Tuesday Challenge #1 | Prayer

This week's challenge- Accept every offer to pray out loud this week! Are you facilitating a class, having dinner with friends or involved in small group? It doesn't matter where you are. When someone asks if anyone would like to pray, hit it up!  You can even offer to do so at any fitting time.

It doesn't matter how short or how long your prayer is. You can even write a prayer down if you're afraid you'll forget. God see's your heart. If it's uncomfortable, it's only because we haven't done so. Believe it or not, it gets easier with practice!

And here's a tip- when you close your eyes, don't focus so much on how the words will sound to everyone else. Imagine having a face to face conversation with God about where you are. Then let the words flow.

Verse: I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. - Psalm 81:10



Do you have a testimony about this challenge or a suggestion for another one? Comment here!

What's this about? | Other challenges


Picture Credit [then modified]: http://www.superbwallpapers.com/nature/sunrise-over-the-mountains-14501/

Tuesday Challenge | Intro

Hi there! Welcome to the Tuesday Challenge.

I used to wonder why I didn't understand the Bible. I used to listen to other people pray and I'd think, I'll never pray like that or I'd hear someone say, "I'm going to pray about it and see what God wants me to do" and I'd think, why don't I hear God telling me what to do.

I don't dare believe that I have all of the answers but I can tell you that one of the biggest things that has contributed to growing my faith was by making and/or accepting little challenges outside of my comfort zone that forced me to stretch myself or toward God in an area.

I don't really want to stop stretching AND I'm trying to figure out how to help encourage someone else at the same time. Maybe this is a way to accomplish both of those goals!

Why on Tuesday?  Well, it was kind of by accident really. I was updating Facebook posts for a church page and needed a post on a Tuesday.  I thought, who's up for a little challenge.  I did it again the following week. A few people commented to me later that they liked it. ...Thus Tuesday challenge. Genius, right? ;)

A new challenge will come out on Tuesday and it's intended for you [us] to complete during the week or by the following Tuesday. It's just a suggestion. You can pick from a different week, modify the challenge or stretch it out in whatever way that you need to. There are really no rules. The goal is to keep us looking for a little something just outside of our comfort zone.  -Kind of like a baby learning to walk. We inch a little closer, a little farther, etc... And BOOM, you know what happens? There's a connection!

And do you know what? I LOVE to hear how God is working in someone's life. So if you have an idea for a challenge or a testimony about one- PLEASE feel free to comment on any post or email me!

Iron sharpens Iron! Proverbs 27:17

The first one is coming 2/3/14!

Other Challenges

Picture Credit [then modified]: http://www.superbwallpapers.com/nature/sunrise-over-the-mountains-14501/

Smallness | Spiritual Goals

We are always trying to figure out how to do more, aren't we? To get better at.... To go BIGGER.... But that can be really exhausting, can't it? Like you I'm sure, it just doesn't seem like I have time to add to the day or to the list of tasks. If I can't add to, how on earth will I get the more & bigger down?

I've started to think about spiritual goals at the end of each year. 2014 was a great year for me but it was particularly busy and hard and even exhausting. When I drew my list of goals for 2015 it occurred to me that God probably doesn't need us to beat who we've been in the past. There's no real reason why our goals have to be "more" or "bigger" than the previous ones set, unless of course we didn't have any. Simply having different types of goals can continue to challenge us in the same positive way.

So for me, this year, I am trying to come up with goals for the "smallest" way that I can get more God in. Not because I don't want a whole lot of God but because sometimes when the challenge is too big, we just can't seem to get around to it or we put it off or stress ourselves out about it. I'm hoping that if I start considering the smallest thing that I can do right now, maybe it will keep me moving in the right direction.

Here are a few ideas. Won't you join me?

1. A, B, Glory - I heard a sermon from Andy Stanley last year and he said that there are always 3 choices to any question. There's answer A, answer B and then the answer that will give God the most Glory. Try to apply that the next time that you have a question. And actually this question might just be flavoring the rest of the pot below...

