Finding Gratitude Day 9: Cold Mornings

Cold toes that stretch from the bed onto the icy floor. Wet hair that seems to drip frozen water onto my back after my shower. Seeing the imaginary frost seemingly climb up the window panes. With each step down the long hallway, I wonder if I will ever be warm again, my bones almost creaking with every movement.

Then, I enter the kitchen, seeing Mom making tea for the morning, her herself cold and wanting warmth. Zak sits at the kitchen table tying his shoes, with his gloves, mittens, hat, and short-sleeved shirt on, Dad comes in from starting the car, also wanting to warm up the transportation that will carry us for the next hour, James sits in the chair as long as possible to escape his chores as much as he can, and Anna? She prattles on and on about this doll of hers, and this bird she saw, and anything else that comes into her mind, not caring whether anyone is listening or not.

And me? I'm gathered around the space heater, hoping that the heat will not scorch my skirt or catch any of my clothes on fire. I am happy, hearing the little one talk, listening to the teapot whistle, and Dad encouraging James to hop to it. The joys of cold mornings, oh, what we would miss!

Finding Gratitude Day 8: Window to the Soul

 The entrance into the emotions.

The epitome of communication.

The eyes.

Have you ever studied a picture of someone? Have you ever wondered what they were feeling the minute that shutter clicked? Have you considered what they were thinking when that picture was taken?

The eyes tell us so much about what is happening inside someone’s feelings. The eyes seem to sparkle with the emotion of happiness, whereas dullness comes with despair or hopelessness. When a person is expecting something, looking forward to something, many times you can SEE that in their eyes.

Some people, including my mother, can communicate completely and effectively using only her eyes. She can look at me and immediately, I can hear her saying “You need to be quiet right now.” Another look could communicate “Stop doing that.” Or yet another looks says “You’re doing such a great job.” The one no one wants to see, “You’re in so much trouble.” All that without “saying” a single word.

Try it sometime! Look at a picture of that multimillionaire, look at their eyes. Are they excited to  be posing for that magazine? Are they surprised that anyone would want to take their picture? Or are they impatient waiting for the photographer to hurry up and snap their picture because they have more important things to do with their valuable time? Or better yet, are they seemingly lost, feeling that they have everything, but have nothing?

God created us with this effective communication factor. How wonderful that we don’t have to rely only on the words of others to understand what they are feeling, experiencing, and considering. 

Finding Gratitude Day 7: Newness!

Today starts a new week. Gone are the stresses of last week, the chores that seemed to pile up, all the mistakes that crowded our mind. Ahead we see the blank slate of our planners, each part of our time open and ready to be filled. And it is our choice of what we want to make the biggest priority, the main focus, and the greatest thrust of our week. 

What a fresh start! I am so thankful for the next week! Have a great day! :)

~Rachel

Finding Gratitude Day 6: Fall

Rust-colored leaves hold on to the trees with their best effort, but all, in the end, lose their grip in to the branch, and gracefully tumble to the ground below. Their dying wish is to stay on the branch, to live as they've lived for the last months. And yet, leaf history says that each leaf for centuries have fallen. But, to those individual leaves, perhaps they think they can change tradition by clinging on for deal life that gave to the branch them life. 

To us, the dying leaf becomes beauteous in all the colors and variations, the dying leaf to us is a symbol of fall. 

Perhaps, perspective really does matter. When Christ asks us to die, to give up that thread of sin, to move on despite past hurts, to do what we think would change our lives forever, perhaps we need to look at it from Christ's perspective: that death to self isn't the end of the world, that it is beautiful to the Lord.

Enjoying Autumn,

~Rachel

Finding Gratitude Day 5: Rest

Through the week, our bodies are pushed to the limit, whether from work, cleaning, running errands, and so many other things that occupy our time. And through all of the hustle and bustle of daily life, sometimes we forget what it means to rest and take time for nothing.

Playing checkers with the family.

Taking a nap.

Taking a leisure walk.

Snapping some pictures.

Pinterest.

And many other things that allow you to relax and recuperate for the next week.

Have a restful night!
~Rachel

Finding Gratitude Day 4: Milkshakes

Milkshakes

 It is not a very in depth or deep-meaning topic, but today, the milkshake made my day!



The last few days have been crazy for me, with classes, outings, and working. I haven't gotten to bed at the best time, and this morning getting up, I could feel all the hours from the missed sleep haunting every move I made and every thought I attempted to think. The cloudy mind syndrome.

By the end of the day, I was a pretty sad sight, ready to leave work and go to bed.

Then.

I made a milkshake.

And, had a ball of laughs.

When I make milkshakes, I have to be careful to pull the spinner out when it is not connected to the liquid milk-base, because it flings the liquid around.

