Live Out One Verse a Week!

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Check out some really cute “Verse of the Week” boards, here  and here

A verse a week, what a great idea! As a Christian, we should saturate our lives in God’s Word daily. That does not mean that we need to read a whole chapter of the Bible a day – or conquer a Bible Study book lesson every single morning.

As working adults or students, we are busy and life has its commitments. Running the kids to baseball practice, studying for exams or simply preparing for that big presentation at work can consume our time; however, we can reflect on one verse a week. Write it out on the fridge, on your desk, bathroom mirror, car console – or on a neat board like this one (left!).

This little verse will remind us each and every day to reflect on God’s Word! Have your kids read it before going to school. Write it on lunch napkins. This could be a good way of engaging the whole family to reflect on scripture. If you journal, write about this for personal reflection and quiet prayer.

Psalms is a great book to start with – the beautiful charges and blessings are poetic yet powerful. This appeals to me because writing poetry is one of my passions. Yet, if you want to reflect on the miracles of Jesus – the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) might be a good place to begin.

The main point or the takeaway is – it is important to saturate ourselves in the word of God. This is as much a challenge to myself – as to you. Let’s reflect on a verse a week and try to live out our lives according to that beautiful promise from God!

After all, God has called us to “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)

I Want to Leave a Legacy

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The title of this post is the name of one of my favorite songs. The artist, Nichole Nordeman writes, “I want to leave a legacy. How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to you enough to make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering – a child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically, and leave that kind of legacy.”

What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind? Our time on earth is so short. We only have a small time frame to leave a mark behind. What do you want others to remember about you? I hope that others remember my devotion and love for God. I hope they remember my face shining brightly with the glory of his mercies. I hope they remember my heartfelt words and fervent heart cries inscribed on paper and blog.

This life is your opportunity to lead others to Christ – through your glow, words and actions. May we refocus our lives to reflect the light of the sun! Let’s draw nearer to God  so he will draw nigh unto us. We live in such a state of grace. I pray we share this grace with the world. Let’s leave a legacy of Christ’s undying, sacrificial love!

You are a Star

ImageTwinkle, Twinkle Little Star. It’s a song we sang as children – yet, we never knew how true these lyrics were!  God made us to shine like diamonds in the night sky. We are little lights destined for greatness. We were made to reflect the luminosity of the sun (our Lord and Savior).

From our vantage point, stars look like tiny spots of light up against a jet black sky. From the grass looking up, stars resemble night lights in the distance. However, in reality, they are megawatt masses. God has made us, not be distant night lights, but those megawatt stars. He has given us his Holy Spirit and this makes us shine bright!

In Christ, you have a built in candle. You can choose to radiate this light or hide it under a bushel. I would much rather be a burning flame rather than a distant glow. One of my favorite songs growing up was by Ginny Owens. She sang, “I don’t wanna be a flame. I wanna be a raging fire. Tired of my will, my way, Your calling’s higher!”

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. – Daniel 12:3 

Coffee Pot Kind-of-Love

ImageIt’s my morning routine. I shimmy out of bed, wipe my eyes and walk to the kitchen. The first thing on the agenda is to make that first cup of rich coffee. It starts my busy day off right. There is something about the bold flavor and warmth in the morning. It acts as a firework to my senses and awakens my eyes. The only downer is when that coffee pot runs dry! That means my morning cup of happiness is over and it’s time to set off to work!

God’s love is like free refills of coffee. It never runs dry. There is always more – and it never gets cold! My pot is always full in Christ. As a popular praise and worships song notes, “Your love never fails, never gives up. Never runs out on me.”

God grants us this beautiful kind of overflowing love. It is beyond human comprehension. I thank God for this coffee pot kind of love. I praise him for that wall of endless overflowing goodness. My soul is constantly awake in him. “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” (Psalm 23:5)

Wrapped in His Love

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When I was little, one of my favorite things in the world – was jumping in a basket of hot laundry (right out of the dryer!). There was nothing like feeling this warmth and smelling the fresh cotton detergent. My mom would wrap me and my sister in thick warm towels – the feeling was sensational.

Even though, I am much older now, thinking on this feeling and remembering the fresh smell still brings a smile to my face. However, knowing that I have a God that wants to envelop me in his warm love daily – makes me smile even more. He longs to cradle us in his deep, welcoming love.

God’s love is that hot, clean towel. It covers us completely – and fills the cups of our hearts to the brim. His everlasting affection makes you feel like a kid again. He is the strong, constant parent overwhelming you in sweet care.

