FRIDAY FOCUS!

Friday Focus, again!?

MORE OF THEE. LESS OF ME!

Pithy with a punch. A heart issue.

Easy to know in my head....harder to overflow from my heart & live out.

I must be a slow learner as refocusing is a daily, even hourly occurrence.

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want but i do the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15)

Be gone, self-centeredness! Self-pity stinks!

Today's New Morning Mercies (6/16) entry zeroes in on obstacles of our faith focus.

Self-focus sins that can permeate our actions:

• Nasty retort
• "Me-first pride"
• flash of lust at the mall
• addictions to little pleasures
• impatience with a loved one

.....to name a few. I could lengthen the list as I wait for doctor to return my call....as if I'm his only patient.

O Lord may I refocus....and allow you to rescue me from me!

WATCH OUT WORLD!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JACK! JUNE 14, 2023

No longer "baby Jack" though diapers are sometimes necessary.

I pray from Proverbs 14 for him, asking the Lord to shield the "buts" of that chapter from Jack's life. May he grow to know,

Whoever fears the LORD has a a secure fortress, 

and for their children it will be a refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)

Jack is 5!

Watch out world....this little guy wanted a chocolate birthday cake with monster trucks and venomous snakes!

Jack is ready to make his mark!

              He's already made a big one in my heart!

VIEW FROM A PORCH SWING

Today is Wednesday. Wordsmith Wednesday.

Words fail me. Words escape me.

Others' words are necessary.

 

In quietness and trust is my strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

Cool breeze. Tinkling of chimes,

Seeking that calm posture of prayer while sitting on a porch swing. 

A time of quiet repose. Letting go of fears.

Words from an old hymn come to mind.

For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies,

Lord of all to Thee we (I) raise 

This our (my) hymn of grateful praise.

Enough said...thought and hummed, 

Just stillness from a porch swing.

PATIENT PONDERING!

It's Monday! Meditating Monday for me. At least it was yesterday when I neglected to select "publish."

Henri Nouwen, author of Spiritual Formation, dubs it "ruminating, masticating, and digesting."

However one defines meditation, it's a spiritual action that takes the word of God from the mind to the heart. An inward journey.

Your Words were found, and I ate them and 

your words became to me a joy

 and the delight of my heart....(Jeremiah 15:16a)

Patiently ponder Jeremiah's 21 words. Take them to heart and let them change you!

RIVER CHURCH!

Attending River Church.....it doesn't matter what you wear; the saints are glad you're there!

Nantahala flowing, then rain starts splattering.

No problem---the congregation just moved to a nearby covered porch. 

Ever been to a church service where a kayak is hanging on the ceiling?!

Not to mention the neon sign behind the preacher advertising beer. 

Laid back? YES. God--honoring? For sure.

After singing down by the river and sharing "God Sightings" and/or prayer requests, there was prayer followed by spontaneous "Happy Birthday" for our 2 grandboys.

Sermon example from John 1:35-42 talked of "sitting close" in the dust of the Rabbi's feet.* Pastor Wayner reminded all those transformed by Jesus....It's time to "grow and go" after sitting at Jesus' feet long enough to be covered by His dust. Then, as his disciples we might transform the world helping others find HOPE in pain and disappointment and LOVE from brokenness. . 

Rain slackened and we went down to the river to reflect and pray. I prayed over Owen.

Holding hands and singing the first verse of "Amazing Grace," we were dismissed with "Go in peace."

*I once taught Evelyn Gibson's group, on "Sitting in His Dust." It felt like a God Wink to me this morning....or a River Church sighting as they would dub it!

FOCUS OR FALL!

Last Friday, I fell.

This Friday I'm focused on not falling. 

Everyone keeps reminding me; be aware of where you are going, hold on to the bannister, watch out so you won't bang your heel on the bedpost, watch where you are walking! You're not focusing!

Does "trying to focus" count?

Obviously not....I just stumbled.

My focus must be throwing me off-kilter. Hmmm.....

Refocus is needed.

If we walk with Him closely today, we will be in the center of His will tomorrow. (Henry Blackaby)

Hmmm....

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day!

As I focus on the Lord, I know He will be there to pick me up "for He upholds me with HIs hand," (Psalm 37:24) regardless of what day it is!

"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)

PRACTICING SABBATH

How does one practice keeping the Sabbath when she can't even go to church? 

I'll let you know as I discover.

Shabbot---in the Hebrew means cessation...as in rest Think stop. 

Stop doing long enough to rest in your relationship with the Lord.

Stop striving. Stop fearing. Stop regretting.

Too often I need the reminder to press the "PAUSE" button in my life to be refreshed in what God's purpose for me is this day.

HAPPY DANCE FRIDAY!

K-LOVE celebrates "Happy Dance Friday".....that's my kind of day!

Celebrating I'm a "Child of God" & dancing is going on my calendar for everyday.

As the song says, "On my my best day, I'm a child of God."

But what about your worst day?---you might ask.

The answer is, "On my worse day, I'm a child of God." (Nahum 1:7)

I'm so blessed!

"It doesn't matter about the rest if I've  got you Lord, I'm so blessed." 

Today and "every day is a good day." 

God, our help, is the reason why..... I'm going to dance on Happy Dance Friday!!

JUNE IS HERE!

I don't always remember what day it is but I'm always excited to turn my calendar page to a new month! Flipping the page means I get to see a beautiful picture taken by dear friend and incredible photographer, Anne Brewer!

This photo is not only spot-on for June but the verse is perfect!

Of course it is!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.....(Hebrews 15:13)

God's timing! June is here with hope renewed.