FRIDAY FIVE!

My five words for focusing on this FRIDAY are so needed!

WITH GOD EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

AMEN!

CENTERPIECE!

What's the centerpiece of your life?

More than what's sitting on your kitchen table? Think heart hub!

Focal point of your thought life?

What's front and center in your activities?

Center of your attention in all of life?

Spiritual heart hub?

The way one answers these questions shows  he/she is as a "child of God!"

PEACE REQUIRES ABSENCE OF FEAR!

Spiritual Peace (peace with God)

Relational Peace (peace with others)

Emotional Peace (peace within ourselves)

Allow the cross of Christ to be present in your life in order................

....................to let the peace of God rule in your heart!

Vanquish all fear!

Be thankful, keep your eyes on the cross and let peace replace fears!

1 CUP AT A TIME!

Day by day. Step by step. Moment by moment.One cup at a time.

That's what progress looks like!

Though PM cuppa's look like this...................

ONE STEP AT A TIME!

Step by step! May the Spirit of the Lord rest upon us--a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, a Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah11:2) As Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit for direction, (Mark 1:12) may we as well during this time of transition.

In Henry Blackaby's Words, "Allow God to lead you step by step to produce lasting spiritual growth in you." (Experiencing God, 236)

If we walk with Him closely today, we will be in the center of His will tomorrow.

Henry Blackaby

May VICTORY come one step at a time. Victory in Jesus! 

C-C-C

Three Cs for Christians today as millions around the world seek counsel from God's Word.

May words from Scripture convict, comfort and help conform our mind's to His words.

GROW AND GLOW!

How does one grow and glow?

Growing anew with a life change of location and all a move to a new state involves is all beyond me at this stage in life. 

It's not beyond the Lord. 

Trust is key when circumstances change both suddenly and dramatically.

How can one leave a beloved church family whose support she/he has cherished for 45+ years?

Keep on keeping on---in His strength/ the power of His might. (Ephesians 6:10)

Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and spirit and serve Him well......

• not hesitant
• not holding back 
• not lazy
• not lagging behind
• not slacking
• not slothful
• not tired of working

Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame.....(MSG)

FLATTENED BY FATIGUE: FUEL NEEDED!!

Fuel my prayers, Lord.
Your strength is needed!

Clinging to you Lord!

Your strength is needed! (Psalm 56:3-4)

Use my cries for help and your strength and power to shoulder me up that I might continue to love and serve others well.....whether I feel spent or not!

Fuel my prayers NOT fears. 

Lord, "I will trust in You" alone for all the rest! 

REFLECTIVE TRUTH!

Times of reflecting....
One might need to return to basics especially during this time of hurry-scurry.

Biblical-basis underway.

Having a struggle....choose to "D.A.N.C.E.

• D iscover what God's word says about your situation
• A ccept the circumstances as for your good
• N otice God's hand in the midst
• C elebrate your moments
• E xtend lessons learned to others to encourage them

O HAPPY DAY!

Donut beginning for a 5th Birthday!

A Dip in the Pool keeps one Cool! 

Followed by counting some birthday book money after a dip in the pool way out on Long Island!

and a pony ride....

Plus holding a chicken and a fluffy bunny too!

.....and kisses galore sent far and wide for family!

CLEARING OUT!

What to keep? What to pitch?

Clearing out! Paring down!

Whatever one wants to call it-----it's hard to do!

But God.....in His love and mercy is there. (Ephesians 2:4) In His Word! 

May I never "pare down" my time in His Word,

May the Lord continue to hold my steps to the path He has for me even when I can't see what it is! (Psalm 17:5)

REVIVE & REVERE!

VANIITY OF VANITIES! Anything done without God's Guidance is vanity! (Ecclesiastes 1:1)

TURN AWAY MY EYES FROM LOOKING AT VANITY

REVIVE ME IN YOUR WAYS

ESTABLISH YOUR WORD

TO YOUR SERVANT

AS THAT WHICH PRODUCES 

reverance for YOU. (PSALM 119:37-38)

3 Rs....revive, Revere, REPEAT!

MR. & MRS.

GOLDEN YEARS + 5!!!!!

Perfect Wedding Gift---

4 steak knives for him & 1 red paring knife & 1 CASE tomato knife for her!

ACCEPTANCE IS KEY!

O Lord, there’s something magnificent about accepting things we cannot change—no giving up or giving in, but experiencing the deep peace in our brokenness!

Acceptance is key!

Lord, I know it won’t always hurt like this, but it does now.

Today I'm leaning once again toward choosing numbness over feeling. Feeling is too painful, Down right scary!

