Posts Tagged ‘spirit’

Soaked with the Spirit

November 22nd, 2011

I am sort of at a loss of words or deep thoughts this morning. I do have one thing that keeps cycling around through my brain this week. Last week I stumbled on the blog called The Handwritten, where the author posts simple hand written thoughts each day. It’s a pretty neat site, with a very concise message delivered each day. You should check it out.

Anyway the first time I went to the site, the post simply said
‘Drip Jesus’
‘. That thought is pretty straight to the point and very thought provoking. Imagine if you were completely full of the spirit of the creator so much that it dripped from you as you went about your day!!

And the this verse was below from 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV):

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hm, what else to say, except that may we drip Jesus today!

May the Fourth Be With You

May 4th, 2011

The power is back to my house, and I feel like I have just discovered a secret power as I have been reacquainted with all of my electric gadgets and gizmos.  Sort of fitting that that happens when it’s Star Wars Day!  That’s right  - May The Fourth Be With You!

That’s a pretty cool parting salutation, up there with ‘Shalom’, and it reminds me of the way Paul ended lots of his letters to the first century churches.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (Philippians 4:23, New International Version, ©2011)

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. (Galatians 6:18, New International Version, ©2011)

14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14, New International Version, ©2011)

So, today, remember the story of the Jedi’s and where their power come from – and have fun with your friends bestowing that salutation on them. But also, be thankful for the electric power that you enjoy in your home, and spend a moment considering how the grace of Christ and the love of God will power you if you allow it to be with your spirit!

Sick of Sweating!

August 10th, 2010

I am not usually one to complain, but this heat is finally getting to me.  It’s not really the heat, its the humidity.  No, its not that is just that I am so tired of being covered with sweat – I mean soaking sweat, every time I walk outside.   On Saturday I was searching for a tool in my garage and when I was finished I had to change shirts.  And this was just standing and looking through some tool boxes.  ( I know that is pretty gross).  And I am usually not much of a sweater, not at all like the guy in my small group, apparently he sweats rivers.

And the thirst.  I can’t drink enough.  Its pretty amazing that my weight is actually staying close to the same, as on Saturday at my nephew’s birthday party I felt like I sweated out 10 pounds.  There was not enough sweet tea in the joint to keep me hydrated.  What a blessing it is to have such a great clean water system that makes it so easy to hydrate during the hot summer months like this.  Even when I am the most uncomfortable, I can still head inside and get a nice cold glass of water and I usually have a shirt that I can change into.  That’s so nice that it almost makes you think you can handle anything.  However, even with that blessing there is still a water that is better.  Its the water that your spirit thirsts for, and unlike the water we drink, it can really quench your thirst.  Listen to this exchange at the Jacob’s well.

Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

9The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

10Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”

13Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:6-14 (New International Version)

Wow, what a great promise.  The contentment of having no thirst – mean I think means no sweating!  That’s a great peaceful promise.  A constant source of spiritual refreshment.  A well to to eternal life.  That seems the right place to be.  And then look what Jesus says later in John.

35Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.  John 6:35

Its by belief you can get that living water, and you can be constantly refreshed.  That’s something to consider on this extra hot August days.  Is your spirit thirsty?

Summer Harvest

June 22nd, 2010

Do you like tomatoes? If so I have some for you!  I am currently picking handfuls of Cherry and Roma tomatoes a day from my square foot garden.   I am also starting to bring in cucumbers,  squash and peppers.  I have a few little bitty really hot peppers that have grown amazingly, I am just not exactly sure what do to with them. If you have some suggestions, I will gladly listen!

Its been a great experience this spring, taking care of these vines by directing their growth and providing support and water.   And finally what a pleasurable experience walking into the house with hands fulls of fresh produce.  Its a great thing being a vinedresser.  I can only imagine the pleasure the Lord gets in when he observes the fruit we bear.  Check this out – still from the Johns:

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:1-8 (New International Version)

This is to my Father’s glory!   Yep!  The Father loves to walk into the kitchen with a big grin on his face and an armful of fruit – your fruit!  Live today in a way that glorifies the gardener by producing fruit!    Are you not sure what fruit you can produce?  Take a quick look in Galatians and if you know the song sing along while you read it.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

March Fourth and Do Something

March 4th, 2010

Its here, the only day of the year that also a command.  March Fourth!  Its a day to get up and go.  Its seems this would be a better day to start with resolutions then Jan 1 when you are all tired from the Holidays.  Plus it’s sound so strong and energetic – March Fourth!

Today, pick something that you have had laying around that you have been wanting to do, and just get it done.  I am going to spice up the front page of this site a bit, so that http:\\www.butcherville.com actually has some content, even though my friend Blue Line has returned to be with me all day today and tomorrow!  What are you going to do? Can’t think of anything?  Here are a few suggestions:

  • share the Daily Buffet with a friend, I know you have been wanting to- maybe some one else is as crazy as you and find encouragement through through this bit of text.
  • mow your lawn ( ok not really)
  • say a prayer for Tennessee Jed.  I have spoken with him a little this week, and he is still struggling with lots of stuff.

It’s amazing how many things we want to do, however  we never stop and take the time to do.  Its like that in all aspects of life – even our spiritual lives.  We have high intentions, but find ourselves wandering.  Sometimes its the battle within ourselves that prevents us from getting things done. Check out Galatians 5.  This is an interesting verse, especially around the end of the 17th verse.

Galatians 5:16-18 (New International Version)

16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

Which is it that we want to do, that we do not do – the sinful nature, or the desire of the Spirit? Anyway. which are you going to let lead you today?  March Fourth leave the flesh behind and be led by the Spirit, then watch what happens!  Do it today – March Fourth!!