Tag: Godly Living

Infrequent Watering

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

I stepped into the kitchen. Time to make supper.

My eyes roamed the room as I pondered what to make for our evening meal.

The plants on top of the cupboards caught my attention.

I frowned. 

My spider plant was looking pale green and wilty. My pothos was drooping. My Christmas cactus appeared to be handling the man-made drought reasonably well, but it wasn’t thriving.

I needed to water them. It had been far too long.

The problem was, they were up high, beyond my reach, unless I climbed on a kitchen chair.

I heard the pitter patter of little feet behind me.

My 2 year old entered the kitchen. The very 2 year old who had pushed a chair to the kitchen counter to pull a bowl out of the cupboard all by himself the other day…

I glanced at the top shelf plants with a sigh. They’d have to wait until later. I wasn’t foolish enough to set an example of climbing on a kitchen chair to reach something even higher in front of my son. Who knew what mischief he would get into, bolstered by my example?

I would have to remember to water them later, once the kids were in bed.

Setting my concern about my plants aside, I turned to my son with a cheery smile.

“Let’s find something for you to do at the table while I make supper.”

Why do I bring up this scene? Because it has an important reminder for me, and perhaps you will find it valuable as well.

When I picture my walk with God as a plant, I am reminded that I need to be intentional to water my plant.

If my walk with Jesus isn’t receiving enough water, it won’t thrive. It will wilt.

True, water isn’t the only factor needed to make plants thrive. They need the right amount of sunlight, good soil, and nutrients.

Perhaps having my heart in the right place – humble and trusting God – can be represented by the sunlight a plant needs. Without sunlight, no amount of watering will make a plant grow. Likewise, without my heart in the right place my walk with Jesus will not function.

That said, a plant will not grow and thrive without regular watering no matter how perfect the other factors are.

The plants on my top shelf show this clearly.

Indeed, it is especially evident when you consider my spider plant.

My sister gave me my spider plant from her larger plant. At the same time, she gave a spider plant of the same age to my mom.

My mom’s spider plant has been well watered. It has been strategically placed to receive the right type of light.

In contrast, my poor spider plant is up on a high shelf so the kids don’t get it, and it has certainly been under watered.

My mom’s spider plant is thriving. It is lush green, much bigger than mine, and beginning to reproduce.

My plant is smaller, often pale, and nowhere near ready to reproduce.

As with these spider plants, I must be watering my walk with Jesus if I want it to grow and thrive.

So how do I water my relationship with Jesus? Bible reading, Bible teaching, prayer, singing praise, and fellowship.

I need to be intentional to make it a regular practice to read or listen to the Bible for myself.

Finding Biblically sound Bible teaching pastors to listen to or read books by is also incredibly valuable. (One of my favorites is Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel.)

Spending time in prayer – conversation with God – is vital. Someone once equated prayer to breathing in order to convey just how essential it is to spiritual life.

There are many ways to pray. Praying by oneself or praying with others. Praying for practical needs, praying for spiritual growth, and prayers of praise for who God is. Taking time for each of these can refresh and strengthen my walk with God. 

Singing worship songs (even more than just listening to them) helps turn my focus back to Jesus.

Fellowship is time spent with other Christians. Encouraging and being encouraged by each other – serving and being served. Discussing the things of God.

Regular attendance at a Bible teaching church covers most of these elements, but once a week is not enough.

I am not a cactus that only needs occasional watering.

I need to be watering my walk with Jesus daily, even better if hourly.

This can looked very different in different seasons of life. Making regular habits can help me consistently add water to my walk with Jesus.

Some possibilities include reading my Bible first thing, or listening to a 5 minute devotional (like this podcast by David Guzik).

I can build in regular times of prayer for my family, missionaries, and prayers of thanksgiving. On top of that, I can find a couple of friends to meet with regularly to pray for our church, community, and country.

Today, may I seek out one more way to add water to my walk with Jesus and begin to make that a regular habit.

 

What are some of your regular habits that water your walk with Jesus? Feel free to share in the comments below.

Brown Sugar Keeper

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

“It’s your turn to open presents.” My sister-in-law’s words drew my attention back from helping my kids explore the gift they’d just unwrapped.

“Okay,” I picked up a medium-sized box wrapped in festive paper.

I checked the label. It was from my in-laws. I glanced up to double-check they knew I was opening it.

I ripped off the paper to reveal a brown shipping box.

I opened the box.

Inside, I found a wide glass jar with a flip lid, a fresh bag of brown sugar, and a set of sugar keepers or brown sugar savers.

I smiled. These would be useful.

At one point, I had kept my brown sugar in a tall plastic container, but the container was now scratched and cracked. Recently, my brown sugar lived in the original bag with a twist tie or clip to seal it shut. This meant I was often battling hard, dry brown sugar.

A few days later, after the hubbub of Christmas had calmed, I prepared to put my new gift to use. With the jar freshly washed, I looked at the sugar keepers.

They were simple terracotta discs with the imprint of a maple leaf.

