Mid Week Question~December 31~Resolutely Because of Grace

The last post of the year is written in the form of a question.

As you consider resolutions, what about Bible verses?

What is your focus verse for 2015?

“He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10

Resolve in 2015 not to lose your new-ness and your joy.

The easiest thing of all to lose is your joy. You can lose it with one phone call or email, a letter or conversation. You can watch a commercial on TV and lose your joy. It’s the easiest thing in the world to lose. And a lot of people in a lot of circumstances are conspiring to rob it from you. ~Rick Warren

My mother used to say that JOY means “Jesus Occupies You.”

When “Jesus Occupies You” then other gremlins have no room to wreak havoc.

 

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Previous Questions

Last Monday Word for the Soul for 2014~December 29

A concluding word for the soul for 2014 is one that you know and need to always remember…Because of Grace

Please do not forget…or, (worse) let anyone else contradict God on this point.

You Are Beautiful…Renee Swope writes eloquently on  your beauty

 “You are precious and honored in my sight …. and I love you.”
    Isaiah 43:4

 

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More words for the Soul

a word from The Sponsor~December 28~Resolution Verse

Open my eyes, so that I may see the wonderful truths in Your Law. ~Psalm 119:18

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More words from The Sponsor

Because of Grace-Wishing You

“When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy”
~Job 38:7

 For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior. ~John 3:17

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Picture Source

Christmas Peace

a word from The Sponsor~December 21

Psalm 37:7

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More words from The Sponsor

This Weekend~ December 19~Carve it

Today marks an anniversary of one of my favorite stories of love.

On December 19, 1972, the last Apollo crew landed safely back on Earth. Apollo 17’s crew of three included the last two men, Harrison Schmitt and Gene Cernan, who would walk on the moon. It is the final act of astronaut Gene Cernan that contains the favorite gem for me.

As he walked toward the lunar module, Cernan knelt and scratched his daughter’s initials in the lunar surface.

It is possible that his daughter’s initials, TC, still remain on the moon’s barren surface. His act of fatherly love certainly remains in memory and…in practice for me, and maybe you too, today. Because of Grace, we have received such love.

 

 

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. ~John 15:13-14

 

Today, might you consider, some act of “initial impression?” I know you won’t deface anything, but might you be on the lookout for, and notice any opportunity to impress the initials of a loved one (doesn’t have to be a daughter) in the snow, the garden soil, the playground sand, even a Styrofoam cup (this is where you’ll find me scratching out my daughter’s initials).

Do it in honor of Gene and love that literally can be to the moon and back!

 

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Sources:
The Writer’s Almanac
Gene Cernan
Picture 1
Picture 2

 

Additional Weekend Activities

 

Mid-Week Question: December 17

After a short hiatus, due to my sojourn in the land of statistics which gave me too many questions to ponder and resolve, my “mid-week question” returns!

Today’s question:

How good are you at asking for help?

Out of 20 questions describe in a post on emotional intelligence interview questions, this question (interestingly labeled #13) stood out to me.

Why is it difficult to ask for help? Perhaps it is fear of rejection from those we ask. Perhaps, it is the rise of the “What If” gremlin:

• What if they say “no” to me?
• What if they ignore me?
• What if they see me as a waste of time?**

Asking questions, questions of help, is a venue to invite people into your moment. Into your present moment. Of course, timing and courtesy are paramount (I would not ask a librarian during story hour to stop reading and point me to the Tolstoy section.)

But rising past my ego and self-involvement points the awareness on the collective process of help. (hint, hint: my ego often tells me that I have to do everything myself, or if I want it done correctly, I need to do it myself….bad juju from my ego in these statements to myself.)

Of course some answers are “no” but as my wise friend, V., says “if you don’t ask, the answer already is ‘no’.”

 “We’re all imperfect and we all have needs. The weak usually do not ask for help, so they stay weak. If we recognize that we are imperfect, we will ask for help and we will pray for the guidance necessary to bring positive results to whatever we are doing.” ~John Wooden

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Previous weekly questions

I learned from these sources:

* Emotional Intelligence Interview Questions

**How to Ask For Help From People You Respect

a word from The Sponsor~December 14

We have courage in God’s presence, because we are sure that he hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will. He hears us whenever we ask him; and since we know this is true, we know also that he gives us what we ask from him. ~1 John 5:14-15 GNT

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More words from The Sponsor

Monday Picture for the Soul~December 8

Today’s Words for the Soul arrive in the form of a picture.

In December’s issue of Wired, my favorite section is “10 Rules for Making Great Stuff.” The 1st Rule is “Unite the Digital and The Physical” (p. 106).

So how great is this? The Motions of Kayaking and Canoeing Recorded through Light Painting on Canadian Waterways by photographer Christopher Jobson.

Jobson uses programmable LED light sticks attached to kayak paddles to record motion of the reflections on the water’s surface. He then translates the movement into photographic light paintings. See more super cool photos at this link: http://www.motionexposure.com/Galleries/Kayak/

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More Words for the Soul

 

a word from The Sponsor~December 7

I know…your perseverance.
Revelation 2:2

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Image Source

additional words from The Sponsor

Mid-week Question~ Have you seen the beautiful thaw of Grace?

Saw this beautiful picture of a snowy sunset over at Knitting With Heart and it caused me to be so grateful for the beauty in what is frozen. And the beautiful thaw of Grace.

That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith. ~Psalm 19:6, msg

From Knitting With Heart

 

 

Your Soul– Because of Grace

That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality–your soul–is as bright and shining as any that has ever been….Clear away everything that keeps you separate from this secret luminous place. Believe it exists, come to know it better, nurture it, share its fruits tirelessly. ~George Saunders

 

Also, Soul-based Grocery List