-
Summer Fruit Devotion: Love Day 4
Speaking in Love Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of…
-
Summer Fruit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” –Galatians 5:22-26 Summer fruit is sweet and refreshing. Often found in beach coolers, at backyard BBQ’s, and as an afternoon snack. Watermelon, strawberries, peaches, pineapples, cherries, all bursting with flavor and nourishment. For the next two months here at Curated Faith I’ll be posting a…
-
Spiritual Metabolism
Psalm 119:69-70 “The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.” I love the contrast in these verses the where the heart is used symbolically. David’s “whole heart” keeps and delights in God’s Word, while the insolent (rude and arrogant, lacking respect) heart is “unfeeling like fat.” What a great word picture. Of the heart Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” The heart is considered the seat of our emotions but it is also a muscle. Muscles are full of sensory…
-
4 Benefits of Preparation & Rest
Last year at this time we were making the final preparations for our daughter’s wedding. It was stressful, intense, and very busy. There were so many details and it seemed like every day we thought of something else that needed to be done or picked up or added to the list. Now we are preparing for a two week cross country road trip and I find myself in planning mode again. I’m up to my eyeballs in maps, lists, itineraries, and hotel reservations. Every time I go to the store I think of something or end up buying something else we will need to bring with us. This has all…
-
Help from the Sanctuary
Psalm 20 (To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.) 1 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; 2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; 3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. 4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. 6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven…
-
6 Things Every Good Marriage & Bonsai Need
I want to share with you something that’s been going on for years in my marriage. It may surprise you. It may even shock you. But it is one of the best things we’ve done and we don’t plan to stop anytime soon. Bonsai. Not Banzai like the suicidal fighter pilots. Bonsai (pronounced bone-sigh,) cultured trees in pots. It was almost 11 years ago my husband and I bought our first bonsai tree. It was a pretty juniper, about a foot tall with a twisted trunk in a shallow glazed oval shaped pot. We got some basic care instructions… water it every day, keep it outside in the sun, trim…
-
The Wildflower Tribe
There was a time in the 90’s when I was a “Goth.” I dyed my hair black, painted my nails black, wore dark makeup and black lipstick, read lots of Poe and Ann Rice, listened to Skinny Puppy and The Cure, wore black velvet skirts with Doc Martens, frequented a nightclub called “Soil” and a coffee shop called “Lestat’s.” When I wasn’t “dressed up” I dressed down in black jeans, flannels and alternative band t-shirts. I painted myself up to both hide who I was and show who I was. I know it sounds confusing, but it’s the truth. I was hurting inside from a lot of things. I was…