I wasn't careful.

I looked at one of my coworkers, and saw that I had a line of base on my belt, right at the level of the spinner. And my friend, who was standing next to me, had one too...

Laughter, giggles, and craziness made my day... or perhaps, it was the milkshake!

Finding Gratitude Day 3: Creativity

How much of the day is made exciting and spontaneous because of the creativity of others around you? 

Today was my one day off this week from work. I spent the morning trying to understand and dissect the different poems of others in my poetry class. Each word has its own meaning that when combined with the different connotations of the thoughts surrounding that word, the meaning of the entire poem can take such shape. When I finished studying, I was struck with just how creative authors of poems have to be: they have to evaluate what the reader's first reaction will be and how that first reactiom will or will not affect how they look at the poem as a whole. And, after the author thinks through those initial reactions, the author has to write the poem using the precise words to achieve the complete meaning. 

Creativity

Coming home from a crazy afternoon of shopping and looking through my mom's pictures that she took of my little sister. Seeing how she takes the subject of the picture, changes the colors, and softens the surroundings to represent the personality of the portrait. Each tiny detail must be thought out and changed until it reaches the perfection that the artist has seen from the first snap of the shutter. 

Creativity

Finding Gratitude Day 2: Words

Words convey such meaning and contain so many connotations for one, individual word. Each time we say something, or even think, we use words to describe what we want, how we are feeling, what we want others to do, and so many more things. And yet, one word can me something totally different from one person to the next. Words can also take a truth and convey it in such a concrete way that not one person doesn't understand. 

Imagine what the world would be like today without words: no cell phone chats, no texting, no books, no schools, no quotes from inspirational people, no way of communicating what others cannot see, no Bible, no way of understanding the gospel. And I could list so many more! 

Words link people together, create lasting friendships, and change people's lives. How thankful I am today for the words that I hear, see, and understand. May we try to make good use of the words that God has given to us!

Finding Gratitude Day 1: Long Roads.

Imagine with me a forty-five minute drive to work at seven thirty in the morning. The bright sunshine filters through the slight fog that's holding on to the last of the countryside. The church steeple back-dropped by dark blue mountains. The careless dogs that meander through the road as you sit there tapping your steering wheel wishing they would hurry up and cross the road so you can get to work on time. The best part of the drive? Talking with my Daddy. Talking about work, home, and how I need to start slowing down more than 10 feet from the stop sign. Jabbering about something unimportant, but knowing that he is genuinely listening and trying to understand.

Long Roads

The sun is tired, begins slowly sinking down where it will soon warm another city, another house, another person. But here, the setting of the sun is nature's signal that the day of work is nearing the end. Animals scurry to their nests, windows are shut after the dinner dishes are finished, little siblings crawl into their bed, tired and worn out from their active day.

Down the road, two friends walk, enjoying the scenery, talking about whatever pops into their minds, and knowing that everything is a good topic because both understand the other. They know that their possibilities are almost endless, and they walk down the long road so they can enjoy every footstep as they walk and talk with one another. Once in a while, they step off the road so that a pickup truck can pass by; or stop to watch the Canadian geese glide by. The road holds endless possibilities for each of them, and they are both thankful for the long road.

What do I have NOT to be thankful?

Do my circumstances change the wonderful gifts that God has allowed me to access? How many times do I overlook the big and wonderful blessings that I have? And how many times, dear readers, do we enter into discontentment because we don't think that Christ has fulfilled our "needs" for that exact moment?

My goal for the next month is to post something everyday about everyday living that I have to be thankful for. For me, it will be an eyeopener to the things that many times I look past. For those who read it, I hope it will encourage you to evaluate the wonders that God has given to you in your personal life!

Starting tomorrow, see ya soon!
~Rachel

Lifestyle Evangelism

Think back with me. Back to your childhood (for some of you, this may be quite a feat) to someone who really got involved in your life. Whether it was a school teacher who helped you in a certain subject, a parent who raised you, or someone else who just showed that they cared for you and what you would become. Think about the feeling of security you had knowing someone cared enough to give up their time and effort to helping you, even in the little things.

That is how our Christianity should appear to the world. We should be so caring, helpful, and self-less that those who do not know Christ as their Lord and Savior wonder why we are different. The world should see a difference. A difference in how we treat them as we interact in their personal life.

Think of the Great Commission. “Go ye into all the world…” As Christians, it is our responsibility to become part of others life. Isn’t that what Jesus did? Those closest to Him were publicans, prostitutes, and other outcasts; the Pharisees, who were the religious leaders of the time, condemned him for interacting with “sinners.” Jesus didn’t just minister once a week to those who needed Him:  just as Christians shouldn’t limit sharing Christ with others to once a week soul-winning. We need to be out in the world so we can show others that we care; because knocking on doors, while in and of itself is not wrong, doesn’t even come close to what Christ meant in the Great Commission.

