Ginger Ciminello > Ask Ginger

Moving On

February 20, 2012 by 2 Comments

Dear Ginger,

How do you let go of someone in your life after a break-up? I don’t feel like I have anyone I can talk to about this! What do I even begin to do? It’s not healthy NOR is it beneficial. I have to figure out how to let this relationship go… even if that means losing the friendship. How do I let go of the past and embrace the present? -G

Confession: no one mailed this question in. The G in the letter is actually me.  That quote is pulled directly from one of my old journals. I had lunch with a friend last week and she’s experiencing much of the same heartache. How are we supposed to respond to a breakup when we know it’s for the best but we still feel the hurt? That’s what we are going to attempt to answer this week. I hope you’ll feel free to add your voice to the conversation!

Listening and following,
Ginger

Filed Under: Relationships Tagged With: ,

Check the Connection

August 31, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I spend much of my day typing away on a lovely little Macbook.  It’s dependable and I very rarely get upset with it.  (Don’t try and tell me that you don’t get upset with inanimate objects.)  But lately I’ve found my blood pressure rises in the following situation.

I charge the laptop overnight.  I wake up and the red charging light has turned to a refreshing shade of green.  I unplug the mac and bring him over to the kitchen table.  Over breakfast I catch up on news, blogs, and e-mails for almost an hour.  By the time I’ve finished the charge level has drifted from 100% to somewhere in the 50th or 60th percentile.  So I take plug the mac back in, pour my coffee and head to “my spot” to have some time in the word.  I return to my computer to start the work day only to discover that instead of increasing in percentage, my power is now listed as “not charging.”  I fumble with the cord only to discover that the charge level reads 21% and falling.  At this point I begin my friendly yelling match.

What’s the problem?  In my rush to move from activity to activity in the morning I fail (on numerous occasions) to take the time to make sure my computer is actually connected to the power source.  It’s not enough for the charge cord to just be touching my computer, it needs to be properly and directed connected in order for any improved power levels.

It’s the same with our relationships.  I know that I can speak from experience when I say that too often I fly through re-energizing with the Lord and find myself falling flat.  Crisis comes and I recognize that I have once again made God my roof rather than the foundation of my life.  I talk a good game.  I read blogs and share verses right and left – but I forget to make sure that I’m actually connected to the main source.  I know when I’m chasing other things to fill me up.  I may not admit it to myself in the moment, but my journals are full of laments from the last decade where I say, “Lord, why am I so far from you?  Why have I stayed away from your word?  Why am I avoiding the very thing that I need so desperately?”

The Lord says, “All you who are thirsty,
come and drink.
Those of you who do not have money,
come, buy and eat!
Come buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend your money on something that is not real food?
Why work for something that doesn’t really satisfy you?
Listen closely to me, and you will eat what is good;
your soul will enjoy the rich food that satisfies.”  Isaiah 55:1-2, NCV

It’s true – you and I were designed to do extraordinary things… but not in our own strength.  If you find yourself running out of energy and unable to make it through the day, might I suggest something stronger then caffeine?  If your connection is loose everything else will be out of order: your emotions, your relationships, your priorities.

When was the last time that you drank deeply from the Living Water?  

My laptop is only useful to me when it has the power to run all of the programs I need.  Without the power, it’s just an empty shell.

Following,
Ginger

Filed Under: Questions, Spiritual Growth Tagged With: , ,

Fanning the Flames

August 30, 2011 by 4 Comments

Hi Ginger! I just got back from an amazing weekend at camp where God did some amazing things in my heart. How do you keep “the campfire burning” after you go back to real life? -T

Hi, T!  You always send timely questions!  The last time I talked about something like this I had just returned from a week of camp.  We explored how the elements that encouraged you to worship (the body of believers, the Word of God, and the Spirit of God) are all things that aren’t just for camp or retreats – but things that are accessible to us all year long.

I just returned from another retreat and I’m once again thinking of the young women who attended and praying that they would also continue to grow… that the fire that was stoked this weekend would not burn down to embers.

So, how do you keep any fire stoked?  (I knew 10 years of Girl Scouting would come into play on this blog one day!)

Continue to add fuel to the fire.  Sometimes a spiritual “high” can look a lot like someone spraying lighter fluid onto an already lit fire.  It goes crazy for a brief moment and then it dies back down.  If you want to keep a steady fire burning it’s going to take care and attention.  You need to be prepared to consistently feed yourself fuel and kindling.  What’s the fuel?

