WISE WORDS!

WEEKEND WISDOM!

Wise Words.

5 words or FEWER. Here they are....count them.

Look for the BIG meaning! (Citations don't count)

• Be strong and courageous. (Joshua 1:9)
• Seek the Lord's strength; (1 Chronicles 16:11)
• Joy of Lord is strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) 
• God is my heart's strength. (Psalm 73:26)
• Quietness and trust is strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

What's the focus for each set of "5 or FEWER"?

Strength of course!

TARRYING TUESDAY!

Tarrying in scripture was the directive, during Pentecost, for the disciples as they waited for the glorification of the Lord and the Holy Spirit to come. (Luke 24:49) For me, the analogy of tarrying is indicative of the waiting required for clarity, direction and power from God all of which are evidence of the ascended Christ.

Recently I have been focused on my physical condition when In fact, it's my spiritual condition that allows me to "put on Christ." (Romans 13:14)

Clothed in Christ. Think compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

Lately, it seems sometimes I have to seek God's face from the stillness of my bed, front porch or out the window. Today is that kind of day for me. 

Neighbor's flame azalea. 

Aflame with the Spirit reminder. (Romans 12:11)

Tarrying. Lingering. Physically waiting in prayer to enable me to cling to His Presence throughout this day. 

May this Tarrying Tuesday be a time of waiting in God's Presence!

A soul-filling time!

CUSHION OF CALM!

A "Cushion of Calm" prevails before the predicted storm filled with gusts, ball-sized hail and tornadoes hits! 

How special to await it on our front porch with

a devotional book, a new book and a cuppa in my Lake Junaluska mug. The cushion in the chair, for the physical comfort I needed, even included the reminder. 

LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS. IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN.

In times of storm His sovereignty gives us His strength and peace, aka a "cushion of calm".!

A time of God's peace to rule in our thankful hearts. So we dance.

SATURDAY SHORT IN THE MOUNTAINS: A RECALL!

Recalling last night's Lectio 365--a gift from Katya, my Ukrainian friend and sister in Christ............

May this Saturday short remain long in my heart!

FRIDAY FIVE!

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

WITH GOD EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

AMEN!

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!

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! 

FLOUNDERING FORTITUDE!

STRENGTH diminishing! Why? What's the Source.....other than age or too much "me"?

Is it discouragement? Disappointment? Depression? Disease? Irritable-heart 

syndrome? 

Acceptance is the key.

This morning, the mirror on my chest clearly reminded me. "In my Face!"

Then, Scotty Smith's words for today re-emphasized the truth God already had  for me.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Two “I Am’s” + Three “I Will’s” = Deep Peace

HELP NEEDED!

I need help. Don't we all!!

Dear friend, Doris, sent this pic to me to remind me of the One who is my help!

Immediately "a very present help in trouble, " came to mind. 

A picture with the answer to all my woes and fears......JESUS!

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. 

Past. Present. Future.

He is all the help I need!

SMILES! SMILES!! SMILES!!! SMILES!!!!

2 sisters on the way to school---first year in middle school and first year in pre-school. 

1 note

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” -Isaiah 41:13  NIV

1 pic with a verse 

From a friend who doesn't even know I am having a big test today!

2+1+1=4

4 big reasons to smile!

SEEKING

Are you seeking? Busy day ahead? What should one seek first? 

The answer for me was found in the prayer room at church when I was there all alone.

Big! Bold! In plain sight!!

Does that answer your question? It did mine!

FILLED WITH INERTIA!

Inertia is one of the few science principles I recall from the classroom. 

Early on, Captain Wood taught me that inertia is the property of matter at rest to remain at rest until acted on by an outside force. (my definition from memory) 

These past days, the onset of my COVID has shown me that sometimes we need more than an outward force to get us moving. 

Not feeling of shame from others, who can pull up by their bootstraps. Not my own self-will. Not even words & suggestions from friends. (though  much appreciated) Nothing outward has seemed to work.

So....I have remained at rest. More like zonked. 

For me, my physical lagging, lack of zeal (Romans 12:11) has required an inside action. 

It has been a result of being "alive with Christ." Through His strength and the prayers of many in the household of faith.

I have at least had hope that soon things would change, not by my strength or who I am, but because of His strength and who He is! 

But God......in His love and mercy made me "alive with Christ." (Ephesians 4:4)

Originally this entry was written May 15. Hmmm,,,,,,obviously inertia kept me from clicking on 

WEARY WORDS

Lord, I'm so weary and yet you blessed me with an incredible week with family! ALL 17 of us!

Then....I opened, seeing beautiful again. There it was. God's word! 

The very words I needed for my day!

He gives strength to the weary 

and 

increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29)*

Strengthen me by the power of your might today, O Lord that I might walk worth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.....regardless of my physical and emotional fatigue!

*Font used was "Dancing Script" to remind me to start dancing again----right after my nap!

