Cleansing

Courtesy of Ann Voskamp

This is something that occurred to me earlier this evening. I'm one of those people who dislikes taking baths. I think it's gross. I am a pretty high strung person and have been told on countless occasions that maybe a bath would help me calm down.

Having been feeling a bit under the weather both physically and mentally, I decided to use this Lush bath bomb I bought a few weeks ago, take a book, and take a bath. Specifically, this one, called Sakura. I filled the tub with almost hot water, dunked the fizz tablet in, and got in with a book.

I put the book away after a few minutes, and started scrubbing with a pumice stone. As I did this, prayers just started coming out in full force. I put the stone down, relaxed into the water, and kept praying, and speaking to God. It was powerful. It was beautiful. It was full of release. I felt like a great weight had been lifted in that feeling of tranquility and vulnerability. It felt like scrubbing away the skin was also scrubbing away my sins as I cried and prayed asked for forgiveness, strength, guidance, love, hope.

A simple act renewed me. It made me feel a sense of peace and release that's hard to explain unless you've experienced it yourself. It feel like being cleaned, purified. I hadn't realized until tonight how much weight I was holding on myself.

borntomakeanimpact.tumblr.com

sugardoodle.net

Sometimes physical, emotional, spiritual cleansing occurring at the same time can be an amazing God given gift that we need. Maybe this works of me and not others, but I feel blessed.

The words repent/repentance, are mentioned over 100 times in the Bible. There are varying definitions of what repentance means, which is why I love the Amplified version that shows what different translations give as the meaning of a certain verse/word.
From the Amplified version: "So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that our sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, or reviving with fresh air) may com from the presence of the Lord;" Acts 3:19
If we [freely] admint that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. 1 John 1:9

Coffee For your Heart-Holley Gerth

I've enjoyed Holley Gerth's books and blog posts immensely. As someone who majored in Psychology, I love her approach to things both from the research/psychology perspective, and Christian oriented drive. These things rarely go together and I adore her for it!

And so begins my first Coffee for your Heart Wednesday post! I'm going to post a few things that help me on my daily journey with my Faith.

First, I am pretty big into fitness and health as well. It seems like most people in the community are either very religious, or very anti-religious. However, one of my favorites, Rachel Flint of FIt like Flint regularly makes shirts with Bible verses on them and I love it! Below is her newest one:

Awesome right? I own the one below:

MudLove bracelets. 20% of the proceeds go to provide clean drinking water to villages in Africa. I own one that says "Pray" because it's always good to have a daily reminder. 

I also keep the Holley Gerth-You're Already Amazing perpetual calendar on my desk at work, right next to my monitor. 

Because, for me, in the rush of every day, of being a parent, partner, friend, daughter, employee, is that every day is a run around game and at various points of the day, we all need a reminder to pray or at least acknowledge the Lord. 

Eucharisteo

Anyone who knows me, is fully aware that I am a total book worm. I would rather sit at home with a glass of tea (or wine...depends on the mood) with a book, some Vitamin String Quartet, and read than go out. I carry a kindle with me everywhere, loaded with varying genres of books and every once in a while, will buy a physical book if it grabs me.

One such book was One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. (There are several others as well, and I will be blogging about each one over the next few weeks). While I haven't finished it, with less than 80 pages left to go, there was something in it that struck me that I wrote it down on a post it and put it above my desk. I also wrote it down in my prayer journal. 

The word "eucharisteo." This hit me, hard, and I can't explain why. Maybe because it hit the nail on the head with one single word encompassing so much. From what I've researched, and from Ann's book, it means to give thanks, thanksgiving, thanks with grace/joy. What is not to love about this? 

From her book "Charis. Grace. 
                            Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving.
                            Chara. Joy.
... 
A threefold cord that might hold a life? Offer a way up into the fullest life? 
Grace, thanksgiving, joy. Eucharisteo."

From Studylight.org

The verb form for "giving thanks" is εὐχαριστὲω (Strong's #2168), which means not only to express thanks and gratitude, but also to return thanks. 

It's a beautiful word and one I plan on incorporating into a piece of jewelry as a simple, yet profound reminder to myself. 



Quote taken from Ann Voskamp book "One Thousand Gifts." 

Sunsets

Sunsets are one of my absolute favorite sights in nature. Sunrises sre equally amazing, but I'm always driving and can't grab pictures of it. Sunsets remind me to reflect, take joy, and praise Him for the wonders that surround me every day. 

And of course, Psalms has some perfect verses to go with it. 

Psalm 113:2 NIV "from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of The Lord is to be praised. 

Psalm 65:8 NIV "the whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy." 

Faith Quote

I love quotes. I love Bible verses that seemingly always fit into what I am going through at that time. 

This verse in particular makes me think of Matthew 7:1-2

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Too often I hear people who are talking about others behind their backs, or just plain rude to others, even though they know nothing about them. For instance, I heard someone saying how much they disliked a co-worker because the co-worker just wasn't very approachable. Afterwards, I told them "well, you know their father just died a couple of weeks ago, I doubt they've gotten over that quite yet." They instantly looked guilty. 

I'm not saying we should always worry that we are going to say something wrong about someone, I'm saying that we just should be cautious with our words and actions. 

Verses from Matthew to remember

Book reviews

I read. I read a lot. I read more than one book at a time. Devotionals, Christian Living, and several other types of faith and Christian oriented books.

I am going to start reviewing some books that have helped in my journey with strengthening my faith and I'm really excited!