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 Seven Archives
Year 5; Day 184 The Most Important First
Jesus was at a house and so many people gathered to hear Him speak that there was no way to get close to Him. Four men arrived carrying a paralytic on a mat. Seeing the crowd, they went up on the roof (which was flat), opened up a hole, and lowered the man. The obvious reason was for healing. Had they been asked, I imagine their prayer request would have been, "Please heal our friend." Everyone could see the need...on the outside. I am thinking most were surprised when Jesus looked at the paralytic and said, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:5) Jesus saw the greater need even when others didn't...even when it wasn't requested. He saw it and answered that need first. Before anything else, the man needed spiritual healing and their very act of coming to Jesus indicated some level of faith. I am wondering if Jesus has done that with me/us. I know I am forgiven but perhaps there are other things that I need first before the answer to my prayer. Maybe I need some circumstances or situations to teach me more humility or patience. Perhaps my request requires some pre-requisite lessons in kindness or compassion or self-control. Maybe deepening my trust and faith is more needful first than answering my request. And maybe we actually have the faith for more than we ask and just don't know it. The paralytic went for one thing and came away with two. He not only received physical healing but spiritual healing as well. Today is Monday. Perhaps when we don't see an immediate answer to our spoken request it is because He is taking care of something more important first.
Jesus was at a house and so many people gathered to hear Him speak that there was no way to get close to Him. Four men arrived carrying a paralytic on a mat. Seeing the crowd, they went up on the roof (which was flat), opened up a hole, and lowered the man. The obvious reason was for healing. Had they been asked, I imagine their prayer request would have been, "Please heal our friend." Everyone could see the need...on the outside. I am thinking most were surprised when Jesus looked at the paralytic and said, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:5) Jesus saw the greater need even when others didn't...even when it wasn't requested. He saw it and answered that need first. Before anything else, the man needed spiritual healing and their very act of coming to Jesus indicated some level of faith. I am wondering if Jesus has done that with me/us. I know I am forgiven but perhaps there are other things that I need first before the answer to my prayer. Maybe I need some circumstances or situations to teach me more humility or patience. Perhaps my request requires some pre-requisite lessons in kindness or compassion or self-control. Maybe deepening my trust and faith is more needful first than answering my request. And maybe we actually have the faith for more than we ask and just don't know it. The paralytic went for one thing and came away with two. He not only received physical healing but spiritual healing as well. Today is Monday. Perhaps when we don't see an immediate answer to our spoken request it is because He is taking care of something more important first.
Year 5; Day 185 Hearing With Understanding
I am learning to speak dog. Well, not speak it but understand it. We have been dog-sitting for our daughter's Shih Tzu mix. The more time I spend with him, the better I understand his language. And he definitely communicates...not in words, maybe, but certainly in dog-enese. When he "needs" to go out, he goes down by the door and gives a little whine. When he "wants" to go out, he stands in front of me, stares with big chocolate brown eyes, and gives a series of teeny, tiny little whines. No barking. Just pitiful little sounds. If I try to get away with just letting him out when he wants to go for a walk or play outside, he will immediately scratch at the door as soon as I close it. When I open it, he just stares at me without moving as if to say, "You are suppose to be on this side of the door...with me!" The longer I spend time with him, the more in tune I become to his "language"...verbal and non-verbal. That principle carries over to babies, young children, and people in general. It also applies to God. The more time we spend with Him, the easier it becomes to recognize His voice, to understand how He speaks through impressions, thoughts, nudges. Getting to know His character through His Word, talking to God in prayer, listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, seeing a tangible reminder of His care for us through nature...it all helps us to understand His voice better. "...He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught." (Isaiah 50:4) Today is Tuesday. What will God say today?
