Category Archives: inspiration

The Power of Prayer

inspiration, personal growth,

Power of Prayer

A “funny” de-motivational type post I found on the internet: “Prayer: How to do nothing and feel like you’re helping.” Statements like that make me sad, because they expose a fundamental misunderstanding, and also because they contain a grain of truth.
I know that when faced with the problems of friends or family members we have all said, “I’ll pray for you,” and then promptly forgot. I know that praying for someone does not directly fill their empty stomach or physically relieve them of their burdens. But prayer is NOT “nothing.”

1. Prayer Changes ME: When I pray for others, it raises my awareness of the needs around me. It also changes my attitude. This is why we are to pray for our enemies. Prayer softens my heart and protects me from becoming bitter. But praying for our enemies is HARD! I know I’m supposed to, but we’re enemies for a reason, so I’m always tempted to pray little prayers. “God, I’m praying for my enemy because you told me to. So, um, don’t let them get hit by a bus. A car though, no, that’s still too much. A bicycle, maybe, they deserve that much…” I’m pretty sure that’s not what God had in mind. It’s like asking your child to go get your spouse and instead of getting up and doing what you asked, they just start yelling. I can yell, child, I wanted you to get up and go get him so this house can remain quiet and pleasant. We are called to pray for our enemies, to pray instead of worrying, to pray because it corrects our mindset to be more Godly. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Prayer replaces worry with peace. Prayer replaces bitterness with understanding.

2. Prayer is a Tool that God uses to Reveal Himself to us: Growing up in the church, I heard countless stories of people waking in the middle of the night or being struck in the middle of the day with a sudden urge to pray for a particular individual, only to find out later that the individual they were praying for had endured danger or trials at that exact time. Why does the all-powerful, all-knowing God need me to pray? If he woke me up, clearly he’s already aware of the situation, right? I don’t think that God NEEDS our prayers in order to act on behalf of our loved ones. But he longs to communicate with us. And if He prompts us to communicate with Him and we find out later that there was a real need or an answer to our prayers, our faith is bolstered and we are drawn closer to the God who loves us and wants to communicate with us.

3. Prayer is an investment of time: Not everyone has the financial means or physical ability to serve as a missionary or to feed the hungry. Are nursing home-bound seniors on a fixed income worthless to God? Of course not! Prayer creates solidarity and a feeling of being fully vested in ministry. It is an investment with great value! Prayer does not excuse the capable from physically and financially serving those in need, but it allows us to be mindful and supportive of the efforts of others. Matthew 9:38 commands us, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” If you’re aware of a need in this world that you can’t meet yourself, you are commanded to pray and ask God to provide workers who can.

Prayer does not replace helping others, it supplements it. Jesus went off into the wilderness to pray in preparation for his ministry, and he prayed throughout his time on Earth. But he also healed the sick and fed the five thousand. He had regular, intentional times of communicating with his Father and, fueled by that, he then got up and served, loved, and gave of himself. We are commanded to do the same.
James 2:14-18: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”

I love stories of answered prayers. Share yours in the comments!

Bonus: Inspirational Printable on Prayer

Prayer Printable

The Spiritual Journey – Walking with Jesus and Becoming More Like Him

inspiration, personal growth

Spiritual Journey

Housekeeping: We did have a Food Shelf Friday meal last week after all. In the very last meal of the week, Sunday night for dinner, we ate red beans and rice and canned corn. Our food shelf box got a matching meal. And we made it to Feed My Starving Children on Monday morning, so just like that my New Year’s Resolutions are back on track. Also this week we got a chance to see an amazing documentary called The Starfish Throwers. It will be out on DVD, Netflix, etc. this fall, and I’ll do a film review then, but in the meantime, check out the trailer.

