#reflections – Page 6 – I and Thou Reflections

14 Days of Love: Love the Lord Your God – Day 1

Over the next fourteen days leading into Valentine’s Day, I invite you to explore what The Bible says about love. Whether you believe The Bible is the Word of God or not, wisdom can be found on each page.

A verse, prayer, and a reflective question will be posted to meditate on.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5

*Image Source: The Tetragrammaton (1385) from Wikipedia*

Prayer

Almighty God,

Help me to understand what love means and how I can love you and others with my entire being.

Amen

Reflective Question

What specific actions can I take today to show my love for God? And others?

#Love #TheBible #Valentine’sDay #Spirituality #Meditation #14DaysofLove

January is for Joy – Part 5

Joy in the Journey

How often have we been so focused on reaching a goal that we missed the little joys along the way?

So far, in our January is for Joy series, we have explored:

Joy in New Beginnings
Joy in The Present
Joy in the Deeper Meaning of Life
Joy in Relationships

If any of these were missed, now would be a great time to check them out. Each one is a quick two-minute read.

To recap, we’ve learned to jot down daily joys, ground ourselves with the five senses, connect spiritually through prayer, and cultivate joy through kindness and presence. Today, as we wrap up the series, let’s discuss finding joy in the journey.

Think about a road trip to the mountains. It’s a two-hour drive, but along the way, there’s an antique store that catches our eye. We could rush to our destination or stop, browse, and maybe find a hidden treasure.

Which choice brings more joy?

The adventure itself.
Each step forward. (And even backward, at times.)
Every small victory.
The lessons learned along the way.

James 1:2-4 reminds us,

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Stepping Stones

James says triumphs and trials are opportunities to shape our character and draw us closer to God. We can now see our experiences as stepping stones toward more joy. Wow! That is good news.

Here are a few simple ways to nurture joy:

* Celebrate small milestones – progress is progress, no matter how small.
* Be curious and open-hearted – view each new experience as an opportunity to learn.
* Reframe setbacks—treat them as stepping stones that build resilience and grace.
* Savor the process—reflect daily on the moments that make the journey meaningful.

This January, let’s take a moment to find the joy in our journey. It’s easy. Grab a journal each evening, and write down one moment that brought joy. It could be an act of kindness, a lesson learned, or a small win. It may even set us up for a year of abundant blessings.

Remember, joy isn’t just found at the end of the road. It is in every twist and turn along the way.

So, let the joy of new beginnings warm your heart. Let it fill you with hope and inspire you to embrace the journey, one moment at a time.

#January #Joy #NewBeginnings #BeinthePresent #TheDeeperMeaningofLife #Relationships #Journey #LifeJourney

New Year…New Vision!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What is Your Vision for 2025?

Life is messy, and getting side-tracked can derail us from reaching the goals we set for ourselves.

How often do we say we will do something and then never follow through? Why does that happen?

Let me tell you a short story.

One of my Facebook friends posted a picture of the vision board she created last night with friends. How awesome is that?

It got me thinking about my own experience.

You might be skeptical—I was, too, when I made my first vision board a few years ago. Yet, when I look back at it now, I realize I’ve accomplished all but one goal, and that last one is in process.

CHALLENGE: Create Your Vision Board for 2025

I challenge you to take twenty minutes and list three goals you want to accomplish this year. Write them down.

Here’s where you can get creative. Use plain paper or splurge on a fancy frame. Write with a pen or cut-out pictures, colorful shapes, or magazine clippings. Think kindergarten—it doesn’t have to look professional. In fact, it needs to only be seen by you and anyone you want to share it with.

Then, here is the crucial step, put it somewhere where you can see it often. I had mine on a shelf and then moved it to a window sill where I could see it every day. (consciously or sub-consciously)

Remember, your vision board serves as a visual reminder of what you’re working toward.

So, what’s your vision for 2025? Let’s make it happen!

Where did I start? I started with “GLORIFY GOD.”

Vision Board

#HappyNewYear #VisionBoard #Reflections #Goals #IandThouReflections #ThePaisleyFrog #LifeJourney

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 7 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 7~ Isaiah 40:15-17

In Matthew Henry’s Commentary, he writes that all creation “shrinks to nothing” in comparison to the Creator. He says that God’s love for the world led God to send Baby Jesus to earth. To be the lamb. To redeem us. So we can spend eternity in paradise.

Here is my take on this. Is there a God? Well, look around. How did everything get to where it is? Look up. What is beyond the heavens? No one knows. Yet, if we have the faith of just a tiny mustard seed, we can hold on to the promises of eternal life because we have faith. Faith in the beyond. Faith in the creation. Faith in the past, present, and future.

Now, we turn to Isaiah 40:15-17.

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

Specks of Dust

Isaiah 40:15-17 NIV

¹⁵Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
¹⁶Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
    nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
¹⁷Before him all the nations are as nothing;
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.