2. Use it for Glory/Blessing - Do you feel like God has recently blessed you with something and you want to know how to show thanks? How about consider the smallest way you can use it in order to give God Glory? Can you share it with someone, use it to help someone, build a testimony around it?

3. Ooh Discipline - Instead of what new things can we learn about this year; maybe we just need to get really disciplined [trying to apply] in the things that he's already asked of us.

4. Use what you have - This year instead of buying something for every birthday party, event, last minute dinner.... Maybe we need to find a way to use (reuse) what we already have. That might not sound like a way to glorify but I just keep thinking about Jesus collecting the crumbs left over after the five loaves. -Maybe it was to feed someone else. I also think about all of the times we say that we will do this or that when we have such and such. But those who are trusted with little [what you have now] will be trusted with much and we shouldn't force ourselves into debt trying to get there.

5. Encourage another along the way - When Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman, he told her to go and get her husband. When Elisha told the widow to get her jars to fill with oil, he told her to collect jars also from her neighbors. Where ever you are and wherever you're going, look out for someone else along the way that needs the same thing that you do. -Even if it's only someone to pray with.

6. Joining church - If you're resolution was to get back to church, maybe try joining the smaller one or perhaps start with a small group study instead of the regular Sunday Service.

7. Set your stone - Joshua 4:4-7 is just one example of God asking people to set reminders. Throughout the bible we repeatedly see people putting up memorials, alters, and place markers and/or changing names to signify or represent work that God has done in their life.  This was done not only so that what God has done could be remembered but so that it could be talked about with others. Do you have any stones that you need to collect and/or put up for the Lord this year? Take time to remember them, even if it's only by writing them down.

4. Say "Thanks" - It's such a small word, isn't it?

5. Pick One Word - Whether or not you get the book, pick One Word for the year as your focus. In case you couldn't tell, my one word this year is smallness. Your one word is like a mini goal and when used in prayer it can be a quick way to help guide you when you need to make decisions or refocus.

6. Stop doing it - What is the smallest thing that you can stop doing? -Even if it's only for a period of time so that you can discover how to give God Glory while doing it.

7. Accept the K-Love Challenge? This is a challenge to listen to Christian music on the K-Love station for 30 days. (I had to put this on here because my daughter asks me nearly every day if we can accept this challenge. To which I reply, Sophie, we've already been listening.... But she still asks. Maybe my smallest thing is to get her a calendar so that she has the excitement of marking it off every day and maybe I'll challenge myself to listen with a new ear.) It seemed fitting to add here. It is small and you are already in the car, right?!?!

8. As a family - Maybe try to exclude going to so many individual/separate events in order to find one group event that you can all do together.

9. Read less but absorb more - Each of us at some point or another have sworn or at least been pretty sure that we'd read the whole bible or a certain number of chapters a day within a year. But that's a BIG challenge and sometimes the bible is hard to read. How about simply going for understanding of the one chapter that you choose to read? After you read it once, find another translation, and maybe another. Check out commentary, interpretations and even look up certain words or details from the text. Ooh, you can even write a summary about what you think is happening, if you feel led to. When you've squeezed out every drop; then move on to the next chapter. Whew- doesn't that take the pressure off? Then you're never behind!

10. Up the volume - Instead of praying all day or praying more or even praying harder, make the words that you do offer up in prayer, words that are said out loud.

11. Change your availability - Instead of trying to be involved in every function and running around like a chicken with your head cut off; ask God to help you find the one person that needs to see you (or God through you) each day.

12. Don't forget your loved ones - What is the one thing that you can do for each member of your immediate family this week? Ask God to help you tune your listening ear. Maybe it's resetting an iPod, making cookies together or calling about an appointment. It might be as simple as watching a movie together but what's the smallest way that you can show the members of your house that they are not lost in your shuffle? If this and # 8 don't seem like a way to incorporate more God, check out 1 Timothy 5:8. And God repeatedly blesses people by giving them descendants in the bible. I can tell you that [next to the bible] he teaches me more about his character through my own family than anywhere else!