I’ve been trying to eat “clean” lately. I need to lose some weight, but more than that I need to fuel my body with good nutrition. So I gave up fast food and sugar, and added more fresh fruits and veggies to my diet. But I find that there is no end to the things I can do to improve the way I live: quit drinking soda, switch to grass-fed beef, buy organics, stop buying products tested on animals, and don’t even get me started on the gluten debate! On and on – it never ends. Just when I think I’m doing something right, I discover a new way I’ve undermined my health, wasted precious resources, or contributed to injustice in the world. There is always a new improvement to chase.

My spiritual life is much the same. I remember when I was young, I thought that I was “pretty good” and wondered how people could say that they were always improving and becoming more like Jesus every day.  How low were they to begin with that they had that much “up” in front of them? But over the years I have realized that faith is not a to-do list of steps to achieve perfection. Faith is a complicated mixture of attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors. Although I may overcome some faults, I will also develop new ones along the way. I might obey all the “thou shalts,” and “thou shalt nots,” but that doesn’t mean I’m all God wants me to be.

I can ALWAYS be more like Jesus.

I can ALWAYS be more loving to my people, more kind to strangers, and more forgiving of my enemies.

I can ALWAYS become more aware of the needs around me, less focused on what I want, and more encouraging and helpful.

We need to embrace the lifelong process of drawing closer to God and becoming more like Jesus. Change can be hard, I know, but someday we’ll look back and be thankful that we’re not the same as we once were, just as I hope to one day look back and be appalled by the chips that are calling my name today.  Like the expression says, Jesus loves us just as we are, but too much to leave us that way.

Romans 12:1-2: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18: Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Philippians 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Thoughts, inspiration, or scripture to share? Add a comment below!

Waste Not – Want Not: Regrowing Food from Kitchen Scraps

inspiration, Resources,

zombie gardening

Food-That-Magically-Regrows-Itself-1080x3225from Whole Foods via Cookingstoned.tv

Spring is in the air, and I catch myself daydreaming about sun on my back and dirt under my fingernails. I can’t wait to get my garden started – it’s hard to hold out for frost-free nights! Gardening is a great hobby; it allows you to commune with nature, learn about the environment, and feed your family whole, seasonal foods at an affordable price. Nothing the grocery store has to offer can compare with the flavor of my garden’s fresh offerings.

I know some people don’t have the space, knowledge, or inclination to garden. Getting started seems like a big commitment: sod removal, fence building, etc. This week we’re going to explore one way to cut those costs – plants that you can grow from food scraps. No digging up the lawn, no buying expensive equipment or even seeds. Some grow right in the kitchen, and others will need a pot or garden plot. It’s a fun and affordable way to cut your gardening costs and produce budget by using the same purchase over and over again!

1. Herbs: Basil, rosemary, and mint (and probably many others!) can be propagated and planted – a good return on that overpriced bunch of herbs from the grocery store! Pick a longer stem from the bundle and trim off the bottom and top leaves right where they meet the stem. Place the bottom of the stem in water and leave it. In about a week you’ve got little roots forming. Once the plant is substantial enough, you can transplant it to dirt. Step-by-step directions can be found on A Blossoming Life blog.

2. Celery, Romaine, and Other Bunches: When you bring home a bundle of celery, romaine lettuce, bok choy, or other veggie bunches, the first thing you do is hack off the stump end and toss it, right? I know that’s my process. But the root end of those plants can continue to produce! Cut off the stalks, and place the root end cut side up in warmish water. Every day, change out the water and within two weeks you should see new growth out the top. After 10 days-2 weeks, the plant is ready to be re-planted into soil. Step-by-step directions and pictures can be found on One Thousand Words blog. I love how she explains that veggies aren’t dead yet! Another post I saw referred to this regrowth as “zombie gardening.” That might be the hook I need to get my teenage son to participate and eat more veggies…

3. Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes: I can’t tell you how often I find the potatoes in my pantry sprouting and starting to rot. Commercially grown potatoes are cleaned before they’re sold, and that starts the decay process sooner than it does in nature. To use that growth rather than throw it out, cut the potatoes into pieces no smaller than a golf ball, making sure each piece has at least one eye. Voila, seeds! Kevin Lee Jacob’s site, A Garden for the House has a whole article on planting, growing, harvesting, and storing potatoes.

