1. “He had a difficult time focusing on her; she seemed almost to shimmer in the light and her hair blew in all directions even though there was hadly a breeze. I was almost easier to see her out of the corner of his eye than it was to look at her directly.” (pg.84)
Q. How would you describe the Holy Spirit? Jesus gave this description, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)
Q. The Apostle Paul writes, “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) What do you think he means by the phrase, “the Lord is the Spirit?” How does the Spirit “change us into his glorious image?”
2. “From what he could tell this wiry-looking person was maybe of northern Chinese or Nepalese or even Mongolian ethnicity. From her clothing, Mack assumed she was a groundskeeper or gardener.” (pg.85)
Q. The author portrays the Holy Spirit as a gardener who, as Mack discovers later, is working in the garden of his soul. Think of your own soul as the Spirit’s garden. What are some of the areas the ‘gardener’ is working on in your life? What are the flowers that you are celebrating together? What are the weeds that have to be removed?
3. “’Speaking of Sarayu, is she the Holy Spirit?’
‘Yes. She is Creativity; she is Action; she is the Breathing of Life; she is much more. She is my (Jesus’) Spirit.’
‘And her name, Sarayu?’
‘That is a simple name from one of our human languages. It means ‘Wind,’ a common wind actually. She loves that name.’” (pg. 110)
Q. The Bible uses many metaphors for the Holy Spirit – wind, fire, a dove, anointing oil, water, a counselor, a guide, and breath. How have you experienced the Spirit’s presence in your life?
Q. At the beginning of the church (Acts) the Holy Spirit was very active in miracles, supernatural guidance, and empowering believers. Do you think ‘Sarayu’ is as active in the church today? If not, why not? What could we do to increase the activity of the Spirit in our day?
Churches do not work any more.
ReplyDeleteThe body of Christ works great. You seem to focused on the building, not the spirit.
DeleteHoney, you're overthinking this.
DeleteChurch is where we share our love of the Trinity. It helps us be a force of good for the community.
DeleteYes most churches have failed .They no longer preach Christ,they don't practice Christ as thought by the master.politics, gossip,self glorification ,favoritism,is mow the order of the day.
DeleteFind a church that speaks to your heart. If the church you attend doesn't make you feel like you can't wait to come back, it's not the church home you seek.
DeleteThanks for majong me learn more
ReplyDeletePraise Yahweh who is the Lord I am I am ( who is the mother and the father of Heaven and The Universe bless it be the name of The Lord Yahushua Who is the son of God who is also known as Jesus Christ and thank you to the Holy Spirit The Triune God and I Declare to the Lord Yahweh If Sarayu is Holy Spirit let it be true in truth and spirit if not please forgive us as a people for being deceived and may you lead us back to the Truth Omen in Yahushua name.
ReplyDeleteThis book affected us profoundly. We've read it probably 4 times and have given out at least 10 to others, with the proviso to pass it on after they had finished. The portrayal of God and the Spirit was awesome. I find it very sad that so many have bashed it, calling it blasphemous when, in fact, is was surely Spirit-inspired. Thank you for writing it!
ReplyDeleteOh it's "spirit" inspired for sure! How can any true discerning "Christian" not see how evil this book is? "God is in all" - really? So, He inhabits evil? God only inhabits that which is sanctified, holy, redeemed and washed by the blood of HIs Son Jesus on the Cross. He is NOT in all. But, yet people read these lies in this book and think they have had such a "spiritual" experience. Sarayu-do you know where that name comes from? It comes from the River Sarayu in India. A river that is spoken of in the Hindu religion where their god washed himself and also murders took place! Why would anyone want to use that name in any way to refer to the Holy Sprit of God???? If this book is such truth, then why so many references to New Age concepts-(fractals) and names from religions of deceit? God is truth and NOTHING should ever be spoken of Him in terms of lies and anything less than what He is. Speak the truth and renew your minds-stop running after every "new thing" and searching for something to scratch your itchy ears. The Lord is coming soon and only the faithful will be ready.
ReplyDeleteThe name Sarayu may mean that, but it also means wind, holy river and I think that was what the author was go for.
DeleteSarayu might mean a river in Uttar Pradesh and so on but it also means a breath of wind,a holy river and so on.You should try to see the movie,you would see all three of them working together and sarayu in action,at a point she looked windy too....I guess its just for people to see God from another perspective, as The Living One you could speak to that also wants to hear you talk to him even when he knows what it is you want to say and still loves you despite your shortcomings as a person and a little discription of The Trinity with God as the Godhead,Jesus Christ as his son and The Holy spirit as the Living Spirit who acts someway in our heart as done with Mack........
DeleteAnonymous, Has it ever occurred to you that the Holy Spirit had this name long before the hindo people took it and gave their river this name in their tales of some pagen god? Which was Not by accident. The enemy loves to Take what belongs to God and turn it into something ugly and untrue. Just to confuse people.
DeleteNina.
DeleteI hope that it has occurred to everyone reading this that YOU JUST MADE THAT UP. When you reject God's Holy Word you will accept the demonic religious views of devilish evil religions like Hinduism. What you just said was ugly and untrue. You are following the author of confusion and will have the same destiny in a lake of fire IF you continue to believe in a false Christ and blaspheme the Holy Spirit by refering to HIM as the wife of the demon of fire...Sarayu is her name. Another demon that they chant their mantra to summon in meditation (prayer to devils).
