Feeding your Soul

[rayofsunshine]

DEVOTION with Billy Graham

“And how does a man benefit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul in the process? For is anything worth more than his soul?”
-Mark 8:36,37 (TLB)

In the world in which we live, we give most attention to satisfying the appetites of the body and practically none to the soul. Consequently, we are one-sided. We become fat physically and materially, while spiritually we are lean, weak and anemic. The soul actually demands as much attention as the body. It demands fellowship and communion with God. It demands worship, quietness, and meditation. Unless the soul is fed and exercised daily, it becomes weak and shriveled. It remains discontented, confused, restless. Many people turn to alcohol to try to drown the cryings and longings of the soul. Some turn to a new sex experience. Others attempt to quiet the longings of their souls in other ways. But nothing but God ever completely satisfies, because the soul was made for God, and without God it is restless and in secret torment.

Prayer for the day
Dear Lord, I thank You that when my soul cried out for forgiveness and love, You were there. Today help me to live as Your child should.




BGEA: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

[rayofsunshine]

Some ways to feed your soul..... Please feel free to add to this list:

Read the Bible

Pray

Attend church services

Listen to Christian Radio

Do good deeds for others

[IO Storm]

How about..watch Christian TV, and "soul healthy" shows?

My mother and I have been watching more Christian programming and shows like

"Touched by an Angel"...and comedies lately.

A good way to feed your mind as well...

Thanks Ray...

I so appreciate your posts.

[KenL]

I just recently finished reading a book titles Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore. A wonderful book. My new favorite, in fact. The care of the soul is very important for everyone and in this world it is easy to let it shrivel up from lack of nourishment. This book reveals what care of the soul entails. It can be as simple as washing dishes or as complicated as painting. Whatever the person finds to be enriching is what caring for the soul is about.

I highly recommend to anyone to read this book.

[rayofsunshine]

IO, I've been watching "Seventh Heaven" and "Touched by an Angel" too.

I saw the Christian comedian Chondra Pierce locally a couple years ago. She's
got a special thats family friendly on CMT lately. I recorded it last week but haven't had time to watch it yet.

Also love the Bill Gaither singings on PBS.

[IO Storm]

Thanks Ken, for the book reference. I googled it..it does sound interesting!

The writer's background is impressive...one of his other books..:"Jesus' Writing in the

Sand" sounds good too.

Ray...

Hallmark channel has great stuff.

And we also love the concerts on PBS. Not just Christian..our local PBS has a

wide variety we enjoy watching and listening to. And the funny BBC shows.

My "conservative" mom...loves those the best!

lol

[KenL]

Yea, IO. I know. He's my favorite author now. I plan on ordering more of his books in the near future.

[hydrogirl]

Performed by The Martins

[cmc]

Here are some things that help me connect with my soul, aside from the obvious prayer time and reading God's word:

Spending some time in solitude
Connecting with nature
Laughter
Singing
Listening to music...of any kind that makes me smile
Art....creating it myself and/or appreciation of what others have created

[toad]

I feed my spirit by jogging. It is a time each morning that I spend alone. I listen to several preachers, depends on the time of morning, and I always top off my run by listening to a Christian radio station that plays praise and worship songs. I seem to be able to get my day arranged during my run.....I also have found that it provides for me a time of prayer.

share this with me...............toad

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” That is exactly what God has done with some of the most ugly parts of my life. When I speak of the ugly parts of my life I am referring to the times when I lived only for myself, thinking only of myself, being dishonest with those who cared about me, and hurting people by using them for my own good. You wouldn’t think that such ugliness could be considered beautiful but it can. The old ugly heart that once dominated my life can only be seen as being beautiful when it is used as a tool in helping someone whose life is centered in self-centeredness. And only then may it be seen as beautiful when it is seen in the Light of a heart that has been changed by a Loving God full of mercy and forgiveness. There is one factor in the recovering heart that must be considered for beauty to be established, and that is maintenance. I have found that the changes in my heart won’t stay changed without daily maintenance. I don’t know why, but in my life there always seems to be a pull towards slacking up on things like daily reading of God’s Word and prayer. If I resist the pull it will go away, but if I submit to the pull, it will easily cause me to drift from a time of worship and devotion. Today I notice in my life that the beauty found in some of the ugliest time of my past are not so beautiful if my present life does not reflect a loving God working daily in my recovery. Today may I remember to kindle the fire and fan the flames of forgiveness that God has sparked in my life. May I remember that to have my life seen as beautiful I must live today honestly knowing that the eyes of a loving God are upon me. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………..toad

[KenL]

Thanks, toad. That was beautiful.

Thanks for your service, too.