13. Little challenges - Maybe create/accept some little challenges in your uncomfortable zone for God. If you're not sure how, look here for some ideas on Tuesday's.

14. The silver lining - Every day something will happen to frustrate you. The kids might miss the bus on Monday. The car won't start on Tuesday. Don't even talk about Wednesday.... But at the very same time God is trying to teach you something about discipline and you feel it in such a good way. -Or perhaps a friend made you lunch and it touches you. When you're retelling the details of your day, is it only the gray clouds that you let define it? Or is God meeting a need in a different area or trying to reveal himself in those frustrations. -Do those details get a small part in the script that you rehearse?

15. Inventory & Goals - Before were too deep into this year take an inventory of last year. Are you satisfied with how it turned out? Are you closer to God or your family? Did you have a plan and master any of it? ...or give it to the master? Flesh it out. Was there anything you would have changed?  What can you aim for this year? Will it be different?

16. Customize it - Ask God what is the smallest way that YOU can squeeze a little more Glory in.

If you get some answers to 16, I'd love to hear them! So don't forget to share it here, on Facebook or with a friend.

Blessings to you in 2015!


Picture credit: http://thesamaritanwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/StepsToSuccess012113-300x300.jpg

The Samaritan Woman

[Updated 7/4/19] 

The Samaritan Woman is one of the more well-known chapters in the bible. If you haven't heard about her, grab your Bible and follow along in John 4. For those of you who read the end of a book first, I'll give you a quick recap before we start. 

The Samaritan woman is an outcast not only because of her race but because of her past and maybe even current lifestyle. When most women travel to the well in the morning and evening, she goes at noon to further avoid the crowd that you would expect to find her in.

While there she meets Jesus at the well and they have a very short discussion and she comes to believe in him. She then goes back to tell the people in the town about her experience. The simplicity of this chapter might make its truth too easy to overlook but I’d just like to point out a few things that I gleaned from it.

I'm just going to jump right into verse 6 where Jesus is already at the well when she arrives. In verse 7, the dialogue starts with him asking her for a drink. Whether or not she is socially unacceptable, she further changed her schedule to avoid dialogue with others. So I’m going to guess that she is startled by the conversation. Instead of granting his request, she replies by describing unworthiness.

“You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans).

Now stop right there- 

Women (self-included) are particularly guilty of this. We're either putting ourselves down or reminding others of our past, status or limitations. “I can’t do that because I don’t know how”. “You wouldn’t want me because I am no good at that…” 

The conversation seems a little cryptic. Jesus replies in verse 10 “If you knew the Gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 

I mean what does that have to do with the well? Didn't he just ask her for a drink?

But it’s not really cryptic at all. He’s responding to who she is in that moment. She's the one who pointed out her issues. I think what he’s really saying, is that if you knew the gift of God, you wouldn’t struggle with feeling less than and you wouldn’t worry about what you can’t do. You would be able to rely on me and have confidence about where you’re at.

I reflect, on how many times, even though we think we “know” God, we still don’t go to him or even trust him with our needs. We might ask ourselves what talking to God is going to do about our current situation. It sounds too simple. I need a solution!

Sometimes, we think we are giving our problems to God because we beat ourselves up with scripture or exhaust ourselves by trying to work it out with him and around others. …Like the Samaritan woman who was rearranging her own schedule, around her limitations. 

However, his word says don’t be afraid, just believe. You don’t have to argue or wrestle. If you can just focus on me, then your problems will not weigh you down. (Literally- STOP obsessing over your issues and just worship me.) If you can trust that I am who I say that I am, you will find yourself letting go of what you’re struggling with. It is so easy but at the same time, such a hard cycle to learn and put into practice. 

Even in saying all of that, he never mentions her Samaritanship or her gender or any of those specific things that she might be worried about.

In verse 11, she reminds him again of another limitation… “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?” Then in verse 12 she asks him if he’s greater than Jacob, who built the well. He replies “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in them a spring of water, welling up to eternal life.”

