A Monday Morning Gift to You

Sometimes we need it simple and straight. We don’t need someones interpretation or in-depth theology. Sometimes, we just need the pure and simple words written in the book. I pray you have a beautiful Monday morning filled with joy and peace.

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you are provide right when you speak and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,

sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;

you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will turn back to you.

Save me from bloodguilt, O God,

the God who saves me,

and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart,

O God, you will not despise.

In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;

build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Then there will be righteous sacrifices,

whole burnt offerings to delight you;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

~ Psalm 51

A Special (Good) Friday Post

Normally my Friday posts are light hearted and fun. But whether you’re Jewish, Christian, Catholic or a non-categorized believer…this is a big weekend for most people as it’s Passover/Good Friday/Easter. Instead of finding a way to tell you how important this weekend is, I’d like to refer you to a bloggy friend of mine who wrote it beautifully here.

Now since I know you’re lazy and probably won’t click on the link above, I’ve made it easy by also posting her blog here. Take a moment to read it and reflect on how Jesus’ sacrifice has affected your life. And if you come up with nothing, maybe it’s time you find out how it CAN affect your life. There is no time like right now to find out what He did for you…whether you wanted it or not.

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I’m not sure why I’m particularly aware of Good Friday this year. Maybe it’s because this year I’m particularly aware of the wretched, broken person I am – the one desperately needing a Savior. Or maybe it’s because our pastor encouraged us to linger at the cross this year – to reflect and remember the how and the why.

Regardless of the reason, I think it will be hard to imagine today as the day darkness fell – it’s going to be 86 degrees and perfectly sunny. But it’s not hard to imagine today as the day that all seemed lost.

In a world where little is certain and nations war and children starve and death seems final, it’s not hard to imagine – to feel – this as the day of despair.

But as easy as it is to imagine today as the day when Satan seemed to have the upper hand, we know the rest of the story.

It’s Friday – only Friday. Sunday’s coming.

And on Sunday, hope wins.

Pick a Lane, Any Lane

This morning I really felt God speak directly to my heart. He said “Just Breathe.”

That was the answer to the 20 minute prayer I had. To take a deep breathe and relax. To just trust Him the way that I say I do.

He then showed me (while driving) how a highway has 3 lanes: The fast lane, the middle lane and the slow lane. He asked me which lane I thought I should be in. I admitted that I’m usually in the middle lane, using the fast lane for passing any annoying driver. I rarely use the slow lane. He then showed me a deeper look at these 3 lanes. The fast lane has extreme ups and downs. People drive as fast as traffic will allow but are often found slamming on their breaks, swerving and using the other 2 lanes to get around people in their way. They’re often anxious and easily bothered by those around them. Other cars cause an inconvenience to them. The value of their time and destination is the only thing on their mind. The middle lane is like a fence warmer. They often use the fast and slow lane depending on how the other people around them are driving. It’s usually a fairly steady drive but you have to constantly be aware of people cutting you off and coming in and out of your lane. You also have to beware of the fast lane drivers who decide to cross your lane in order to get to the slow lane for exiting last minute. Although it seems to be a safe middle lane, it actually requires more attention and focus than you might think. It’s not fast and it’s not slow, it’s a bit warm and uneasy. The slow lane is where you often see people cruising with a smile on their face. They’re not in a rush and are only cut off by the occasional driver who uses the slow lane as a way to bypass the middle lane “slow” drivers. The slow lane gives you the most control and peace as you can see the scenery around you and be prepared for your exit when the time comes.

So God challenged me: which lane AM I in and which lane do I WANT to be in? Turns out, I want to be a slow lane driver. So I did just that. I got out of the rush hour traffic and joined the lane often held by the elderly and big trucks. And I can’t say it wasn’t challenging to not try and join the cars zooming by to my left, but it sure was peaceful driving at my own pace. Maybe the old people aren’t so much slow drivers…it’s just that they’ve lived long enough to know that the fast lane doesn’t REALLY get you to where you want to be in the end. It just keeps you in the flow of the things that seem important at the time.

