Food for thought…

What did you have for dinner yesterday? How about lunch? How about lunch last Tuesday? If you’re like me, you like to eat. You enjoy a good meal. You enjoy being full and satisfied. Even if you don’t, let’s face it…everyone has to eat. Now if last Tuesday I had steak, could I realistically tell my body you know what, I had a great meal last Tuesday, so I don’t think I’m going to eat for a while… no, probably not.

Despite my mind trying to telling my stomach that I don’t need food, the fact remains that I need food to survive. Granted some meals are better than others (steak versus anything of the green variety in my case), and I don’t always remember what I eat days or sometimes just hours later, but good nutrition on a daily basis is key to a healthy lifestyle. 

If eating meals has become a habitual practice for us without even thinking about it, why is it so difficult for us to nourish our spiritual bodies on a daily basis as well. Why do we often assume that being fed God’s Word Sundays and sometimes Wednesdays is enough? Big meals twice a week does not keep our spiritual minds and bodies healthy….And sometimes….if you’re looking for it… it’s the smaller, one-on-one meals with God that can have the biggest impact on our lives.

Christ is the bread of life (John 6:48), and we are called to renew our minds daily (Romans 12:2). Have you allowed God to fill you lately? If so, how? 

Encourage all those who read this by sharing a verse and something you’ve learned this week during your quiet, personal time with God.

River, Puddle, or Flood?

 

Flooding in Cedar Rapids caused great damage earlier this summer (photo from Wikipedia)

 

What’s the difference between a river, a puddle, and a flood?

Answer:        purpose and direction.

A flood has no purpose. It has no direction. It covers anything, destroying everything in its path.

A puddle also has no purpose. It’s direction is nowhere. It lasts only until the ground receives it or the sun evaporates it. It does nothing except occupy space for a short time.

A river has purpose. It has direction. A river offers flow, power, transportation, and life.

           Which are you?

The Daily Routine

Water. The average American uses an estimated 100 gallons of water per day. Can that be true? Does water have that much of an impact on our lives? Let’s a take a quick look at how a typical person might use water in a day. 

Wake up, use the bathroom, flush the toilet, and wash hands.
Take a shower.
Have a bowl of cereal, and then place the dish and spoon in the dish washer.
Take medicines with a glass of cold water.
Brush your teeth.
Leave the house, use an umbrella to block the rain, then drive your car with the windshield wipers on
Drink several cups of water throughout the day, as well as use the restroom.
Come home from work, relax by the pool.
Make dinner, boil noodles for pasta, wash the lettuce to make a salad.
Fill glass with ice cubes to keep your drink cold.
Place dishes in the dish washer.
Put a load of laundry in the washing machine because… well, you need clean socks and underwear.
Iron your shirt and pants for work.
Turn on the news, watch the weather forecast for tomorrow.
Get ready for bed,
Wash up
Brush your teeth.
Repeat the next day.

 

God has offered us living water (John 4:10, 14) in the Holy Spirit. Does the Spirit of God have as much  impact on our daily lives as water? If so, how? 

How has the Holy Spirit been working in your life lately? Take time, think about it, and respond…

Standing in the Sonlight…

Last Wednesday, we launched our new series, “Pictures of God,” and we discussed what it meant for Christ to be the “Light of the World.” When preparing for the lesson, the thought that stood out most to me was the fact that darkness does not exist as a substance. Darkness is merely the absence of light. That means that there is no fight between darkness and light. For when the light shows up, darkness flees. When you turn a light switch on, there isn’t a 30 second battle between light coming from the ceiling and the darkness that previously filled the room. Instead, the darkness immediately runs from the light and hides behind objects, leaving only glimpses of  its existence in the form of cowardly shadow and apparitions. 

Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12), and He has ultimate victory over sin! There is no battle. When God shows up, Satan goes running. Why then, do we still enjoy the darkness? Why do we still pursue the empty things this world has to offer, when Christ has brought light into this world.  What we need to understand is that when we walk in the light (1 John 1:7) there is warmth, truth, grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, freedom, and victory! We are called to live as Children of Light (Ephesians 5:8), but the question remains… are we doing so?

How has God shown to be light in your life? How have you been a light for those around you?

Be an encouragement to all who read this, and share what God’s doing in your life.