4. Onions and Garlic: Another veggie with a re-grow-able stem end is green onion. They’re super easy to grow, just cut off the tops you’re going to use, and put the stem ends in water. They’ll just grow back and you can keep clipping and regrowing from the same set of stems. Other onion varieties and garlic can also be regrown. Kalyn’s Kitchen has a good look at green onions. From Simple Daily Recipes, the directions for garlic. From Instructables, onions.

5. Seed-bearers: Bell peppers, lemons, apples, avocados, and other seed-bearing fruits and veggies can easily be regrown. Just remove the seeds, and let them dry before planting. Of course, apples and lemons are going to have to grow a whole tree before you get fruit from them, but if you’re interested in that project, you probably already have the seeds right in your kitchen.

A number of blogs and how-to sites have covered this topic very well, and they even offer info on some of the more complicated plants you can regrow, like pineapples:
DIY & Crafts
Simple Household Tips
Happy Money Saver

A few other thoughts on kitchen scraps:

*Veggie scraps, produce that’s about to turn, and chicken carcasses simmered together become chicken stock. This is virtually free and it’s much healthier than the expensive canned stock available commercially.

*Composting means using biodegradable food scraps and yard waste to create nutrient-dense soil. There are many how-to’s online if you’re interested in making your own nutrient-rich soil.

*Increase the nutrient density of your garden soil by burying banana peels beneath your roses or tomatoes, or by sprinkling crushed egg shells under your tomatoes. More info on Daddykirb’s Farm 

Waste not, want not! Have a happy spring, and don’t forget to share your scrap-recycling and gardening ideas in the comments! (Disclaimer: I’ve linked to a lot of blog posts that do a great job describing “zombie gardening,” but in most cases that post is the only thing I’ve read on the site. I’m not necessarily endorsing the whole blog, you’ll have to check it out for yourself.)

What Does the Bible Say About Poverty and Hunger?

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What does the Bible say.pub

March is Bible month, so I’m jumping on that bandwagon and taking a look at what the Bible says about poverty and hunger.

Like most comfortable middle-class Americans, I squirm when faced with the reality of a poor and starving world. I’ll admit that I sometimes play dumb and ignore my responsibilities to my fellow man. It’s really easy to feel that I have no time or money to give, or that helping others might put me in danger (picking up hitchhikers is something I will probably never do, sorry Jesus). We have made ignoring what the Bible teaches about poverty into an art form. We pick and choose, brushing aside the directives and attacking the poor with verses that condemn laziness and drunkenness. If we can pass the blame for poverty, our guilt is appeased and we can go back to enjoying our favorite TV show.

It is not God’s plan for you to be guilty and miserable. He isn’t glorified by your guilt.

The simple truth is that there is a big, hungry world out there. Innocent children and hardworking adults suffer as the result of corrupt systems, natural disasters, and physical and mental disabilities as well as bad decisions. It is time for us to put down the remote and take an honest, open-eyed look at what the Bible teaches about poverty and hunger.

As Christians, we are no longer subject to the law God commanded on the Israelites. Jesus paid that debt, fulfilled that covenant, and created a new contract with humanity. But the law still has much to tell us about the God who authored it.

*Leviticus 19:9-10: When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard: you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.
*Deuteronomy 15:11: For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’

God’s covenant with the Israelites commanded them to leave enough margin in their lives that they could provide for the poor. Do we have enough margin in our lives, or are we strapped so tight that we just feel powerless and guilty?

The Psalms and Proverbs overflow with references to God’s feelings for the poor.

Psalm 41:1: Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

Psalm 72:4: He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.

Psalm 82:3-4: Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 140:12: I know that the Lord will maintain The cause of the afflicted, And justice for the poor.