Is the bible your favorite book? Really?

Do you like reading the bible? Seriously. You don’t have to answer out loud…but hear this, God knows your answer already. Scary thought huh? Especially if you’re a Christian who believes that reading your bible is incredibly important to God. Want to know my answer? My answer is not usually. I’ve been reading the bible regularly for 5 years and can honestly say that I still don’t understand a lot of it. And honestly, I hear that from a lot of people that I talk to so I don’t feel so bad about it anymore. But the thing is, we can’t just give up and decide not to read it just because we don’t get it or it’s boring or whatever excuse you’re giving yourself to make it okay.

So what should you do? Well do what I’m doing. Take it 1 chapter at a time.

So where should I start? First, ask God. Seriously. Just pray a simple prayer. “God, I really want to read your word and understand what I’m reading. Where should I start?” He may tell you. You may turn to a part of the bible that just feels right. You may read a quote someone posted and want to read more of where it came from. But…what happens if that doesn’t happen? Well here’s 2 options: 1-start with the book of Matthew (the beginning of the New Testament). Reading about Jesus is fascinating. Seriously. Or 2-follow me as I follow Lysa TerKeurst as she writes a blog helping people just like us read and understand the bible. Start now though – we just began! Part One, Part Two.

I just read Philippians 2 and got more out of it than I think I ever have. I honestly think I can read this chapter every day for the rest of my life and have something to work on and pray about lol. Seriously, in 1 chapter i’ve learned:

• I should be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose
• I should do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit
• I should look to the interests of others and not just myself
• My attitude should be the same as Jesus
• I should be a servant
• I should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and give glory to God for him
• I should work out my salvation with fear and trembling
• God works in me according to His purpose
• I should do everything without complaining or arguing
• I should shine like a star in the universe as I hold out the word of life
• I should be glad and rejoice

OH MY GOODNESS. That’s all in 1 chapter. Imagine what we’ll learn after reading another chapter? And another? And another? The thing is, instead of seeing a list of things I have to be, I see a list of things I CAN be. What I can strive to be. What God can make me into if I let him. How cool is that?

Whatever you decide to read…take the time to see what you can learn from it and how you can apply it to your life. It really will make a difference and there is nothing boring about that.

Update on the Changes

Remember my (pretty dramatic) post on our life changes? If not, read here.

All caught up? Good. Because it’s time for an update.

• Change #1: We’re moving. Update: We informed our apartment complex that we will be out of our place by April 30th. Over the past month we’ve done some research and confirmed that we are in fact paying a lot more money for our current place than we need to be spending on a 1 bedroom apartment. Now don’t get me wrong, we like and appreciate where we’re living and think that we’re getting a lot for our money…we just don’t think it’s necessary. We’ve been living a bit luxuriously in our gated apartment complex complete with gym, movie theater, pool, barbeque area, playground, central air, garbage disposal, washer & dryer, dishwasher and all new appliances. But as great as it all sounds, after living here 2 years we’ve honestly had little use for many of these great amenities. So for the same amount of money we’re now looking at renting 2 and 3 bedroom apartments/townhouses/private houses. We haven’t decided on a place (or location) yet but we’re confident that we’ll find something that suits our current needs.

 

• Change #2 – We’re pregnant. Update: I’m now 5 1/2 months pregnant with a little girl we’re calling Charlotte. She’s doing well and so am I. Originally I had high blood pressure but praise God, it’s gone down. So they’re keeping an eye on me but so far so good! We’re very excited about our little girl and will be registering soon. So any advice on what I need vs. what I don’t, I’m all ears! And in case you haven’t heard, Chris made his first baby purchase. A little onesie with a turntable and “future DJ” next to it. He’s too much

 

• Change #3 – Chris’ job change. Update: Many recruiters have contacted Chris about jobs he’d be good for but little has come from them. He did however have 2 successful interviews this past week so that was good. Right now we’re just praying that God’s plan is in the works as Chris enters his last month at the job he’s been so dedicated to over the past 2 years. We’re just waiting for the right job in the right place for the right compensation to take hold.




