Rindy's Devotional Tidbits
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The Spiritual Cafe is pleased to share her daily facebook thoughts. It is our hope that her reflections will be a service to you on your spiritual growth journey.
Week Twenty Two Archives
Year 5; Day 149 His Warriors
This is Memorial Day weekend in the US. It is a time to honour those soldiers who have died. There was a guest speaker in church. He said something that sparked in my heart and mind. He was talking about the warriors who extended their gratitude to all who supported them in one way or another. And then he said, "Actually, we are all warriors in one way or another." Isn't that the truth?! My mind went immediately to those who have battled or are battling cancer (or any sickness or disease). We even use the word "battle" to describe dealing with the issue. I think of a warrior who pushes through and pushes on. They don't give up. They may feel like it but they don't. They do what is needed. The battlefield may be on foreign soil or right in their own house. Warriors come in all sizes and shapes. And so does the enemy. It can be a military adversary or a personal one. Depression. Anxiety. Abuse. Poverty. It can show up anywhere including at home, at work, in school, and routine living. Life can hand us the unexpected and the response may call upon us to be warriors or have a warrior-like attitude. The apostle Paul was a warrior for Christ. He constantly defended and contended for the faith. He was a soldier who represented his Leader well. So should we. This world is not a playground...it is a battlefield. The fight is not only physical but also spiritual. And we must be on guard. We are called to be prepared, to put on our armour, to be a warrior for God and His purposes. We do not stand alone. "Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." (Ephesians 6:10) The best part of that command? The Lord is responsible for the power. He will provide. Wherever our battlefield may be, we can go forth in confidence and strength. And one day we will be able to say like Paul, "I have fought the good fight..." (2 Timothy 4:7)
This is Memorial Day weekend in the US. It is a time to honour those soldiers who have died. There was a guest speaker in church. He said something that sparked in my heart and mind. He was talking about the warriors who extended their gratitude to all who supported them in one way or another. And then he said, "Actually, we are all warriors in one way or another." Isn't that the truth?! My mind went immediately to those who have battled or are battling cancer (or any sickness or disease). We even use the word "battle" to describe dealing with the issue. I think of a warrior who pushes through and pushes on. They don't give up. They may feel like it but they don't. They do what is needed. The battlefield may be on foreign soil or right in their own house. Warriors come in all sizes and shapes. And so does the enemy. It can be a military adversary or a personal one. Depression. Anxiety. Abuse. Poverty. It can show up anywhere including at home, at work, in school, and routine living. Life can hand us the unexpected and the response may call upon us to be warriors or have a warrior-like attitude. The apostle Paul was a warrior for Christ. He constantly defended and contended for the faith. He was a soldier who represented his Leader well. So should we. This world is not a playground...it is a battlefield. The fight is not only physical but also spiritual. And we must be on guard. We are called to be prepared, to put on our armour, to be a warrior for God and His purposes. We do not stand alone. "Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." (Ephesians 6:10) The best part of that command? The Lord is responsible for the power. He will provide. Wherever our battlefield may be, we can go forth in confidence and strength. And one day we will be able to say like Paul, "I have fought the good fight..." (2 Timothy 4:7)
Year 5; Day 150 All In
Brother has a bird bath on his deck. I watched a robin approach. He stood on the rim and took a little sip. Then he hopped right into the middle and let 'er fly. The wings beat so fast it was a blur and water flew everywhere. He stopped for a few seconds for an assessment and then went to it again. No halfway with this bird. No gentle splash. No dipping of the wing. No droplets tossed over the shoulder. This bird was having a bath and I do mean a bath! He was "all in"! It was a two fold operation. First the robin had to be willing to leave the rim and and venture into the middle where there was lots of wing space. He allowed himself to be surrounded by water. But that wasn't enough. He had to appropriate that water. He had to take his wings and do a rapid-fire beat to splash that water up and over and all around. And once wasn't enough. That bird was good and bathed when he flew away. That bird bath reminds me of Christ's love. Many of us just have a sipping aquaintence. Some of us are a little braver and we might actually move into the middle. But we shouldn't be content with a bit of wading or maybe some floating or just standing. Paul prays that we, "may have power,...to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ," (Ephesians 3:18) I don't think we are going to know that by lounging in an inner tube. That is going to take some serious splashing. Some energetic wing-flapping. Some deliberate dousing. Today is Tuesday. My prayer is to have the unquenchable desire to be "all in" when it comes to learning about Christ and His love...and to settle for nothing less!
