Drink More Water

Posted on July 8, 2014 by tammie@chaostochrist.com

 

Water

I am on a new quest – to drink more water.  Eight glasses is the recommended guideline for most of us for proper water intake.  EIGHT glasses a day.  That is an amazing amount of water.  I do not have time to drink that much and I am really not that thirsty.  Surely, sweet tea would suffice.

But according to WebMD (love that site), there are several reasons to drink more water.  The scientific facts are from the website .  I added in the commentary.

1. Drinking water helps maintain the balance of body fluids, helps the kidneys, and maintains normal bowel function.  Can’t believe I just typed that one.  But essentially water just makes our body work.

2.  Water energizes our muscles.  It helps repair our muscles as we exercise.  And of course, we are all exercising.  At least attempting to, right?

3.  Water helps our skin look good.  Dehydration can make skin look more dry and wrinkled.  No one wants that.

4.  Water can help control calories.  This is my favorite reason to drink more H2O.  Water costs us no calories to drink it (unlike say.. well anything else including sweet tea) and it makes us feel full.  Apparently, sometimes we think we are hungry but we’re really just thirsty.

There was a lady in the Bible who was on a quest – to get water.  Her story is found in John 4:3-30.  She is not mentioned in the Bible by name.  Other Jews wouldn’t speak to her.  Most Samaritans wanted nothing to do with her.  She had what we might consider more obvious sins in her life.  But just like all of us, she had needs.  She needed nourishment.

And just like most days for her, she headed to the well to get water.  But this day was different.  This day, everything changed.  She met Jesus at the well.  And what He offered her was so much more than what she came to the well to get.  He offered her living water.  And His living water would cause her to never thirst again.

Regardless of our sins (obvious or not), Jesus makes that same offer to us.  And when we are dependent upon Jesus for our needs, our desires, when we trust in his ability to provide for us, we will never thirst for other things.  

Psalm 42:1

So why do we tend to look for fulfillment and nourishment everywhere but Jesus?  All the other paths, all the other “stuff,” all the “chaos” will always leave us thirsty, always wanting more.

When we daily seek Jesus, through prayer and Bible study, He will provide us the nourishment and support that we need to not only to make it through each day but to be a light that shines bright for Him.

As much as we need to drink more water, I pray more than anything that we will seek Jesus each day.  That we will have a deep thirst for His living water.  Allowing Him to meet our needs, trusting in His word, guiding us through the chaos.  And that is so much sweeter than any tea!

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Proud to Be an American

Posted on July 4, 2014 by tammie@chaostochrist.com

Proud to Be An American

Are you proud to be an American today?

I think back to the few times that I have been privileged to travel to another country and how wonderful it was to come back home.  We have so much to be grateful for here in the United States and never is that more evident than when you have experienced life elsewhere even for just a little while.  Although we may sometimes take our freedoms for granted, we must always strive to remember that a great price has been paid for the freedoms that we enjoy today.

The American moment most memorable to me was when our country came together for a day of prayer after the 9/11 attacks.  My husband and I were both working downtown at the time and we went along with coworkers to a local church.  It was a time that it didn’t seem to matter what our religion was or what church we chose to attend.  We were unified in spirit and as a country.

Since that time, I’ll admit that I have at times become uninformed, uncaring, and disillusioned with the affairs of our country.  It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that as individuals we cannot make much of a difference.

In studying I Peter, I have been reminded that each of us have responsibilities as citizens of this country.  For us to be a proud American, it takes a little effort on our part.

We are instructed to be submissive to governing authorities. (I Peter 2:13-14)  This includes obeying laws (even the speed limit signs – ugh!) and paying our taxes (not a fun check to write). But I think it also means showing respect for those in government regardless of whether we might always agree with their political position.

We also need to stay informed.  Don’t skip over that section of the paper or tune out that portion of the daily news.  Know and understand what the issues are for our local, state, and national government and how that affects each of us as citizens.

We should also support those candidates that we believe have a heart for service.  I found it interesting that in Romans 13:6, the “authorities” are referred to as God’s servants.  I’m not sure I have always seen it that way.  But there really are amazing people that want to help make our country a better place and they can only do that through our support.

