by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
{ Day 20 }
When’s the last time you packed an overnight bag, loaded up your car and escaped for a mini-getaway?
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| Chimney Rock, NC |
Brian and I did just that this past weekend as we wound our way up the mountains to celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary (which is actually today!) Our first couple of days were spent walking the bustling streets of Hendersonville and Chimney Rock, sipping down handcrafted coffee, and scoping out new antique stores.
We also stopped by Justus Orchard, where we were greeted with a waft of winesap apples and all the fixins. Let’s just say two freshly fried turnovers and a dozen warm apple cider doughnuts (a first for us!) hitched a ride on our way back to Saluda that afternoon. Unfortunately, I have a feeling they’ll continue to hitch a ride with me for weeks to come.
(For those visiting the NC area: Dozens of orchards are scattered throughout Henderson County but Justus Orchard is a fun experience for the entire family. Children can ride in mini-trains pulled by tractors through the orchards, pet the Alpacas, and go in search of the perfect pumpkin.)
On Saturday, however, things shifted to a slower pace. Brian went to a record show for most of the day while I snuggled beneath the rafters of the side porch that hug the Blackberry Cottage. You know, nothing settles the soul quite like watching crisp winds invite the leaves to dance and seeing many accept, bowing gracefully to its direction.
There, surrounded only by God’s handiwork,
His voice found no competition.
Staying in Step with the Spirit: Whether it’s a few hours or a day, when we intentionally shift life into a slower gear via new surroundings we are breathing life into both our senses and our souls, enabling us to hear the Spirit’s whispers more clearly.
Heavenly Father, thank You for those times when we can exhale busyness, noise, soul clutter and all other things clamoring for our attention. Help us to catch every quiet moment, hour, or day for Your glory.
“Not all those who wander are lost.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
{ Day 15 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Paper Bookmark
{ Day 16 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Fresh Start
{ Day 17 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Spontaneous Service
{ Day 18 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via God’s Creation, Wk. 3
{ Sunday }
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
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| Our view leaving Marshall’s Home Goods |
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by Cathy Baker
{ Day 18 }
during our 31 Day Challenge.
Enjoy.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
{ Day 17 }
Rain fell heavy as greeters said their goodbyes to fellow church goers.
For a few moments, no one stood by the door to offer their farewells. In that small window of time, a young family gathered nearby, readying their three little ones for the weather.
Suddenly, a man rushed past me, grabbed his umbrella, and proceeded to help this young family to their car. He’d never met them, nor did he need to. He simply saw an opportunity to help and hopped into action.
Oh, the beauty of impromptu service. Although not officially on the greeting team that morning, he was, in fact, part of a much larger influential team: the Church. He could’ve easily reasoned that others were there to specifically help in that area and turned away.
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| Gwen Stefani’s Glitz Team Shirts |
If you watch The Voice (how’s that for a segue?) you know Gwen Stefani presented her team members with a Team Gwen glitzy t-shirt. No doubt it will someday snag a sweet price on Ebay.
Hey Church! We may not wear a glitzy Team Jesus on our shirts, but do we really need one?
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Staying in Step with the Spirit: When we see others in action for Christ, we can’t help but be touched, knowing the One spurring them on will receive much glory.
Heavenly Father, kindle our hearts afire so that we might shine brightly for Your fame and glory.
#Write31Days past posts:
{ Day 1 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Our Senses
{ Day 2 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Less Clutter
{ Day 3 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Healthy Relationships
{ Day 4 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via God’s Creation
{ Sunday }
{ Day 6 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Specific Prayer
{ Day 7 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
{ Day 8 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Soul Search (with guest Ginger Harrington)
{ Day 9 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Vulnerability
{ Day 10 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via God’s Creation, Wk. 2
{ Day 11 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Moonlit Sunroof
{ Sunday }
{ Day 13 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Wild Goose Chase
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
{ Day 16 }
Could you use a fresh start? I could.
Every. Single. Day.
It’s for this reason I snatched the mug below off the TJ Maxx shelf lickety split. Yes, my eye caught the contrast between the white matte finish and sleek cool gray interior but it was the wording that prompted me to peel out a few bucks and make it mine.
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| Score! Thanks, TJ Maxx. |
The words Fresh Start immediately brings Lamentations 3:22,23 to mind. It’s a verse I mention often, maybe because I so desperately need it.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Obviously, the truth of receiving fresh mercy from a holy God each and every morning is reason enough to awaken with a grateful heart, but when I rewind to consider the motivation behind it all, I’m blown away by God’s faithfulness.
Thankfully, the “why” has nothing to do with me or you, our performance or lack thereof. It’s all God. His love motivates our rescue every single day. The only thing that consumes and covers us today is God’s compassion.
So, when the coffee perks and the coffee cup clinks tomorrow morning, let us remember Lamentations 3. Savor it, receive it, and walk in the freedom God offers us 24/7.
Staying in Step with the Spirit: A grateful heart never fails to move closer to the One of morning promises.
Heavenly Father, may the gratefulness pooling in our hearts spring forth into action today.
What does it mean to you personally to know that the moment you awoke this morning fresh mercy awaited?