• Change #4 – We’re switching churches. Update: You’re thinking “what? I don’t remember reading about this in that post?” ha. yea. We did have another change going on at the same time but out of respect for our church at the time we didn’t feel it was right to go “public” with our decision to leave our church of many years and pursue other options. So the update is that our transition went smoothly. We’re still friendly with many members of our old church and (are under the impression) that we did it the right way and didn’t hurt or offend anyone. It was an incredibly hard decision and I’ve had some very emotional moments about it, but we knew it was God and couldn’t ignore it. Due to the pregnancy and a lot of family needs (specifically my family being needy heh) the transition to the new church has been slow, but we know it’s the right place for us and are so excited to get more involved. I must say, it’s weird being a new person. It gives you a whole new outlook on church and Christianity in general. The praise and worship is amazing and the word is consistantly relevant and easy to follow. They also have a growing art ministry that is incorporated into the service that feeds my spirit in a way that music and a sermon can’t. It’s kind of like being at Cornerstone Festival every Sunday.

So that’s the deal. A lot of things moving…not a lot of things confirmed. So please please please keep Chris, myself and Charlotte in your prayers as we hear from God on how to complete these life changing transitions. And as always, please feel free to contact me with your prayer requests. I love praying for my family and friends and if you’re reading my blog, then you’re included in that statement.

Here’s to the future!

“On the Go” God Time

When you become a Christian often you hear the following: “In order to grow, you must read your bible and attend church regularly…” among other things. Well I don’t know about you, but for me, these 2 tasks sound much simpler than they are. I spend 40 hours/week at work. I spent 2+ hours each day commuting to and from work. I spend my evenings cooking, eating, doing laundry and spending time with the husband I haven’t seen all day. My weekend often includes family obligations and more eating/house work. And this is without kids. I think a lot of people have similar stories.

By the time we find/make time to read our bible, our hearts aren’t there. It’s more of a “I should, so I will” thing. And going to church every Sunday is easy when you’re in a routine, but what about when you get out of that routine? Or when you have family that insists on doing everything on Sundays? It’s frustrating. It’s overwhelming. And at the end of the day I think we end up beating ourselves up much more than God ever intended us to.

But I’ve found that it’s not hopeless.

There is an amazing thing called the internet and iTunes. And if you have a cd burner or an mp3 player, it’s not hopeless for you either.

I’ve always heard of people listening to the bible on cd or downloading podcasts but it just seemed so pricey and overwhelming that I never did it.  Maybe you’re in the same boat. So I’m here to help. I’ve found some great podcasts that I download onto my iPod and listen to in my car/when I’m on my lunch break/when I’m cleaning at home. And granted, it doesn’t replace reading the bible or going to church, but I’ve found that sometimes, it’s the best I can do.

• Jubilee Fellowship Church out in Colorado records all of their sermons and posts them for free on their website/on iTunes.  I absolutely highly recommend them. Honestly, I’m in love with their preachers. The sermon is always well prepared, relevant and easy to follow. And there are multiple preachers so you won’t get tired of hearing the same voice each week. They just finished a series called “The Spiritual Bucket List” and I really recommend it. I got a lot out of it and I know you will to. Wish you could watch someone preach? They have video recordings too! Check them out!

• Adventures in Odyssey is a Christian radio program made for kids but with topics and biblical stories that can be enjoyed by all. Personally, I remember the stories of the bible more often through this program than through reading on my own. And the characters are lovable and always teach a great lesson. I’ve purchased many of their CD sets but you really don’t have to if you don’t want to. On their website you can listen to episodes for free or subscribe to their podcast where you’ll get free episodes to download and behind the scenes fun with the writers and actors.

So these are just a few ideas. I’m still searching through iTunes for more “on the go” God time and I’ll keep you posted on what I find! Got a suggestion or something to add? Leave a comment below for all to read!