Brother has a bird bath on his deck. I watched a robin approach. He stood on the rim and took a little sip. Then he hopped right into the middle and let 'er fly. The wings beat so fast it was a blur and water flew everywhere. He stopped for a few seconds for an assessment and then went to it again. No halfway with this bird. No gentle splash. No dipping of the wing. No droplets tossed over the shoulder. This bird was having a bath and I do mean a bath! He was "all in"! It was a two fold operation. First the robin had to be willing to leave the rim and and venture into the middle where there was lots of wing space. He allowed himself to be surrounded by water. But that wasn't enough. He had to appropriate that water. He had to take his wings and do a rapid-fire beat to splash that water up and over and all around. And once wasn't enough. That bird was good and bathed when he flew away. That bird bath reminds me of Christ's love. Many of us just have a sipping aquaintence. Some of us are a little braver and we might actually move into the middle. But we shouldn't be content with a bit of wading or maybe some floating or just standing. Paul prays that we, "may have power,...to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ," (Ephesians 3:18) I don't think we are going to know that by lounging in an inner tube. That is going to take some serious splashing. Some energetic wing-flapping. Some deliberate dousing. Today is Tuesday. My prayer is to have the unquenchable desire to be "all in" when it comes to learning about Christ and His love...and to settle for nothing less!
Year 5; Day 151 Not What It Is
Brother and I went to a thrift store yesterday. As I walked by a shelf of baskets, my eyes were drawn to one in particular. It looked very different from the others. It was round with a woven wooden lid. The bottom was made of wooden slats with a space between each one. My first reaction was that it might be some kind of Shaker design...maybe a pie carrier. If so, I was getting a steel at $2.99. I bought it and each time I looked at it I was more convinced that it was a Shaker box. This opinion was based on nothing only what I thought and what I thought I remembered about Shaker craftsmanship. When I got back to the house, I tried looking it up in the internet but I couldn't find anything to match. I was telling my sister-in-law about my discovery. And then I took it out and showed it to her. She knew what it was right away...and it was no expensive Shaker pie carrier! It was an Asian steam basket used for steaming vegetables. Like I am going to steam my vegetables in a bamboo basket! It sells for about $20 in some of the chain stores. I was surprised at how disappointed I felt...especially since I really didn't know what it was. But rather than wait until I could check it out, I formed an uninformed opinion that I believed was fact...only it wasn't. I set myself up to be disappointed. I wonder, how many times do we do that with God? We decide how we think He is going to answer a prayer or deal with an issue or work out a problem. And then when He doesn't do it that way, we are so disappointed. Why? Because God didn't follow our plan? Because God didn't consult with us? Because God's thinking didn't line up with our thinking? I shouldn't have formed any opinion on that wooden container until I checked it out. Neither should we decide for God how He should answer our prayers or meet our needs. We may think we know what is best but only He truly knows what is best. Today is Wednesday. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;..." (Proverbs 3:5) Good advice for all areas of life!
