The Rabbit

In my neighborhood, I usually see a family of wild rabbits with bushy white tails. They're harmless and pretty, but they hop quickly. As I studied the pace of their movements, I remembered that in the sport of Track and Field, if you want the field to go faster than intended, there's usually a rabbit in the race. The rabbit's role is to set the pace for the field, but the rabbit does not complete the race. He merely ensures that the others running are doing what they're supposed to do so that when he drops out, the remaining runners have the momentum to keep going.


According to Runners World, in distances as short as the 800 meters and as long as the marathon, the

Meditation and Marination

When I was a child, my Barbadian mother had a routine that you could set your clock by. Saturdays were dedicated to cleaning and preparation for Sunday, so on Saturdays, my mom spent a significant amount of time preparing and seasoning the meat for Sunday's dinner.

First, she took great care in cleaning the meat - beef chicken or lamb. She lifted skin, removed fat, removed blood and veins, and went through every nook and cranny of that meat to ensure it was clean and edible. Sometimes she would then soak the meat in lemon juice and salt. Next, she would rinse it off and season using herbs and spices: a little salt since my dad had to watch his blood pressure, Mrs. Dash, onions, garlic, thyme, pimento and any additional seasoning that would enhance the flavor profile she was going for. Finally, she would place the meat in a covered bowl and let it sit in the fridge for hours. This was a crucial step in ensuring that the meat was flavorful.

Later that evening she would cook this meat so that all that happened on Sunday after church was reheating.

Women of the Word - Cintia Listenbee

As an encourager, I was looking for fellow encouragers online. I kept looking until I found this gem: Cintia Listenbee at simplycintia.com. Cintia has an economy of words that ministers to your heart. From Brazil, her culture is evident in her writing. I love learning about her customs while she shares her faith. Cintia is also multilingual, so infrequently some posts are written in Portuguese (which I allow Google to translate). Regardless of language or culture, her strong faith emanates from a blog post. Meet this month's Woman of the Word - Cintia Listenbee.

Cintia Listenbee

Write it Down

God has left a deposit in my spirit at the beginning of this new year and it is that I should write my thoughts down. I do some of that via this blog, but honestly, I had gotten lazy with capturing God's thoughts as He speaks to me.

These thoughts can show up anywhere and anytime but they usually show up when I'm still, when I'm listening or when I'm at church. This can be three separate instances or they can occur simultaneously. I cultivated the habit

What Do You Need Him to Be?

Have you ever read a book that changed you? If you've read such a book you will notice that upon each successive reading, you were transformed again because you noticed something new. Some books can do this but as an avid reader, I know that they're not as timeless or alive as the Bible. No book has impacted or changed me like the Bible.

Without knowing it, whenever you read the Bible it is ministering to your deepest needs because that's what it was meant to do. (2 Timothy 3:16) There is nothing that you are going through that you won't find a relatable story, phrase or thought that can provide insight, foresight, and hindsight for you and your situation. As you read and your deepest needs are met in a supernatural way, you may wonder why you've never done this before. Discover the God of the Bible, who is what you need to him to be, at just the right time.

Your Faith Can Eliminate Worry

Don't worry! We hear it all the time yet it's the first thing we do when faced with any daunting
circumstance. In spite of ourselves, we worry more than we should because it's almost second nature.

We worry about our children in myriad ways - are they OK? will they be damaged? are we raising them right?
We worry about our jobs and our careers - Will I ever get promoted? Did I follow the procedure correctly?
We worry about money - How am I going to pay for this? Where am I going to find the money to pay for this part, this piece, this project?
We worry about other people - Do they like me? Will I like them? Did I say something to upset them?
We worry about our relationships - I wonder what he's thinking? Why didn't she return my call?

Do you notice how our worries seem to take the form of questions? Who are we asking these questions of and who will provide the answers? If we were asking ourselves, we might have the answers.