Christian Dance Music – Is it really?

An article I wrote for a website under the topic “Best Christian Dance Music.” I wasn’t planning on writing anything but I just got so annoyed by the 2 articles written that both had references to dancing to the Newsboys and Skillet. Feel free to discuss

When a song has no words, how can you classify it as Christian music?

This question is asked time and time again but the answer is never concrete. Christian dance music is a genre that is under appreciated, overlooked and misunderstood by many. Lost between the world of church-friendly Christian music and secular nightclub hits, there is a small yet passionate group of Christians producing beats that are worth recognition. Some are creating songs that have Christian lyrics but many are Christians producing music that goes beyond categorization.

When techno dance/rave scene frequents are asked what moves them, most will respond that it’s the music far above any other influence. But with no lyrics and a repetitive dance beat, it soon becomes obvious that the music is about more – it’s about the spirit and passion behind the production of the song. Most Christian musicians will gladly admit that they create their music for and under the influence of God. The Holy Spirit moves musicians like David Crowder Band and Hillsong United to combine powerful lyrics with moving guitar melodies. The Holy Spirit also moves producers to combine specific sounds with rhythmic beats that will take its listeners on a spiritual journey the way the best Christian worship music does.

The problem is that dance music as a generality is associated with the sins of the club world rather than the amazing spirit behind the songs being played. Christian dance music producers such as Andy Hunter, Shiloh, Tim Richards, Joel Armstrong, Stryke, Kenneth Thomas and Topher Jones are all composing chart topping tracks that carry God’s spirit into a world that is often left untouched by the Christian world. So to ask “what is the best Christian dance music?” and expect a list of artists as clear-cut as “what is the best rock band?” is an under appreciation of what makes a powerful dance track.

To find the best Christian dance music, whether you’re looking for overtly Christian lyrics over a dance beat, or a spiritual dance song with no lyrics, it’s best to expand your mind and stop looking in the Christian music section of your chain music store. Christian dance communities such as Tastyfresh.com and Godsdjs.com will give you a little insight into a world that you’re probably missing out on. The internet is a great way to discover Christian dance labels all over the world. Do a search, open your mind and enjoy the journey.

So About Lot’s Wife…

¹⁴ So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking.

¹⁵ With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.”

¹⁶ When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. ¹⁷ As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!”

¹⁸ But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! ¹⁹ Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. ²⁰ Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.”

²¹ He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. ²² But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar. )

²³ By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. ²⁴ Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. ²⁵ Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. ²⁶ But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

- Genesis 19: 14-26 (NIV) Emphasis mine

I don’t know about you, but when I read this story, I always get annoyed with Lot’s wife. I catch myself yelling at her, “why the heck did you look back??? The ANGELS said not to. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? And what about your husband? Don’t you trust him to lead you to safety? Your city is being destroyed and you’re being saved – there is nothing to look back at. Just move forward like you were told.” Needless to say, Lot’s wife is not a biblical character that I have looked up to or related to. If anything, she made me feel better about myself. Because in my head, I would never do THAT!

But yesterday I had a bit of a wake-up call. I was laying in bed crying – realizing that in life, so many times I’m like Lot’s wife. Granted the situations are different…but how many times do I wish for something of my past? How many times do I get stuck thinking “if only things didn’t change…” or “it was better when..”. And all this time I’m not even realizing that what I’m looking back at – doesn’t exist anymore. Whether it be a great memory or a hurtful one, they are in fact just memories now. The Lord has commanded me to move on. My husband has encouraged me to listen to God’s word NOW, not from the past. To not hope for things to go back to how they were, but to look forward to what He has ahead.

But when it comes down to it, I’m not sure I should be judging Lot’s wife too hard. I can’t say I wouldn’t be a pillar of salt myself if I was walking in her shoes.

Little Decisions Make a Big Difference

Today’s blog post is actually the Proverbs 31 Ministries Devotional of the day. I thought it was really good and worth sharing. If you are interested in subscribing to their devotionals, visit them at Proverbs 31 Ministries.