I am learning to speak dog. Well, not speak it but understand it. We have been dog-sitting for our daughter's Shih Tzu mix. The more time I spend with him, the better I understand his language. And he definitely communicates...not in words, maybe, but certainly in dog-enese. When he "needs" to go out, he goes down by the door and gives a little whine. When he "wants" to go out, he stands in front of me, stares with big chocolate brown eyes, and gives a series of teeny, tiny little whines. No barking. Just pitiful little sounds. If I try to get away with just letting him out when he wants to go for a walk or play outside, he will immediately scratch at the door as soon as I close it. When I open it, he just stares at me without moving as if to say, "You are suppose to be on this side of the door...with me!" The longer I spend time with him, the more in tune I become to his "language"...verbal and non-verbal. That principle carries over to babies, young children, and people in general. It also applies to God. The more time we spend with Him, the easier it becomes to recognize His voice, to understand how He speaks through impressions, thoughts, nudges. Getting to know His character through His Word, talking to God in prayer, listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, seeing a tangible reminder of His care for us through nature...it all helps us to understand His voice better. "...He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught." (Isaiah 50:4) Today is Tuesday. What will God say today?
Year 5; Day 186 Going to God ... First
It is so easy to roll Christianese off the tongue. To say what you should do, what you will do, what you want to do.......but actually doing it?? Well, now. That takes some practise...some discipline. Things have been going mostly well (according to me). I have been handling what comes my way with God's help. And then I had a couple of disappointments, had to do some waiting, and allowed my imagination to imagine. I didn't know what was happening so I guessed at a few scenarios...none based on fact. I used some "probably", threw in a couple of "perhaps", and ended with a "how could they"? I could feel myself getting worked up and frustrated...mostly on pure speculation. I went and laid on the bed and mumbled to God. I was trying to bring "everything" to Him but not before I had myself in a tizzy. I even managed to squeeze out a couple of "woe is me" tears. By the time the evening was over, I had received an email, gotten a phone call, and realized my imaginings were based on just that...imagination...and nearly no facts. As I read my Bible before going to bed, I felt the words of Jesus speak to my heart. "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40) Why did I let myself get worked up? I should have taken my concerns to God first...not last. Today is Wednesday. I am pretty sure there will be other opportunities to keep practising. I am grateful for His faithfulness.
It is so easy to roll Christianese off the tongue. To say what you should do, what you will do, what you want to do.......but actually doing it?? Well, now. That takes some practise...some discipline. Things have been going mostly well (according to me). I have been handling what comes my way with God's help. And then I had a couple of disappointments, had to do some waiting, and allowed my imagination to imagine. I didn't know what was happening so I guessed at a few scenarios...none based on fact. I used some "probably", threw in a couple of "perhaps", and ended with a "how could they"? I could feel myself getting worked up and frustrated...mostly on pure speculation. I went and laid on the bed and mumbled to God. I was trying to bring "everything" to Him but not before I had myself in a tizzy. I even managed to squeeze out a couple of "woe is me" tears. By the time the evening was over, I had received an email, gotten a phone call, and realized my imaginings were based on just that...imagination...and nearly no facts. As I read my Bible before going to bed, I felt the words of Jesus speak to my heart. "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40) Why did I let myself get worked up? I should have taken my concerns to God first...not last. Today is Wednesday. I am pretty sure there will be other opportunities to keep practising. I am grateful for His faithfulness.
Year 5; Day 187 Share Jesus
In chapter 5 of the book of Mark, Jesus went to the region of the Gerasenes. There were cavern tombs there where a demon-possessed man lived. This man had super strength and lived in torture from being possessed. He was known in the area and feared. Jesus drove out the demons by sending them into a herd of pigs who ended up rushing over a steep bank and drowning. An unusual event, to say the least. When news of the story spread, the locals came to see what had happened. "When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid." (verse 15) The people were so frightened that they pleaded with Jesus to leave. But not the man who had been healed. He begged to go with Jesus. I can understand that. His life had been completely changed...from bondage to freedom, from torture to peace, from mad to sane. But Jesus gave the man a different mandate. "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you. " (verse 19) Stay local. We aren't all called to go overseas or to be travelling evangelists. But we are all called to share Jesus. With family. With friends. On the job. With neighbours. We aren't called to condemn or criticize. We are called to tell them how much Jesus has done for us. Over coffee, at a picnic, on a walk. Today is Thursday. Who can you share Jesus with today?