We worry incessantly and it drives us crazy but we are told not to worry. Not only are we told not to worry we are told we don't need to worry because worrying doesn't solve a problem but creates more anxiety (Matthew 6:25-34). We are told to discard the worry and instead practice and exercise faith (Matthew 11:28-30). Not worrying is the first step of faith because as soon as you realize the futility of worrying you also simultaneously begin to realize the beauty of trusting. It's at this point you make a choice to either continue to worry or to exercise faith

I am not immune to worrying, as a matter of fact, the longer I live the more things they are to potentially consume my thoughts. Among other things, we are in the middle of planning a wedding. But I have learned and am learning that the more faith I exhibit the greater peace which eliminates the need to worry.  When I'm tempted to worry I pray (just like I learned in Sunday School). I pick up my Bible and read any part of it for I remember that faith comes through the Word of God (Romans 10:17). I remember to praise Him with a greater frequency and exhibit a grateful heart (Psalms 119).  I tell myself to stop worrying. All of this happens between my ears sometimes in a split second and sometimes over a longer period of time but I make the choice not to worry.

God knew that worrying is part of human nature, but he also knew that He was the antidote to worry. Wouldn't it be great if exercising our faith was second nature instead of worrying? We can then know a calm regardless of our circumstances - "The peace of God, which transcends all understanding” which He has promised will “guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalms 56:3

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength."- Corrie Ten Boom

--Nylse

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O Foolish Galatians

I recently completed a study of the book of Galatians with a group of women that I have great fellowship with. Galatians is a short book but it packs a much-needed punch. Every time I study the Word whether individually or with a group I am amazed at the new insights gained. But that's the premise of God's Word - it's never stale and will do what it is supposed to do.

The Galatians were confused by who or what to believe  - the Judaizers or Christ. The letter to the Galatians eliminated this confusion. Paul wrote this letter to lovingly correct while, at some points, he spoke very sternly to get the truth across.

After choosing to follow Christ, the Galatians were contemplating going back to a way that could not keep or sustain them as it relied solely on human effort. The book of Galatians is a declaration of independence from legalism. Legalism is following all the rules and hoping that in doing so it will get you to heaven. It's following the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law. The Law as laid out in the Old Testament is very detailed and has a rule for everything; basically, there is no way one could obey all the laws. But many tried. Failure to follow one part of the Law is a failure in following the entire Law. If your salvation depends on what you do, then we are hopeless. The Law is incomplete in that it cannot save anyone; it could only reveal your unrighteousness.

The Judaizers accepted the Gospel but claimed that no Gentile could be a Christian without first becoming a Jew by submitting to Jewish rites in particular circumcision. The doctrine of the Judaizers was a mixture of grace (through Christ) and works (through the keeping of the Law). This false doctrine was dealt with in Acts 15 and strongly condemned in the book of Galatians [gotquestions.org]. If you think about this statement, you'd realize how ridiculous it was but it held great sway at that time. False doctrine is often enticing because it has a grain of truth intertwined in it.

Because the Galatians were headed down the wrong path, Paul spoke harshly to them to get their attention and to help them realize the ramifications of their disbelief and confusion. This was literally a matter of life or death; freedom or bondage. It was the equivalent of a loving parent speaking sternly to a child; the parent speaks from a vantage point the child does not possess.

O Foolish Galatians - that's a phrase that will get anyone's attention. Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Galatians 3:1 [NLT] Strong words that make the case for faith to accept God's grace. Strong words that should clear up any confusion on the Galatians part.
Strong words that were spoken in love.

Chapter 3 is pivotal because after this seemingly harsh statement Paul used logic and wisdom to show the Galatians (and us) why following Christ was infinitely better than trying to keep all aspects of the Law - Christ did what the Law could not do in that He died for us to make us righteous. So instead of trusting in themselves they would have to trust in God and believe that He truly died for them; that they were indeed recipients of God's grace and that it was available to them through faith. This brought freedom and unity in Christ. Paul then encouraged them to exercise their faith in daily practical living. Christianity never remains in the spirit realm - it can be applied to every aspect of our life and this is how Paul closes this book. We are free from legalism, we are free to love, we are to free to walk in the Spirit. Freedom in Christ will yield fruit and maturity; it won't always be easy but it will be rewarding.

