Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Zest Welcomed

Welcome! In today's devotion I talked about cultivating a "zesty life." About intentionally enjoying life - to the glory of God its creator - through the simple pleasures in our days.

This morning I slept in after driving home late last night from the talent show at the rustic summer camp my kids are at this week.  I arose to see a scarlet red cardinal out my windows.  I watched him. His coloring is outstanding – I especially love to see cardinals in the snow at wintertime.  Then I thought of the verse about not a single sparrow falling to the ground without God’s knowledge, and how God cares even more intensely about you and me. I gave God thanks for the way He cares for me most care-fully.

So today I’m on a mission to notice the little evidences of God’s care – and to enjoy each one, starting with the breakfast on my kitchen table.  I will not be rushing through saying grace, but genuinely thanking Him for the size, color, taste and healthful benefits of blueberries.  And I plan to savor those berries!

zesting lime

What can you notice or do to feed your enthusiasm for this day?

Care to share something beautiful from your day so far?

Thankful for birds and berries.

39 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 23, 2010

    Amen to your P31 devotional today! I love my jobs....all of them :-)

    1 Cor 10.31

    Sylvia

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  2. AnonymousJune 23, 2010

    We were woken up this morning at 1am with a lightening show. Amazing! When you see the lightening go across the sky you realize the amazing power of God. It is overwhelming. If God has that much power to light up the sky with lightening, just think what He can do in our everyday lives with His power. I am going to have a "zesty" day today! Thanks Rachel!

    Nanci

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  3. I get to babysit my 5 month old grandson on Wednesdays so I woke up to him sleeping next to me. Beautiful.

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  4. AnonymousJune 23, 2010

    One of the beauties of summer is when the Lord lights up the trees and yard with fireflies. It makes me feel like a kid again.

    Grace

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  5. Your devotionals are a blessing to me. Right now I as seeing my 18 month old go through my office drawers and playing with all the pencials and erasers...yes, it's a mess, but it gives him joy and what's a little mess here and there?

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  6. AnonymousJune 23, 2010

    Woke up again today to the sounds of a bird I call Lord because he reminds me to thank God each and every day for the blessings in my life. God is good and I am thankful that I have him in my life.

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  7. Thank you for the devotional! I love all my jobs. I am a wife, mom, and volunteer at our church. I have a medical office job, and I recognize that through it, I get to help so many people - patients and coworkers. I pray that God keeps my eyes open to His beauty daily, and allows me to share it.

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  8. I just want to say that your blog came right on time, and did help me to reflect on all the joy there is - that i [normally] see every other day!! ;)

    I am determined to see it today... this next week, and these next 2 years! (for details see my post - i didn't want to take up too much space here!)

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  9. I got to sleep in this morning and I woke up to the birds singing and a beautiful day. I am gong for a run with a friend this morning at the lake and I plan to enjoy all of God's beautiful creation.

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  10. Thanks for the reminder. The sunshine and flowers are such a reminder of the Creator and bring joy!

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  11. I walk my dog every morning, and right now we have some trees that are in full bloom. They are very fragrant blossoms, and I remind myself to take the time and sniff to enjoy the beauty that God has created.

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  12. I love being a wife to a husband who loves looking at sunsets. Our children have learned to look for beauty in our world too.

    I have a friend who dances in the rain. What a wonderful idea! We're flooded often (lately) where we live and have lots of opportunities to do just that...as long as there is no lightning!

    I LOVE teaching (it's my passion), and although God has me homeschooling for this time in my life, he has allowed me to homeschool another child, which satisfies my desire to teach others. It also satisfies my desire to add more children to our family...something my husband and our finances won't allow.

    Melinda

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  13. Hey P31 sister, I loved your devo today. Sometimes it's the smallest things that really make me happy. Flowers in the garden. Water gently cascading on the window. But today it is feeling God's gentle nudge as I read His word. Unexpected, but needed. I love it when that happens.

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  14. AnonymousJune 23, 2010

    Thanks for this awesome devotion. I have been watching my 8 year old son (my baby) jump on the trampoline with the sprinkler going underneath it. His zest gives me zest daily! And admiring beautiful hydrangeas in the yard. They were planted years ago by the previous owner of our home. Not having a green thumb myself, I am thankful for this reminder of God's beauty.

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  15. AnonymousJune 23, 2010

    I'm thankful for being able to sleep in today and being awakened to a lovely pale blue sky and sunshine flowing in.

    I love that there is a kiwi on the counter waiting for my consumption and my Mom is off work today - likely waiting for my phone call! God loves me!