Brother and I went to a thrift store yesterday. As I walked by a shelf of baskets, my eyes were drawn to one in particular. It looked very different from the others. It was round with a woven wooden lid. The bottom was made of wooden slats with a space between each one. My first reaction was that it might be some kind of Shaker design...maybe a pie carrier. If so, I was getting a steel at $2.99. I bought it and each time I looked at it I was more convinced that it was a Shaker box. This opinion was based on nothing only what I thought and what I thought I remembered about Shaker craftsmanship. When I got back to the house, I tried looking it up in the internet but I couldn't find anything to match. I was telling my sister-in-law about my discovery. And then I took it out and showed it to her. She knew what it was right away...and it was no expensive Shaker pie carrier! It was an Asian steam basket used for steaming vegetables. Like I am going to steam my vegetables in a bamboo basket! It sells for about $20 in some of the chain stores. I was surprised at how disappointed I felt...especially since I really didn't know what it was. But rather than wait until I could check it out, I formed an uninformed opinion that I believed was fact...only it wasn't. I set myself up to be disappointed. I wonder, how many times do we do that with God? We decide how we think He is going to answer a prayer or deal with an issue or work out a problem. And then when He doesn't do it that way, we are so disappointed. Why? Because God didn't follow our plan? Because God didn't consult with us? Because God's thinking didn't line up with our thinking? I shouldn't have formed any opinion on that wooden container until I checked it out. Neither should we decide for God how He should answer our prayers or meet our needs. We may think we know what is best but only He truly knows what is best. Today is Wednesday. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;..." (Proverbs 3:5) Good advice for all areas of life!
Year 5; Day 152 Shakin' the Bag
Brother's man cave tends to be a center for accumulation. Things like mail, paper, boxes, books, CD's, DVD's, thrift store finds, treasures, oddities, receipts, hangers, etc. I have attempted, each time I visit, to "help" him straighten things up, sort, clean up and out. I will sit there with the garbage bag as he goes through stuff. He tends to get distracted, so I "shake the bag" to keep him on task and to remind him to do less reading and more sorting. Having someone to "shake the bag" tends to get our attention and keep us focused. Sometimes God "shakes the bag". When Paul was on His way to Damascus to persecute Christians, God "shook the bag" and got Paul's (then Saul) attention. He caused Paul to be blind and helpless. God needed Paul's full attention and He got it. He had a plan and purpose for Paul and a ministry. "I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:12) Sometimes we need to "shake the bag" ourselves. After Paul's encounter with Christ he went into the desert. I would say Paul had a lot of mental cleaning and sorting and re-examining to do. He had to re-evaluate all his thinking about the Messiah and prophecy and Scripture. He needed to sort and shift and clean house mentally and spiritually. Sometimes we need others to "shake the bag" for us. It forces us to look around and see where we're at. It forces us to take stock. Paul was often persecuted by others. He had to decide what he believed and whether he would stick with Christ or not. His life was always being challenged by those who wanted him, those who didn't, persecution from his own people and from the Romans. Someone "shaking the bag" forces us to pare down, look within, clean house figuretively, if not literally. I will be "shaking the bag" for my brother until the job is done. I am determined and I think he is too. Today is Thursday. May we be as determined to "shake the bag" spiritually and declutter our hearts and minds.
Brother's man cave tends to be a center for accumulation. Things like mail, paper, boxes, books, CD's, DVD's, thrift store finds, treasures, oddities, receipts, hangers, etc. I have attempted, each time I visit, to "help" him straighten things up, sort, clean up and out. I will sit there with the garbage bag as he goes through stuff. He tends to get distracted, so I "shake the bag" to keep him on task and to remind him to do less reading and more sorting. Having someone to "shake the bag" tends to get our attention and keep us focused. Sometimes God "shakes the bag". When Paul was on His way to Damascus to persecute Christians, God "shook the bag" and got Paul's (then Saul) attention. He caused Paul to be blind and helpless. God needed Paul's full attention and He got it. He had a plan and purpose for Paul and a ministry. "I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:12) Sometimes we need to "shake the bag" ourselves. After Paul's encounter with Christ he went into the desert. I would say Paul had a lot of mental cleaning and sorting and re-examining to do. He had to re-evaluate all his thinking about the Messiah and prophecy and Scripture. He needed to sort and shift and clean house mentally and spiritually. Sometimes we need others to "shake the bag" for us. It forces us to look around and see where we're at. It forces us to take stock. Paul was often persecuted by others. He had to decide what he believed and whether he would stick with Christ or not. His life was always being challenged by those who wanted him, those who didn't, persecution from his own people and from the Romans. Someone "shaking the bag" forces us to pare down, look within, clean house figuretively, if not literally. I will be "shaking the bag" for my brother until the job is done. I am determined and I think he is too. Today is Thursday. May we be as determined to "shake the bag" spiritually and declutter our hearts and minds.