The next time you become misguided in your beliefs like the Galatians did - go back to the Word; be open to being rebuked by the Spirit or a close spiritual mentor in your life and then make the change so that you can impact others for the kingdom and live as Christ would have you live.

What have you studied recently? What insights have you gained? How will you apply it to your life? Are you now interested in the book of Galatians?

Flies and Lies

I hate flies. Somehow they get in - whether through a crevice or a door left open, then they show up with that annoying buzzing. It seems they are attracted to bright lights and food. There was a time that I had a tiny hole in the screen of my window. In what seemed to be instant, one fly multiplied into ten, and I was on a rampage.

I hate flies. To get rid of flies, I have used towels, shoes, and a fly swatter. When I use the wrong tool, I may kill the fly, but more often than not I damage something in the surrounding area. When I use a shoe, I miss. But when I use a fly swatter, I'm so precise it's incredible. There's something about the length of the handle and the lightness of the swatter that makes it so effective. I feel powerful when I'm eradicating these pests with the right tool.

Lies are like flies. Lies get in whether through a subtle thought or a bold-faced lie. Lies buzz around and take on a life of their own. Lies seem to be attracted to our propensity to deny truth and believe a lie. Lies can proliferate until we can no longer discern the truth. Unlike flies, the buzz of a lie may not always be annoying until you recognize it for what it is.
Buzzz.......you're ugly.

Buzzz......you're worthless.

Buzzz.......I'm smart therefore I'm better than all of you.

Buzzz.....It's OK to talk about her.

Buzzz.....Since we're in a relationship, we can do whatever we want and no one needs to know.

Buzzz......I'll buy this dress and wear it with the tags, then return it.

Buzzz......type Amen and send this email to 10 people so that you can be blessed.

The only way to recognize lies is to know the truth, if not any lie can seem plausible. The best source of truth starts with the Bible as it is the ultimate lie swatter! (John 17:17) As a source of truth, it eradicates lies. It's powerful (Psalm 119:89), timeless (Psalm 119: 137,138), consistent, provides discernment (1Thessalonians 5:21), trustworthy (Numbers 23:19) and provides a standard (2 Timothy 3:16).  Using the sword of the word you will feel powerful as you wield it. But use it wisely - be prayerful and wise as you eradicate lies. Study the Word, so that you can recognize the incessant buzzing of a lie and then eliminate it.

The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. Psalm 119:130 [NLT]

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 [NLT]

Lies, like flies, have no power over you. When you recognize a lie for what it is, kill it.

A Hot Cup of Tea

I like tea; dare I say, tea is my favorite beverage. I like all varieties of tea - from exotic to cheap. What I really love about imbibing a cup of tea is the length of time it takes to drink a cup; the heat as it flows from my mouth; the distinctive flavor; and knowing that it's good for me. Tea becomes more enjoyable when I share with a group of friends or when its complimented with the perfect snack.

Source

The enjoyment of my tea diminishes when I attempt to use the same teabag or filter repeatedly. The first cup is great, the second one is mediocre and by the third time it's just hot water - no good.

While running the other day, I realized that my spiritual life can become like that third cup of tea - trying to reap the benefits of a fresh cup of tea by using a stale teabag. We do that - we figure if we go to church on Sunday and heard a good word - that should last us for a while. Or we figure that we're so steeped in our relationship that missing one or two days of quiet time won't matter. But it matters, as you know something is missing. Without the teabag there is no tea.

That teabag is like the Word; we are the hot water. We need to steep ourselves in the Word frequently, often, daily, hourly.  We have to sit and meditate before we can taste the benefits. Sometimes we need to be re-heated. So don't cheat yourself out of the enjoyment of a good cup of tea. In the same way, with spiritual matters take time every day, dare I say often, to spend time in the Word and learn and grow from it - don't simply rely on knowledge as it will grow stale after a while.

Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! Proverbs 8:34 [NLT]

Give us today the food we need,...Matthew 6:11 [NLT]

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. Acts 17:11 [NLT]

As someone once said, "Life is like a good cup of tea; it all depends on how you make it."

Are you cheating yourself out of a good cup of tea?

Lessons Learned from Daily Bible Reading

As I mentioned in the previous post, 2014 was the first time that I successfully read through the Bible in a year. Now that I have accomplished this, I'm trying to figure out what to do next. It's similar to the feeling you get after you've completed a marathon. I ran a half marathon approximately 6 years ago. While it reinforced that I had no desire to run a full marathon, after my recovery I realized that I really like running. At that point in time, I wasn't sure how to incorporate running in to my life since I was no longer training for an event. By doing research and talking to like minded people, over time I figured out what I wanted to do for myself. That half marathon may have been the spark that started my recreational running journey.

I think my Bible reading may be going through a similar transition; I'm not sure what to do next but I do know that it's important to me and it will be part of my life on a regular basis. As I ponder what next, I reflect back on some of the things I learned while reading:

God is a God of order - the book of Genesis establishes the beginning and Revelation outlines the end. Between these 2 books there are lists of generations, delineation of laws, counts of people and tribes, instructions for building the tabernacle and concrete laws for living. There is nothing haphazard to what is written in the Bible

God cares about you - the people in the Bible were not perfect. But the stories that are written there could easily take place in the 21st century. There's scandal, bad choices, rape, adultery, gossip. But they all point to the fact that nothing you are going through is too difficult for God and that he cares about your redemption and salvation.

Sex is an expression of love - Sex has been with us from the beginning of time. Of the 66 books there is 1 book totally dedicated to the interaction between a husband and her wife. To me this forms a ratio for how often we think and talk about sex. It's important but its not the be all and end all, so for example, we don't need to use sex to sell gadgets.

None of your choices surprise God - throughout the Bible different people and circumstances are used to demonstrate the principle of reaping sowing. We can learn from those that made foolish as well as wise choices. We see that when you make a foolish choice, it's not the end of the road,
there's always a second chance. We see that wise choices reap beautiful results. We learn that a person's character is essential in determining the kind of choices they make.

God made us all - and He can us us regardless of our perceived flaws. So many imperfect people were used by God; some even vocally doubted that they could do what they were called to do. In spite of their flaws they relied on God and not their own strength to do the work assigned to them.

There's so much more; and as I recall the lessons I'll be sure to blog about them.

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........And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4 [NLT]

What lessons are you learning from reading the Bible?

Bible Reading in 2014

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For the first time ever, 2014 was the year I actually read through the entire Bible. I had started down this road before many times in the past; if I was reading in chronological order by the time I got to Numbers I was done. I tried some reading plans but couldn't stick to them.

So what finally made the difference in 2014? Technology, determination and discipline. First I got an iPhone and one of the first apps I downloaded was the youVersion Bible app. Then I got an android for my birthday last year. As I played around with both of these tools, in particular the android, I realized that I enjoyed reading on it. Though this is not a plug for the youversion app, I found myself exploring its different features particularly the plans. By January I determined that I would use one of their plans and read through the entire Bible in a year.

Was it easier with the the technology? Yes and no. It was easier because I could take the android anywhere with me; and the print on the screen was much easier to see than using my actual Bible. I also received daily reminders. However, I still had to make the time daily to get this in. There were days that I missed, but I was able to go back or just double up on particular days.

What did I learn? Reading the bible in a year was like running a marathon. Sometimes it felt great and I felt inspired; sometimes I could really relate to the characters; many times I got a new perspective. Sometimes I was rebuked, and convicted in my spirit to make a change. But there were times when it felt tedious, and I simply asked God to make it clear to me in time.  Revelation 22 was the last chapter I read in the New Testament and Proverbs 31 was the last reading for the Old Testament. My year ended with these thoughts - I'm striving to be a virtuous woman knowing that when I get to heaven it will all be worth it.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16 [NLT]

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4 [NLT]

​

Ingesting God's word is one of those things that is good for you. I hope you take the time this year to read through the Bible. Are you reading?

