In Sickness and in Health

"In a time of sickness the soul collects itself anew." Latin Proverb

I have to say that today's devotion wasn't my favorite. I know that every morning God has something in store for me and I'm hoping that someone else gets a blessing from it and that my heart remains soft and willing to receive every message from God. Who know, I might need to remember it someday!?!

Anyways, the devotion was about sickness and the healing process. Being a preschool teacher, I rarely get sick (knock on wood). When I'm constantly around children who are carrying lots of germs and spreading their own illnesses with each other, I'm usually okay to blow noses, take temperatures, and I occasionally (okay, let's be honest, more than occasionally) get sneezed or coughed on. My body fights off the sickness and I'm still in shape to go to work and assist the other children who are fighting off the same bugs.

I praise God that my body hasn't suffered any major illness either. I do have a very illness-prone family and it is a big joke that a lot of them don't even have an immune system. Sadly, a lot of my family does really have auto-immune stuff going on and we tend to not joke about it to the ones it really effects.

It's a tough thing to go through when you have to take a break from everything and let your body heal. It's also a great learning experience for yourself. You learn that you are not indispensable and that the world does go on without you. You also learn that certain areas do need you and they work better when you are up and well. Being sick can also teach us that we need to take all things in moderation and at a balanced pace. We need a reminder that our body is not a machine that we can just ignore until it breaks down; we must maintain it and keep it healthy.

There are other illnesses that give us bigger, and deeper reminders about life and about God. There are times when we learn that all we have to believe in is God and we must trust His doing. This is a hard one and many, many people struggle with this every day. It's one that not too many people can give advice on because it's such a hard situation. All I know, which isn't much, is that God is all-knowing. He will direct us and lead us into righteousness and we must trust His will. This world is not our home and if we can just remember that the end of this life is not the end and we are promised a beautiful life in heaven!

Will Do

1. Choose to trust God in times of illness
2. Listen to what the Spirit of the Lord has to say when you are sick
3. Use illness as a time to reconsider your priorities
4. Rest in God's love
5. Slow down and let nature's healing process happen
6. Take better care of yourself
7. Honor your body in sickness and in health

To Do

1. Read about the healing miracles in the Gospel
2. When you are felling stressed out and on the edge of getting sick, take a day to rest and renew
3. Make sure your medicine cabinet is stocked
4. Make a special treat basket for times of convalescence: magazines, books, bedtime treated, puzzles, and special soaps.
5. Take a treat basket yo a sick friend
6. Go to bed an hour early and get some needed rest
7. Write about your priorities in your journal - especially if your schedule is running you ragged 

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Psalm 119:67-68
2. Jeremiah 17:14
3. Jeremiah 33:6
4. Matthew 9:35
5. Matthew 9:22
6. Psalm 107:20
7. Psalm 41:3

"It is true to say that patience in sickness and other forms of trouble pleases God much more than any splendid devotion you might show in health."

            Unknown

Get Back Up Again

"A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." Jonathan Swift

We all fall down at times and we all should get up all the time!

Mistakes happen. Sometimes more than once and we all kick ourselves in the booty for it but that doesn't mean that we should give up trying.

Think of a child learning to walk. If they gave-up, even after the 20th time of falling, they would never have walked! They didn't focus on the fall, or the failure. They focused on their goal. They didn't let the "bad stuff" get in the way of their success and they sure didn't let their failure stop them from achieving their goal!

It's funny, ironic, that as we grow older we get "wiser" but in reality it seems like a lot of times the "wiser" part really doesn't do too much for us. We make excuses, think too hard about things, and choose logic over faith. Maybe this is another reason why God said to keep a childlike heart!?!

Click Here for a song that everyone should listen to when they fall down!!!

Will Do

1. Trust God and do your best
2. Believe that God forgives 
3. Learn from your mistakes
4. Forgive others
5. Be flexible
6. Forgive yourself
7. Be willing to be a beginner
8. Be willing to try a different way

To Do

1. Memorize a Bible verse about God's forgiveness 
2. Do a word study on forgiveness
3. Watch a child learning to walk
4. Make a collage of 20 images that remind you of freedom and forgiveness
5. Go to someone who has been hurt by your mistakes and ask for forgiveness
6. Start an art or craft project and make a mistake on purpose! Then see what a beautiful thing you can create from the "mistake". 

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Galatians 2:21
2. Hebrews 8:12
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17
4. 1 John 3:20
5. James 1:25
6. Romans 6:14

"The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything."

