Goal for today: “May our smile be as contagious as a yawn.”
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•Smile at strangers…let the facial expression be contagious.
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Tag: Encouragement
Mirror Mirror
Trudging through thorny weeds (to avoid paths), dehydrated, and skin cooked well over-done by the sun’s rays, the woman looked as if she was on her last breath. When bystanders beheld this sad sight, they tried to help her, but the woman always kept her head down and denied any helping hand…until today. A boy came up to her and asked, “Why do you walk off the path?”
The woman stopped and turned to the boy (perfect that she didn’t have to lift her head to talk to an adult…this was the first child that had ever confronted her).
Woman: “Because if I set a foot on the path, it will appear.”
The boy looked at her with big eyes.
Boy: “What will appear?”
Woman: “The mirror.”
Boy: “What is so scary about a mirror?”
Woman: “This mirror reveals more than just a mere image…it shows you all the wrongs you’ve done in the past; unveiling your true self. I have been running from it for quite some time now. I don’t want to be reminded of who I am.”
Boy: “I know what to do! Stay right here.”
The woman usually grew antsy by staying too long in one place, but from pure exhaustion or from meeting a kind child, she decided to stay.
The child came running back with glass cleaner and a rag.
Boy: “I know what to do, I will stand here and wipe away all the wrongs.”
Woman: “Why would you do that for me?”
Boy: “Because no matter what you’ve done, I like you and you are my new friend.”
Woman with tear-filled eyes: “No one has every said that to me before…”
No one ever had, for when people saw the damaged shell she is, they wanted to help her out of pity…and when they learned of her past, they spat at her. No one had ever truly wanted to help her due to liking her.
The boy took the woman’s hand and she allowed him to lead her back on the path. She caught a glimmer behind her, knowing the mirror was there. Looking at the boy, he responded with squeezing her hand and nodding in encouragement.
The woman straightened herself up (with help from the boy) and turned to face the mirror. Sobs from deep within her soul began to shake her body; causing her to use the mirror as balance (thinking the boy had left). She sunk down, letting her hand slide along the full length mirror, when suddenly, a hand touched her shoulder. Looking up and instead of seeing the boy, she saw a man and then she noticed the mirror. The man was taking his pure white sleeve…and wiping her mirror clean! Her past reflections disappeared!
After the man was done, he bent down and got to her level. All the kindness (that was not of this world) was set upon his brow and all the love was in his eyes and all the warmth was in his smile. He helped her stand up and turn facing the mirror.
The man then wrote “I loved you at your darkest, I love you now, and I love the future you. You are loved for you.”
The woman laughed and cried at the same time. She was so joyful! She was free! She was loved. Every time she looked back at the mirror, she saw love.
When she twirled, something caught her eye. The boy was walking toward her.
Boy: “No more fear of the mirror?”
Woman: “Nope. I am free. The man wiped my mirror clean.”
Boy: “Isn’t he nice?! He’s my best friend.”
Douse of Encouragement
A “douse” of encouragement for today…
“Have you lost your joy? Paul sensed that the Galations had lost the joy of their salvation because of legalism. Legalism can take away joy because (1) it makes people feel guilty rather than loved; (2) it produces self-hatred rather than humility; (3) it stresses performance over relationship; (4) it points out how far short we fall rather than how far we’ve come because of what Christ did for us. If you feel guilty and inadequate, check your focus. Are you living by faith in Christ or by trying to live up to the demands and expectations of others?” -Endnote for Galatians 4 (Life Application Study Bible, NASB)
Legalism: strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription, especially to the letter rather than the spirit. (Source)
Faith: strong or unshakeable belief in something, esp. without proof or evidence (Source)
The Girl in the Meadow
The soft tendrils of the meadow flowers glided through her fingers as she made her way through thought-provoking valleys.
Which way to turn?
Which way to go?
She had lost her way in such beauty. The breeze caressed her hair with care…a voice on the wind’s tongue called her. She could not stop; could not wait for those calling behind her…for they did not see what she saw…for where her vision grasped the beauty…others only saw weeds…where she saw hope…others envisioned a desert of darkness.
Not to fear (for the unseeing ones) for she once did not see what she grasps in her vision now…not too long ago she saw darkness and despair. It wasn’t until she called out for help…that a wind with a whisper came a response and a call to take action. As a pounding tremor in her chest grew, she made her way through thick forests of doubt. Trees grasped at her; trying to plant their seeds of fear and death in her mind.
The path grew more precarious and the dread covered her like an old, ratty cloak.
“Help, I cannot do this alone!”
“I am here dear one, listen to My voice. Shed your doubtful cloak and do not water the seeds anymore. Let us destroy the lies with truth. Get up and follow me.”
As she followed the wind, the voice became clearer and began to permeate a shield throughout her. She continues walking and following the voice to this day.
God gave me an image of the girl in the meadow. This girl resembled me but was much stronger on leaning on the “whispering wind” that guided her, than I was with following God.
After I saw this picture, God told me these simple but powerful words: “Keep Running.” I did not name this girl because “she” can be any of us.
