MATURITY!

Mature? Immature?

Physical---look to check growth attributes.

Emotional---look and listen.

Spiritual---compare words with actions.

Didn't think I was too immature until I got to the end of Tyson's list.

Reminder still needed to please God, not man. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

He sees beyond our actions into the motives of our hearts.

We "see" it in our own lives if despair/depression keeps knocking at the door of our mind.

If we compare, we despair. It's up to us to transfer our minds to embrace God's good, pleasing and perfect, will/purpose for our lives.

Paul David Tripp sums it up well. "There is nothing for which we can take credit. All praise, honor, worship, and service go to God and God alone. He sought us. He birthed us. He sustains us. He matures us." (New Morning Mercies, September 24)

That's what maturity looks like......from the inside out! 

"FIL' ER UP!"

Fill 'er up, please! 

Ever used that phrase when having a cuppa with friends?

Have you ever been distracted and literally filled to overflowing?

compliments of Doris 

An overflow can happen in your spiritual life and not always for the best reason. First, one must empty self of distractions, expectations, obstacles of worry and opinions, to fully fill up with God's wisdom strength and mercy for the moment.   

Paul David Tripp (New Morning Mercies, 6/07/23) diagnosis is dubbed, "eternity amnesia." A malady that causes one to focus on self-centered wants......which our broken world cannot deliver. The world's inability to deliver disappoints every time.

But God, in his love and mercy, refills us day after day once we've emptied ourselves. (Valley of Vision, Fullness in Christ)

Take your morning empty cuppa, and ask God to "fill 'er up.....so His blessings will runneth over! (Psalm 23)

THE LORD'S PRAYER!

This prayer, from Matthew 6:9-13 is traditionally known as "The Lord's Prayer." Stacy Tyson, Director of Truth Seekers Fellowship, also sees  "The Disciples" Prayer" as an appropriate title. Tyson looks at the pronoun "Our" as a reminder that believers are not alone. We as members of the household of faith are apart of the family of God.

Not only that, but Jesus invites us to address the One True God as Father. An invitation into relationship with Him. Our Heavenly Father.

Paul David Tripp also sees this opening line of Jesus's model prayer as as glorious and encouraging way to begin our prayers (New Morning Mercies, May 4) 

A beautiful prayer beginning for a child of God---to address the Lord as the One who is our Father.

SOVEREIGNTY!

How did you start your day today?

If you started with a cuppa self-sovereign-TEA, I hope you spit it out!

Paul David Tripp's New Morning Mercies ON Wednesday (3/22) reminded me that too often our behavior can replicate that of our toddlers. Me first. Mine. 

We can be our own worst enemy. We need to be rescued from ourselves!

More of Thee ........less of me!

We need to appropriate more of God's grace.

• Grace gives us hope.
• Grace decimates our delusions of self-sufficiency.
• Grace works on our behalf.
• Grace helps us submit to the true Sovereign God of all grace. (1 Peter 5:10)

Grace rescues us from us.(Tripp, New Morning Mercies, 3/22)

PREPOSITIONAL PROOF!

Prepositions have purpose in writing!

First grammar info I remember learning about a preposition is never end a sentence with one! Not to worry that rule is now obsolete but I imagine that change would have Miss Rosa Nourse roll over in horror.

Remember those very small words which can show direction, or location. Functional words as Merriam-Webster says most often combining with a noun to make a phrase for modification or prediction.

All of these observations became so clear as I read and re-read yesterday's New Morning Mercies March 27 entry.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Check out the prepositions in the above verse…….each can be important in your understanding of the truth. 

Crucified with Christ---He took our names to the cross on our behalf, a redemptive historical fact.

Christ lives in me---present redemptive reality

I live by faith in the Son who died for me---life shaping result

Proof positive in the life of a Christian.

PEACE! PEACE !! PEACE!!!

So many terms for peace; nouns, verbs, (new to me) phrases; and exclamations.

Just check out Paul David Tripp's terms and phrases in my scribblings!

But.........peace can be  so transitory. Just ask your Ukrainian friends. 

True peace in Scripture passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) Christ's peace is the sum total of God's blessings to those in his covenant community. In Christ. (Psalm 29:11) Peace with God through Christ Jesus

Peace is a person, and his name is Jesus. (New Morning Mercies, 2/16)

MERCY ME!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2021 IS HERE!

We made it! Thank you, Lord. Lots to ponder today as I nosh on my black-eyed peas and fresh turnip greens. (Hubby will only eat spinach, thus the can.)

Lord, You are still on the throne ......& your mercies are indeed new every morning! (Lamentations 3:22-23)

As Paul David Tripp, the author of NEW MORNING MERCIES, desires for his readers, "may people see the gospel as a window through which they are to look at everything in life. (Introduction)

Mercy Me! I  "see" that as a window of grace and mercy.