MY HELP COMES FROM THE LORD!

I will lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh, my help. 

My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven heaven and earth!

SPIRITUAL AMNESIA!

Those of us familiar with an "age related cognitive decline" diagnosis know the deep sense of fear. Losing one's memory, short term or long-term is not what one hopes for....esp. brain-wise.

What about spiritual recollection, or lack there-of? Have you ever sensed in your "heart" that you were suffering from spiritual amnesia?

The good news in that area is an RX prescribed in God's word. "Turn" the pages of truth. Remember "God abounds in loving kindness and truth." (Exodus 34:6)

Give attention to His faithfulness and love. 

Take daily. Overdose is impossible. No adverse side-effects!

To remove the symptoms of anxiety and fear, remember "turn" to Him. If spiritual amnesia "hits" again, "turn" to another brother or sister in fellowship who can join you in prayer. (Thanks Avinash Joseph for that recommendation.)

This week my RX includes a scripture memory trial to enhance my age-related cognitive decline, laced with amyloid angiopothy. 

Yellow sticky notes on post-it-notes are on my bathroom mirror to begin my day with God's promises! Spiritual amnesia be gone!

Camping out in the Psalms 9/2020

MOUNTAINTOP WEDDING!

Today began with prayers for the bride and groom and their families!

Having prayed for this beautiful young woman for many years, as her Godmother, I'm looking forward to all that the Lord is going to do in their lives.
As Meg walked to the altar in this magnificent mountain sanctuary, I lifted up mine eyes unto the hills and prayed from Psalm 121. "May the Lord be their keeper---keeping them throughout life and being their keeper as they go out and come in from this time forth and even forever more." 

As the bride's father said in His toast, "May God lead them in their new life together."

A new life of hope begins as the sun sets in the mountains on this special day. (2 Timothy 1:12b)
May God bless Meg and Tim today and always!

CHOOSE: TRUTH IN TREETOPS

 Coming soon--because we're back to iffy WiFi 

"Sen-TEA-mental"

...when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois......., and I am persuaded is in you also. (2 Timothy 1: 5, NKJV)

This past week, I have been on a sen-TEA-mental journey of sorts. I've spent time with both my brothers (tea drinkers together as kids) as well as cousin Joy. Joyce, as others call her, was a big part of my childhood, tho we lived in different states. (only 24 miles apart) She's always been a Tennessee gal---I've just re-located here from Kentucky.

Sen-TEA-mental--that would be me---it's the adjective that modifies the cuppa I drink from a lot lately. It’s this emotional tendency that causes me to "puddle" at inopportune times. It's  where most of my "house" clutter originates….it's so hard to part with things that prompt feelings of tenderness and nostalgia, along with a little sadness woven in.

Parting from dear ones, those whom I rarely see, always has me excessively prone to those feelings. Plus, on this trip, sweet Joy has given me, a sen-TEA-mental gal, great joy. She gave me Mama’s rocker.

Thus, this morning, coupled with the fact that my cancer doc visit would be in just a couple of hours, I gave into the excessive indulgence of my emotions. Praising and "puddling."

As Timothy's grandmother taught him the Scriptures from a young age, it was my grandmother, "Mama Davenport," who let me watch midget wrestling on Saturday nights and still got me up early for the walk to church the next day. 

She taught me scriptures as well....as we walked up Second Street turned right onto Union and a block later hung a right on to Madison Ave. and on down a ways to the First Christian Church. It was on the south side of the street on a corner and we always entered the front door, furthest east. Not sure why. 

I assume God knew that one day my faith would blossom, and my faith was due, in no small measure, to the godly upbringing and influence of Mama.

All of these sentimental thoughts of gratitude crowded my head as I had my cuppa seated in Mama's rocker and read Psalm 121 from her battered Bible. 

The thought that God might use me to pass on an eternal legacy to my children's children has me "puddling" in my sen-TEA-mental cuppa .

commonali-TEA

The Lord is your keeper; .....The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:5, 7-8, ESV)

A commonali-TEA often shared by parents and grandparents is desiring God's best for their offspring, which they hope includes their longevity as well. But, too often, fears of the "what if" can creep in and rob them of their peace. 

