Category Archives: #writetogether31days

Day 11/31: Mirror

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“As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.” Proverbs 27:19 (NLT)

Day 11: Mirror #writetogether31days

It’s funny how differently I picture myself compared to the reflection looking back at me in the mirror. I can go along thinking time has treated me well and then, I catch a glimpse of someone I’m not always prepared for. All those features that I’ve wished I could change seem magnified to catch my attention. The lines and age spots across my face are illuminated like they’re the stars of the show. And those gray roots? Together they seem almost to glow like a neon sign saying “help needed.” Sometimes, I just can’t believe my eyes and it’s hard to love what I see.

I hate to admit it, but I can cast a critical eye on what’s mirrored in the world and those around me too. My focus may be on things I think should be changed, wrinkles in character, off-colored behavior, and it affects my perception. Then there are times when I notice that more is showing than should be and others when I wonder what’s being covered up. Sometimes, I believe my eyes too much and it makes it hard to love those I see.

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever-faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:12-13 (NLT)

I’m learning that it’s important to remember whether looking at myself or at others, my perspective is imperfect. Maybe yours is too. Just as if looking in a mirror, we view things now in a backward-human way, not as God beholds them. One day when “we will see everything with perfect clarity,” those things that make us feel different or that we use to divide us today will be celebrated simply as unique creations. Until then, challenging as it may be, we need to open the eyes of our hearts and let God be what others see reflected back. 

“This is real love-not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.” 1 John 4:10-11 (NLT)

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It doesn’t not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

Day 8/31: Hunger

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“The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33(NLT)

Day 8: Hunger #writetogether31days

There are many things in the Bible I just don’t understand. You too? Recently I was on a quest to make sense of what the Word says about prayer as it related to situations in my life. I read commentaries, asked wise Christians whom I trust, went through a challenging 13 week study on prayer with a friend (without her I’d never had made it), and I actually prayed…a lot…that I’d finally get it.  I didn’t.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t wasted time, but what I’ve come to realize is that I had a hunger for the wrong thing. My appetite was for food for thought rather than for my soul, I desired knowledge to clarify current life circumstances rather than craving the Truth and Bread of Life. 

“So don’t worry about these things saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)

I was worrying about getting it right and there’s a smorgasbord of information available: books with all the “answers” we are hungry for, experts willing to feed us what we think we want, videos, podcasts, other people (think of Job) who know the just perfect recipe to take off the edge. The problem is, and you probably know this, all that the world offers is only temporary and eventually leaves us just feeling empty again.

The lesson for me and maybe for you too is that while a diet of study is vital for our growth, it’s not necessary to understand everything before we believe. Having faith that God has a plan, that He is good, and that He provides all we need is the key ingredient to living a “full” life. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:19:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)

When Jesus taught the disciples (and us) to pray he said, “Pray like this:….Give us this day our daily bread.” HE is the Bread we should savor daily. Trusting in Him satisfies like nothing else can. He makes sense when we lack understanding. Praise God!  I think I’m finally beginning to get it. How about you?

Day 3/31: Nourish

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Day 3: Nourish #writetogether31days

There’s no doubt that when I’m feeling depleted, empty, in need of contentment, being near water is the nourishment my soul desires. There’s a certain peace, a calm serenity I can’t explain (water people know what I mean) that comes over me the moment I am near it. Lake, ocean, pond, river, trickling stream, it doesn’t matter. When the world leaves me lacking, it is the water that replenishes.

Here’s the thing though, I’m not able to take off to the beach or lake whenever I feel like it. And as I’m sure you know, life can leave us longing for relief a lot! Looking to the mountains, desert, and yes, water to fulfill that hunger just doesn’t work day to day. So what do we do?

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.”
Psalm 23:1-3a (NIV)

Let’s read that again. (I’m a slow learner) With God, we have everything we need. In Him we find rest and solace. The green pastures and quiet waters aren’t really what our souls desire. It is HE who restores us. 

Think back to the Israelites. They escaped with very little and found themselves in a world of need. Depleted, empty, longing for relief, God sent bread from Heaven to nourish their bodies and to remind them they weren’t on their own . It is HE who restores us. “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

God didn’t stop there.  He made sure that in our day to day, las we live in this world of trouble all our needs are met too. “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ “
John 6:35 (NIV)

Going to linger at the water’s edge is something I always look forward to doing. And I do feel refreshed when I’m there, but you and I know that feeling doesn’t last long. It is Jesus, the Bread from Heaven who truly feeds our souls. HE provides all you and I need. Whether we’re on the mountain top or in the deep valley, on still waters or in the parched desert we must remember (speaking to myself here) that it isn’t a place, or a thing, or a person that meets our needs or nourishes our souls. It is only, always Jesus.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

Day 1/31: Space

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Day 1: Space #writetogether31days

I was listening to a song the other day and the chorus began by repeating the word “nowhere” several times. It confused me a little bit because as I looked at the title, it was called “Now Here.” Of course as it went on, the chorus changed to “now here,” and it got me to thinking as I’d guess it was intended to do.

NOWHERE             NOW HERE

Opposite meanings. Same letters. The only difference? Space.

Remember the rich young ruler? He asked Jesus how to have eternal life. Jesus responded that he should follow the commandments. Replying that he’d obeyed them since he was a boy, Jesus responded:

“Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. ‘There is still one thing you haven’t done,’ he told him. ‘Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”
Mark 10:21-22 (NLT)

Even though this ruler had good intentions, he held his possessions, his worth, the “world” so tightly to himself that there was no room for Jesus

This has me thinking even more! What about my relationship with Jesus? How about yours? It’s the exact same choice for us as it was for the sad young man. Either we have NOWHERE to squeeze Him into our lives because of all that we value OR we stop clinging to the abundance of the “world” so we can make space for Jesus to be “NOW HERE” in our everyday and into eternity.

Opposite endings. Same Jesus. The only difference? Space.

And that my friends, changes everything!