NEEDMORE?!

What does one do when her GPS fails? Possibly switching back to God's Positioning System, when one needs more clarity of direction in her life would help!

Even with the latest GPS system, one can still lose her bearing when fatigue & insecurity are factors. Sunday was such a time. I needed more clues and old timey street signs which were still readable to help hubby best navigate the road to return to our new homeplace.

A good reminder appeared on the back of a BiG truck.

When we missed the turn indicated by the GPS we were reminded again that we needed more help.

When one is going in the wrong direction, for me, the answer is obvious.........

As always, I "NEED MORE" of Thee and less of me!

NAMES OF GOD!

Seeking to renew my prayer life during this hard time of loss, I am crying out to the LORD!

Tony Evans says, "WHEN LIFE GETS TOO HARD TO STAND, KNEEL."

I add to that, "When your aging body makes kneeling difficult, bow in your heart."

Call out to the LORD who can meet you at your point of need.

Allow God to be your Light, Jehovah Ori, (1 John 1:5), your Joy, El Simchath Gill, (Psalm 16:11), your Strength, Jehovah Uzzi, (Nehemiah 8:10), and your Peace Jehovah Shalom, (2 Thessalonians 3;16).

Psalm 29:11, states, "The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses his people with peace." 

Praises to Yahweh, our King, who gives us both strength and peace during our time of need.

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)

"mo-TEA-ley" cuppa

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,...(Romans 8:28, KJV)

My jigsaw puzzle working friend, JoLynn, finds joy in looking at the mishmash of colors and motley/dissimilar shapes which have been dumped out of a 1,000 piece puzzle box. She knows that they are all part of a bigger picture----which she doesn't even choose to see ahead of time. She allows the pieces to "work together" to form the picture. (I recommend "Zuplez" 4/9/09 blog entry for a more complete explanation of her unique ability)

Scrabble expert friend, Ann, has a similar approach to all those tiles that tumble out of the maroon velvet bag. As she selects her "unseen" 7 tiles for her tray, she has an uncanny way of perceiving the longer words or the  higher scoring short ones. She takes what is dealt her and begins looking for only the tiles that are needed exchanges. I want to turn them all in for a fresh start. I can't "see" the possibilities. She sees multiple possibilities. Her technique is the winner. At least, I've never won against her.

Sadly, I often approach life seeing only the pieces, the broken pieces---a hodgepodge of events..... and not factoring in the Lord and His bigger picture for me until later. My desire is  to "pray my way out" of the "pieces and tiles" that are uncomfortable or hurtful. 

For many of us, daily events appear to pour out pieces of life that are stressful, troublesome, disappointing even. Yet, these troubles can be used by God to teach us important life lessons. Where we see stress, He sees opportunities. Unexpected crisis are a part of life---at least in the Liles household. But.....a crisis for any of us can be used, by the Lord, as a lesson for growth and betterment in our lives.

Intentional practice is needed to see problems as learning opportunities. Opportunities waiting to be solved in His timing. If one doesn't focus on seeing God's hand or begin quickly praying and asking to see God's hand, then problems can overwhelm and negatively consume one's thought life.

Look for the bigger picture. Exchange all those disjointed and disappointing mo-TEA-ley, miscellaneous pieces of life for His all encompassing peace. Remember to thank the Lord in everything and to ask Him to clearly show the life lessons He has in each piece. 

 

Each piece of one's life exchanged for His purpose = His peace. 

The Lord will bless His people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)

A mo-TEA-ley cuppa needs to be sweetened with God's peace.

Saturating Saturday

1/24/09

Began day with Saturday routine (routine feels good) --- Warriors on the Wall prayer time---praying lots for my "back-up/sub partner, Linda Dickens---what a privilege to pray for others.

Together Larry and I listen to son Buddy's Jan.18 sermon on-line---series he is in dealt with truth about trials and sufferings---how timely—from I Peter 1:6-12 and a few detours to Romans 8:28 (LA's verse) and Matthew 6:15 & 16 (scripture passage I taught in Mexico last March)---God blessed us with His peace. So…………….

Word of the day is Peace--------------World definition is without conflict or war---Dotsy definition is supernatural calmness in the middle of war or trial and God's word says……

The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Psalm 37:11) Wow, there's yesterday's word---abunDANCE---God often has to show me things more than once (or twice even) Will have to do a word study on Hebrew word for meek b/c definition that comes to mind is not one that I think describes me.

After God, had given me all this during my time with Him, then I opened Jesus Calling and the first two words were, "My Peace" (Uh—hel-lo!)

Glad for peaceful morning b/c rest of day was a whirlwind with 3 phone calls from sweet, precious, brilliant, world-renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Louis Carter. He called my Dr. Burruss—Dr. B's response was, "How did you know about this?" Anyone besides me know the answer to that!!!!!