe. Those women were taken by force and made “wives,” meaning sexual violence occurred. It’s a horrific event that exposes just how dark the human heart can become when it drifts away from God’s truth and compassion.

It’s hard to read — and it should be. Scripture doesn’t hide the ugliness of sin; it shows us what happens when people replace God’s ways with their own.

And yet, even in that chaos, God was not absent. He didn’t endorse their actions — but He didn’t abandon His people either. Out of that same broken nation, God would one day raise up kings, prophets, and ultimately a Savior who would redeem every failure of the human heart.

That’s the message of Judges: not that evil is excused, but that grace refuses to give up. God works in ways we can’t see — even in the wreckage, even when it seems too far gone.

He takes what feels irredeemable and begins to restore.

He brings order from chaos.

He turns endings into beginnings.

So if your world feels out of control right now — if you’re watching things crumble and wondering where God is in it — remember this: He’s still writing redemption stories. And even in the darkest chapters, His mercy has not left the page.

By His Wounds We Are Healed

“By His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

This verse isn’t written in past tense as something that might happen someday—it’s a statement of truth. We are healed. Whether we believe it or not, whether it has manifested in this earthly realm or not, it remains true: by His wounds, we are healed.

But what happens when we still suffer from the diseases that ail us? What do we do when the symptoms linger and the medication remains part of our daily routine? How can God tell us we are something when we don’t yet see or experience the reality of His promise?

I think the same way we are saved—by being sure of what we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1)—we must also walk in healing, even when it cannot be seen. Scripture tells us that we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). I believe that can also mean we walk by faith and not by how we feel, not by what we see in the natural realm, or even by the doctor’s report in front of us.

If it were easy, we wouldn’t have to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12). And if we all had the answers to pain and suffering, there would be no need to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

I sometimes think of life as one long classroom of faith. The first test we ever pass is the moment we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior—that’s the entry point. From there, it’s not about perfection but about growing in wisdom and understanding.

Some believers seem to walk in such closeness with God that self fades away and Christ shines fully through them (Galatians 2:20). Others love Him deeply but still wrestle to surrender those last pieces of self-reliance or fear—something all of us can relate to (Hosea 4:6). And some, like the servant who buried his one talent, never quite step into what God placed within them (Matthew 25:14–30).

Wherever we are, the goal isn’t to “get an A,” but to keep learning under the Master Teacher—to grow in grace, to stay teachable, and to let His Spirit form Christ in us day by day (2 Timothy 2:15).

My prayer is to stay in the classroom of grace—never assuming I’ve “arrived,” but always learning, always yielding, always letting Him write truth on the tablets of my heart.

Why I’m Starting This Blog

I’ve been feeling led to start writing here — not because I need one more thing to do, but because words matter. They have the power to encourage, lift us up, and even help us see life a little differently. My hope is that this blog becomes a place where faith, health, and everyday life meet — and maybe where you’ll find a bit of encouragement for your own journey.

“Write the vision; make it plain… so he may run who reads it.” (Habakkuk 2:2)

That verse has been on my heart as I’ve thought about this space. Writing isn’t just about putting thoughts on paper — it’s about making things clear enough that someone else can take hold of them and run with hope.

I’m Jessica — a follower of Jesus, a wife, and a nurse practitioner. But really, I’m just someone still learning how to walk in faith every day. Some days I get it right, some days I don’t. Like many of you, I’ve faced struggles with health, with mental wellness, with questions about where the world is heading. Through it all, I keep coming back to this: His way is the only way to lasting, true happiness.

Here, you’ll find reflections on faith, health, and the real stuff of daily life. Sometimes I’ll share a verse or prayer. Other times it might be a thought on current events or a simple reminder that you’re not alone. My heart is that this blog will shine light in the middle of all the noise we’re surrounded by — and maybe give you a little hope for your week.

So thank you for being here at the start. I’m excited (and a little nervous) to step out and share in this way. My prayer is that Jessica’s Lampstand feels like a steady voice of hope — not heavy or complicated, but honest and encouraging for the journey we’re all on.