            Edward John Phelps

Your Life on a Journey

"In the spiritual journey we travel through the night toward the day. We walk not in the bright sunshine of total certainty but through the darkness of ignorance , error, muddle, and uncertainty. We make progress in the journey as we grow in faith." Christopher Bryant

Your life is a pilgrimage. We are on a journey as we grow-up in this life and it is up to us to make the most out of our journey by trusting God and allowing him to lead us through it.

Many of us hope that our journey will continue on for years and years. But the truth is, it could end at any time. I'm not trying to be morbid, but it's the truth! We never know when this life will come to an end and we must live every day as if it was our last. So...this is a bit of an eye-opener!?!? I can look at my life, think about what all I'm doing, and ask myself if this is what I want; is this what I need?

If the answer is no, I think we need to make some changes! Yes, change is hard, and not always promising, but at least you can put your trust in God and He will lead you to paths of righteousness!

I read something this morning that really rubbed me in a good way, "God loves you as you are, but He loves you too much to let you stay where you are."

If you are in need of some kind of life make-over, let God lead you to a better place. Trust that he will direct your path and your walk of life!

Will Do

1. Trust that God is with us every step of the way
2. Be open to new experiences and new ideas
3. Have a grateful heart
4. Be flexible
5. Look for rainbows when it rains
6. Learn the lessons difficulties teach us
7. Expect that I will change and grow as a person in my journey through life

To Do

1. Do a Bible study on someone in the Bible who went on a journey
2. Read John Bunyan's spiritual classic, A Pilgrim's Progress
3. Read a great adventure novel or a travel memoir
4. Go on a trip to a place you've never been to before
5. Take a long walk or drive somewhere
6. Journal to this question, "If my life is a journey, where am I on that journey?"
7. Buy a guidebook and plan an imaginary journey to that destination

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Psalm 37:23
2. Psalm 42:4
3. Hebrews 11:13
4. Psalm 119:54
5. 1 Peter 1:17-18
6. 2 Corinthians 5:7
7. Psalm 84:5
8. Psalm 42:8
9. Genesis 12:1
10. Hebrews 11:8
11. Hebrews 11:16
12. 2 Corinthians 6:16

"Every man has two journeys to make through life. There is the outer journey, with its various incidents and the milestones...There is also an inner journey, a spiritual Odyssey, with a secret history of its own."

            William Ralph Inge

Lend Some Encouragement

"Encouragement is oxygen to the soul." George M. Adams

Encouragement is something we all need and is also something that we call can give to someone else.

Here are some helpful tips on giving encouragement:

• Be specific 
• Be honest and kind - no flattery allowed.
• Be positive and confident. If there is a doubt to express, handle it with care and an alternative.
• Be spontaneous with your encouragement. It doesn't always have to be planned out.
• Don't worry how it is received. Many people don't know how to handle praise.
• Be consistent.
• Offer suggestions, not advice.
• Be your own best encourager!

Will Do

1. Cultivate the art of encouraging others
2. Be honest, yet kind and helpful
3. Release my discouragement to God
4. Focus on the positive
5. Make encouragement a habit
6. Believe the best of others
7. Be willing to speak up and encourage others
8. Count my blessings

To Do

1. Do a word study on encouragement
2. Call a friend and encourage them
3. Form an encouragers circle to meet on a regular basis
4. Offer to pray for someone else's needs
5. List specific ways someone is a blessing to you. Share the list
6. Write a note of encouragement to 5 people
7. Give 5 people a hug today

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Romans 14:9
2. 2 Kings 6:16
3. Acts 14:22
4. 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
5. Hebrews 10:24
6. 2 Timothy 4:2
7. Hebrews 10:24-25

"Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. ...You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

            Martin Luther King 

Excellence, Not Perfection

"Perfection never exists apart from imperfection, just as good health cannot exist without our feeling effort, fatigue, hunger or thirst, heat or cold; yet none of these prevent the enjoyment of good health."
            Henri de Tourville

I feel like I've come a long way in the "try out perfection" area. I remember when I first stared blogging on here I would say things like "I need to realize that things are going to go as planned" and "I need to trust God about things" and the hardest one, "change is good".

I feel an inner peace about my life and it feels really great!

Today's devotion was titled "Pursuing Perfection" and the topic, "Frustration". *LOL* Normally I would read this and think to myself, "Oh my, here's one I really need to read" or "I think God needs me to see this today". However, today I just read it like any other devotional topic and took what I could from it and realized that I'd grown - I have come a long way!

