THRUST OF TRUST REMINDER!

THRUST OF TRUST has me leaning in to the Lord for needed strength.

PRAISE GOD who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

(2 Samuel 22:33, emphasis mine)

This card in the morning mail did just that for me. 

Think trust (hope in; wait on).

May I use the Lord's strength today for His glory and the good of others as the joy of the Lord is my strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

ROCKY PATHS!

ROCKY PATHS.....

........some are worth the struggle. Some seem to lead nowhere.

Possibly learning patience in our struggles strengthens hope along the rocky paths.Hope is a much needed attribute of life. 

Think--- Mindset of hope often strengthened in our struggles comes as we lean into Him for Strength. Remember, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

Set your mind on it!

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

Mindset #4 Allow struggles of life to remind us to rejoice even in our sufferings along life's rockiest paths.

God's word provides the best mindset on this Thankful Thursday!

MONDAY MUSINGS!

CULTIVATE CONTENTMENT TODAY to ENDURE CRISIS TOMORROW!

Avinash ABC (Philippians 4:13) 

TABLESCAPE OF PRAYER!

Some days can be harder than others and I have to go back to bed right after my morning cuppa! This morning was one of those days. I returned to bed for a 4 hour snooze. (...a bit longer than Gilligan's 3 hour tour)

I might still be a sleep if hubby had not awakened me at 11:15 am to check my pulse. When I went into the kitchen I saw a very welcoming sight......much like spiritual sky-writing.

I sat at the small table by our eastern window and was greeted by a large greeting straight from heaven.

I didn't even need to leave the table to go to my prayer chair. I sat right there with a glass of my iced tea, Bible and  my prayer journal......warmed by sunshine from heaven.....in His very Presence!

A great reminder of National Day of Prayer coming tomorrow, 5/1/2025.  

I can begin early!

A perfect  tablescape for National Day of Prayer prep!

FRIDAY FIVE!

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

WITH GOD EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

AMEN!

WISE WORDS!

Perfect prepositions make all the difference! 

There is nothing I can do without you. 

                    This is my dependence.

There is nothing I cannot do through you. 

                    This is my confidence.

There is nothing I will not do for you. 

                    This is my obedience.

(Frank Fortunato, 2/26/2023)

WORDS OF WIDSDOM! Enough said!

FROM A CLINIC BED TO A CHURCH YARD!

An encouraging quote reverberates regardless of its location!

Thanks to the clout of high school chum, Joyce Ann, my God Wink quote from an EKG room, is now on the lawn of a church in Owensboro, KY. 

There is nothing more encouraging than the prayers and actions of friends in the faith......whether in a clinic bed or a church yard! (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

A LIFE WELL LIVED!

The celebration of "Gran Marje's" life began with a picture posted by her granddaughter, Clare.

It continued in Sunday School as her son, Rad, shared a tribute to his mother. There were tears and hugs along with lots of Scripture and memories bringing much laughter! 

Marje was an elegant lady of grace....full of love for her Lord, her family, (80+ grands, great grands and great, great grands) her church friends, and anyone else the Lord brought across her path. All who knew her know Marje is not gone; she just went to be with the Lord---and of course her Chubby & Queen Elizabeth II along with many friends, family and family in the faith who predeceased her!

3 Truths Marje lived by and shared with family...

1. In everything give thanks. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
2. I have learned whatever state I'm in therewith to be content...for I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11, 13)
3. And we know all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Together we shared a love of books and I still have many with her inscription as to why I would love each book!

Seeing her recently in Sunday School (she didn't miss a Sunday even as her maladies increased these past two months) she called me her "miracle girl."

She often called me that and it's a moniker I cherish as it meant she had prayed for me during some difficult times. 

Her prayers spread far and wide. Now she is face to face with the One who heard all her prayers!

Rad shared that as he was at her side as she drew her last two breaths, she smiled during both of them.

Such an example of a life well lived---'til her last breaths.

"Out, Out"...Inadequacy BLOT

Mental BLOTS are dark and they can stain one's psyche----the center of his thoughts & feelings.

I have a blot of inadequacy that tends to blotch my confidence when it comes to "publicly" teaching spiritual things that seem "too hard for me."

I know "nothing is too hard for God"(Jeremiah 32:27) so why don't I refocus and "look up" as soon as the blot appears! Before it completely smudges my thinking!

I need to "move" those scriptures, which I know to be truth, from my head to my heart.

For nothing will be impossible with God. ~ Luke 1:37

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. ~ Philippians 4:13

My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me....2 Corinthians 12:9-10

How can one feel inadequate when her adequacy is in Him. Grateful for the quote from, 100 Things God Loves About You, a recent birthday gift from Buddy & Charlotte, because #6 in the book reminded me to, 'throw your hands up to Him and say, "I can't do this by myself!' Because when you reach up, He loves to reach down, lift you up, and carry you close to His heart. (Isaiah 40:11)

That  "reach up" pithy grabber coupled with 1 Timothy 1:12 erased my inadequacy blot and replaced it with a clear sense of thankfulness knowing the the Lord Jesus Christ is the One who gives me strength "because He judged me faithful appointing me to His service."
As His appointee, He will make me adequate, equipped for every good work of His. (2 Timothy 3:17)

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!

Questions for Consideration

8/18/12 A recent newsletter from AnGel Ministries had me asking myself, “Do I really know and BELIEVE that God's power reaches it's peak when I am at my weakest point? If so, why would I ever “strive” or try to work things out in my own strength. I know in my weakness, He is strong. I know that in my head because II Corinthians 12:9 states it. But….does my lifestyle reflect it?

It’s easier for me to call upon the Lord for BIG things---like public speaking or pending projects that affect others. But does all include times when I just don’t want to do the ordinary dailies because I’m feeling tired or discouraged. Facing another sink full of dishes. Ironing clothes again---didn’t I just iron those? Somedays even answering the phone or emails can seem overwhelming.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Phi. 4:13) Do I believe the ALL part?

Today, I think I just want to crawl back in bed to consider my answers.*

How about you? How would you answer these questions?

*But God….kept me going and ministry to others just flowed again and again. It seems His power reached me at that weak point when I didn’t even ask.