27 Jan 2010

Glynnis Whitwer

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise ….” Ephesians 5:15 (NIV)

Do you ever get tired of making decisions? I do. Every day, decisions line up for my attention. I decide what I’m going to do, how I’ll spend my money, and what I’m going to say. Conversely, I make decisions about what I am NOT going to do, spend or say.

One of the biggest challenges I face right now has to do with what I eat. You see, I’m on Weight Watchers. For the past 18 years, I’ve battled to be at a healthy weight. Coincidentally, my oldest child is 18. I’m certainly not blaming him…but, I’m just saying…

The first week on the program I recorded a respectable loss of 1.5 pounds. The second week on the program, I lost nothing. I was shocked. It seemed I had exercised a nd sacrificed more that week than ever. But the scale told the truth.

The kind lady at the reception desk tried to help me think it through. “Maybe you aren’t eating enough,” she said. No, that wasn’t the problem. “Are you drinking enough water?” she asked. Yes; that wasn’t the problem either.

Then it hit me. The problem wasn’t what I was eating when I sat down for a meal, it was all the bites that led up to that meal. It was the French fry before dinner, and the bite of casserole as I put away the leftovers after dinner. It was the nibble of my son’s double cheeseburger, and the extra scoop of dip with my carrots. No, it wasn’t the big decisions that hurt my weight loss; it was all the little decisions.

Unfortunately, I had minimized in my mind the potential damage of all those little bites. Yet they added up to derail me from my goal of losing weight that week. The next week I took control of those BLTs (bites, licks, tastes and sips) and had a ni ce loss.

As I’ve pondered this reality, I’ve applied it to other areas of my life. I easily minimize the damage of daily unwise decisions. They aren’t sin issues, so I can dismiss them as unimportant. However, when added up, they have a big impact on achieving some of my personal goals. For example, when I make a decision to not read my Bible for one day, there’s no noticeable impact. But when I neglect this important part of my spiritual growth repeatedly, I find myself lacking in godly wisdom and discernment.

If you find yourself on a plateau in a certain area of your life, perhaps this truth can apply to you as well. You may be making all the right big decisions, but the little ones are having a cumulative negative impact on you.

Not only that, but I believe God desires to do amazing things through us, and is continually testing us to see if we can handle bigger responsibilities. It’s in the arena of little responsibilities that our true dependability is revealed. The truth is those little decisions that seem minor, and inconsequential, really do matter. They matter to me as I pursue personal goals, and they matter to God.

My challenge today is to make every decision count. I ask myself, “Is this decision going to get me closer to my goal, or further away from it?” “Is this decision going to show God I can be trusted with the little things?”

Sometimes I ask this question every hour. Which is why I ate steamed vegetables for dinner, and my family had overstuffed burritos. (Not that it’s Thursday night and I’m weighing in Friday morning or anything.)

Dear Lord, thank You for caring about every detail of my life. I know You have placed goals and dreams in my heart that will take diligence to carry out. Help me to look to You when faced with a decision, and I pray for Your wisdom as I make the right choice. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps:
Identify one big goal you have for your life. Name one helpful “little” decision you can make that will help you achieve that goal.

Reflections:
What are some examples of little decisions we make every day that can impact us positively over time?

Have you ever made a series of innocent choices that led you down the wrong path? What did you learn from that experience?

Power Verses:
Ephesians 5:8-10, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” (NIV)

Colossians 1:10-11, “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…” (NIV)

© 2010 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.

Some Freakin’ Strength

This morning I was driving to work and severely struggling with my battle against car sickness. I got car sick easily before I was pregnant, so you could (maybe) imagine how this commute is killing me softly (okay, dramatic, I know).  So I did everything I knew how to do. Cracked the window, tried to get in the lane that slams on their brakes the least in traffic, ate some crackers, drank some water, turned Emery down and prayed. I prayed in tongues for about a minute and then suddenly the perfect prayer came to me. Pray for strength. “In my weakness, He is strong.”* I know this scripture. Sometimes I’m only who I am because of this scripture. And I didn’t even need Adie Camp to remind me this time!**

So with excitement I opened my mouth and prayed “God, please give me some freakin strength to get through this!!”