Now I imagine for a moment what he might be saying between the lines of what he hasn't said. Would it sound like this? Yes, you do have a physical need for the water from this well to satisfy your fleshly thirst. But something else is parched... Is it your mind, because you stay up at night wrestling with thoughts? Is it your spirit because this life just seems too complicated and too hard. Is it your heart because it's too worn out from trying? If you can just come to me, the water [word] I will give you will become a spring of water bubbling up to eternal life. You might still have a physical thirst and you might still have problems but your spirit will be satisfied. You will get rest. You will feel refreshed. Not only that but my one word will be one that you will want to share many times to encourage others. …welling up, bubbling over…

Who doesn’t like the sound of that, right? So, in verse 15 she asks him where she can get that water but you can tell she’s not quite getting it because she is still thinking about how this well for the real water makes her keep coming back. 

Then he says in verse 16 “Go call your husband and come back”. To which she replies, “I have no husband.” 

He continues, you’re right when you say that you have no husband. The fact is that you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you said is quite true.”

Now you might read that and think, ooooh snap- he just called her out! And in a way he did. -But not to condemn her. If he was going to do that, he would’ve done it when she first questioned why he, a Jew, was talking to her if she was a Samaritan. He wanted her to know, he sees her. He knows her name. He knows who she is and her private thoughts. And all of this living water that he’s been talking about is for her too. He knows who he’s talking to. 

Of course you might wonder why he called the 6^th guy her husband if he wasn’t… Why would he do that if he knew her…?  Personally, I think he was trying to be courteous to her. --To give her dignity by not calling her out. He lets her confess it to him. THEN he lets her know that he already knew. 

And if God sees hearts, who’s to say she hadn’t already committed to marrying him in her heart. But either way, again, he is the gentlemen. He accepts her status and acknowledges her where she is right now.

And have you ever had one of those encounters, either before you have committed your life to Christ or in the early days of your faith, where you bump into someone that brings up church or God and it makes you squirm and or straighten up a little? You want to acknowledge your experience with it. Maybe you talk about your parent's faith. Maybe you talk about why the church doesn't work for you. Yet, you either don't know the details or you don't want to get too deep in the conversation, so you try to change the subject a little.

Well, I think that's exactly what we see in verse 19 when she says, “I can see that you’re a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 

She's making a statement. She’s heard of him and had some family that “went to church”. But is she also asking a question? Where do I worship? I mean speed up to our time. Is it this church or that one? -This denomination or service or ritual? WHERE can we find this God and what are we supposed to do?

He responds to her by telling her that one day she won’t be in any of those places to worship. As for right now, none of that really matters. You’re going to a church and going through the motion but you’re really missing the whole point. You don’t know what you need to know. –or who you need to know rather. BECAUSE-

If you don’t know God (and his gift), you won’t really be able to fully worship him anywhere. And if you do know God and his gift then you can worship him everywhere! -On the mountain, in Jerusalem, and at the grocery store!

He goes on to say in verses 23-24 that we should worship in spirit and in truth. What does that even mean? 

Well, let me tell you that a one on one relationship with Jesus will free you where legalism and following the law will bind you. You need religion. You need the Bible. ‘The rules’ are there to show you the things that can cause you and others pain or harm. However, sometimes we can stick so close to ‘the law’ that we dismiss how it impacts the spirit of those involved, causing greater harm. 

We each were given a spirit for a reason- personal encounters with God and others! Your spiritual practice(s) (like meditating on the word, still meditation, journaling, prayer, talking to God/listening to God, listening to yourself, feeling your feelings- whatever you apply to develop your personal spirit) is JUST as important as knowing what the Word of God says.

And John 14:6 says that He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life. 

John 8:32 says that the TRUTH will set you free. Whether that is the truth of your confession or learning His truth. Both can set you free.

You must worship and practice your faith in both because what is born out of the center of those two, is the personal plan and will for your life. 