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  16. AnonymousJune 23, 2010

    Last week I found I have an enlarged heart.I am thankful I have a heart that is full of LOVE for my Lord,son's,grandson,boyfriend,and my parents are still here for a purpose.I have an opportunity to live in So Cal where the strawberries are ripe for the harvest.The mountains behind my house are beautiful.My God is preparing a much more beautiful place in HEAVEN.No tears,no health issues,no pain and full of everlasting JOY!I am Blessed!Priscilla

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  17. My 18 month old little boys ornery smile!

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  18. Hi. I signed up thru wtbn (FL) for your devotional about 2 days ago and this one really struck and convicted me. Thank you so much. God is at work!
    I have ignored and avoided watching tv for years and today I watched "pregnant at 16", all the while thinking "this is wrong. this is trash, i need to turn this off now" but watched the last 45 minutes of it and wept. I have 2 children (20 mos and 33 months) and it is very hard, but God has provided relentlessly so I can stay at home with them and teach them about Jesus. I live with my dad. I'm 21. My heart has been smashed by my kid's dad over and over again for many things, and is freshly wounded now. Back to the tv show, the young girl gave her baby up for adoption- it looked horribly regretted especially by her boyfriend. Although life has felt like one big punishment from God, I see it's me. It's my problem to not be constantly attached to omnipresent God in all moments no matter what. Today, and time again, through God's strength alone, I really feel that I wouldn't change my life for a second. The exhaustion and pain is nothing compared to the turmoil Jesus felt. He didn't ever do anything wrong! Why do I expect anything better than Jesus had, when I am not perfect? I've always reminded myself that I will be made stronger through suffering, but my heart dreaded it nonetheless. God really has a way to push through to open my heart and eyes to His true beauty. I am grateful for Him and I really needed your devotional today, just another flood of God's love and grace upon my life this day!

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  19. A great devotion and post. I'm having computer problems but am trusting God will show me what to do or buy. Right now it's doing okay but the guy who just worked on it says there could be more problems later.
    Blessings, AE

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  20. AnonymousJune 23, 2010

    I was feeling unzestful until i read your devotional and looked out my window and i saw the beautiful mountains with the clouds sitting on it, so awesomely beautiful.

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  21. I am blessed. I do love my job. I recently got back from Hawaii (which I am sure heaven has to look like). My first day back to work was fun, because I love what I do and, honestly, :) because it was sunny at home, too. It's not always so nice here and it can get me down.

    So while I was in Hawaii I used my phone to video the waves crashing, the laugh of my kids, our friends. When I need that pick me up, it's right there.

    You are right, so very right, there is beauty in everything. Even the weeds that beckon outside to pluck them. If you really look at them, they can be beautiful...well, I might be pushing that one. :)

    Great devotion!

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  22. Everyday when I wake up I thank God and cannot wait for my day to begin. I have been retired now for eight years. I had to leave my job which I loved because of a heart condition called cardiomyopathy. At the end of six years I had a pacemaker put in. My heart now is dependent on it totally. Your devotion today really touched me. How can I not feel the zest to live. I've had a second chance at life. God is so good!

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  23. It was a beautiful devotional. I always feel sad for people who can't find joy in their job or in their day. I love the zest, the job, the beauty of the red birds in my back yard, the clean slate God gives us each day to write what we want on it for that day. I do stop my constant whirlwind moments to savor the sight of puppies rolling around playing, a child bursting into a room with excitement, a bright red bird sailing across my back yard. Then I step back into the whirlwind with a smile on my face and joy in my heart. I thank God for that!

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  24. My 7-year old daughter just called my cell phone from a super fun waterslide playdate at a friend's house to tell me that she had gotten a boo-boo and it was bleeding. There were no tears and no fussing. Just her simple sweet voice telling her Mama that she had been hurt, as if she knew her Mama would want to know. It is still amazing how something so simple can touch the heart of a mother so deeply.

    Sharon

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  25. Hi Rachel,

    It's unbelievably hot here in Florida right now (99 degrees outside as I type this) so I'm definitely thankful for A/C and our ceiling fans.

    I'm about to slice some watermelon and you'd better believe I'll be thankful for the smell, the taste, and the pleasure of eating it!

    Blessings!

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  26. AnonymousJune 23, 2010

    My job entails working with babies as my patients. I am thankful for the opportunity to do this. I am also thankful for my friends @ work who rally round me when the going gets tough. I am also thankful for my God who never leaves my side when the job gets stressful. His Holy Spirit is my Comforter and brings just the right Scriptures to mind when I need them. God is worth to be praised!