Circles

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One morning as is our habit, the Little One and I were reading the Bible. We were reading this passage and as I read verse 22 she blurted out:

"Circles.  Circles!!

The Earth is round. Circles mean the earth is round.

Why did Columbus think the earth was flat? Why did anyone think the earth was flat?

All they had to do was read the Bible; it's right there."

It was right there all the time. I guess we could save ourselves a lot of trouble and gain so much if we would take the time to read the Bible and process what we read.

God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. Isaiah 40:22 NLT

Do you read the Bible?

Ever Feel Like Taking a Break?

Recently I have started making a green smoothie every morning.  My smoothie typically includes the following: spinach, tomato, apple, banana and water; I also add a spoonful of spirulina which gives it a nice green hue.  I throw them all in to the blender and blend until smooth.

A couple of mornings for whatever reason, I did not feel like making the effort to make the smoothie.  During the day I noticed that I was hungrier sooner and feeling tired.  I didn't realize the benefits of my smoothie until I didn't have it.  Over time I have realized additional benefits to ingesting the smoothie - my skin is smooth, my nails and hair are stronger, I know longer need to take progesterone, and I'm regular (TMI!).

During Bible Study, someone shared that sometimes when He's reading the Bible He has no idea what he's reading and he wants to stop (this has happened to me also).  I threw in my smoothie analogy and encouraged him to keep going. Why? Because there's so much to be gained:

• It's never wrong
• It's enjoyable
• It's calming
• It provides a blue print for life
• There are 66 books to choose from of various genres
• Everything that  you're going through can be found in the Bible
• It enhances your reading skills
• It enhances your math skills (did you know the longest Psalm - Psalm 119 each subset is 9 verses)
• It provides a different perspective on life
• You gain forever eyes
• It forces you to think reflectively and to be a critical thinker
• It increases your emotional quotient
• It builds discipline
• It increases your memory
• It teaches you to listen
• It makes you wise
• It gives us hope
• It teaches you to pray
• It's an opportunity to hear from God

Sometimes we feel we need a break, from things that are beneficial to us.  Don't stop - you're reaping benefits some of which you can't put your finger on.  Be disciplined.


For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16,17

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31, 32
Do you have any additional benefits to Bible reading? Do you read the Bible on a regular basis? What good habit have you given up, that you missed? 

Reading & Running!

Today is National Running Day; I discovered this thanks to another blogger - Keyalus.

You may have noticed that I used the running analogy throughout the Proverbs Challenge - so how fitting that you actually get to run today.

If you've never run before, start slowly. For additional ways to celebrate today - check out the National Running Day site.

Running like Bible reading is challenging; don't over think it - Go Run!

Practical Proverbs - A Chapter a Day Challenge

Most things done well require discipline; the Christian life is not exempt from this.
One aspect that requires discipline is Bible reading. The Bible is God's word and in order to get to know Him and how to live, we've got to read it. After reading, we must apply it to our lives to reap the benefit. After all, we know too many people who can quote the Bible, but their lives do not reflect its application.

I wanted to challenge myself, as well as you dear reader to read the Bible daily. One of the best places to start is the book of Proverbs. With thirty one (31) chapters - one chapter for each day of the month - this book is the perfect addition to any daily reading. Proverbs talks about every imaginable basic aspect of life - love, parenting, money, sex, God, relationships. It instructs on business, public policy, government, and family. It’s the best counsel in the whole world and it's free! (Luis Palau, Changed by Faith, 2011)

Here's how the challenge will work:
• I'll post a link to the chapter for that day - (I will not post the chapter)
• After reading each chapter, I will highlight passages and provide potential application or examples from my life or both.
• We will do this for the month of May.

I am entering this challenge prayerfully, with the expectation that new things will be learned that will make us better people.

Won't you join me? (Please leave a comment, if you're committing to the challenge).