Thinking about convos I’ve had over the past several days and how I’m thankful for the Body of Christ.
Hear me. You don’t have to be in the same church to be the Body. You don’t have to be in the same seasons of life. You don’t have to run your households the same way. You don’t even have to be in the same state.
You just have to walk in agreement, following the same God, and BE THE BODY.
Recently, I called a lady who had visited our church on Sunday simply because they had friends there, and they had “a day off” from their congregation because of a building move situation. She was a pastor’s wife, too. She encouraged me as she spoke about the great things of our church, the great message my husband preached, and the refreshing they needed and felt while they worshipped with us. She thanked me, and we prayed for each other.
THIS is being the Body, my friends.
I had another conversation in which I just listened as my friend shared her struggles with a health issue. Cancer. All the fears, transitions, frustrations, and unwanted prognosis while attempting to hold onto faith in a faithful and loving God, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that He’s still God.
Another conversation was filled with excitement and heartache as her son moves away to college, and while she misses him terribly, she knows he’s at the right place, in the right season, doing the right thing. This conversation was concluded by a hand on an arm, a strong look in the eyes, and one friend telling another, “It will be an adjustment, but you enjoy this new season of time with your husband. Focus on putting your attention on him and his on you…Empty nesting can be fun!”
Another in which the wife is watching a terrible disease daily rob her husband’s quality of life, and there’s nothing she can do about it but pray. This conversation didn’t amount to words of solution or even of any words I felt could be of great comfort, except, “God is with you, and please, tell us how to help (because we won’t impose, but we’re here).”
In all these, the Body was being the Body as it should be. Carrying one another’s burdens. Being there, not just in word and deed, but simply in presence and love. Sharing the raw, unedited feelings of the heart and not shielding it out of pride, isolation or fear.
If you’re not a believer, you may have no idea what I’m talking about. And that’s ok.
But if you are a believer in the One True God…
Let’s BE THE BODY, Church. ❤️
“Bear ye one another’s burdens. For in this, you the law of Christ.”
I love where I live because it’s beautiful, quaint, and comfortable. It’s also filled you all kinds of options. I’ve always been a “small town girl,” and while growing up, I always thought I’d live in the same small town forever, raising my kids and living in a “little white house with a little white picket fence.”
Well, God kinda had different plans for me. Since moving from my home town, I’ve lived in 2 states, 5 towns, and 1 city. I’ve gone to 3 schools, lived in 12 houses, and have been actively involved in 6 churches. And 3 of those towns have been while raising our sons. But each have been small towns, at least in the scale of metropolitan areas.
And truthfully, I’ve loved every town I’ve lived in. That’s just being content in where you are and who you’re with, but that’s another blog for another day.
So, you ask why I love where I live… it’s a small town that really has grown quite a bit since we moved here. However, we live on the outskirts of town, and we don’t normally deal with the busier side. Our city officials have taken great care to beautify the downtown, moderate what comes in and out, and worked hard to keep that “small town feel” to the area.
I love our church, the people, and the atmosphere of community and family. I love our neighborhood that is well kept, and the people are always friendly. I love that we’re located just minutes from the lake, a few more minutes from the mountains, and less than an hour from a major city. So, you can be anywhere you want within a short amount of time. And I love that we live in an area where people still long for togetherness and a sense of camaraderie among the (smaller) masses.
And I believe that’s what builds love for where you live. When it’s all about you and yours and competition, stress, strife, and success, I believe you loose that sense of community and forsake care and compassion for cutthroat self ambition and ego.
You don’t have to live in a small town to achieve this, but I think it helps. However, I’ve had friends who live living in a big city, and they have still accomplished this by creating a community of family, whether it be in their neighborhoods, churches, or workplace. Where it is doesn’t matter as much as with whom it is. If you are gathered together with likeminded people, accomplishing a common goal for a greater purpose, that sense of family and belonging will naturally arise.
So, what about you? What do you love about where you live?
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Creating an emergency preparedness plan will be determined by which emergency it might be.
Is it flood, fire, water spout? Is it earthquake, tornado, or tsunami?
If you’re rising high to avoid the flood plains, the tornado is going to call your name. If you’re digging under to avoid the quake, the tsunami might find its way through the tunnel. If spreading waves to avoid the flames, the water spout might feel too comfortable to join.