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  27. AnonymousJune 23, 2010

    Today the sun is shining after weeks of rain. I enjoyed our backyard pool with my daughter & two of her friends. I can't be soaking up the rays as long as they do, but feel so blest to have our daughter and that she shared her friends with me. I love time spent with our daughter. It was so good to see the sun again. Thank you Lord!

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  28. That's pretty cool. It's so important to take time to notice the small stuff that we ignore. So to answer your question, one small beauty that I love is the flowers that bloom in the summertime. :-)

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  29. Wow, I wish I had read this P31 devotion this morning......I needed it especially today. Passion for your job really hit home for me! Not having personel that report to me that do not have a passion for their job as I do! Very frusturating! Thank you for reminding me of the beauty God has given us! How easy it is to let other "things" get in the way! Tomorrow is another day and I'll start it out right first reading my P31 devotion!

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  30. AnonymousJune 23, 2010

    My pink camellias are in bloom and look gorgeous all along once fence. In the middle of winter in Australia, they are a beautiful sight. Thanks for your devotion. Ruby

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  31. Thanks for your devotions and willingness to share your walk with the world. I love my job. I'm a pathologist - always have challenging cases, always something new to learn. I lift up prayers for the patients with new cancer diagnoses. Our awesome God gave us wonderfully complex bodies.
    Please pray for my husband who has no joy. He is full of anger and depression and can't see the beauty around him. Please pray for our daughter growing up in a home of turmoil.

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  32. I love beauty---it has always been something I've stopped to notice throughout my life. I'm a phototgrapher by talent, mother by design, physical therapist by choice. The other day in my nursing home, a youth choir from Alabama stopped in to sing to our residents, acapella and with a sole guitar player. I had to join in with them---singing being another one of my passions, I couldn't help but feel the spirit move within--several quietly wiped tears from their eyes. That was God's beauty. The wrinkled smile on an elder's face---that's beauty. Birds chirping on a sunlit morning, rejoicing that they are alive---that's beauty. I'm glad to know that someone else shares my passion for something within me I could never understand. Thanks for the topic. Oh, btw, I couldn't stop smiling throughout the budapest video you posted----THAT was beauty-praising God. Yes! Halleleuiah!

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  33. My 2-y-old-daugther will be under a heart surgery next week, and seeing her smile today - a Gods given blessing - gives me strengh to hold on and be strong for her in the weeks coming.

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  34. There is beauty everywhere, especially in the natural world. I am lucky to be blessed with a career that I love! I am a landscape designer and I make lasting beauty for others to enjoy! The installation process is hot, hard, dirty work, but the results are amazing when we stand back at the end of the day, and I can see the idea that was birthed in my head is now a reality in someone's yard, hopefully to bring them pleasure for years to come. I thank God for my abilities, and the drive to start my own business. I pray for strength to carry on.

    Taking time to notice the little things can bring a smile to our faces and joy to our hearts. I realized today that even at 45 miles per hour I can still hear the birds singing along the roadside. Now that's Joy!

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  35. I awoke to see the beautiful sunshine smiling on my face. I always like to think of that as God's special Good morning to me. We have had so much rain and flooding so the sun is something to truly savor in my neck of the woods.

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  36. I'm late reading PS-31's devotional b/c I was leaving town on Wed. and before I went I wanted to post to facebook a pic of what I have been enjoying this past week and a half. A nest of baby birds! Every spring, some bird makes a nest very near our house, but always very high. We know the bird are there, but that's it. This year, a Mama Bird made her nest not even 5 feet off the ground, so I can stand on my tiptoes and look in. For weeks I saw 4 tiny blue eggs, and one day, in their place were 4 tiny (the size of my fingernail) pink naked babies with eyes fused shut. They grow so fast, though, that I could see change each day! Now they have some feathers and the four of them fill their nest. I watch their little mouths open as they wait for their food. These babies do not even sing yet! I now look forward each day to my "bird's eye view" of how they are growing - also thinking of how God watches over them and cares for them. :)

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  37. AnonymousJune 26, 2010

    Today there was an unexpected cloudy day with refreshing showers off and on throughout the day - such a relief from the heat of the past days. I stood in the rain just smiling so Thankful for the rain and His REIGN. Glad for the devotion and the questions posed as a reminder that not just in the unexpected of today - but everyday there is much to be Thankful for because He Reigns!

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  38. This morning we had a short downpour that made the green of the trees even more vibrant with the raindrops clinging to the leaves. Even the most ordinary parts of God's creation are marvelous.

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  39. I woke this morning to the whispers of my husband saying I love you. He is truly my blessing from God.

    ~Mary

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