When Was the Last Time You Fed Your Soul

When was the last time you fed your soul?

When was the last time you scheduled a soul care day in your planner? Something that brings you joy and brings relaxation to your body and your mind?

I am, by nature, a stop-and-smell-the-roses kind of girl, so this may come a little easier for me to do. I know that if I don’t, I will start feeling frustrated and a bit depressed. However, in my life I am surrounded by highly productive, over achievers and it’s difficult to justify setting aside time for soul care. Even though that is the case, I have come to terms with it. I have discovered what I need and I have also discovered I need to educate people that scheduling fun times is a necessity for everyone, whether they are willing to admit it or not. My quiet perspective brings balance to the loud voices of society that scream productivity is the only valued thing.

One weekend my husband and I had the chance to do a few things that really refreshed us. We went to a wildlife preserve to see the migrating snow geese and then the next day we went to Longwood Gardens. We spent quality time with friends and got to enjoy nature and beauty. It was not only relaxing for our bodies but it was invigorating for our souls. Everyone is different though, and you will need to find what speaks to you. Find something that makes you take a deep breath and say ”ahhh…”.

We have all heard that we are beings made up of body, soul and spirit, and they are all very interconnected. We may sometimes feel dry spiritually and struggle to understand why. I feel what we need to do to get our spirits engaged, and feeling alive is to feed our souls. How do we do that you may ask? I have just the ticket. We need to schedule a soul care day once a month or take a few minutes each day to do something that rejuvenates us.

Some suggestions for daily rejuvenation:

• Enjoy your morning coffee on the front porch.
• Go for a short motorcycle ride on a beautiful day.
• Read a book by a warm crackling fire.
• Have a deep conversation with a close friend over coffee.
• Go fishing.
• Absorb the majestic sunset at the end of the day.
• Take a contemplative walk by a stream.
• Wiggle your toes in the sand or just stand barefoot in the grass.
• Go for a ride in your car with the windows down and crank up your favorite oldies hits.
• Sit outside every day for a few minutes to unwind.

Even exercise can be a soul refresher. Going for a walk or bike ride etc. is not just exercising your body, it is refreshing for your psyche as well. You may find that putting your body in motion with a perspective of fun instead of accomplishing a speed or distance is invigorating for your mind. In addition, combining movement with prayer, meditation or affirmations brings peace and contentment in your soul.

Take some time to feed your soul today, savor the beauty of life, and stop and smell the roses.

He leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul. Psalm 23:2 

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul. Proverbs 13:19

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world yet forfeits his soul? Matthew 16:26

 

Bluebirds

 

Bluebirds

Bluebirds

This morning as I am sitting by the window and looking out over the beautiful snowy landscape, my eye is drawn to a handful of bluebirds that are sitting in bushes right outside my window. I love birds and have been accused of entertaining an old person hobby, but so be it. I own it, if that’s what it is. Lately I haven’t seen many birds because I have a pesky hawk that keeps scaring my songbirds from the feeder, but this morning I am blessed abundantly with birds for my viewing pleasure. As I watch the bluebirds in all their puffed up glory, I think about how adaptable the birds are to different temperatures. It is a brisk 19 degrees this morning, but yet they seem to be perfectly content in the arctic air. When they sit in the bare tree and fluff up their feathers to stay warm, they look absolutely adorable. They like to eat the berries from my holly bushes. I often see about 10 bluebirds together and they take turns grabbing a berry and then they fly back to the protection of a nearby tree.  God has provided so beautifully for them. They take what they are given, they adapt and they are living their best little bird life. They adjust to the current climate, they feast on what is in front of them, they seek out protection when they sense danger and they stay together in flocks for support. Seems to me like there is a lot to learn from this simplistic, handsome little bird. Let’s take a peek into the window of our own circumstances and view ourselves from an outside perspective.

What are we doing to adapt to the current climate? Is it working for us? Is it healthy for us? Are we eagerly partaking of the abundant nourishment that God has generously provided for our bodies, souls and spirits? Who have we partnered and engaged with to support us through this life?

 Luke 12:24 (The Passion Translation) Take the carefree birds for example. Do you ever see them worry? They neither grow their own food nor put it in a storehouse for later. Yet God takes care of every one of them, feeding each of them out of the abundance of his love and goodness. Isn’t your life more precious to God than a bird? Be carefree in the care of God.

 Precious Jesus, Jehovah Jireh (our provider) thank you so much that you care for the sparrows and the lilies of the field. You are an amazing provider for all that you have created. Help us to see your physical, emotional and spiritual provision that is right in front of us that we can be feasting on. Give us grateful hearts to be content with what you have given and to not hunger for things that aren’t right for us. Help us to live together in community and in harmony with our brothers and sisters in Christ, offering support, encouragement and loyalty to one another.

Jesus, you are life and sustenance to me and I sit with you in sacred stillness. I meditate on your provision.

 

Crystals in the Snow

 

Crystals in the Snow

Today is a gloriously sunny, crisp, cold, winter morning in January and we had a fresh snowfall yesterday. As I gaze out over the snowy fields, I am amazed at all the beautiful crystals that are shining in the snow. Winter is long and dark, but I do love snow. I love to watch it snow, I love to be out in the snow and breathe in the cold and crispness of the air. After the snowfall, the combination of a fresh white canvas of snow and radiant sunshine, are show stopping, in my opinion.  It reminded me as I was looking out over the shimmering layer of snow that we are all like these crystals. We each have so much within us that wants to shine but in order for us to shine, the light of Jesus has to reflect off of us. Otherwise we are just another flake. Yes, I know that was a sorry pun, but how could I not? Honestly, it really spoke to me about how beautiful and unique each one of us are. We have different angles and abilities to reflect His glory and each reflection is so beautiful in its own way. However, without the Son, it’s a matte, dull landscape of self-sufficiency.

What are you doing to reflect his glory today? Are you positioning yourself to get the best angle, to show your best sparkle? If you have lost your sparkle, please sit at Jesus feet right now and absorb his goodness which will allow you to radiate his brilliance.

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Faithful Father, thank you for creating beautiful things for us to enjoy, like the fresh snow on a winter day. Thank you for creating each of us to be beautiful reflections of you and for giving us precious gifts in which we can fulfill the call that you have on our lives, pointing people to your love

Jesus, you are light and life to me and I sit with you in sacred stillness. I soak in your presence.

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Happy New Year

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all my friends and followers. This is the time of year when many of us are looking at the blank slate of another year that is before us and we are listening and discerning where God may want to lead us in the upcoming year. This morning in my quiet, reflective time with God, I was reading Ephesians 1 and zeroed in on verse 9 where Paul talks about the mysteries of God’s will being made known to us. As I pondered this verse and looked it up in many translations, I understood the passage to mean that God will reveal the plans he has for heaven and earth and the work of Christ while he was on earth. As I thought through this further, the purposes he has for heaven and earth include the purposes he has for me. What I contribute is part of the grand scheme of Kingdom increase. So, I can personalize this verse and trust that he will reveal the mystery of his will for my life. Essentially then, it is possible to know and discern the purpose God has for each of us in 2024. Pretty awesome, isn't it? Blessings to all of you as you hear and obey!