#Write31Days past posts:
{ Day 1 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Our Senses
{ Day 2 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Less Clutter
{ Day 3 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Healthy Relationships
{ Day 4 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via God’s Creation
{ Sunday }
{ Day 6 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Specific Prayer
{ Day 7 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
{ Day 8 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Soul Search (with guest Ginger Harrington)
{ Day 9 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Vulnerability
{ Day 10 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via God’s Creation, Wk. 2
{ Day 11 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Moonlit Sunroof
{ Sunday }
{ Day 13 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Wild Goose Chase
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
{ Day 14 }
It was first grade. My teacher’s hair hue was blue, just over the hill from silver. She was also my dad’s first grade teacher, as well as my grandmother’s friend. Her name was Miss Lee. And she’s the same teacher who tried to yank my tooth out with a well-positioned string and a sturdy door. Yes, she was the real deal.
One Friday morning, Miss Lee issued a challenge: Learn Psalm 23 in its entirety and recite it to the class. The prize? A bookmark.
The reciting part of the equation explains why I was the last student to receive a bookmark, but there was no escaping it. My paternal grandmother knew all about it and she wasn’t about to be embarrassed by having her granddaughter be the only one not to memorize the psalm. So, after weeks of prepping, I made her proud. I went home that day with a smile on my face, a skip in my step, and a prized bookmark in my pocket.
A couple weeks ago, while going through old boxes from my Mom’s house, I came across the 46 year-old bookmark. As I held it in my hand, I realized the win wasn’t won the day I recited Psalm 23 to Miss Lee and the class, but rather some thirty years later, when I recited it to my dying uncle (my paternal grandmother’s son), which brought him much comfort during his final months.
Yes, the recent find in the dusty brown box reminded me of the everlasting value discovered in memorizing scripture. We never know how God will use it but this we know for sure: He will use it!
It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces
fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper
everywhere I send it.
Isaiah 55:11 NLV
Do you remember the first Scripture verse you memorized? Please share! Or if you have tips on ways to memorize, I’d love to learn them.
Staying in Step with the Spirit: When we are willing to put God’s active and living Word to memory, He never fails to use it for His glory.
Heavenly Father, thank You for breathing Your inerrant Word into existence, not only for our benefit but for the benefit of others as well.
#Write31Days past posts:
{ Day 1 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Our Senses
{ Day 2 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Less Clutter
{ Day 3 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Healthy Relationships
{ Day 4 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via God’s Creation
{ Sunday }
{ Day 6 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Specific Prayer
{ Day 7 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
{ Day 8 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Soul Search (with guest Ginger Harrington)
{ Day 9 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Vulnerability
{ Day 10 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via God’s Creation, Wk. 2
{ Day 11 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Moonlit Sunroof
{ Sunday }
{ Day 13 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Wild Goose Chase
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
{ Day 14 }
Would you consider yourself a competitive person? See if any of these five signs show up on your radar, compliments of Story Pick:
1. You get super crazy when you’re about to lose a game.
2. When you are on the treadmill at the gym you have to go faster than the person next to you.
3. When you lose, you take it personal.
4. You fake congratulate your opponent (if he/she beats you.)
5. Your competition doesn’t have an age…kids to the elderly, bring ’em on!
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| Who needs “Team Gwen” shirts? (The Voice) |
It’s fun watching our children compete in sports and competition certainly offers many life lessons hard knocks along the way. Sometimes, though, this competitive spirit can trickle into our churches. If names were stitched on the back of jerseys, some might read:
Dunker
Sprinkler
Confessor or
Shouter, just to name a few.
A competitive spirit can even occur in churches who are very similar.
It’s for this reason (and many more) that I’m grateful to be part of a church that believes in partnering rather than competing. A few tangible ways this philosophy is fleshed out at Summit Upstate:
- Our pastors/elders often pray for other churches within our community on Sunday mornings.
- Summit blesses other nearby churches financially on a regular basis.
- We are encouraged to pray for the churches passed on our way to Summit on Sunday mornings.
As one of our lead pastors, Jason Malone, points out: one local church won’t reach a city.
Personally, I’m also trying to become more intentional about lifting up Gospel-driven churches if they’re criticized in my presence. I can’t say that’s something I’ve always done, unfortunately, but now I try to find what a church is doing right, knowing they will reach people our church never will, and vice versa. We’re all on the same team!
Staying in Step with the Spirit: Some of us are hands, some are feet—but we’re all one Body in Christ Jesus. When we move as the Body was designed to, we can’t help but stay in step with the Holy Spirit, bringing much glory to God.
Heavenly Father, may our churches stand firm in truth with our fingers wide open, releasing any spirit of competitiveness in order that we might embrace the blessing of partnership instead. None of us, Lord. All of You.
#Write31Days past posts:
{ Day 1 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Our Senses
{ Day 2 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Less Clutter
{ Day 3 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Healthy Relationships
{ Day 4 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via God’s Creation
{ Sunday }
{ Day 6 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Specific Prayer
{ Day 7 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
{ Day 8 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Soul Search (with guest Ginger Harrington)
{ Day 9 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via Vulnerability
{ Day 10 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via God’s Creation, Wk. 2
{ Day 11 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Moonlit Sunroof
{ Sunday }
{ Day 13 } Staying in Step with the Spirit Via A Wild Goose Chase
(For those visiting the NC area: Dozens of orchards are scattered throughout Henderson County but Justus Orchard is a fun experience for the entire family. Children can ride in mini-trains pulled by tractors through the orchards, pet the Alpacas, and go in search of the perfect pumpkin.) 
