The Breath of God: Life in the Spirit

By John Miller and Melissa Miller

Is it possible to live so close to God in daily fellowship that you metaphorically feel His breath refreshing your life? Are you ready to launch out into the deep with God? Raise your sails and prepare to have them filled with the breath-wind of God’s empowering Spirit. Drawing from Biblical insights and personal testimonies after 30 years in ministry, John and Melissa Miller invite you to accompany them on this adventure of learning to walk in the spirit. A powerful resource for your personal life or small group studies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9781663209375

John Miller

"You'll be Sorry!" is John Miller's first book. As a young boy John Miller was told he had a vivid imagination. He had some ideas that he wanted to put down on paper. He likes to share these images and stories in his head with his readers. John Miller writes as if you're sitting on the front porch drinking tea and He's telling you a story. John miller grew up in the small town of Oliver Springs Tennessee. His mother moved him there when he was 12 and he enjoyed growing up in a small community. John Miller is an animal lover and it shows in his books.In his books there is some sort of animal whether it be a dog, coyote or horses. John miller has two rescue dogs that he loves very much. Snowball and Bryan were shelter dogs that he adopted and are a big part if his life. John Miller had an Idea of mixing old west and modern times thus the Gladstone series came about. He is really excited about the Gladstone series and the concept behind it. He hopes his readers enjoy reading the series as he had so much fun in writing it. He just finished his first full length Novel. Its a western story called "Trail Dust." The book is about a Civil War veteran who leaves Tennessee in search of his brother. Along the way circumstance makes him a U.S. Marshal and he recruits some unlikely characters to help him.He's currently working on the third and final installment of the Gladstone series and it should be done some time later this year. He likes to write and share his ideas with friends, the public who want a little mystery,romance and of course action and adventure. John Miller hopes his readers like his imagination and characters he creates in his books. Here is a review from "you'll be sorry".5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyed July 9, 2013 By read-along-with-Sue I couldn't sleep well last night due to the heat, so I picked up this short story. The author John A Miller is a new author, very new to me. His style was superb, I loved the concept of the story and how it built very quickly, the characters in the book soon shot up to be real to me, and Herman, the dog. I could have read this book for longer as I had enjoyed it so much. The 'kick' in the book came suddenly which kept me enthralled, too short! I wanted more. I downloaded this book when it was pointed out to be a freebie that day, so glad I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read his other books. Can I just say to, I have "met" the author on ...

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Copyright © 2020 John & Melissa Miller.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

iUniverse

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-0936-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-0937-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020920131

iUniverse rev. date:    12/14/2020

ENDORSEMENTS

"The Breath of God is a refreshing book about everyday life issues. This book

will bless, encourage and challenge you to have an intimate walk with our Lord."

Dr. Larry Henderson

President, Co-founder Churches in Missions

Sanford, NC

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"Breathing…naturally simple, yet profoundly important. Without physical

breath, there can be no physical life. But physical breath fails to satisfy our

greatest need and deepest longings. With keen Biblical insight, substantive life

application, and wisdom that only comes from years of experience, John and

Melissa guides readers into a deeper understanding of God’s lifegiving and soul-

transforming breath. With every physical breath you will use to read, you will

be moved by the work of God’s Spirit throughout redemptive history, challenged

by the conviction of God’s Spirit to uniquely change you, and revived by the

power of God’s Spirit to apply these truths each day. So, breathe deeply and

prepare yourself to experience the Breath of God in a fresh, powerful way."

David Vance

Lead Pastor, Crossroads Community Church

Mansfield, OH

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"Personal, easy to read; and prompts the reader to think. This book would

make a great personal devotional resource or even better a small group study."

Pastor Dennis Whitmore

Hilltop Christian Fellowship Hagerstown, MD

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"Resembling a conversation with old friends, this book presents an honest,

humble, and helpful challenge to live a Spirit-filled Christian life."

Pastor Michael Wyatt

Greencastle Bible Church, Carroll, OH

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Breath of God, Life in the Spirit, is, in accordance with the book’s title,

a breath of life, pouring into the heart of the reader: inspiration, hope, and

refreshment. You will take a growth and revival journey with John and Melissa

from their personal testimony. They do not paint an unrealistic picture of

having already attained but a transparency that provides you with the hope that

refreshment in the Lord is obtainable for all in search for a deeper knowing of

God. I was fascinated by the book’s simplicity, descriptive writing, and easy-

to-read nature. So powerful are the pages, I was forced to my knees in prayer

confronted by my own shortcomings. Breath of God hangs God’s plumbline in the

midst of His people and challenges you to seek more of Him. As a ministry leader,

I like this book because it can serve small groups for deep discussions for a Bible

study type meeting providing ready-made discussion points introduced by questions.

No one will walk away from Breath of God, Life in the Spirit empty.

Pastor Paul Berry

Full Life Family Ministries, Hagerstown MD

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"Breath of God is an amazing book that you are sure to not only

enjoy reading but to benefit from in your personal walk with God.

John and Melissa do an excellent job of addressing the dissatisfaction

with religion that many believers experience. This book gives solid

Scriptural direction in how to feed life into your walk with God."

Justin Perrow, Lead Pastor

Bridge of Life, Hagerstown, MD

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Simply put this is Real life & real Jesus".... a no nonsense, easy to

understand portrayal of what a life with Jesus is all about. Filled with a

passion for the Lord and people this book will be refreshing and encouraging

to anyone aiming to pursue and deepen their walk with the Saviour through

the real life story of John and Melissa’s journey with Jesus. They live this

out in their life every day. Allow the truths shared to speak deeply into

your heart and bring refreshment to your soul! This is not religious stuff but

rather an unfolding real relationship with the living God who breaths life into

our lives! Breath deeply with the Millers the life giving breath of God."