In verse 25 we see that she doesn't really have knowledge of either side. She's still talking about him. Not to him. when she says “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

She’s heard of him. She just doesn’t know him personally to be able to recognize or identify him. 

The devil will condemn you for that and you might be tempted to give it [this faith thing] up because it’s just too confusing. But even Mary –his own mother- had trouble recognizing Jesus after the resurrection because she was so consumed in her grief. See John 20. She didn’t expect to see him. 

What about us- do we expect to see God? Would we recognize him if we were at that well? Would we even give a little credit to that whisper in our heart and test it? 

So just when she starts thinking about God and what he might do, you know what happens…? See verse 26.

He makes himself known. 

Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

Gosh, and there is such a timeliness to that. I mean consider it. If he announced that he was the Messiah when they first met at the well, she wouldn’t have given him the time of day. 

I mean, she’s avoiding everyone else because of her weakness. She would have run as fast as she could, either because he was a crazy man or because who wants to let God see all this bad stuff. 

So, he does as he always does. He meets us where we are. He acknowledges her “junk” first and then introduces himself. She won't have anything to be ashamed of after she finds out who he is. Because he already knows it!! But he doesn’t reveal himself until we start to give him a little possibility.  <3

So then in verse 27 the disciples come back and let’s read verse 28 together because there are a few more things that I want to point out. 

"Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

The first thing that I want to point out is that she left her water jar. I mean, did she even fill it up? What he had was so good; her other needs seemed less important ...kind of what like he promised, huh? 

Then she went back and told people that the man “told her everything that she ever did.” 

What struck me about this line was that he only told her about 6 relationships of hers. Something personal. Something that she was most likely ashamed of. Something that made her feel separate. Ponder that thought for a moment. 

I know part of me thought; Gosh we’re so dramatic at times. "that was everything...?" 

But look deeper. 

How many things do we let define us and be our everything? This can be good or bad. Is it past sin, failures as a parent or partner, accomplishments, what others say, being the one to fix everything, etc? God see’s everything about us but his gift goes to work, right where we need it most! In our heart. In what we hold and what others may or may not know. 

Second, let’s just talk about Transformation. Not only did she leave her jar at the well. –The thing she came after was suddenly not as important as telling others about him. But this is a woman who avoided people. And suddenly she couldn’t help herself from going back to tell others.

If you continue reading, in verse 39 the chapter says that many came to believe because of her testimony. All she said was “He told me everything that I ever did”. Don’t we worry that we have to have the right words or the correct answers or some crazy, profound experience in order to talk to someone else? We don't! We just get to talk about what he means to us and how, why, etc. No embellishments. No grand finales. Simplicity. The truth… He will do the rest.

But I do believe that God does want to be crazy profound with each of us! And isn't there a little bit of the Samaritan woman in each of us too? 

If you circle back to the very first verse; Their dialogue started when God asked her for the very thing that she was after… What is it that we're after? And how do we give it to God? 

Well, it starts by first letting it go. 

Not only does his gift work for whatever your 'it' is; his gift was made to replace our "everything…" He does it collectively and individually. He does it daily and he does it again and again. Every time, we are willing to put our pot down (tasks, desires, etc.) and just listen to him. He acknowledges us right where we are and refreshes our spirit and gives us the courage to do more than what we ever thought we could.

Will you stop today and offer him your truths, in exchange for a drink of his water? Will you let it replace what you are after?

Photo Credit: http://bizlocallistings.com/junytd/samaritan-woman-at-the-well-clipart/4

Biblical Affirmations

A few years ago, I started a list of affirmations. Personally, I always thought that doing something like that was a little ridiculous. [Judgment isn't intended, it's just a truth.] I decided that it was only speaking and wouldn't really hurt me to include it. If it has a benefit, it seems too simple not to. So, why not, right? 

I've allowed a little negative self talk over the years and so I targeted my affirmations in this area. I made a list of things that I perceived as negative about myself and made a list of the opposite characteristic. I'll spare you the whole list but for an example; I wanted to stop yelling at the kids. My affirmation was "I am nurturing." 

