TIMES GONE BY---

Books, pictures, objects and chats with friends like Diane H., have a way of jogging my memory when I think I've lost it.

This morning I was reviewing some fave pages of Wilma Dykeman's book, The French Broad. Meeting her years ago at the Governor's Writers Academy in Appalacha influenced my continued intrigue of the area! Though she was the historian of the state of TN, she was a native of Asheville, NC.

A fave chapter (#10) involved a fervent old time preacher, speaking to a heat-oppressed crowd, with the real soul-splitting, happy-shouting kind of religion. ....not mamby-pamby, low voiced stuff. 

"Because, brother, I'm a-telling you straight, you've got to take the tonic of God and eat the whole word that will put some zip in your soul...." 

(p. 310) 

He reminded those listeners on the courthouse steps of a bone-deep thirst for God's word as similar to theirs for the little 6.5oz, green bottle of Coca-Cola. (a long-time fave of mine as well as Diane's)

The preacher's conclusion .....without God's word one can end up in the "muck and mire of hell" where there ain't  no relief.....

"There ain't no fans, nor no rest and, brother, there ain't no Cokes in hell." (p. 313)

Thx Diane for a fun, encouraging chat!

WORD to SWORD

Word to sword....what makes the difference? Just one letter.

Not an orthographic neighbor which substitutes one letter but the addition of a letter known as affix.....a letter placed at the beginning (pre-fix) or ending (suffix) of a root word to modify the meaning.

Many wordsmith's are crossword, worldle or other word game gurus as words, anything linguistic,  are "their thing." 

Often an additional one letter can change the meaning entirely. 

Think, cab to scab

On the other hand, one letter emphasizing the word by giving it a name.

God's "word" becomes "sword" of the spirit. (Ephesians 6:17)

This past week as I was continuing my meditation on the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6, I saw the word evil in a new light---or more like darkness.

Evil has a name. Add a d. Evil's name is devil. 

Be watchful. The devil is an adversary. The devil prowls. The devil seeks to devour. Resist him. He is not good.(1 Peter 5:8-9)

Who is GOOD? Drop an O to know.

GOD is good. He will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you through His Word. (1 Peter 5:10)

Against the evil wiles of the devil,....

use God's Word as your Sword of defense! 

CHOOSE: LITTLE PINK PAD

Cancer Center.

Choose the little pink pad. Sounds simple enough.

But.....how do you choose the Pink Pad without also choosing anxiety, dread for the procedure without fear of the outcome?

So....how does one choose reality of a hard place moment without exacerbating the situation with negative emotions? Here's my list.

• Battle those fearful thoughts with the Sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:17)
• Know that the spirit of fear is not from God. (2 Timothy 1:7)
• Remember God’s goodness in a past cancer journey or difficulty and tell others. (Psalm 145:4)
• Recall God’s omnipresent promise. (Isaiah 41:10)

Give up the “what if it’s cancer” tremors and exchange it for “even if it’s cancer,” I know God can use it for good. (Move from “what if” to “even if” thinking---a tip I learned from Carol Kent)

Choosing the little Pink Pad was something to lead me to results I had no control over so........"when I am afraid," it's wise to put my trust in the hands of the One who is truly in control. (Psalm 56:3)