Inspire

i believe that I have heard "what inspires you?" at a womens event at our church. it wasn't a question that we had to directly answer but just the idea of having to answer it made me nervous. questions like that make my palms sweaty and my mind go blank. I don't really know why. I mean there can't be a wrong answer in that question, can there be?  no matter I still feel like retreating when some questions arise. 

it has been a little bit since I had that question posed to us as a group. for some reason that word popped into my head again today and along with the word, something that inspires me.

first let me share the definition on inspire:
1. To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.

2. To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion

3.

    a. To stimulate to action; motivate:

    b. To affect or touch:

4. To draw forth; elicit or arouse:

5. To be the cause or source of; bring about:

6. To draw in (air) by inhaling.

7. Archaic

a. To breathe on.

b. To breathe life into.

 

when I think back to when I was younger some things that I remember enjoying were reading books and worship music. I think that something that inspires me is "words"

 

I remember keeping a quote book when I was younger, in fact I still have it. (now my quote book is on pinterest) but I am still collecting quotes. WORDS 

 

I absorbed books. one of my favorite authors, then and still now is Robin Jones Gunn. Her words are beautiful and true and lovely. WORDS

 

Praise and worship music.  Things have changed and continue to change in the music industry but there are songs that speak life into my soul, make me well up in tears and shout the words at the top of my lungs. a few recent are: Fix my Eyes by For King and Country, Oceans by Hillsong United, Multiplied by Need to Breathe, Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave. WORDS 

 

Scripture. I attempt to read Jesus Calling by Sarah  Young daily and try to read the verses that go along with each day. I also have a collection of daily verses on Pinterest that are so great it makes me smile knowing that God put them there for me. WORDS

 

and some of the new ways I read (I still love to hold a book in my hand and feel the pages) but blogs, websites, social media, encouragement from other people, most I don't even know. there is just so much goodness. blogs like A Holy Experience or Under the Sycamore and a blogger that I do know, she is my cousin and she amazes me with the words that she has inside of her and the things that she writes. I love to read her blog Such Small Hands and Two Sore Thumbs

instagram feeds like @bobgoff (I read his book Love Does but love seeing his words coming through my ig feed, it re-reminds me of Love and how to give it and share it with others)

and @Bottle_of_Tears an ig that I just started to follow after purchasing one of her bottles for a friend of mine. she is brave and strong and I love how she is using her life and story to help others.  WORDS

 

New, Fresh, Life altering, Life giving, Awing, Lovely, Graceful, True, Beautiful, Astounding, Amazing, Overwhelming, Inspiring........WORDS