Evaluate your day. Is reaching out to others a major focus and priority? Are you too busy to stop and talk to your neighbors? Do you look for ways you can show the unsaved that God loves them? If your focus shifts from doing what you need to do to doing what Christ would have done, imagine how Christ will use you to reach others!

Unconditional Love

Have you ever really thought about the fact that God sees all, and is waiting for you to mess up so He can condemn ? Have you ever wondered when God was going to send a lightening bolt to strike you from the face of the earth? Have you ever considered that God could never use you?

Perhaps your view of God is skewed? Perhaps you think of God as the ultimate Judge: this is correct. Or as the sovereign Ruler: also correct. Or as the omniscient One: correct again. Or the holy Lord: correct. But if that is our first and initial thought of who God is, we have missed the point almost entirely.

John 3:16 is the most well known Bible verse and is used most commonly when walking someone through the gospel. But maybe we as Christians have missed something.
 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God sent His only Son to die for the hopeless human race; without this amazing act, there would be nothing to look for, death would be the end, life would be meaningless, and everything that we believe in would be non-existent.

So, with God's important act, what is the driving force behind what He did? What reason could somewhat compel Him to allow His only Son to be cruelly tortured, mocked, and murdered at the hands of His own creation? What could drive the Ruler of the Universe to give control to His meager creations?

For God so LOVED the world...

The driving force behind Gods interactions and dealings with men are a result of his never ending LOVE. In other words, God sent His Son to die because he LOVES YOU! Nothing you do can ever separate you from the Love of God. Did you catch that? Nothing. Not one sin. Not one part of your past. Not one thought. Not one thing. Nothing.

Sure, God does see that hidden sin. But He loves you no matter how many times you do sin. He doesn't like the sin, but He would never stop loving you because of something you do.

God is a holy Judge and sees sin as horrific and appalling. But He loved you so much that he sent his Son to take your sin away from you. He will judge the sin, but He loves you no matter what the outcome of the trial.

How many times to we shy away from serving God because we fear what we see to be a scary, condemning ruler? A father figure who is ready to hurt and punish us for what we've done.

But can't you picture it? A son who has strayed from his father's wishes and is coming back home, fully expecting "the lecture" and condemnation from his father. But as he walking in the door, his father runs to him, with his arms spread open to embrace the wayward son in his arms. His love is not dependent on the actions of his son; the father will love his son no matter what he does.

That's the way that God is. He loves you like no other person can love you!

Living or Doing?

Devotions. What does that word mean to you? What immediately comes to your mind when you see the word devotions? Do you immediately feel calmed as you remember your time with the Lord this morning? Do you smile at the thought of talking and interacting with your God? Do you feel the unexplainable need to again go open God’s word and let the truth flow into you?

If any of you are like me a year ago, none of those thoughts flew through your mind. More than likely you envisioned a check sheet, where you can quickly mark that you got your devotions done and move on to the next thing on the list.  For some of you, devotions are just an empty practice that you do every morning because that’s what Christians do, right? Or, you are one of those people who sit down, read their Bible, but get done feeling nothing, changing nothing, and gleaning nothing from the reading; and you wonder every morning why those thirty minutes are so dull and drab.

But, God never intended for us to have this outlook of frustration, hurry, and duty towards the Bible and spending daily time with Him. The Psalmist writes of his time with his God, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”And “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.”How many of us can say that we have this same mindset about God’s word?

For me, the problem that I encountered with my devotions was that I didn’t really want to do them, but I felt that if I wanted to be right with God, I had to read my bible, pray, and journal what I learned. That sounds good. And many times that is what goes through our brains.

  

But it’s horribly unbiblical.

Those thoughts spit in the face of the One who died for our sins.

By now, some of you are about ready to denounce me as a heretic. As a worldly Christian just trying to get out of doing what any other Christian has to.

But let’s go to Galatians chapter 2. Here in this chapter, Paul is telling the Galatians that there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile when it comes to Christ’s saving grace. In verse 16, he says, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the lay, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Look at that again. “… for by the WORKS… shall no flesh be justified.”

Hold that thought, we’ll be back. Moving to Galatians 3:2-3, we see the same thought put even more bluntly. “… Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

Can it get any clearer? The Christian Jews were trying to relegate the Christian Gentiles (anyone who wasn’t a Jew) to the Mosaic Law. But Paul asks if the Christian Jews were saved based on their good works- how they had kept the law? Of course not, because not one person is ever perfect, and no one can do anything to merit God’s forgiveness. They were saved by faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross, the same way that the Gentiles were saved. And here, Paul says that if we were made perfect (clean and holy before God) in salvation, the same is true in our day to day life. Faith. What we do is not the issue: it is our relationship with Christ that is predominate in God’s mind. And yes, there is a basis of right and wrong. But if we have that strong, vibrant closeness to God and His will, the Holy Spirit will show us the wrong in our lives.

