365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 304

Here's a little godly humor to celebrate Friday! Be filled with Joy!

 

Left & Right...

Origin of Left & Right...

 

Have you wondered why it is that Conservatives are called the "right"

and Liberals are called the "left"?

 

I happened to stumble upon this Bible verse: 

"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left."

Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV)

 

Thus sayeth the Lord. Amen.
Can't get any simpler than that.

 

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 271

I grew up as a Catholic and now attend a Presbyterian church. Without a doubt, I have been immersed in a conservative atmosphere. I have found myself at times in worship at church wanting to shout, raise my hands, dance and be abandoned in my worship of God but those thoughts of what others might think keep me from doing it or keep it toned down where I won’t be noticed. I follow along with the crowd. But truly letting go and letting yourself worship God in any way you want to express is amazing. I have tasted this here and there and got another great taste of this at the Taste of Colorado festival yesterday and being at the Colton Dixon concert. I have been looking forward to this concert for weeks. Initially, I felt the same way as in church, not able to raise my hands to God but as each song went by I became more and more ready to let go. By the time the song “You Are” was sung, I was totally open to loving God the way I wanted to with my hands raised, my voice singing along and my body moving in joyful abandon without any fear of what anyone else thought including my family. It was amazing! In those precious moments, I felt such joy and love for God just pouring out of me. Perhaps, it is time to start attending the more contemporary service at church… hmmmm?

1Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

356 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 6

I keep hearing this song in my head. I am not even sure who sings it. The words go like this: I wanna live like that and give it all I have, recklessly abandoned, never holding back. I wanna live like that. The phrase recklessly abandoned and never holding back are really the parts that stand out and are speaking to me. It makes me think of being in church and seeing just a couple of people in the whole congregation lifting their hands to God during a song. I don’t necessarily think that lifting your hands or dancing as David does in the bible is the only way of letting go and just loving God and worshipping him but I wonder if all these other people are really letting go and not holding back. I know I have had my days in worship that I am not really all there.  Presbyterians are naturally just very conservative people. But is our tendency to be conservative holding us back from truly loving and worshipping God in a no-holding-back kind of way. There may be other areas where you hold back; maybe at your workplace or with a certain group of people? This is an area I will be praying about in the days to come.

Almighty God, I know I love you in my head but help me to love you with all my heart and soul so much so that I am not holding back; that I am shinning your love out of me to all those around me. In your precious name, Amen.

2 Samuel 6:14  And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 116

Growing up in the Catholic church, I was not exposed to the differences that other denominations have. My experience yesterday at the leadership meeting at a non-denominational church was so wonderful. The thing that really stood out to me the most was when someone was leading us in prayer, the rest of them were saying little things along with the prayer. Amens, hallelujah's and all kinds of other things. It actually felt like we were all participating in this prayer because of the action of speaking out. I am again profoundly aware of the power available to us by being in the body of Christ. I had a friend who always told me her church was being outdoors in the mountains with God. I always thought that was nice but not enough. God created us to be in relationship with others and to work together in his plan for the world. Whether it's in a more conservative church atmosphere or in a more action-oriented church atmosphere, we are all one body. Have you tried a different church lately or ever? It can be an enlightening experience that will stir your soul. Give it a try.
Genesis 28:15 "Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go."