I've always heard about the feeling of God living inside you. I've always felt and thought that I had God living inside of me. Growing up in a Seventh Day Adventist, Christian home and family I was brought up surrounded by Jesus' love! I was always in love with Jesus but really began to pursue my own relationship with him as I grew older. I had heard the stories of other's saying that "there was a hole in their heart" or "an empty space that needed to be filled". These never occurred to me since I had really always had that empty space filled.

Well, looking back now, I can see that there was somewhat of a hole. It was that space where I couldn't quite fill on my own because I fall short of perfection. The saying, "Do your best and let God do the rest", well I was doing, trying, attempting, and failing at my best but was never really trusting God enough to do the rest. Now that I have let Him completely in, I trust Him with all my heart, I can say that my heart is completely full! He has filled up the spaces and I feel content, at peace, happy!

Will Do

1. Do your best and let God do the rest!
2. Be thankful for life as it is rather than as you wish it could be
3. Be thankful for the blessings in your life
4. Not judge a gift by the package it comes in
5. Be appreciative of the small things in life
6. Relax and be easier on yourself and others
7. Redefine your definition of perfection to include the beauties of imperfection

To Do

1. Post a copy of 2 Corinthians 12:9 over your mirror
2. Start a craft or art project that can teach you about the process of creativity 
3. Write in your journal about perfection
4. Watch a baby learning to walk
5. Go to an antique shop and think about the families that have used the heirlooms and why that makes them beautiful, even with worn spots and broken edges. 

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Philippians 3:12
2. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29
3. 2 Corinthians 4:7
4. 2 Corinthians 12:9
5. James 1:4
6. Psalm 138:8

"Demand perfection of yourself and you'll seldom attain it. Fear of making a mistake is the single biggest cause of making one. Relax - pursue excellence, not perfection."

            Bud Winter

Having Community

"If my heart is right with God, every human being is my neighbor." Oswald Chambers

Having a sense of community with anyone around you is what God has in mind for us here on earth.

Many of us, myself included, have our own communities. We have the people we know and love that we like to hang-out with and spend time with. Then we have our church communities that we worship with. We also have work communities, neighborhood communities (maybe) and a few others.

The problem with this picture is that this isn't community at all! Community wasn't meant to still be in sections or so separated. God intended for us to be a community for everyone. There was never to be a split amongst people.

I'm not saying to go treat the scary guy on the street like you would your close friend and put yourself in danger, but we should be seeing these people through God's eyes and creating a world of community. It is our call as Christians and it is our task here on earth.

Will Do

1. Look for ways to create community 
2. Be friendly and helpful
3. Be considerate of others' feelings
4. Be generous with praise and cautious with criticism
5. Serve others in love
6. Respect our differences and seek to find common interests
7. Enjoy the people God has brought into your life

To Do

1. Invite a newcomer to your Bible study group
2. Host a party or get-together at your house
3. Participate in a volleyball game or other group activity
4. Make a donation to a charity.
5. When you are feeling low, reach out to someone else and send flowers, make a phone call or write a friendly note.
6. Make a collage of pictures of family and friends
7. Volunteer to help build something in the community

Bible Verses to Remember

1. 1 John 4:11
2. John 13:34-35
3. 1 John 4:20
4. Proverbs 15:27
5. Romans 12:15-16
6. Galatians 5:13
7. James 2:8-9
8. Psalm 82:3-4
9. 1 Corinthians 12:26
10. 1 Corinthians 16:14
11. Philippians 2:2
12. Proverbs 3:28

"Your neighbor is the man who is next to you at the moment, the man with whom any business has brought you into contact."
            George MacDonald

It's in the Small Things

"He who is not contented with little will never be satisfied with much." Thomas Benton Brooks

Life is about all the little things that make us happy! Like the fact that (yes, I know I'm a dork) I have 4 "plain" coffee mugs I use for Monday-Thursday morning coffee. But on Friday I have a special Disney mug that I use - because it's Friday. So this morning, when I reached into the cupboard to find that after this morning, I'll only have one more plan mug to use and then it's Friday!!! This was so exciting to me! I love little reminders that the week is coming to an end and I get my lovely weekend!

This is a just an example of how really little things in life can make a big difference just by choosing to look at them in the right way. You may think I'm silly, and I know I am, but small things like this happen all around us all the time. It is important to find the happiness in them and cherish those brief moments of bliss!

