KEYS TO PROFITABLE BIBLE STUDY

Meditating on John 14:10, recently, I was drawn to a sentence in The Path to the Cross (6/1 entry) Careful attention to prepositions is one key to profitable Bible study!

Hmmmm....preposition---a part of speech we all know but what took on new meaning for me was the relational aspect of prepositions, beyond the relative physical positions......beyond the allotment and filling of shared space. (Ronnie Stevens)

Speaking of the Spirit of Truth in John 14:17, God's word reminds us (believers) ...you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you." Since our salvation, the Holy Spirit of God, has been omnipresent with us. What joy that brings!

Looking forward to John 15, a favorite chapter of mine, where the verb, abide, has always stood out. This time I'll be on the look out for key prepositions to deepen my understanding in a new way!

1, 2, 3!

1, 2, 3!

Guess who turned 3 this week? Of course, if you ask him, he still says 2.

The shirt says it all....."His Buh" wore the same shirt, created by Mommy, 11 years ago at his 3rd birthday "robot" party!'

the gift wrap signifies a birthday event.......

blowing out #3 candle affirms it......

.......the smile while in his birthday suit says it all----but he says, NO! 2!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STINK-O-POTAMUS!

IRREGULAR VERBS

Irregular verbs! What are they? An irregular verb is one in which the past tense is not formed by add the usual "ed" ending. 

Why do we need them?

So....when you're reading your Bible you understand past tense, when the verb doesn't end in ed or d.

Alexander McCall Smith, Scottish author of my fave No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels, also wrote the Portuguese Irregular Verb series. Did you notice the irregular verb past tense in that sentence?

That series was humorous though sometimes I didn't quite catch the humor. Plus, there are so few Portuguese irregular verbs. (12) compared to irregular verbs in English. (200) I didn't really get the point.

Trying to stretch my mind linguistically (i.e. intellectually, per doctor's orders) I picked up the latest in the "Irregulrar Verb series, Your Inner Hedgehog. 

So far, the book has revealed that the library has multiple copies (22) of Portuguese Irregular Verbs.  "No longer,' said Unterholzer. 'In fact, as of two days ago there is only one......in a box marked probably valueless" (p.45)

Scripturally, I  went down a rabbit trail.

Basic/irregular verb----Why did Paul write Ephesians? 

    

Simple Past ---One of the reasons Paul wrote the book of Ephesians was to declare to the saints at Ephesus that the Gospel of Salvation is the true source of wisdom. (Paul writed---how incorrect is that! The very sound of it "grates" on my nerves!

Past participle----How much of the New Testament was written by Paul? 28% of NT was written, not writ/writted by Paul and includes letters to other churches; Galatians, Colossians and Philippians, to name a few.  

A few easy ones to whet your appetite for irregular verbs used in the Bible---often times the simple past and the past participle are the same word as in find, found, found.

Begin    Began     Begun

Blow     Blew       Blown

Choose  Chose     Chosen

Eat         Ate         Eaten

Give      Gave       Given

Go          Went     Gone 

Okay--I need to quit---yes, it's an infinitive to quit.....and if you read this tomorrow you could say I quitted, which is allowed, (archiac) but it grates on my nerves......and except for nerdy wordsmith's this "irregular" (adjective) entry probably grates on everyone's nerves.

FRIENDSHIP TO FELLOWSHIP

Depth can be added to friendship when two folks are on the same side of the struggle.

C.S. Lewis puts it this way. . .

It's why deep friendships are often found in support groups--for cancer, terminal diseases, addiction, divorce, betrayal as well as varying grief groups. There is a kinship found when two or sometimes more are on the same side of the struggle. (Proverbs 18:24)

Factor in fellowship and the relationship goes even deeper. Why?

In true fellowship Christ is factored in. It becomes two (or more) people on the same side of the struggle with Christ being the connection in the middle. (1 Corinthians 1:9)

I know because I have been there and am so grateful for the ones God put there with me, often ahead of me, to lead the way to victory, even though the struggle might remain. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

GOD WINKS, LOVE NOTES FROM ABOVE.....

Oh No! It's Thursday and I'm posting Wednesday's entry!! You would think after 2,500+ posts, I could get it right. Why did my brain, or lack there of, forget to tell my finger to press publish????Oh well day late post is below.