The instructions were straightforward. Soak in water for 20 minutes. Dry off the outside and place in sugar.

I filled a measuring cup with water and put the sugar keepers in.

My kids glanced up from their playdough at the sound of the sizzle and whistle of the keepers soaking up the water.

Once the kids returned to their playdough, I had a moment to read the back of the sugar keepers’ package.

The package listed several other things the sugar keeper could do:

  • Keep cakes and cookies moist
  • Keep raisins, coconut, and other dried fruits fresh

I glanced at my kids. Could it keep playdough soft? I might have to try.

I looked back at the package. It had a second side to the wording.

Apparently, the sugar keeper could be dried in the oven and would then be useful for keeping things dry. It could:

  • Keep spices and salt dry
  • Keep chips crispy
  • Keep electronic equipment dry

These uses surprised me. I had no idea how many things a little terracotta disc could be useful for.

It was then that an allegory took shape in my mind.

I, as a Christian, am meant to bring life to those around me, just as the sugar keeper is to bring moisture (and thus give life to) brown sugar.

Is it my own life that I bring to those around me? No, it is the life Jesus gives. The life which, by the Holy Spirit, lives in me.

Similarly, the sugar keeper does not give its own moisture to the sugar. The keeper must first be soaked, thus being filled up with water so it has something to give.

Giving moisture is not the only thing a sugar keeper can do. It can also suck moisture out of everything around it.

Likewise, giving life is not the only thing I can do. I can also drain the joy and hope out of everyone I cross paths with.

This happens when I am living in the flesh, not walking in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-26 clarifies the difference. (For sake of time I will abbreviate the passage, but the full section is worth reading.)

The works of the flesh include: Jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, and envy. (Gal. 5:19-21)

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23a CSB)

I don’t want to be a life drainer. I want to be life giving to those around me.

I want to share a taste of the life Jesus gives with those I cross paths with. I want to give joy, hope, encouragement, and love to them.

I want them to see Jesus in me.

How can I do this?

The more I draw near to Jesus – seeking Him through the Bible, prayer, worship, and Christian fellowship – the more I will be filled with His life.

The more I am filled with Jesus’ life, the more it will seep out of me to bring life to those around me.

God will be at work through me.

Today, may I seek Jesus more so that I may be a life giver, not a life drainer.

Wrong Thinking

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

“Parmesan cheese, please.” My 3 year old daughter pointed across the table.

I sprinkled some of the cheese on her pasta. “There you go.”

She took a bite, then picked up her water to take a drink.

As she tilted the cup to take a drink, she tipped it too far, pouring cold water onto her pant leg.

“Oh…” She put the cup back down. “Now I’m wet. I can’t be wet.”

She proceeded to roll her affected pant leg up past the wet spot.

“There,” she declared, “now it will dry faster.”

I frowned. “It will dry slower, not faster, when it is rolled up. Your pants need to be spread out to dry faster.”

“No. It will dry faster.”

I sighed. I knew pressing the point would get me nowhere. I had tried before, several times…

“Well, you get to choose if you want your pant leg rolled up or not.”

It was time to change the topic.

“Look. I see a squirrel in the tree outside. I wonder what he’s trying to do.”

It wasn’t until I had a few minutes to slow down several days later that it occurred to me that there is an allegory here for me to learn from.

As I was reflecting on my daughter’s attitude of not wanting to listen to me in this manner, the thought crossed my mind: “Is there any area of my thinking where I have been refusing to listen to God?”

With my daughter, sometimes this same attitude has shown up in statements such as, “if I don’t get a turn now, then I never will get a turn.”

My reply has been, “That’s not true. You need to wait for one more minute and then it will be your turn. You need to tell yourself the truth.”

To her reply of “Why?”

I say, “Because it hurts you when you don’t tell yourself the truth. It makes you feel grumpy.”

The question begs to be asked: Is there any area of my life that I am not telling myself the truth?

Probably.

My wrong thinking may be fueled by pride, ignorance, fear, or nearly anything else. It may seem harmless right now, but when I continue to think that way, eventually it will hurt me and likely cause harm to those around me.

Is God trying to explain to me the truth so that I don’t cause myself all sorts of trouble by believing the lie I am telling myself?

Yes.

Much of the transforming work God does in my life takes place in the mind.

As Romans 12:2 tells us: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (CSB)

How does God transform my thinking?

There are many ways. Time spent reading the Bible is hugely significant. Spending time in prayer, listening to sound Bible teaching, and fellowshipping with other Christians all play large roles as well.

God wants to help me know the truth. As I seek Him, He will transform my thinking (though I may not clearly see it myself).

Today, may I have the courage to honestly ask God to show me where I have been thinking wrong, and then to help me change it.

Looking for a Bible-based devotional? Check out my post:

Grow Your Faith: 5 Inspiring and Free Christian Devotionals

Books In My Backpack

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

“Mommy, you be the librarian,” my 2 year old urged as she handed me a book.

