"a spot of tea"

11/17/12 humiliTEA---I still need a few more little sips. 

As I was closing my NIV Bible this morning, I noticed on the frontispiece a "defining" note. Son Buddy's definition for humility, which he called the "key to life."

Humility is a "right" estimation of our life/ self toward God and others. Eyes to see eternal perspective is key to humility. Self turned toward God and others so affirmed what I sensed the Lord started teaching me as I prepared the James chapter 4 lesson. He continues to "show" me that true humility doesn't conclude with a life turned toward God.....but God would have my love and esteem for Him to continue to turn toward others. 

It's a reiteration of my "roots and fruits" musings. A heart "rooted" in humility of love and esteem for the Lord bears the fruit of love and service to others.

"Still sipping on that truth, today."

ANAGRAM ANALOGY

11/16/12 Game icons on my iPad are few---and only 1 of the 6 is mine, and I don't even play it very often. My friend, Ann Martin, introduced me to Whirly Word---an APP for a puzzle game that starts with 6 letters for the player to make as many words from those letters as you can. Accepted words appear as they are entered. Nothing high tech. I don't even keep the sound on. One can play it alone---or with a friend looking over your shoulder, not one out in cyberspace. When you're stuck, you can press whirl and the letters change positions. Sometimes with that simple change of perspective, clarity comes.

 In this game, the first word I saw was "Shug."  In an Urban Dictionary, shug is short for sugar. My Daddy's nickname for me was Sugar so that's exactly why my "grands" call me "Shug." Whirly Word wouldn't accept it.

A recent revelation came from a "new" similar game. The letters were
e t  s  l  n i. 
There were five 6-letter words listed as possibilities on that grid. "Listen" came easily. Enlist. Inlets. I needed to whirl.
A "whirl" could give me a new perspective.

I moved those letters around. SILENT jumped out at me. Silent---the adjective that describes a person on one side of a conversation. If I indeed listen attentively, with the purpose of hearing, during my prayer conversations with the Lord, I need to be silent.

Anne Graham Lotz said it well when describing how we "hear" God's voice. "We "silently" listen with our eyes open on the page of our Bible." (my paraphrase)

VISIBLE CONVICTIONS

11/14/12 CONVICTIONS! Do you have any? Are they visible to others?

Sweet friend, Kathi Wright, came by a set of convictions the "hard way." Having lost nephew, Kyle Kiihnl, as a result of a somnolent student driver. (Both students at Houston High & a great tragedy for both families.)

Kathi has been standing firm on her conviction to save lives by creating an awareness of the consequences of driving while drowsy. Fund raising thru the “Eye Opener 5k” has raised funds for a memorial scholarship in Kyle’s name for an “exceptional” wrestling student at the school. They also provide literature with statistics to increase awareness of the tragic results of driver fatigue. Kathi is boldly "standing up" for her heartfelt conviction.

While traveling I-40 recently, I saw evidence of Kathi’s conviction. A blinking message. A reminder that if folks don’t drive while drowsy, then falling asleep at the wheel won’t result in a death.

Growing up I always heard that “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. With that memory, the flashing sign on I-40 and a weekend message on “My Heart’s Cry for MORE Courage in My Convictions” coupled with yesterdays jury duty time, I began to ask myself about my spiritual convictions.  
Am I standing up and standing out in the world with my spiritual convictions? Or….do I have a case of “spiritual anemia” and I’m just blending in with the world around me?

Jesus is God. He is NOT God jr…. but fully man, fully God and He gave His life for my (your) sin. May my blog never slur the integrity of that truth.

Ask yourself, “How visible are my spiritual convictions? Are they so evident they appear to be flashing as on an interstate message board?”

Meditating to Hear from God

11/12/12 I so-o-o agree with a recent post of Cole Huffman about what makes a great Bible teacher. In describing a great teacher, Cole says, “When I think of John Hannah (DTS prof) in particular, I’m drawn to want more of God — the best thing that can be said of any teacher. Listening to him pray before each class was a clinic in how to step into Heaven.”

This weekend I heard great Bible teaching from Anne Graham Lotz---she even went to preaching! Her daddy, Billy Graham, describes her as the BEST teacher in the family. Her goal for the weekend was for each participant to discover an intensely personal relationship with the God who is wholeheartedly pursuing more of you.

Friday night’s session, “My Heart’s Cry for MORE of HIS Voice in My Ear,” was taken from John 10:1-10

1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech,but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

As you meditate on this ask yourself: 

• Who are the sheep? 
• Who are the thieves and robbers? 
• Who is the Shepherd? 
• What is the sheep pen? 
• Who is the gatekeeper/watchman? 
• What is the door? 
• What is a full life and who gives it?

We, as His sheep, want to “hear” from God. How will we know when the voice is authentic? What do we do once we hear?

My Jottings that stood out: 

• An authentic voice is Biblical, personal and powerful. 
• When I hear His voice, I need to heed His voice. 
• LISTEN for God’s voice with your eyes on the page of your Bible. 
• It is from Him that I have life in abunDANCE! 
• A life of abunDANCE is both life-saving & life changing because it comes from my Good Shepherd.

By Cole's definition, Anne Graham Lotz (for me) is a great teacher because I’m drawn to want more of God when I sit under hear instructions from God's Word.

