by Cathy Baker | Faith |
“Ask God to awaken your ability to see and savor His sweet presence and recognize His divine handiwork. Then live eyes wide open to the ways God answers.” – Margaret Feinburg, Wonderstruck
Since learning of our community study Wonderstruck, Awaken to the Nearness of God, (which begins TONIGHT!) some of you have asked if I’d share tidbits from the study here on the blog—but I’m going to do one better.
You’re invited to join us for our 30 days of Wonder Challenge. Margaret designed it to awaken our ability to see God at work in our lives in ways we may have never considered… or slowed down long enough to appreciate.
Beginning today, a brief and doable challenge will be shared each morning at 7:00 a.m. I encourage you to stop by before you begin your day, if possible. On the days when other subjects are posted (Wed/Fri) you’ll find the Wonder Challenge located below that day’s post.
Ready for the challenge? Prepare to stand in awe of your awe-inspiring God.
DAY 1: REFLECTION
The wonders of God surround you. Prayerfully spend some time reflecting on those things that prevent you from awakening to the wonder of God. Write them down, and then ask God to remove those obstacles that prevent you from experiencing Him more. Ask God to make you supernaturally aware of the Spirit’s presence and leading over the next thirty days.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Searching for a great summer read?
Back cover: From Robert Louis Stevenson to Mary Shelley, Alice Munro to Stephen King, Your Creative Writing Masterclass guides you through:
- finding your style
- generating story ideas
- creating vivid characters
- constructing powerful plots
- crafting your ideal writer’s life
This resource is packed with insight from the masters but what I most appreciate, practically speaking, is the layout. Brief informative chapters lend itself to an enjoyable read.
It’s perfect for summertime. Read straight through or skip around. It matters not. You’ll learn something with each viewing.
“Write down the thoughts of the moment.
Those that come unsought for
are commonly the most valuable.”
– Francis Bacon, Sr.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Our country celebrates its independence once a year. Christ followers have the privilege of celebrating our DEpendence on Him with every intake of breath.
Sweet Desperation
Of all the gifts
I know our loving Father brings
The answered prayers,
Protection from all things unseen,
The peace within your heart,
The small, simplistic things.
That cry from deep within your soul
Will bring the greatest joy of all.
He hears the anguish in your call.
The sweetest gift
There is of all
Is desperation.
When there is no place else to run
But to His grace,
To fall upon your knees
And seek His gentle face …
There is no fear He does not know
No wound He cannot bind
And so
The sweetest gift of all I know
Is desperation.
Sweet desperation
Brings you to your Father’s throne.
Surrender all
And be assured you’re not alone.
In your darkest times of need
His light illuminates all things.
Come to Him broken and be healed
With His shed blood you have been sealed.
Find comfort in His love so real
And know …
The sweetest gift of all
Is desperation.
–Submitted by About.com member, Susan L. Condrey.
I am the vine; you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit,
for apart from me you can do nothing.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Experiencing the wonder of God isn’t about landing a crazy story
to tell our friends or experiencing pimply goose bumps.
The wonder awakens us to dive even deeper
in our relationship with God.
– Margaret Feinberg, Wonderstruck, Awaken to the Nearness of God
In preparing to facilitate
Wonderstruck next week, I consider Revelation 2:4 ESV:
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
Remember how it felt when you first began falling for your husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend? The relationship had a sense of awe about it. We clung to their every word, spiffed up our wardrobe, flossed a little longer, and smelled, well…quite nice.
But over time elasticized sweats, increased volume via headphones, and a lack o’ floss can tarnish even the brightest of beginnings.
Likewise, when I’m not in step with the Spirit, the wonder and awe of God I first realized and celebrated as a Christ follower can gradually fade against the backdrop of a cluttered life.
Keeping the wonder of God awakened within us requires intentionality and a willingness to refuse the seduction of surface living.
++++++++++++
An invitation to dive deeper: Jot down three moments today in which you encounter the wonder of God and His handiwork.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25 NIV
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Mountain air snaps all creative senses
to attention.
What place or space serves as your catalyst for creativity?
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10a
Be still: Stems from the verb rapha. It could be translated as, “cause yourselves to let go.”
Learning to say no is part of the outward equation but this term takes stillness to a deeper, more meaningful level. Be still speaks of a quietness that resides within as a result of knowing who God is:
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm 46:10b
He is King.
Ruler of all.
Omniscient.
Omnipresent.
Our Soul Whisperer.
What can we release today because of the confidence anchored in our heavenly Father?
