PITHY WITH A "WORDSMITH" PUNCH

I don't even know who Scotty is....only that he's a wordsmith friend of my friend, Doris.

Anyone who can use poetry, metaphor and simile along with astonish, flourish and nourish in two sentences to expound Psalm 63:2, is a WORDSMITH in all caps.

So glad to meet you Scotty. Thanks Doris for the introduction of your "pithy with a punch" friend. 

May we all flourish as God's Word nourishes us today!

SOS ...---...

SOS, in 1905  was a distinct Morse code maritime disaster signal originally used as an assistance request. It has also been used as a visual request with three short, three long, three short flashes of light. 

SOS, by folk etymology, is an abbreviation of Save Our Souls!

That's the SOS appeal that speaks to my heart! I continue to seek the sin that besets my own heart.  Realization.....I need many SOS reminders to save me from myself!

Amos 6:1-7, says, "WOE to those who are at ease.....Are you better than...?

WOE to those...stretched out on their couches.....who sing idle songs, drink wine in bowls,...annoint themselves with fines oils?"

The Lord abhors such pride (v.8) It sounds like the sin of self-satisfaction to me.

How sinful I am! 

Focusing on ease and contentment being great among them. 

Me-ism.(New Morning Mercies, 8/3)

Journal jottings (5 of 10) as meditation on SOS has continued these last 

5 days. But.....examples became a jumble when folks opened the SOS list so....I left one & moved others to end of entry.* 

Sin

Of        

Self      

After my own T.H.O.T. S---Trusting Him On This Subject.....I went to Allacronyms.com  I got more than I bargained for from this on-line Acronyms and Abbreviation Dictionary...1.5k popular meanings of SOS!

So.....I went back to Seeking Only Scripture----the best answer to a distress call for help!

*

Selfishness Of Sin

Stop Overwhelming Sin

Service Over Self

Satan  Owns Sin 

Savior Occludes Sin...........in order to Save Our Souls!

FAITH FOCUS!!

People who overcome life's struggles by continuing to trust the Lord, regardless of circumstances, have a prevailing faith.

A faith that focuses not on things of earth but on things of heaven as a habitual focus. A God-centered focus. 

Set your mind on things above not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2) 

A faith that sees it through to the end.

A faith that stays true to Jesus.

A faith that stays focused on God's word in mind, body and spirit!

COLLECTIVE NOUNS!

Friend, ljj, has introduced me to many collective nouns.She has peaked my interest for animal groups.

One of my favorites is this "sparkle" one. A "sparkle" of fireflies!

Don't we all want to "sparkle."

Another fun fact I learned from a 1985's park ranger's talk about Synchronous Fireflies, indigenous to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is they are monogamous. Of course we're talking days or weeks, not years. 

But, I digress from collective nouns---so typical for an "always distracted one."

Congregation of alligators--but don't think I want to go to their church.

A shiver of sharks seems about right as I get the shivers thinking of encountering them.

Squad of squid.

Flamboyance of flamingos.

Collective nouns have become a real find---so I decided to create one of my own!

"Giggle of girls." Female "girls" in their 70s who travel together, when they remember to "show up" and often have to cross their legs when the laughter of sharing old memories begins. This "tea towel" alway brings laughter to my grands when they see it hanging by the oven. Even they know how true that can be for me!

CSB and CEB versions of Psalm 139:3, state that the Lord observes (CSB) and studies (CEB) my travels. In other words wherever we are, whether traveling or resting, He is aware of the paths we are taking. He indeed is aware. Thoroughly familiar with all our ways.

The LORD God made us all, each with a unique purpose. (Psalm 139:13) May we live it out collectively with others in the faith. 

F.R.O.G. FOCUS WITH FEELING!

I was going to save this "focus" entry for a Friday but God has me meditating on the these 4 words this morning!

F ully

R ely

O n

G od

Maybe it's because as I've been sharing this declarative statement with others, I realized how much I also need the reminder. "With God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)

Reliance requires Trust!

F.R.O.G. 

Fully rely on God. Full stop. Period. 

Nothing else needed forever.

Hmmmm----

F orever

R ely

O n

G od

Maybe it's an IMPERATIVE! Completely necessary.

Hmmmmm---or exclamatory because it certainly reflects my feelings as I meditate this Monday.

FULLY RELYING ON GOD FOREVER IS CERTAINLY COMPLETELY NECESSARY IN A CHRISTIAN'S LIFE! 

I know it; I can feel it in my heart!

JUMBLED FOCUS!

Is "jumbled focus" an oxymoron? Or am I just the moron? 

Wordsmiths know all about such contradictory terms. 

For this moron, whose brain is in a state of "organized chaos" these days, some oxymorons seem to make sense.

But God, in His mercy and great love, (Ephesians 2:4) patiently reminds me to "keep on keeping on" in the focus realm.

Setting (and resetting as needed) my "mind on things above not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2)

God has been cutting me some slack lately as I have been in such a "fluctuating" state of focus. 

Maybe I, as well, need to "cut myself some slack" in the midst of this  "jumbled focus" time---knowing "in quietness and trust is my strength!"

LOST VOICE!

This morning I awakened with NO voice?

Sometimes in a group I might sense I have "no voice" in certain discussions. 

This new voice omission is not social; it's physical.

Today, long-time friends had "lunch and love" at Beth's. I couldn't even squeak out much that was discernible, so I laughed and  "listened."

 

LISTENING! Understanding dawned! 

Listening was the answer, literally.

Be still....listen to God and others had been a heart prayer of mine recently.

Quietude.

Faith strengthening increases as one seeks to listen the Lord in order to know him better. (Romans 10:17) Evidence of the strengthening in that relationship is seen as one chooses to listen! To God first and then to others.....looking not only to his/her own interest, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)

A "lost voice" was the perfect answer to my prayer! A blessing for me!

DANCE IS STILL A CHOICE!

Dance can be a divisive topic. Physically. Socially. Spiritually  

Dance has certainly changed physically and socially through the years. 

Some folks can be dismissive of dance as one ages and choose to sit out.

When people think you're too old to learn new tricks (steps)....take a "tap" class or Zumba Gold and show 'em! ) or not!

What about spiritual? Again, choices vary.

Certain congregation participants refuse to clap or raise hands within their sanctuary, regardless of the music that plays---hymns or praise songs. Others dance in the aisles. Not wrong, just different. 

Dancing is mentioned in the Bible and used in the OT as a means of worship. 

Read a few Bible verses and decide for yourself.

In 2 Samuel 6:14, "David dances before the Lord with all his might," an example of surrender to his Maker

"Let them praise his name with dancing..."(Psalm 149:3)

Psalm 150 includes ways of praising the Lord with trumpet, harp, lyre and dance, along with other instruments.

"...there is a time to dance." (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

Lamentations 5:15 illustrates, joy leaving our hearts when dancing has turned to mourning.

When you get the choice to sit it out or dance....DANCE! 

That would be my choice. What's yours?

 

Dance is still a choice....no answer is right or wrong, just different. 

5 WORDS MEDITATION

"Monday Meditation".........."through love serve one another."*

Only 5 words from Galatians 5:13.

Few words to bring many thoughts.

"Self-indulgent" words" omitted.

How will I/you respond to those words today.

FOND FAREWELLS!

Bye, Bye, Beach!

Bye, Bye, "BIG WATER," as the older cousins first called it!

Whether by jet to NY, truck to NC or SUV to TX---all arrived safe and sound to sleep in their own homes. 

"NIte, I love you." as our family always says!