CHOICES

Choose, Dotsy! It's your choice!

My "just in case" plans..........God's Plan A.

Pull up by my bootstraps mentality........God's strength.

Walk in my own way.............Walk worthy of the gospel message.

What does it look like when I make poor choices and depend on self rather than God? The visual answer is below.

I either run out of steam temporarily.....or I burn out completely.

Brother Buddy reminded me that I was embracing a little too much of "Mildred's" busyness/do it all for everyone persona. I tried to explain that I was being "other-oriented." He reminded me as I choose to be  God oriented, He will help me say no when necessary. 

The Lord will direct me to be "others-oriented" on His guided path. (Proverbs 3:5-6, a Bro Buddy fave) 

Where He guides, He provides---with time and strength. I think I just heard an "AMEN" from my brother!

Camping out in the Psalms 9/2020

S. T. R. E. N. G. T. H.

S.

T.

R.

E.

N.

G.

H.

T.

In order to follow my newest medical protocol of keeping physically active and intellectually challenged, I will be working on an acrostic for S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H. A spiritually inclined acrostic. 

STRENGTH being our Women's Ministry word for next year is spot-on...as is the verse, Psalm 59:16.

 I shall sing of Your strength; I will sing of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. 

If anyone has some strength verses or strength acrostics to share I would appreciate the info.

*Crickett, our Women's Ministry director, used S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H. to show the attributes of God.
S tronghold
T trustworthy
R efuge
E verlasting
N ourishment
G ood
T triumphant
H elp

REAL POWER RECONSIDERED

A popular myth is that you can do or have whatever you desire if you work hard enough to achieve that goal.  REALLY!

All who espouse that theory haven't burned our yet or run out of steam yet or hit the wall yet in order to learn that "empowering beliefs and one's own strength are no always enough. NOT to be a naysayer.....but be positive with encouraging words and call that myth what it is----malarkey.

Life happens along the way. sometimes, no matter how how you try things don't work out regardless of all you positive thinking and mantras. 

Don't fritter your life away trying "to do it all" in your own strength.

A Christian's "point of power" is centered around the Lord in an abiding relationship. (John 15)

Note to self---quit striving and allow Him to exert His great power on my behalf, even in my greatest weaknesses.
It's time to reconsider Who is the source of real power and stay plugged in to Him.

CHOOSE: ACTION

CHOOSE: Action Verbs might have been a better title choice.

Trust is a noun. Trust is also an action verb when one chooses to "trust" God.

Trust God whether you "feel" like it or not. It's an action of the will.

Like choosing to be faithful, choosing to trust, especially in the hard places of suffering is an internal action. It's a first step. A step that starts in the mind.

When one is hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing, not feeling abandoned in the midst of persecution, or  struck down, but still upright and functioning, those folks have chosen to take action and choose to trust. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

That first step can lead to courage in action. A heart strengthening. Hope. (Psalm 31:24) As The Message states, "Expect God to get there soon."

Courage, strength, hope---all results of one action verb----trust. 

Choose to trust Him, knowing "soon" is the adverb of His timing.

Understanding Equations

 Maybe a better blog title would be misunderstanding equations especially those with variables on both sides. Therefore I simplified.
However, there are some equations of excellence----those number sentences which make sense to Christians. The helpful ones in times of struggle. I came across these in my 10/16/13 journal entry. (H2H source unknown).

In all the variables of life, believers must factor in God's Presence. 

Focusing on His Presence  turns misunderstandings into equations of excellence.

God's s-TEA-rength : an exercise

I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, 

(Ephesians: 3:16, NET)

ABCs of God's strength were clear to me this morning as I sipped my cuppa Harney and Sons organic English Breakfast, a strong black tea, while looking for my exercise band.

ABCs---All 'Bout Core.

Core is the exercise world's buzzword these days. One can even find it digitally---as a hashtag, a YouTube video or in any other of the 24,300,000 google results.

But God....showed me as I stared into my cuppa "strong" tea that was giving me a needed physical lift, that soul strengthening comes from Him. His strength. His might. (Ephesians 6:10 & Philippians 4:13)

His strength is available for my inner person, my spiritual "core." 

I've moved up weight sizes as I've exercised regularly for physical core strength---tho it might not be evident to others who see a measly "3" weight in my right hand or or the "green band," not the lowest, but close. The fitness instructor seems to use the term, core work, to emphasis our "core" focal point--- regardless of what we're doing. She tries to take us to that level because strengthening of the core is essential.

Just like I need exercise along the lines of continued practice for my physical core, I need the continued spiritual practice of soul strengthening. It is essential. I must sit upright before Him as I seek His strength for each and every day He gives me. 

Consider Him. Seek Him. 

If not, I "grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:3)

All 'Bout Core comes from knowing All 'Bout Christ!

God's s-TEA-rength, a daily cuppa teamed with spiritual exercise of prayer and study, can strengthen one's core.....her very soul!