If I've had any success with anything on the list, I'd like to attribute that to God and not a bunch of things I've said but Philippians 4:3 does say: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things." Reading down the list, at least gets the thoughts in there...

Anyway, the other day I thought of two other things to add to the list. It occurred to me that having a list of a bunch of statements that I made up, might still be another way that I am trying to do something on my own. If God spoke things into existence, and if I recognize the power of his word, why wouldn't I want to repeat what his word already says? 

BAM!

So then I decided to make a new list, matching up the old items with scripture and then I was going to place the final product here. Along with two links that I found where evidently someone else was thinking the same thing. I'm sure there are many other links out there...

See here and here. 

BUT THEN-

What if even this new model, even with scripture, was still a little too focused on self. What if, instead of my own affirmations, I simply focused on Jesus or who God says he is or his power?

um... whoa... ;) I guess that would kind of be a little bit more like trust, huh? Then we would be able to focus more on worship. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with affirmations or speaking life about ourselves and our lives. -But I am considering how I can give God just a little bit more Glory and a little less focus on me.

Maybe on your end, you could try out this list with me. May it be a blessing to you!

1. You are the creator of all! - Colossians 1:16
2. You are the way, - John 14:6
3. the truth, - (Same verse)
4. and the life. - (Same verse)
5. With you, all things are possible. - Luke 18:27
6. You are the only Lord, most high over all of the earth. - Psalm 83:18
7. You will make our paths straight. - Proverbs 3:5-6
8. You are our salvation. - Psalm 27:1
9. It is you who turns water into wine. - John 2:1-12
10. And heals the sick. - John 4:46-54
11. And multiples - John 6:1-14
12. And walks on water - John 6:15-21
13. And raises the dead. - John 11:1-44
14. Who died on a cross - 1 Peter 2:24
15. and resurrected from the dead. - 1 Corinthians 15:4
16. It is you who speaks light, - Genesis 1-3
17. and commands the wind  - Mark 4:39
18. and calms the sea  - Psalm 107:29
19. and suspends the stars - Isaiah 40:26
20. and makes mountains tremble - Nahum 1:5
21. You are THE GREAT I AM! - Exodus 3:14
22. You are perfect! - Matthew 5:48
23. It is you that gives strength. - Psalm 147:5
24. You are our joy - Romans 15:13
25. and our hope. - (Same verse)
26. and everlasting life. - Romans 6:23
27. You are the Alpha and Omega - Revelation 22:13
28. the first and the last. - (Same verse)
29. the beginning and the end. (Same verse)
30. You are before and with us. - Deuteronomy 31:48
31. You are alive and active and sharper than any double edge sword. - Hebrews 4:12
32. You are our rock. -Psalm 18:2
33. You are the sun and shield. - Psalm 84:11
34. You are glory. - Psalm 3:3
35. You are our song. - Isaiah 12:2
36. You are peace. - John 14:27
37. You are the bread of life. -John 6:35
38. You are the light of the world - John 8:12
39. You are the good shepherd. - John 10:11
40. and a gate for the sheep. - John 10:7
41. You are the vine. - John 15:1
42. You are full of spirit. - John 6:63
43. and life. (Same verse)
44. You are HOLY! - Leviticus 19:2
45. You are the name above all names. - Philippians 2:9
46. You are our gift. - 2 Corinthians 9:15
47. and Priest - John 4:14
48. The first instructor. - Psalm 32:8
49. Given to us. - Isaiah 9:6
50. Wonderful Counselor - (Same verse)
51. Mighty God - (Same verse)
52. Everlasting Father - (Same verse)
53. Prince of Peace - (Same verse)
54. A Friend that is closer than a brother! - Proverbs 18:24
55. Deliverer - Daniel 3:17
56. You are the living water. John 4:10
57. and the drink that satisfies all thirst. - John 4:14
58. Who holds all things together. - Colossians 1:17
59. You are love. - 1 John 4:8
60. and so you are the first lover. - 1 John 4:19
61. The model of our image. - Genesis 1:27
62. You are always the same. - Hebrews 13:8
63. Who binds the broken. - Psalm 147:3
64. You bring one down - Psalm 75:7
65. and exalt another. - (Same verse) 
66. You set the captives free. - Isaiah 42:6-7
67. and renew our spirit. - Psalm 51:10
68. Who curses the wicked - Proverbs 3:33
69. and blesses the righteous. - (Same verse)
70. and equips the called - Hebrews 13:20
71. Who feeds the birds. - Matthew 6:26
72. and perceives our thoughts - Psalm 139:2
73. who calls us by name - Isaiah 43:1
74. All things are through you - Hebrews 2:10
75. You bring them to pass (completion) - Philippians 1:6
76. And you perfect them. - Hebrews 12:2
77. You immeasurably great - Ephesians 1:19
78. and beyond compare. - Isaiah 40:18
79. You are majestic - Psalm 76:4
80. and supreme. - Psalm 99:2
81. Full of Grace - 1 Peter 5:10
82. infinite - Psalm 147:5
83. our inspiration - 2 Timothy 3:16
84. Full of wondrous works - Psalm 40:5
85. All knowing - 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
86. All seeing - 2 Chronicles 16:9
87. It is your breath that gives life. Job 33:4
88. You are able. - Ephesians 3:20-21
89. and more than we imagine. - (Same verse)
90. You are beyond our escape. Psalm 139:7-12
91. The one who fulfills his promises - Romans 4:21
92. You hear us. - Psalm 5:3
93. You are the great encourager. - 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
94. Redeemer - Isaiah 47:4
95. Who roots - Colossians 2:7
96. and builds up, - (Same verse)
97. and makes thankfulness overflow. - (Same verse)
98. You are more than we can comprehend! - Psalm 139:6
99. The great revealer - 1 Corinthians 4:5
100. There is power in your very name. - 1 John 14:13-14