Will Do

1. Praise God for the gifts He gives each day
2. Cultivate a contented attitude
3. Find delight in the small things in life
4. Live in the moment instead of worrying about tomorrow
5. Look for ways to share good things with others
6. Commit to spending more time with those you love
7. Celebrate goodness

To Do

1. List 5 blessings you enjoyed today
2. Write in your journal your thoughts about why your glass is half full instead of half empty
3. Make a pot of soup - share it!
4. Learn how to do a simple home craft such as quilting or knitting that can be soothing
5. Get together with friends just to talk
6. Pick a favorite novel and reread it
7. Spend an afternoon in front of a cozy fire

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Philippians 4:11
2. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
3. Proverbs 15:16
4. Philippians 4:12-13
5. Proverbs 28:20
6. Psalm 92:4
7. Psalm 89:1
8. Proverbs 13:7
9. 1 Timothy 6:6-8
10. Hebrews 13:5
11. Psalm 131:2
12. Psalm 103:2

"Life is a great bundle of little things."

            Oliver Wendell Holmes

Just Imagine

"Joy is the serious business of heaven." C. S. Lewis

Knowing that there will come a day when we will get to walk into the pearly gates of heaven and walk on street of gold is a little crazy for me to comprehend.

When I was little, I would try and think about all the amazing things of heaven. Playing with the animals, seeing Jesus and God and getting to put a face to the name, and just playing all day - oh, and flying! Now that I'm older, things have changed a bit. I'm excited to see the many people in my life be there with me! I'm excited to see what house got created for me and my family knowing all the things we adore and how He's going to top it all! I still can't wait to see Jesus and God's face and finally know. I wonder if it'll be a similar face - one I've seen my whole life and recognize the eyes, the nose, the lips. Maybe Jesus has appeared several times in my life and getting to heaven to see His face will show me that He was really always there.

I know everyone has probably heard the song "I Can Only Imagine". I love that song! It brings tears to me eyes pretty much every time I hear it. Even if you've heard it before, I'm asking that you listen to it once again and really concentrate on putting yourself there on that day - in heaven. Really take the words to heart and just imagine what heaven will be like!

Here it is: just click here.

Will Do

1. Live life as if your choices had eternal value and eternal consequences
2. Trust that God has a place prepared for you in heaven
3. Look heaven's beauties on earth
4. Know that you understand in part and will know in full eternity
5. Try your best to create a little bit of heaven on earth wherever you are
6. Create beauty and order in life
7. Worship God in the beauty of holiness

To Do

1. Spend an hour talking with children about heaven
2. Read 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
3. Buy a CD of music that inspires and uplifts you
4. Visit a famous cathedral and see heaven visualized in stone and stained glass and light
5. Walk in a forest and see glimpses of heaven on earth
6. Do a New Testament study on heaven
7. Grow a fragrant blooming plant on your winter windowsill

Bible Verses to Remember

1. Luke 12:13
2. Psalm 23:6
3. Romans 5:10-21
4. Revelation 2:1
5. John 6:51
6. John 14:2

"If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world."

            Vance Havner

Go On, Stand Out

"Always be in a state of expectancy and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes."
           Oswald Chambers

From the time we are young, society tries to have us conform. We are told to not stand out, not show our vulnerabilities and to always "fit in" (whatever that means). A lot of times we become trapped in the mob of life and we're whisked away stuck in the middle of this huge crowd of nonsense that we're hoping helps us to "fit in".

God has a different plan for us. He wants us to stand out, stand up, and to show others that we are different because He lives in us. God wants us to cause a scene so that we do stand out and gather attention for His glory. We are to be curious about life and all that it has to offer!

God created us with amazing minds and bodies. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but I do know a little bit about the body. I love my science classes in college! All of them made me realize just how incredible life really is and how wonderful God made us. It is up to us to research, ask questions, be curious about things - because we can! God didn't give us amazing brains for us to waste!

Will Do

1. Enjoy the vastness and variety of God's creation
2. Be open to the unexpected
3. Cultivate curiosity
4. Seek out new experiences and new people
5. Keep an open mind
6. Be playful in new explorations
7. Be willing to be a beginner and make mistakes

To Do

1. Listen to a missionary share their adventures or join a missionary trip
2. Take a tour or hike at a national park
3. Chaperon a group of young people 
4. Ladies - try a new color of lipstick
5. Visit a museum, aquarium, or zoo
6. Go to the library and read a book on something you don't know anything about
7. Try a new kind of exercise

Bible Verses to Remember

1. John 8:36
2. Isaiah 43:19
3. Proverbs 18:1
4. Proverbs 3:13
5. Galatians 5:1
6. Psalm 27:4
7. Matthew 6:22

"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called "research", would it?"

            Albert Einstein