Rest in the fact that God’s affection for you is strong. He will scale walls for you – and break bricks! Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Thanks To You With Gratitude

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Thankfulness is not just for Thanksgiving Day. It is important to live our lives in a state of gratefulness. I have always liked the song, ‘Gratitude’ by Nichole Nordeman. Her sweet, simple lyrics teach the truth of appreciation. If you have not ever checked out this song – please do HERE.

She writes, “We’ll give thanks to You, with gratitude for lessons learned in how to thirst for You. How to bless the very sun that warms our face, if You never send us rain.” I love the truth that God will provide us all our needs. (Philippians 4:19) He is not a stingy God. He is an abundant King.

Like the little boy that handed his two loaves of bread and five fish to Jesus – he trusted that God would take care of him. And, he did. He supplied endless baskets of provision! Let’s live with a grateful heart. Even if you feel like you have nothing to give thanks for – thank God for the breath of life he gave you. Thank him for the sun that shines in the daylight and the moon to illuminate the ink sky at night. Thank God for wrapping his arms of love around you in your pain and in your joy.

He’s always there – willing and ready to give you beauty in abundance. However, seeing this beauty most of the times begins when you start to give thanks to the Maker of all good things.

Train Insane

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Train insane or remain the same. Isn’t the same true with our daily walk with Christ? If we don’t crack open his Word every day– we remain the same or worse: lose the muscle of our faith.

Even though I have never participated in a marathon, I know you need to practice or run every day in order to reach your goal – that coveted 26.2 miles! You start out slow jogging 2-3 miles then up your mileage steadily. It becomes a habit – a religious practice, if you will.

I want to make my daily walk like a marathon – and, in the end, be a champion for Christ. How beautiful to envision Jesus, in all his glory, placing a gold medallion around your neck and saying, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Let’s think of our faith like a race or a workout. Champions do not become strong without training and conditioning. May we condition our faith with daily exercise and true encouragement from the letters of our Lord! Amen.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12

Peppermint Tea and Prayer

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Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. – John Bunyan

I have found that hot peppermint tea soothes the soul. There is something about holding a cup of toasty, robust tea that alleviates a weary heart and tired mind. The smell alone excites the senses. It is known to help relieve the symptoms of colds or headaches – just by the smell! It’s a full-bodied aroma.

However, as wonderful as the smell of peppermint tea is, the aroma of fervent prayer is even sweeter! Prayer is the heartsong of the body! It is the lifeblood that flows through each and every child of God.

It’s easy to forget to pray. Life can boggle you down. Stress can set in – and prayer is often times the last thing on your mind! This happens to me time and time again. Yet, when I take time to pray and focus on the beautiful promises of God, I end up wondering why it took me so long to realize that I need to dedicate time to this wonderful practice of prayer!

Sip a cup of peppermint tea and pray! God is just waiting for you to call out to him! He yearns for this constant communion – as do our souls! Remember, it’s the lifeblood of the body. We can’t truly live without it.

Strength in the Imperfect

ImageSo often I am bluntly stopped in my tracks. I am made to reevaluate my surroundings and reflect on the purpose of it all. We are taught in this world what is good is beautiful. However, that is not always the case. I think on the ugly duckling that becomes a swan, the green caterpillar that eventually graces the sky as a butterfly or how about the child (different in appearance to others) that teaches us to love with our whole hearts.

There is strength in the imperfect. There is courage in the cripple. And, there is power in weak. It’s a Biblical promise. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:29)

I need to look through the eyes of others more often. Life looks different through a different set of lenses.

I pray that God grants me a heart that loves like him. He gazes at the flawed and sees perfection. He looks at shattered pots and envisions masterpieces. He looks at the lame and says, “rise up!” I want to have the vision of my Master.

Grace and Ocean Sinking

ImageThese lyrics hit me hard today, If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking. The thought of sinking is frightful. Frankly, it turns my stomach in knots to think of plunging into a deep, dark, choppy ocean. Not only do I have a fear of what lies beneath: sharks, jellyfish and jagged shells; but, the thought of being alone without any sign of land inspires anxiety.

However, thinking on God’s grace and sinking into it awakens a different feeling. It provides a picture of immense safety and support. I want to sink into God’s overflowing grace. It humbles me just how much he thrusts his grace on us. We stumble, we fall. We are clay pots – broken vessels of mud. But, God says Swim in my grace. You will not drown. Sink into my whirlpool of mercy.

Oh how He loves us! I am unworthy of His love; yet, He gives it to me freely. Thank you God for this grace, love and mercy! You inspire hope and joy to this weary heart of mine.