Isaiah 40:15-17 CJB

¹⁵The nations are like a drop in a bucket,
they count like a grain of dust on the scales.
The islands weigh as little as specks of dust.
¹⁶The L’vanon would not suffice for fuel
or its animals be enough for burnt offerings.
¹⁷Before him all the nations are like nothing.
He regards them as less than nothing.

*5,000+ tons of extraterrestrial dust fall to earth each year…Image Source: livescience dot com*

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #LiftUpYourVoice #SpriritoftheLord #SpecksodDust #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 6 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 6~ Isaiah 40:12-14

Different versions deliver different perspectives. Not right. Not wrong. Just different.

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

The Spirit of the Lord

Isaiah 40:12-14 NIV

¹²Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?
¹³Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?
¹⁴Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
    or showed him the path of understanding?

Isaiah 40:12-14 CJB

¹²Who has counted the handfuls of water in the sea,
measured off the sky with a ruler,
gauged how much dust there is on the earth,
weighed the mountains on scales, or the hills in a balance?
¹³Who has measured the Spirit of Adonai?
Who has been his counselor, instructing him?
¹⁴Whom did he consult, to gain understanding?
Who taught him how to judge,
taught him what he needed to know,
showed him how to discern?

*Psalms Painting Series Lucy Adams Art Langley, Bc – Praise Painting* *Source: Paintingvalley.com*

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #LiftUpYourVoice #SpriritoftheLord #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 5 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 5~ Isaiah 40:10-11

Let’s take a peek at these two versions:

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

Gather the Lambs

Isaiah 40:10-11 NIV

¹⁰See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
    and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
¹¹He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.

Isaiah 40:10-11 CJB

¹⁰Here comes Adonai Elohim with power,
and his arm will rule for him.
Look! His reward is with him,
and his recompense is before him.
¹¹He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,
gathering his lambs with his arm,
carrying them against his chest,
gently leading the mother sheep.”

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #LiftUpYourVoice #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 4 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 4~ Isaiah 40:9

Let’s take a peek at these two versions:

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

Lift Up Your Voice

Isaiah 40:9 NIV

⁹You who bring good news to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,^[c]
    lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”

Isaiah 40:9 CJB

⁹You who bring good news to Tziyon,
get yourself up on a high mountain;
you who bring good news to Yerushalayim,
cry out at the top of your voice!
Don’t be afraid to shout out loud!
Say to the cities of Y’hudah,
“Here is your God!

*Lift Up Your Voice Diverse Choir*
*Source: clker.com*

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #LiftUpYourVoice #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 3 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 3~ Isaiah 40:6-8

Let’s take a peek at these two versions:

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

God Will Stand Forever

Isaiah 40:6-8 NIV

⁶A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
⁷The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
⁸The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.”

Isaiah 40:6-8 CJB

⁶A voice says, “Proclaim!”
And I answer, “What should I proclaim?”
“All humanity is merely grass,
all its kindness like wildflowers:
⁷the grass dries up, the flower fades,
when a wind from Adonai blows on it.
Surely the people are grass!
⁸The grass dries up, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.”

*Artist Credit: Valerie Sjodin* | *Source: Pinterest*
*Can you feel Him? I can!*

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 2 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 2: Isaiah 40:3-5

We continue to look at 2 versions of Isaiah 40:

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible

Let’s see them side-by-side. Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

Prepare Ye The Way

Isaiah 40:3-5 NIV

³A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
    a highway for our God.
⁴Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.
⁵And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Isaiah 40:3-5 CJB

³A voice cries out:
“Clear a road through the desert for Adonai!
Level a highway in the ‘Aravah for our God!
⁴Let every valley be filled in,
every mountain and hill lowered,
the bumpy places made level
and the crags become a plain.
⁵Then the glory of Adonai will be revealed;
all humankind together will see it,
for the mouth of Adonai has spoken.”

#Hope&Redemption: 12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #PrepareYeTheWay #IandThouReflections

Christmas Hope & Redemption: Day 1 Twelve Days of Isaiah 40

Day 1~ Isaiah 40:1-2

Over the next twelve days, we will look at 2 versions of Isaiah 40:

1. New International Version
2. The Complete Jewish Bible.

Let’s see them side-by-side. Scripture from: http://www.biblegateway.com.

Comfort One Another

Isaiah 40:1-2 NIV

¹Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God.
²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
    that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.

Isaiah 40:1-2 CJB

¹“Comfort and keep comforting my people,” says your God.
²“Tell Yerushalayim to take heart; proclaim to her
that she has completed her time of service,
that her guilt has been paid off,
that she has received at the hand of Adonai
double for all her sins.”

Image Source: Pinterest
Comfort – Bressi Collection | Minimal Art

#Hope&Redemption #12DaysofIsaiah #Christmas #Comfort #ComfortOneAnother #IandThouReflections