Contributed by Alyssa (Resoved2Worship)
Read Psalm 32
True christianity is indeed a lifestyle. It is a moment by moment lifestyle of agreeing with God about the true condition of my heart and life. Not as everyone thinks it to be, but as He knows it to be. It's transparent honesty. Humility before God and others. Nothing between my soul and God. It's a heart that is penetrated by His Word.
Thursday, September 30
Wednesday, September 29
The Mean Reds
Posted by Andrea
Read I John 4:16 and as listed
From Breakfast at Tiffany’s
"You know those days when you get the mean reds?" --Holly.
"The mean reds? You mean like the blues?" --Fred (Paul).
"No... the blues are because you're getting fat or because it's been raining too long. You're just sad, that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?" --Holly.
"Sure." --Fred (Paul).
"When I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump into a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away." --Holly.
Whether it’s the blues or the “mean reds,” we all know what it’s like in the dark. To feel abandoned, afraid and ugly. Breakfast at Tiffany’s didn’t solve Holly Golightly’s problems any more than retail therapy or chocolate therapy help any of us in the long run.
On days that bad, the only cure is a good romance.
Monday, September 27
Name Above All Names
Posted by Andrea
Read Exodus 20:7 and Psalm 100
Exodus 20:7 is one of those commandments that I skim. “Don’t misuse the name of the Lord.” Swearing has never been one of my vices. I have plenty of others to worry about, so it’s nice I can just cruise over that one and not feel convicted.
Enter the children.
My son and I were in the car one day, and he was throwing a fit about something or other. My practice at the time was to ignore the fit, because when he saw it wasn’t getting the desired result, he would stop and re-evaluate. It worked most of the time. If I could remain sane long enough to see the fit through to the end. On this particular day, he was thrashing about in the car seat screeching, “Mommy! Mommy! MOMMY!!” Finally, I had had it.
Read Exodus 20:7 and Psalm 100
Exodus 20:7 is one of those commandments that I skim. “Don’t misuse the name of the Lord.” Swearing has never been one of my vices. I have plenty of others to worry about, so it’s nice I can just cruise over that one and not feel convicted.
Enter the children.
My son and I were in the car one day, and he was throwing a fit about something or other. My practice at the time was to ignore the fit, because when he saw it wasn’t getting the desired result, he would stop and re-evaluate. It worked most of the time. If I could remain sane long enough to see the fit through to the end. On this particular day, he was thrashing about in the car seat screeching, “Mommy! Mommy! MOMMY!!” Finally, I had had it.
Friday, September 24
Walking On Water.
Thursday, September 23
Learning to Rest
Contributed by Kari
Read Isaiah 30:12-18
He left. He said that he would and he did. Next came such darkness and sadness. I had never experienced the depth of sadness before. My home was missing furniture, small belongings and the man I had promised to love.
Read Isaiah 30:12-18
He left. He said that he would and he did. Next came such darkness and sadness. I had never experienced the depth of sadness before. My home was missing furniture, small belongings and the man I had promised to love.
Isaiah 30 (New Living Translation)
12 This is the reply of the Holy One of Israel:
“Because you despise what I tell you
and trust instead in oppression and lies,
13 calamity will come upon you suddenly—
like a bulging wall that bursts and falls.
In an instant it will collapse
and come crashing down.
14 You will be smashed like a piece of pottery—
shattered so completely that
there won’t be a piece big enough
to carry coals from a fireplace
or a little water from the well.”
Wednesday, September 22
The Greatest Gift.
Posted by Alysun
Read Deuteronomy 6:10-19
We’ve probably all filled out silly surveys that reveal the most personal details about ourselves. Like “Coke or Pepsi?,” “What’s your favorite color?,” and “Your mother’s middle name.” Burning information our friends need to know so we email out the survey and waste a few minutes of time.
One questions used to always stump me though: “What is the best gift you ever received?” I could answer about the bike I got when I was 8. It was pink and gray. Or the down pillows I got for Christmas one year. I could also say, “The engagement ring in the beautiful lit box my handsome boyfriend gave me when he proposed at Paradise Look-out.” It was a beautiful gift, but it wasn’t the “best.”