My mouth remained open…in shock. Did I just throw the word “freakin” into my prayer to the all mighty God?!!? Ya know, that God that created the earth we’re standing on and the sun that’s shining on my car right now.

I then went on a mental rampage of questions. Is it okay to pray like that? Does God really hate cursing? Is it in the bible that we shouldn’t curse? I know “freakin” isn’t a curse word, but it isn’t the nicest word. Is that okay?

And I came to this conclusion. God knows we’re not perfect. If we were, we wouldn’t need Him. And therefore I truly believe that God doesn’t mind the word “freakin” when I’m coming to Him looking for His help. Maybe he doesn’t want me using that word too much or it might be my child’s first word…but right now…I think it’s okay.

*Actual scripture:  “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

**Reference to the song “Sufficient” by Adie

The 2 Sides

This morning was a rough one for me. I blame it on pregnancy hormones. For whatever reason, I woke up sad. Not just “I feel sad” but the type of blues that Eeyore wouldn’t even know about. And let me say this, it was for no reason. Nothing happened to bring this on. It just quietly crawled into my life and got comfy in the corners of my heart and mind.

Who wants to start a day like that? Not me. But what do I do about it? I felt too sad to stand against it. Too worn down to pray. Too tired to sing some worship songs. So I thought to myself, “what now?”

And the answer came to my heart. Sometimes God wants us to put on our heavy armor and go into battle in His name. He wants us to pray and fight and stand and work through the things that come against us. This part of God I know very well. The fighting. The war mentality. The “everything is the devil’s fault” reasoning for troubles. But then God showed me the other side…the side that I don’t seem to know very well. The side where God does the fighting as He holds me in His arms and tells me everything is going to be okay. He allows me to hold onto his big strong arms and put my feet on His as He guides me into safety.

At this realization the tears formed, the smile appeared and my heart was crying out for God. I couldn’t handle the world and the emotions (and the traffic) today. But God can handle all things. So I took the long way to work that didn’t have much traffic and I put on my favorite worship band and I thanked God for being the daddy this little girl needed this morning. And suddenly, the cloud was lifted. It was a beautiful day. And my heart and mind felt free.

Today, don’t forget that God WILL be what you need. Don’t get stuck in thinking He’s only one way. He’s all things to all people in all times. He has exactly what you need – just ask Him for it.

A Sweet Aroma

Today’s blog is actually a devotional I received from Proverbs 31 Ministries. It touched me and I hope it touches you as well. Enjoy!

A Sweet Aroma

31 Dec 2009

Tracie Miles

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” Galatians 5:22 (NIV)

A sweet thing happened recently. It was Sunday morning at church, and the congregation was standing, singing hymns. My precious little boy was beside me with his arms wrapped around my waist.

Every few minutes, he pressed his face into my shirt. After several times, I finally determined he was sniffing me, so I leaned down and quietly asked why. He stood on his tip toes, put his face close to mine and whispered, “Because you smell like fruit, Mommy! It smells really good!” I smiled and knew what he smelled was one of my favorite perfumes which has a clean, sweet, fruity aroma.

God turned my thoughts to how we’re to be a pleasing aroma to Him, through thoughts, actions and behaviors carried out in the Spirit. Ephesians 5:2 encourages us to “…live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (NIV).

What does that really mean? How can we offer a fragrant offering that is pleasing to God and be a fragrance to those around us?

There is a Hawaiian saying, “Tiny is the flower, yet it scents the grasses around it.” What a great illustration of how the smallest things can have impactful results. The fact that the flower is small and seemingly insignificant, does not keep it from spreading the fragrance it was created to share. In fact, often the smallest flower can have the most potent fragrance!

