We all make hundreds of decisions every day. Some of those decisions are about how we spend the next ten minutes. We can use those minutes constructively or wile them away in mindless entertainment. What are we actively doing today to nourish spirit, mind, emotions, and body?
What am I doing to nourish my spirit?
I don’t leave this to organized groups alone, such as church and Bible study groups. Groups are irreplaceably important, but I do the work of Bible reading and prayer on my own even when not with the group. Reading inspirational material online is also helpful. I love a Bible concordance website called https://www.biblegateway.com I can look up topics or snatches of Bible verses that I can’t remember the location of. It even lets me read the verses in any translation I choose. I can read the whole chapter or just the verses I’m searching for.
Like-minded family and friends are priceless treasures. They back us up, show us by example what a godly life looks like, and just show up at the right times. I want to be a friend like that to others.
What am I doing to nourish my mind?
Media can waste our time, tear us down, and dull our inner person or it can instruct and inspire. We can learn about just about anything online. I take time every day to learn something online about my chosen profession so I can improve and serve my clients better. YouTube is amazing. Yesterday, when I arrived at my client’s home, my camera misbehaved which threw me into a panic since we had traveled two hours to do an end of life portrait shoot and I had to get the images. With the calmness of my friend as support, I completed the shoot in spite of the camera acting weird. When I got home, I got on U Tube and learned that the problem was a control wheel I had unwittingly moved on my camera when I packed it in its satchel. Happy ending; the portraits were lovely and nothing was actually broken on my camera. I also enjoy Facebook pages where other photographers share their work and get input from the group. There are professional pages for every field, I’m guessing. What do you want to learn more about and improve your skills? The stimulation of walking with others on your path is invaluable.
What am I doing to nourish my emotions?
I expose myself to materials and people that are positive, uplifting, and challenging. I don’t watch TV because I find most shows deplete my emotional energy. This is strictly a personal thing. TV and movies are a much-needed escape for most people and do no harm as long as the stories are pure and honorable.
I get some entertainment and laughs from animal videos and travel videos online. I love the daily dose of outstanding animal photography I get from Sean Crane whose Photo of the Day I subscribe to. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and sign up if you want a daily email with a link to view the animal of the day. Free, fun, and so educational. It’s usually the last email I read in the evening and it’s a relaxing way to close my internet time.
Beloved pets shower us with affection and are living stress relievers. They refresh our tired hearts. Soft fur, kind eyes, devotion- what a refuge in a crazy world!
Because I’m musically challenged, I don’t take advantage of music as I should. Most of you are better at this method of nourishing our emotions than I am. Since ancient times music has been a powerful force for soothing, calming, and refreshing. In the Bible, the young David was brought to play the lyre for the king in order to soothe him when he was having a serious emotional break. We all know that listening to certain types of music calms us. Participating in music by singing along lifts our spirits. In the case of spiritual songs, we connect with God and are enabled to express our beliefs and feelings on a deep level. How do you include music in your life?
“David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.” 1 Samuel 16:23
“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20
Self-forgiveness is another way to nourish our hearts. There are different kinds of mistakes. One kind is a wrong moral choice that hurts ourselves and others. This is why Jesus died. We needed a perfect man to take our punishment and get us back on the good path. When we acknowledge our sin and turn from it, we must ask forgiveness from those we hurt. We also need to revel in the forgiveness of God and not beat ourselves up. Every time we feel guilt, we can say, “Thank you, Lord, that you forgave me.” When we feel forgiven ourselves, we will be able to forgive others.
“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13
There are other mistakes that are just plain doing a dumb thing. The mistake wasn’t a moral wrong. Jesus knows we’re made of dust and he’s gracious. How many times have I made a driving mistake, but was spared injury? The best response is to consider what to do differently next time, commit to being more careful, and thank God for intervening. He’s merciful.
“The Lord is . . .tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.” Psalm 103:14
Here are quotes I love:
“I am built from every mistake I ever made.” TobyMac#speaklife
“Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose (word crossed out and replaced with) Learn. The question to ask is not whether you are a success or a failure, but whether you are a learner or a nonlearner.” John Maxwell
What am I doing to nourish my body?
I cook from scratch so we can avoid preservatives and additives. Every day we eat fresh produce, eggs, butter and drink whole milk from a local dairy, and enjoy dark chocolate. For those who have more money than time, Trader Joe’s has prepared food without the chemicals. Convenience food without the guilt! Most Americans don’t eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables because it takes time, effort, and money. I think it’s worth the investment.
We take supplements because some vitamins and minerals are hard to get enough of in our food. Cheap source online for supplements- Swanson Vitamins
Assorted Facebook pages that are worthy of reading. (I won’t bore you with my favorite professional photography pages.)
Recently I found a FB page that features lovely art and uplifting messages
These two feature lovely art. Please be discerning about the text.
Healing with Art, Poetry, Songs, and Psalms
Christian pages
Just for Fun