In chapter 5 of the book of Mark, Jesus went to the region of the Gerasenes. There were cavern tombs there where a demon-possessed man lived. This man had super strength and lived in torture from being possessed. He was known in the area and feared. Jesus drove out the demons by sending them into a herd of pigs who ended up rushing over a steep bank and drowning. An unusual event, to say the least. When news of the story spread, the locals came to see what had happened. "When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid." (verse 15) The people were so frightened that they pleaded with Jesus to leave. But not the man who had been healed. He begged to go with Jesus. I can understand that. His life had been completely changed...from bondage to freedom, from torture to peace, from mad to sane. But Jesus gave the man a different mandate. "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you. " (verse 19) Stay local. We aren't all called to go overseas or to be travelling evangelists. But we are all called to share Jesus. With family. With friends. On the job. With neighbours. We aren't called to condemn or criticize. We are called to tell them how much Jesus has done for us. Over coffee, at a picnic, on a walk. Today is Thursday. Who can you share Jesus with today?
Year 5; Day 188 Maturing...Or Not
I couple of weeks ago what a racket I heard. It sounded like ravens. When I went outside to see, there were three of them sitting on an outcropping of land down by the water. Just sitting. With their mouths open. Making an almost constant noise. And even when they weren't squawking, their mouths were still open. They looked to be full grown, but their behavior said otherwise. They were just sitting there on the ground...waiting. They took no initiative to search for food. They never flew away, even when I walked by. And they never stopped bawling. They were waiting for a parent to bring them food, waiting for them to feed them, and making sure the parents could hear them (times three!). Sometimes I feel like those birds. I look mature, full-grown, but the sounds I make say otherwise...grumbling, complaining, squawking. I have a litany of things to tell God and sometimes I feel like I could go on and on and on. Those youngsters weren't doing anything for themselves. Sometimes I want God to do everything...make me skinny, solve my problems, fix everyone else's attitude. The youngsters' mouths were always open. Even when no sound came out. Always wanting. Always needing. And then they moved on. After being around for several days, they left. The parents came back to feed them and lead them to another place. And soon, I would expect, the young ones will mature and take on more adult behaviour and responsibilities. And so should we...mature in God's ways and truths and attitudes and knowledge. "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2:2,3) Today is Friday. I wonder how I look and sound to God?
I couple of weeks ago what a racket I heard. It sounded like ravens. When I went outside to see, there were three of them sitting on an outcropping of land down by the water. Just sitting. With their mouths open. Making an almost constant noise. And even when they weren't squawking, their mouths were still open. They looked to be full grown, but their behavior said otherwise. They were just sitting there on the ground...waiting. They took no initiative to search for food. They never flew away, even when I walked by. And they never stopped bawling. They were waiting for a parent to bring them food, waiting for them to feed them, and making sure the parents could hear them (times three!). Sometimes I feel like those birds. I look mature, full-grown, but the sounds I make say otherwise...grumbling, complaining, squawking. I have a litany of things to tell God and sometimes I feel like I could go on and on and on. Those youngsters weren't doing anything for themselves. Sometimes I want God to do everything...make me skinny, solve my problems, fix everyone else's attitude. The youngsters' mouths were always open. Even when no sound came out. Always wanting. Always needing. And then they moved on. After being around for several days, they left. The parents came back to feed them and lead them to another place. And soon, I would expect, the young ones will mature and take on more adult behaviour and responsibilities. And so should we...mature in God's ways and truths and attitudes and knowledge. "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." (1 Peter 2:2,3) Today is Friday. I wonder how I look and sound to God?
