Living On the Mend

Okay, so I haven't been blogging as regularly as I intended. It's not that I haven't been spiritually "plugged in". On the contrary, I've settled into the enjoyable and productive habit of reading a Psalm or two in the morning and reading a chapter or two of another book (currently 2nd Samuel) in the evening before retiring. I'm not spending much time meditating or really digging into what I read, but my morning moments in particular have been a great time to be still before God and connect with Him.

Sometimes I think there is a tendency to berate ourselves when it comes to our spiritual life. We always think we could be praying MORE, reading the Bible MORE, serving MORE, worshiping MORE- and while that is certainly true, it shouldn't mean that we de-value the time that we do invest in praying, reading, serving and worshiping. God values our efforts because He values us, more than we can possibly know or understand right now. As I connect with Him, even if it's in "minor" ways, I am blessed and experience a bit more the fullness of joy that comes from being in relationship with my loving, awesome God.

I don't have to chart my spirituality on a graph or pie chart or base it on any worldly standard or some type of holiness quotient. When I have some quality time with my Lord, when I go out of my way to love or encourage somebody, when I put forth excellence in the things I do, I am living out my faith. It's not about rules, it's about engaging LIFE- taking what comes my way and the people that cross my path and leaving them better than how they came because I allow God to love them through me.

After going through my own share of difficult seasons in life, I'm thankful that God has been graciously and effectively healing me emotionally and spiritually this past year. Because of my confusion, hurt and woundedness, I was not in a good place to care for or bless others. God needed to restore, rebuild and re-establish me, and while that process still continues, I'm grateful that I have health and strength and the desire to start loving people again.

"Thank You, Father, for Your hand of mercy and how gently You have held me and cared for me my whole life and particularly this past year. For a while it seemed like joy would not return, but despite loss and my own personal brokenness and disappointment, You fill me gradually, refreshing and replenishing my soul with what it needs most. Help me to put aside fear of hearing from You, and to be courageous in loving others with the heart of Jesus Christ. In His Name and for His glory, Amen".