God winks, love notes from God . . . God's hand seen, no matter the idioms. If you have ever experienced one, you'll remember it. 

I know the above sentence including its . . . (ellipsis) will be viewed with skepticism and disbelief  by some folks--- God winks, how hokey is that! What's a love note from God???  

I also know the participants in my intercessory prayer time earlier in the week will "get it" because God provides . . . another's idea as a spring board to take new thoughts & prayers in a new, but related, direction.

So "filled with the spirit" as I drove home, I began seeing glimpses of God with me, even in the blinding rain that faded to a drizzle so I could get a snapshot at the stoplight....

Do you see it? Check out the top left.

The sign of the cross. At least that's what my eye took in>

Returning home I saw the Kentucky tag of the truck ahead. Underneath the state name was a phrase I love. . . 

"In God we trust."

A phrase that reminds me why I'm glad to be a Kentuckian by birth. 

More importantly I'm glad to be a child of the King, by rebirth, who shows me His very presence in unique ways throughout each day!

SMILE ALERT!!

Turn off the TV and open email from family!

From the oldest grand......He is 19......and a summer counselor @ Pine Cove The Shores

to the youngest......she is drying out from the spray ground in Brooklyn, with snack in hand!

These pictures make me smile! 

Highways and Byways in the SOUTH!

Oftentimes in the south, rather than seeing graffiti painted on overpasses and trestles, train cars and large trucks, one sees graffiti of grace that out shines the grime of the world. 

From church signs and billboards signs...Sulfur Springs-- 

Ever passed a cowboy church while cruising down the interstate? You will if you travel I-30 in TX. We also passed one between Greenville on US380 W heading toward McKinney. I've never seen a horse hitched up but I've seen lots of pick-up trucks. 

Recently a truck from IL driving thru Texas gave me a shout-out for family, prayer & praise!

Amen.Rucker's Candy!

IDS

Ailments! Ailments!! Ailments!!!

Has there been any kind of doctor/specialist I have not seen in the last year. Well 2 come to mind.....and one of those is already on my "to-call" list due to recent "events."

However, my main malady requires the Great Physician.

Self-diagnosis has me discovering a very personal symptom of IDS.

No, not irritable bowel syndrome though that could easily be in my my future, because "at my age" all maladies are possible.

IDS seems to be my ever-present affliction. 

Irritable Dotsy Syndrome!

Yep---and the RX is written by the HS in the Bible!

In everything give thanks! Aka all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

DOSAGE: daily, 24/7

May thankfulness overflow as I sing and make music from my heart to the Lord, always overflowing with thankfulness (Colossians 2:7, Ephesians 5:19-20)

SATURDAY SUMMARY......

My doctors keep reminding  me that "at my age" one needs to keep physically active and intellectually stimulated----i.e. more than the mental floss that tends to fill my head. Last week it was demonyms. This week I added Monegasque. You know.....the residents of Monaco. 

In the scheme of important things, that info is nothing but useless trivia.

Instead, I need a clear, simple way to keep up with daily pills, (ever changing) prayer requests and praises....especially on Saturday. 

May my Saturday summaries help me in remembering. (Psalm 77:11, 1 Corinthians 11:2) 

• Remember your Creator. (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
• I remember your name in the night, O, Lord (Psalm 119:55)
• ..the Helper, the Holy Spirit....will bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)

Bless the Lord , O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. (Psalm 103:2)

Lest I forget..........Lord God of Hosts, be with us (me) yet, Lest we (I) forget---

lest we (I) forget. (Deuteronomy 4:7-9)

LISTEN!

Listen---"my one word" for 2020. Hmmmm!

I must need a refresher course. Yesterday I saw two H2H friends at Snapdragon Floral and I became a chatterbox. I did apologize, after the fact. Both graciously accepted.

That very morning, "get into the habit of hearkening" was my journal notation. How quickly I forgot.

 Contextually it was intentionally and continually hearkening to the Lord about everything. I think it was a reminder----after listening to God, "listen" to others. Listening is a way of honoring/respecting/putting others first. (Philippians 2:3b-4) May I hearken to others today!