Category Archives: SPIRITUAL INTEREST

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Threads that Make My Rope

While I was doing my EHS study, my thoughts took me back twenty years to when I first came alive in my spirit during my spiritual transformation. I was attempting to finish this sentence. “I am beginning to realize . . . ”

I wrote . . . “the need for intentionality with my time now that I don’t have family and work responsibilities.” I’ll do something for a while then switch to another plan. Seasonal changes factor in, like how hot it is, which requires doing yard work in the morning.

I do best with structure, including structure in my spiritual life. When I was employed as a teacher, my spirit was fed on a regular basis. I got up 30 minutes before the family to read a psalm and pray for the day ahead of me. In the evening, I’d read My Utmost for His Highest, a chapter in both the Old and New Testaments and pray a lengthier prayer. My Saturday mornings were set aside for a deeper dive and journal writing. I loved this morning block of quiet time.

I continued to write . . . “It was easier when my spiritual life was new, fresh, awakening within my soul.

“I miss those days. . .

  • when I was hungry for God,
  • when I hungered in my soul,
  • when God flooded my soul with joy and peace,
  • when I had a schedule that worked for me.

“I’m going to ask for a refreshing of my spirit.“

My spirit was re-energized after the memory surfaced of that specific time in my life. In those days my spirit was so alive that I could have shouted “Hallelujah!” on many occasions if I would have let myself. There’s nothing like when your spirit is full to overflowing. (I think some of us have allowed ourselves to become worn and weary in recent years.)

The book then likened a rope strung from the house to the barn that guided the farmer so he wouldn’t get lost in a blizzard while checking on the livestock to spiritual life. “We each need a rope to keep us connected to God. Notice that every rope is actually made up of a series of smaller, intertwined threads. In light of your life at this time, what “threads” do you want to make up your rope?

This question immediately took me to the children’s book The Invisible Thread. I reviewed it here. We are connected to God in a meaningful way. Our prayers, thoughts, meditations and other modalities connect us to Him. Even the sinner’s prayer, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner” and “Lord, could you help me with this?”

God continually shows me that my role is to bless others by being attentive to their needs. It’s easy to lose sight of this when I’m focused on my frustrations and duties rather than on God and His love. Like the hymn says, “He giveth more grace as the burdens grow greater.”

Every day is a gift to treasure. You can help yourself by doing little things that speak life to your soul. You have many “day brighteners” at your disposal.

Here are a few of my “go-to’s” for when my spirit is lagging and needs a boost . . .

  • Thank God for the day before I get out of bed.
  • Eat healthy (it helps).
  • Go for a walk.
  • Drink a glass of ice cold water or tea.
  • Read a spiritually uplifting book or article.
  • Call or text a friend.
  • Do a chore I’ve been putting off.
  • Count my blessings.
  • Sing praises to God.
  • Read a favorite scripture passage.

Have a GREAT day!

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I wish you well on your spiritual journey.

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Impressions are Uncanny Things

Impressions Come with the Territory

Our impressions of people, places, and things are constantly dictating to us. We make assessments based on our impressions. However, our impressions may change as our knowledge base increases. We learn more and have more experiences that alter or confirm these impressions.

First impressions happen when we categorize people or things. Not purposely, however. We meet someone. Without giving it much thought, we are making a mental note about how they look, talk, present themselves, whether they’re positive or negative, and so forth. We also notice things like their character traits, such as arrogant, humble, kind, assertive, shy, angry etc.

Impressions are neither good nor bad

Lasting impressions are the way we feel about them after the encounter is over. Maybe we took a dislike to them or felt a fondness for them. Often, we feel one way or the other. They tend to make a favorable (good) impression or unfavorable (bad) impression.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

This famous quote is attributed to both Maya Angelou and Eleanor Roosevelt. But its a good one and often rings true. Good impressions leave us feeling good toward the other person and hoping to spend more time with them.

Do they really care?

And there are second-hand impressions. These are those times when someone else has told you their impression of the person prior to you meeting them. What they said colors your view about the other person even before you meet them. If you know the other person’s biases then you can better inform your thinking. I have had the pleasant experience of having my assessment being more positive than what I was told and sadly the opposite has happened as well.

Frankly, I don’t like my tendency to judge my fellow Christians on these fly-by-night impressions. I’ve made progress in changing the way I think about people, but I still have a ways to go. It’s better if we can extend grace to others, although we don’t have to like them, but we should be kind, unless something hinders us from doing so. Sometimes, it is a great kindness to tell the truth to someone. I don’t want to encourage you being manipulated by a narcissist, which our society is cranking out a lot of these days. We must be wise, not gullible.

The Lasting Impression that Teaches

Today I saw an old church friend and we talked. I mentioned our former Pastor Larry and how his words impressed me so much that they often influence my writing (and the reason for this blog post). She then said that Pastor Larry changed a lot over the years. As he grew, we grew. As he became more loving, we became more loving. It had a trickle down effect. He not only was impressing me to become the real deal in my spiritual life, my perceptions were also changing. I was becoming more genuine in my walk as a believer. I began to see serving in a new light, but that’s another post! He left a lasting impression that has continued to guide me.

One of the joys we have at our disposal in today’s world are YouTube videos. I was listening to one that had lots of food for thought. Carey Nieuwhof (Canadian minister) was interviewing Gordon MacDonald (minister and author) about lessons he’s learned in life at 80 years old. See video here. MacDonald said that every 7 -10 years of life, he reevaluates what he’s doing. Then he asks the Lord to guide his thoughts and actions to show and direct him as to changes ahead. He was speaking about seasons in life, and we all go through them. We must adjust for these. Sometimes it requires that we change our emphasis, which may involve loss, like loss of a ministry. Even friendships go through seasons.

Your Impression

So, let’s wrap it up. Impressions do not always tell the whole truth. Impressions can be way off. They also can be right-on-the-money. We learn to be a judge of character, to discern motivations and purposes. But our impressions are only impressions, nothing more, nothing less. What matters in the long run is the impression we leave with others as far as ‘caring’ and as Christian individuals. Do they know we care or are we too busy judging? Let’s be like Jesus.

WWJD?

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I wish you well on your spiritual journey.