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Celebrating the Joy of Living & Home Making ~

Baking, Cooking, Decorating, Tea Time, and taking Inspiration from those I love and the world around me...

A sharing of my heart and my home from a Christian perspective

...with a wee bit of whimsy added.

Friday 28 January 2011

Spiritual Sundays

Happy weekend everyone~ I am joining Charlotte and Ginger for Spiritual Sundays. If you would like to be  encouraged and inspired, please visit these ladies and their participants by clicking on the link-
http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

UPSIDE DOWN
If you were to ask me who I am, I'd tell you that I'm a follower of Jesus. But I have to admit, at times following Him is a real challenge. He tells me to do things like rejoice when I'm persecuted {Matt. 5: 11-12}; to turn the other cheek {vv. 38-39}; to give to someone who wants to take from me {vv. 40-42}; to love my enemies,  to bless those who curse me, and do good to those who hate me {vv. 43-44}. This kind of lifestyle seems very upside down to me.

But I've come to realize that He's not upside down - I am. We have all been born fallen and broken. Being twisted by sin, our first instincts are often wrong, which inevitably leaves a big mess.

We're like toast slathered with jelly that has fallen upside down on the kitchen floor. Left to ourselves, we can make a pretty big mess of things. Then Jesus comes along, like a divine spatula, scrapes us off the floor of our sinful ways, and turns us right side up. And as we follow His right-side-up ways, we discover that turning the other cheek keeps us from getting caught in a brawl or argument, that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that dying to self is life at its best.

After all, His ways are not our ways, and I've come to realize that His ways are always best! ~ Penned by Joe Stowell {Excerpt from Our Daily Bread}


WHAT MAY SEEM UPSIDE DOWN TO US IS RIGHT SIDE UP TO GOD


Sharing from my heart~ Sandi

19 comments :

  1. Oh, I like that! :)
    Happy Spiritual Sunday.

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  2. Yes, his ways are always best. If I just new that years ago. I know now and thats all that matters.
    God Bless,
    Ginger

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  3. Thank you Sandi:)I'll try it in the AM.I spent the WHOLE day babysitting my youngest Grandson-2yrs old.I can hadly think, I'm tired, hungry ect...Denise

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  4. Sandi,
    Your blog is indeed a blessing!
    You have put so much love and though into it and I have been so blessed by visiting here.
    Love your Sunday series as well!
    Thank you for your inspiration.
    Joanne, a fellow tea fan and God-follower:)

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  5. wow Sandi...this is so awesome and just what I needed to read. thank you.

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  6. Amen, that is really good, know you are in my prayers, Barbara

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  7. Amen, that is really good, know you are in my prayers, Barbara

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  8. I like the illustration of the toast and jam. Why is it when you drop a piece of bread or anything with something on top it always falls upside down? Jesus said following him would not be easy. But it is so well worth it.
    Blessings for a wonderful weekend.
    Charlotte

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  9. What a beautiful post! You have reminded me of a study I did a while back on "dying to self"

    Blessings'
    Catlyn

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  10. Hi Sandi, I saw these Cameo molds and thought you might like them too. I ordered mine from Amazon for $6.00 including shipping. My second post down I posted about them. But here is some information.
    http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/chocolate-cameos-0211#fbIndex1

    Have a wonderful weekend. Sharon

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  11. I love this, Sandi. I often feel like that upside down piece of toast. I'm so thankful that our Heavenly Father lifts us up.

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  12. What a good post. You made your points well and easy to understand. Thank you for posting this. It speaks to many of us.

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  13. That was so sweet and meaningful. I'll never look at the toast I drop quite the same again.

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  14. Oh Thank you Sandi for tell me about my button. I didn't realize the code would be on disfuction too. I took it off.
    Sharon

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  15. Inspiring post. It is hard to do a lot of the things he commands but his ways are always best even if they don't seem so at the time.
    Blessings,
    Annette

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  16. This is uplifting and true. I like the way it reads, Sandi. Hope all is going well by you!

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  17. What a beautiful post Sandi!

    Happy Spiritual Sunday!!

    Love,
    Ruth

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  18. When you express it like that, it is so true....
    Yes, His ways are best,
    Love,
    Jan

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  19. God seems to be saying to me at every turn: Trust Me, I know what I'm doing!
    Have a blessed Sunday, Sandi!

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I am delighted to have you visit me and I read every comment. Please forgive me for not being able to visit you all as there are so many of you lovely bloggy friends now. I will visit as much as possible. I wish you a day filled with JOY!

Also, due to the amount of spam I've been getting, I have had to set Comment Moderation. ~ Sandi

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