That goes for every one of you who reject the True God of the Bible for the false devils of the sanskit abd Paul Young writings. You must believe in the True Christ to be saved from that fire.
Im with you. When i saw the movie i didnt finish watching i had to turn it off. Why would they put God and the holy spirit as a woman. When the bible says that God is a man. And God,Jesus and the holy spirit are the same person . That is why people should start reading the bible that way they arent decieved
DeleteWhy are people with a strong opinion choosing to reply as anonymous?
DeleteAnonymous....why try to argue? Your perception is your truth. If you look through the eyes of a skeptic that is what you will find. God doesn't mind at all. Be forever on your journey to find the truth and see the truth.
ReplyDeleteFor those who found great inspriration from the book, let them feel the spirit of God. It is their perception. God spoke to them. And God spoke to you because all of our needs are different.
I read the book. I started with skepticism. I ended in tears. Thanking God for the blessings I have in my life. Thanking God for my daughters. Asking God to always help me learn the benefits of letting go of the past.
Why get caught up in the details? The interpretation? Those that sought and found refuge in the story we're given what they sought.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Amen! Thank you JESUS!
DeleteI got this book for my birthday August2009 and i loved reading it..... Its been in the back of my mind ever since and now i started reading it again.....so many things seem more real and wonderful....this story is truly one of my absolute wordly indulgence's
ReplyDeleteI recently began reading this book, in part because of the movie of the same name coming out & my own curiousity of it. As a Christian, in varying levels of practice, all of my life the one thing I have noted recently is my human struggle to get a 'visual' of the Holy Spirit!
ReplyDeleteGod & I chat via Journaling daily & we have discussed this ad infinitum!
Yesterday as I laid down {Thanks to the flu, that MADE me slow down} to continue reading this book. I got to the part of the obviously human description/introduction of the Trinity & the name Sarayu has been nagging at me since.
I just did a quick Google search & I was correct in my assumption that it is the name of one of the many Hindu Goddesses! That said tho, I also, in my lifelong study of many different 'religions' & belief systems, I think I now understand why the author used that name to 'depict' what we know simply as The Holy Spirit.
That concept, even tho I am a highly Spiritual Person has eluded & confused me for quite awhile. However, as I just told God, because of the characterization of the young oriental girl {gardener} makes a lot more sense to my Human Understanding. And I believe, therein lies the key!
As God has told us many times, throughout His word, "His Understanding in Higher than ours..." {my paraphrase of Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV}
In closing, thank you for your wisdom & explanation of this topic as today is also my 56,000 year Birthday! Ha! {Existentialistically Speaking}
Shalom All!
https://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/theshack.htm
ReplyDeleteGalatians 5:9
I watched this movie, and it profoundly affected my perception of God. I've been Born-Again since the age of seven, yet the journey of getting to know God intimately is only becoming real to me now, it's not the length of the journey, rather the depth of my searching for who God is to me, that has suddenly become more clear. I think seeing a visual representation of the Holy Trinity, has made me see and understand more clearly, that God who is All and knows All, still loves us despite our failings and sin, both intentional and unintentional - I was overwhelmed with a such gratitude for who God is, and how much He loves me...it's almost as if the Living Word really became alive in me and to me. It's true as a previous comment stated, God speaks to us in our context using various mediums, even what might be considered worldly. God is not surprised by anything, Hindu's using the Sarayu for one of their gods or a river, how does that change God from being God. He has existed since before creation, we only exist because of His doing anyway. Who are we to determine or decide what God wants and from whom in terms of how we view and understand Him? The bible clearly states the "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son"...it doesn't say that God only loved or loves those who believe in Him and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour - the world includes every human being on the planet, we were all created in His image; not as Christians, Hindus or Muslims, but as a reflection of His glory. The movie has been such a blessing to me, and I derived from it what was needed, for where I find myself on this journey with God and to God. May those who read it or watch it, find what God wants to reveal to them for the time and space where they find themselves, so that the result of it will bring to Him the glory that only He deserves and which is so rightfully His.
ReplyDeleteCan someone tell me how to pronounce sarayu from the shack I'm not sure how to
ReplyDeleteEmail me at jhandyman637@gmail.com please and thank you
ReplyDeleteIm interested to know
ReplyDeleteEveryone who was lost, praise God after watching this movie. This movie has done nothing but to bring God's children who felt far away from Him closer to Him. Will satan try to bring someone close to God so that at the end of the day he loses one slave? NOOOO. Who gave God El Elyon, El Shaddai, Adonai, Jehovah Rapha, etc? Wasn't it the Hebrews, Yes or No? Now the Name "Sarayu" in HEBREW means Breath of Life and that's what Jesus said in "THE SHACK". UNDERSTAND BEFORE YOU SPEAK AGAINST SOMETHING. Be careful,FOR THE ONE WHO BLASPHEME AGAINST THE SPIRIT WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN, this is what Jesus told the Pharisees.
ReplyDelete