Year 5; Day 153 Where I Live
Brother uses his GPS all the time...even when he knows the route. It dings when the speed limit changes, gives him arrival times, and tells what direction he is going. Yesterday the disembodied voice said, "Turn right. Your mom's is on the left." My mom's?? How did the GPS voice know it was my mom's? Usually they say, "Your destination is on the left." Now they know who lives where? Not really. Brother had labelled the route to Mom's as "Mom's" on the GPS so when he punched it in, GPS lady called it that too. She/it really didn't "know" it was my mom's. But there is One who really does "know" where we live. And He not only knows where we live, but who we are that lives there...and without any programming, updating, or reconfiguring. "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." (Acts 17:26) How is that for detail? Does it not comfort you that God knows exactly where you live and exactly how long you will be there? Several times the GPS has said, "You have arrived at your destination," and it wasn't so. Once we were surrounded by wheat fields without a house or a light in sight and she kept saying we had arrived. Imagine if God sent an answer to prayer to the wrong house. Or if He lost where we lived or couldn't find us. Or what about people with the same name? Which address goes with which? Not to worry. We are never lost to God. Never missing. Never off His radar. Today is Friday. He always knows where we are...even when we are on holidays!
Brother uses his GPS all the time...even when he knows the route. It dings when the speed limit changes, gives him arrival times, and tells what direction he is going. Yesterday the disembodied voice said, "Turn right. Your mom's is on the left." My mom's?? How did the GPS voice know it was my mom's? Usually they say, "Your destination is on the left." Now they know who lives where? Not really. Brother had labelled the route to Mom's as "Mom's" on the GPS so when he punched it in, GPS lady called it that too. She/it really didn't "know" it was my mom's. But there is One who really does "know" where we live. And He not only knows where we live, but who we are that lives there...and without any programming, updating, or reconfiguring. "From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." (Acts 17:26) How is that for detail? Does it not comfort you that God knows exactly where you live and exactly how long you will be there? Several times the GPS has said, "You have arrived at your destination," and it wasn't so. Once we were surrounded by wheat fields without a house or a light in sight and she kept saying we had arrived. Imagine if God sent an answer to prayer to the wrong house. Or if He lost where we lived or couldn't find us. Or what about people with the same name? Which address goes with which? Not to worry. We are never lost to God. Never missing. Never off His radar. Today is Friday. He always knows where we are...even when we are on holidays!
Year 5; Day 154 From the Inside Out
Brother and I did our last big day of antique malling yesterday. After a hard two building search for treasures we took a much needed lunch break and ate at a local restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious. Not only was the food wonderful but so was the waitress. She had the most genuine smile. She radiated a warmth from within. Everything about her said, "I am here to make this a pleasant dining experience. What can I do for you?" Her body language, her speech, her attitude were all so refreshing. Both brother and I commented to each other about it. The food was great and the waitress made the whole experience even greater. We walked out with smiles on our faces. We then went to separate buildings. When I walked in, a woman greeted me with the most disinterested sound to her words. Her mouth said, "Welcome," but her tone and body language said, "I'm bored. When is quitting time?" When I checked out (I bought one hanky), she said, "Have a nice day," with no smile, no warmth, no sincerity. I walked out thinking, "She could care less about a customer's experience." What a difference between these two people who were both in customer service. The waitress had an inner warmth that revealed itself as she dealt with others. The other proprietor had an inner disinterest that projected itself despite her attempt at pleasantry. What's on the inside has a way of coming out. Scripture says, "...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) What kind of light do we shine? Low wattage? Dim? Grungy? Bright? Clear? How are our deeds, our actions, our words, lit? Are they lit with the warmth of genuineness, compassion, and caring? Or are they lit with the dimness of disinterest, boredom, and unconcern? The source of our light should be the love of God and His Son radiating from us in all we do. Today is Saturday. What is it we are showing forth?
