Day of Seeing

Do you allow others to experience God through you? Do you take to Facebook and Twitter (or any other social media outlet) to complain, vent, or disparage? Everyone experiences frustration, anger, and irritation (I just did last evening as a matter of fact), but consider how you express these things publicly.

Sometimes, an interaction with you is the only opportunity for someone to experience God's love. An interaction may mean a direct conversation with someone or indirect through witness of your behavior (and public posts sharing your feelings about something). The next time you think about taking to a public forum to express your angst, consider taking it to God instead. The next time a situation has you seething and grumpy, consider showing an act of kindness toward someone else. Showing God's love outwardly even when someone else may not be showing the same love toward you provides a little glimpse of what Jesus experienced for us. If He could do it for us, I think we should do it for Him.

Day 92: Heavenly Father, thank you for providing me strength to bite my tongue. Thank you for your forgiveness when I respond to situations poorly and without your love at the forefront.  

Lord, it seems we have made it accepting in our culture to speak with forked tongues. You taught us not to rush to anger, "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools." (Ecclesiastes 7:9) I fear we rush to swiftly to the instant communication mediums to share with anyone who will listen and tell us what we want to hear rather than rushing to you to tell us what we need to hear. I fear we've become a society unable to face the possibility it could be us who need to change and not others. You may tell us to change ourselves, while others are rarely so bold, even if it's what we need. I miss the days pre-Internet. However, in the very next verse, you teach us not to reflect on the old days, "Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions."(Ecclesiastes 7:10) Why is it unwise to desire a time of more face-to-face communication and real relationships? Are we to learn to deal with what is in front of us and not what we left behind? I ask for your wisdom in this area to move my attention away from missing the past and focusing on the future.

Father God, I ask for your direct involvement with one person who may need your hit between the eyes revelation to show your love versus expressing his or her angst. If it is your will, could you reveal to him or her a kindness from one of your children which could fundamentally transform his or her view of the day. I pray this act of love, whatever it is, could be the pivotal point of change for the person with whom you've intervened.

I love you.

Source: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/198158452328646735/

Day of Recharge

Everyone needs a day or two to recharge! I think most people view the weekends as providing time for such renewal, but it can happen anytime, in my humble opinion.

Oftentimes, I think people translate rest, relaxation, respite, recharge (or whatever r-word comes to mind) to mean physical and mental (although, I bet we forget this part too). But, what about spiritual? This doesn't necessarily mean just going to church, listening to a sermon, and heading out into the world. 

The world according to Jasmine views a spiritual recharge surpassing the obvious. Absolutely, prayer, worship, and fellowship with believers is essential in our faith journeys; but, for me a spiritual recharge includes my interactions with others. When anyone interacts with me, I hope what they receive is love. Genuine love...that's my spiritual recharge!

Day 55: Heavenly Father, thank you for creating me through love. Thank you for designing humans to require a recharge. In my eyes, Lord, you designed us to need physical, mental, and spiritual renewal in order to maintain perfect balance and achieve at-one-ment with you!

God, I think I'm in tune with my body to know when I'm not in perfect balance and a recharge is necessary. Is that arrogant? Why do I feel like it's easy for me to identify and not so easy for others? Is it possible to help teach others how to find the internal balance between physical, mental, and spiritual elements of their lives? Or is it just naturally easier for others? My goodness, I don't know yet what my spiritual gift is, but if it has to do with helping people with attitude, spiritual strength, or balance, I can't wait! (Not to say I can wait if it's something else, I just feel comfortable in these areas.)

Father God, I want to help people experience the tranquility I have in this life. You know I get frustrated and discouraged in moments; but overall, I try to live by the "don't sweat the small stuff" motto and recognize the necessity of a recharge exists. The greatest recharge for me seems to be sharing conversations with others, even perfect strangers. It's amazing the adjustment in my attitude when a person in the service industry, for example, is taken aback when I ask how they're doing. Seeing someone's smile after from a simple exchange like that warms my spirit!

Lord, thank you for your clarity and wisdom to help me live a balanced physical, mental, and spiritual life. I trust in your physical reminders when something's out of sync and I need a recharge.

I love you.

Source: http://huijun1910.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/from-dreadful-loneliness-to-blissful-solitude/