Year 5; Day 189 Keep On
I went outside to pull some weeds yesterday. We have a good-sized rock in our yard that we couldn't move so we put flowers around it. As I weeded, a snail turned up. I put him on the lower edge of the rock. As I worked, he slowly came out of the shell and inched his way up the rock. I kept on working and so did he. He would stretch out and then pull up his back half. Stretch and contract, stretch and contract. All the while carrying his shell. As I weeded around the rock, he worked his way slowly and consistently up, across, and down the other side of the rock. At any one moment in time, he didn't look to be accomplishing much. But over time, those tiny stretches and contractions added up. When I finished weeding, I checked his progress. He had made it to some shade cast by a plant on the edge of the rock. He was curled up in his shell having a rest. His work for that day completed. A day isn't much in a lifetime but they add up...just like the little stretches and contractions of that snail. Sometimes we get weary wondering if we are getting anywhere, if we are going to make it, if our efforts mean anything. They do. God sees us. He is there. And at the end of the day we can curl up in the protection of His shadow. "I have...covered you with the shadow of my hand..." (Isaiah 51:16) Today is Saturday. Be encouraged. Keep on going. God sees your efforts.
I went outside to pull some weeds yesterday. We have a good-sized rock in our yard that we couldn't move so we put flowers around it. As I weeded, a snail turned up. I put him on the lower edge of the rock. As I worked, he slowly came out of the shell and inched his way up the rock. I kept on working and so did he. He would stretch out and then pull up his back half. Stretch and contract, stretch and contract. All the while carrying his shell. As I weeded around the rock, he worked his way slowly and consistently up, across, and down the other side of the rock. At any one moment in time, he didn't look to be accomplishing much. But over time, those tiny stretches and contractions added up. When I finished weeding, I checked his progress. He had made it to some shade cast by a plant on the edge of the rock. He was curled up in his shell having a rest. His work for that day completed. A day isn't much in a lifetime but they add up...just like the little stretches and contractions of that snail. Sometimes we get weary wondering if we are getting anywhere, if we are going to make it, if our efforts mean anything. They do. God sees us. He is there. And at the end of the day we can curl up in the protection of His shadow. "I have...covered you with the shadow of my hand..." (Isaiah 51:16) Today is Saturday. Be encouraged. Keep on going. God sees your efforts.
Year 5; Day 190. A Well-Known Name
Jesus was doing what He had been sent to do...preach and teach and heal. He also had twelve chosen disciples that He was personally training to carry on His work after He left. As part of their "internship", Jesus sent the Twelve out two by two to preach repentance, drive out demons, and heal the sick. They did so and then returned to Jesus to report all they had done and taught. "King Herod heard about this, for Jesus name had become well known." (Mark 6:14) I am sure that Jesus Himself helped establish His name with His preaching, teaching, and healing. His miracles would have been talked about by those who experienced them and those who were witnesses. But Jesus' disciples also helped to establish and spread the reputation of Christ's name when they went out and carried on His work. What they did, they did in His name as His representatives. It is no different for us today. If we identify ourselves with Christ, as His followers, we represent His name. And we have a responsibility, a mandate, and a privilege to make His name known. We do that by what we say, what we do, and how we live. At home. On the job. In our community. Every single day. Sometimes we actually talk about Christ and other times it is just to act like Christ. We should always be learning to think like Christ. The way we live should not be a negative to the name of Jesus. Today is Sunday. A good day to take stock...how well are we making the name of Jesus known?
Jesus was doing what He had been sent to do...preach and teach and heal. He also had twelve chosen disciples that He was personally training to carry on His work after He left. As part of their "internship", Jesus sent the Twelve out two by two to preach repentance, drive out demons, and heal the sick. They did so and then returned to Jesus to report all they had done and taught. "King Herod heard about this, for Jesus name had become well known." (Mark 6:14) I am sure that Jesus Himself helped establish His name with His preaching, teaching, and healing. His miracles would have been talked about by those who experienced them and those who were witnesses. But Jesus' disciples also helped to establish and spread the reputation of Christ's name when they went out and carried on His work. What they did, they did in His name as His representatives. It is no different for us today. If we identify ourselves with Christ, as His followers, we represent His name. And we have a responsibility, a mandate, and a privilege to make His name known. We do that by what we say, what we do, and how we live. At home. On the job. In our community. Every single day. Sometimes we actually talk about Christ and other times it is just to act like Christ. We should always be learning to think like Christ. The way we live should not be a negative to the name of Jesus. Today is Sunday. A good day to take stock...how well are we making the name of Jesus known?