PIP

10/3/11 PIP is my acronym for "Put Into Practice." Usually for me that means living out a meaningful verse of Scripture. Today was a "Day of Praise" for the radio station K-Love. They asked listeners to join them in praising God for who He is & thanking Him for what He's done. Praise and thanks. That seemed like a good thing to PIP. (By the way my acronyms are in no way connected to net lingo for chatting or texting---just my way of remembering, established long before one could even text on a phone.)

Today's MM (Monday Meditation) is a glimpse as I PIP this challenge. Meditating on scripture often serves as a springboard for prayer and praise. Psalm 67 was my international praise guide. Psalm 150 was my benediction.

1May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us
2that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
6The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us.
7God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! (ESV)

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. (Psalm 150:6)

As the Puritan's "Evening Praise" states, "My cup runs over. Suffer me not to be insensible (without feeling) to these daily mercies.Thy hand bestows blessings: Thy power averts evil. I bring my tribute of thanks for spiritual graces, the warmth of faith, the cheering presence of Thy Spirit...." (The Valley of Vision, p. 121)

PRUNING

10/2/11 This weekend's cool temps coupled with a willing hubby allowed time to "tidy-up" in our yard. Notice I said yard, not lawn. We're yard kind of people so we don't have a landscape design as such. But even to this inexperienced eye, I knew we needed some pruning. If for nothing else than to bring in light to the middle of the bush. This would encourage new growth. But to get that light we had to remove dead, broken or diseased branches. Suckers, those odd branches that had started growing from the base of your tree, and even the spindly branches needed to be removed and discarded---in order for us to return it to the shape it was meant to be.

Believers are a lot like that. Believers have a spiritual shape. S.H.A.P.E. = Spiritual Gifts; Heart; Abilities; Personality; Experience. (C. Keeth) It's our God-given makeup. People have gifts to offer others, a heart that houses their passions, abilities that aid them in using their passion to minister to others, the perfect personality for their calling and the experiences that affirm this. But to maintain that "shape" one needs to rid themselves of the "useless" and to walk in the light of God's Word. Live with His perspective. Allow Him to light your path. Discard your junk. Leave it on the curb.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

As I stated in a 3/13/11 blog, Pruning helps to bring balance and it guides the shaping of the plant (or person) to be all it (or she) was intended to be by the one (or One) who planted it. Pruning both in the garden and in our spiritual lives is necessary for healthy growth. We have to get rid of the superfluous and useless parts that compete with the healthy growth---

Prune the part that doesn't let in the needful light!

SHATTERED and GATHERED

9/30/11 Life can happen in "shattering" ways. Blots on our life's pages.
Interruptions abounding. Often we are caught unaware.

Revelation 1:17 speaks of the Lord as the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. I like the way the prophet wrote of that concept in Isaiah 52:12. For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard. As our Alpha, he goes before us----our paths and stage are set by Him as we follow Him. As our Omega He is there in eternity. Amy Carmichael's devotional book, Edges of His Ways, opened my eyes to this glorious truth. Rotherham phrased it thus, "For your Van-guard is the Lord." "He who begins, finishes." (Edges, 9/29) God's there first and He's there as our rear guard. He is first and last and every where in between.

So what's the glorious truth? For me, it was not just the guidance we receive from the One who goes ahead, nor the protection we receive from the One who defends and brings up the rear. It was the job description of the rear guard that had me gratefully seeing Him as Gatherer. The rear guard follows after "to gather us up if we flag and are weary." (Edges 9/30) He gathers up----that's my favorite thought. My rearguard gathers up my mistakes, my bumbling intentions, all the detritus that I have left on my life's path and He takes care of them. He is first and He is last, and we are gathered up in-between, as in great arms of eternal lovingkindness. (Edges, 9/29) So, as we travel on into another month we need not fear: Eternal love is our Vanguard, the glory of Eternal Love is our Rearguard. (Edges, 9/30) His everlasting arms will gather us up.

FORTRESS OF FAITH

9/28/11 A fortress of faith sounds even sturdier than a wall of faith. It was today's Commercial Appeal newspaper’s lead in to Rabbi Grossman’s Rosh Hashanah message, but it reinforced my latest THOTS (Trusting Him On This Subject): walls/fortresses of faith are “besieged by hostile forces.” The Rabbi was recalling as an 11 year old finding his mother crumpled in the floor and crying because “her mother, eight sisters and one brother had perished in the Nazi gas chambers.” (CA guest column, 9/28/11) In later years, he read on the walls of such a gas chamber, Psalm 44: 17, "All this came upon us, yet we have not forgotten you." He ended with prayerful words, “May He who makes peace in His high places, make peace for us and all of Israel.”

I concluded that there can always be love, peace and respect for mankind in my wall of faith.

THOT: The mortar that holds my wall together must be grace. His grace extended to me. That grace extended by me to others. L'Shanah Tovah Tikatevu or “Happy New Year” to my dear Jewish friends who will probably serve apples today, in one form or another.

DOORWAYS

9/27/11 "Keep evil at bay TODAY," was a thought bantered around at H2H last week. Sounds easy enough but when it comes to making right choices in a fallen world, not always so easy---especially those kudzu thoughts. They start with just a simple crack in the doorway to your mind. Soon they take over. So what's one to do?

