WONDERFUL WORDS!

What a germane topic for "Wordsmith Wednesday"---Wonderful Words!

There's nothing quite like waking up to just the words one needs to hear!

So grateful to friend, Doris, who shares insights from a wordsmith friend of hers. Scottie. His sporadic  devotionals always seem spot on! This one builds with comparatives and turns us to Jesus, our portion, our peace, and our passion. 

We women know---if we compare, we despair. 

What a peaceful way to begin our day. So-o-o-o calming. 

Who doesn't need "calming" words these days! 

Before I could even finish this blog entry, a text from my dear Ukrainian friends shared that they are hearing bombing in their city today for the first time. They who have been feeding and sheltering hundreds of people daily since this horrific war began, as well as risking their own lives to transport the most vulnerable out of the war torn east to the borders, are now under attack. 

Help them, Lord. Be their strength, portion, peace and the lifter up of their heads

May all who read this lift prayers of comfort and safety on their behalf.

FUNCTIONAL AGING (A.M.A.P.)

At our church, the LLL or Triple Ls are the ones whose class members would all check the last box on the age information-----above 65! Chronologically aging.

Functional aging is physical and out of our control. Attitudinal aging is a choice.

I'm wondering if checking that last box for some years now should have been an alliterative reminder for me---one who, too often, languishes in lethargy or lapse into anxiety.

Lethargy looms.  Lethargy lingers. Lethargy lessens.
Anxiety accelerates. Anxiety agitates. Anxiety adds angst.

Lethargy and anxiety are on opposite ends of a dysfunctional spectrum, but both are disturbances in a healthy relational life. Think sluggish vs wired!

Attitudinal lethargy and anxiety have their root in our thought life.
It's a mind battle. It's our "thoughts" which need positive intervention.
A.M.A.P. ---As Much As Possible.

I need A.M.A.P. of God's word in my thought life to be "transformed by the renewing of my mind." (Romans 12:2) I need to apply Philippians 4:8 as I capture thoughts at the entry level. and "think on these things."
True. Honest. Just. Pure. Lovely. Admirable.
Meditating on these truths will "please my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

Functionally.....A relaxed (not sluggish) attitude lengthens a man’s life.  (Proverbs 14:30, TLB) and a cheerful heart is good medicine.  (Proverbs 17:22).....
......RX = daily dose ASAP of a cheerful heart. A.M.A.P.

peaceful meditation

4/2/12 Peace…..it’s all from Him, the One who is our Peace. Such began my word study on God, our peace. Jehovah Shâlôm or Yahweh Shâlôm.

Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and named it The LORD is Peace. (Judges 6:24)

יהוה שׁלום

Jehovah-shalom = "Jehovah is peace"

       1. the name of a sacred altar built by Gideon in Ophrah

Gideon had been face to face with the angel of the Lord having just witnessed a miracle of God’s power. It was at that moment that he recognized who his God was and he worshiped. It was the beginning of the alleviation of Gideon’s fears for both himself and the nation of Israel. That fear was replaced with trust in the Lord. Once trust replaces fear, the result is peace.

I filled an entire page with “peace” verses but I kept going back to Judges 6:24.Knowing the character of the God whom I worship is where “peace” of mind starts. Where peace resides, anxious thoughts are captured and covered by His consolations. (Psalm 94:19) Delight and trust take over.

Perfect peace comes from a mind focused on the Lord.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3)

When peace resides in the mind, it moves to the heart. A peaceful heart permeates the body.

A heart at peace gives life to the body…..(Proverbs 14:30)

Those are pieces of my peaceful meditation which God is now allowing me to put into practice.