You might also like this post


picture credit: http://www.magic4walls.com/

Eating the fruit

Most of us are fairly familiar with Proverbs 18:21. "The tongue has the power of life and death..." My impression of it has always been contrary to the old sticks and stones rhyme; what you say really does have the power to hurt someone (death) or build them up (life).  Even when we allow that verse to have more meaning, we still might only consider its direct impact on others and not ourselves. 

        But
  did you
          know???

There is another half to that verse. It says "and those who love it will eat its fruit." 

This addition might sound more like a do unto others; if you speak life about someone else then others will speak life about you. Or if you are careless, and/or use your words to hurt others, then they will come back to you the same way.  

While some of that may be true, I'd like to suggest an even deeper meaning...

In 1 Samuel 18:8-10 an evil spirit enters Saul because of Saul's jealousy and anger over David. Because Saul allowed those thoughts, it opened a door for an evil spirit to torment him. 

If that kind of damage enters because of our thoughts, how much more can we open ourselves to life and death by letting thoughts become more? Our verse in Proverbs 18:21 says those who love it will eat its fruit.

Well, I know many (self included) that love to talk but eat...?

To eat does not mean that we give to someone else, or wait to see if you can cover it up, or make it different later. It means to put inside. -That by letting our thoughts manifest into an action or a word, we will put something inside of our own bodies, soul, & spirit in that moment. Opening our mouth, opens us up as well.

In fact the verse immediately before it says From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.

In the same way that what you eat determines how well you nourish your body; your harvest of words will nourish your own soul. 

Boy that is literally a lot to chew on. Bad-ump-bump!


So what does that look like in our day-to-day? 

I can't remember where it came from but I once heard the statement that you can't complain and praise at the same time. Have you ever had a song stuck in your head....?  Why not come up with a "go to song" to change your tune in the heat of the moment. The minute that a groan starts to take shape, recall the song and just start singing... Its okay if your don't know a "Praise" to sing. You can look for one. Until then, even singing "Old Mac Donald" would keep you from the groan. ...um, success! Until you learn a praise song. Or just say "Hallelujah" or "Jesus" over and over.  After all, there is something about that name.