Emergency Preparedness Plans must be in tact for all disasters; yet, one plan is often over looked and forgotten.
What about your heart? Does your heart have an emergency preparedness plan?
This one isn’t really complicated. It doesn’t take a lot of time nor do you have to buy a thing.
Just have a little talk with Jesus. Tell Him all about your troubles. Repent of your sins, and believe.
That’s it. It’s that easy.
And you’ll be prepared for life.
You’ll be ready for anything they might come!
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Having purpose is so important, and it is motivating. But when your purpose becomes an attitude of competition only to put down someone else, that pride will be your downfall. That downfall may not come to you immediately, but it will come. Eventually, it will come.
Purpose should be an inner competition of better self. Purpose should be an outward vigor of thriving through hardships. purpose should be an omnidirectional display of helping someone else to achieve their dream.
When purpose meets awareness of another, that purpose becomes a superpower that is not easily stopped. When purpose meets denial of self for the life of another, that purpose becomes almost invincible.
Choose purpose over pride. Self-denial over self-absorption. Compassion over competition.
And you’ll be amazed at the world you can create.
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better tobe of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. He who heeds the word wisely will find good, whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
August…What can we say? It’s the eighth month of the year, not included in a holiday, not included in a celebration. It’s surrounded by the heat of summer and the busyness of back-to-school events (for those with children or working with children). These are what’s often referred to as the “dog days of summer.” Seriously. How exciting can they be? As the heat swirls and the kids’ activities build, let’s all take a minute to breathe deeply and exhale slowly; take a moment to refocus our attentions on what is important and remember Intentionality. Let’s be intentional as we move forward in the year, not allowing the days to slip into obscurity, forgetting God has called us to a great fight of faith. 1 Timothy 6:12. In our intentionality, let’s speak words of Truth, His Truth, boldly and unashamedly. Let’s speak words of Truth in love and grace, never condoning sin, but loving the sinner rather than the sin. Let’s speak words of Truth in faith, believing that the Holy Spirit will draw those who are lost. John 12:32. Let us remember that courage is given to us by God to be who He’s called us to be and to win the lost at any cost. I love this quote: “Courage is not the absence of fear but acting despite it. In fact, you would not need courage if you did not have fear.” (Arthur W. Lindsey, C. S. Lewis Institute) Let us be ambassadors for Christ, being intentional in our everyday lives to listen to His prodding, to obey His direction, and to reach those who might be right there in front of us who desperately need to hear, “Jesus loves you!” It doesn’t take much to help someone to have a better day, but sometimes, we do need the courage to look, listen, speak, and reach out. Joshua 1:9. In our courage, let us not get caught up in the temptations of the enemy that will cause us to look at flesh and blood as the problems with sin. Sinners will sin. Christians will sin. By the grace of God, we all go. 1 Corinthians 15:10. Remember, our battle is never with a person. Rather, it is with the enemy of our souls! Let’s put on the full armor of God. Let’s intentionally raise our swords and grasp our shields of faith with purpose and with vigor. Let us march on the gates of hell and cast down any vain imaginations, speak against the darkness, and let His light shine so brightly within our lives that the demons tremble and the lost see Jesus beyond our humanness. 1 Peter 5:8. Ephesians 6:10-20. During these “dog days of summer,” let us not be distracted by the heat nor by the busyness. Let our intent be the Father’s business, and let’s go and be who He’s destined us to be! Matthew 28:18-20.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I amwith you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?
I suppose I work to not have to unplug, as I set up disciplines ahead of time to keep that from happening. Now, I’m certainly not perfect, and there have been many times that I’ve had to purposefully unplug from electronics because it all just got too much. But those particular times taught me so much and have helped me to develop routines that shield me better from having to “make myself unplug.”
The disciplines that help me to live a life of unplugging would be not letting that so I’ll media, texting or internet browsing be the first thing I grab ahold of in the mornings or the last thing I am consumed with before I sleep. I’d like to say that about the phone itself, but the only reason I do have it in hand at these times is I’m opening up my Bible app to read Scriptures to begin and end my day with the right frame of mind.
No matter if you consider yourself “a religious person” or not, reading Scripture can bring encouragement, strength, clarity and peace. Making a habit of reading Scripture brings these things into your heart and mind on a consistent basis, and as you repeat this over and over, it becomes part of your lifestyle. A lifestyle of reading Scriptures can surely change you from the inside out.