Proverbs 14:31: He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

Proverbs 19:17: He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.

Proverbs 21:13: Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.

Proverbs 22:9: He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives his bread to the poor.

Proverbs 29:7: The righteous considers the cause of the poor, But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

Proverbs 31:20 (The virtuous woman): She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

And that’s just a sampling of the many verses David and Solomon wrote about God’s concern for the poor and our role in meeting the needs of others.

Proverbs also contains a number of verses condemning laziness.

Proverbs 10:4: He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Proverbs 19:15: …An idle person will suffer hunger.

Proverbs 24:33-34: A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

The same author, King Solomon, tells us to give to the poor and that laziness causes poverty. I don’t believe his opinion on poverty changed from day to day, nor do I think Solomon had any idea of blaming the poor for their condition. I think the reason for including both commands is because they are both aimed at the reader, not the reader’s perception of others. Think of it as a parent imparting wisdom to a child. We strive to raise generous kids, and we also want them to be hard working. Solomon wasn’t giving his readers a means to judge others, he was instructing them on how they themselves should live – both generous and hard working.

A few other favorites:

Isaiah 61:1-3 (Prophesy in Isaiah, read and fulfilled by Jesus in Luke 4:18-22): The spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound: To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
If this is a (rather poetic) summary of Jesus’ ministry here on Earth, it is abundantly clear that Jesus didn’t come to bring us prosperity, but comfort, peace, freedom, and hope. Our end goal is to be like Jesus and bring glory to God, so we need to do the same – bring comfort, peace, freedom and hope to those in bad situations.

Micah 6:8: He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
Mercy AND justice. Victims want justice without mercy, and the guilty want mercy without justice. But God doesn’t see it as an either-or situation like we do. He commands us to be fair to others and offer mercy, even to those who are not fair to us. It sounds hard, that’s why we have to walk humbly with our God. Sometimes poverty is caused by injustice that we should fight, but sometimes people need mercy to help them step away from their past mistakes.

Matthew 25:31-46: (from verse 40) Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.
We may be comfortable here in modern America, but as the story in this passage shows, one day we will stand before Jesus and He will want to know why we ignored Him when our fellow man was hungry, naked, or in prison. And judging by the end of the passage, “we didn’t know it was you” isn’t going to be the right answer.

Luke 14:13-14: But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.

Acts 20:35: …it is more blessed to give than to receive.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3: Though I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

We are instructed over and over to care for the poor, but as the 1 Corinthians verses show, it’s not about the actions, it’s about the attitude. Care for the poor and hungry shouldn’t come from fear of a smiting God, but from genuine love. Seeing the world the way God does, and stepping up to be His representatives to the precious people who are poor and hungry.

John 13:35: By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Obviously, the main source for this post was the Bible. All verses quoted are from the New King James version, and the odd random looking capitalization is included just the way it looked in my Bible app. I also gathered information from Ronald J. Sider’s book Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity. Feel free to add your thoughts or favorite verses in the comments!

7 Ways to Help When You Have Nothing to Give

inspiration, Resources, Service Projects

Publication1

Life is expensive. Kids outgrow their shoes overnight, cars break down, and there is ALWAYS some home improvement project that needs attention. Finding additional money to donate for worthy causes like hunger is a challenge. Most of us don’t have the Bill Gates/Warren Buffet type of disposable income to make huge gifts. In fact, most of us use everything we have just to take care of our own. It can be discouraging, I know, but don’t despair! There are lots of things you are already doing that can be used to make a difference. And when my little bit joins up with yours, before you know it we’re contributing millions.

Here is a list of 7 ways that you can help when you have nothing to give.

