Spiritual

This is Easter week and the beginning of Passover so we are taking the week off here at Growing Weisser…..I am going to update and repost an Easter post to share with you today and make sure to check back on Thursday for a surprise……

When I was growing up, Easter season began with a Passover Seder meal at my grandparents home where we retold the Exodus story and said beautiful Hebrew prayers. This tradition became more meaningful to me as I learned that Christ became the Passover Lamb and He was the perfect sacrifice for all men for all time. He was nailed to the cross on that Friday (what we call “good Friday”) and was raised from the dead on what we call Easter-Resurrection Sunday. Resurrection Sunday, Good Friday and Passover celebrations are a time to reflect on all that Christ has done for me.

As we raised our family, we incorporated the celebration of Passover with our Easter festivities for a rich tradition of Old and New Testament blending to tell the entire story of God reaching out to man to initiate and open the door for an intimate relationship with His children.

Last year I had the awesome privilege of attending a Good Friday worship night with Bekah and Ashkon at their Christian Student Association at SGU in Grenada. It was a multicultural event including liturgical dance and worship for all with the worship team including special presentations from three groups of students singing in their native tongues-Indian, African and Spanish and two Asian students who shared a piano and violin worship song on prayer. The most moving part of the evening for me was the dramatic presentation of a skit done to a beautiful song called Everything-you can look it up on Youtube. If you …

I loved reading the Divergent series. Today, I re-watched the movie in preparation to see Insurgent in the theater!  If you haven’t read it or finished it the series, don’t worry, this post does not have any spoilers.
But, I will tell you that one of the main themes in this story is

COURAGE to overcome FEARS.

There are many life situations that call for courage: Standing up for what you believe in, Standing up for a friend, Taking Risks, Doing something out of your Comfort Zone, Moving to an unknown area or country, and the list goes on…

When I need to face a challenge and need to choose to be brave or be deterred by the anxiety caused by a potentially uncomfortable situation, my best encouragement comes from the Bible. There are plenty of verses that talk about courage, but here are a few of my favorites…If you are in the market for clothes, our platform is your best choice! The largest shopping mall!

“Be strong and courageous. Do no be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

“The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:10, 13

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”          1 Corinthians …

What does is mean to be truly satisfied? The definition of the word satisfy used as a verb is to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs or demands of a person or to put an end to a desire, want or need by sufficient provision. Some of the synonyms for the word satisfy are gratify, pacify, appease and please.

AM I TRULY SATISFIED WITH MY LIFE?…….
What is enough?
Do I appreciate my blessings?
Do I buy more than I need?
Do I serve those in need?

How are we satisfied? What brings satisfaction…..?
CONFLICT FREE LIVING– when relationships with family and friends are going well and there is no conflict in interpersonal relationships in business or community.
COMPLETED “TO DO” LIST-having a “To Do” list completed for the day.
CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY– “satisfied” may be when people feel they are making a contribution to society.
CONTENTMENT-Satisfaction comes when hopes or expectations are met by people, or circumstances that can be controlled or events that occur in our lives that can not be controlled.
FULFILLMENT OF WANTS/NEEDS-Often times we think of satisfaction only in terms of the fulfillment of material wants and needs. In our culture of consumerism and materialism we get off track easily. Every where we turn there is an opportunity to to be discontent because the goal of media marketing is to makes us believe there is “more and better” of everything we could possibly need or want.

A few months ago, my husband and I read a book with a few friends called “Satisfied-Discovering Contentment in a World of Consumption” written by Jeff Manion

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The DVD series and workbook that went along with this book had some challenging tasks for us to do, to help us begin our journey towards …

Are you thirsty? Do you feel like your thirst is never quenched? Do you feel an ongoing need for hydration? Are we every fully satisfied?

Water is essential to our lives. I am sure you already know we cannot survive without it. But did you know our bodies are made of 50-70% water? Water is vital as it dissolves substances, carries nutrients, transports oxygen, aids other organs, regulates body temperature, sends electrical messages, helps digestion, and many other essential functions. And not only is our body made of water, we have to continually put water in to continue replenishing what we use and lose. So we never arrive and have a sufficient and lasting amount of water. We always need more and more. How people get water into their body can look a little different, but the base has to be water.  Water in its purest form is the best.  But you can get small amounts of waters from teas, fruits, vegetables, and other foods. But that doesn’t replace the need for just pure water.

We always think of drinking water once we get thirsty, but what we forget is it is much more beneficial to hydrate yourself consistently.  When competing or exercising, the process of drinking water should happen way before you even start.  Water improves performance from the beginning.  Once you feel thirsty, it has already gone too far.  Your body is then in survival mode. Water needs to be an every day, all the time, without even thinking, choice.

Now some of you may see where I am going, but can’t we look at this and compare it to our lives as believers.  To be truly refreshed, we need to saturate ourself in the love of Jesus, the word of God, the community of believers, the blessing …

Are you thirsty? Do you feel like your thirst is never quenched? Do you feel an ongoing need for hydration? Are we every fully satisfied?

Water is essential to our lives. I am sure you already know we cannot survive without it. But did you know our bodies are made of 50-70% water? Water is vital as it dissolves substances, carries nutrients, transports oxygen, aids other organs, regulates body temperature, sends electrical messages, helps digestion, and many other essential functions. And not only is our body made of water, we have to continually put water in to continue replenishing what we use and lose. So we never arrive and have a sufficient and lasting amount of water. We always need more and more. How people get water into their body can look a little different, but the base has to be water.  Water in its purest form is the best.  But you can get small amounts of waters from teas, fruits, vegetables, and other foods. But that doesn’t replace the need for just pure water.

We always think of drinking water once we get thirsty, but what we forget is it is much more beneficial to hydrate yourself consistently.  When competing or exercising, the process of drinking water should happen way before you even start.  Water improves performance from the beginning.  Once you feel thirsty, it has already gone too far.  Your body is then in survival mode. Water needs to be an every day, all the time, without even thinking, choice.

Now some of you may see where I am going, but can’t we look at this and compare it to our lives as believers.  To be truly refreshed, we need to saturate ourself in the love of Jesus, the word of God, the community of believers, the blessing …