Sometimes we may feel like a tiny flower. We wonder if we are really capable of doing anything big or important for Christ. Insecurities, feelings of unworthiness or life challenges prevent us from seeing how God can use us to bless Him and impact others. It is not the size of the actions that matter, but the aroma that is created by those actions. Each time we do something in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness we offer a fragrant offering to God. And we help others learn how to be a little fragrant flower too, in a big world that can be pretty stinky.

Each one of us can choose what fragrance we exude. It might be a good idea to ask from time to time, What type of fragrance am I leaving behind? How am I affecting the world around me with the gifts God gave me? Am I exuding a spiritual aroma that is a fragrant offering to Christ?

Our lingering fragrance should be one of love and kindness, not anger and harshness. Patience and faithfulness, not intolerance and selfishness. And lifting people’s spirits with joy and peace, not leaving them discouraged and broken. Our fragrance should be sowing seeds that point to the goodness of Christ.

When God created flowers, He intentionally created them to give off a sweet aroma. And He created us just the same. So, what fragrance are you wearing today?

Dear Lord, teach me how to smell like You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Prayer Exchange

Prayer is a very powerful thing. It must be if every religion believes in prayer. But sometimes we get caught wanting prayer and not really knowing what to do about it. Either we don’t know how to pray ourselves or we don’t know who to ask to pray for us. Well today is your lucky today because tomorrow is going to be a day of prayer for me. Anyone that leaves a comment (it can be posted anonymously as a guest if you want) with a prayer request, will receive prayer tomorrow. It can be big, it can be small. Whether it seems important or not, just ask and you will receive!

And how nice would it be to pray for someone else? Feel free to join me (not physically of course) and pray for the comments below, the people you know and how about a prayer or 2 for yourself!

Prayer can change everything. Why not give it a try?

Don’t feel comfortable leaving your prayer as a comment? No problem! Email me at: jessicareiche@gmail.com

God-Sized Dreams

(In)courage asked an interesting question on their blog. They asked: What are your God-sized dreams for 2010?

It’s one thing to dream…but it’s another thing to have a dream that’s GOD-sized! But with all of the changes in life (see post on changes) this question isn’t very hard for me to answer. My God-sized dreams for 2010 are as follows (not in any order):

• That my family and friends come to know Jesus the way we were all created to know him
• A healthy, happy baby (to come in July 2010)
• A great new job for my husband that he really enjoys doing
• The perfect size/location house for me and my growing family to live in
• Enough means to be comfortable as a 1 income family so that I can fulfill my calling as a mother the best I can
• For Chris’ music and upcoming projects to sore to levels beyond man’s capabilities

Now normally this would be quite a hefty list of dreams. But hey – God is big and I truly believe He can do ALL things.

What are your God-sized dreams for 2010?

Hook & Catch

This is something I wrote a while back but is as relevant now as it was then. I hope you enjoy!

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.” – 2 Samuel 22:17 (NIV)

I read this and the word TOOK literally jumped out of the page. I thought about it and reread it a few times until I completely understood this scripture. God gave me a picture.

Imagine you’re fishing in the ocean. In a little row boat out in the middle of the sea. No one with you and no land in sight. Now imagine that you fall in, leaving the rod and hook in the boat. You sink farther and farther down into the ocean, not being able to swim up to the surface. You start to panic – wondering how you got here, what you were thinking going alone, and finally, coming to the understanding that there is no possible way for you to save yourself. You cry out “Jesus, help me!” Then Jesus appears in the boat, rod in hand and goes fishing for you. Not for anyone or anything out in the ocean, but for you. He hooks you onto the rod and reels you up to the surface, to where he is, to where it is safe. He saves your life.

This picture is exactly what Jesus did when he died. He died to save us. To save you. And the best thing is, he’s prepared to save you every day if you’ll just ask him to. The fact is, every day (not literally of course) we fall and can’t save ourselves, only he can. So every day you have a choice to make – will you let yourself struggle and drown, or will you call out His name and ask Him to save you? It’s a choice only you can make. Remember, no one else is around.