SATURDAY SURPRISES!

Coming "sorta soon."

JOURNEY OF LIFE!

FRIDAY. MAY 10, 2024---momentous day for our oldest grand & soon to come, a kindergarten “participation” diploma for our youngest grandson!

Whether shaking hands and whooping or smiling in delight, may both choose joy in the next steps of their journey as both continue in academics!

THANKFUL THURSDAY!

Grateful.......

.......for attendance at many events & many happenings in my oldest grandchild's life thru the years across the miles. From the drop-off at his first day of kindergarten

 & elementary school visits where he introduced me as 100 years old to his University of Arkansas commencement, he has kept me smiling!

W WORDS FOR WEDNESDAY!

My latest knee malady is preventing me from a sorely needed "worship walk."

"But God" in His love and mercy reminded me, through the word rambling of a 5 year-old's alternative,

 "Hush your trout." I got it. Do you? 

He was trying to tell his dog to be still and be quiet. 

For me, the phrase "holy-hush" came to mind. 

Taking that phrase and putting it into practice---quiet & alone in my prayer chair with Bible open and "W" words leading me to truth.

BUT GOD.................

BUT GOD--a phrase that stays,--- in my mind that is!*

A prepositional phrase that speaks to my heart time and time again. "45 times" in the Bible according to Desiring God. 

At yesterday's UM Commencement I was enthralled by the mortarboard designs! Such variations! Guess which one caught my attention!

 

"But God Moments" follow a time of despair or crisis, signifying a pivotal change brought about by divine intervention. They reveal God's ultimate authority and transformative power in seemingly hopeless situations. "BUT GOD" moments signify God's mercy, deliverance and strength in adversity. (Dr. Chris Caster, Christ Church)

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

I'm "being still" but you, dear reader, may shout, "AMEN!"

*It was also a fave phrase of church friend, Martha R.

SCATTERED!

May I set my mind---center my scattered mind.

It's the first thought I had this morning looking out the window as I headed to my prayer chair. All week, I have watched the pile of scatterings increase both in the yard and in my distracted mine.

"Why the impact of scattered petals?" one might ask. These heritage snowball bushes were from the family home of my most influential spiritual mentor, Mama Davenport, Margaret Louise Hooper of Hampton Station, Ky.

The force that drives and scatters my mind in many directions is NOT the force Mama Davenport taught me. She taught me to trust the "force" of Christ in my heart. She knew that as I matured there would still be times when I would be "prone to wander" & need to "bind my wandering heart to Thee" as my old favorite hymn said. ("Come Thou Fount")

Today I chose to follow through...........

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, oh take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above.

....set my heart, aong with my mind & my voice, on things above. AMEN!

Center & settle me again today O Lord,----in honor of my grandmother and to the glory of your son, so that our sweet Jesus, the only true force, may once again spring forth!

FRIDAY FODDER!

God's grace is always present!

I have "seen" it recently. 

Even in the doldrums this past week, the Lord has provided "pick-me-ups."

A perk of pansies and a kind thank-you......

......Plus, "Ss of God's Grace" reminders from Pastor Scotty Smith.

• Saving Grace--united me with Christ.
• Sustaining Grace--supplies my needs.
• Sufficient Grace--for my sluggish slump.
• Sane-ing Grace--to renew my mind and keep it sane again & again.
• Sweetening Grace--in abundance.

From His fulness we have all received grace upon grace. (John 1:16) 

THANKFUL THURSDAY!

THANKFUL THURSDAY !

Let the morning bring me word 

of your unfailing love, 

for I have put my trust in you. 

Show me the way I should go 

for to you I entrust my life. (Psalm 143:8)

Enough said!

FLOURISHING NOT FLOUNDERING!

God's Word says the righteous flourish like a palm tree....and continue to bear fruit in old age. (Psalm 92:12-14) 

Flourishing has not been front and center in my vocabulary recently. So convicting when the Psalm speaks of the righteous as full of sap and green and I have little.

 

I am anything but full of sap and green......Apathetic. Blah.Fatigued. HoHum. Lethargic. Useless.

 

Think ENNU!! 

I need to "snap-out-of-it."

My" response has been to "try" and get moving.

But God, in His word says," He gives power to the faint and strength to the weary!" (Isaiah 48:29)

And so.....I wait trying not to feel guilty.  

At least I'm in my prayer chair."

Lord, allow my heart to be still and trust you more this Wednesday!

FLOUNDERING FORTITUDE!

STRENGTH diminishing! Why? What's the Source.....other than age or too much "me"?

Is it discouragement? Disappointment? Depression? Disease? Irritable-heart 

syndrome? 

Acceptance is the key.

This morning, the mirror on my chest clearly reminded me. "In my Face!"

Then, Scotty Smith's words for today re-emphasized the truth God already had  for me.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Two “I Am’s” + Three “I Will’s” = Deep Peace