MESSY MONDAY!

LIFE IS MESSY!

Especially on Mondays. For Sundays to be serene, I must be still, quit striving and let go of emails and texts. Then when I awaken to a new day, portals need to be finished for tomorow's doc appointment, text and emails answered but my internet* is missing & that's messy!

Think, non-existent atop this mountain ridge. 

Unraveling comes to mind.

Before I had a complete "come apart",  I needed to have a cuppa sani-TEA and get back into the Psalms. All that's necessary is a Bible. 

Grateful I found notes I had taken yesterday---from Psalms 104 (BC FUMC) and Psalm 1 (FEC Memphis) 

Praises for reminders ---Reading aloud Psalm 104 3x and noting words/verses that "jumped off page" and into my heart! 

MEDITATION kept jumping!

May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord.(Psalm 104:34)

Psalm 1 notes---Blessed (intensely happy and "gets it right"-- Pace)

is the man (a regular person, not  a king or scholar or man of note)

embracing these negatives of actions....

walks not in counsel of wicked...

stands not in the way of sinners....

sits not in the seat of scoffers ie scorners.... 

Yet, the positive stood out to me. 

but he delights in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)

Think exercising your mind to dwell on a passage. Think deeply. Ponder. 

Meditation turned my "Messy Monday" into Meditation Monday."

*Internet back @ 1:03 pm EST

FROM MANY TO ONE

Many hands....from toddlers to nonagenarians. (ages 90-99)

....to One work of art, created by tiny fingers to wrinkled, dare I say gnarled ones, pasting scraps of colored paper, some with Scripture verses on a drawing sent from a Japanese artist. 

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. (Psalm 86:9)

From many First Evan participants of a collaborative art project to reach one nation with the gospel message.

HUMILITY IN PRACTICE!!

Humility. Without pride, Lowly. Meek. Gentle.

Recently, I came across a NT analogy of humility. It seemed to truly represent the  characteristic of thinking of others more important than oneself and translating those thoughts into action. "Tie on the servant's apron."

The staff at First Evangelical Church does it well! Quite literally!

We can choose to do it too.

Begin each day with your apron at hand. 

Tie on your servant attitude as you sip your morning cuppa humili-TEA!

HOPE!!

HOPE IS REALLY ALL WE HAVE FOR A BETTER TOMORROWS! 

With wars and rumors of war there are few "hopetimists."

Nothing else. No hope............is guaranteed except for Jesus Followers.

In February, Sunday School teacher Dr. Rad Andrews taught these wonderful, hopeful truths through the book of Revelation. .....

• God's dwelling place is now among His people and He will dwell with them. 
• They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 
• He will wipe every tear from their eyes. 
• There will no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order has passed away. 
• I'm making every thing new.

These "trustworthy and true words" in Revelation 21:3-5 give "hope" to God's children. 

FAITH AND GRACE

Faith and Grace go hand in hand. Sweet friend Amanda McElrath knew that. Her life showed it.

Her journal notes remind us all of how she lived her faith/grace combo life in fellowship with God's beloved. (Acts 2:46b-47)

Amanda is in heaven now so there's no permission needed to show this-somehow I don't think she'll mind.

Thanks from all of us in her H2H & other groups whose lives were better and much livelier from having walked the earth with her......in her season of faith and grace!

Back row--Amanda, her sister Charlotte, Wendy B., Debbie M., Anne J. 

Center--Dotsy 

Front Row--Debbie F.,  Claudia S. Jeanie D. Crickett K

TUESDAY TRUTH

Worship is about God.
Worship is a time to give back to God.
Worship is being in God's Presence.
Only Jesus Himself can lead us into God's Presence.  (Bob Kauflin)
He is our worship leader.

Worship can be individual or corporate.
Corporate worship comes when God's people join together. Sitting or standing.

Worship is NOT about music style, praise songs/hymns choices or hand positions.

A worshipping church is believers together in His Presence for His glory. 

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. (Psalm 29:2, ESV)

Sunday, 8/26/18. First Evan Worship pastor, Ron Man, in his semi-farewell address, reminded the congregation of those truths. His analogy of corporate worship was given as he read from Stone Soup--a very familiar tale to this librarian, who loved it.

It clearly illustrated that as the villagers had brought to the "pot" from their own larders, God's people come to worship bringing their own full hearts of praise and gratitude.

Hearts blended together.
A great feast before the Lord in which all participate to His glory.
A sweet aroma unto Him. (2 Corinthians 2:15)
And....that's the truth. A "Tuesday Truth!"

CHRISTMAS SEASON: JOY, JOY, JOY!!!

Son Buddy's sermon series for Allen Bible Church is on JOY!

Our church, First Evan  is celebrating a "Joy" theme the 4th week of Advent. 

Friends are sharing joy! We are all "lifted up" because we all share the same joy!

 MERRY CHRISTMAS 2016!