Spiritually Healthy

I guess one thing about getting older and seeing more of the world (striving to be in and not of ), I have come to see my great need for Christ. This morning I listened to the whole book of Lamentations and I was struck by these verses: Lam 3:47  Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction. Lam 3:64  Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.  Lam 3:65  Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.  Lam 3:66  Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD. From reading this, I realized something: mand has not changed.  We are so stubborn and refuse to hear anything that is good and right.  Listening to this hard book of the Bible, I am reminded of my own sin and how I naturally do not seek the Lord.  James 4:8 comes to mind:  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded....

I feel like it's been a while since I wrote a post on the grandness of being single. *that last part being said with a bit of sarcasm* For a while, I felt good - and by that I mean, content, and by "content" I mean I was so distracted by my school that I had no time for thinking anything else!  When the dust settled, though "things" started coming up for air; emotions I thought were suppressed, found time to surface again reminding me where I used to be.  To be clear: I'm not down in the dumps or depressed.  I don't feel sorry for myself and I am in NO way looking for attention.  This is simply me sharing. There's a part of me that wants to laugh; laugh at how it quickly I forget God's goodness.  Like a puff of smoke, I forget His promises to me and His Word. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1) ...thing there is a season  -  H2165  an appointed occasion: - season, time. I...

I know that I should blog way more than I actually am, but it seems that even after all my school, I still have little time to just sit down and write!  So here is a little bit of something that I've been working on for a few weeks that I wanted to share with each of you. God, You are good.  Every single thing that comes to pass in my life is intended for my good and Your glory. I thank You. That sentence is easily proclaimed when times are good; family members are healthy, friends are abundant and faithful.  But, why it so very hard for me to utter when the sun sinks into the horizon, out of view and the day grows cold? My birthday week (the week of the 1st) I was tested in a way that I never thought I would be tested.  Due to "normal" routine with people who are prone to having seizures, I was scheduled by my doctor to have an MRI. I was a bit nervous.  My eyes were shut tight the whole time during the MRI.  I didn't dare open them for fear o...

I know that it's been a while since I last posted - sorry about that.  My family has been recovering from the same sickness that seems to be going around everywhere.  Hopefully, we're on the end tail of it now.  Also, my yoga training has kept me busy as well.  It's good to "see" you stop here, though!  I've missed ya'll. I like food.  Like a lot.  Let's face it, my culture is surrounded with food! Not long ago, though, I came across an article,  How Comfort Food Poses As Spiritual Food .  I read it and had some major conviction. You how when you're doing something wrong, you know it's wrong but you keep doing it?  Well, I've always felt that way about the way I deal/handle food.  I love food.  I cake care to make it, to share it.  I look forward to it daily and get excited when I can smell something wonderful brewing in the kitchen.  In the moment, food gives me what I "want".  It fills a desire -...

This is where I faulter - in prayer.  I've always struggled with deep and consistant prayer before God.  I read  this (Praying to God in secret)  the other day and was hit with the realization that I don't pray as I ought (whenever I say the word "ought" it reminds me of the hymn "We have not known Thee as we ought"...have you heard it?  It's a lovely song with great, convicting words). Matthew 6:6 says, "But thou, when thou mayest pray, go into thy chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who is seeing in secret, shall reward thee manifestly." (YLT) Notice how it says " But... when  thou pray... "  Not if you pray .  That right there was like a kick in the pants - it always is!  My pastor has done sermons on Jesus' Blueprint for prayer and without any dout, it always shakes my core.  Cause me act, O LORD! Matthew 6:7 says, "And -- praying -- ye may not use vain repetitions ...

I started on a new Bible reading plan last week and I love it! For the past 3 years I have been trying to read through the Bible within a years time - I wasn't always diligent, but God still led me through some pretty amazing stuff while reading His Word.  The first year I read through the Bible in  Chronological  order which was incredible!  I highly  encourage you (if you already haven't) to try this reading plan out.  It gave me such a different view point on the layout of God's Word. The second plan I did was a  52 Week Bible Reading Plan .  I really enjoyed this one because every day it was something different and I felt like I covered a lot of ground. The third plan (and the most recent) was one that had me read the Old and New Testament together (click here  to view the PDF).  I enjoyed reading back to back from the old and the new, but found that I was reading quickly so that I could get it done faster...I hate admitting ...

I recently read a very uplifting post by fellow blogger,  Stephanie  who blogs over at  The Enchanting Rose . Click on the names to head on over to Stephanie's little place on the web - I know that you'll be blessed just as much as I have by her encouraging words of grace! So. As I read this post God spoke to my dry heart with these verses that Stephanie shared: Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Psalm 51:7-10 What caught me was when the Psalmist said "... the bones which thou has broken may rejoice ." Psalm 139:23-24 says (Please don't think that I'm copying you, Stephanie!  I actually shared this verse on my FB page before I went and read your moving post) Search me,...

Last week I felt led to memorize Colossians 3:12-17.  That was a big thing for me to do - memorize.  I'm not very good at it, and when I must do it I tend to take a good long while before I even have half of a verse memorized! So I wanted to find a way that was going to help me stay on track.  And what do you know, I came a cross this method:  Read it 10 times.  Speak it 10 times.  Write it 2 times. I cannot tell how how much this has helped - and worked!  I encourage you to at least try it. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one bo...