The most important thing that we can do for our country is to pray.  Pray for our leaders, pray that God will give them wisdom in their decisions, pray for our safety as a country, pray that the moral value of our country will be representative of our faith.  Pray that we will continue to enjoy the freedoms that we have cherished.  Pray that our country will be able to look past the chaos and keep a firm focus on Christ.

We can make a difference.  We can be proud to be an American.  And, if you know someone who is, or has in the past, served our great country, please tell them thanks.  For it is these men and women that have made our country the greatest country in the world.

Happy Independence Day!

american flag

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A Beach Like No Other

Posted on July 1, 2014 by tammie@chaostochrist.com

A Beach Like No OtherSeeing all the pictures this summer of friends at the beach with their families has made me long for a beach trip of my own.  Some of our best memories with our kids are the times that we have spent with them on the beach and in the ocean.  The very first time we took our kids, our son didn’t care for the sand and our daughter wanted nothing to do with the ocean.  Thankfully, we found something they both could agree on.  They loved washing off at the pool!

A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of visiting a beach like no other.  A group of ladies from our church traveled to Greece to provide a women’s retreat for the missionaries working in that part of the world.  I know it doesn’t sound like a tough mission trip but I promise that it was more like camping than the beach trip you may be picturing in your mind.

While there, I had the opportunity to walk out on the beach across the street from where we were staying.  The beach there was not like the sandy beaches of Florida that I have experienced on our summer trips.  The beach surrounding the Aegean Sea was covered in rocks.

These rocks were beautiful to look at and were smooth to the touch from many years of natural sanding by other rocks and the sea.  As I was seated on that beach halfway across the world in a quiet time of prayer, I looked around at all the dark colored rocks in colors ranging from light to dark gray and black.  And in the midst of all the dark rocks, I noticed a beautiful white one.

That white rock completely stood out and shined among the dark rocks.  I love that white rock which might have made the trip back with me.  Although, I have since heard that action might be illegal.  Oops.

The reason I love that rock is because it reminded me of my journey with Christ.  I am sure that I appeared to Him as a dark, rough rock with all the sin and disobedience in my life.  But because of his love, He saved me.  He washed me until I was as white as that rock.

Through life experiences and the Lord’s graceful guidance and sometimes discipline, He continues to shape me, to smooth out my roughness.  To hopefully, overtime make me look more and more like him.

When we turn our lives over to Christ and acknowledge our sin, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us just like the ocean water cleans the rocks.

I John 1:9

We are each called to be a light in this world.  A white rock among the dark ones.  I pray that we never overlook the saving power of His love and forgiveness.  That we are always listening for His voice to guide us through the rough patches of life.  And that along the way, we might be a light that leads others straight back to him.

Also, I pray that we might not be so envious of our friends enjoying time at the beach!  I guess that last prayer may just be for me.

 

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Bloom Where Planted

Posted on June 28, 2014 by tammie@chaostochrist.com

 

Bloom Where Planted

Traveling to visit my parents this weekend. Along the way, I noticed all these beautiful wildflowers growing along the side of the interstate. Sure seems like they would be better served in a garden where they could be more appreciated. But they are blooming where they are planted so to speak. Making a difference right where they are.

Spending this time with my parents sure makes me wish we could visit them more regularly and that they lived closer. The years seem to be passing quickly not only for them but us as well.

My dad still pastors a church, preaches each week, and oversees a daycare. Most days he drives in heavy traffic to get there and back. But my parents feel that they are following the path Christ has called them to. Ministering to others, encouraging others… right where they are.

Are we blooming right where we are?

It is easy to become discouraged at times trying to make a difference in the lives of others. Perhaps we feel we aren’t equipped, surrounded by the right people, in the right environment. Maybe we think our own circumstances are limiting what we might be able to do.

But we are each uniquely positioned to make a difference in the lives of those around us.

Our experiences, even our inabilities might be exactly the perspective that someone in our lives can best identify with. Perhaps all that is missing is our acknowledgement, obedience, and submission to allow Christ to use us.

Proverbs 3:6

I pray that we will allow Christ to use us, to work through us. Ministering to those around us, encouraging them each day, and allowing His light to always shine through us in all that we do and say. Just like those beautiful wildflowers by the interstate, He can use each of us…. right where we are.

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