Category Archives: SPIRITUAL INTEREST

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Oh, Lord You’re Beautiful

God is still at work in people’s lives. God is drawing people to Himself in unforeseen and unprecedented radically new ways. He answers the cry of the soul and meets their needs. I am surprised how he does this.

Our job is to keep praying for their souls.

We are charged with sharing the gospel of Christ to an lost but unforsaken people. It is much easier to connect with them when we love them. However, I keep feeling like I’m running out of time. Change is in the air.

Last month two acquaintances in my local writing venue unexpectedly died. I wasn’t ready for this. Their passing was hard to make sense of. I didn’t want them to pass on. One was from my class in high school. She was the sweetest person. She visited with me every time I showed up. I just couldn’t believe it. She was active in the club and published the club’s monthly newsletter.

Two loving sisters in their eighties have joined the ranks of those home-going to heaven. They passed within five weeks of each other. The second one’s service was a week ago. Her husband shared how he kissed his wife two times before he left the hospital the night before she passed. He said it was the last time he saw her alive. I gave him a hug and felt his sad emptiness. She was a lovely person. Her great-grandson wept as he told of her unconditional love.

I don’t know what is ahead, but God does. I remember sharing one of my writings, The End of the Road, with one of the women who passed a month ago. My writing wasn’t picked for a shout out, but I know she read it, and I’m glad she did so. She was older than me and a former law enforcement officer. She looked at me curiously whenever our paths crossed. Sometimes we talked, but I rather doubt we were on the same page in the spiritual realm.

We just never know where some stand spiritually. This compels me to let my light shine. I should breath deeply and reach out whenever I have an opportunity. It is a beautiful thing to share the gospel of Christ.

Oh, Lord, you’re beautiful–Your face is all I see. I’m so thankful God is Who He says He is. Nothing can take Him away from us.

I’ve loved this song since the first time I heard it when Keith Green sang it at Laxson Auditorium at Chico State University.

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I wish you well on your spiritual journey.

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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.