“Let us run the race set before us…”
Words I Speak
I Sea
We’ve all had those days, weeks, months, or even years, where everything in life seems to be going against you…
The thing is, we are pushing against the tide to reach the unknown seas. We push and push to break through to the life we know is out there but the tide seems to be coming in with such a great force. Some would say to wait until the tide goes back out… I begin to question myself…Have I imagined that there is a better life out in the great blue? Why would I want to leave the sandy beach anyways? It’s comfy, not challenging, and I know that I can survive on it. Hmmm…”surviving” not “thriving.” I hunger for more than the sugary coconuts on the beach…I need the meat of the sea. I need more stability of the sand that blows away with the lightest breath of man…I need the rock that lies amongst the sea. The rock that stands the beating of the waves and becomes a sculpture of beauty from the waves persistence to bring it down.
So I will dive in the tide and make my way out to the unknown sea where there is a rock that will support me through any struggle…be it wind, rain, or hurricane, the rock will stand. Hmmm…but I must be careful, there is slippery, deceptive seaweed upon this solid rock. I must be aware of where I put my hand for a steady hold, for I may slip, fall, and become entangled with this seaweed of deception. This seaweed pulls you into the depths where there is sand yet again…but way below the raging waters. This is a more dangerous and tempting place to be…the Sands of Sleep and the Drunken Waters…where the senses are dulled and lulled to sleep. A few people will awaken from this stupor long enough to look for a hold on something to pull them up. This will be trying for them, but luckily there is a Lifeguard who walks on water.
Have we not all fallen down this slippery slope? Have we not all needed the Lifeguard to reach down His hand and pull us out of the Sands of Sleep and Drunken waters? I have tried climbing the Rock without the Lifeguard’s help and have fallen into the depths below…it wasn’t until I awoke from the stupor long enough for my hand to find the Lifeguard’s. He is now helping me climb the Rock. Do I sometimes lose my grip? Yes, it is because I wasn’t following my Lifeguard’s instruction. He is always guiding me, even if it is in His silence that I am to stay where I am and the storm rages about me. Just think, what if I wasn’t strong enough for the next grip up higher on the Rock when the storms came? I would be washed out. So, even though the storm thrashes at me, I know that God is just strengthening me for the next grip that is higher up.
I’m glad that we have a “Lifeguard” to help us climb and find sure footing on the “Rock” in the storms in life…
I Sea By: Nicole Kent
I must be careful of where I stand For the ground is nothing but fly-away sand I crave the Rock with all its might Brave the world and storms at night Where the winds whistle and the waves rumble Turning this glorious Rock into a masterpiece against the sea’s pummel As I slip on the deceptive seaweed and fall to the depths below Being lulled by the Drunken Waters I see a hand show I am gripped into reality as my Lifeguard pulls me above And am surrounded by His grace and overwhelming love He had warned me of the seaweed upon this mighty Rock But instead I tried to climb my own way and fell under tempting lock Now I know with Whom I stand… On this mighty Rock which couldn’t be reached without the Lifeguard’s hand
Verse of the Day
Today’s Inspirational Quote
Becomings of a Butterfly
Some days are difficult especially when I look through the transparent film that separates me from the rest of the world, and see people who have already broken forth and are flying about.
I must remember when God sees that I am ready, I will break forth, spread my wings, and fly. He is just taking His time in the moulding and shaping of me in the cocoon.
“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.” Psalm 51:6
This Morning’s Food for Thought
The conversation of TV that I previously had with a friend has been on my mind lately…and I’ve been talking to God about this subject.
It is a hard thing to give up watching television when you’re chronically ill for it is a distraction from some hardships that you are going through.
There are very few decent shows out there, and I believe that God will convict us about some of them.
If we are struggling in our walks and TV proves to be a part of the stumbling block, then we should definitely take into consideration what we are allowing our minds to see.
There are times when God brings these following questions and thoughts into my mind:
1. Is this tv show/movie going to be a stumbling block in the area of your life where you struggle? Drinking, drugs, alcohol, anger, sex, etc. are stumbling blocks for certain people.
2. I cannot un-see bad images. Is this movie portraying images that are sinful? Can the enemy use these images against me?
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”– Matthew 6:22-23 (NIV)
3. Am I being religious? My greatest fear is being religious. To cut off the world just because they are not following God’s way. Did not Jesus sit down with the sinners? Were we not all sinners at one time?
Instead of putting my focus on changing the world, I can focus on renewing myself in Christ every single day.
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” -Romans 10:4 ESV
4. Is this a conviction of God or guilt from the enemy? Satan comes disguised in the things that we may think are good. He poisons our minds to believe that we are sinning by just watching a “bad” show. Yes, an inappropriate show or movie can be the seed that is planted in our minds which, in turn, leads us into sinning.
I love the quote from A Tale of Two Cities. “The temptation and the act are different, I thank God for that.” -A Tale of Two Cities
In conclusion, if you feel convicted about the shows/movies that you watch, bring your concerns to God. Let Him put away any deception of the enemy, and let Him show you any stumbling blocks that might clutter the path that leads to God.
onthecliffoflife.com 