Second grader, Ben, trotted up to my teacher desk and enthusiastically shared his latest news:
“I bought my mom some honeysuckle room spray for her birthday, but it makes the cat sneeze.”
I know what you’re thinking: Ben’s words aren’t particularly noteworthy. You need to know how he spoke them—with a lisp. Try repeating his words, substituting th for s, and see if you don’t start to chuckle:
“I bought my mom thome honeythuckle room thpray for her birthday, but it makth the cat thneethe.”
Maybe you had to be there. But let me tell you, I deserve a medal for my self-control that morning, holding back the giggles until Ben was out of earshot. Every now and then—like the other day–I’m reminded of that incident, and I still smile.
Now don’t ask me how my brain made the following connections. The neurons were firing way too fast to trace their trajectories. (Of course, after you read the following explanation, you’ll probably say my neurons were misfiring.)
Anyway, my thoughts jumped from Ben’s report of making the cat thneethe to face-lifts*, which, in his endearing lisp would have been faith-liftths.
Ah-ha! Now I was onto something important. Faith-lifts! And I began to ponder: What are some of the most meaningful faith-lifts I’ve encountered?
God is so generous with his encouragement. We find it in scripture, other books, the lyrics of songs, a spoken word , creation, and even the recesses of our hearts as God speaks in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12).
For example:
A Faith-Lift from Scripture
“He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”
–Isaiah 33:6
I praise you, God, for your rock-solid reliability. And as I reverence you through thought, word, and deed, you provide for my every need. Hallelujah!
A Faith-Lift from Reading
“Jesus offers inward quiet in spite of outward trials. Rough winds may ruffle the surface of a lake, but far down in the depths there is perfect calm” – Herbert Lockyer (Seasons of the Lord, p. 89).
Thank you, oh God, for your peace that defies explanation and dwells deep within my spirit.
A Faith-Lift from Listening
“Don’t worry that you don’t have strength before you start. God gives strength as we journey” (heard on the radio).
Help me, Father, to step out in faith because my confidence is in you.
A Faith-Lift from Song
“I see the work of Your hands.
Galaxies spin in a heavenly dance…
“I delight myself in You,
Captivated by Your beauty…
“I run into Your arms,
Unashamed because of mercy…”
–Big Daddy Weave, “Overwhelmed” (2012)
Thank you for such glorious contemplations, Lord God!
Faith-Lifts from People
I praise you, Father, for the myriad ways you minister to me through others. Sometimes what they share brings tears to my eyes as I sense your instruction and inspiration coming through their words.
Faith-Lift from Creation
Soaring mountain peaks speak of your power,
Restorative rain, of your refreshing,
The steadfastness of sunrise–your hope,
A gentle breeze–your presence,
Gleaming sunbeams–your glory, and
The teeming stars–your infinity.
“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise” (Psalm 96:4a)!
A Faith-Lift from Spirit-Impression
All was still as I sat on the deck one morning. Even the birds were quiet. But no sooner did I journal my observations, than a breeze began to stir. I sensed an impression simmering to the surface of my thinking—thoughts that seemed to come from God himself:
“When nothing seems to be happening, when prayed-for circumstances remain unchanged, remind yourself that Spirit-breezes of blessing will come when the time is right. Wait with patience and rejoice in the knowledge that I am at work. Revel in the expectancy and assurance of My arrival” (Isaiah 65:24).
* * * * * * * * * *
M-m-m. I’m thinking: such faith-lifts as listed above actually do produce face-lifts, because worry, fear, and tension are erased in the splendor of his adequacy in all things!
“I will lift you up, O Lord, for you have lifted me up.”
–Psalm 30:1 NLT
*Plastic surgery was not uncommon where we lived at the time. Perhaps the connection occurred as my thoughts jumped from student to school to community. That’s as good an explanation as any. I’m sticking to it.
(Art & photo credits: www.pets.thenext.com; http://www.faithgateway.com; http://www.pinterest.com; http://www.wisconsintrails.com; http://www.jpl.nasa.gove; http://www.pinterest.com.)
From the Inside Out 
This made me chuckle too! Your post is also a very good example on how women’s brains are like a plate of spaghetti (and men’s in comparison are like waffles). If you have not heard that, I’ll have to explain it someday 🙂 Thanks for this up-lift today!
So glad to give you a smile and an uplift, Heidi. Let me guess about the spaghetti and waffles: women’s thoughts loop all over the place; men’s thoughts are more compartmentalized. Am I close?!
yep, spot on! (if you ever get a chance google Mark Gungor and “a tail of two brains” … I think you might enjoy it)
You make me smile. and love the idea of faith-lifts – which your word did to my tonight.
Praise God for his inspiration! I’m honored that these words gave you a faith-lift, Jean.
Oh,Nancy…I can relate. And what about ‘grace-lifts’? That sense of peace and abandon that translates to rest, signalling our countenance to relax? I think it’s the best botox ever!
Oh, yes–grace-lifts! Good thinking, Jody. Sounds like a great seed idea to develop into another blog post. You write this one! 🙂 I wonder what other “lifts” are waiting to be discovered?
Lovely, lovely, Nancy. Made me smile and think – that’s a pretty good trick, friend.
Thank you, Diana. Your kind words offer strong up-lift! Praise God for directing those neuron-firings/misfirings, as the case may be!
It is really amazing how an ordinary encounter with a second grader can morph into a remarkable blog entry years later! This part especially spoke to me: “’When nothing seems to be happening, when prayed-for circumstances remain unchanged, remind yourself that Spirit-breezes of blessing will come when the time is right. Wait with patience and rejoice in the knowledge that I am at work. Revel in the expectancy and assurance of My arrival.’ (Isaiah 65:24).” This could lead to a ‘praise-lift’! Praising God for what he is doing behind the scenes when it appears to me that nothing is happening. Praising Him as a leap of faith…
Wow! Another kind of “lift” — praise lift. LOVE it. With Jody’s addition above, that makes three different kinds of lift–so far. How delightful is that? Thank you for your faithful encouragement, Cheri. I, too, am amazed the way some blog post ideas come together. As always, I praise (and marvel at!) God’s inspiration.