CHERRY PICKING

REFLECTIVE THOUGHTS

PAUSE & CONSIDER

BOOKS FOR PRISON
For several months I've wished to donate some of my books to the prison population, particularly those in solitary. The content is inspirational, spiritual in harmony with nature. What the research turns up shows religious gifts are discouraged. I need a lead. Can anyone help me?

MADE ANEW
God transforms a hard heart into a tender one once His love is received.

CHRISTIANITY
Christianity seems to be all over the map these days. Its beliefs, purpose, practices, doctrine, theology, the spiritual-social connection, and it's biblical interpretations are varied. Some common ground is needed as a uniter. What common ground? Christ with His message of life.

TRUTH TALKERS
I think it's important to be a truth talker. There's lots of pressure to say what society wants you to say ... at all times. That's not freedom, it's control. I've noticed the insincerity of it all. It's hard to be a truth talker when you know you'l  get stomped on. Still do it.

HEALING PLACES
How beautiful it is when the church lives its mission with compassion, grace, hope, love and acceptance. Christ lived it, modeled it, offered it. His arms are open for all.

CHARACTER
Interesting how this works. At 90 my dad's character still comes through. Today one of his new friends where he now lives had this to say, "I like your dad. He has a clean mind. He wouldn't hurt anyone." She's noticed his graciousness. My dad loves the Lord. His life speaks to it.

WHEN IT'S HARD
God is good. God is faithful. God is just. Somehow the knowing of these truths is freeing to me. I know I can trust Him no matter what, no matter how hard it is, no matter how contradictory it may seem from my perspective. Like others, I stress, get confused, despair. Nevertheless, through it all I know God knows what I do not. I can rest in that knowledge.

TREASURE TROVE

This Week's Random Thoughts

Pause & Consider

CARE, ANYWAY
Why not have a little generosity of heart toward those who see life through a different lens? We never know what opportunities lie ahead, where community will bring us together. Hatred divides. Love sees life as an opportunity. We need not compromise our beliefs to care about others.

FAITH
A nurtured faith is a steadfast faith. Like an anchor, it holds fast even when circumstances do not. To nurture faith, trust in God must increase and expand. Time with God in prayer and in the Word are required. This takes intentional choice along with determined effort. Then faith becomes strong.

PRAY WITH POWER
Little prayer, little power, little happens.
Much prayer, much power, much happens, that is, the fervent, real, heart-felt prayers of a spiritual person. True spiritual living rests on the character and depth of one's prayers, and the character and depth of one's walk with God.

CONNECTED
Engagement with God initiates a process through which people change their perceptions. A work of God in a life open to His ministrations, facilitates structural change in those places that are repositories of soul woundings and soul hiding. This results in a spiritual awakening.

HERE'S WHY
Figuratively speaking, when you come to bumps in a road, unexpected detours, or difficult obstacles, instead of avoiding or disparaging them. After the dust settles, you can look at them and say, what did I learn from this? Troubles become a teacher. We can learn a lot this way.

AMAZING
I hadn't seen this friend in decades. He was the conference speaker. He spoke of lives transformed and deeper prayer. I marveled at him now, a man with a heart for God. He, also, is transformed. We talked over lunch. Life has tempered both of us. A sweetness connected our understandings.

AS SOMEONE TO LOVE
When you're nervous about talking to someone or making that phone call, see the other person as someone to love.

BE BLESSED
I wish I had something witty to say--
  That I could roll out for you today,
But since I do not
   So much for the thought--
I'll just say, "Have a good day" instead.

AMEN
God's mercies are new every morning. His judgments are pure and righteous altogether. His love reaches to the highest mountain and to the lowest depth. God's grace is sufficient for you and for me. Holy is His name. Praise be to God.

** This post is a compilation of my Tweets on Twitter.

LIFE IN THE NOW: Random Thoughts

 

Spiritual Reflections

Pause and Consider

BE ENCOURAGED
A young woman in a social media group was frustrated with someone she was trying to help whose response was inadequate. I tried to encourage her by commenting:

"A seed is sown. It grows. It flowers. It produces fruit. God brings the increase. Some things take much time. Your loved one isn't receptive, that's okay. She may find it difficult to express herself. She may be worried, fearful, depressed. This is where grace comes in. Extend grace with patience. Open doors. Provide opportunities. Then wait, wait, wait in anticipation. Pray, pray, pray with an open heart. Then trust, trust, and trust some more. God's answers almost always play out over months and years, not days. God will make a way. Bless you for being brave. You have a voice at the table. Be wise and loving as you use it. God will help you keep in balance. Praying for you.

PURPOSE
Do you know your purpose? Purpose gives value to your life. Children of God have a dual purpose, like a layer within a layer. Christians glorify God while they simultaneously live their life's purpose. Kind of interesting how that works.

‪SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS‬
‪Comments on social media arrange themselves into two groupings. Their sensitivities form two ideologies. I fail to see the need for mocking others' conclusions. My beliefs are my own. Your beliefs are your own. Conclusions may be on opposite sides of the argument but are worthy of being heard.‬

FOLLOWING & SEEKING
The spiritual realm is about two major devotions: following and seeking. Following Christ guides the life of faith. Seeking God encourages an ever-deepening living reality. Both avenues provide life and health in our spiritual journey. We stagnate when there is no will for this.

PEOPLE WANT, I WANT
People want happiness. I prayed for joy.
People want to be entertained. I prayed for peace.
People want money. I prayed for respect.
People want power. I prayed for wisdom.
People get what they want. I got what I prayed for.
Every person received their portion. I was blessed.

SPAKE THE SCRIPTURE
I'll be reading a scripture passage when, BOOM, the words grip my attention. They spring alive. My mind matches it to things of life, experiences, knowledge, spiritual meaning, truth and so on. Its preciousness ministers tender truth to the interior hallowed place of being.

SELFLESSNESS
I've known a few selfless people in my time. They have a quality about them that I admire. They're there when you need them. They give of themselves to others without any hesitation. One of my friends houses people down on their luck. Her husband has got used to it. Amazing.

MADE ANEW
After Jesus took away the sorrow,
He gave a brand new tomorrow.