Now, let me give just a bit of clarity here. Some read scriptures, and you never really see a change in the way they talk or the way they live. And this would be because they never apply what they read to their lives. That’s no different than if you’re learning the English language by reading a textbook, and you never take what you’re reading and apply it to your language. This is what I call having head knowledge but no heart knowledge.
However, if you’ll read those scriptures and apply them, you’ll be amazed at what a transformed human you can become! When you let those Scriptures permeate the depths of your heart, and you begin to live out what you’re reading, you’ll not only be the one impacted, but those around you will also begin seeing a difference, and you’ll have the opportunity to help them change as well.
Another key discipline for my life of being unplugged is “being present where you are.” Too many people live their lives missing what is right there in front of them because they are constantly looking toward their tomorrows or always dwelling on their past. You’ll miss the beautiful people and endless possibilities if you don’t live presently where you are. I love the quote, “Wherever you are, be all there.” – Jim Elliott. I don’t know anything about that man, but he his statement hold so much truth.
And this doesn’t mean you never assess your past or plan for your future. These things are important and a must if you are to go forward in life. But if you’re not present in today, you can very well miss the healing of a past wouldn’t, neglect to see a promise for tomorrow, and become blind to the beautiful miracles of relationships traveling along either you.
I have several key disciplines, but I’ll only choose three today to save boredom of a too lengthy post… so, the last discipline world be to be intentional in whatever I’m doing or wherever I’m going or with whomever I’m with. I can defiantly attest that I’ve not mastered this nor even achieved it well from time to time. However, I am intentionally engaging everyday to get better at it. When I’m with someone, I try to be intentional with what I say, how I act, why I respond a certain way. When I’m carrying out a task I work hard to be intentional in its completion not just to finish it but to complete it with a spirit of excellence. And when I’m out in nature, taking a drive, or simply walking down the hall to another coworkers’ office, I attempt to be more intentional than I was “the last time.”
I don’t want to look at a waterfall the same way I have every time and risk the chance of growing bored with my awesome Creator’s creation. I don’t want to drive along some of the same backroads and grow apathetic to the beauty that surrounds me simply because “I’ve been there before.” And I never ever want to take for granted someone who has been in my life for a day or a decade because after all, we’re none guaranteed the next breath, and everyone has value, and I want me last effect to be an admirable, memorable one.
And when I’ve failed at these disciplines, and I’ve blogged too long, typed too long on social media with old and new friends, or simply scrolled the internet too long with mind numbing scrolling powers, I shake my head, repent of my apathy, and out that electronic device. I step outside into the bright sunshine and go find a more productive way to spend my hours.
I encourage anyone who might be reading this to do the same. Set the electronics aside, step outside and breathe the fresh air. Do what my husband and I call, “getting off the pavement”: go somewhere where there’s trees, waterfalls, dessert valleys, rolling hills, the ocean tide, or majestic mountains. Move beyond your day to day routines and experience something more. Grab that hand of someone you love and look deep into their eyes and remember why you fell in love the first time. Wrap your arms around your child, grandchild or even a parent or grandparent, and remind them of your love and your desire to be present in their todays and their tomorrows.
You’ll be so thankful that you did!
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
There was a girl who got through the day with routines, laughter. and some memes...chores, laughs, smiles, and some cats...food, naps, plus coffee too...then yoga for the win... a warm bath, some books, and You Tube📺-hdtj💜
My journey didn’t stop with mere time travel or writing; it led me to become one of the most sought-after empaths, a soulful psychic who reads the hidden depths of the human spirit. I’ve been blessed—or perhaps burdened—with an ability that allows me to feel the emotions of people from every corner of time.
I am a licensed psychologist based in Greece. My love for housekeeping has inspired me to create this blog about home management and family relationships. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!
Dedicated to movie nerdom, nostalgia, and soul invigoration. In the late 90s, I worked at Blockbuster Video where they let me take home two free movies a day. I caught up on the classics and reviewed theatrical releases for Denver 'burbs newspapers and magazines. Today, while raising two young, beautiful daughters with my amazing wife, I look forward to anything rated R and not Bluey. Comments and dialogue encouraged!
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