That was the part for me that made it all click! I didn’t have to do ANYTHING to have a relationship with God. Nothing I could do would make me a better Christian in God’s eyes. (And, really, He should be all that matters!) God knows what goes on in the inner-most part of my soul; what would make me think that what I DO would affect how God sees me?

I am going to say something that many of you when you read this will just about put your fist through the computer screen. Just bear with me until the end.

You do not have to read your Bible to be right with God.

Hold back those fists, please!

You don’t have to do ANYTHING to be right with God. Nothing that you can do can even come close to the connection that you have to God right there in your soul-because you are saved and you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. No one on the outside can ever correctly judge or condemn you for your relationship with God. Because God did not designate people to see the intimate relationship He has with you. 

Now, I am not saying that there is not a right and wrong. I am not saying that there are not issues that have a definite line that when you cross them, you are in sin. What I am saying is that nothing you DO will add to how God sees you. And if you base your relationship with your Loving God on how you perform the Christian life, you are missing the point entirely.

Instead, I should be so deeply in Love with my Savior, Redeemer, and Friend, because that pleases God more than any amount of time I would spend dutifully reading my bible. Why not read your Bible because you can do nothing else to satisfy the ache and longing you have to know your God more? Why not have devotions because you are so enamored with your God that everything else seems to fall away, unimportant and meaningless compared to your intimate interaction with your Savior? Why not live the Christian life rather than doing the Christian life!

Is God a Good God?

“If God is a good God, why does He let bad things happen to Christians?”

How many times to Christians shy away from this question? Many times they skirt around the issue, giving a half hearted reply about “God didn’t let bad things happen. Man sinned first, bringing sin into the world.” I agree… man brought sin into the world. Yes. But that has nothing with which to satisfy a hurting Christian. This reply touches the philosophy of Deism, the belief that God created the world to run on its own without Divine intervention. So because man sinned, bad things happen to everyone and God has nothing to do with it? That sounds almost heretical. I think it’s time to address the issue head on.

I asked myself this question many times two years ago. In a period of three months, I was in and out of the hospital having been diagnosed with mononucleosis that progressed into more serious issues. For almost a year, my life was turned upside down. Multiple hospitalizations, frequent criticism, sleepless nights: I pretty much missed out on entire year of my before normal life. I cannot begin to count how many times I wondered how God could allow so many horrible and painful things to happen. Had I done something wrong? Was God judging me? Did he just put me through something like this because He could? Did he care? Did He know?

Eventually, I convinced myself that I didn’t know and never would. In my mind, that part of God and the Christian life couldn’t be understood. Maybe God wanted us just to trust him to do what’s best? I determined that I wouldn’t think about it anymore, not wanting to confuse myself or feel bad about questioning God and what was happening. I put the question out of my mind.

But, other Christians reminded of my questioning as they tried to comfort me. “God will work this out for good in your life.” Or “God is always with you, no matter what the trial.” Or “Just remember Job, who had everything ripped out from under him, and still trusted God.” My thoughts? Absolutely nothing that comes out of this trial will come even close to good. Do I really want God with me if He isn’t going to stop these horrible things from happening? And Job? He was perfect and dedicated to God? Why would God take absolutely everything from him only to show Satan that Job wouldn’t curse God? Sounds like a really good god there, doesn’t it? Of course I didn’t voice those treasonous thoughts. But they seemed to plague my every thought. But I would just try to push them aside, but to no avail.

Psalm 34:8 says, “…the Lord is good.”

Let’s go back to grammar school and analyze this phrase.

Lord is the subject

Is acts as the linking verb.

Good acts as the describer

Now, remembering back, linking verbs connects the subject (Lord) to the describer (Good) It can also be read this way:

Lord=Good

If God equals good, then why do bad things happen? Doesn’t that destroy the character of God? A good God letting bad things happen to those that love Him?

But think about it, if God is always with us, like He promised, then good is always with us. I think Christians have a warped idea of what is good and what is bad. What does good mean to you? To us, good can mean food that satisfies our taste buds. Good can also refer to a ranking system, such as a good performance or a good time. We also use the word good to define right and wrong. What do you tell a two year old? “Now you be good for the nursery worker.” Or “were you being bad?”

But, if we look at good as something that God IS, then it changes our view completely. God does not make bad things happen to us, but He promises to be the GOODNESS and to hold our hand as we walk through that hurt. There will always be good that comes from your trial, hurt, or sorrow because God will be there with you.