Monday, September 20
Friday, September 17
Through a Glass, Darkly
Posted by Andrea
Read I Corinthians 13
Now I see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror. Then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part. Then I will know fully, even as I am fully known. I Corinthians 13:12
These beautiful words are situated near the end of the famous Love Chapter. They are often skimmed over in a rush to get to "These three remain." We need to know that it’s no accident that this verse is situated where it is. The theme here is that love endures forever. Perfect love has no ending, so what does the mirror have to do with anything? As you can see from the comics, mirrors lie. In this case, I contend that the world shows us a temporal and skewed view of love.
Read I Corinthians 13
Now I see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror. Then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part. Then I will know fully, even as I am fully known. I Corinthians 13:12These beautiful words are situated near the end of the famous Love Chapter. They are often skimmed over in a rush to get to "These three remain." We need to know that it’s no accident that this verse is situated where it is. The theme here is that love endures forever. Perfect love has no ending, so what does the mirror have to do with anything? As you can see from the comics, mirrors lie. In this case, I contend that the world shows us a temporal and skewed view of love.
Thursday, September 16
Preparing for Eternity
Posted by Grace
Read Psalm 90
As a mom I have the tendency to be swept into two different pitfalls. First, I feel trapped in each day, as if the crying will never stop, the laundry pile will never disappear, and the stinky diaper smell will never dissipate. Then I swing to feeling like life is speeding past me with such ferocity that I go into panic mode. Amazing isn't it, how when we lose focus of what we are called to, life has an uncanny way of falling completely to pieces. What is our focus? What are we preparing for every day while we are here on this earth?
Eternity.
Read Psalm 90
So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90: 12
As a mom I have the tendency to be swept into two different pitfalls. First, I feel trapped in each day, as if the crying will never stop, the laundry pile will never disappear, and the stinky diaper smell will never dissipate. Then I swing to feeling like life is speeding past me with such ferocity that I go into panic mode. Amazing isn't it, how when we lose focus of what we are called to, life has an uncanny way of falling completely to pieces. What is our focus? What are we preparing for every day while we are here on this earth?
Eternity.
Wednesday, September 15
The Meaning of Life
Posted by Andrea
Read Psalm 135
Early this summer, the valley was treated to a rare and wonderful thunderstorm that rolled in out of nowhere. One minute I was arm wrestling with the lawn mower (it was winning), the next minute I was dodging giant raindrops to save my cell phone before hunkering down indoors.
The news station reported heavy rain, lightning strikes and tornado sightings.
I love a good storm, so I stood at the window and watched the rain coming hard and fast and horizontal from the north as the newsman said to stay away from windows. The wind shoved our neighbor's giant Poplar trees to unnatural angles. My poor lounge chair endured the onslaught, dripping, shaking, but not moving. Lighting streaked across the sky and thunder rattled the atmosphere. My neighbor and I waved at one another as we watched the storm tumble around us from behind our respective windows.
Read Psalm 135
Early this summer, the valley was treated to a rare and wonderful thunderstorm that rolled in out of nowhere. One minute I was arm wrestling with the lawn mower (it was winning), the next minute I was dodging giant raindrops to save my cell phone before hunkering down indoors.
The news station reported heavy rain, lightning strikes and tornado sightings.
I love a good storm, so I stood at the window and watched the rain coming hard and fast and horizontal from the north as the newsman said to stay away from windows. The wind shoved our neighbor's giant Poplar trees to unnatural angles. My poor lounge chair endured the onslaught, dripping, shaking, but not moving. Lighting streaked across the sky and thunder rattled the atmosphere. My neighbor and I waved at one another as we watched the storm tumble around us from behind our respective windows.
Tuesday, September 14
The Lord is My Shepherd.
Posted by Alysun
Read Psalm 23
It was one of those days that seemed to attract calamity. By 10am I had one child sitting on her bed, one on the couch, and one confined to his crib. And me? I was pouring over Psalms 23-26, my daily reading, trying to find some calm amid the storm.
You don't want to hear my long list of "what went wrong," but let me just say that it started with the baby getting smacked in the face with a fly swatter and ended with my wonderful partner in this family getting home well after everyone was in bed. In between all that my list also included 2 different chilled diet sodas spilled before I took a sip. Calamity, I tell you.
