MESSY MONDAY!

LIFE IS MESSY!

Especially on Mondays. For Sundays to be serene, I must be still, quit striving and let go of emails and texts. Then when I awaken to a new day, portals need to be finished for tomorow's doc appointment, text and emails answered but my internet* is missing & that's messy!

Think, non-existent atop this mountain ridge. 

Unraveling comes to mind.

Before I had a complete "come apart",  I needed to have a cuppa sani-TEA and get back into the Psalms. All that's necessary is a Bible. 

Grateful I found notes I had taken yesterday---from Psalms 104 (BC FUMC) and Psalm 1 (FEC Memphis) 

Praises for reminders ---Reading aloud Psalm 104 3x and noting words/verses that "jumped off page" and into my heart! 

MEDITATION kept jumping!

May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord.(Psalm 104:34)

Psalm 1 notes---Blessed (intensely happy and "gets it right"-- Pace)

is the man (a regular person, not  a king or scholar or man of note)

embracing these negatives of actions....

walks not in counsel of wicked...

stands not in the way of sinners....

sits not in the seat of scoffers ie scorners.... 

Yet, the positive stood out to me. 

but he delights in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)

Think exercising your mind to dwell on a passage. Think deeply. Ponder. 

Meditation turned my "Messy Monday" into Meditation Monday."

*Internet back @ 1:03 pm EST

MY SHEPHERD---MY SUPPLIER

The Lord is my Shepherd....
 

I shall not want---

THAT'S SUPPLY! 

May the Lord provide insight into my soul as He provides for my true needs to be found in stillness before Him. An intentional choice!

* Sometimes He uses family to supply closeness in times of need.

MY SHEPHERD--THE LORD!

The Lord is "my" Shepherd----  

    That's RELATIONSHIP!

An eternal relationship! 

The Lord is the WHO, above all others, in the lives of Jesus followers! 

*Thx to Carolyn F. for 2006 relevant notes. 

CAMPING OUT IN THE PSALMS!

What does camping out in the Psalms look  like if one is camping indoors? Messy for me. LJJ even plays relevant, uplifting spiritual songs as she cleans!

At different ages/seasons or addresses. Steve Rd.,585,3958,1093,1152 or 125 it often looked like this, whether for meditation or teaching.

Psalm 23     I will not FEAR. (The Psalmist says)

Often, when unable to relax from medical maladies or other stresses, I have used this psalm as my sleeping pill. Think, "nite-nite" from relaxing words of Scripture or hymns playing quietly.

Psalm 27     Whom shall I FEAR? (We ask; God answers)

When God is our light and strong hold, there is nothing or no one to fear. The Lord gives "heart" courage as we wait for Him to answer.

Psalm 46     I/We will not FEAR! (Our response of Worship)

Be still before Him and Know He is GOD as I/we seek Him through prayer and His Word allowing us to exalt Him as our fortress.

Once again may "camping out in the Psalms" bring songs to my soul.

A musical interlude of sorts to help ease my mind and overlook my mess.

WITS' END WEDNESDAY!

Ever feel like you're on the road to nowhere?!

Kind of like being at the corner of Wits' End? *

Baffled. Confused. Perplexed. Worried.

Not knowing which way to turn or what to do next?

Stuck at a crossroads of desperation!?

The grammarian in me is still undecided about apostrophe location.

Note white out drippings 

Turn to the left and you might end up on Bitter's Corner. A place of blinding, wearying pain or dread of what's to come.

Across the way is a YIELD to Worries sign! NO!!!! 

Worries should have a "No Loitering" sign!

Turning the "right way" is so important. 

Wits' End or Wit's End!! (Regardless of the punctuation)

It's where God brings us to the end of ourselves.

* Wednesday Wordsmith's info---wits' end is preferred by Brits 3 to 1 (+ in my ESV Bible) but wit's end is preferred 2 to 1 in the US (even at a shop in  Highlands, NC---tho Chamber of Congress there dubs it Wits') Are you stumped yet?!

Are you stumped yet?!

TARRYING TUESDAY!

Tarrying in scripture was the directive, during Pentecost, for the disciples as they waited for the glorification of the Lord and the Holy Spirit to come. (Luke 24:49) For me, the analogy of tarrying is indicative of the waiting required for clarity, direction and power from God all of which are evidence of the ascended Christ.

Recently I have been focused on my physical condition when In fact, it's my spiritual condition that allows me to "put on Christ." (Romans 13:14)

Clothed in Christ. Think compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

Lately, it seems sometimes I have to seek God's face from the stillness of my bed, front porch or out the window. Today is that kind of day for me. 

Neighbor's flame azalea. 

Aflame with the Spirit reminder. (Romans 12:11)

Tarrying. Lingering. Physically waiting in prayer to enable me to cling to His Presence throughout this day. 

May this Tarrying Tuesday be a time of waiting in God's Presence!

A soul-filling time!

RELAX! RECHARGE! RENEW!

Relax. Recharge. Renew.

3 Rs for the aging! Cannot be done alone! In His Presence is key!

Sarah Young (May 25) reminds readers the importance of turning from problems (ours) to Presence (His) Tangled thoughts with anxious knots get us no where....except maybe the ER!

Choose time in His Word. A creekside walk. A Porch "sit." 

Maybe even a nap to recharge one's body. 

A Word Search of "fear not" verses for a mind renewal. (Romans 12:2)

As for me, this week, I am camped out in the Psalms! 

GIG

What's your GIG in this season of life?

Journal Jottings from Galatians 5, in recent ABC sermon....

"Grace is done, settled---Christ has set you free by faith in His grace" 

Grace not Grit!

My GIG is----

G row

I n

G race

What's your GIG?

WISDOM WALKS! WOW!

As one ages, walking is good medicine, whether one feels like it or not!

Walking can be a path to life with Him. Leaving one's mental checklist behind and focusing on His Presence! 

Last week as Hubby and I walked in much stillness we saw the path anew. Blue skies emphasized the first of the mountain laurel blooms hanging over the creek!

The path itself  was filled with bunches of butterflies.

Blue-spotted purples, a hubby ID.  Tiger Swallowtails. One Monarch that would never land. Even they, seeking moisture and sweet nectar, seemed to dance as if they too could "taste and see" that God's provision is good!

PITHY WITH AN RCK PUNCH!

Son-ln-law, RCK. has a way of saying the most with the fewest words!

First he practices keeping his ears open and his mouth shut. That's scriptural. In His quiet times before the Lord, I imagine he is still to listen first. He ruminates. 

Think----Meditate. Concentrate."Chew the cud." 

He also practices that with people.

The result is saying the most with the fewest words. 

Concise. Succinct. Terse---but without the sting.

Pithy with a punch as I so often say!

Even in his work conferences he knows how to be brief because he has prepped and prayed. He uses kind, bright words to explain and encourage. 

He doesn't just babble and blather on and on.

He physically leaves but his words stick. 

Pithy with a punch of truth are left for others to consider.