Blessing and Cursing

by | Jun 30, 2024 | concept

CONCEPT – SPEAK BLESSINGS  (Day 1 of 6)

I was putzing around in James and came across this.

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.  James 3:10 ESV

Talk to God about this today. What words qualify as a blessing? What words are a curse? Where is the line between the two?

road signs

Perhaps there are things in your past you could draw on, or various stories from the Word. As we know, words are very powerful and have significant impact on the lives of others. Certainly, being someone who both blesses and curses would be confusing and hurtful to those around us.

Give it a day to ruminate on the concept.

The last Saturday of each month is Game Night on the property where I live.

Azul board game

My DIL is a true game master. She literally has hundreds of games to pick from. The newest game we’re playing is Azul. My five-year-old grandson can play it with a bit of help (he needs help with the scoring) and it’s easy to pick up the rules.

 

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Image credits – signposts © Andy Dean / Adobe Stock, Azul game © courtesy of Amazon.com
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Can Do

by | Jun 29, 2024 | let's chat

SATURDAY MORNING COFFEE CHAT

The other morning I was grousing in my head about something (I don’t even remember what it was, it was just that important), and God quietly said to my heart, “And what will you do about it?”

Head bowed. He’s right. There are many things I could do in any given situation. I don’t have to sit in my grumpy feelings and stew.

It’s the doing that makes the difference.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22 ESV

It’s so easy to give mental assent and then not do anything. You’ve agreed, right? It’s all good.

It keeps coming back to me here and there in life. I can do something. I need to take action on what I know and believe.

to-do list

I can speak up if I don’t understand. I can clean up a mess (mine or others’). I can have a hard conversation spoken kindly. I can reach out and make an effort in any relationship. I actually have fingers that can text and feet that can move me.

I can do something.

So can you.

We have eagles in Washington state. I don’t see them often, but they are around.

eagle in flight

Just the other day, though, I heard one and then saw it circling our chicken coop. Hide little chickies! Hide! (We actually have plenty of cover for our birds. So the eagle got bored and flew away.)

 

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Image credits – to-do list © Pixabay, eagle © Sven Lachmann / Pixabay
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God’s Blessing

by | Jun 28, 2024 | conclusions

CONCLUSIONS – SACRIFICING FOR OTHERS  (Day 6 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

How did y’all do? What did you learn?

Surprisingly, I was less grumpy and I liked people more. It was actually a lovely week. I don’t entirely understand what happened in me, but I do know there is an incredible blessing that comes with doing things God’s way.

couple embracing

Being willing to sacrifice for others costs me in the short term, but the benefits are pretty amazing overall. I’m sold.

Another picture from my phone that needs a home.

Paul & Lori being silly

Paul and I were visiting friends last fall, where we stopped to see the Kansas City Zoo. Gotta have a little silliness in your day.

 

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Image credits – couple embracing © Jacob Lund / Adobe Stock, Paul & Lori being silly © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Heart Check

by | Jun 27, 2024 | second try

SECOND TRY – SACRIFICING FOR OTHERS  (Day 5 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Take a heart check off and on during the day.

giving a heart

Are you open to personal sacrifice? Can you listen to the needs of others and find a way to serve?

I was clearing out some of the photos on my phone and came across this.

tail end of our RV

A blast from the past. This is the tail end of the RV Paul and I traveled in for a while. (How do y’all handle your photo collections? I really need some way of organizing them better and making them available to look at.)

 

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Image credits – giving heart © Andrey Popov / Adobe Stock, RV © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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Step Down and Lift Up

by | Jun 26, 2024 | road blocks

ROADBLOCKS – SACRIFICING FOR OTHERS  (Day 4 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

Paul and I were talking about sacrifice on the way into town. He thinks “sacrifice” is a poor word choice for our culture. It has developed some super negative connotations with a twist and turn or two. He likes treating others “preferentially” instead.

I say, hey, if that works for you, go for it. 🙂

The general idea is putting others first sometimes (which can cost you personally, a sacrifice). Which pretty much brings us to selfishness as one of the greater roadblocks. And, truly, I get wanting to do everything the way we want to, but I think life would get pretty boring. Differences add flavor to life. My life would be so much different (and less interesting) if I didn’t make room for Paul and his wishes too.

lead, serve, love road signs

Also, I think we have a way of thinking that serving others somehow makes us less important or less valued. That can be a hard pill to swallow. It helps to know that Jesus calls those who want to be great to act as servants. There is some kind of surprising blessing that comes along when we chose to step down and lift others up.

I’ve been giving thought to Jesus’ sacrifice and service over the last couple of days. It does put things in perspective.

Pretty picture day.

grass

Even the simplest of things can have great beauty.

 

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Image credits – road sign © Jon Anders Wiken / Adobe Stock, grass © Maddy Baker / Unsplash
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Sacrificial Attitude

by | Jun 25, 2024 | first try

FIRST TRY – SACRIFICING FOR OTHERS  (Day 3 of 7)
(Need to start at the beginning? Day 1)

As you go through your day, keep an eye on your feelings. They’ll nudge you when you are being asked to stretch a bit.

Sacrificing for others doesn’t mean you have to do everything that everyone tells you to do. That’s not always wise and you need to take care of yourself as well as taking care of others.

couple exercising

A sacrificial attitude is more about valuing others and being willing to serve.

It can be a simple as setting down your phone to listen to your spouse talk, or as difficult as changing plans that were important to you to be available to a friend in need.

Paul and I have been working on some fencing.

Tilly up a pole

Tilly shinnied up this 7+ foot pole. Gotta keep an eye on things.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Image credits – couple exercising © nuiiko / Adobe Stock, Tilly up a pole © Lori / Doing Marriage Well
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