Time is Money: It seems like you go through seasons in life when there is just not enough time, and seasons when there is not enough money. I’m in a “not enough time” season right now; our bills are paid, but I’m working six days a week while going to grad school on the side. Back when I was a stay-at-home mom, I had more time on my hands, but the finances were tighter. (And yes, sometimes you feel like you have neither time nor money. It happens. If you’re there right now, I hope it ends soon for you and you can reclaim some of your financial and/or scheduling independence.) If you’re retired, a stay at home parent, seasonally employed, or temporarily out of work, you may not have disposable income, but your free time isn’t free, it’s valuable!

  1. Volunteer: Nearly all non-profit organizations use volunteer labor, and there are jobs for volunteers of all ages and abilities. You can pack meals at Feed my Starving Children or Kids Against Hunger. Volunteer at a food bank or soup kitchen. If you don’t know where to start, hit the internet and run a quick search for non-profit orgs near you, ask friends where they volunteer, or ask your pastor for suggestions.
  2. Use your Time to Cut your Costs: When my schedule was a bit looser, I used to spend more time planning out my grocery spending. I got really good at matching coupons with store sales, shopping on the special double coupon days, and I trimmed my family’s grocery budget (which included: food, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items, and pet food) by $150/month. It took time, for sure, but that time paid me well! Click HERE for Pocket Your Dollars, the blog that helped me find the matchups.
  3. Use your Time to Make Some Money: I know this is really basic, but I’m not necessarily talking about taking on another job, just using a day or a weekend for your favorite cause. Holding a garage sale is a great way to make some money while cutting clutter. You can also sell your unwanted items on eBay, or drop off some clothes, shoes, and accessories at a consignment shop. Clean out the kids’ closets and the sporting goods in the shed and make a run to Once Upon a Child or Play it Again Sports.

Shopping and Gift Giving: Gift giving is a big expense. We all love to spoil our friends and family members, but that really adds up! There are a few things you can do to use those gifts to help more than one person

  1. Credit Card Programs: Many credit cards these days have rewards programs. For example, when I use my card, I get points that I can redeem for gift cards to a wide variety of restaurants, retail stores, etc. Those gift cards make great gifts, or I can use them to shop for a gift. I know some people don’t use credit. That’s a totally valid choice that has a lot of benefits. But for those of us who responsibly do use cards, make sure you’re getting as much out of it as possible (and be careful; debt and identity theft are ugly monsters…).
  2. Org Gear: Some of your favorite charitable organizations have merchandise that you can purchase. The money benefits their programs, and the gear creates awareness when you wear it. For J’s birthday this year, one of his gifts was a tee from our favorite organization, Feed My Starving Children. The cost of the shirt provided 65 meals for kids in need. Some people are rotten hard to shop for. Making a charitable donation in their name is a great option. Find out what causes and charities your loved one is passionate about, and give to that cause in their name.
  3. Cause Apparel: There are a number of companies out there that use your purchases to employ the disadvantaged, teach job skills, or give a portion of their proceeds to charity. My sisters both got shirts from Sevenly for their birthdays. I spent the same amount as usual, but the gifts did double duty that both giver and recipient can feel good about. There are a lot of companies that fit this: Toms gives away a pair of shoes for every pair purchased (I still think they’re ugly, but to each his own). Noonday Collection and The Giving Keys sell accessories that give people work with dignity and help them dig their way out of poverty. There are a ton of good organizations like this – add the ones you’re familiar with in the comments!
  4.  Amazon Smile: I’ve mentioned this before on the Facebook page, but in case you missed it, you have to check out Amazon Smile. It’s really simple: instead of going to http://www.amazon.com, go to www.smile.amazon.com. Log in as usual, and chose a non-profit organization to receive a portion of the money you spend on Amazon. Most items are eligible (occasionally you see a third party seller’s item that isn’t eligible for the smile donation), the prices are the same as regular Amazon, and all the Prime members’ benefits count just like usual. You can change your charity, too. I like to switch mine up every couple months. Click HERE for the FAQ page about Amazon Smile.

There you go! Seven simple ways that you can help when you have nothing to give. I know there are more great ideas out there, share them in the comments!