Word - Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soul Food

January 22, 2015 by Ellen 43 Comments

“So you’ve never had a ‘proper job’?” she asked in her clipped British accent.

Our tour guide guffawed.

“Proper job? Proper job,” he mimicked. “Lady, this IS my ‘proper job’!”

His wind burned, sun wrinkled skin testified to the fact that he had been giving Colorado River tours for well over 20 years.

Most of the tourists on the boat snickered at his response to the Englishwoman. However, it filled me with longing…

To float slowly down the peaceful Colorado River, day in and day out, pointing out spectacular sights from nature, breathing in clean, fresh air. Every day seeing with fresh eyes something spectacular from God’s creation – THAT is the life! And he got paid for it! No worries, no hurries.

In today’s world, it’s all about productivity. Multi-tasking. Squeezing chores and to-do’s out of every second in the day. No wonder I’m frazzled by the end of the week. My body is tired, my mind is empty and my soul needs a retreat. A soul care retreat. A soul feeding with soul food.

And, what really, really feeds my soul is being outdoors, enjoying God’s creation. Whether it’s a slow meandering walk through nature, floating down the Colorado River or sitting outside soaking up the sun during lunch, I am revived and rejuvenated. My soul rejoices.

I wish that it was something more noble than this. A dear friend of mine says that volunteering at our local crisis pregnancy center “fills her cup.” I wish that I could say the same about feeding the hungry or helping others less fortunate. But my introverted personality craves alone time. Often, during busy, non-stop times of serving and doing, I find myself longing for the quietness of a cabin in the mountains, the beauty of a snowfall.

Rather than wish for something more noble to feed my soul, I am going to celebrate the way God created me. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. If that means being in nature and rejoicing in God’s creation feeds my soul, then that’s what I need to do. After all, I was knit together in my mothers’ womb by the Creator of the sun and skies and stars. Ultimately…

What do you love to do that feeds your soul?

Lord God, You designed each of us as unique individuals. You are intimately acquainted with all our ways, introverts and extroverts alike. We give thanks to you, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image. Amen

Until next week,

Linking up today with Bonnie Gray at Faith Barista:

and these other lovely writers:

Barbie at The Weekend Brew

Kelly at Purposeful Faith

Holly at Testimony Tuesday

Janis at Sunday Stillness

Holly at Coffee for Your Heart

Brittany at Fellowship Friday

What’s Your Word?

January 2, 2015 by Ellen 46 Comments

Are you a part of the One Word Movement? I am. I became a part of this movement even before I knew it was cool! Wa-a-a-a-y back, I would chose one word to live by for the year. In the past, some of my words have been Abide, Ponder, and Prayer.

Back in 2013, I discovered there was a book written about having One Word. Actually, I’ve seen two books. I’m not sure which one began “the movement.” Many writers and bloggers choose their One Word, and write about it each year. Go figure…I was way ahead of my time, and just didn’t know it.

Today, I am praying about and pondering my One Word for 2015. Several are rolling around in my heart.

I originally thought Love should be my word. I know I don’t love like Christ loves. This is something I need more of in my life. I need to learn to love the un-lovely. The sandpaper people. The people that don’t know Christ as their Savior. To love them would show them Christ in me. And out of an abundance of love, compassion would grow. Patience would flourish. Kindness would take over. There can never be too much love. “Love is patient, love is kind…” 1 Corinthians 13:4.

This is a different word, I know. I heard a webcast by Kim Cordes about Mind Mapping. She said that each thought we have makes a path across our brain. If we have the thought over and over, the path gets deeper and deeper. It seems we can get into “thought ruts.” I need to retrain my brain, stop the “have to” thoughts and change them to “get to.” I need to get out of the rut of my old thinking, and begin new thought patterns. “…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 10:5.

The more I ponder this word, the more I’m leaning toward it for 2015. It speaks, well, deep into my soul.

I imagine it like this: There’s a storm blowing in the middle of the ocean. I’m out there, in a tiny boat. The massive 20 foot waves are tossing me about, causing chaos in my boat. I finally fall out, and drop deep, deep, to the bottom of the ocean. My movements are slower, deep down in the water. I fall deeper and deeper, until the storm can’t reach me.

That’s how I want my relationship to be with Christ – deep, into the shelter of the Almighty, where storms can’t toss me about. I long to slow down, and learn the deep things of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:10). I desire to plumb the depths of His Word, and know Him ever deeper, every day.

[tweetthis]When I know the word, then I know The Word.

“The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1:14.[/tweetthis]

Deeper. Deeper knowledge of Him through His word, deeper dependance on Him through surrender, and a deeper relationship with Him the more time I spend with Him.

How about you? Are you choosing One Word for 2015? If so, what is it? Share with me in the comments, I would love to hear from you!

Until next week,

Linking up today with Bonnie at Faith Barista

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