Eat the Word -“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, 
for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.”  Jeremiah 15:16, NIV

Stay Connected -  “We should not stop gathering together with other believers, as some of you are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming.” Hebrews 10:25, GWT

I know it sounds almost too simple to be true, but I honestly think those two components are critical!  I know that post summer-camp, I used to fill up my journal with memories from camp.  I wrote about the talks I heard, the songs I sang, and the relationships I formed.  But all of the things I treasured: godly wisdom, worship, and friendships were also available to me back at home.

Remember, a relationship that’s just built on feeling isn’t built for the long haul.  It’s exciting to hear that your experience stoked and cultivated your spiritual flame.  I would challenge you not to spend your time trying to make your relationship feel the way it did during camp.  Instead I would encourage you to keep knowing God in a more intimate way through prayer and through His Word.

Let’s meet back here tomorrow and we will talk about this some more.

You tell me, readers.  How would you answer T’s question?

Following,
Ginger

Filed Under: Questions, Spiritual Growth Tagged With: , ,

Growing

April 12, 2011 by 4 Comments

The question for this week is all about patient fruit.  Here’s what TC asked:

Ginger, in the Bible it talks a lot about patience, it’s even one of the Fruits of the Spirit! How can we actively apply and exhibit the Fruit of patience in our lives?

TC

Great question!  Rather than shoot a 10 minute answer, I decided that THIS should be a three day series!  I hope you be patient with me [HAH] as I spend today speaking broadly about the Fruit of the Spirit and then hone in on patience in the coming week.

I learned about the Fruit of the Spirit when I was just a kid going to Sunday School.  I’m not sure I understood what they were, but I absolutely had them memorized thanks to a catchy tune.  Here’s the verse that addresses the fruit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23, NIV

Background info: Galatians is a letter written by Paul to a church in Galatia.  That’s how new the idea of church was.  They didn’t have a building or a street address, this was simply a message to the people of that city who held the belief that Jesus of Nazareth was Lord… rather than the popular opinion that he was a good teacher or a crazy cult leader.  Rather than having to send his letter to the big white church on the corner of this and that streets he simply wrote to the believers in Galatia.

This particular letter is now divided into 6 chapters in Bibles to help us understand the flow of the content.  Paul didn’t insert those numbers.  In the paragraphs of chapter 5 Paul is talking about having freedom through Jesus from sin and death and also how to live by the Spirit, rather than by the flesh… meaning my own selfish and rotten desires.  He lists all sorts of behavior associated with living by the flesh, and it’s not a pretty picture: hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions… the list goes on and on and doesn’t get any better.

But… (there’s a but) Paul then says that the fruit that comes from the Spirit are these 9 great characteristics.  These are the FRUIT of the Spirit.  So how does fruit grow?

Growing from Ginger Ciminello on Vimeo.

Stop by tomorrow and we will discuss how to grow specific fruit!  Can it be done?

Following,
Ginger

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Winning!

April 4, 2011 by 26 Comments

I don’t know about you – but I thoroughly enjoy two things:

1. Winning
2. Free Stuff

So I figured I would combine them for one April “You’d be a FOOL not to enter this contest” giveaway.

The GOODS:

A copy of From Head to Foot: All of you living all for Him by Annie F. Downs

“From Head to Foot is a devotional that reads like a memoir-deeply personal, touching and delightfully humorous. A true storyteller, Annie Downs takes readers on an eventful journey from the top of your head to the tip of your toes and everywhere in between.” (Book Jacket)

I started reading Annie’s Blog at the beginning of the year and I couldn’t be happier to promote her as a lovely person and a talented author.  She is hilarious (no really, hilarious), honest, and in love with the Lord.  This book would be perfect for a small group leader, youth staff, mother of a teen, or anyone who is seeking to to grow in their spiritual walk!

The DETAILS:

The contest is open from today, April 4th until 5pm Pacific Time on Friday, April 8th.

There are several ways to enter and you can enter each way ONCE.  Simply leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. Ask a question for the “Ask Ginger” section. I’m looking for questions to tackle in future blog posts!
2. Follow me on Twitter – @gingercim.
3. “Like” the Ginger Ciminello Facebook page.
4. Share this giveaway link on Twitter (include @gingercim in the post).
5. Share this giveaway link on Facebook.
6. “Like” the Annie Downs Facebook page.

That’s six ways to win people. Six ways! The two winners will be selected randomly by random.org (go figure) over the weekend and will be announced in a post on Monday, April 11th.

Following,
Ginger

UPDATE: COMMENT SECTION AND CONTEST NOW CLOSED. WINNERS ANNOUNCED MONDAY! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

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