FRIDAY FINISH!

For me, Friday finishes a week and leads into a "Serene Sabbath" weekend. 

Today it was also the wrap-up of a book given by a prayer warrior friend. 

A wrap-up of reflection. A fixing of our faith. 31 Days of Praise for the first 31 days of 2025.

Fixing our focus. Refocusing when necessary.

Faith fortified with praise.... gets us back on the "ramp of the freeway of faith." (p. 114)

Finish the week as you rest in God, delighting Him with your praises!

Finish the week, remembering--- 

"God inhabits the praises of His people." (Psalm 22:3)

FAITH FOCUS!!

People who overcome life's struggles by continuing to trust the Lord, regardless of circumstances, have a prevailing faith.

A faith that focuses not on things of earth but on things of heaven as a habitual focus. A God-centered focus. 

Set your mind on things above not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2) 

A faith that sees it through to the end.

A faith that stays true to Jesus.

A faith that stays focused on God's word in mind, body and spirit!

I BELIEVE!!!!!!

"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

The desperate man cried out in Mark 9:24.....knowing that Jesus said, all things are possible to him that believeth.(Mark 9:23)

This morning's reading from Henry Blackaby's, Experiencing God p.171 had me with the first sentence. 

You can say prayers in your mind but doubt in your heart.

Is it possible to be a "person of prayer" and yet not have faith?

May it never be in my life!

As I align my will with His in prayer, I can wait expectantly to see how God will answer.

Today I am meeting with other prayer warriors at FEC to pray for revival. But....am I preparing for its coming? A reflective life of absolute trust?

I need to look for His hand at every turn. A God wink. A God sighting.

May I not miss His response to my requests..........or I'll miss the joy of praying faith!!

FRIDAY FOCUS!

Friday Focus, again!?

MORE OF THEE. LESS OF ME!

Pithy with a punch. A heart issue.

Easy to know in my head....harder to overflow from my heart & live out.

I must be a slow learner as refocusing is a daily, even hourly occurrence.

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want but i do the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15)

Be gone, self-centeredness! Self-pity stinks!

Today's New Morning Mercies (6/16) entry zeroes in on obstacles of our faith focus.

Self-focus sins that can permeate our actions:

• Nasty retort
• "Me-first pride"
• flash of lust at the mall
• addictions to little pleasures
• impatience with a loved one

.....to name a few. I could lengthen the list as I wait for doctor to return my call....as if I'm his only patient.

O Lord may I refocus....and allow you to rescue me from me!

PATIENT PONDERING!

It's Monday! Meditating Monday for me. At least it was yesterday when I neglected to select "publish."

Henri Nouwen, author of Spiritual Formation, dubs it "ruminating, masticating, and digesting."

However one defines meditation, it's a spiritual action that takes the word of God from the mind to the heart. An inward journey.

Your Words were found, and I ate them and 

your words became to me a joy

 and the delight of my heart....(Jeremiah 15:16a)

Patiently ponder Jeremiah's 21 words. Take them to heart and let them change you!

FOCUS OR FALL!

Last Friday, I fell.

This Friday I'm focused on not falling. 

Everyone keeps reminding me; be aware of where you are going, hold on to the bannister, watch out so you won't bang your heel on the bedpost, watch where you are walking! You're not focusing!

Does "trying to focus" count?

Obviously not....I just stumbled.

My focus must be throwing me off-kilter. Hmmm.....

Refocus is needed.

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

Hmmm....

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day!

As I focus on the Lord, I know He will be there to pick me up "for He upholds me with HIs hand," (Psalm 37:24) regardless of what day it is!