At one point I hypothetically asked, "Are you guys just naughtier today or am I more impatient?"
My 5 year old daughter replied, "You are more impatient.... and grumpy." Leave it to a first born female to point out what is wrong in a situation.
Read Psalm 23
It was one of those days that seemed to attract calamity. By 10am I had one child sitting on her bed, one on the couch, and one confined to his crib. And me? I was pouring over Psalms 23-26, my daily reading, trying to find some calm amid the storm.
You don't want to hear my long list of "what went wrong," but let me just say that it started with the baby getting smacked in the face with a fly swatter and ended with my wonderful partner in this family getting home well after everyone was in bed. In between all that my list also included 2 different chilled diet sodas spilled before I took a sip. Calamity, I tell you.At one point I hypothetically asked, "Are you guys just naughtier today or am I more impatient?"
My 5 year old daughter replied, "You are more impatient.... and grumpy." Leave it to a first born female to point out what is wrong in a situation.
Monday, September 13
Life Forms
Posted by Andrea
Read Psalm 139
Pregnancy does strange things to the emotions. A million worries consume the mind. Will the nursery be ready? Will I get a chance to wash and fold all those tiny blue clothes? What if the eldest doesn’t like him? Will he be healthy? And the kicker—will he be ugly?
It is a fear common among hormonally deranged (pregnant) women. Perhaps it’s our way of coping with all the stuff that could really be wrong. Or maybe some of us are just really shallow. We all know that all mothers think their babies are beautiful. But I didn’t be the one that people just nodded and said, “what a…um…sweet baby!” without knowing exactly what they meant. I was going to be objective.
Read Psalm 139
Pregnancy does strange things to the emotions. A million worries consume the mind. Will the nursery be ready? Will I get a chance to wash and fold all those tiny blue clothes? What if the eldest doesn’t like him? Will he be healthy? And the kicker—will he be ugly?
It is a fear common among hormonally deranged (pregnant) women. Perhaps it’s our way of coping with all the stuff that could really be wrong. Or maybe some of us are just really shallow. We all know that all mothers think their babies are beautiful. But I didn’t be the one that people just nodded and said, “what a…um…sweet baby!” without knowing exactly what they meant. I was going to be objective.
Thursday, September 9
Beholding God.
Posted by Andrea
Excerpt from Early Will I Seek You: A 40-Day Journey in the company of Augustine
Arranged by David Hazard
Read Colossians 3:9-12 and scripture as it appears in the text
The following is a paraphrase of a letter written by Augustine, a brilliant thinker, orator and Christian. He was born in AD 354, and through a dramatic journey, came to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in 386. The letter answers the question posed by a friend: How can we seek and behold God? I always like practical application. I want God to be evident in my life, but please, somebody tell me how to do it! That is exactly the purpose of the following excerpt.
Tuesday, September 7
Off the Wall
Posted by Andrea
Read Matthew 26:6-16 and Luke 22:1-23
I didn’t realize quite how much I didn’t know until my kids came along. It seems they are constantly teaching me something. I think children might be one of God’s ways of sneaking life-lessons in when we least expect it. The following scenario took place in my kitchen a while back:
Read Matthew 26:6-16 and Luke 22:1-23
I didn’t realize quite how much I didn’t know until my kids came along. It seems they are constantly teaching me something. I think children might be one of God’s ways of sneaking life-lessons in when we least expect it. The following scenario took place in my kitchen a while back:
Monday, September 6
And the Winner is....
Monday morning tends to sneak up on all of us, and here it is already. It is time to announce our contest winner already! And the winner of the the Living Water Drop pendant is
Grace!
Congratulations, Grace. You will be e-mailed directly with more info.
If you are devastated that you didn't win, don't worry about it. You can order one of your very own from our friends at Happley Made. Wear it around your neck to remind you to take your refreshment from streams of living water.
Stay tuned for the first official post tomorrow morning! And please pray for us as we write and collect these Drops to share.
Grace!
Congratulations, Grace. You will be e-mailed directly with more info.
If you are devastated that you didn't win, don't worry about it. You can order one of your very own from our friends at Happley Made. Wear it around your neck to remind you to take your refreshment from streams of living water.
Stay tuned for the first official post tomorrow morning! And please pray for us as we write and collect these Drops to share.
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