Terri's Wellspring

It Starts Now!

23 05 2014

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NASB

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Everything I have yet to experience starts now. The dreams, accomplishments, the places I want to see, the languages I want to learn, the quilt I want to make and the better health I want to create in my life. It is sometimes hard to see the start of a new day as a place of beginning for what will take the rest of my days but new mercies come with the dawn. A renewed spirit comes with a rested mind. A new start comes with a decision to do so, making a conscious effort to focus on the things that matter.

So we begin again, reminded of the dreams of my heart for my life and my family. Recognizing the power of God’s blessing and favor in guiding my steps along the journey; Being assured that the Holy Spirit will guide me toward greater love, compassion and more of His kindness to those around me; Having the full confidence and faith knowing that He is perfecting, that which concerns me.

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

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Tags: It Starts Now, Lamentations 3:22-23, Philippians 1:6
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Carpe Diem

21 05 2014

We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.
John 9:4-5 NLT

“Carpe Diem” is a Latin phrase that is often translated as a directive to ”Seize the Day.” It is a motivating term for me to maximize my time and effort during the opportunity that the day has to offer.

This passage in St. John is a response from Jesus to the Disciples about the urgency of our work here on earth. It gives important reminders about our existence:
• Our assignment is given to us by God. As our Creator, He knows our purpose and our God-given assignment that is consistent with His word.
• We must be focused and move with urgency to fulfill our tasks.
• We have limited time to accomplish our work.

We want to be focused in our thinking, in our attention and mindful of the opportunities to serve. Approaching this day, I want to focus on advancing my God-given assignment on behalf of the ministry of Jesus Christ.

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Tags: Carpe Diem, John 9:4-5, Seize the Day
Categories : GUIDANCE

The Path Ahead

20 05 2014

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:6

It takes courage to imagine your life differently. I believe doing some things routinely over an extended amount of time creates well-worn furrows in our life journey. Sometimes the grooves are so deep and well-traveled we find it hard to cut another path. This is true even though you know it is time for change. I am thankful for God’s faithfulness to us that He loves us just the way we are and meets us where we are and creates the opportunity for moving forward. The Holy Spirit provides gentle whispers of His true desire for our lives of peace, health and joy. God desires for us to be in close relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. We thank God for His leading, His provision of strength, His provision of courage to be open to what lies ahead. We are thankful for His love for us that draws us closer to Him and His purpose for our lives. Our focus is to hear His voice and take one step at a time knowing that He is faithful to provide direction, protection and provision each step of the way.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 NLT

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Tags: Philippians 4:6, Proverbs 3:6, The Path Ahead
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A Perspective of Gratitude

19 05 2014

O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 107:1

Our lives are filled with blessings that we can thank God for. While reading this morning, someone is illiterate, another has not seen a computer before and yet another is facing a life of absolute poverty that we can’t imagine. Growing up in my father’s church, the saints of God would often start testimony service by thanking God for their life, health and strength. These are things that we often take for granted, until they are in jeopardy. The act of breathing in and out without a thought is a blessing beyond measure. Just ask someone with asthma or emphysema. Keeping a point of the view that recognizes God’s faithfulness and mercy helps us to respect each blessing.

As blessed people, we are compelled to be thankful and to honor the blessing by blessing others. We can show gratitude by demonstrating kindness, sharing our resources or simply smiling to those who need encouragement. Sharing love and kindness, honors God’s blessings in our lives.

Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:17-18

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He Renews My Strength

15 05 2014

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name. Psalm 23:3 NLT

The Lord provides strength when we need it. I am so thankful for this promise and blessing that has come to my rescue so many times. Weariness in body and spirit is often a sign for the need for rest. For many, we carry a super hero façade, pushing our minds and bodies to meet every obligation. Then there are days when our super hero cape feels a little frayed and tattered at the edges. These are signs that we need rest and renewal. We may need planned time to rest, exercise, meditate and spend time talking with our Heavenly Father. I am thankful that God gives us rest; real rest that allows your body to heal and recover from the stressful and busy lives that we lead. I am thankful that He blesses us with a renewed outlook with fresh eyes for His vision for our lives and our walk with Him. His Holy Spirit is a guiding force for our steps and the way we should go. His leading points us in the direction of our blessed purpose. He provides the renewed strength along the journey that allows us to reach our destination. And we are thankful.

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Tags: He Renews My Strength
Categories : Uncategorized

Top Condition

13 05 2014

I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
I Corinthians 9:26-27 MSG

As a child, I would listen to the Saints sing a song “I’m running for my life” during the devotional time in church. With a child’s imagination, I would often visualize people running desperately in a race. I think the fast tempo of the song plus the vivid words made the images come to mind.
Reading the passage for today, reminded me of our desire to achieve our best in our race for the Lord. Paul describes the purposeful journey that we have with Christ. We are striving to give our relationship with the Lord our best effort. We are earnestly seeking to do His will. We are staying alert for things that would have us to go off course or to meander needlessly down the wrong path. Just like an athlete we want to be in top condition and focused for the race. Prayer, reading God’s word and the Holy Spirit’s leading give us the guidance to stay on course and the best practices to reach our goal. A trained athlete finds a steady pace that strengthens their endurance and eliminates the wasted energy of carrying needless burdens and worry. We want to be able to go the distance in faith, traveling purposefully and strong in our stride toward the mark.