Scott Jackson

CEO & Co-founder

Thrive Leadership Foundation

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"My heart has been blessed by the straightforwardness of John and

Melissa‘s work in publishing this book. The most refreshing thing is

that over the years that I have known them they have strived to live out

what they have written on paper. Thank you both for your hard work

and your passion to exemplify Christ in every aspect of your life."

Pastor Terry St John

Hollywood Baptist Church

Chatham, VA

O’ Spirit of God, these insights are Yours,

inspired by the Holy Scriptures for the purpose of enticing our hungry hearts

to seek a deeper intimacy with the Living God

Who longs to breathe upon our lives

the freshness of the Father’s Divine Presence. Breathe upon us, O breath of God.

The Spirit of God has made me,

and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

~ Job 33:4 NKJV

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Acknowledgements

Preface

1. Breath of YHWH

2. Intentional Breathing After God

3. Jesus Breathed on Them

4. Creator God Breathed into Man

5. The Tree of Life

6. When God Breathed New Life into Me

7. Treasure in Earthen Vessels

8. The Breath of Influence

9. A Time for Self-Examination

10. What Happened to You?

11. God Breathes Upon the Waiting

12. God’s Breath Mobilizes

13. CPR of GOD

14. The Ghost of Jesus

15. Meeting with God

16. What Does Tarrying Look Like?

17. The Necessity of Temptation

18. The Menu

19. Christianity - New Roots

20. Breathe

21. Wind Empowers

Conclusion

Personal Application

INTRODUCTION

No doubt, you are hungry for a deeper, more experiential reality of God. We assume that is why you have felt compelled to read this book that we hope will entice you into closer fellowship with the Almighty.

God knew about you before you were conceived, and it is His desire to satisfy the craving you have for more of Him. And when we use the phrase more of Him, we mean a richer experience of His Presence in your daily life, a greater sense of knowing you are walking with the Lord in daily fellowship throughout the mundane as well as those special moments when you seem to sense His nearness.

Awareness of God’s Presence can be cultivated.

There is never a lack of God’s Presence at any time, at any place. This is what is meant when we say God is omnipresent, existing equally everywhere at the same moment in all ages. Paul the Apostle said in Acts 17:27-28 (recorded by Luke):

So that they should seek the Lord,

in the hope that they might grope for Him

and find Him,

though He is not far from each one of us;

for in Him we live and move and have our being,

as also some of your own poets have said,

For we are His offspring.

God’s Presence is here now, there now. The only lack is our heightened awareness.

Are you ready to begin cultivating a deeper awareness of God’s Presence in your life? Would you like to have God breathe freshness into your walk with Him? That is what this book is about.

Come with us on a journey that we believe will motivate and strengthen your resolve to draw near to the Father. Melissa and I write as a couple, a team, a type of Aquila and Priscilla (a husband/wife team mentioned in the Bible). Adjust your sails and listen for the wind of God as you proceed into these pages.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful for many friends and mentors who have encouraged and advised us over the years. There are so many that we cannot begin to mention all of them individually. A few people, however, have gone above and beyond in their investment in our lives as Christian mentors.

Thanks to Pastor and Mrs. Malcolm and Sue Cadd for pastoring us as teenagers, Dr. and Mrs. Don and Joanne Smith for mentoring and accepting us as apprentices in ministry when we were still young and green, and Pastor and Mrs. Terry and Holly St. John who continued mentoring us with authentic passion for Jesus and modeling what the grace and truth of Jesus looks like on a daily basis.

Thanks to Dr. and Mrs. Paul and Barbara Hatmacher and Dr. and Mrs. Larry and Bea Henderson of Churches in Missions, who trained us for the mission field and continue to display a spirit of Christlikeness and excellence in all they do. Pastor and Mrs. Steve and Wanda Campbell have been incredible examples to us and continue to inspire and encourage us along this journey. Bryan and Kerry Burkholder have walked closely beside us for more than twenty years as friends and mentors. Pastor and Mrs. Floyd and Patricia Baker found us as young adults and taught us to crave the deeper things of God.

So many other friends and pastors come to mind, but if we continue listing them all then this book will be several chapters full of names! We are the result of God using others in our lives and we feel blessed to simply pass it on.

PREFACE

Melissa and I believe the Sovereign Lord of this vast Universe orchestrated the arrival of this book into your life. By way of reminder, let us affirm that the only Book God inspired is the Bible and It alone should be the most important Book in our lives.

Personally, I delayed co-authoring this book for a few years because who needs to write another book when we already have God’s best-selling Bible? What can we add to the libraries of this planet when we already have God’s Holy Writ? I justified not writing as a way of declaring that I do not see the need to write a book when we already have the Best Book on Earth, the Bible.

Nevertheless, God has clearly indicated to us through godly mentors and friends that it is time to share these insights from God’s Word in hopes that they will inspire others. Humbly, we have noticed that when we teach these truths in sermons they refresh many and the sermon notes have been requested in print so the church can expand their study of the topic in Sunday School classes and small groups, so we feel that the Lord is elbowing us to write this book and cast it upon the waters for Him to use as He sees fit.

Of course, we claim no Divine Inspiration as the Bible writers experienced, but we do feel divinely led by the Lord to write. I am at a place in my life now where I feel it would be an act of disobedience and laziness if I do not share the following insights that have been harvested from the Scriptures and put to experience in my own life and the lives of others. Melissa has been ready to co-author this book