“Let your light shine before others… that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

— Jessica

The Hidden Power of Lyrics: How Music Shapes Our Minds

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head long after it ended? The words loop, the feelings linger, and before long, your mood starts to match the music. Music is powerful — it’s more than background noise. It speaks to our emotions, our thoughts, and even our beliefs.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23

When I think back to some of the music that defined decades, I see a pattern — lyrics about heartbreak, isolation, and self-focus. These aren’t just catchy tunes; they’re messages repeated into our hearts.

From the 80s

“’Cause we are living in a material world, and I am a material girl.” — Madonna (1984) → A catchy beat that celebrates status and possessions — and still echoes through today’s influencer culture.

“I want to know what love is… I want you to show me.” — Foreigner (1984) → Longing for love, but rooted in emptiness.

“Every breath you take, every move you make…” — The Police (1983) → A song often mistaken for romance, yet rooted in obsession and control — a subtle reminder of how culture can distort love.

From the 90s

“I’m a loser baby, so why don’t you kill me.” — Beck (1994) → Words of despair wrapped in irony.

“I’m all out of faith, this is how I feel… I’m cold and I am shamed, lying naked on the floor.” — Natalie Imbruglia, “Torn” (1997)
A haunting honesty about broken trust and emotional emptiness — longing for love but left unfulfilled. It captures what happens when we look for wholeness in human approval rather than divine love.

From the 2000s

“In the end, it doesn’t even matter.” — Linkin Park (2000) → Hopelessness tied to failure.

“When you try your best but you don’t succeed… when you get what you want, but not what you need.” — Coldplay, “Fix You” (2005)
A tender attempt to offer comfort — but one that stops short of true healing. It shows our human desire to fix what only God can truly restore.

We don’t always notice how lyrics become background beliefs. The melodies fade, but the words stay — shaping how we talk to ourselves, how we see love, success, or even God. That’s why Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard the heart: it’s the doorway to everything else.

Looking at these lyrics, it’s no wonder depression and anxiety have become so common. What we feed our hearts matters — and music is one of the most powerful gateways.

Pay attention to what you’re listening to — is it fueling despair or feeding hope? Try swapping one playlist this week for something uplifting, and notice how your mood shifts.

Remember: your thoughts shape your emotions, and your emotions shape your life. Choose wisely.

Music can heal or harm. It can pull us deeper into darkness or lift us toward light. Guard your heart, even in the songs you sing along to.

“Remember, even the smallest seed of faith can grow into something beautiful”

As a nurse practitioner, I’ve seen how what we dwell on affects our mental health. Depression doesn’t always begin with a diagnosis — sometimes it begins with what we rehearse in our minds.

That’s why evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focus on renewing thought patterns. We now understand what Scripture has taught all along: as a person thinks in their heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7).

CBT, often combined with carefully chosen medications when needed, helps patients recognize and replace distorted thoughts — much like how faith invites us to renew our minds daily (Romans 12:2). Science confirms what the Spirit already knows: transformation begins in the mind.

— Jessica 🌿

My Strength Is Made Perfect in Your Weakness

Do you ever feel misunderstood — a little different from everyone else? If so, you’re not alone. We all have moments when we don’t quite fit in — when we look at ourselves and wish we were more like everyone else.

The truth is, the more unique a person is, the more likely they are to feel that way. But being different isn’t something to hide or fix — it’s something sacred to uncover. What if our “weaknesses” aren’t flaws at all, but places where God’s light is waiting to break through?

When we can face those moments of discouragement or inadequacy with honesty instead of shame, something shifts inside us. God meets us there — not after we’ve fixed ourselves, but right in the middle of the mess — and His grace begins to do what our striving never could.

I’ve learned that the best way to face weakness — whether it’s imagined or painfully real — is to stand on God’s truth:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9–10

When we can embrace our humanity and even boast in our weakness, we make space for Christ’s strength to rest on us. Rather than running from the parts of ourselves we wish were different, we can bring them to Him — trusting that He can turn even our lowest moments into a testimony of His power.

Sometimes our weaknesses rise to the surface not to shame us, but to remind us to lean more fully on Christ — to depend less on our own ability and more on His strength.

So don’t hide what feels broken. Bring it into the light. Because it’s often through our cracks that His light shines the brightest.

— Jessica 🌿