Category: word

Refresh: To Give Someone More Of

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.
(Isaiah 40:8 NIV)


Trees are ever changing their outward appearance season after season. Tiny buds to full, verdant foliage, to multi-colored leaves that drop to the ground, to bare branches; each version of a tree gives me something to appreciate. The hope of new life in the spring, the shade of summer, the rich palette of autumn and the stark, clear view of the winter sky. When I embrace the offering of each season in perspective, I am refreshed.

Trees also remind me that summer does not last forever; seasons fade, but the Word of the Lord remains constant.

Pam Farrel encourages us to change it up with our Bible versions:

Sometimes when we read and reread passages, they become such familiar territory  that we don’t see the word afresh. But God’s Word is alive! We need to find ways to heart hear the words of Scripture as if we were reading them for the first time. 

One way to do this is to read a different translation or to read a variety of translations to gain a different perspective on the same passage.

©Pam Farrel from 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time (IVP). For more devotional books by Pam www.Love-wise.com



With biblegateway.com comparing translations has become so much easier. Here are some samples of a favorite verse about rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  
(NASB)

Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 
(GOD’S WORD Translation)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(KJV)

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
(The Message, Matthew 11:28-30)



To peruse all of the 31 Days of Quiet posts thus far, 
clicketh here!
Posted on by kelrohlf 6

31 Days of Quiet


But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 
for it is light that makes everything visible. 
This is why it is said:

“Wake up , O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.” 
(Ephesians 5:13-14 NIV)

Think of the 31 Days of Quiet series as your personal pantry to spice up your devotions. Click here to see what’s been stocked so far.

Do you ever get bored or stuck in your relationship with God? Even if you did, would you admit it? Sometimes, I get stuck in a spiritual rut. Nothing seems to quicken my spirit. I feel dried out and thirsty. To help me overcome my spiritual apathy, I am dusting off a favorite book of mine from Pam Farrel. In her little book, 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time, she offers thirty suggestions to add variety to your times with God.


Each day this month, I will share some tidbits from her book, practice it in my own quiet time and then report in on how it went. I would love for you to join me here. If you do, feel free to drop by the comment box and let me know how it’s going.

Now, let’s listen in on what Pam has to say about variety and our quiet times…

As we creatively spend time with God, God becomes more real.

. . . the task at hand [is] to make the words of the Bible so real that Jesus isn’t some flannelboard God, but the intimate Savior, the indwelling Holy Spirit and the caring always-present Father.

I want to experience God with the range of emotions that he created me with. I want to see him work in a variety of settings to conform me to his image, so I want to give him lots of opportunities and lots of tools.

This book is dedicated to fellow travelers who long to respond to God, to be attentive to his voice.

These ideas are designed to counteract dryness or boredom, to provide relational connectedness if your quiet times have become academic or intellectual exercises or just to allow you to have a little fun and enjoy the presence of the One who created you. The ideas here are meant to spark your own ideas. Picture them as spiritual caffeine for your soul. Pour a big cup and drink your fill.

©Pam Farrel from 30 Ways to Wake Up Your Quiet Time (IVP). For more devotional books by Pam http://www.Love-wise.com

Linking up with the 31 Dayers at The Nester.

i'm doing it!
Posted on by kelrohlf 5

Like a Tree

 
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.

But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted
along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
(Psalm 1:1-3 NLT)
 
 
 
The above picture was taken last week in Phoenix, AZ. It was a delight to see oranges growing in season along the streets. I wasn’t expecting to see fruit in winter. Seeing the oranges made me think of how spiritual fruit might come to maturity, even in the winter.
Posted on by kelrohlf 2

Sing Praise!

On the sixth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me
six reasons to sing praise!
 
 
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and
bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
(Isaiah 55:10-12 NIV)
 
 
1. Snow: We’re going to have a white
New Year’s Eve!
 
 
2. Bread: Making homemade bagels, a snow day tradition!
 
 
 
3. Word: Going to hide God’s word in my heart in 2013 using the 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart app and Kindle e-book!
 
Screenshot
100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart by Robert J. Morgan
Photo credit:
B&H Publishing Group
 
 
4. Joy: Christmas is forever!
 
 
 
5. Desire: Word of the year! Thanks to Melanie from Only a Breath for designing my free button! Check out her Bible reading printables and other fun stuff on her blog. I look forward to following her in 2013 for creative and spiritual encouragement!
 
 
 
 
 
desire fulfilled is a tree of life
(Proverbs 13:12b)
 
 
6. Peace: Forgiven!
 
 


Posted on by kelrohlf 2

Companionship: The Fellowship Existing Between Companions

Advent{ures}: Let’s Go to Bethlehem

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the
 love of God and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
(2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV)
 
 
 
As we prepare to enter the journey of Advent, this coming Sunday, the companionship of travelling together surfaces as one of the key aspects of this season. I could curl up on the couch with my pile of devotions and the Bible, light a candle, listen to soft music, sip a warm brew, and munch on my fresh baked bread with butter and jam and I would be content.

Yet, I would be missing the whole intent; Jesus entered the world to restore fellowship, to offer the intimacy that Father, Son and Spirit have enjoyed forever. To break bread together fulfills a need, here at this place, in my home and through other gatherings.

“Withness” is what I long for in this time of contemplation.

To share this journey will be a gift. And we will experience the fellowship of grace that transcends time and place. How will this happen? Through the miracle of words. To me words are bread. They nourish the soul. God calls Jesus, the Word. He gave us a whole book of words to feast on and He has gifted us with writers who share their words freely.
 
All this food, and yet sometimes I am hungry, because I neglect to feed on these gifts. (Or worse I eat them so fast, I do not savor their flavor and essence. It goes something like this: Eat the Word. Check. Go to next thing.)

As the Advent{ures} begin let’s pray that each one of us will slow down and savor the Savior. I am thankful for your companionship and look forward to the days ahead because I know I am not alone.

 

 

Posted on by kelrohlf 5