If scripture is a weapon why not speak that instead of gossip or possibilities or fears? Hebrews 4:12 says that "The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." I don't know about you but I'd like to be and occasionally need to be separated from some of my thoughts! If it will help me separate- YES PLEASE!

But what if we also tried a little role reversal and let the conversations with our friends stay in our mind while talking out loud to God instead? Or how about word reversal, if you need social activity; how about deliberately looking for someone to encourage, compliment or pray with regularly instead of just talking about the weather or the day.

Not to drag this list out but it appears that I'll be finishing this post on Thanksgiving. In honor of that, what if we said more than just "thanks". What if we were deliberate and intentional about who did what, why it was so significant and how that has left us for the better? In fact check out this video. Gosh, why can't we do this every day!?

Lastly, we tell ourselves that less is less but sometimes, it is truly more. Proverbs 17:28 says "Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues." Meditate on that and see where you might need to hold back a few words, even if they might not all be "bad" ones.

Because of that verse and this theme about the "fruit of words" I think this picture is the perfect finale. When I was a child my parents had fruit trees. I remember them removing buds and smaller fruit before it could fully mature; even when it looked completely healthy or was just beginning to bloom. Yet, this was done so that that the fruit remaining on the tree would become bigger, sweeter and even more nutritious. Not only is it better for the fruit that is produced; but too much fruit could actually damage the tree. 

In both scenarios it is the fruit that can damage the body from which it came. Let us all meditate on this post. I hope the words really marry together in your heart and mind. What words might we keep or let go of; and how would doing so guard not only our health, but also our offering to others and to the Lord? 

I hope this post is a blessing to you. Thank you so much for reading. I wish you safe travels and a beautiful day spent with those you love in celebration of ALL of the Lord's good works!


Closing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, THANK YOU for yet another opportunity to be thankful not just for what we eat of the physical world but also for what is given in nourishment by spirit. Bless not only the fruit of the earth, but also the fruit of our mouths and of our hearts. Forgive us for overlooking the deceit in our tongues. Let even the most private places of our heart be a PLEASING offering to you. Teach us how to apply the "righteous" living that we all crave. Let us discover MORE of your power and glory in our day to day. Let us be awed in love for you and your people. -Then to propelled to give from the thankfulness that overflows within. We love you Lord. Thank you for your many blessings!


If you enjoyed this, you might also like 2 other timely links that I've come across this week. 

• A sermon on how Thankfulness opens us up to God (click the sermon from 11/23)

• An Article on the The 7 evils of a complaining spirit copied from a book, "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment" by Jeremiah Burroughs

photo credit - Thanks to my sweet, sweet Sophie. :)

Rain Bird

A gentleman waits
nesting inside
the most secret place

of our heart
not in slumber 

or indifference 

but instead listening
for the sound of the storm

humidity, heat rises
our stickiness of words
bind to the air
seemingly trapped by the surface
the messenger finds his cue

he goes before
permeating cracks
reaching in and seeking out
Interceding
and carrying our breath 

up to the heavens

a call for rain

He draws, in sweeps
wherever he pleases
announcing the hush
a sound-
only known as washing

in a whisper

It covers and uncovers
he splashes again,
delighting to whet
       -all- 

that is thirsty
...take a drink

We join him in a new song

As co-messengers of the reign

Glistening ourselves

For his water is not just on us

But within

we precipitate back into pools

of tears and scattering sweat
-The accumulation of bubbles
that must now move.

Spilling over, we let go of form

just to touch-

to linger in his presence

and become drenched in spirit
relaxing as we spread
HIS song
of all that is true

It is HE that holds the power
and the spirit and the life
and it is HE that is revealed
in the evaporation of words

that only long to rise

and

It is HE that perceives 

and carries and catches

and soothes

then returns 

each glory filled droplet 

from which they came

More verses may be added over time... :) May it be a blessing to you.

Photo Credit: http://www.longboardmaps.com/hummers.htm