Learning to Live Sacrificially

These past few days, I have had the privilege of being with my sister who is living with a fairly severe, debilitating illness called dementia. The time spent with my sister has been one of learning and trying to listen to the lessons that are here on the journey of this time in my life – a place and time I believe God called me to come and be available and be a part of. God speaks through the circumstances of the lives I/we live and I have been trying to live out these past few days by seeking God for “what are you trying to teach me Father” instead of “why is this happening Father” as I live and care and be with and for my sister.

Leftovers and Worn Items

Yesterday I read in my church bulletin a request to the congregation for some much needed “gently used” replacement couches for our youth room. Most of the couches in that room currently came to the youth already more than gently, in some cases anyway, used. I have been one that has sat on those very old and broken down couches and they definitely need to be replaced. So I was glad someone had started the request.

Discussing Consumerism

I know I have written about the issue of consumerism before. So I am sorry for this redundancy. But, to be honest, it just keeps coming back to me through the word of God – no matter how much I try to ignore this deep churning, call it the Holy Spirit conviction, inside that keeps bringing me back to “what do you really need Kristine as a disciple of Jesus Christ?”

In To Numbers

Leviticus was the Old Testament book I had been reading through at the beginning of 2013. After studying and reading Jewish thoughts and two commentaries by learned Rabbi’s, I knew this was a book that would require me to read, reread, and study at a snails pace. But, as I looked ahead and beyond Leviticus to the next Old Testament book to read, I thought “how will I ever make it through this book called Numbers!” After all, it was not a book I have found “interesting” in my years as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Solitude is Fasting

In Luke 5:16 it says that Jesus often withdrew to deserted (Note: Greek word eremos – implies deser, desolate, solitary, wilderness) places and prayed. We also see Jesus desiring some quiet, alone time in Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:31, and Luke 4:42. If Jesus practiced time away for something like a ‘fast from people’, would not this also be important for us today in our world of what feels like constant surround sound?

Battle Update

I wrote back in February about a commitment to attend a 6-8 week group for people wanting to make healthier choices for their physical well being. The group has been a wonderful experience to be with people seeking the same change in their lives with God as the one who is our central focus. This group has been honest and real in their struggle with health….weight….eating. That is the refreshing part of the group – and when one can be honest and real, then God can heal and change.

James 5:16 says this: Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is, powerful and effective.

Many Faces of Serving

The Bible is full of verses commanding us as Christians to serve – serving the body of Christ and serving others. We, as disciples of Jesus Christ, are called to serve – I am convinced of this. Some verses about serving to consider:

Mark 10:42-45: Jesus called them over and said to them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.”

Undeserved Gift…or Gifts

1 Peter 4:8-10
Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

These verses in 1 Peter calls us to use our “gifts” to serve others. And it says each one has received a gift that is to be used for others. No one is left without having a gift…a giftedness.

Starbucks Morning – Conversation

This morning was my Saturday at Starbucks at Seven. Today my coffee of choice was a venti, sugar-free vanilla bold…a little caffeine to get the morning going. I sat in my usual place at Starbucks with the new leather chair – I do miss the older high back cloth chair that had been there this past year. My reading this morning was Leviticus 23 (Yes Rick, still in Leviticus), and then a view of that chapter by a commentary and some meditation on what was this Leviticus 23 all about! My attention then went to reading the introduction section in Margaret Feinberg’s newest book Wonder Struck.

Taking The Battle On

I have been posting recently in my blog here about health because it has been my lifetime battle to be healthy. I start…stop…start…stop…start…etc. God built me to be a good starter which is a blessing and also can be something that has a negative side. I am not a good “maintenance” person – I get bored with just maintaining. I need to start things. So maintaining good health takes more energy, commitment, and focus for me because it is about maintaining what I start. It requires me to fight the spiritual battle of staying in the race for better health. I can’t do it on my own.