Last week's large powerful waves at the beach and the accompanying rip tide had me on a constant "fearful alert." Knowing I had prayed for safety did not provide the unwavering confidence that "all would be fine." 

My heart's desire was that the Lord, who is my Keeper and my Protector, would keep us all safe. I certainly prayed for safety and had other prayer warriors praying as well. But God...keeps us. Safety, as being vigilant, was in my hands, both prayerfully and physically. But security was in God's hands. 

Regardless of circumstances, (even those that appear life-threatening)...He is our keeper for eternity. The crux of keeping is in soul keeping. 

"If our soul is kept, all is kept." (C. H.Spurgeon)

A cuppa fearful commonali-TEA needs to be exchanged for a cuppa securi-TEA, which only the Lord can provide.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE

11/11/12 These pics will probably speak for themselves of the beauty of His creation and the importance of worshipping together with those in "the household of faith."

Lake Junaluska, NC---Carolyn Ferrell will recognize---from ? (1963, CMF)

Memorial Chapel at UMC Conference and Retreat Center at Lake Junaluska

Pilgrim Inn at Billy Graham Training Center at "The Cove" in Ashville, NC

The Chatlos Memorial Chapel at The Cove---a mountain sanctuary nestled under a canopy of colorful autumn trees with antique pews from the Royal London Society for the Blind, and chandeliers of handcrafted wrought iron

Drawn to kneel in prayer as I "lifted mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."

"In pursuit...."

11/8/12  Walking out the door to join dear friend and prayer buddy, JoLynn (& later w/ Wynellen ) as we begin our long awaited trip to "The Cove." (Billy Graham Training Institue in Asheville, North Carolina) We are attending an Anne Graham Lotz seminar to "discover an intensely personal relationship with the God who is wholeheartedly pursuing more of you."

Isn't that comforting---when we're in pursuit of more of Him, we realize He is whole (not 1/2) heartedly pursuing us. 

Will be in pursuit of "hot spots" while there in order to share all that God shows me----or not, it will depend on His leading. I might just spend lots of time with Him "lifting up mine eyes unto the hills." All who know me know I am a mountain girl and I love those mountains of North Carolina!

Would appreciate "in pursuit " prayers from all my readers.

Praying the Psalms

1/21/09

24 hours without a computer and a telephone with a "black hole"--- do you think maybe God wanted me to "be still and know that He is God" as Sara B. prayed??!!

Well, there it is. I open my Jesus Calling book and the first sentence says, I want you to be all mine.

Yesterday was a little of a stretch ----couple of doc visits---lots of plans to be considered---logistical and insurance questions---but God…………………I wonder if Ronnie Stevens realizes what an impact those to words have had on my life since I heard his long ago sermon (Eph. 4:2)---that's about his speed--- 2 words a Sunday (hopefully Ronnie can take a joke)----helps folks like me digest it.

I began the day (before computer needed a new hard drive) with a big blessing. An elder from Allen Bible Church, where son Buddy is a pastor, wrote that he had been praying Psalm 20 for me. I remembered the verse "some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." SW helped me glean insight from that during our H2H teacher training sessions one summer. As the day ended and I was having trouble settling down, Larry read Psalm 20 to me.

Then I asked him to read Psalm 121 to me-----one I memorized (KJV) as a part of my 4^th grade teacher's instruction---now there's a good teacher. It was the psalm that I was given the privilege to recite for the First Evan Women's Team to Mexico on the last night of our mission trip to El Lano (you won't find it on a map) for the Tlapaneco Christian Easter Conference. I can still close my eyes and see those mountains and the sweet faces of all the groups who so beautifully dramatized the verses---"He will not suffer your foot to be moved. (slip) He that keepeth thee will not slumber, Behold He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep…The Lord is thy keeper….He shall preserve thy soul….The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even forever more, I had never felt more smack dab in the middle of God's good and perfect will for my life on that trip and that's where I am right now. To Him be the glory!