Erect a wall of faith. Brick by brick. Cemented with God's word. Similar to Isaiah 28:13 when Isaiah built his hearer's knowledge of God's truth "precept upon precept, line upon line" in order that they might not have to fall backwards, be broken or snared. Which is sadly what happened when they didn't build on simple truths. Their wall of faith crumbled. Where was the cornerstone of their faith? (Isaiah 28:16) Eventually the cornerstone of their faith was rejected. (Psalm 118:22) Theirs was not a stable edifice. They opened the door to deceit and closed their ears to righteousness.

An open doorway to an unrighteous mind can start with just a toehold of complaint, bitterness, resentment or anger.

Simple two point answer of what one is to do: build a wall of faith through the study of God's word; don't open the doorway to your mind to impure thoughts. Stop them at the threshold. If it opens slam the door loud and clear with the truth of Scripture.

"ALL THINGS CONSIDERED"

9/26/11 "ATC" with the voice of Robert Siegel often catches my ear if I’m in the car late afternoon. Yesterday’s interview with Rachel Held Evans really caught my attention. Mrs. Evans, an evangelical Christian, has spent a year trying to live out biblical instructions for women. My favorite part was when she told of the Jewish orthodox woman whose hubby “sang” Proverbs 31 to her on the Sabbath as a way, not to push her to do all written therin, but to celebrate all that she had done for her family during the week. That interview had me considering relevant biblical instructions for my own life. Hiding God’s word in my heart was my first consideration.

For today’s Meditating Monday this radio broadcast had me choose “considering” verses that one might deem relevant for his/her own meditation. There are lots. I’m choosing 4 verses that caught my attention. Choose the one that “speaks” to you and then consider it and all things about the verse over the next few days.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:2-5)

Don’t consider yourself wise. Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:7)

Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, (II Corinthians 3:5)

.....and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (Hebrews 10:24)

Sunday Storms

9/25/11 Warnings postponing my post ---will return when warning is lifted.

Just changed blog because I have storms on my mind.

Storms in life too often interrupt my peace. I prefer joy.

Yet I have learned that striving for that joy and peace is wearisome. Acceptance is key. Accepting that life will never be perfect this side of heaven, no matter how hard I try to make it so. Choosing to see joy in the imperfections and interruptions that life sends my way.

Accepting that I am His in the lull before the storm, in the midst of the storm and in its aftermath.

He Himself is our peace, (Ephesians 2:14)

Looking and leaning toward the Light

9/24/11 Light and water are two of the natural resources necessary for plant growth. These are basics taught in kindergarten.
Like these trees at Ben's Park in Harbor Town are leaning toward the light for growth, most plants do the same thing---looking to the sun for needed light. This often shapes them in a recognizable way.

How similar that is to our own spiritual growth, as we look to the "Son" for growth. Hopefully this shapes our growth in such a way that others can see our Christian "bent."


Water is also a necessity. That's why trees that are planted by rivers have roots that go deep, rooting them to flourish and establishing them to weather storms. How blessed we are to know the One who is the "living water" and who can establish us in His love when we plant ourselves close to His word.

Today I prayed Ephesians 3:17b-18 for my Saturday folks...." And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ."

To which I say A-men---which means , "so be it."

ORGANIZED CLUTTER IS STILL CLUTTER………….

8/21/11 Organized clutter IS clutter…………I know that…… Maryanne Macdonald taught me that in one of her continuing ed organizational classes back in the 90s. But it’s still hard---especially when I found these cute “Dotsy” bins to keep up with my Dotsy Details blog stuff. (Just in case I might ever need it.) I still intended to cull a little---I have always been a lady of good intentions. This time I meant business.,,,,,,,until I got to the sentimental stuff. Then I really struggled. I’ve tried to give it to my children but mostly they say, “You keep it or just throw it away.” How can I throw away…. the best of show rosette that Josh won in the junior horticulture division at the Mid-South Fair....Or Molly’s Italian leather size 0 baby shoes, a “namesake” gift from my college roomie, Molly P….or Buddy’s poem’s published in Ridgeway’s literary magazine, “The Carousel” ?????

I think I’ve justified myself by thinking if I have “like things” together, ( another Maryanne tip) especially if they are color-coded and labeled and stored in alphabetical order, retrieval will be easier. But will I remember this formula? Will anyone ever even want me to retrieve them?

Let all things be done decently and in order. (I Corinthians 14:40) KJV

This verse could have affirmed my rationale except that in context, it really deals with orderly worship. But it did open my eyes to question this pseudo-rationale of mine. Am I worshipping my “stuff?” Is it fitting to hold on to so much stuff saying it’s of sentimental value, when those who hold this memory really aren’t interested? Having just cleaned out 2 houses, following deaths of loved ones, I’ve seen that what one person treasures another can throw in the trash. Eventually most of it will be thrown away. Why prolong the process or leave it for others to do after my death?

Quite a conundrum----but one fact remains, organized clutter is still clutter, even if I can find it easier.

Pausing for a Posting

9/19/11 This "posting" in a dear friend's kitchen gave me pause. Pause to think about my own life. Is my heart so hid in the Lord that to truly understand me, one most know Him. Is that true in your life?

May my soul glow with the e†ernal divine occupant of my being so that others might see Him.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:2-3)