’God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up…” (1Pet. 5:5-6)

Let the ink of the gospel get into your bloodstream. (my prayer notes, without citation) Gospel wrapped friendship. Friendship on the same side of the struggle. Focus. Refocus. Share. Focus on His great faithfulness! 

The only great in my life is my need. How about yours? 

"IN THE PINK"

One's feelings can go from one place to another in a New York second!

Anger to peace. My weakness to His strength. Through a black hole to "in the pink."
Fear and anger to confidence and acceptance. Self serving to self-denying. Entitlement  to '"of the heart." Spiritually, the heart God sees.

A just, pure and lovely lifestyle from one's thoughts and attitude of the heart,(Hebrews 4:12).....

...."living in the pink" emotionally, physically and spiritually,

providing a sense of peace, purpose, and forgiveness!

FORECAST FOR COASTER OF EMOTIONS!

This past week my emotions have run the gamut....medical tests that involve a degree of risk in facing the unknowns. Wait Time of many unknowns yet to be revealed. Machine broken. 

Fears and heart flutterings. Longer than usual time for results to be procured. Favored results not received. 

Insurance hold ups to obtain further testing. 

Feelings fluctuate. But God in His love and mercy has been present.....

.....the "Feels Like Forecast" has the ups and downs of a Memphis thermometer in August. But God is there! The heat index is keeping us on our toes and God is there. Sometimes we anticipate the worst. Fear feels hot. But God is there. One of the worst days had me numb, as if not only unable to face consequences but unable to feel anything or even make decisions of where God's way will take me. Numbness is nuts for a Christian!

But God's Presence and the prayers of his people are the best Hope RX! 

Emotions now encouraged even though circumstances have not changed---I have, with His help & reminder from a dear friend to "choose joy."

Regardless of the forecast, "Weeping may tarry for the night, but

joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5, ESV)

GOD'S WORD FRONT AND CENTER!

Today I was asked to "be prepared" to share my favorite Bible verse along with other members of our "Prayer for Revival" group. For me, that's a tough assignment! I esteem, treasure, hold close to my heart and love every word of Scripture.

But God soon had Jeremiah 15:16 begin to flood my mind, .....

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. (ESV)

.......I decided to meditate on it in many scripture versions.

Marginalia results: What a feast!!!

"THY" words found, I ate them, I devoured them, they became a delight; happiness of my heart, gave me joy; jubilation, rejoicing in my heart; with gladness in my heart.

I listened tp every word: swallowed them whole, & they sustained me.

I am called by your name;Yahweh Adonai-Tzva’ot, you had me bear your name., Yahweh Elohim Tsebaoth, O God, God-of-the-Angel-Lord, God of Heavenly Armies!, Lord God All-Powerful, Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; Commander  of hosts, O Yahweh God of hosts, O Jehovah, God of Hosts.

Lord God who rules over all. I belong to you. (NRV)

TWEAKING TO TEACH & RECALL!

Yesterday's request was "share your favorite Bible verse. Today I recalled the chapter of Scripture that changed the aim of my life. AIM = Abide In Me!

(John 15)

Abiding makes us RICH in Him. Remain in Christ's Holiness!

All of the truth's of Scripture found in John 15 led me right into John 16's teaching which focuses on the face of trials which require perseverance. Imagine that !?

If one wants to be truly R I C H.....Read above acronym again and again!

 

DAILY WORDS OF GREETING!

WORDS I SEE EVERYTIME I OPEN MY COMPUTER SO.....WHY DO I STILL WONDER THE WAY I SHOULD GO?

Let the morning bring me word of you unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go for to you I entrust my life.  (Psalm 143:8)

This morning, as Henry Blackaby in Experiencing God reminded me (along w/ other prayer warriors of mine), ...."If you always choose the easy way asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God's power displayed to enable you to take a mountain," (Experiencing God, 8/3) I am seeing His "severe mercy" again these days & I'm asking "my" God to let His good Spirit lead me on level ground. (Psalm 143:10)

5 Words or less---"Let's take "our" mountain today!"

"W" = WISE WORTHY WORDS!

My emotions are a mess! From hyper-sensitivity, jumble & a library, in my grief to total numbness, I'm an emotional assemblage that defies reason. 

W (s) flood my mental library. Whines need to turn to Worship. Wrap Weeping in Hope. More worship than worry needed! Worry is waste. Wise words come from His Word!

This morning I awakened remembering my disconcerting medical news.

May medical diagnosis not fuel fears. I know the Great physician and my times are in His hands. 

Whether he takes me sooner rather than later, I need His transendent "peace to guard my heart and mind." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Wise & Worthy Words! Amen!!