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE

11/11/12 These pics will probably speak for themselves of the beauty of His creation and the importance of worshipping together with those in "the household of faith."

Lake Junaluska, NC---Carolyn Ferrell will recognize---from ? (1963, CMF)

Memorial Chapel at UMC Conference and Retreat Center at Lake Junaluska

Pilgrim Inn at Billy Graham Training Center at "The Cove" in Ashville, NC

The Chatlos Memorial Chapel at The Cove---a mountain sanctuary nestled under a canopy of colorful autumn trees with antique pews from the Royal London Society for the Blind, and chandeliers of handcrafted wrought iron

Drawn to kneel in prayer as I "lifted mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."

PROCLAIMING FROM THE MOUNTAINTOPS...

11/9/12 So much to share---so little time and virtually no service---and that seems to be a "good" thing.
Anne Graham Lotz is so-o-o inspiring. Can't wait to share.
To prepare, read Luke 24:27-35 and ask the Lord to speak to your heart. Use the "formula" we've used for meditation.

• What does the passage say? (just the facts)
• What does it mean? 
• What does it mean to me?
• What am I going to do with what I have learned? (Record and date the part to hold self accountable)

It's all part of the process of learning to hear the authentic voice of God?

Do you hear me, Dotsy?

"In pursuit...."

11/8/12  Walking out the door to join dear friend and prayer buddy, JoLynn (& later w/ Wynellen ) as we begin our long awaited trip to "The Cove." (Billy Graham Training Institue in Asheville, North Carolina) We are attending an Anne Graham Lotz seminar to "discover an intensely personal relationship with the God who is wholeheartedly pursuing more of you."

Isn't that comforting---when we're in pursuit of more of Him, we realize He is whole (not 1/2) heartedly pursuing us. 

Will be in pursuit of "hot spots" while there in order to share all that God shows me----or not, it will depend on His leading. I might just spend lots of time with Him "lifting up mine eyes unto the hills." All who know me know I am a mountain girl and I love those mountains of North Carolina!

Would appreciate "in pursuit " prayers from all my readers.

Time Concept

11/7/12 Sweet "faith friend" Sally Klinke told me that as a young person her mom was always telling her that she had NO concept of time. I, on the other hand, have been told by my family members that I am time compulsive. We are both "working" on these areas.

In recent years it seems that all women are driven one way or another by time---living (or struggling) by another's idea of perfect timing, dealing with amounts of time, too much time taken up by "urgencies of work or needs of others, too little time for all the world says we SHOULD accomplish and much too  little time available for relationships with family and friends. And oh yea----did I mention God!

God's "time economy" is different from ours. There is always enough time to accomplish all that He requires---time allotted for His purposes.

I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,
    and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,
    for now is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come
    and shower righteousness upon you.’ (Hosea 10:12, NLB)

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added (given) unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

All things. Even time. Previous verses in that chapter remind us that it's the Lord who grants our life span (time). 

This week within the time which He granted me, I found that seeking Him first (before the onslaught of    my virtually impossible schedule) resulted in an amazing conclusion. Time redemption. It wasn't why I sought Him, but God....gave it to me anyway.

A new concept of time. Time Redemption. It's His to give and He does, when we seek him FIRST!

In the Groove

11/5/12 Today’s morning paper, Commercial Appeal, informed me that this is “Memphis Geek Week” and folks should “get your geek groove on.” Wow, I don’t think I even have enough techy savvy to have a “geek groove.” The Wall Street journal also reported today on the “kats” of New York getting back in the “jazz groove” in the aftermath of the storm. (Hurricane Sandy) Pretty sure I don’t have one of those grooves either. MoTown, yes---jazz, not so much.

Wonder if there has ever been a God Week in Memphis? Have folks ever been encouraged to “get their God groove on?” What manifestations or attributes would our world associate with one who has a visible “God groove?”

Possibly young people would be more likely to “picture” or understand one in a geek groove or a jazz groove than a God groove.

How can God’s children have a deep enough “God groove” for it to be recognizable by others?

God’s Word has given us a picture of all we need for life and godliness---our God Groove, it starts with Him.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, (2 Peter 1:3)

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! (Psalm 119 1-5)

Godliness is the reverence for God, awareness of His sovereignty over every aspect of life, and one’s determination to honor him in all his conduct.

Reverence for God---those three words pretty much sum up a “God Groove”---get in that groove and live it out so others will know what it looks like.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Bye-Bye Summer Bounty

11/4/12 Wednesday marked the last day for my favorite farmer's market sales---some folks had already called it quits. The "chestnut lady" was there selling the nuts harvested from the grounds of the Botanic Garden---now there's a labor intensive event, & I couldn't resist touching that brown prickly shell. 

Enjoy my final "visual" harvest bounty---I can affirm that the foods were as good as they looked. My tomato sandwich, slathered in Helmanns, was so juicy that it dribbled all down my chin.

Oh how I'm gonna miss my fresh veggies. The yearly anticipation makes the summer bounty that much tastier!

Gourds---just colorful eye candy 

Season has long past for the morels but the portobellos, shiitakes ,

oysters and chanterelles were available. 

What color---looks good enough to eat and they were.

Only thing added to this meal was some cornbread.