I paused in the midst of clearing the breakfast table to “check-in” the book and put it away.

A few minutes later, she returned to the kitchen with a basket brimming with picture books from the shelf.

I set up a cardboard box librarian desk and we found a pretend library card.

“Beep,” I said as I scanned the library card.

“Beep,” I scanned the first book.

“Beep, beep, beep…”

I handed her the pile of 13 books. “Here you are. Have a nice day.”

I turned my attention back to clearing the table while she loaded the books to go home.

A few moments later, frustrated grunts drew my attention back to my daughter.

She was trying to put her backpack on. It looked very heavy.

“Do you need some help?” I asked.

“Yes! I can’t get it on.”

I helped her slide the second strap onto her shoulder.

“There. That’s a very heavy backpack. Did you put the books in it?”

Obviously she had.

She groaned. “Owe. My shoulders.”

“You might want to take some of the books out.”

“No. Owe. My shoulders.”

She slung the backpack to the floor.

I stooped, reaching for the zipper. “Here. Let me help.”

I removed all but 5 of the books.

“It’s still pretty heavy, but I think you can carry it now.”

“No! I want all the books.”

I handed her the backpack. “Let’s leave out the heavy ones. Otherwise it’s too heavy.”

“No.” She knelt determinedly beside the backpack and squeezed all the books back in.

She rose, struggling to put it back on.

“It’s too heavy!”

I sighed. “There is nothing I can do to help if you don’t take some books out.”

That got me thinking…

Do I have a mental backpack I have loaded up and am trying to lug around?

Is God looking at me saying, “If you would just let Me help, I would lighten your load”?

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said,

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (NIV)

How wonderful it is that Jesus offers me rest from being weary and burdened!

Am I experiencing that rest? Or is my stubborn self-reliance getting in the way of my receiving that rest?

My daughter’s behaviour exemplifies this so clearly.

She was determined to stuff her backpack full of books and then carry it. The backpack was far heavier than she could reasonably carry.

I wanted to help her. I wanted to lighten her load. In fact, I did step in to take some of the weight out of the backpack.

Yet what did she do? She immediately put those books right back into the backpack. She wanted to carry the full load.

Before I shake my head at my little one’s stubborn relentlessness, I need to pause and look at my own life.

Am I experiencing the rest Jesus is offering me? Or have I taken on far more than I was meant to carry?

Is Jesus pleading with me to hand over my burden to Him?

In 1 Peter 5:7 I am urged to be “casting all [my] cares on Him, because He cares about [me].” (CSB)

That is an on-going action, not “I did it once in the past and now I’m set.”

I must continue casting my cares on Jesus daily… hourly.

Am I living this out as I ought? No. I have a long ways to grow in this area.

That said, will you join me today in asking God if there is any burden you are carrying that He wants to help you to put down?

Then get up, go about your day, and wait to see what He will say to you as you continue to seek Him through the Bible, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians.

I will do the same.

Drip Drip Drip

Posted on by S. J. Little

 

“Would you like some juice?” I asked.

“Yes,” my toddler replied from where she lay sick with a fever on the couch.

I fetched the little cup with a built-in straw from the fridge. It had a valve in the straw enabling me to tip it upside down without spilling. Surely it would be okay in the living room.

I set it beside my toddler, then scooped up my baby from where he stood leaning against the couch.

“I have to put your brother down for his nap. I’ll be back in a minute or two.”

My toddler took a sip of juice. “Okay.”

In the bedroom, I proceeded with my baby’s bedtime routine: drink water, put on sleep sack, read story, bounce while singing the “Prayer For My Child” song, then into his crib.

That done, I returned to the living room.

That was when I saw it. Beside my toddler, who was still on the couch where I had left her, was the straw cup. The cup rested on its side.

As I approached, one drip escaped.

Remaining calm, I quickly scooped up the cup.

Apparently, more than one drip had escaped.

There, on the couch, was a wet spot as large as the palm of my hand. I had only been gone a few short minutes.

Fetching a clean cloth, I pressed the drenched spot to absorb as much liquid out of it as possible, but it was a lost cause.

Giving up, I sighed. At least it was just watered-down apple juice on a brown couch.

A short while later, when I had a chance to lie down for a few minutes because I was sick with the same bug, it occurred to me that my actions are like that cup.

I thought the straw cup was a safe one to use in the living room because it didn’t spill, even when turned upside down. However, given enough time, one drip escapes. Then another drip escapes.

Before long, those slow but steady drips create a sizable spill.

My actions are like that. I may think they are inconsequential or “safe”, but, if I continue in them, they create a notable impact.

One small action after another, after another, after another… That’s how big impacts are made, whether for good or for evil.

Next time I am about to do something I believe is unimpactful, I would be wise to pause and consider the outcome. Will it lead to what is helpful or what is harmful?

In Galatians 6:7-8, I read:

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (NIV)

The following verse holds valuable encouragement.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 NIV

Lord, please help me be intentional to do what will lead to good for me and for those around me.