Brother and I did our last big day of antique malling yesterday. After a hard two building search for treasures we took a much needed lunch break and ate at a local restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious. Not only was the food wonderful but so was the waitress. She had the most genuine smile. She radiated a warmth from within. Everything about her said, "I am here to make this a pleasant dining experience. What can I do for you?" Her body language, her speech, her attitude were all so refreshing. Both brother and I commented to each other about it. The food was great and the waitress made the whole experience even greater. We walked out with smiles on our faces. We then went to separate buildings. When I walked in, a woman greeted me with the most disinterested sound to her words. Her mouth said, "Welcome," but her tone and body language said, "I'm bored. When is quitting time?" When I checked out (I bought one hanky), she said, "Have a nice day," with no smile, no warmth, no sincerity. I walked out thinking, "She could care less about a customer's experience." What a difference between these two people who were both in customer service. The waitress had an inner warmth that revealed itself as she dealt with others. The other proprietor had an inner disinterest that projected itself despite her attempt at pleasantry. What's on the inside has a way of coming out. Scripture says, "...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) What kind of light do we shine? Low wattage? Dim? Grungy? Bright? Clear? How are our deeds, our actions, our words, lit? Are they lit with the warmth of genuineness, compassion, and caring? Or are they lit with the dimness of disinterest, boredom, and unconcern? The source of our light should be the love of God and His Son radiating from us in all we do. Today is Saturday. What is it we are showing forth?
Year 5; Day 155 I Just Knew
Yesterday brother and I were driving over to see our parents. As we were chatting in the car, he was telling me about a person he knew. He said, "As soon as I met her, I knew she was a Christian. I could just tell." We got slightly waylaid on our journey as there was a good sized neighbourhood yard sale happening that was too good to pass up. As we stopped at various homes you could tell that some were probably faith-walkers because of the books they had for sale. Others might have been but you couldn't tell at first glance. What would make you think someone was a follower of Christ without point-blank asking? Is it a smile? Lots of people have great smiles. Maybe it is the way they make you feel. I would think a Christ-follower would/should make you feel good/special/important. I would think they would have a genuine interest in people because Jesus did. He loved people...all walks, all kinds. I would think a believer would have a spirit of service and helpfulness. Jesus was constantly reaching out to heal, to comfort, to help. I believe if Jesus was really on the inside, He would have to influence your attitude, your speech, your body language, your behavior. How could the qualities of Christ...love, forgiveness, compassion, service...how could they not be noticed? I do not know if someone who just met me would think I was a Christian without an in-depth conversation. I hope so. "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart..." (Luke 6:45) What are we storing up? Are we storing up Jesus? Do we read His words? Do we allow the Holy Spirit to correct us and instruct us? Are we teachable? Who exactly are we like? Today is Sunday. Who would others say we are like?
Yesterday brother and I were driving over to see our parents. As we were chatting in the car, he was telling me about a person he knew. He said, "As soon as I met her, I knew she was a Christian. I could just tell." We got slightly waylaid on our journey as there was a good sized neighbourhood yard sale happening that was too good to pass up. As we stopped at various homes you could tell that some were probably faith-walkers because of the books they had for sale. Others might have been but you couldn't tell at first glance. What would make you think someone was a follower of Christ without point-blank asking? Is it a smile? Lots of people have great smiles. Maybe it is the way they make you feel. I would think a Christ-follower would/should make you feel good/special/important. I would think they would have a genuine interest in people because Jesus did. He loved people...all walks, all kinds. I would think a believer would have a spirit of service and helpfulness. Jesus was constantly reaching out to heal, to comfort, to help. I believe if Jesus was really on the inside, He would have to influence your attitude, your speech, your body language, your behavior. How could the qualities of Christ...love, forgiveness, compassion, service...how could they not be noticed? I do not know if someone who just met me would think I was a Christian without an in-depth conversation. I hope so. "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart..." (Luke 6:45) What are we storing up? Are we storing up Jesus? Do we read His words? Do we allow the Holy Spirit to correct us and instruct us? Are we teachable? Who exactly are we like? Today is Sunday. Who would others say we are like?