Week #73 Post by Catie

Ok bloggerinians(much like the Corinthians or Thessalonians),
I hope you like the way this blog post proceeds. I have been reading C. S. Lewis's "The Weight of Glory" and ran into some amazing thoughts that I really wanted to share. Enter Holybloggers: the perfect opportunity to share. I will get right to it and ask you to read the quote found below.

"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit-immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. We must play. But out merriment must be that kind which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously- no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption... Next to the Blessed Sacrement itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses."

I know this gets a little wordy but what a statement(one that we probably already knew, but is very easy to forget). If I approached each acquaintance, each classmate, each friend and family member with this idea in my heart and mind I cannot imagine what kind of love would show through. They would not only see Jesus, but feel Him through me. I allow my bad mood, bad weather, selfishness and any extraneous circumstance that could possibly arise to take my focus off of others and literally, like a magnet with an opposite attraction, all my concentration is back on me, myself and I. I wish I had some helpful hints or tricks to help us, as Christians, follow through with Jesus's second greatest commandment.."love your neighbor as yourself" but all I have to encourage us with is Jesus's testimony and his belief that we can do it through His power and grace. I don't believe its a tendency any of us as Christ followers will be able to master my any means, but crawling, slithering, scooting, shimmying towards the character and likeness of Jesus is something that takes a lot of energy, time, devotion and focus but is something we are called to do. I hope this week (that is over half way complete) has been good for everyone, especially those who had birthdays (Jon-Boy) and successful recoveries (Canden!).

thanks for listening...

Week #70 Renewal

...the inward man is being renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV

When we genuinely lift our hearts and prayers to God, He renews our strength. Are you almost too weary to lift your head? Then bow it. Offer your concerns and your fears to your Father in heaven. He is always at your side, offering His love and His strength.

Are you troubled and anxious? Take your anxieties to God in prayer. Are you weak or worried? Delve in the quiet moments of the early morning. Are you spiritually exhausted? Call upon fellow believers to support you, and call upon Christ to renew your spirit and your life. Your Savior will never let you down. To the contrary, He will always lift you up if you ask Him to. So what, dear friend, are you waiting for?

He is the God of wholeness and restoration.

Stormie Omartian

--A Prayer--

Dear Lord, You have the power to make all things new. When I grow weary, let me turn my thoughts and my prayers to You. When I am discouraged, restore my faith in You. Renew my strength, Father, and let me draw comfort and courage from Your promises and from Your unending love. Amen.

Week #68 Health

This week's post comes from the "Walking with Christ Every Day" 365 daily devotions for teachers book. I have quite a few friends going through different things, either themselves or their family members...suffering from physical sickness or mental and spiritual downers...so this topic seemed just right.

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Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:1

Are you concerned about your spiritual, physical, or emotional health? If so, there is a timeless source of comfort and assurance that is as near as your next breath. That source of comfort, of course, is God.

God is concerned about every aspect of your life, including your health. And, when you face concerns of any sort--including health-related challenges, God is with you. So trust your medical doctor to do his or her part, and turn to your family and friends for moral, physical, and spiritual support. But don't be afraid to place your ultimate trust in your benevolent Heavenly Father. His healing touch, like His love, endures forever.

A Christian should no more defile his body than a Jew would defile the temple.

Warren Wiersbe

--A Prayer--

Lord, when I am ill or weak or troubled, You heal me. Renew me, Father, and let me trust Your will for my life. Let me welcome Your unending love and Your healing touch, now and forever. Amen.

Week #67 God's Mercy

The following is a passage taken from Max Lucado's Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot pages 69-70
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"During the writing of this chapter, another picture of God's mercy came my way. The bank sent me an overdraft notice on the checking account of one of my daughters. I encourage my college-age girls to monitor their accounts. Even so, they sometimes overspend.

What should I do? Let the bank absorb it? They won't. Send her an angry letter? Admonition might help her later, but it won't satisfy the bank. Phone and tell her to make a deposit? Might as well tell a fish to fly. I know her liquidity. Zero.

Transfer the money from my account to hers? Seemed to be the best option. After all, I had $25.37. I could replenish her account and pay the overdraft fee as well.

Besides, that's my job. Dog't get any ideas. If you're overdrawn, don't call me. My daughter can do something you can't do: she can call me Dad. And since she calls me Dad, I did what dads do. I covered my daughter's mistake.

When I told her she was overdrawn, she said she was sorry. Still, she offered no deposit. She was broke. She had one option. 'Dad, could you...' I interrupted her sentence. 'Honey, I already have.' I met her need before she knew she had one.

Long before you knew you needed grace, your Father did the same. He made the deposit, an ample deposit. 'Christ died for us while we were still sinners' (Rom. 5:8). Before you knew you needed a Savior, you had one. And when you ask him for mercy, he answers, 'I've already given it, dear child. I've alredy given it."