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14-15 NLT

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Tags: I Corinthians 9:26-27, Philippians 3:14-15, Top Condition
Categories : GUIDANCE

This Time and This Place

12 05 2014

This day belongs to the Lord! Let’s celebrate and be glad today. Psalm 118:24

Our experiences in life come one after another. Being fully present in the blessedness of now requires focus. This time and this moment will never come again. Today is an opportunity to use all of your senses – eyes, your ears, your sense of smell, your touch and your heart to absorb, what is happening around us right now. Not what has happened in the past or not even what tomorrow will bring but focus on the blessing of this moment – in this time and in this place. It is easier said than done with the hurried pace of our living. We can rush through the blessings of love and life or slow the pace of our minds down to realize that now is the perfect blessing before us. So many guided steps and unearned favor allow me to breathe in and out and to be conscious of His blessings. The Lord is good to each of us. His mercy, His love and His grace make this moment possible.

Even in the most difficult circumstance, we can be glad that we serve a God who is with us. Our Heavenly Father is so faithful, so caring and so loving to shield us and to undergird us even when we believe that our hearts will break during the circumstance of the day. The blessing of now may be disguised by difficulty but we are still here, we have faith in our Heavenly Father, we are still on the path and God is still leading. We can rejoice in that blessing alone.

My mind is clear that embracing now is my charge for today. This is the day. This is God’s day for me. I am glad to experience it fully with a grateful heart and attitude of praise for this time and this place.

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Tags: Psalm 118:24, This time and This Place
Categories : ENCOURAGEMENT, Uncategorized

Kind, Compassionate and Forgiving

7 05 2014

And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 AMP

The “one another” instructions in the Bible are powerful. They often refer to our relational world of how we are to connect to each other. We know examples – love one another, pray for one another, encourage one another. Our passage today is a reminder of our need to be kind, compassionate and forgiving of one another. At first glance, when we read these instructions we may be quick to give ourselves a pass recalling all of the past ‘”nice” things we have done. On learning more about this scripture and what God desires of us, I realize I have more work to do. Being kind is more than a smiling face. It reflects a giving spirit and a desire to be useful and helpful to one another. Demonstrating loving-hearted compassion shows our genuine concern about each other situations. Forgiving one another freely and quickly for big and small things as our Heavenly Father does for us. Kindness, compassion and forgiveness are outward expressions of who we are as God’s children. They reflect who He is and as His children we should carry His identity and His likeness in our care for one another. Carefully considering how we respond to one another and seeking to demonstrate His example puts our relationships on higher ground. More kindness, more compassion and more forgiveness in the world are reflections that will shine bright in a hurting world.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT

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Tags: Compasionate and Forgiving, Ephesians 4:31-32, Kind
Categories : LOVE

Equal Time

6 05 2014

Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. II Corinthians 6:1 MSG

Each of us received the gift of today when we woke up this morning. Time is the great equalizer of opportunity for those who can decide how to spend our day. We each get 24 hours, 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds. It is a precious gift. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians encourages us to make the most of the life that we have been given. God’s grace has allowed this time and place to arrive at our doorstep. We honor God by honoring His gift of time. Approaching today with gratitude and thanksgiving, we can ask and seek God’s guidance about maximizing this moment for His will for our lives. Turning our full attention toward Him, we can listen carefully without the distractions of noise, busyness and the crowds of people in our day. Listen and live with intention about where we are and where we need to go. He knew this day would be here. He is here to help us to see His vision for our time and moving forward in wisdom and purpose. We seek to honor God with a day well lived and a life focused on Him.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalms 90:12 KJV

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Tags: Equal Time, II Corinthians 6:1, Psalms 90:12
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Mustard Seed Faith

5 05 2014

You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. ”I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” Matthew 17:20 NLT

God requires us to put our trust fully in Him. Filling our hearts and minds with His promises of love, protection and provision leaves no space for doubt to take root in our lives. Our scripture describes faith, even the size of a mustard seed as extremely powerful. A mustard seed is round, yellow and incredibly small. It is also hard and seemingly impenetrable. It is a solid seed and when planted it has almost immediate results that grow into a large plant. Our passage today is a reminder of the power within us if we choose to have faith. Through faith we can invest our confidence and expectation in God. We can plant our mustard seed faith and nurture its growth. We can give our faith room to grow and to thrive through meditating on His Word and surrounding ourselves with testimonies of His goodness. If we have solid faith, even on a small scale we can have powerful results.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

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Tags: Matthew 17:20, Mustard Seed Faith, Romans 10:17
Categories : FAITH